THAI GOVT CONSIDERS LIFTING EMERGENCY RULE IN FOUR PROVINCES

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- The current flood situation in Thailand may
just be a blessing in disguise. The natural disaster appears to have diffused
what was once a spate of bombing activities.

As there has been no bombing activity over the past month in the capital and
neighbouring provinces, the government is considering lifting the current state
of emergency in four provinces.

Since Oct 10, when the country was hit by massive floods which claimed 215
lives, there has been no report of bombing.

In fact, the last bombing case was reported on Oct 5 when three people were
killed and 10 others injured when a device exploded at a five-storey apartment
at Bangbuathong in Nonthaburi province.

The police believe the bomb was accidently triggered while it was assembled
in a rented unit.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had said that the emergency decree in
Bangkok,
Nonthaburi, Phatum Thani and Samut Prakan could be lifted by the end of the
year, as the overall security situation had improved.

However, the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation will
re-assess the situation before a final decision is made by the cabinet.

The emergency decree was initially imposed in Bangkok on April 7, following
a spate of anti-government protests and unrest.

The peaceful protest by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship
started on March 12, to pressure the government to dissolve the parliament.

However, the protesters seized the city centre by encamping there and later
some turned it into a war zone with the use of M16, AK47, rocket-propelled
grenades and bombs, as well as the existence of snipers when confronting the
troops.

Ninety one people, comprising 80 civilians and 11 security officers, were
killed and more than 1,800 people injured in violent clashes between protesters
and troops between April 10 and May 19.

The state of emergency was extended to 23 other provinces later but the
government gradually revoked most of them, leaving the current four provinces
under emergency decree.

After the May 19 military crackdown, two bomb attacks were recorded in June,
six cases in July, four cases in August, 11 cases in September and two cases
last month.

The attacks which were carried out in Bangkok, Udon Thani, Nonthaburi and
Chiangmai, had claimed four lives and injured 20 people.

The Department of Special Investigation issued a warning in late September
of possible politically-motivated bomb attacks in the capital until the end of
the year.

This prompted the government to extend the state of emergency in Bangkok,
Nonthanburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan until early January.

-- BERNAMA