Executive decree maintained in Bangkok

BANGKOK, March 4 (TNA) - Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says that it is necessary for the caretaker government to maintain executive decree in Bangkok and its peripheral provinces, as anti-government protests have not yet ended. Despite calls by the private sector for the caretaker government to lift the executive decree in the capital and surrounding areas, Surapong insisted on Tuesday that the special law needs to be continually enforced to contain the anti-government protests. Speaking in his capacity as advisory chairman of the caretaker government–run Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), Surapong urged the local private sector to also call for protesters of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to disperse and return home so that the domestic situation returns to normal. Surapong stressed that the executive decree is to be maintained as long as PDRC demonstrators continue their protests, causing troublesome to the public. Touching on an alleged call for separatism by some members of the pro-government red-shirt movement, the caretaker deputy prime minister thanked Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha for his attempt to uphold democracy, urging the army commander-in chief, however, to be fair to both pro and anti-government sides and should also take action on the PDRC protesters in Bangkok like what he is dealing with the red-shirt people. Meanwhile, Bangkok's Appeals Court rejected a request by PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban to revoke insurrection-related charges earlier leveled against him by the Criminal Court, reasoning that the charges are justified. (TNA)