A new law in Thailand is being strictly enforced and will restrict public demonstrations, reports Today Online.
The law, under the Public Assembly Act, will curb public gatherings and ban all demonstrations outside the prime minister’s office, airports and numerous other public places.
A Bangkok Protest. Image Credit: Johan Fatenberg (Flickr)
The Thai Prime Minister said:
“This law will be strictly enforced to prevent the type of nuisance and violence that happened in the past […] It’s not possible to have it all — happiness, equality, democracy — without giving us the tools.”
The new Public Assembly Act states that:
- Protesters must apply for permission from police for rallies with a minimum of 24 hours notice.
- Any demonstrations within 150m of the prime minister’s headquarters, Parliament, royal palaces and courthouses are prohibited.
- All areas for protest must have been authorized in advance.
- Protesters must not block entrances or creating a disturbance at government offices, airports, seaports, train and bus stations, hospitals, schools and embassies.
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Human rights groups have been critical of the Public Assembly Act. Nutchapakorn Nummueng, a representative of iLaw, a legal watchdog and rights advocacy group, says:
“This law violates the rights of the people. We want this act revoked.”
Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd says the law is “a necessity for Thailand.”
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