Chiang Mai has not yet asked for state of emergency to be reimposed

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he has not yet received a request from any province, including Chiang Mai, where the state of emergency was earlier lifted, asking to reimpose the emergency decree.

The prime minister’s comment came after Chiang Mai deputy governor Chuchart Kilapang on Sunday said that provincial officials may ask national security agencies to reimpose the emergency decree in Chiang Mai following a grenade attack early Sunday at the office of the father-in-law of Newin Chidchob, a banned politician who is de facto leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, a coalition partner of the Democrat-led government.

However, Mr Abhisit said local authorities could propose what they needed to the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) and he would consider whether the emergency decree is needed. However, he indicated that the government preferred to use only the normal laws.

The state of emergency in Chiang Mai was revoked on August 16 as security enforcement there had negatively impacted business and the tourism industry. At present, the state of emergency is in effect in the capital and six other provinces.

Nakhon Pathom, which had been under the state of emergency, found no problems after the measure was lifted in the province, the prime minister said after he travelled to Nakhon Pathom and met its governor on Sunday.

Speaking of the grenade fired at the office of the father-in-law of Newin Chidchob in Chiang Mai on Sunday, the prime minister said the attacker was likely only targeting a symbolic place, but officials had to be cautious and handle the problem.

Meanwhile, Army Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said Sunday’s grenade attack in Chiang Mai was aimed to create a disturbance and that it was difficult to prevent such an attack.

An M79 grenade can be fired within a radius of 400 yards and to prevent it, soldiers must be deployed to that 400-yard radius. Troop deployment is not proper as the state of emergency has been lifted in Chiang Mai already, so it is a police duty to provide security there, he said.

Gen Anupong echoed the prime minister’s remark that the prime minister had already said it was not proper to reimpose the state of emergency in Chiang Mai because it would affect the public in general.

However, the police can ask for backup from the military if it is needed, Gen Anupong added. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-09-13

I can understand that it takes more than just one grenade to provoke the the declaration of of a state of emergency. Otherwise, what would existing laws be for?