Emergency Decree To Be Further Extended

[george]

Emergency decree to be further extended

BANGKOK: -- The government will extend the emergency decree imposed in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani for another three months, according to Deputy Prime Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya.

Pol. Gen. Chidchai told journalists here on Thursday after chairing a meeting of a committee in charge of handling emergency situations that the meeting reviewed and assessed developments in the deep South following the implementation of the special law over the past six months.

"We've agreed that a further extension of the emergency decree is needed although the situation in the southern border region has improved," he said.

"This is because innocent officers still become targets of insurgents' attacks," he added.

The executive decree is a key legal tool to facilitate the work of local authorities to control the situation in the region, according to the deputy premier, who is also Justice Minister concurrently.

The emergency decree was firstly implemented last July and was extended in November and will be extended again later this month.

Pol. Gen. Chidchai said that the extension of the special law would be proposed to the cabinet on January 17 and is believed to get the cabinet's approval.

The deputy premier promised that the emergency decree, as in the past six months, would be implemented with caution and only when necessary based on the legitimacy and advice of prosecutors and judges.

Th Southern Border Provinces Peacekeeping Command (SBPPC) and the Fourth Army Area Command have also concluded a "rule of engagement" to be guidlines for local security forces in dealing with clashes or handling emergency and violent situations in the deep South, according to Pol. Gen. Chidchai.

The "rule of engagement" would be part of the emergency decree, he noted.

"Local residents now more understand and cooperate with local officers as they have realized that suspected insurgent have been well-treated from the authorities," said the deputy premier.

--TNA 2006-01-12