Thai military govt replaces martial law

THAILAND’S military government has announced that it is lifting martial law, 10 months after it was imposed.
It was introduced in May 2014, shortly before the army staged a coup.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, announced the move in a televised statement and has said it will be replaced by a new security order.

However, the new measure has drawn considerable criticism, with many fearing that it could give the military more power than it had before.

Gen. Prayuth made the announcement late yesterday, saying the king had given his formal approval to the lifting of martial law.

He said it would be replaced by bringing into force Article 44 of a new constitution.

Article 44 allows the prime minister to issue executive orders to “disrupt or suppress” threats to national security or the monarchy and has been heavily criticised by human rights groups.

The Thai junta – officially known as the National Council for Peace and Order – has promised to restore democracy and hold elections in late 2015, but has repeatedly cracked down on dissent, jailing critics and censoring the media.