By Bernama,
Bangkok : Thailand’s National Security Council agreed at its meeting on Thursday to abolish martial law in most areas except in the insurgency-torn southernmost border provinces, Thailand News Agency (TNA) quoted a government spokesman as saying here.
Vichienchote Sukchoterat told a press conference after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej that martial law will be lifted in 31 provinces and 179 districts, excluding the southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat as well as five districts — Thepha, Chana, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi and Sadao — in the southern Songkhla province.
Martial law was imposed in most areas of the kingdom since a group of military leaders staged a coup d’etat ousting the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office in September 2006.
PM Samak explained that a new security law would be enforced in some border provinces to cope with drug trafficking problems after the revocation of martial law. The now defunct coup-making Council for National Security (CNS) lifted martial law in some provinces before the Dec 23, 2007 general election, saying Thailand had returned to democratic rule and that military rule would not be blamed for any shortcomings or failures in the electoral contests by any party.
However, the enforcement remained in place in some provinces.
The government spokesman also said that the meeting resolved to propose to the Cabinet extending by another three months the enforcement of the Emergency Decree in the three southern border provinces, from April 20 until July 19 this year.
He stressed that the move was necessary to empower local security forces to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The decree will expire on April 19, therefore cabinet approval will be sought at its meeting tomorrow for a three-month extension,” said Vichienchote.
First enacted in July 2005, the Executive Decree on Government Administration in Emergency Situations, effected by executive order of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, gives the security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detention in the three southernmost provinces as well as some parts of Songkhla province excluding Hat Yai. It remains in force for three months at a time.
Some 3,000 people have been killed since violence erupted in early 2004.