The government has lifted the state of emergency in three provinces and ordered security agencies to monitor the dispensing of emergency power in the remaining 16 provinces to prevent abuses, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
"The monitoring will aim to check excessive use of power and determine further areas where the emergency rule can be revoked," he said.
After the lifting of emergency rule in Lampang, Sakon Nakhon and Roi Et, the 16 provinces still under the state of emergency are Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Maha Sarakham, Nong Bua Lamphu, Mukdahan, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri and Samut Prakan.
Abhisit said the authorities still detected suspicious activities in those provinces, necessitating the continued enforcement of emergency rule.
"I don't think it's a good idea |to make a hasty move in lifting |the state of emergency and risk |the repeat of unrest," he said.
He pledged to cancel the emergency rule as soon as possible, saying the decision on the matter would hinge on the security assessment, which will be carried out on the weekly basis.
The security agencies have been watching for any suspicious movements linked to the July 26 birthday celebrations planned for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he said.
In his capacity as acting chief of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan reported to the Cabinet outlining seven indicators vital to forming a decision on keeping or lifting the emergency rule.
The indicators are political activities to revive anti-government rallies, political agitation via print media, satellite television or community radio, continuing disturbances, maintaining activities abroad, instigating divisiveness among youth, causing rifts in the civil service, and threatening to assassinate leading figures.
Provincial police in Chiang Rai have summoned three students to face charges related to violations of the state of emergency last Friday. Two are undergraduates at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University and one is a minor from a local high school.
They have been accused of carrying banners with messages opposing the state of emergency and posting the same message on Facebook, the social network on the Internet.