Sansern: Martial law still necessary

Sansern: Martial law still necessary

Martial law is still necessary in the current situation and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said this many times at various international forums, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Saturday.

Maj Gen Sansern was responding to Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's call for the government to review the use of martial law, which has been in force since May 20 last year.

The government respects the call by Mr Abhisit, who is a former prime minister, as it does those made by other people, he said.

However, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, as prime minister and chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has repeatedly said it was still necessary.

"So we have to choose between the country's image, which many people say affects the country's tourism, and peace, which has genuinely been restored. I think peace can by itself help restore the image. I believe one day the prime minister will be able to find an appropriate way of improving the atmosphere to meet everybody's wish," Gen Sansern said.

"But for the time being, martial law is necessary. We have to set our priorities straight. I can't say on behalf of the prime minister whether martial law will be lifted," he added.

On a proposal by a committee on reconciliatio for the premier to urgently issue an amnesty decree by exercising his power under Section 44 of the 2014 interim constitution, Maj Gen Sansern said the matter was at the prime minister's discretion.

But so far, Gen Prayut has never mentioned this matter at a cabinet meeting, he added.


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