BANGKOK — In a political development that came as a surprise to many on Tuesday, the Thai army announced at 3am that the country is now under martial law.

Thailand’s martial law was written in 1914, before the country was a constitutional monarchy.  It grants the military extensive powers — including “superior power over the civil authority”  in order to maintain public order — and also curbs a number of human rights.

Under the century-old piece of legislation, the military is now authorized to:  

1. Search any “body vehicle, dwelling place, building or any place and at any time.” [Section 9:1].
2. Inspect any letter, package, printed matter “or other things transmitting within the area under the Martial Law” [Section 9:2].
3. “Force labor for supporting military service in all respects” and demand from any person “any conveyance, beast of burden, provisions, arm, instrument and tool for use in military service” [Section 10].
4. Impose a curfew, prohibit any meeting or assembly, control transportation in any public area, and “prohibit any person from conducting any act or having any prohibited undertaking or thing as determined by the Minister of Defense during the period of the Martial Law” [Section 11].
5. Prohibit dissemination of any printed material and television or radio broadcast [Section 11].
6. “Burn any house or thing which may be useful to the enemy” and “alter the nature of the country or village … for the purpose of fight or preparation for the defense at the discretion of the military authority” [Section 14].
7. Detain for inquiry any person that the military has “reasonable ground to suspect” is the “enemy or violates the provisions of this Act” [Section 15].

In addition, the law bars people from claiming any compensation for any damages that result from the exercise of these powers [Section 16].

The sweeping powers granted to the military under martial law are significantly more far-reaching than the authority enjoyed by the government under the Internal Security Act, which was previously in place.

As a result, the army’s move has already come under harsh criticism from groups like Human Rights Watch.

"Thailand is using a century old law with draconian provisions that permit the military to exercise essentially unlimited authority to violate human rights if they are so inclined,” said Brad Adams, the Director of HRW's Asia Division.

"It's a law that pre-dates the creation of all international human rights standards, and it shows," Mr. Adams said.

The military has already begun excerising some of its new powers. This morning, the army’s newly-formed peace-keeping operation, the Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC), shut down ten politically-affiliated TV stations in order to prevent the dissemination of "misleading" information that could cause "confusion" and unrest.

The POMC also ordered that all unlicensed community radio stations, which are often operated by hardline Redshirt activists, be taken off the air.

In addition, troops have been deployed to oversee both anti-government and Redshirt rally sites, with orders to prohibit activists from marching anywhere.  

Government officials say they were not informed of the army’s plan to announce martial law until it was declared on television at 3:00 a.m. this morning.

The army has insisted that they have not staged a coup. If that proves to be true, this would be the first time in Thailand’s history that a nationwide declaration of martial law has not been followed by a military coup d’état. 

UPDATE: The military launched a coup on 22 May. 

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BANGKOK — The government is urgently convening a meeting to draft a formal response to the Royal Thai Army’s unexpected pre-dawn declaration of martial law on Tuesday, a top official said.

Suranand Vejjajiva, secretary to the caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn, said the Cabinet is currently meeting to discuss the developing situation and will announce a formal response later in the day. He did not say where the meeting is being held.

Martial law, which grants the military “superior power over the civil authority” in matters of maintaining public order, was declared at 3:00 a.m. this morning by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army and chairman of the recently-installed Peace and Order Maintaing Command (POMC).

The military has ordered representatives from all state agencies to attend a 2:00 p.m. meeting this afternoon at military bases across the country. 

This morning, security forces were seen clearing anti-government protesters out of the Government House, taking control of major intersections, surrounding the Redshirt rally on Aksa avenue, and entering the residences of a number of Cabinet members, including Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. 

The army has also shut down a number of politicized TV stations, including Asia Update and Blue Sky TV.

However, daily life for most Thais proceeded normally this morning, and so far the military presence in Bangkok is considered “light.”

Almost 30 people have died since the most recent bout of political unrest erupted in Thailand last November.

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By Somchai Kwankijswet and Peter Janssen (DPA)

BANGKOK — Thai army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha early Tuesday declared martial law, giving the military full control over peace-keeping in the country that has seen six months of anti-government protests.

The statement was issued about 3 am Tuesday (2000 GMT), according to local media reports.

In a brief statement Prayuth dissolved the government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CAPO) and set up an army-controlled peace keeping centre.

Prayuth has the authority to declare martial law without the consent of the government, which has had caretaker status since December 9.

"It looks like he may have decided to do this without consulting the government, since his first order was to dissolve the CAPO which was jointly run by the government and police," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist and military affairs analyst at Chulalongkorn University.  

Thailand has been wracked by six months of non-stop protests seeking to topple the government.

At least 25 people have died in political-related violence and more than 700 injured.

On Thursday, Prayuth warned the army would use "full force" to maintain law and order in the country during the on-going political crisis, after three protesters were killed.

The declaration of martial law follows the launch over the weekend of a "final battle" against the government by Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), the main anti-government protest group.

Suthep on Saturday said he would pressure the remaining 25 members of the caretaker cabinet to resign and launch a mass protest on Friday to Monday to topple the administration.  

He vowed to turn himself in to authorities to face insurrection charges on May 27 should his final battle fail.

"I think Prayuth is trying to neutralize the confrontation between the PDRC and elements of the pro-government groups who have threatened to fight back if Suthep's group capture some of the ministers," Panitan said.

Martial law gives the army control over security, but leaves the government in command of other tasks, unlike a coup.

Thailand has witnessed 18 coups in the past eight decades, the last of which ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

The army has stationed troops in the capital to help police keep the peace during the past six months of protests, which have brought Thai politics to a stalemate.

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Bangkok (CNN) — The Thai army declared martial law throughout the country Tuesday in a surprise move that an aide to the country's embattled Prime Minister said the government didn't know about beforehand.
"They took this action unilaterally. The government is having a special meeting regarding this. We have to watch and see if the army chief honors his declaration of impartiality," the aide said, describing the situation as "half a coup d'etat."
Lt. Gen. Nipat Thonglek told CNN the move was not a coup.
"The Army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties," a ticker running on the army's television channel said. "People are urged not to panic, and can carry on their business as usual. Declaring martial law is not a coup d'etat."
Martial law went into effect at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, the ticker said.
All Thai TV stations are being guarded by the military, Thai public television announced, showing pictures of soldiers and armored vehicles taking positions outside broadcast facilities in the country's capital.
The dramatic announcements come days after the head of the army issued a stern warning after political violence had surged in the country's capital.
Political tensions have been running high in Thailand. Supporters and opponents of the country's government have staged mass protests in recent days, and caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from office, along with nine cabinet ministers, by a top court earlier this month.