Less than 24 hours after the coup, <i>Matichon Online</i> had an account of events leading up to what is probably the most publicly staged coup in history.
This is its report:
At 2pm on Thursday, representatives of seven groups began the second day of peace talks hosted by army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha.
The general began by asking all sides what they could do about the five issues he had asked them to consider on the previous day, a source at the closed-door meeting told Matichon Online.
Armed soldiers stand guard during a coup at the Army Club where the army chief held a meeting with all rival factions in central Bangkok on May 22. (Reuters photo)
Wan Muhamad Nor Matha of the Pheu Thai Party said the best his party could do was to ask ministers to take leave of absence or vacation.
Chaikasem Nitisiri of the caretaker government insisted cabinet members would be breaking the law and could be sued later if they resigned.
Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party disagreed, citing as a precedent Visanu Krue-ngam, who had previously resigned as acting deputy prime minister, but Mr Chaikasem stood his ground.
Veerakarn Musikapong of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) said this debate was useless and a person would need a mattress and a pillow if they were to continue with it.
This was like discussing a religious faith in which everyone was firm in his belief. The army chief had a lot on his shoulders now because he came when the water was already waist-high.
If he continued, Mr Veerakarn said, he would be drowned. The army chief should walk away and announced there would be election. That way, his name would be untarnished.
At this point, Gen Prayuth snapped back: "Stop it. Religious issues I don't know much about. What I do know is I'll hunt down each and every one of those 'infidels'. Don't worry about me drowning. I'm a good swimmer and I've studied the situation for three years.
"Back in 2010, I didn't have absolute power. So don't fight me. I was accused of accepting six billion baht in exchange of doing nothing. I insist I didn't get even one baht."
At this point, Jatuporn Prompan of the UDD appeared more appeasing, saying since an election could not be held now anyway, the best solution was to hold a referendum on whether national reform should come before or after the next election.
The debate went on for a while before Suthep Thaugsuban of the People's Democratic Reform Committee said political parties were not involved in this.
"This was a problem between the UDD and the PDRC," he declared.
He proposed the two groups meet in a separate session.
Mr Abhisit said the government should also join in, but Mr Suthep insisted on only the people's groups.
Gen Prayuth allowed the two groups to meet separately.
In the meantime, Mr Abhisit suggested other participants should go home now that the two sides were in talks, but Gen Prayuth insisted on everyone staying where they were until a conclusion was reached.
The UDD and PDRC sides talked for 30 minutes.
After that, Gen Prayuth led them back to the meeting, saying he would announce the results of the talks.
At that point, Mr Suthep asked for a minute and walked over to say something with Gen Prayuth, with Mr Jatuporn present.
When they were done, Gen Prayuth said: "It's nothing. We talked about how the restrooms are not in order."
After that, the army chief asked the government side whether it insisted on not resigning.
Mr Chaikasem said:" We won't resign".
Gen Prayuth then declared: "If that's the case, the Election Commission need not talk about the polls and the Senate need not talk about Section 7."
He then stood up and spoke in a loud voice: "I'm sorry. I have to seize the ruling power."
It was 4.32pm.
At that point some of the attendees still thought he was joking.
They changed their minds when the general walked to the exit and turned back to tell them in a stern voice: "You all stay here. Don't go anywhere."
He then left the room.
After that armed soldiers came to detain the participants in groups. Notably, Prompong Nopparit who came in the government's quota was detained with the UDD group in a separate room.
Mr Veerakarn had a smile on his face and forgot his cane.
Mr Abhisit told Varathep Rattanakorn and Chadchart Sittipunt of the government: "I told you so".
A pale-faced Chadchart snapped:"So what? What's the point of saying it now?"
The military put the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties in the same room while the rest were put in different rooms.
The senators and election commissioners were let out first.
The rest is history.