Part 5/12:
After months of protests and sporadic violence, the military, led by General Prayut Chan-ocha, seized control on May 22, 2014. The coup was characterized by a crackdown on political opponents, suspension of the constitution, and a declaration of martial law. Politicians, activists, and academics were detained or silenced, and the electoral process was effectively nullified as the military aimed to impose order amid pervasive unrest.