ID :
55976
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 15:44
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http://m.oananews.org//node/55976
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Thai PM: Emergency rule continues; Official visits postponed
BANGKOK, April 17 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday announced the Cabinet decision to extend the State of Emergency Decree now enforced in the capital and five neighbouring provinces, saying the special law is necessary to ensure that peace and order have been fully restored.
The premier also said he had postponed his official visits to Cambodia scheduled for April 18, Singapore on April 21 and Vietnam on April 25, but that his scheduled Dubai roadshow next month remains intact.
Speaking at a news conference after a special Cabinet meeting at Government House, the prime minister pledged that the enforcement of the emergency decree would not last long, but the government has currently needed to restore normalcy with measures authorised by the special law, which will be revoked in a due course.
The premier also said the decision not to lift emergency rule is unrelated to Friday’s assassination attempt against the key leader of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Sondhi Limthongkul.
Mr. Sondhi barely survived an assassination attempt early Friday when at least three gunmen fired a hail of bullets into his car as he was being chauffeured to work.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pol.Lt-Gen. Worapong Chewpreecha said an investigation was under way to determine the assassination motive. Police initially aimed at Mr. Sondhi's political movement and his personal conflicts.
Mr. Abhisit imposed the state of emergency last Sunday April 12, saying he wanted to return the country to normalcy, one day after anti-government protesters had wrecked a 16-nation Asian summit in the seaside town of Pattaya and parts of the capital were paralysed the next day by the protesters' blockade of key traffic intersections.
The premier himself narrowly escaped some red-clad protesters who went on rampage and smashed his car at the Interior Ministry minutes after he imposed the measure.
Banning public gatherings of more than five people, news reports considered threatening to public order and empowering police and military to detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge, the emergency order suspends some civil liberties. (TNA)
The premier also said he had postponed his official visits to Cambodia scheduled for April 18, Singapore on April 21 and Vietnam on April 25, but that his scheduled Dubai roadshow next month remains intact.
Speaking at a news conference after a special Cabinet meeting at Government House, the prime minister pledged that the enforcement of the emergency decree would not last long, but the government has currently needed to restore normalcy with measures authorised by the special law, which will be revoked in a due course.
The premier also said the decision not to lift emergency rule is unrelated to Friday’s assassination attempt against the key leader of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Sondhi Limthongkul.
Mr. Sondhi barely survived an assassination attempt early Friday when at least three gunmen fired a hail of bullets into his car as he was being chauffeured to work.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pol.Lt-Gen. Worapong Chewpreecha said an investigation was under way to determine the assassination motive. Police initially aimed at Mr. Sondhi's political movement and his personal conflicts.
Mr. Abhisit imposed the state of emergency last Sunday April 12, saying he wanted to return the country to normalcy, one day after anti-government protesters had wrecked a 16-nation Asian summit in the seaside town of Pattaya and parts of the capital were paralysed the next day by the protesters' blockade of key traffic intersections.
The premier himself narrowly escaped some red-clad protesters who went on rampage and smashed his car at the Interior Ministry minutes after he imposed the measure.
Banning public gatherings of more than five people, news reports considered threatening to public order and empowering police and military to detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge, the emergency order suspends some civil liberties. (TNA)
