Crisis in Thailand will be resolved through dialogue, hopes India

NEW DELHI: India today hoped the crisis in Thailand will be resolved peacefully through dialogue, a day after martial law was imposed in the country to maintain order after six months of anti-government protests that left the country paralysed.

"We have noted the recent developments in Thailand. We hope that the people of Thailand resolve the political situation peacefully through dialogue and uphold the rule of law. As a friendly neighbour, we support the restoration of normalcy in Thailand", official Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Thailand's military, in a surprise pre-dawn move yesterday, declared martial law to maintain order after six months of anti-government protests.

Thailand's army chief today convened the first face-to-face meeting of all stakeholders to end the prolonged political turmoil plaguing the nation and avoid another " Ukraine or Egypt" in the making.

Martial law gives the military wide power to ban public gatherings, restrict people's movements, conduct searches, impose curfew and detain suspects for up to seven days and its declaration yesterday came amid concerns that the move posed a grave threat to democracy.