Thai PM: Section 44 is exercised prudently

BANGKOK, April 3 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha says that the ruling junta is exercising Section 44 of the Provisional Constitution prudently and the new general election will be held in accordance with the government's ongoing roadmap. Prime Minister General Prayut made the assurance on Friday, dismissing several parties' worries over the exercising of power under Section 44 by the Thai military. The prime minister said that foreigners appear to have received inaccurate information and they have, thus, expressed their opposition to the Thai interim government. The prime minister asked the media to present only grounded and precise news reports. Section 44 of the Provisional Constitution has been imposed since April 1, replacing the martial law, which had been enforced since May 20, 2014. Section 44 authorises the Thai military to deal with deeds considered threats to national security and lese majeste offences. Reiterating that Thailand's new general election will be organised in line with the ongoing roadmap, the prime minister stressed that the new Constitution has been drafted to reform and solve national problems, assessing that the new draft Charter should be completed by September 2015. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Kampanat Ruddit, Commanding General of the First Army Area Command, in his capacity as Chief of the Peace and Order Maintaining Command under the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), told journalists that officers attached to the Peace and Order Maintaining Command are working like when the martial law was imposed, acknowledging, however, that the difference is that army personnel are authorised more clearly to search and arrest law offenders and legal punishment is stiffer. (TNA)