It's an insurrection (non-government/military attacking government property/people). A coup would be if it was another wing of the government or the military doing the attacking.
Are they now controlling the military? Have they taken control of the media and silenced their critics? Have they rounded up in a sudden sweep all those in government who might oppose them? Are they pushing out prepared messages about how this is being done for the benefit of the people? Have they actually done anything involving taking control and establishing themselves as the legitimate authority, deposing the existing government?
If this is a coup, it's the shittest coup ever, being done by the least competent coup conspirators I've ever seen.
So by this logic this is just a mutiny? To become a proper coup they would have to replace the government and the president who if I understand correctly is formally the leader of the military. In order to do that they should be marching towards the capital. Since this is what appears to be in progress, is it unreasonable to call it a "possible coup in progress"?
Most of the major coups that come to my mind are the military preventing a government with a very extreme ideology from taking a country past the point of no return.
Usually it's something that takes place when the military itself is getting infiltrated and it either needs to act or be taken over by the ideology itself.
> AFAIK, in common use the word coup involves the military taking control of the government.
That is one common kind of coup, but distinguished from the broader category. That's why the phrase “military coup” exists to distinguish the kind of coup where the military (or some part of it) is the main actor in seizing control outside of normal bounds.
You’re using a much more narrow definition of what a coup d’état means.
> The sudden overthrow of a government by a usually small group of persons in or previously in positions of authority.
Or to use Wikipedia’s definition
> A coup d'état (French for "blow of state"), often shortened to coup in English (also known as an overthrow), is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, rebel group, military, or a dictator. Many scholars consider a coup successful when the usurpers seize and hold power for at least seven days.
Yes, the military can be involved in a coup, but the essential definition does not require their involvement. Different terms might be applied if the military is involved, and based on whether or not the military is the primary driver (as in Myanmar) or is backing one side.
Peacefully occupying a building and leaving on your own accord is not a coup. If you think this is comparable to armed groups lead by the military occupying parliament and threatening to murder the people inside if demands are not met, I have no idea what to say.
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