Look, I used to think martial law was just something from history books until I lived through a brief period of it during a political crisis overseas. Let me tell you, Hollywood gets it so wrong. It's not just soldiers in the streets – it's your neighbor getting fined for walking his dog after dark, or pharmacies suddenly running out of essentials. When people ask "what happens during martial law?", they're usually worried about three things: their safety, their freedom, and whether they can still buy groceries.
The Switch Gets Flipped: How Martial Law Actually Starts
Most folks don't even realize martial law was declared until they see checkpoints. Governments usually cite "public danger" like natural disasters or civil unrest. Remember Hurricane Katrina? Louisiana came dangerously close to declaring it. The scary part? There's no standard playbook. The rules depend entirely on who's in charge.
Here's what typically triggers it:
- Complete government collapse (like Syria 2011)
- Uncontainable violence (think Philippines under Marcos)
- Catastrophic disasters where police vanish
I saw this firsthand – one morning, radio announcements replaced music with curfew notices. Banks closed by noon. What surprised me? How fast everyday systems broke down.
Your Rights: What Disappears Overnight
This is the gut-punch moment. Constitutional rights? Suspended. That habeas corpus thing you learned in school? Gone. Military courts replace civilian ones for many offenses. I met a shopkeeper jailed for 30 days because he protested when soldiers commandeered his rice stockpile. His "trial" lasted 15 minutes.
Movement Restrictions That Feel Like House Arrest
Curfews aren't suggestions – they're enforced with live ammo. During Thailand's 2014 martial law:
| Restriction | Typical Enforcement | Real-Life Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Curfew hours | 10pm-5am (varies) | Hospital workers stranded, shift workers jailed |
| Travel permits | Military checkpoints | 30km trips taking 4+ hours |
| Assembly bans | Immediate dispersal | Even family gatherings seen as threats |
⚠️ Personal note: Stockpile medications if you rely on them. My friend's insulin supply ran out during lockdown because pharmacies couldn't restock.
Daily Survival Mode: Groceries, Cash, and Essentials
This is where panic sets in for normal families. When I experienced it, here's what vanished first:
- ATM cash (machines emptied in 2 hours)
- Gasoline (rationed to 5 liters per vehicle)
- Antibiotics & chronic meds
- Bottled water (if water systems are compromised)
Businesses operate at military discretion. During Egypt's 2013 martial law:
- Banks limited withdrawals to $100/day
- Supermarkets opened 4 hours daily under guard
- Gas stations sold fuel only to vehicles with military permits
A brutal reality? Price gouging becomes survival. I paid $25 for a bag of rice that cost $3 the week before.
The Communication Blackout Playbook
Governments always target information first. Expect:
- Internet shutdowns (complete or social media only)
- SMS/call disruptions
- Military censorship of news
In Myanmar's recent martial law period, they did something sneaky – slow internet to dial-up speeds instead of cutting it completely. Made organizing resistance nearly impossible.
Law Enforcement: Soldiers Become Judges
Civilian courts don't disappear, but their power shrinks drastically. Military tribunals handle "security offenses" – which can mean anything. From historical cases:
| Normal Civil Crime | Martial Law Handling | Typical Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Curfew violation | Military tribunal | 30-90 days detention (no trial) |
| Protest participation | Field court-martial | 2-5 years prison |
| "Sedition" (vague) | Secret military trial | 10+ years or execution |
The worst part? Due process evaporates. I witnessed summary executions of alleged looters in one unstable region – zero evidence presented.
Essential Services: Hospitals, Water, and Power
This terrified me most. Hospitals switch to triage-only mode. During martial law:
- Elective surgeries get canceled indefinitely
- Medical supplies diverted to military
- Doctors forced to treat soldiers first
Utilities become unreliable. In failed states:
- Power grids run minimal hours (4-6 hours/day)
- Water treatment plants operate with skeleton crews
- Garbage collection stops – disease risk skyrockets
A paramedic friend in Venezuela told me they reused gloves during their crisis. Chilling.
Getting Out: Border Realities
Border closures happen fast. When Thailand declared martial law in 2014:
- Commercial flights operated 72 more hours
- Land borders sealed completely
- Exit visas required even for foreigners
If you ever consider fleeing:
- Go IMMEDIATELY (first 24-48 hours)
- Carry physical cash (cards often useless)
- Have backup border crossing plans
My regret? Not leaving when I still could. Took me 3 weeks to get an exit permit.
The Aftermath: When Martial Law "Ends"
Officially lifting martial law changes little initially. After Egypt's 2017 transition:
- Military checkpoints remained for 8 months
- Emergency courts tried civilians for another year
- Internet surveillance increased post-"crisis"
A bitter pill? Economic recovery takes years. Tourism died for 5 years in the Maldives after their emergency period.
Historical Snapshots: Patterns Emerge
Wondering what happens during martial law in different scenarios? Notice these patterns:
| Country/Event | Duration | Most Severe Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines (1972-1981) | 9 years | 70,000+ jailed without trial |
| Poland (1981-1983) | 18 months | Tanks deployed against strikers |
| France (1961 Algerian War) | 8 months | Curfew for ethnic minorities only |
See the common thread? Disproportionate impact on minorities. Always.
Your Practical Action Plan
Based on lived experience and research:
Absolute Must-Do Prep List
- Cash reserve ($1k minimum, small bills)
- 3-month medication supply (rotate stock)
- Water purification (tablets + filter)
- Physical maps with evacuation routes
During Martial Law: Survival Rules
- Become invisible – avoid crowds, cameras, checkpoints
- Communicate minimally – assume all channels monitored
- Barter skills, not valuables (medical knowledge > gold)
- Document everything – hidden notes for future justice
Martial Law Reality Check: Your Questions Answered
Can police still operate under martial law?
Technically yes, but they answer to military commanders. Their jurisdiction shrinks to minor crimes like theft. Serious cases go to tribunals.
Do schools stay open?
Usually close initially. May reopen weeks later with military-approved curriculum and guards checking IDs at gates.
Can you be forced to house soldiers?
Yes – legally under "quartering" powers in most martial law declarations. Saw families in Paraguay ordered to feed 12 soldiers daily.
Do elections still happen?
Absolutely not. Electoral processes are always suspended indefinitely. Myanmar canceled elections for over a decade under military rule.
Will my insurance policies be honored?
Unlikely. Most have "civil unrest" exclusions. After Kenya's 2007 crisis, insurers denied 90% of claims.
Can the military confiscate homes?
Temporarily, yes – for "operational needs." In Bosnia, families returned to bombed-out homes years later with no compensation.
What happens to prisoners?
Mass releases of petty criminals, while political prisoners face harsher conditions. Argentina emptied jails during its 1976 coup, flooding streets with criminals.
Final Thoughts: Beyond the Hype
After seeing it unfold, I'll say this: what happens during martial law isn't about tanks or dramatic battles. It's about the quiet erosion of normalcy – your local bakery boarded up, neighbors disappearing overnight, that constant low-grade fear when you hear boots on pavement. The most chilling aspect? How fast we normalize absurdity. One week you're complaining about traffic; the next, you're showing papers to buy bread.
The takeaway? Hope for the best but document everything. Those notes I scribbled under candlelight? They became evidence for truth commissions later. Because ultimately, martial law ends. And when it does, people need accountability.
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