Thailand to keep martial law for now: PM Surayud

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has abandoned plans to lift martial law ahead of a regional summit to be attended by President Bush this week because it has been assured the subject will not come up.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Tuesday U.S. Ambassador Ralph Boyce had told him the martial law in place since a September 19 coup would not be discussed at the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization in Vietnam.

"I don't think keeping the martial law will have any impact on Thailand at APEC according to my discussion with the U.S. ambassador," Surayud told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The leaders of the coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have cited unspecified "undercurrents" for keeping martial law despite the absence of any serious opposition to the putsch.

They appear to be referring to grumbling from supporters of Thaksin, winner of two landslide elections now living in exile in London. Thaksin, in Hong Kong on Tuesday, declined to say whether he would return to Bangkok any time soon.

Last week, Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtas said martial law, denounced by the European Union and the United States, could be lifted before the Hanoi summit started on November 17.

But Suryud said on Tuesday he needed more information from the Council for National Security (CNS), as the coup leaders now call themselves, before deciding whether to lift the law.

Nor, Surayud said, was he in a hurry to remove powers which have not been enforced in a country where the coup was greeted generally with relief at the end of months of political deadlock and street demonstrations against Thaksin.

"This is not an emergency topic," he said.

"On national security issues, we need time to consider carefully. We need more information from the CNS because we don't have adequate information to decide on this alone."

--Reuters 2006-11-15

Thailand to keep martial law for now: PM Surayud

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has abandoned plans to lift martial law ahead of a regional summit to be attended by President Bush this week because it has been assured the subject will not come up.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Tuesday U.S. Ambassador Ralph Boyce had told him the martial law in place since a September 19 coup would not be discussed at the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization in Vietnam.

"I don't think keeping the martial law will have any impact on Thailand at APEC according to my discussion with the U.S. ambassador," Surayud told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The leaders of the coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have cited unspecified "undercurrents" for keeping martial law despite the absence of any serious opposition to the putsch.

They appear to be referring to grumbling from supporters of Thaksin, winner of two landslide elections now living in exile in London. Thaksin, in Hong Kong on Tuesday, declined to say whether he would return to Bangkok any time soon.

Last week, Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtas said martial law, denounced by the European Union and the United States, could be lifted before the Hanoi summit started on November 17.

But Suryud said on Tuesday he needed more information from the Council for National Security (CNS), as the coup leaders now call themselves, before deciding whether to lift the law.

Nor, Surayud said, was he in a hurry to remove powers which have not been enforced in a country where the coup was greeted generally with relief at the end of months of political deadlock and street demonstrations against Thaksin.

"This is not an emergency topic," he said.

"On national security issues, we need time to consider carefully. We need more information from the CNS because we don't have adequate information to decide on this alone."

--Reuters 2006-11-15

Aside from giving cause to stifle media, opposition, etc - what other powers do the CNS have from martial law?

Aside from giving cause to stifle media, opposition, etc - what other powers do the CNS have from martial law?

approving mega projects and changes to same thereof, allocating revenue to govt agencies, ngo's, quango's and state enterprises without proper parliamentary debate. personnel appointment to boards of different govt bodies, etc. etc. etc. - but wait - wasn't the previous govt already doing that!

Defence Minister insists the government has no uncertainty on the cancellation of martial law

Gen. Boonrawd Somthas (บุญรอด สมทัศน์), the Minister of Defence, said the government has acknowledged the Council for National Security’s (CNS) stance not to lift the martial law just yet due to the current situation in the country. At the same time, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has expressed no hesitation on this suggestion, and he has given the CNS more time to reconsider the security information relating to the abrogation of the martial law.

However, the CNS has not revealed why they would not want to revoke the martial law right now. The council only mentioned that the overall situation is still incompatible, and therefore, it needs some time to cautiously consider the tasks again.

In addition, the CNS does not have any internal conflicts with the government, and it has cooperated with the Defence Minister to assure that this issue would not affect the public. Public survey was conducted, and the result showed that the martial law did not affect their lives at all.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 November 2006

Government waiting for suggestion from CNS concerning the withdrawal of martial law

The government is still waiting for the advice from the Council for National Security regarding the abrogation of the martial law. No assessment has yet been conducted to see whether the abrogation will affect the government or not.

According to Government Spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicated that it may take some time for the CNS to agree with the proposal to revoke the martial law. He said further that the revocation would depend on national security.

CNS Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin, meanwhile, said he will allow the government officials to have more responsibility in administrating the country. On this issue, the Government Spokesman said the CNS has always been administrating the security of Thailand, adding that the council would continue its task.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 November 2006