State of emergency is extended

The Thai government announced on 6 July 2010 that the current state of emergency will be extended for Bangkok and 18 other provinces because of ongoing security concerns in the aftermath of an opposition protest campaign earlier this year. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva imposed the state of emergency on 7 April during mass anti-government protests led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). The state of emergency was lifted in five other provinces largely unaffected by the civil unrest associated with the protests. The emergency rule has given a special government security agency the authority to ban public gatherings and arrest those suspected of planning opposition protests, especially in the rural farming provinces where the UDD draws large public support. As the decree was set to expire on 7 July, security officials reportedly recommended that the Thai Cabinet extend the state of emergency for another three months to maintain the security operation. UDD leaders harshly criticized the move to extend the state of emergency and claim that the Thai government is using the law to oppress political activists. Abhisit has vowed to gradually lift the state of emergency as he works toward preparing Thailand for elections expected to be held sometime in 2011.