Thailand extends emergency rule

Thailand extends emergency rule

THAILAND: Thailand extended on Tuesday emergency rule in its
three mainly Muslim southern provinces by another three months,
as the death toll nears 1,000 in nearly 22 months of unrest.

"The cabinet approved the extension of emergency rule in three
southern provinces for another three months," Gen. Vinai
Phattiyakul, head of the National Security Council, told AFP
after the Cabinet's weekly meeting.

Cabinet approval of the extension was widely seen as a
formality, with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra publicly
saying the controversial emergency measures would be extended
several times before the meeting on Tuesday.

Thaksin imposed the measures by decree in July but the tough
new rules were set to expire on Oct. 20 without approval of the
Cabinet.

Under emergency rule, authorities can detain suspects for up
to 30 days without charge, search and arrest without warrants,
and tap phones, among other actions aimed at quelling insurgency
and other unrest. -- AFP