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Published on October 10, 2007

The deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs said he would table the proposal for National Legislative Assembly approval on Friday, and for Cabinet approval the following Tuesday, before a royal decree on the general election is announced in the Royal Gazette.

The government and the NLA will discuss lifting martial law in border provinces that do not pose drugs or security risks. Chiang Mai and Buri Ram are regarded as border provinces, but martial law may not be lifted in those provinces as they are prone to drug problems.

"This is not yet certain. We have to talk about it at the NLA meeting first,'' he said.

Assoc Prof Somkiat Tangnamo, rector of Midnight University, hailed the move and said martial law had an adverse effect in some provinces. But he criticised suggestions that martial law might not be lifted in Chiang Mai and Buri Ram and accused Sonthi of trying to get a political advantage over his rivals.

He said the political game was unfair since the Election Commission refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding allowing European Union election observers to monitor December's election.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, supported Sonthi's proposal and said it would ensure free and fair elections.

"Maintaining martial law does not bode well for the image of the government and Thai society in the international community. They should lift the law in every province except the three southern-most provinces,'' he said.

He disagreed with the government's intention to exempt Chiang Mai and Buri Ram because if there were political disturbances, the government has other laws to deal with offenders.

"If they want to maintain martial law in those provinces, they must have strong, solid reasons for doing so,'' he said.

The Nation