BANGKOK, 13 March 2014 The Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has voiced its support for the revocation of Emergency Decree in Bangkok and its vicinity. The comment came after the Civil Court had ordered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration not to use force to break up anti-government demonstrations.
Speaking after his talk with the National Security Council (NSC), Labor Minister and CMPO chief Chalerm Yubamrung said the state of emergency should be lifted as the Civil Court earlier decided to limit the power of the government under the emergency law, ordering it not to disperse anti-government protests by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). He added that maintaining such law could send out negative image of the country.
Mr. Chalerm also mentioned about switching from emergency law to Internal Security Act (ISA), saying the decision will have to be made by the Prime Minister.
The Civil Court ruling in February bars authorities from dismantling protest sites or break up peaceful and unarmed demonstrations. The verdict followed clashes between riot police and PDRC protesters outside Government House.
