TheCable

The Thailand Government has been overthrown by the Military.

According to the country’s military chief, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the coup was staged because rival political factions had failed to reach an agreement on how to govern the country.

Thursday’s takeover came two days after the declaration of a martial law for the army to restore order and reforms in Thailand, as negotiations between the Army, political groups, senators and members of the election commission could not proffer solutions to months of protests against the government.

“It is necessary for the Peace and Order Maintaining Command — which includes army, navy, armed forces and police — to take control of governing the country,” Al Jazeera quoted Chan-Ocha as saying in a nationwide broadcast.

Anti-government protests in Thailand began in November 2013, leading to the eventual ouster of Yingluck Shinawatra, the country’s first female prime minister, and nine of her ministers last week. Shinawatra was believed to be blocking corruption charges against her brother, also a former prime minister, who went on exile to avoid jail sentence.

Thursday’s military takeover is the 12th since Thailand constitutional monarchy began in 1932.