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2nd LD: Martial law lifted in Thailand, replaced by Article 44 of interim charter

Xinhua, April 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Martial law was lifted in Thailand on Wednesday night, effective immediately, and replaced by Article 44 of the interim constitution.

The revocation was endorsed by the king with a royal command.

According to an announcement on the revocation, currently, there is no need to continue enforcing the martial law, which was invoked last May.

Given that the martial law is revoked, it is necessary for the authorities to take measures against actions which pose threats to national order, peace and stability, defy orders from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and involve war weapons, said another announcement issued under Article 44 of the interim constitution.

Article 44 authorizes the NCPO leader to issue any order or direct any action to be done or not to be done, irrespective of whether the order or action would produce legislative, executive or judicial effect, for the sake of national security, reform and unity. Those orders or actions, as well as their observance, shall be deemed lawful, constitutional and final.

The NCPO, which staged a coup to topple Yingluck Shinawatra's government last May, is headed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Law enforcement officers are authorized to summon or detain suspects, as well as search public and private places and vehicles, in cases related to lese-majeste, war weapons and defiance of NCPO orders, the second announcement said.

The authorities can also ban dissemination of news which is believed to cause panic or distort the truth, in order to maintain peace and order, it said.

Unauthorized political gatherings of five people or more are prohibited, according to the announcement which made specific instructions about actions authorized for the sake of national security and stability.

Article 44 would be invoked with an aim to deploy military officers in tasks related to maintenance of national order, while police officers would still be able to exercise their authority in law enforcement with the support of military officers in detaining and investigating prospective suspects as appropriate, an earlier government statement quoted Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying. Endi