CityNews – A senior army officer said he would propose that the junta lift martial law in popular tourist destinations including Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, reports said today.
A protester near Bangkok’s Victory Monument in May, shortly after the coup. Human rights groups have expressed serious concern about the situation in Thailand under martial law.
First Army Area Commander Lt-Gen Thirachai Nakwanit said he has asked regional commanders to assess the situation in their areas, The Nation reported.
If there is no opposition to the junta’s work, leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha will be asked to consider lifting martial law during a meeting on Friday.
Thirachai said areas popular with tourists such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Chon Buri and Rayong could see martial law lifted, as well as some parts of the south.
Martial law was declared by the military – without informing the Pheu Thai government – two days before the May 22 coup.
It gives the military wide-ranging powers to detain people for up seven days, ban meetings and assemblies, seize property and censor the media.
The United Nations Human Rights Office for South East Asia today said it is “seriously concerned” about the human rights situation in Thailand.
It issued a statement after a forum on human rights that was due to be held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in Bangkok yesterday was cancelled. The junta had warned the organisers that the meeting would be considered a breach of an order prohibiting political gatherings.
The UN said it has raised concerns directly with the junta, urging it to comply with its international human rights obligations.