| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Thai government extends emergency powers in the south |
| 2007-01-16 |
| The Cabinet Tuesday agreed to renew the emergency decree in the violence-plagued provinces in the South, said government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp. Mr Yongyuth said the decree will be extended for another three months - starting from Jan 20 to April 19 - in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The emergency powers, which must be renewed every 90 days, give security forces broad immunity from prosecution and, among other measures, allow authorities to detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge, search and arrest without warrants and tap phones. The government announced in October that it planned to abandon the controversial security powers introduced under the administration of Thaksin Shinawatra in July 2005. However, violence has escalated in the region over recent months, with civilians, government officials and teachers increasingly being targeted in near-daily assassinations. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #1 Horse. Barn. Door. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-01-16 09:39 |