Thai Cabinet to decide on martial law Tuesday

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the Cabinet will discuss during its weekly meeting on Tuesday whether to lift the martial law or not, the Thai News Agency Monday reported.

Martial law has been in effect since the military seizure of power on Sept. 19, through which Surayud was installed as prime minister.

Surayud said that he has discussed the martial law issue with Army Chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin who also heads the Council for National Security (CNS) which retains ultimate power over the country at the moment by virtue of its imposition of martial law.

The martial law would be on agenda of the weekly Cabinet meeting, Surayud said. But the prime minister declined to discuss the issue any further until after the Cabinet meeting since.

"This is a matter of collective decision," Surayud was quoted as saying.

Right activists, academics and varied civil society organizations have called for the revocation of martial law banning political gatherings and activities, claiming that the law violated the constitution and even the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Thai News Agency said.

Surayud said earlier that the government did not ignore the public concern over this subject but it needs some certain time to revoke the law.

Source: Xinhua