BANGKOK, Sept 25 – Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanathat today called on military forces in Thailand's deep South to move cautiously following the proposed lifting of the emergency decree enforcement in trouble-plagued Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani provinces.
He said the decree, officially called Executive Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation, was renewed last month and the enforcement is valid for two more months.
"Why don't we wait until the expiry date approaches? Don't rush," he said.
Gen Sukumpol said he would leave it to the Fourth Army Region Command and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre to decide if the decree should be lifted or if it should be lifted in specific areas only.
Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa, deputy prime minister for security, is in a better position to address the case, he said.
Internal Security Operation Command secretary-general designate Lt-Gen Paradon Pattanathabutr earlier said he would ask security agencies to lift the decree.
In force since 2005, the decree provides loopholes that heighten the risk of arbitrary detention and mistreatment of detainees.
It claimed that some people liken the emergency decree to martial law with less accountability. (MCOT online news)
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