No worries, keep martial law: NSC

[webfact]

No worries, keep martial law: NSC
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Security Council yesterday decided to keep the country under martial law while dismissing any concerns for the New Year season.

"Although there was the restaurant seizure in Australia, it was the work of one extremist," Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan was quoted as saying by Anusit Kunakorn, secretary-general of the NSC.

"Thailand will maintain martial law as there is no need to revoke it. The country is not totally in peace. Having martial law in force will not adversely affect anyone except those who want to disturb the peace," Anusit said after the NSC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to discuss the security situation over New Year.

Besides the security threat at the international level, the meeting highlighted internal security threats.

NSC officials believe the government has to contain fallout from the national division by nurturing national reconciliation.

"We have to ensure that people with different ideas can live together and do not resort to force. Both sides must comply with the rule of law," he said.

The meeting also discussed the situation in the deep South and the stability of the country's major institutions.

Prayut stressed maritime security because the country has more than Bt20 trillion in such interests per year.

The Cabinet has approved a strategy to manage marine resources. The government is also planning to deal with transnational crime, illegal migrants, and energy and food issues, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/No-worries-keep-martial-law-NSC-30250201.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-19

[noitom]

These Thais, they stress, they ensure, they maintain, they decide, and they approved. These Thais, they know how to do it.

[kotsak]

"We have to ensure that people with different ideas can live together and do not resort to force. Both sides must comply with the rule of law," he said.

The epitome of hypocrisy

[Roadman]

Perhaps Thai officals and spokespeople could be a bit more thoughtful about their information presentation.

No worries and will not disturb any apart from those that wish to disturb the peace is not correct. It does impact on others for example those in the tourist trade as just one example.

If the statements were correctly conveyed to something like the reality...."while we accept some economic and social cost due to the need to keep Martial Law in place"...then they would be taking a few steps in the right direction towards credibility.

Edited December 19, 2014 by Roadman

[LuckyLew]

No need to revoke martial law?

What is the real need to keep it?

Have there been any uprisings?

Cannot be good for the economy as a hole when martial law is in effect

Pretty confident tourism is taking a hit due to martial law

Oh well, keep Thais in line and deny them their freedoms, welll done

[cracker1]

Because of Martial law groups of three (or is it five) people gathering together is illegal. Does this mean the New Year countdowns, like Bangkok's Central World, will not be allowed ?

[SiSePuede419]

"But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin."

It's a Brave New World...

[tx22cb]

Has Martial Law solved the problem in the South?

But I agree that Martial Law should be maintained until the next general elections - it reminds the world that Thailand is ruled by the Military.

[bobmac10]

I can't help laughing when I read all this stuff put out by the people running Thailand now.

I mean it's straight out of George Orwell, it's so corny, so utterly cheesy.

I can just see all the old billionaires sitting in the back of their black mercs on the way to the golf club nodding happily.

Yes just like it always was, back on an even keel again.

No more interference from the people.

We know how to run this place.

[outsider]

The country is not totally in peace? I thought more than 90% of the population is happy, which would suggest the said population is 'in peace'. I mean, how can one be happy if one in not at peace, right?

[John1thru10]

This is not a coup.

Martial law is only temporary, until free elections can be arranged. Elections are top priority.

Remember that? Many people here defended that all the way.

Edited December 19, 2014 by John1thru10

[wabothai]

The bomb is ticking, and you come out with this (cannot say) message?

[Neilly]

The National Security Council yesterday decided to keep the country under martial law while dismissing any concerns for the New Year season.

Yep, business as usual....

[greenchair]

Martial law does not bother me. In fact it does provide a sense of calm in the eye of the storm.

However it is civilians being forced to go to military courts, as a result of martial law that is a worry, since there is no right to appeal. Too bad if an innocent person is accidentally convicted.

[FangFerang]

News is to report new developments (new+s) or new events (new+s).

Um, this story is old + s.

[John1thru10]

Martial law does not bother me. In fact it does provide a sense of calm in the eye of the storm.

However it is civilians being forced to go to military courts, as a result of martial law that is a worry, since there is no right to appeal. Too bad if an innocent person is accidentally convicted.

'Accidentally'

[RobthaiIre]

Thailand will never be at peace until the elite / bkk middle class / southern thais accept that they are in the minority and they will never win an election until they embrace the majority and try win them over. The only difference between Thaksin and all the previous PMs is that he gave the poor a voice. Vote buying /political corruption and all that goes on both sides and it certainly isn't a new phenomenom that Thaksin brought in to get elected. It has been a part of Thai politics since well before Thaksins time.

The Martial Law needs to be repelled and the army should be answerable to the elected government otherwise Thailand will just bounce along from one coup to the next. The army needs to give up its power to take over the country whenever it feels like it needs to reset balance of power back to the old days. The army should operate on the instructions of the elected government and should be held accountable for breaking the law. Turfing out the constitution every time they have a coup is hardly the basis for a democractic country. then the greatest laugh has to be that's it takes about 18 months to draft a new one. Come on hw could it possibly take anything longer than 3 months to write a constitution. Sure they have had plenty of practice at this stage.

Thailand will stay a 3rd world country until the army decides to stay out politics and does its job to defend and protect the country from external threats. They also need to tone down the propaganda as they are starting to look really stupid the last couple of months with the verbal diarrhea they are spouting out on a daily basis.

[MarkmBha]

GREAT....

[Squeegee]

I believe this latest coup is just a last desperate throw of the dice from the old powers in the face of an undeniable new world of human rights and social media. I think this time is different and that's why we're seeing so many daft claims.

Why is this time different?

Because there's a very big storm coming, unlike anything Thailand has seen before, and it will rip this country right down the middle.

This coup has tried to close up an opening gash in the flesh of the society, and martial law is just a band aid, one that will not stick once that storm hits. You will start to really feel the storm a few months after a certain inevitable event has happened. The Thais will go into mourning for a period and then the lid, martial law and all, will blow right off.

[Alwyn]

This is not a coup.

Martial law is only temporary, until free elections can be arranged. Elections are top priority.

Remember that? Many people here defended that all the way.

I remember it well. Where are those same people now?

[willyumiii]

Because there's a very big storm coming, unlike anything Thailand has seen before, and it will rip this country right down the middle.

Maybe it will come to "ripping".

In reality, there are two very different Thailands.

There is Thai Thailand, in the north.

There is western wana be Thailand in the south.

Each has different wants and needs.

Those who never leave the south, don't realize how different the two are.

Most in the north have been forced to go south from time to time since the government is centralized there.

They know the difference.

It could happen some day.

[fobuff]

Solution to all Thai problems... MArtial LAw.. what a bunch of feeble minds

[willyumiii]

I don't care what the perpetual TV sinics say.

Things are better now than they were before...and could get even better.

Why always so frigging negative?

Would you rather have people fighting in the stree over what color laundry they wear?

[rickirs]

Martial law didn't stop rubber farmers from massing a recent public protest. Oh wait. They're pro-Democrat Party and pro-Junta supporters so they get a free pass from the "rule of law." If you support the Junta, your "rule of law" is different than those that don't. So much for "equality under the law."

[Fatty123]

I love how they try and convince people that there are different entities at work. NCPO, NLA, NSC, The 'Government' etc...Like the NLA to advise/cooperate NCPO etc...(so army advises/cooperates with army hmm)

Let's stop with this nonsense. It's a Junta, pure and simple.

[Wilsonandson]

What are the current rules for the martial law? Can these laws be published so people know what they can or cannot do. Tourists need info on this during the high season.

[tbthailand]

Having martial law in force will not adversely affect anyone except those who want to disturb the peace,"

Also known as "if you do nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear".