Thailand to extend emergency decree until end of August - official

 

FILE PHOTO: A woman wearing a protective mask bikes past a temple at the Ancient City park in Samut Prakan after the government eased some protective measures following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Thailand June 25, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will extend a state of emergency until the end of August, a senior official said on Wednesday, maintaining the security measure put in place to contain its coronavirus outbreak.

 

The announcement comes after nearly two months without local transmission and with many people in Thailand questioning the need for an emergency decree.

 

"It is still necessary to have the decree because we are opening up the country for more business meetings and tourism to stimulate the economy," said Somsak Roongsita, secretary-general of the National Security Council, adding that doctors had requested it be maintained.

 

The extension comes after a weekend where political protests took place against the government, in defiance of a ban on gatherings. Somsak, however, said the emergency decree would be used only to contain virus outbreaks and not rallies.

 

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-22

 

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3 minutes ago, webfact said:

It is still necessary to have the decree

Which is it end of August or 26th September ?

6 minutes ago, keith101 said:

Which is it end of August or 26th September ?

26th September is the date limit for the foreigners already here to regularize their visa status and end of August only they (government) know what that (end of state of emergency) means

The feeling may be that with the Emergency act the government has more control of things if there is a need to act on Covid. 

 

Too a point I can understand look at what is happening in all these countries that have rights.   I am willing to bet that a lot of governors in the U.S. would like to have the ability to make that decree and enforce it.

 

The decree is a pain for some but it really is not hurting the country unless you aer mad because your favorite bar girl is still up north with mom and dad.

 

While they are at it - why not make it permanent? Also useful to handle the students.

(I guess they are thinking about it)

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by sweatalot

5 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

The feeling may be that with the Emergency act the government has more control of things if there is a need to act on Covid. 

 

Too a point I can understand look at what is happening in all these countries that have rights.   I am willing to bet that a lot of governors in the U.S. would like to have the ability to make that decree and enforce it.

 

The decree is a pain for some but it really is not hurting the country unless you aer mad because your favorite bar girl is still up north with mom and dad.

 

Indeed, most politicians love the idea of martial law, just in some countries they know they can't get away with it.

Gosh...what a surprise! 

The generals are loving this martial law by stealth. Once the population accepts they have no freedom the generals have won. Covid is all their dreams come true....

55 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

The feeling may be that with the Emergency act the government has more control of things if there is a need to act on Covid. 

 

Too a point I can understand look at what is happening in all these countries that have rights.   I am willing to bet that a lot of governors in the U.S. would like to have the ability to make that decree and enforce it.

 

The decree is a pain for some but it really is not hurting the country unless you aer mad because your favorite bar girl is still up north with mom and dad.

 

You think?

59 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

The feeling may be that with the Emergency act the government has more control of things if there is a need to act on Covid. 

 

Too a point I can understand look at what is happening in all these countries that have rights.   I am willing to bet that a lot of governors in the U.S. would like to have the ability to make that decree and enforce it.

 

The decree is a pain for some but it really is not hurting the country unless you aer mad because your favorite bar girl is still up north with mom and dad.

 

So use the existing laws. 

 

In a country where they can get away with stuff like banning the sale of alcohol willy-nilly, they've proven time and time again they can do as they please with no oversight. 

 

Thailand doesn't have rule of law. They have rule by law. Which means they can just make charges up and prosecute people they don't like or agree with.

3 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

So use the existing laws. 

 

In a country where they can get away with stuff like banning the sale of alcohol willy-nilly, they've proven time and time again they can do as they please with no oversight. 

 

Thailand doesn't have rule of law. They have rule by law. Which means they can just make charges up and prosecute people they don't like or agree with.

Best summary I have heard in a long time, bravo sir!!

nah, open your bars and borders and get everyone infected, I mean it's worked so well for all the 1st world nations lol..

1 hour ago, sweatalot said:

While they are at it - why not make it permanent? Also useful to handle the students.

(I guess they are thinking about it)

 

That may not be far from what’s planned.

 

Even if (at some point) they 'officially' stop renewing the Emergency Decree….it’s more than possible that the most repressive aspects of the ‘emergency’ will simply become permanent fixtures of everyday life. Who has the firepower to disagree?

 

So....some twist of ‘Martial Law Lite’ may be with us for a very…very long time. After all, what sort of illegitimate authoritarian state would want to let a good emergency go to waste?

 

 

 

 

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by Hayduke

Gee didn't see that one coming. Mere days after the student protest. Who would've though. What a surprise. Out of the blue.

8 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

So use the existing laws. 

 

In a country where they can get away with stuff like banning the sale of alcohol willy-nilly, they've proven time and time again they can do as they please with no oversight. 

 

Thailand doesn't have rule of law. They have rule by law. Which means they can just make charges up and prosecute people they don't like or agree with.

As if by magic case in point!

 

They are nothing if not predictable anybody with a different view is bullied or prosecuted out of the picture, the much vaunted democracy Thai style.....

 

 

3 hours ago, keith101 said:

Which is it end of August or 26th September ?

How about New Year's Eve????

_{And of course they will extend the 5,000baht handout for one month????}

_{Sorry I think the pollies have raided that "pot"  already.}

_{"Get back you peasants that is ours!!!!!"}

Think Thai Gov't acting in best health interest of country.... the economic impact is anor matter!!!

Well chap my Hide and tickle me with a feather. Why only until end of August? Coup in the making to reinstate article 44?

The students should have left it till after the end of July to make their feelings known.

Just taken nearly five mins to write this as my Ad blocker has just blocked 70 ads and page keeps resetting 

The decree permitted the restriction of the right to assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, among other rights, and it removed all restraints on police investigations. With the decree in place, the regime was free to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations, and suppress publications.

 

Above was for the protection of people and State 28 Feb. 1933. Any similarities?

 

 

5 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

The feeling may be that with the Emergency act the government has more control of things if there is a need to act on Covid. 

 

Too a point I can understand look at what is happening in all these countries that have rights.   I am willing to bet that a lot of governors in the U.S. would like to have the ability to make that decree and enforce it.

 

The decree is a pain for some but it really is not hurting the country unless you aer mad because your favorite bar girl is still up north with mom and dad.

 

Maybe you haven't seen the queues of people waiting on free food handouts and the multiple establishments with homeless people squatting due to being closed because of no tourists

 

4 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Thailand doesn't have rule of law. They have rule by law.

An excellent description. Very precise and accurate.

1 hour ago, Paiman said:

The decree permitted the restriction of the right to assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, among other rights, and it removed all restraints on police investigations. With the decree in place, the regime was free to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charge, dissolve political organizations, and suppress publications.

 

Above was for the protection of people and State 28 Feb. 1933. Any similarities?

 

 

Yes, some very distinct similarities.

 

To be fair I don't think they are using it as a template - but that's only because they probably have no knowledge of that particular part of history. History, for them does not exist north of Mai Sai or south of Hat Yai.  

 

They would certainly recognise the results as most desirable.

5 hours ago, sweatalot said:

While they are at it - why not make it permanent?

Not seeing any downsides to be honest.

That closed the gap, keeping emergency decree going during low risk summer. September through spring will bring on high risk seasons of 2nd wave and be an easy cover for decree extensions. Get used to it.

1 minute ago, Mac98 said:

That closed the gap, keeping emergency decree going during low risk summer. September through spring will bring on high risk seasons of 2nd wave and be an easy cover for decree extensions. Get used to it.

Not seeing any downsides to be honest.

4 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

nah, open your bars and borders and get everyone infected, I mean it's worked so well for all the 1st world nations lol..

Nobody said anything about opening borders. But in a country with no covid cases, and that packs buses and subways like sardines, do they need so many nit picking rules, such as signing in to every business, or even cameras in bars? Those rules could be re-introduced, or modified, in the future, if necessary, without the need of an emergency decree.

Till vaccine becomes available this “emergency” story will continue. It is not possible to make it secure with all VIPs, military missions/guests, border illegal crossers, and more cases that we are not informed about.