Thailand lifts emergency measures aimed at stopping protests

 

FILE PHOTO: Pro-democracy demonstrators line up as they march towards the Government House during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's government on Thursday ordered the removal of emergency measures imposed a week earlier to try to end months of protests against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and the monarchy, a statement said.

 

The measures, which had prompted even bigger demonstrations, will be lifted from 12 p.m. (0500 GMT).

 

"The current violent situation that led to the announcement of the severe situation has eased and ended to a situation in which government officials and state agencies can enforce the regular laws," the statement published in the official Royal Gazette said.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-22

 

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Interesting development – scared of more bad press maybe?

Well for once Prayut has done something sensible, had he left the emergency measures in place, it would have lead to major unrest and probably violence.

 

 

Well, saying "don't do that" didn't work.  I guess at least some one somewhere is paying attention.

I wonder what the catch is, there's always a catch.

 

Maybe this has more to do with scaring off potential Chinese tourists.

Interesting move...stepping back from the brink. Now will the parties engage in dialog or stick to their maximalist demands; I can only hope the former.

10 minutes ago, lujanit said:

Maybe this has more to do with scaring off potential Chinese tourists.

Doubt it...as the Chinese government has already announced they won't allow tour groups to leave the country this Winter.

Bangkok no longer under ‘severe’ state of emergency

By The Nation

 

 

The lifting of the “severe” state of emergency imposed on Bangkok was announced in the Royal Gazette on Thursday.

 

The reason given was that the situation has eased and government officers can continue handling the issue via normal measures.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the state of emergency will be lifted as of noon on Thursday.

 

The emergency decree was invoked on October 15 and was to remain in place until November 13 in response to anti-government protests.

 

The protesters have been calling for Prayut to resign, the Constitution to be made more democratic and for the monarchy to be reformed.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30396600

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-10-22

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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Probably everyone, except Stephen of course, is waiting for the other letter to be signed.

6 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Doubt it...as the Chinese government has already announced they won't allow tour groups to leave the country this Winter.

That story refers to tour groups not families or individuals travelling.

he did it in 2014 and he's (doing) going to do it again in 2020.... grab power

Recoil before you strike.

30 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Interesting development – scared of more bad press maybe?

international community was making not so friendly comments about his (no democratic) actions

The emergency decree was completely ignored by protestors, maybe its been lifted to try and save what face is left

7 minutes ago, lujanit said:

That story refers to tour groups not families or individuals travelling.

Ahh yeah...did you see where I said "tour groups," which make up probably 80% of Chinese tourists to Thailand.

1 minute ago, CraigInBangkok said:

The emergency decree was completely ignored by protestors, maybe its been lifted to try and save what face is left

maybe not, I am going with @Crossy comment, there's a catch 22 somewhere, they always have a catch 22

6 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

maybe not, I am going with @Crossy comment, there's a catch 22 somewhere, they always have a catch 22

I am not ruling this out for sure as I am pretty sure someone is'nt ready to sign any resignation papers yet

21 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

Could be that throughout the night you will hear the sounds of tracked vehicles plying the  streets of Bangkok

...and I don't mean bulldozers!  An emergency decree bites the dust but is replaced by martial law! 

I think police don't want use force against protester. Hope not coming situation where army show they power! Coz all know who rule them!

39 minutes ago, Crossy said:

I wonder what the catch is, there's always a catch.

 

The catch is the ordinary laws, which are not known for their leniency. They have proven themselves capable of doing what they like in the past, emergency or no emergency, so very little has changed. I shall watch the next protests with great interest, especially the police activity.

As none of the protesters demands have been addressed yet I fully expect to see them out again this afternoon/evening.

 

The interesting bit will be the response/actions of the authorities, any guesses as to what they may or may not do ?

They were losing face and just making things worse. 

 

You can see the protesters aren't scared anymore. All the arrests and threats are coming from an illegitimate government who are on their way out. The students know it and it's finally beginning to dawn on the government.

 

The seal is well and truly broken. 

 

 

 

34 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

As none of the protesters demands have been addressed yet I fully expect to see them out again this afternoon/evening.

 

The interesting bit will be the response/actions of the authorities, any guesses as to what they may or may not do ?

Probably dress soldiers and civil servants as Minions in the hope that people watching will fall for it and think there's a real divide.

 

There of course isn't and most people know what's really going on. But as for the elite, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. 

23 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

The seal is well and truly broken

Yep, the genie is well and truly out of the bottle now & nothing is gonna put it back in.

Lots of Yellow shirt protests too now. Can anyone confirm that many are told to do it by royalist bosses, government staff given time off if they go and other similar incentives?

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

I wonder what the catch is, there's always a catch.

 

of course...just "lift the emergency decree", nothing really changed..he can put it back in force, and he and the military stay in place and will not reform the constitution.

9 minutes ago, greeneking said:

Lots of Yellow shirt protests too now. Can anyone confirm that many are told to do it by royalist bosses, government staff given time off if they go and other similar incentives?

There are videos of them being bused in. Plus some of them have very unique haircuts. Kind of haircut Forrest had in Forrest Gump. 

6 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

There are videos of them being bused in. Plus some of them have very unique haircuts. Kind of haircut Forrest had in Forrest Gump. 

Can you share those videos?  There's a potential for this weekend to be a real mess.

If a country declares a state of emergency foreign countries often issue travel advisories that advise their citizens not to travel there. Also it gives insurance companies the right to void their policies. 

You are the severe state of emergency PM you have the resignation letter sign it and do one and take old father time and the rest of your cohorts with you ????