MFA informs foreign embassies of ISA revocation in Bangkok

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - Foreign embassies in Thailand have been informed of the Thai government's revocation of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in three districts in Bangkok in the vicinity of the Government House and the Thai Parliament building earlier than scheduled, after demonstrations against a draft amnest bill stopped peacefully. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists on Friday that he has ordered the permanent secretary for foreign affairs to inform the foreign embassies and missions in Thailand of the Thai government's decision on August 9 to lift the ISA imposed in Bangkok's Dusit, Prom Prap Sattru Phai and Phra Nakhon, with immediate effect, one day earlier than scheduled, as the domestic political situation has returned to normal. Surapong said that he has also invited a representative of a Thailand-based United Nations High Commissioner for an explanation on a draft amnesty bill proposed by a ruling Pheu Thai Party MP, and that he will present the English-language version of the draft bill and its reasons to the representative on August 13 to create proper understanding. The Thai House of Representatives approved the government-supported draft amnesty bill in its first reading with the majority vote of 300:124 on Thursday afternoon. The deputy prime minister also confirmed that Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has invited international figures with important roles in democracy and reconciliation to join the “Uniting for the future: Learning from each other's experiences” discussion, hosted by her administration on September 2. The Thai deputy prime minister acknowledged that the upcoming discussion will be a forum for foreign national leaders with similar experiences as those of Thailand to share their experiences and solutions, and that former British prime minister Tony Blair and Finland president Martti Ahtisaari have also been invited to join the forum to be live broadcast and translated into Thai. (TNA)