Martial law is partially lifted
Long speculated and contradictory in the newspapers, it now seems that martial law is being lifted – at least in areas where there is no anti-coup activity.
And those are mainly tourist destinations, the same ones where the curfew was first lifted in mid-June: Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Rayong and some southern provinces.
Tomorrow the proposal will be on the table at the NCPO (junta). It is an initiative of Thirachai Nakwanit, head of the peace keeping task force of the NCPO. He says all units he commands are evaluating the situation in their own area of operations to determine if there are any threats to NCPO's operations.
Martial law was declared on May 20, two days before the army took over from the Yingluck government. Martial law is expected to remain in force in areas where drug problems exist and where forests and public lands have been illegally used.
According to Minister Paiboon Khumchaya (Justice), the state of siege does not seem to be a problem for the population. Martial law has been brought in to maintain public order, because the army has no other means to fight against drug trafficking and mafia gangs. He says the law has proven to be an effective means of restoring calm.
But Paiboon also knows that the international community has a different view. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is involved in this. [?] 'Martial law has no impact on tourism and livelihoods of Thais. Most tourists understand the situation and are generally happy with it.'
(Source: Bangkok Post, Sept. 4, 2014)
Indeed, I am also convinced that the Thai military is best placed to put things in order where necessary. Admonishing fingers from countries with a completely different context are usually pathetic. We were tourists in Thailand for 10 days last month and the absentees were wrong….