Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday (December 25) that martial law will be maintained in the country in order for it to return to stability.
The military government, established after a May 22 coup, said last month an election planned for late 2015 would be delayed until 2016, giving more time for reforms which the military says should bring stability after a decade of factional rivalry.
“It seems everything is in order, (there is) no conflict, no protest, but the cause of the conflict still exists, such as, people who disagree, (the confiscation of) weapons. I’m not trying to make anyone panic but just to tell you that we have to work parallel (to development and reconciliation) as long as the cause of trouble still exist and continues. If the justice system cannot stop the conflict, I can only maintain the current situation. This situation is risky to our country becoming a democracy in the future. Hope you all understand,” Prayuth said in a year-end televised speech.
“If the conflict continues such as any violence or any weapons arrest during the new year, I’ll tell the law department to maintain martial law. I’ll use martial law everyday,” he added.
Martial law was billed by its instigators as necessary after months of unrest that left nearly 30 people dead.
His address touched on a wide range of topics but had relatively little content on foreign and economic policy.
Among the many tasks Prayuth faces in 2015 are how to restore an ailing economy and roll out legislative changes aimed at preventing the return of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies.
Thailand’s economy is stagnating. It grew just 0.2 percent in the first nine months of this year. Consumption, which accounts for half of GDP, remains weak due to high household debt.
Prayuth said he expected Thailand’s economy to improve in the next few years.
“In five years from now, Thailand will be a country with prosperity and people will be wealthy. We will follow the King’s (philosophy of a) sustainable development,” said Prayuth.
Seeking to shore up support, Thailand’s military government has spent the past few months launching a charm offensive by sending delegations to superpower China.
Several Western nations imposed sanctions and downgraded ties with Thailand in response to the coup. (Reuters)
