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| Southeast Asia |
| Thai emergency rule to be lifted |
| 2010-06-25 |
| [Straits Times] THAILAND is set to lift emergency rule, imposed during mass opposition protests in the capital, in many provinces next month, but extend the strict laws in Bangkok, officials said on Thursday. The emergency decree, in place across about a third of the country, is due to expire on July 7. The cabinet will decide whether to extend it based on the advice of security officials. 'I believe that the state of emergency is likely to be lifted in many areas,' Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters. The government unit set up to oversee security during the unrest has decided to ask the cabinet to keep the emergency laws in the capital but revoke them in some other provinces, said spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd. The opposition has called for the law to be revoked for a parliamentary by-election in Bangkok on July 25. 'For Bangkok the state of emergency will remain despite the by-election,' Col Sunsern said. Two months of mass anti-government protests by the 'Red Shirt' movement, pushing for immediate elections, sparked outbreaks of violence that left 90 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured. 'There are still some elements involved in the movement and we don't want that (new violence) to happen,' PM Abhisit said. PM Abhisit invoked emergency rule in Bangkok on April 7, banning public gatherings of more than five people and giving broad powers to the police and military. |
| Posted by:Fred |