Thai PM asks for lifting of martial law

BANGKOK – Thailand’s military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday that he had asked the country’s junta leader to lift martial law in some areas of the kingdom.

Surayud told reporters the final decision on lifting martial law, imposed after the September 19 coup that ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, had to be made by coup leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin. However, he urged Sonthi to clearly state when martial law would be lifted.”I already discussed with the Council for National Security leader how long martial law would remain (in effect), and Sonthi said he will take that into consideration,” Surayud said.”I think, in some areas, martial law could be lifted,” he said, adding that he had also asked the parliament to approve a cabinet resolution lifting the ban on political gatherings of more than five people.The Council for National Security (CNS) is the official name of the junta.Following the recent putsch, the military imposed martial law, scrapped planned elections, banned public rallies and threatened action against the media, prompting fierce criticism from the international community.Surayud had previously said martial law would be lifted when security forces were confident there was no political movement against the new government.Speaking after the government’s weekly cabinet meeting, Surayud said he thought the situation in some areas of the country now allowed for the lifting of martial law.”I only suggested the principle but the exact time or which areas are considered safe will be decided by the CNS leader,” he said.Nampa-AFPHowever, he urged Sonthi to clearly state when martial law would be lifted.”I already discussed with the Council for National Security leader how long martial law would remain (in effect), and Sonthi said he will take that into consideration,” Surayud said.”I think, in some areas, martial law could be lifted,” he said, adding that he had also asked the parliament to approve a cabinet resolution lifting the ban on political gatherings of more than five people.The Council for National Security (CNS) is the official name of the junta.Following the recent putsch, the military imposed martial law, scrapped planned elections, banned public rallies and threatened action against the media, prompting fierce criticism from the international community.Surayud had previously said martial law would be lifted when security forces were confident there was no political movement against the new government.Speaking after the government’s weekly cabinet meeting, Surayud said he thought the situation in some areas of the country now allowed for the lifting of martial law.”I only suggested the principle but the exact time or which areas are considered safe will be decided by the CNS leader,” he said.Nampa-AFP