Emergency Decree Extended in Bangkok and 18 Provinces

Published : July 07, 2010 :: 15:07:06 [ 1,371 views ]

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday revealed that the extension of the Emergency Decree in 19 provinces was a required and important tool to aid in restoring normalcy to the country.

Bangkok, the 6^th of July 2010 [PDN]: The premier spoke following the decision by Thailand’s Cabinet to extend the Emergency Decree in 19 provinces was approved. Abhisit stated that the decision was based on intelligence reports provided by regional departments and the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) who stated that the extension was necessary for law enforcement officers to maintain order.

Provinces where the Emergency Decree was preliminarily dropped include; Si Sa Ket, Nan, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Pathom and Kalasin. Abhisit revealed that the situations in these five provinces had calmed and no immediate threats had been found, however, the decree might be reapplied should the situation reignite.

Meanwhile, the Premier also addressed accusations of human rights violations in the detention of several hundred Red Shirt protesters around the country by stating that the CRES was treating all cases in accordance with the law. The CRES has to conform to the regular law-enforcement procedures and cannot operate arbitrarily.

Following the Cabinets resolution, Human Rights Commissioner Nirand Pithakwachara urged the government to clarify the exact reason why the Emergency Decree was extended in 19 provinces. Mr. Pithakwachara stated that the resolution was not consistent with the governments proposed ‘road map’ to reconciliation and that the Human Rights Commission would continue to petition the government to drop the extremely restrictive measures.

Speaking as the head of the sub-committee on civil, political and community rights, Mr. Pithakwachara stated that he had been investigating reports of unfair treatment, in relation to detained Red Shirt leaders and supporters, finding that 40 detainees in Bangkok Remand Prison alone had been handled unfairly. He noted that 28 out of the 40 had not been issued a legal representative in their trials whilst others had not been given any form of contact with their family or relatives.

Further investigations will be performed at detention centers around the country specifically in the Red Shirt strongholds of Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, Mukdahan, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Investigations into Red Shirts being detained in Kanchanburi without trial will also be raised at the Human Rights Commission meeting on the 7^th of July.

Comments

Bob

said :

It has not made a but of difference in my life. But then I do not like to burn buildings, disrupt the City or break the law in any material way. The whining about this State of readiness is a lot to do about nothing.

Email : Bob@toobad.com Date : 2010-07-08 21:09:00

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