Thailand's junta lifted martial law in most of the nation, but 10 months after staging a coup, it remains firmly in control - with new laws invoked Wednesday that essentially give it absolute power.
The government of former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha had faced growing pressure from foreign governments, human rights groups and particularly Thailand's own business community to revoke martial law.
Although it was not generally visible in everyday life - there were few soldiers in the streets - it scared off foreign investors and hurt tourism, which accounts for nearly 10 percent of the GDP. Tour operators called it a tourist deterrent, partly because many insurance companies won't cover travelers to countries under martial law.
Thailand's king on Wednesday formally approved a request from the junta that martial law be lifted.
In its place, though, the junta invoked a special security measure called Article 44 in the military-imposed interim constitution that gives Prayuth the power to override any branch of government in the name of national security, and absolves him of any legal responsibility for his actions. Full story...
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The government of former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha had faced growing pressure from foreign governments, human rights groups and particularly Thailand's own business community to revoke martial law.
Although it was not generally visible in everyday life - there were few soldiers in the streets - it scared off foreign investors and hurt tourism, which accounts for nearly 10 percent of the GDP. Tour operators called it a tourist deterrent, partly because many insurance companies won't cover travelers to countries under martial law.
Thailand's king on Wednesday formally approved a request from the junta that martial law be lifted.
In its place, though, the junta invoked a special security measure called Article 44 in the military-imposed interim constitution that gives Prayuth the power to override any branch of government in the name of national security, and absolves him of any legal responsibility for his actions. Full story...
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