Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on 7 April evening declared a state of emergency under the executive degree for administration in emergency situations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and some districts of Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya. The state of emergency took effect immediately after it was announced.
Abhisit announced the move in a live nationwide television broadcast from the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) at the 11th Infantry Regiment in the presence of the cabinet members.
Invoking Internal Security Act
The decision was reached at a special cabinet meeting this afternoon after a number of the red shirts of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) broke into the parliamentary compound, forcing cabinet members, including himself, and MPs attending a House meeting to flee for safety.
According to the prime minister, the government had tried to control the situation by invoking the Internal Security Act in Bangkok and nearby provinces, but to no avail as the red-shirts had continued to step up their activities and resorted to violence in violation of the law and the constitution. Their activities had greatly affected people's lives and their work, as well as the national economy and Thailand's image in the eyes of the international community.
Solving Emergency Situation
A centre for solving the emergency situation had been set up, with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, as director. The centre is empowered to take action under the emergency law and enforce various orders issued under the law. Other members of the centre include the defense minister, the permanent secretary for defense and the commanders of all the armed forces and the Royal Thai Police Office.
The main objectives in imposing the state of emergency were to return the situation to normal as soon as possible, to stop any attempt to disseminate false information in a way to incite division, to more effectively take legal action against the protest leaders, and to enable other measures to be taken more effectively.
Role of Armed Forces
According to the prime minister, the government, in declaring the state of emergency, does not aim to crack down on innocent people, but wants to maintain the sanctity of the law. The prime minister promised that all measures to be taken would be in line with international standards of practice.
The emergency decree allows the armed forces to detain suspects for an initial period of 30 days in informal places of detention without a court order or immediate access to legal counsel, family members or independent monitoring. It also allows for the declaration of curfews in selected areas and bans on public gatherings of more than five people, prohibits news reports deemed to threaten public order and allows the government to use soldiers to quell unrest.
Opposition's Reaction
In response, the UDD called on all of their red-shirted supporters to get together on Friday and try to topple the Democrat-led government.
UDD leader Natthawut Saikua declared that the protesters will not leave their rally sites at Bangkok's Phan Fa bridge and Ratchaprasong intersection.
He said: 'I ask all red-shirted supporters in the city and nearby provinces to join forces at Phan Fa and Ratchaprasong. We will fight against the guns with our bare hands. The red-shirts in other provinces can converge on their respective city halls. More red-shirted supporters had gradually traveled to Phan Fa and Ratchaprasong while the group had increased the number guards and raised the security level.'
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