Govt sits tight on Emergency Decree

The government has not decided to lift the Emergency Decree in Bangkok and five neighbouring provinces yet, Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said on Sunday.

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Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called a two-hour meeting with commanders of the four armed forces and high-ranking security officials at Government House after he finished recording the 'Confidence in Thailand with Prime Minister Abhisit' talk show in the morning.

The committee responsible for overseeing the situation under the state of emergency will report the situation to the prime minister periodically, Mr Panitan said.

During the meeting, the premier assigned relevant units to look after all police and army officers and civil servants who were injured from the mob dispersal last week.

In addition, Mr Abhisit assigned officials to develop a better understanding with the public about the police and military crackdown on red-shirt rioters.

If the government assesses that the situation has fully stabilised, it would announce the lifting of the Emergency Decree in the capital and the five provinces of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya, Mr Panitan said.

"If everything goes well, the decree would be lifted quickly. But this would depend on people's safety, movements of political group leaders in the country and abroad, and potential gatherings," said the spokesman.

Although the situation is improving, the security officials are still concerned with many factors, and they will have to evaluate the situation around the clock, he said.