Council for a Community of Democracies

Thai Government Extends State of Emergency
July 19, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell

The Thai government announced this week that it would extend emergency rule in 19 provinces, including in the capital of Bangkok. Prime Minister Abhisit, who also announced the end of emergency rule in 5 of the country’s more peaceful provinces, claimed the extension was a necessity, noting that elements of the red-shirt movement that clashed with government forces earlier this year still aimed to overthrow the government.

“There are still some groups of people trying to eliminate the government,” Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said, adding that “terrorist situations were occurring in many areas nationwide all the time.”

Extending the state of emergency will allow the government to detain people without cause, curtail press freedoms and limit political activities they deem threatening. Critics dismiss the government’s claim that the extension was made out of necessity, saying the move is politically motivated. “It obviously reflects the fact that the government is trying to do anything to prolong their time in power,” said Chalerm Yubamrung, a member of parliament for the opposition Puea Thai party, which is linked to the Red Shirts.

The extension has also brought a backlash from the Thai tourism sector, which lost millions of dollars during the months-long showdown between the red shirts and the government. Consequently, many tourism-related businesses have lobbied to “rescind the emergency laws because they may void some forms of travel insurance purchased by tourists,” according to the Economist.

The government first declared the state of emergency in April after street demonstrations by the red shirts escalated into violent clashes that resulted in nearly 90 deaths and 1,800 injuries. The red shirts, supporters of former Prime Minister Thakshin Shinawatra, were “demanding greater political participation for the lower rungs of Thai society,” according to the New York Times. The protests ended in riots and an eventual government crackdown in late May.

To read more about the red shirt protests in Thailand, see below:

CCD Board Member David Kilgour Discusses Red Shirt Protests in Thailand

Unrest in Thailand Continues as Abhisit’s Position Weakens

Sources:

The Economist – Thailand’s State of Emergency

New York Times – Citing Instability, Thailand Extends Emergency Decree