Emergency Measures Revoked, Demonstrators Give Thai PM Three Days To Resign

PM Thailand Prayuth Chan-o-cha (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - The Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand Prayuth Chan-o-cha withdrew the emergency measures imposed in Bangkok. This was done after more than a week of anti-government protests were carried out non-stop in various cities, including the national capital, Bangkok. Now, Prayuth had three days to step down.

The announcement was made in the Royal Gazette on Thursday, 22 October. The reason for the lifting of the emergency measure was because the authorities considered the severe situation that resulted in the emergency decision being suspended.

The lifting of the emergency measures followed Prayuth's previously recorded speech, Wednesday, October 21. In a televised address, Prayuth said he would take the first steps to ease the political tensions that have seen tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets for months demanding a new constitution, monarchy reform and Prayuth's resignation.

"The protesters have made their voices and their views heard," said Prayut. "As a leader of the nation responsible for the welfare of all Thai people, whether they are protesters or the silent majority with any political convictions, I will take the first steps to defuse this situation."

Prayuth said he would lift the state of emergency in Bangkok on the condition that there were "no violent incidents" and asked protesters to work through representatives in parliament. "I ask the protesters to retaliate sincerely, to turn down the volume of hateful and divisive talks, and to let us, together, disperse this terrible dark cloud before moving over our country," added Prayuth.

Meanwhile, an extraordinary parliamentary session was approved by the kingdom and will be held from Monday October 26, according to an announcement from Thailand's Royal Gazette. Thailand's parliament is in recess but will be called back to discuss the crisis. The Thai government also said King Maha Vajiralongkorn agreed to the session "with the need for the national interest."

Meanwhile, protesters said they had given Prayuth three days to resign. If Prayuth insists on not stepping down, the protesters threaten to stage more demonstrations.

A representative of the pro-democracy protesters submitted a mock resignation letter to the chief of the Bangkok metropolitan police and representatives of the government. At the bottom of the letter was a blank space for the Prime Minister to sign.

"Prayuth has to resign in three days, or he will face people again," said a local protest leader.

They said they would halt their activities for three days to give the government time to respond. The group also demanded the release of the detained protesters, including several protest leaders. Thai police say that 77 people have been arrested at protests in Bangkok since October 13. Thai human rights lawyers put the number of people arrested nationwide at 87, with 81 people having gone on trial.

The charges range from minor offenses to more serious crimes such as sedition, which carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years, and violates the Computer Crimes Act.