The Civil Court of Thailand on February 19 banned the use of force against anti-government protesters, stressing that demonstrations have so far been organised in a peaceful manner.
The court ruled that the decree of emergency state imposed in Bangkok and its surrounding areas cannot be used as a reason to crack down on the protesters.
However, it rejected a request by former Democrat MP Thaworn Saeniam to revoke the decree issued on January 21 by the caretaker government after protesters threatened to occupy the capital city by blocking crossroads and besieging government offices.
The ruling came out after protesters besieged the temporary workplace of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Defence Ministry to demand her to resign.
They were also joined by hundreds of farmers who travelled from the Commerce Ministry headquarters to pressure the caretaker government to make overdue payments owned under the rice-pledging scheme.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban pledged to escalate the protests to a new level and attack businesses of the Shinawatra family.
Meanwhile, 182 protesters, who were detained during a police operation on February 18 to retake five rally sites in the capital, have been released on bail. But the requests to release two protest leaders have been rejected.-VNA
The court ruled that the decree of emergency state imposed in Bangkok and its surrounding areas cannot be used as a reason to crack down on the protesters.
However, it rejected a request by former Democrat MP Thaworn Saeniam to revoke the decree issued on January 21 by the caretaker government after protesters threatened to occupy the capital city by blocking crossroads and besieging government offices.
The ruling came out after protesters besieged the temporary workplace of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Defence Ministry to demand her to resign.
They were also joined by hundreds of farmers who travelled from the Commerce Ministry headquarters to pressure the caretaker government to make overdue payments owned under the rice-pledging scheme.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban pledged to escalate the protests to a new level and attack businesses of the Shinawatra family.
Meanwhile, 182 protesters, who were detained during a police operation on February 18 to retake five rally sites in the capital, have been released on bail. But the requests to release two protest leaders have been rejected.-VNA
