Thai PM hints martial rule might be enforced until early next year

BANGKOK (Xinhua) - Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o- cha has implied a nationwide martial rule, imposed since last May's coup, might be effective until an election is held early next year.

In a weekly radio address Friday night, Gen. Prayut said the martial rule might remain in force alongside ongoing national reforms and the military-laid "roadmap" leading to democratic rule.

The martial law needed to be enforced to ensure that political, economic and social reforms as well as a new constitution will be drafted while public peace and order be maintained under the guidelines of the "roadmap," said the premier. Then the general election will be held to find legislators and return democratic rule to the country early next year, he said.

Prayut reiterated the "roadmap" was yet to be followed until the new charter and all reforms had been done and suggested that those who might have tried to put obstructions to it should stop doing so now.

"Without martial rule, the authorities might not be able to put any untoward situation under control. No reforms could be carried out while massive protests and unrests might probably recur. The national reforms will be carried out sustainably and uninterruptedly from 2015 until 2020," the premier said in his address.

The leader repeatedly said he will not run for an election to come back as premier but stressed he will wait and see whether or not such reforms will bear fruit.

His comments coincided with a statement issued Friday by the EU Mission to Thailand calling for the ruling military, headed by Gen. Prayut, to promptly return democratic rule to the country, lift the martial law and promote the principles of human rights and freedom.

The EU has voiced concerns over the reported detention of people who may have different political views with those of the ruling military and have been court-martialed without the participation of the judicial branch.

"As a friend and partner of Thailand, the EU has repeatedly called for the democratic process to be restored and for the martial law to be lifted. The rule of law and protection and promotion of human rights are crucial elements for stability and progress," the EU statement said.

The EU mission demanded that the National Council for Peace and Order, the military junta headed by Prayut himself, observe the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights adopted by member states of the United Nations, including Thailand.

That apparently referred to the detention of former lawmakers attached to the once-ruling Peua Thai (For Thais) Party and other political activists who had been detained at Bangkok army barracks and undergone "re-orientation" courses designed to stop their activities in antagonism to the military.

The EU mission said the anti-military people should only be subject to the established judicial process rather than the court-martial.