Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said he has asked Thai King, Bhumibol Adulyadej for permission to bring an end to the country’s martial law. BBC has more:
Martial law was put in place shortly before the army seized power last May, ousting the elected government following months of unrest. The law banned public gatherings and heavily restricted the media. Gen Prayuth said he would introduce new measures, which correspondents say could be even more sweeping.
Gen Prayuth, who led last year’s coup and has since been appointed prime minister, said the government was “waiting for the king to royally approve the disuse of martial law”.
“We have prepared Article 44 and will use it soon,” he told reporters. Among other powers, article 44 of Thailand’s new constitution allows the prime minister to issue executive orders to “disrupt or suppress” threats to national security or the monarchy. Gen Prayuth said soldiers would be “able to apprehend people, if an incident occurs, without an arrest warrant”.
