PM declares STATE OF EMERGENCY in Bangkok, 4 rally leaders arrested, areas cleared of protesters

By THE NATION

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared a state of emergency in Bangkok effective from 4am on Thursday to control the escalating pro-democracy protest by demonstrators who call themselves Khana Ratsadon 2563 (People’s Party 2020) in front of Government House since Wednesday.

 

 

Rally leaders Parit Chiwarak and Anon Nampa were reportedly arrested at Nang Loeng Intersection. Phanuphong Jadnok and Prasit Utharoj were also reportedly arrested.

 

The declaration prompted hundreds of crowd-control police officers to march slowly from Phitsanulok Road to Nang Loeng Intersection near Government House to force the rallyists out of the area.

 

 

 

The protesters reportedly threw small objects at the officers, but eventually dispersed from the areas.

 

At 4.55am police gained control of the areas in front of Government House as well as the entire Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue.

 

 

At daybreak, officers from Bangkok’s Dusit district entered the areas to clean the road from Suan Mitsakawan Intersection to Nang Loeng Intersection and prepared to open the area to traffic as normal.

 

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30396210

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-10-15

 

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Emergency decree gives govt sweeping powers to ‘control’ any sign of dissent

By The Nation

 

 

An announcement published in the Government Gazette on Thursday said the state of emergency was invoked under Article 11 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations.

 

Using the authority granted to him under Article 11, the premier has issued the following measures:

 

• Power to detain any person suspected of cooperating in an action that leads to an emergency, or any advertiser or sponsor of such actions or the concealing of information about actions that cause an emergency situation.

 

• Power to issue an order calling any person to report to the authorities, provide a statement or deliver any documents or evidence related to an emergency situation.

 

• Power to seize equipment or tools used in communication or transmission of electronic information, weapons, consumer goods, chemicals or objects have been used or will be used in actions promoting an emergency situation.

 

• Power to search, demolish or destroy buildings and obstacles as necessary in the performance of duties to halt a serious incident.

 

• Power to prohibit any citizen from actions that can be considered a threat to national security or the safety of people.

 

• Power to prevent any action that may block traffic or prevent the use of transportation in areas under emergency.

 

• Officials given these powers must take necessary and appropriate steps. The supervisor of relevant officials has the power to prescribe conditions or time for exercising the powers of competent officials as deemed appropriate.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30396250

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-10-15

 

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