The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry has assured foreign dignitaries in the country that the enforcement of the emergency decree is not aimed at cracking down on protesters and will not inflame violence.
Permanent Secretary to the Ministry Sihasak Puangketkaew held a meeting with 31 diplomats from 73 countries on January 22, clarifying the reason behind the previous day’s announcement of the decree enforcement.
He said the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order had proposed that the government invokes the decree to better deal with the ongoing disorder.
Sihasak confirmed that the state of emergency rule was not aimed at banning public gatherings or dispersing anti-government protesters. The government had to impose the decree as a pre-emptive measure in the event of violence escalation in the future.
There will be no censorship of media or setting up of curfews, said the permanent secretary.
He affirmed that the Thai government will continue to handle the situation in a peaceful manner and there will be no use of force in coping with the protests.-VNA
