Thailand revokes emergency decree

Thailand's caretaker cabinet Tuesday decided to revoke an almost two-month-old emergency decree imposed in Bangkok and adjacent provinces.

The prime minister's secretary general Suranand Vejjajiva in a statement said the emergency decree will, effective Wednesday, be replaced by the less stringent Internal Security Act (ISA), Xinhua reported.

The new act will be used to maintain law and order during the senatorial election March 30 and re-runs of the Feb 2 general elections slated for April, Vejjajiva said.

The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order, which is currently in charge of enforcing the emergency decree, will change into a new entity with a similar structure to implement the ISA.

The decree had been effective since Jan 22 in Nonthaburi province, Patumthani province, part of Samut Prakarn province and all districts of Bangkok to cope with prolonged anti-government protests that resulted in violence and bloodshed.

The decree was initially meant to expire March 22.