So another Thai government has again declared a state of emergency, which provides legal cover for suspending some rights and using some force to “maintain public order.”
Those here who’ve never lived through such interesting times might wonder, “What does the Thai government’s imposition of emergency legal measures mean to me?!”
In short: Not much.
Under Thai law, the declaration allows authorities to declare a curfew, ban gatherings of more than five people, hold suspects without charges for a month and overtly censor the media. However none of these have been implemented as yet.
In 2010, during the last Thai political cycle’s height of street strife, emergency powers were activated to little effect on residents. Of course there was that whole bloody, military-led crackdown which brought the crisis to an end, along with some detentions without charges, but apart from field journalists, security forces, militants and residents of specific volatile areas, few were affected by this.
So there’s no reason to stock provisions or even cancel your Friday night carousing, unless your plans include overt efforts to destabilize public order or commit seditious acts.
Even then, the government is insisting it will not resort to the same “crackdown time” measures of 2010.
Emergency Decree 411:
When: 60 days (Jan. 22-March 22)
Who: Peacekeeping Centre (located at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence, Chaeng Wattana Road)
Supervisor: Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul
Commanding director: Caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung
Operating directors: Royal Thai Police commander-in-chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew and permanent secretary of Defence General Nipat Thonglek
Affected areas: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaeo district and Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district.
