I took a look at the BBC report. I don't think the guy understands what "Martial Law" means, it makes me think that he wanna use the word because it sounds "cool". M.L. basicly means the justice system suspension and Court-martial is in place. The city is fully functioning, there is police and armed police present (which are controlled & mobilized  by the city). In fact, he said it himself, the "troops" are NOT army, they are People's Armed Police. So how's a police force, which is again fully controlled & mobilized by a city, can impose a Martial Law?!