Thailand's NCPO stresses martial law has to be maintained

BANGKOK, February 15 (TNA) - Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which staged a bloodless coup last May, maintains the country’s political situation remains sensitive, saying therefore it is still necessary to enforce martial law. In an attempt to downplay concerns from a European Union statement on Thailand’s martial law and use of military courts in trial of civilians, NCPO Spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said Deputy Defence Minister and also Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr had assigned him to clarify that the detention of suspects had been conducted under standard legal framework. Colonel Winthai said all those who had been “invited for discussions” and exchange ideas with the military were treated with human rights, and only few cases involving threats to national security or peace in the country would be dealt by military courts. Colonel Winthai added that many steps were being taken in line with the NCPO roadmap announced earlier to bring reform and return Thailand’s political situation back to normal. He said because of the delicate situation, the martial law had to be maintained to keep law and order, and to prevent violence, with cooperation among the military, police and administrative units. (TNA)