Martial law still necessary in Thailand: Deputy PM

The martial law now implemented in Thailand is still necessary for security reasons, a deputy prime minister said Thursday, after a high-ranking United States official called for lifting the law.

The martial law, implemented since the coup last year, is still required based on the intelligence reports, Wissanu Krea-ngam said, adding the imposition of the special law in Thailand does not reflect a severe domestic crisis as said from abroad.

The international community will understand the necessary to enforce the law, according to the deputy premier.

Wissanu made these remarks in response to a speech that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel made at a Bangkok-based university on Monday.

"Ending martial law throughout the country and removing restrictions of speech and assembly -- these would be important steps as part of a generally inclusive reform process that reflects the broad diversity of views within the country," Russel said.

The Thai government is continuing to monitor the situation and the martial law has affected the public only on a minimal level, Wissanu insisted.

In his speech, Russel also touched upon other issues like the recent impeachment and upcoming indictment of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Critical comments from the U.S. side wounded the hearts of many Thais, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai noted earlier.

Harsh criticism was still better than the way the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had intervened in other countries' internal affairs, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) which voted overwhelmingly to impeach Yingluck, was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying on Thursday.

Washington's view of democracy in the Middle East and Asia centered on elections, without taking into account the context of the situation, Pornpetch said, adding other matters like riots and divisions were simply ignored. Endi