[JURIST] Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha [BBC backgrounder] on Tuesday announced plans to revoke the country’s long-standing Martial Law Act BE 2457 (1914) [text, PDF; JURIST report], calling on King Bhumibol Adulyadej [BBC backgrounder] for approval. The country has been under the rule of martial law since then-General Prayuth staged a military coup last year. If his plan is approved Section 44 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim), BE 2557 (2014) [text] would be in force in the nation, allowing the prime minister to maintain sweeping powers. The authority granted to Prayuth in the act will allow him to bypass the seeking of legislative approval for his actions. Earlier this week rights groups expressed their concern [JURIST report] over the prime minister’s plan, stating that replacing the Martial Law Act with Section 44 will in no way alleviate the problems that many have suffered under martial law, and arguing that such measures will lead to abuses of power with impunity.

Thailand has experienced great upheaval since last year’s military coup of. On May 20 Thailand’s armed forces, led by then-General Prayuth, declared martial law [JURIST report] and began a regime of censorship. Two days later the military proceeded to take control [JURIST report] of the country and suspend the constitution. The governmental control was followed by the replacement of civilian courts with military tribunals. The military saw themselves validated in late July when the king expressed his support [JURIST report] for an interim constitution that would award great power to the NCPO. However, Thailand’s armed forces has faced resistance from the international community and the Thai people themselves. In August the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [official website] spoke out against Thailand’s prosecution and sentencing practices as a threat [JURIST report] to the right of free expression. Finally, in September, a group of Thai human rights activists denounced [JURIST report] the country’s martial law and called for it to end.