NCPO chief to consider lifting martial law in tourist destinations

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: First Army Area Commander Lt Gen Thirachai Nakwanit revealed today that he would propose to National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha to consider lifting martial law in provinces that are home to prime tourist destinations.

Gen Thairachai, who heads the peacekeeping taskforce set up by the junta, said he has assigned all Army regional commands to assess the situation in their respective areas to provide information for Gen Prayuth to consider during a meeting on Friday.

Gen Prayuth will be then asked to consider lifting martial law in areas where there has been no opposition to the work of the NCPO.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Prayuth said the martial law needed to be enforced for the time being to keep the country in order, but added that he had had assigned Gen Thirachai to evaluate the overall situation before proposing whether the junta should relax the law.

Gen Thirachai said the provinces that could see martial law lifted would be the tourist destinations of Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Rayong as well as some southern areas, which may include Phuket.

— Phuket Gazette Editors