Thailand PM proposes partial lifting of martial law

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Thailand PM proposes partial lifting of martial law

November 7, 2006 02:33:00 pm

[JURIST] Thai Prime Minister Chulanont Surayud [official website; BBC profile] Tuesday proposed a plan to the country's new military-led Council for National Security [official website, in Thai] for lifting martial law [JURIST report] in peaceful areas of the country. He also asked for a report on when martial law could be lifted in the rest of the nation. Surayud said last month the Thai government will maintain martial law until supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra cease their protests [JURIST report] against the new regime.

The Thai military seized power from Thaksin in a bloodless coup [JURIST report] in September. In late October, Army Chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin [BBC profile], who led the coup, admitted that investigators are struggling to find evidence of corruption [JURIST report], the reason given for Thaksin's overthrow. The Bangkok Post has local coverage.

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