General Prayuth Chan-Ocha and the heads of the armed forces of Thailand could be seen on all television stations in that country on Thursday as the military declared martial law and stated that the military and police are now in control and running that nation’s government.

The military coup in Thailand has suspended their constitution and the military leaders have ordered that the acting prime minister as well as the cabinet report to the Army.

General Chan-Ocha told the country on television that it was necessary for the military and the police to “take control of governing the country.” He also told the country whose that the National Peace and Ordering Maintaining Counsel, headed by himself will be Thailand’s new ruling body.

All television and radio stations in Thailand have been ordered to broadcast only Army material and to cease all normal programming.

The military has instituted a curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM, as detained officials in the interim government, as well as rival political factions. The military has also banned gatherings of more than five people.

This move by the military came as the rival political parties were in their second day of crisis talks. The military moved in, and all participants in the talks were taken away by soldiers after they failed to achieve a compromise.

Bangkok has been on the site of anti government demonstration rallies for the past six months, during which time at least 28 people have died and another 700 injured in the violence.

This current military coup is the 11th to occur in the past 80 years. The last military coup was in 2006.

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