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BANGKOK: Thailand’s main political parties urged on Monday the
country’s army-backed government to lift martial law ahead of the
kingdom’s post-coup elections in December.
“Lifting martial law will help steer the
country back to democracy,” said Surapong Suebwonglee,
secretary-general of the upstart People Power Party, which has been
taken over by allies of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Martial law was imposed across the country a day
after the military toppled Thaksin’s government on September 19,
2006.
The junta in January lifted martial law in 41
provinces, including Bangkok, out of the country’s 76 provinces.
The remaining 35 include Thaksin’s northern stronghold as well as
the country’s restive Muslim-majority south.
Thailand’s oldest party, the Democrat Party,
also urged the government to lift martial law, except in the
violence-torn south where more than 2,500 people have been killed in
the nearly four-year insurgency.
“In the areas where there are no signs of
violence, martial law should be lifted,” said the party’s deputy
spokesman Sathit Pitudecha.
Martial law restricts public gatherings, making
campaigning difficult.
Pro-democracy groups have also been calling for
the lifting of martial law, warning that losers in the December 23
polls could cite the military restrictions to challenge the outcome
of the vote.
A referendum last month, in which voters
approved an army-backed constitution, was held despite the 35
provinces remaining under martial law.
--AFP
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