Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Thursday enacted
a new law to annul an order which banned political gathering of
more than five people.
The NLA voted unanimously to pass the law in three straight
readings, which effectively lifted the ban.
It means that political parties can begin to function again and
that gatherings of citizens are permitted.
During the debate on the issue, many NLA members urged the
government to speed up the lifting of martial law.
In related action, Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtat said that
the martial law, imposed throughout the kingdom following the coup,
will probably be revoked prior to Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont's planned trip to Vietnam next week.
"It (martial law) is likely to be lifted before the premier
travels to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit
in Hanoi November 18-19 in order not to create uneasy feeling among
other countries," the minister affirmed.
Gen. Boonrawd said that Council for National Security (CNS)
chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin and Premier Surayud had discussed
the issue and agreed that CNS needed a few more days to decide, and
that it is expected that martial law will be revoked very soon.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2006)
