Thai security officials seek extension to emergency rule

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai security officials on Monday proposed extending a state of emergency imposed across about a third of the country, including Bangkok, in response to opposition protests that turned deadly.

The government unit set up to oversee security during the unrest unanimously backed the call to maintain emergency rule in the capital and 23 provinces "because of security concerns," said spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd.

"It might be revoked earlier in the situation improves," he told AFP.

The recommendation to prolong the state of emergency for another three months will be presented on Tuesday to the cabinet, which has in the past followed the advice of security officials on extending the decree.

The government has said previously that emergency rule was likely to be lifted in many areas but not Bangkok, rejecting a call from the opposition for it to be revoked for a parliamentary by-election in the capital on July 25.

Two months of mass anti-government protests by the "Red Shirt" movement, pushing for immediate elections, sparked outbreaks of violence that left 90 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured.

A Red Shirt leader detained on charges of terrorism is running in the Bangkok by-election as a candidate for the opposition Puea Thai Party.

Abhisit invoked emergency rule in Bangkok on April 7, banning public gatherings of more than five people and giving broad powers to the police and military, including the right to detainee suspects for 30 days without charge.

Human rights campaigners have voiced concerns that the government's use of the sweeping emergency powers lacks transparency and violates freedom of expression.

Enraged protesters went on a rampage of arson after a deadly army crackdown ended their rally on May 19. The unrest also spread outside the capital, particularly in the Reds' stronghold in Thailand's impoverished northeast.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-07-05

The t-shirts are obviously not working.