Prayut to enact new NCPO announcement to replace martial law enforcement

[Lite Beer]

Prayut to enact new NCPO announcement to replace martial law enforcement

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Friday that he is preparing to enact a new announcement of the National Council for Peace and Order to replace the martial law enforcement.

Prayut said the Cabinet did not discuss the lifting of martial law during its meeting at the Hua Hin Cabinet retreat Friday because the issue is under his authority as the NCPO chief.

He said the NCPO announcement would be similar to the provision of Article 44 of the interim charter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-to-enact-new-NCPO-announcement-to-replace-m-30256883.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-27

[JOC]

>>Prayut said the Cabinet did not discuss the lifting of martial law during its meeting at the Hua Hin Cabinet retreat Friday because the issue is under his authority as the NCPO chief.<<

Why waste time and taxpayer money on playing democracy??

Prayut is clearly aiming at absolute power!!

[greg71]

Draconian times ahead for Thais .

[Artisi]

Simply complying with the current law's of the land would be a good start in reducing and sorting out the countries immediate problems.

[Lite Beer]

PM to lift martial law, invoke Section 44 of interim constitution

BANGKOK: -- The government is preparing to lift the martial law, which has been imposed since May 20 last year, and will instead invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to exercise its power to maintain law and order in the country, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after the mobile cabinet meeting in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district on Friday.

When asked by reporters about the criteria for lifting the martial law, Gen Prayut declined to go in detail, saying only that it is his responsibility to keep the situation under control.

“To make it clear, I am now preparing to invoke Section 44 (of the interim constitution) to replace the martial law,” Gen Prayut said.

Gen Prayut said Section 44 would be exercised in the form of an order of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). An NCPO order is more powerful than any other forms of laws or orders, he added.

He said the invocation of Section 44 would depend on the situation. It would be mainly used to guarantee safety of the people’s lives and property and prevent unrest and violence in the country, he added.

Gen Prayut said Section 44 of the interim constitution would be invoked after the martial law, which has been imposed since May 20, two days before the May 22 coup, has been lifted.

The prime minister said the next step for him to do was to forward a draft announcement to revoke the martial law to His Majesty the King for endorsement.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-to-lift-martial-law-invoke-section-44-of-interim-constitution

-- Thai PBS 2015-03-27

[brucec64]

Who do they think they're fooling?

There is international pressure to remove martial law because of the infringement this imposes on basic human rights. Section 44 is a draconian measure with no limits. At least there are some limits to martial law.

This is a major step backwards, not forwards, and the international community will not be fooled.

But as posted above, dark days ahead, because now real abuses can become a reality with no repercussions to the junta.

[Anthony5]

PM to lift martial law, invoke Section 44 of interim constitution

Is he waving to his imaginary fan club in this picture?

This guy is so full of himself that he will never hand over the power until his last breath.

It isn't very clear but is that the hunger salute or the Carabao salute?

[JOC]

>>Gen Prayut said Section 44 would be exercised in the form of an order of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). An NCPO order is more powerful than any other forms of laws or orders, he added.<< Quote

Come on junta-lovers and explain to the rest of us, that the general is a well meaning man, who only have Thailands best in sight!!

Reconciliation?? My backside!!

A last desperate attempt to keep the elite and their mighty sponsors at the trough!!

Wonder when ordinary Thai people are going to reach the breaking point??

[Srikcir]

By invoking Section 44 of the Interim Charter, any new constitution is automatically overridden.

In other words any new constitution becomes meaningless because NCPO blatantly retains absolute power over the sovereignty of the Thai people.

As Prayut points out, "An NCPO order is more powerful than any other forms of laws or orders." That other form being a constitution and its attendant laws.

I never thought I'd see the day that Myanmar becomes the leading democratic nation on mainland Southeast Asia.

[tbthailand]

a rose by any other name

a spade is a spade

a "cant-use-the-*ictator-word" is an "*ictator" by any other name...

same for martial law...

How pathetic.

[tbthailand]

>>Gen Prayut said Section 44 would be exercised in the form of an order of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). An NCPO order is more powerful than any other forms of laws or orders, he added.<< Quote

Come on junta-lovers and explain to the rest of us, that the general is a well meaning man, who only have Thailands best in sight!!

Reconciliation?? My backside!!

A last desperate attempt to keep the elite and their mighty sponsors at the trough!!

Wonder when ordinary Thai people are going to reach the breaking point??

to replace martial law by something that is not called martial law but in a way that it doesn't matter to the junta is a "smart" move on their part.

on the other hand, it takes the brains of a chicken to see that - which is probably why it took them 10 months to come up with the idea.

To respond to your question, I think ordinary Thais will reach the breaking point when the cumulative effect of this junta's buffoonery combined with their unfeeling, unfettered absolute rule generates the unavoidable sympathy for their victims... A bit of the "but for the grace of god go I" effect...

Just my opinion (may I add before the super troll rubl comes 'round and adds that rather obvious observation for me... )

[Plutojames88]

Wow it's really happening to our beloved Thailand .

And look who will be in charge!

Get used to it ...he will be a TV God .

In the future it will be forbidden ( including here) to utter words against him.

He will jail you or worse.

Thais will tremble

There will be laws once this occurs.

Imagine

Names of people ...(including here ..) ...links to accounts IP addresses.

Facebook Thais arrested over saying boo.

Media hushed.

People going missing.?

Dark times ahead ...this is real not Hollywood ...not a mischievous General with sense of humour.

A leader Psychologist says "this guy is getting drunk on power and its becoming increasingly clear his direction."

Unless he is stopped from within Thailand could be in trouble.

Things are very predictable under a nationalist xenophobic agenda

This transcends politics.

This is a decree where essentially whatever this guy says goes.

Does that mean he can order very literally that you be taken and placed in a camp without charge and all assets seized.?

Sure he might not , that's insanity.

But stare at this guys photo and what do you see?

" I would consider the transfer of power to " absolute " standing , to be a far greater threat to Thai citizens then the current structure. ""

[bkkcanuck8]

They should have written it as article 42.

Those that want to be fooled by it will, those that won't won't. There might be certain countries that would have liked to turn a blind eye that could not -- accept it as an improvement. It will be interesting to see how it is received.

Actually, if they were going to enact it they should have done it at the very beginning -- at least they could have claimed it was not martial law... Now it won't slide by as easily.....

Coming from a country where separatism is a real issue, I have always been wary that rash action now may paper over problems - but 30 years down the road they might have to deal with the implications of the divisions that they failed to recognize and tried to suppress.

[PatOngo]

PM to lift martial law, invoke Section 44 of interim constitution

Is he waving to his imaginary fan club in this picture?

This guy is so full of himself that he will never hand over the power until his last breath.

It isn't very clear but is that the hunger salute or the Carabao salute?

He's waving to Costas, his real fan club.

[Lite Beer]

Martial law to be lifted: PM
Nitipol Kiravanich,
Wiraj Sripong,
Opas Boonlom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Preparations under way, says Prayut, but he has not discussed the matter with Cabinet

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said he is about to lift martial law and issue an order to deal with security issues.

However, he said he had not discussed this matter with the Cabinet and that it was his idea.

Prayut, who also heads the National Council for Peace and Order, said he was waiting for the right time to issue the order under Article 44 of the post-coup provisional charter, which gave him extensive powers as the NCPO leader.

"The preparation is under way. You will know the order is issued when it is issued," he said yesterday.

According to Prayut, the order will be announced before he seeks a royal command to lift martial law, which has been in effect since the coup he led last May.

The prime minister yesterday chaired the Cabinet's retreat in Hua Hin. The lifting of martial law was not on the meeting agenda.

The government has been under constant pressure to lift martial law from the private sector, human rights groups and foreign countries.

Political observers and critics yesterday voiced opposition to invoking Article 44 of the provisional charter to replace martial law.

Human rights lawyer Somchai Homlaor said Article 44 gave General Prayut, in his capacity as NCPO chief, "unlimited and absolute" power - with the end result of making it worse than martial law.

"This clause is dictatorial and it restricts the rights and liberties of people," Somchai said. "If Article 44 is used to replace martial law, Thailand's image in the eyes of the international community will get worse. In fact, Article 44 should be repealed."

Article 44 states that "In cases where the head of the National Council for Peace and Order is of the opinion that it is necessary for the benefit of reform and to strengthen public unity and harmony, or for the prevention, disruption or suppression of any act which undermines public peace and order or national security, the monarchy, national economy or administration of state affairs, he shall have the power to make any order to disrupt or suppress regardless of the legislative, executive or judicial force of that order."

Somchai said that the "outdated" martial law should be amended through the National Legislative Assembly to make it better reflect the current situation, such as allowing visits by relatives of those being detained under martial law.

He said that either the Internal Security Act or the emergency law was a better alternative than martial law. "They both are less severe than martial law," he added.

Thammasat University political science lecturer Attasit Pankaew said there was no necessity to use Article 44 instead of martial law.

The authority given under Article 44 is more than martial law, and the junta will be able to do virtually anything under this law, Attasit stressed.

"Article 44 leaves a lot of space for interpretation, meaning the public does not know what the junta could do or could not do with their authority," the political scientist said.

He said the first thing that needed to be done was to determine whether it was necessary to use Article 44, as social stability had returned under the junta.

He said there were people who opposed the junta government, but no violent acts had been committed that warranted invoking such a strong law.

Suriyan Thongnu-eiad, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, agreed that there was no reason for the government to use Article 44.

He said that right now there were no violent issues in society, as contrasting ideas had not led to social conflict.

"Using Article 44 would be similar to Thailand's old dictatorship eras like Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat's time, which is not in accordance with the modern society," Suriyan said.

He said that the law was highly inappropriate for modern times, because everyone knew that no one could control other people's ideas.

"If the junta really insists on using this law, it would be similar to a person using pesticides on vegetables that have weeds. The person who uses pesticides on his own vegetables will die when he eats them," he said.

He said there were other laws to maintain social stability.

Anti-coup activist Sombat Boonngam-anong, who was arrested and faces a military court hearing, agreed the government could maintain stability without using these special measures.

"The government would earn more respect from the domestic and international community if they maintain internal order by using normal laws," Sombat said.

He added that martial law was normally used in situations where society was suffering from instability, but it was peaceful now and there was no reason for people to hold political protests.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Martial-law-to-be-lifted-PM-30256963.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-28

[NongKhaiKid]

Martial Law to be lifted. is this supposed to sell it to, and fool, the international community while replacing it with Absolute Power for one man ?

The world reacted in a negative fashion to martial law and the coup and the words absolute power will resonate even louder but the PM will probably think he's pulled the wool over everyone's eyes.

I'm convinced the PM should start to look over his shoulder as likely opposition to his increasing authoritarian ways will come from within his own camp when someone decides enough is enough and he can do a better job. i would suggest the PM reads up on history but that would involve world history and since he's in his own little world the rest doesn't matter.

[NeverSure]

Hello. This will be true democracy. The people eventually will be able to elect people who can be overridden by an appointed committee and their appointed er, uh, well, leader. The elected ones will have no power and there will be a catch 22 44, but we'll call it democracy for the sake of selling seafood.

[chooka]

>>Gen Prayut said Section 44 would be exercised in the form of an order of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). An NCPO order is more powerful than any other forms of laws or orders, he added.<< Quote

Come on junta-lovers and explain to the rest of us, that the general is a well meaning man, who only have Thailands best in sight!!

Reconciliation?? My backside!!

A last desperate attempt to keep the elite and their mighty sponsors at the trough!!

Wonder when ordinary Thai people are going to reach the breaking point??

This gives him absolute power and is untouchable and answers to nobody. He cannot be held accountable for any actions. A week ago he said if he had more power he would execute those who opposed him, now he has granted himself ultimate power.

His supporters on here drop at his feet and claim he has been sent from above, personally I don't think he was sent from above.

I see dark times ahead as Thailand slips into its darkest era in history. No person should have such power over the people.

[chooka]

PM to lift martial law, invoke Section 44 of interim constitution

Is he waving to his imaginary fan club in this picture?

This guy is so full of himself that he will never hand over the power until his last breath.

It isn't very clear but is that the hunger salute or the Carabao salute?

He's waving to Costas, his real fan club.

Nice one.

[chooka]

PM to lift martial law, invoke Section 44 of interim constitution

Is he waving to his imaginary fan club in this picture?

This guy is so full of himself that he will never hand over the power until his last breath.

It isn't very clear but is that the hunger salute or the Carabao salute?

There was a guy in Europe a few years back who had a similar salute when he to took ultimate power. Can't recall his name but it will come back to me.

[NeverSure]

[NeverSure]

I'm wondering if there are many who work for this guy who actually like him and are emotionally on his team. I'm looking at all of those people and wondering what they are thinking.........

[FireMedic]

Imagine the potential censoring the mods will have to deal with in the future. I already get so much deleted for sarcastic jokes about corruption, they will have to hire more mods.

[chooka]

I'm wondering if there are many who work for this guy who actually like him and are emotionally on his team. I'm looking at all of those people and wondering what they are thinking.........

They are probably terrified of him even more so now he has ultimate power. He would execute a journalist and if one of his people dare question his actions they would probably be hung, drawn and quartered in public.

[Thailand]

Very scary times indeed.

And a sad day for Thailand.

[alant]

Who do they think they're fooling?

There is international pressure to remove martial law because of the infringement this imposes on basic human rights. Section 44 is a draconian measure with no limits. At least there are some limits to martial law.

This is a major step backwards, not forwards, and the international community will not be fooled.

But as posted above, dark days ahead, because now real abuses can become a reality with no repercussions to the junta.

I don't agree, the international community will be fooled because it wants to be fooled.

Thailand is friend number 1 in SE Asia so things that would be a cause for criticism and possible sanctions are not on the cards and never will be.

The west is happy with things it seems.

[crazykopite]

What a sad day for the people of Thailand, democracy will become a thing of the past a step backwards is the only way I see this I hope the western world sit up,and take notice by putting pressure on the self elected PM

[maoro2013]

Section 44 more powerful for who??

Not the people that's for sure.

[scavenger]

Dear Genral, please keep that demoncracy you have achieved. All surveys have clearly shown that Thais want the martial law. Conduct another survey right now, you are guaranteed a 99.9% rate of approval for the martial law.

[BSJ]

Interesting turn of events. Maybe it's time for some of you to join the CPMFC...that's Costas Prime Minister Fan Club.

I am going to continue to sit on the fence......with the pick-up engine running and the GPS set for the Laos border!