Govt mulls national security decree issue
PM: May be needed for problems in South
YUWADEE TUNYASIRI
The government is studying if it is now necessary to
issue an executive national security decree to deal with insurgents
creating unrest in the deep South.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said this yesterday when asked if a
special law was needed to deal with southern problems since the existing
criminal law was regarded as ineffective.
``We are studying the security laws of our country and other countries. We
would do so [implement the law] if there is a conclusion that we need it.
If not, we won't,'' Mr Thaksin said.
Since parliament has been closed, if a new law is urgently required, it
must be in the form of an executive decree which must later be endorsed by
parliament. The decree would be dropped if it failed to receive
parliamentary approval. Mr Thaksin said if a decree is issued, it must not
go against the constitution.
In 2001, when the Anti-Communist Act that gave the military wide-ranging
powers was abolished, then defence minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said a
new security law was needed to replace it.
A panel was set up to draft the new security bill but the move drew
criticism from human rights groups and senators, as they argued it was
unconstitutional.
In a book issued by the Chularatchamontri's Office explaining how
insurgents had twisted Islamic teachings to win sympathy and recruit
militants to join their separatist cause, Mr Thaksin said the book is for
distribution to Muslims across the country to correct distortions on
literature found on southern militants.
Mr Thaksin said his meeting with his Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts
during the Asean summit in Vientiane had drawn the three countries closer
together. He foresaw increased coordination between Thailand and its two
neighbours going forwards.
Asked about the seizure of a number of weapons in Pattani on Monday after
a clash between soldiers and Muslim militants, Mr Thaksin said judging
from the fact that some firearms had been stolen from security forces as
long ago as 1988, separatists had long been prepared for an armed
struggle.
After the resurgence of violence early this year, he said separatist
bandits initially aimed to harm Buddhist Thais to drive them away from
Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Now they also even killed fellow Muslims,
particularly those cooperating with the authorities.
``They want to expand their organisation. We all know what they are doing.
I am confident we can contain them,'' the prime minister said.