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Published on September 3, 2007

Supporters and opponents of the junta were in rare agreement yesterday when they urged the Council for National Security (CNS) to lift martial law in 35 provinces.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, and Demo-crat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said martial law in the northern and northeastern provinces should be lifted after a royal decree is enacted to set the election date.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has agreed with the Election Commission to hold the election on December 23, which requires a royal decree within the next month.

From its rally stage at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship president Methaphan Photithi-raroj challenged the CNS to lift martial law if it truly respected people's rights and liberties as stated in the new junta-sponsored constitution.

The People Power Party's spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang said his party would intensify its campaign to lift martial law.

"International communities have questioned the prospect of Thailand returning to democracy because parts of the country remain under martial law," Kuthep said.

Thirty-five provinces remain under martial law. Many are in the North and Northeast - known to be strong political bases of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the former Thai Rak Thai Party. The three southernmost provinces are also under martial law.

Martial law was lifted across the rest of the country on January 26.

CNS spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnoed said the junta and the government would have to discuss the issue before making any decision.

Last month, the Thai Rak Thai group, academics and some foreign countries, including the United States, called on the government to lift martial law in the rest of the country before the election.

However, CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin indicated on Saturday that the northern and north-eastern provinces would continue under martial law.

He said he was willing to explain to any party leader why martial law would not be lifted in the provinces, adding he had visited Chiang Mai and the local people had told him their lives were not affected.

"I asked most local people and government officials if martial law had affected politics. They replied that good people are not affected. They said martial law helps protect good people," Sonthi said.

However, Suriyasai and Abhisit urged the CNS to retain martial law only in the southern border provinces, which are facing daily violence from insurgents.

"The CNS should lift martial law except in the three southern border provinces after the election royal decree takes effect so that the atmosphere will be fully democratic," Suriyasai said.

He said lifting martial law would deny defeated candidates the excuse to later lodge complaints that the elections were not fair.

He said if martial law remained before election day, opponents of the CNS might hold protests and the election would not have credibility in the eyes of the international community.

"I agree with the call for the lifting of martial law after the election royal decree takes effect," Abhisit said yesterday.

On the request by the European Union to send a delegation to monitor the election, Suriyasai said the government and the Election Commission should ask the EU whether the Thai Rak Thai group was behind its request to monitor the election.

Suriyasai said the EU might be provided with distorted information, prompting concern that the election would not be free and fair.

He said the Election Commission and the government should invite both domestic and international organisations to monitor the election.

Suriyasai said the Campaign for Popular Democracy also called on all political parties to sign a social contract that they would continue to investigate corruption allegations against the deposed government if they come to power after the election.

Meanwhile, Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said yesterday the interim government should speed up efforts to complete the mission of the coup makers because there were only four months left and many tasks were still left undone.

He said the southern insurgency had not been stopped, the violence and killings of Muslim protesters in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district were yet to be investigated and rifts still remained in society.