Thai junta swaps martial law for sweeping new powers
Military government lifts martial law but gives army wide-ranging powers that many fear will curtail civil liberties.
Thailand’s ruling military government has said it has lifted martial law imposed just before a coup 10 months ago, but it invoked a security clause in the country’s interim constitution that will mean the military will retain broad powers.
The military government said on Wednesday that Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej approved lifting martial law throughout the country.
“There is no need to use martial law any more … The king has allowed martial law to be lifted from April 1,” a Royal Gazette statement read out on national television said.
The martial law order banned all political gatherings and gave the military other wide-ranging powers.
In a televised announcement, the military government said it would be replaced with a special security measure, known as Article 44, which allows security forces to continue to make arrests without a court warrant and to detain people without charge.
Thailand’s main ally, the United States, said that while it welcomed the lifting of martial law, it was concerned that by invoking Article 44, the military government’s announcement would not meet the need to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
A representative of the US State Department said it was important that trials of civilians in military courts and detention without charge be ended and that individuals be allowed to exercise fundamental rights.
“We are concerned that moving to a security order … will not accomplish any of these objectives,” the representative said. “We would welcome the actual, full restoration of civil liberties in Thailand.”
Boon for tourism
Thailand’s military seized power on May 22, ousting the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra after months of sometimes violent street protests in Bangkok.
Article 44 of the interim constitution gives Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also the military government’s chief, power over all aspects of government, law and order.
The televised statement said Article 44 would allow the military to “catch anyone and hand them over to an investigation team”, to help with investigations and to search buildings in the interests of national security.
The imposition of the Article has sparked concern among rights groups, political parties and some academics, who say it will give Prayuth unchecked authority.
But ending martial law will come as a relief to tour operators who have repeatedly called for it to be lifted.
Tourism accounts for nearly 10 percent of Thailand’s GDP and is still recovering from the effects of the coup and martial law, which stopped some tourists from being able to buy travel insurance.