Thailand extends state of emergency in the South

On April 12, Thailand extended the state of emergency law for another three months in most of the southern region due to increasing violence.

A Thai government spokesman said there were still plots to use violence to attack officials and innocent civilians.

The "red shirts" protested on the first anniversary of the protests.
leading to violence that killed 25 people. Source: AFP/TTXVN

Emergency law was first imposed in 2005 in most of the three Muslim-majority southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. It allows the military to detain suspects for questioning without charge.

The wave of violence in southern Thailand since early 2004 has killed more than 4,500 people.

Regarding the upcoming election in Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has just denied information released by the opposition party Vi Nuoc Thai saying that the current government in Thailand is mobilizing military forces to help the ruling Democrat Party win the upcoming general election.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep accused the opposition of trying to undermine the Democrat-led coalition government by linking the military to the government or spreading rumors of a possible coup. However, he expressed no concern about the situation and expressed confidence in Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's efforts.

According to VNA