Emergency decree extended in Thai deep South

NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND, March 11 (TNA) - The Cabinet has extended the imposition of the executive decree on public administration in emergency situations in Thailand's southern border provinces for three more months. Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabutr, Secretary-General of the National Security Council (NSC), told journalists of the decision on Tuesday afternoon, after the Cabinet's weekly meeting earlier in the day, announcing that the imposition of the emergency decree in the Thai far South will, therefore, continue from March 20 to June 19, 2014. The NSC chief said concerned authorities will decide within this week whether the emergency decree should be also extended in Bangkok and nearby provinces to cope with anti-government protesters. Meanwhile, Kusumalwatee Sirikomut, former Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham Province, and other Pheu Thai Party members met the Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, expressing their gratitude towards Japan's Prime minister and Foreign Affairs Minister for their positive statements on Thailand's political situation and apologizing for a past rally of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) demonstrators at the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok.(TNA)