Thai cabinet approves lifting of emergency decree in Bangkok

Dec 21, 2010, 7:05 GMT

Bangkok - The Thai cabinet on Tuesday lifted the emergency decree in Bangkok and three neighbouring provinces, nine months after the law was imposed to quell anti-government protests.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon submitted the proposal to lift the April decree imposed in the capital and the provinces of Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.

'The cabinet has approved the defence minister's proposal,' government spokesman Suphachai Jaisamook said.

He said the decree would be officially lifted on Wednesday, when some 104 followers of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) were to be freed from prison.

Militants of the UDD staged protests in Bangkok between March and May, leading to bloody street battles that left 92 dead, including 11 policemen and soldiers and two foreign journalists.

The emergency decree was to be replaced by an internal security act to be enforced by the police instead of the army.

Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva declared emergency law on April 7 after demonstrators raided parliament, forcing legislators to flee.

The law grants authorities special powers such as the closing of media outlets deemed a threat to national stability.

Most of the UDD leadership and hundreds of their followers were arrested May 19 in a crackdown on the protests that had paralyzed central Bangkok for six weeks and left parts of the city in flames.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said that some of the UDD's leaders may be freed on bail Wednesday.

Human rights groups criticized the emergency decree, which permits the state to detain suspects without charges for weeks and grants some immunity for the actions of soldiers and policemen.

Government officials insisted the decree was needed to prevent a repeat of the violence and to facilitate investigations into acts of terrorism.

The protesters have held several demonstrations in Bangkok in recent months despite the decree.

On Sunday, more than 10,000 people gathered at Ratchprasong Road, the main focal point of the April-May demonstration, to protest against the incarceration of their leaders.

Thailand's military said the decree would be reimposed if there is a resurgence of violence.

'If violence gets out of hand the prime minister will be ready to declare the decree again,' said General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army's commander-in-chief.

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