Ninety people were killed and almost 2,000 wounded in clashes in central Bangkok in April and May between protesters demanding an early election and security forces. “The lifting is because there’s no movement or any sign that could lead to unrest, and the government has adequate security forces to maintain a peaceful situation,” deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said after a Cabinet meeting.
“The government continues to impose the state of emergency in 16 provinces because there is some movement there,” he told reporters. The state of emergency bans political gatherings of more than five people and allows the government to censor the media.
It also gives broad powers to the security forces, including the right to detain suspects without charge.
The government lifted it in five provinces on July 6 when the initial period came to an end, but extended it for another three months in other areas covering a quarter of the country, saying anti-government elements still posed a threat.
The protesters, mostly poorer Thais who back ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, were forced to quit their camp in the capital in a military crackdown on May 19, after which some rioted and committed arson.
That instability raised fears about the economy, but the damage was not as bad as expected.
Central Bank Governor Tarisa Watanagase said on Tuesday that even tourism, badly hit in April and May, had recovered quickly and was no longer such a big concern for the economy.
“Consumption and investment have now recovered and private sector investment, in particular, is back to the pre-crisis level,” she added.
Tuesday’s removal of the emergency covered one province in the north and two in the northeast of the country.
