Emergency Decree extended by cabinet until end of September
The Thai cabinet met yesterday to officially extend the State of Emergency in Thailand, announced earlier this month, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be the 19th extension it will prolong the Emergency Decree that was set to expire on July 31, going into effect on August 1 and continuing until September 30.
The decree, which was first invoked by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha 0n March 26, 2020, gives the government sweeping powers. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration was formed under the emergency orders and has been responsible for setting measures, including health regulations, travel restrictions and entry schemes, to combat the spread of the coronavirus in Thailand.
It also allowed the Immigration Department to issue the so-called ‘Covid extensions’ for people stuck in Thailand because of their home country’s re-entry policies or lack of return flights. Prolonging the decree may be welcomed by people who have been staying in Thailand by getting a Covid visa waiver stamp on their passports every month or 2, but also brings worry to people fearful that it could bring more pandemic restrictions or even lockdown.
Despite the extension of the Emergency Decree, the CCSA spokesperson said that the government has no intentions of limiting people’s freedoms and rights (hinting at fears of future lockdowns), but is solely aimed at protecting people from Covid-19 spreading and outbreaks becoming overwhelming in the country. Infection rates are rising and, though many cases are mild, more severe cases with serious illness and the need for ventilators have also increased in the past week as well.
Those opposed to the Emergency Decree have been pushing for it to be finally ended. Right organizations and opposition parties claim that the government is using the unnecessary decree to quash pro-democracy groups and limit free expression. Under the Emergency Decree, it is easy for the government to declare protesting in the street as a Covid-19 risk and prosecute people on those grounds.
The Cabinet agreed with the government’s assessment though that the rapidly increasing number of new Covid-19 infections, especially with the rise of the new Omicron sub-variants that have now hit Thailand, warrants the extension of the State of Emergency.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
