Thailand Prolongs Emergency Rule Over Swathes Of Country

[webfact]

Thailand prolongs emergency rule over swathes of country

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand on Tuesday extended by three months a state of emergency across about one quarter of the country, including Bangkok, due to lingering fears of unrest following deadly protests.

The move comes despite warnings from human rights campaigners that the authorities' use of the sweeping emergency powers lacks transparency and suppresses freedom of expression.

The emergency decree, imposed in April after a mass opposition rally began in the capital, will be maintained for three more months in 19 provinces -- out of a total of 76 -- but lifted in five others, officials said.

"The cabinet endorsed the lifting of the state of emergency in five provinces," deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaismut said. "Emergency rule will still be imposed in the rest."

The strict laws ban public gatherings of more than five people and give security forces the right to detain suspects for 30 days without charge.

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.

The government rejected a call from the opposition for the emergency decree to be revoked for a parliamentary by-election in Bangkok on July 25.

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

Security officials on Monday proposed extending the state of emergency, warning that some weapons seized during the anti-government protests were still missing.

But a leading think-tank, International Crisis Group, voiced concern Monday that the emergency laws had empowered authorities to stifle the anti-government movement and should be lifted at once.

"While the Red Shirts have no opportunity for open and peaceful expression because of draconian laws, their legitimate frustrations are being forced underground and possibly towards illegal and violent actions," ICG said.

Thailand should lift the law "or risk further damaging its democracy, hindering much needed reconciliation, and sowing the seeds of future deadly conflict," the Brussels-based group said in a report.

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.

The five provinces where emergency rule will be lifted are Si Sa Ket, Kalasin, Nan, Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Pathom, scattered around north, northeast and central Thailand.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-07-06

[dru2]

Good. It should not be lifted until that moronic Thai Mussolini Jatuporn is behind bars - but then, will he ever be held responsible?

[webfact]

Army Chief Backs Extension of Emergency Law

The army chief is adamant that the Emergency Decree is still a necessity for national security while denying that red-shirt protesters have been detained at a Kanchanaburi army camp.

Army Commander-in-Chief General Anupong Paochinda spoke today of the continuation of the Emergency Decree enforcement, saying the matter will be left to the discretion of the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, or CRES.

Anupong, besides noting that the CRES comprises army, administrative and police officials, stated that the center has compiled sufficient data to decide on the situation.

The army chief expressed his opinion that the extension of emergency rule would be in the best interest of Thailand and its economy.

Anupong pointed to unabated violent incidents and dissent as his reasoning.

The general also denied the claim made by the Pheu Thai Party that members of the red-shirt group have been detained at the 9th Infantry Regiment in Kanchanaburi province. He said that the party should present evidence to back its accusation.

Anupong and deputy army chief General Prayut Chan-ocha will travel to the southern border provinces to follow up on security operations in the restive area.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-06

[gotlost]

Never thought that it would be lifted.

[Thailand]

"The army chief expressed his opinion that the extension of emergency rule would be in the best interest of Thailand and its economy.

Anupong pointed to unabated violent incidents and dissent as his reasoning."

Apart from the south which has been an ongoing problem for years what are the other "unabated violent incidents"?

[FarangCravings]

"The army chief expressed his opinion that the extension of emergency rule would be in the best interest of Thailand and its economy.

Anupong pointed to unabated violent incidents and dissent as his reasoning."

Apart from the south which has been an ongoing problem for years what are the other "unabated violent incidents"?

Im sure they can make some up to warrant the extension

[sevenhills]

Good. It should not be lifted until that moronic Thai Mussolini Jatuporn is behind bars - but then, will he ever be held responsible?

Will the moronic Kasit and Co ever be held responsible? They are not behind bars where they should be.

[Rucharee]

Please do not complaint.

State of Emergency is set to protect Thai people, not to hurt Thai people.

So we should have it all the time, just just another 3 months.

[march]

Will the moronic Kasit and Co ever be held responsible? They are not behind bars where they should be.

Perhaps he's a gentleman and he's implementing a "Ladies First" policy as we've all been waiting for far, far longer time on Potjaman to go behind bars where she should be for her already-found-guilty conviction.

[peacefulwarrior]

Why do I thing more and more that this is a fascist country, were money counts more than people.

Just saying, there is more mourning for a shopping mall than for 88 dead people.

How can the public be so stupid and fall into this 'war against terror' farce with which the government

tries to stay in power. This fish stinks soo much like boo plaa, it's disgusting.

And the military detaining 'problem makers', sure, they did it with the Burmese boat people as

well as with the Hmong tribe in the north, turning them over to the authorities / regime which

threatens them.

Security laws always take the freedom out of the system and putting more power in the despots hands.

Wishing the best for the people of Thailand, la.

[dru2]

Good. It should not be lifted until that moronic Thai Mussolini Jatuporn is behind bars - but then, will he ever be held responsible?

Will the moronic Kasit and Co ever be held responsible? They are not behind bars where they should be.

Four smilies? Somehow that makes you seem quite ridiculous.

[tonywebster]

Good. It should not be lifted until that moronic Thai Mussolini Jatuporn is behind bars - but then, will he ever be held responsible?

Will the moronic Kasit and Co ever be held responsible? They are not behind bars where they should be.

Four smilies? Somehow that makes you seem quite ridiculous.

and comparing Jatuporn to Mussolini doesn't?

(one smiley, is that ok mein Fuhrer?

[landofthefree]

Never thought that it would be lifted.

Politicians love power, Abhisit is no exception extending this (completely unnecesarily) helps him to achieve his lust for power. No surprise here at all.

[march]

Good. It should not be lifted until that moronic Thai Mussolini Jatuporn is behind bars - but then, will he ever be held responsible?

Will the moronic Kasit and Co ever be held responsible? They are not behind bars where they should be.

Four smilies? Somehow that makes you seem quite ridiculous.

and comparing Jatuporn to Mussolini doesn't?

That's not much of a stretch actually:

[OJAS]

Will the moronic Kasit and Co ever be held responsible? They are not behind bars where they should be.

Perhaps he's a gentleman and he's implementing a "Ladies First" policy as we've all been waiting for far, far longer time on Potjaman to go behind bars where she should be for her already-found-guilty conviction.

Not to mention Potjaman's scumbag ex ....

[Throatwobbler]

Now even the BBC is admitting that there was violent sections in the red shirt crowd and that they weren't all peaceful demonstrators who only wanted democracy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10524678.stm

[oswald]

quote

Now even the BBC is admitting that there was violent sections in the red shirt crowd and that they weren't all peaceful demonstrators who only wanted democracy.

unquote

Well, that clinches it. Why not go for one or two years? After all, it's all for the good of the country.

[kissdani]

and comparing Jatuporn to Mussolini doesn't?

That's not much of a stretch actually:

[PanzerJohn]

Does this mean that any tourist insurance is invalid? Not good for the tourism trade.

[personchester]

<BR>Good. It should not be lifted until that moronic Thai Mussolini Jatuporn is behind bars - but then, will he ever be held responsible?<BR>

<

To suggest that the emergency decree should continue until a single opposition bloke is arrested is utter nonsense, if the opposition bloke mentioned is a criminal and should be arrested then this is a matter to be sorted by the police, and not by a national emercency decree.

Moreover, please keep in mind that Thailand is considered to be a democracy, and it is essential for any democratic country that the ruling governement has political oppositions, since a ruling government without a political opposition is not a democratic government at all.

In addition, the current political crisis must be resolved by negotiations and not by emergency laws since this will force the opposition group to continue their activities 'under ground' and this will result in extreme violence which (as is the case in the south) is difficult to control, and should this occur in BKK then Thailand has major problems, thus in order to solve the current and long standing political crisis negotiations with the opposition are essential.

Edited July 7, 2010 by personchester

[anotheruser]

Does this mean that any tourist insurance is invalid? Not good for the tourism trade.

I would think so.

[Robby nz]

Jatuporn seems to think it's needed.

"I don't think we should or could gather any time soon. Under the current climate, it would lead to more deaths and could also compromise the fate of those who are in police custody," Jatuporn told Reuters in an interview.

Jatuporn said a state of emergency imposed in April also made any attempt to regroup difficult.

The government extended the emergency on Tuesday for another three months in Bangkok and 18 of the country's 76 provinces, citing danger posed by anti-government elements.

"With this, authorities have power to arrest us on various grounds," said Jatuporn, who said he sleeps in a different place almost every night for safety reasons. "I tell our supporters to bide their time. Just keep breathing and stay out of harm's way."

Link

[thehabs]

The t-shirts are obviously not working.