Thailand lifts emergency rule in three more provinces

01 Oct, 2010
AFP

Thailand on Friday revoked a state of emergency in three northeastern provinces, but maintained the controversial laws in Bangkok, where there has been a series of minor blasts in recent weeks.

The Thai government has come under pressure from the United States and rights groups to roll back the emergency powers to help the country recover from deadly civil unrest that has left it deeply divided.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted the decree in Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani -- the northeastern stronghold of the "Red Shirt" opposition movement behind huge protests in Bangkok in April and May.

"It's effective immediately," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told AFP.

The decree was introduced in the capital in early April in response to mass anti-government rallies by the "Red Shirt" movement that ultimately left 91 people dead in clashes between protesters and the army.

The laws, which ban public gatherings of more than five people and give security forces the right to detain suspects for 30 days without charge, remain in place in Bangkok and nearby, in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.

In recent weeks a string of grenade blasts has hit the Thai capital, raising doubts over the speed at which emergency rule can be lifted in Bangkok.

In the latest case, a grenade was thrown into the compound of the Attorney General's office in Bangkok on Monday evening. Nobody was hurt.

On Friday of last week three people were wounded when a small bomb in a rubbish bin exploded in a residential area.

The Red Shirts deny any involvement in the blasts and have accused the government of a conspiracy to justify greater powers for authorities.

The protests by the Reds, many of whom back fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, attracted up to 100,000 people demanding immediate elections but were dispersed by an army crackdown on May 19.

After the crackdown, enraged protesters set dozens of major buildings ablaze, including a shopping mall and the stock exchange.