The main task of the Royal Armed Forces of Thailand is to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the kingdom, as well as to protect it from internal threats.
The military stand behind 18 state coups since 1943. The last coup took place in 2006, when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted.
Then, a new Constitution was drafted and adopted with the participation of the military. This Constitution currently suits neither the government, nor the opposition.
The current coup was preceded by protests continuing for more than six months. During this period, dozens of people were killed and hundreds were injured.
Situation in Thailand after military coup
NCPO has been set up May 22 by the military leadership as a result of the coup. General Prayuth Chan-Ocha by his own order became the leader of this structure, which assumed all executive and legislative power in the country. However, observers believe, the appointment of Chan-Ocha by the monarch will give him more significance in the eyes of the Thai nation. The kingdom’s residents are famous for their reverent attitude towards the 86-year-old Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose ruling became the longest in the country’s history.
In the recent three years, a wave of anti-military protests embraced Thailand despite the ban on mass rallies issued by the NCPO. The rally in Bangkok on May 25 gathered up to 1,000 people, who were protesting against the state coup. Local media report about insignificant clashes of protesters with the military.
Amid the tidal wave, which increases after the arrests of almost all key politicians backing the previous government, the NCPO has issued an order on creating a military court. Now it will review all the cases linked to violations of martial law in the country, as well as to the lese-majesty, which in Thailand is considered a grave crime.