The areas around the tanks feel more like some sort of military fair or exhibition than of fully armed troops ready to defend the coup with their lives if they must.
These are the tanks on one side of the square in front of The Ananda Samakhom Throne Room. You can even see a balloon seller in the background!
I don't suppose that we should be in any doubt that all of the tanks are in full fighting condition and all of the guns the soldiers are holding are fully loaded.