Thailand announced to lift State of Emergency

Thailand announced to lift state of emergency on 18 March 2014. The state of emergency was imposed on 22 January 2014 in Bangkok.

The 60-day emergency decree gave the government wide-ranging powers to deal with disorder.

The decision to lift the emergency decree was approved by Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra. The emergency decree will be replaced by the Internal Security Act (ISA).

ISA will come into effect from 20 March 2014 to 30 April 2014. The ISA is a less wide ranging than an emergency decree. ISA will allow the government to impose curfews, put up security checkpoints and restrict protesters when the need arises.

Background

The protesters began the campaign in November 2013 accusing the government of being run by ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's brother. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and was convicted of corruption charges in 2008 and sentenced to prison in absentia.

Protesters wanted the government to be replaced with an unelected people's council and PM Yingluck Shinawatra to resign.

However, the government declared general election which was to be held on 2 February 2014 in response to the protests.

The main opposition Democrat Party boycotted the election. Protesters disrupted voting in some constituencies, leaving parliament without a quorum, meaning a new government cannot be formed.

The Election Commission is still refusing the government's request to finish the polling.