Thailand Lifts Emergency Rule In Three More Provinces

[webfact]

Thailand lifts emergency rule in three more provinces

BANGKOK, October 1, 2010 (AFP) - Thailand on Friday revoked a state of emergency in three northeastern provinces, but maintained the controversial laws in Bangkok, where there has been a series of minor blasts in recent weeks.

The Thai government has come under pressure from the United States and rights groups to roll back the emergency powers to help the country recover from deadly civil unrest that has left it deeply divided.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted the decree in Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani -- the northeastern stronghold of the "Red Shirt" opposition movement behind huge protests in Bangkok in April and May.

"It's effective immediately," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told AFP.

The decree was introduced in the capital in early April in response to mass anti-government rallies by the "Red Shirt" movement that ultimately left 91 people dead in clashes between protesters and the army.

The laws, which ban public gatherings of more than five people and give security forces the right to detain suspects for 30 days without charge, remain in place in Bangkok and nearby, in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.

In recent weeks a string of grenade blasts has hit the Thai capital, raising doubts over the speed at which emergency rule can be lifted in Bangkok.

In the latest case, a grenade was thrown into the compound of the Attorney General's office in Bangkok on Monday evening. Nobody was hurt.

On Friday of last week three people were wounded when a small bomb in a rubbish bin exploded in a residential area.

The Red Shirts deny any involvement in the blasts and have accused the government of a conspiracy to justify greater powers for authorities.

The protests by the Reds, many of whom back fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, attracted up to 100,000 people demanding immediate elections but were dispersed by an army crackdown on May 19.

After the crackdown, enraged protesters set dozens of major buildings ablaze, including a shopping mall and the stock exchange.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-10-01

[webfact]

PM lifted state of emergency in Udon Thani Khon Khaen and Nakhon Ratchsima: Panithan /via @INN /via @tukky_NT

[webfact]

BKK, Nonthaburi,Samut Prakan,and Pathum Thani remain under state of emergency /via @tukky_NT

[asiawatcher]

After the seizure at the airport this morning - put it back! Thailand is obviously still of the impression anyone can do anything here so leave it in place - it is only symbolic at best because none of the appointed keepers of law and order act when required!

[monkfish]

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/thailand-must-repeal-or-reform-emergency-legislation-immediately-2010-09-30

Thailand must repeal or reform emergency legislation immediately

30 September 2010

Thailand must cease invoking the Emergency Decree and the Internal Security Act, as they flout international human rights law and standards, Amnesty International said on Thursday.

The Emergency Decree and/or the Internal Security Act (ISA) were first invoked outside of Thailand's southern regions, which has witnessed ongoing unrest, on 12 April 2009 during anti-government demonstrations. Either the Emergency Decree or ISA has been put into effect by the authorities in parts of Thailand outside the South for almost half the time since then.

"Invoking these laws has become almost routine for the government," said Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International's Thailand researcher.

"As a result, the extraordinary powers they grant to curtail human rights have often been abused to block the expression of peaceful dissenting views."

The ISA was most recently put into place in Bangkok on 11 March 2010, a full month before peaceful demonstrations became violent.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Decree, invoked on 7 April 2010, remains in effect in Bangkok and six other provinces, despite the fact that the demonstrations ended four and a half months ago.

The Thai government is considering a three-month renewal of the Emergency Decree this week.

The Emergency Decree allows for 30 days' detention without charge or trial, the use of unofficial detention centres, ineffective or unenforced judicial review of arrest warrants and requests to extend detention, the denial of requests for personal visits to detainees, and the lack of consistent, unhindered, and independent monitoring of the detention centres, facilitating torture and other ill-treatment.

The Emergency Decree also authorizes virtually unfettered censorship of news and information outlets, and expressly confers immunity from prosecution for officials who violate human rights law in the course of their duties.

The Ministry of Justice last reported on 24 August 2010 that the government was holding 209 detainees in relation to the March - May protests under the Emergency Decree, some of whom reported being beaten in prison.

Some detainees have had no access to a lawyer and have been given no information as to the status of their cases.

Some of those detained merely on the basis of appearing in photographs of the protests have not been released even after refuting their presence in the images.

Others report to have confessed to committing illegal or criminal acts on the basis of deception or threat by the police.

The ISA confers considerable discretionary powers on the military to restrict freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of movement.

Moreover, these powers apply to "any situation which is or may be a threat", a definition that is not only broad and vague, but covers possible threats as well as actual ones.

According to the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation, created by the government and the military to coordinate and administer the Emergency Decree in response to the mass anti-government demonstrations earlier this year, at least 1,500 websites, radio and television stations, and print publications have been disabled or censored in Thailand since early April 2010.

Amnesty International said it recognizes that significant violence and unrest have on several occasions characterized Thailand's ongoing political crisis, including the violent disruption of the ASEAN Summit in April 2009; and "Red Shirt" protests in March-May 2010 that resulted in clashes in which 91 people were killed. However, the government’s response to such situations must conform to Thailand’s international obligations.

"The government must end its frequent and abusive resort to emergency legislation that contravenes international human rights law," stated Benjamin Zawacki.

Amnesty International called on the government of Thailand not to renew the Emergency Decree in Bangkok and the six other non-southern provinces where it is in effect, and to either repeal the Decree and the ISA or bring them into compliance with international law and standards.

END

Those who think the SOE dosn't effect them well it does in a way because All news you read on TV has been vetted.

Well looks like Bangkok got the SOE for high season lets hope it doesn't effect Tourism too much.

[Tirconaill]

You know guys I have a number of issues with this report andwhat it may be implying:

1. ‘The Thai government has come underpressure from the United States and human rights groups to roll back the emergencypowers to help the country recover from deadly civil unrest that has left itdeeply divided’.PROBLEM: What has the US to do with politics of a sovereign Asian state and whatright do they have to question human rights in another country afterAfghanistan and Iraq?

2. PrimeMinister Abhisit Vejjajiva has and should protect the majority against theeconomically damaging minority, even with ‘emergency laws’. He also has a dutyto maintain law and order. So if the ‘opposition’ wishes to explode bombs andgrenades, injuring the innocent public, he has to react and react strongly. Ifany criticism is to be leveled against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, it isthat he is too democratic and not strong enough on the law and order side.

3. ‘The protests by the Reds, many of whomback fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, attracted up to 100,000 peopledemanding immediate elections but were dispersed by an army crackdown on May19.’

Weare now in October! Can these people not move on? They lost the Battle ofBangkok; why do they not just disappear? If Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra was a realpolitician, with a real love of his country, he should denounce, publically, thecorrosive actions of the Red Shirts. Then fight a general election alongdemocratic grounds.

I have no axe to grind. I wish only continued prosperity forthe people of Thailand and its economy of which the climb of the Baht since the ending of theRed Shirt protest has been very obvious. More power to the people, at least the majority!