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The prime minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva removed the 12-day long state of emergency in capital Bangkok on Friday (April 24). The Thai premier took the decision to lift the emergency after a two-day session of the lower and upper houses of parliament. The emergency was imposed to suppress anti-government protest in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. With the announcement of lifting of emergency, small groups of soldiers deployed at different sensitive places were called back.
While interacting with the media, Thai army spokesman Colonel Sansern Keowkhamnerd said that the prime minister has removed the emergency after finding the situation under control. On April 12, an emergency was imposed following anti-government protests and demonstrations in Bangkok and other areas. Initially imposition of emergency failed to control the situation as supporters of the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship (UDD) ravaged the city of Bangkok by burning buses and nearby shops.
However, the situation began to gain normalcy when UDD leaders called off their protests and surrendered to authorities. The riots claimed two lives besides injuring 123 people. Thai authorities have arrested the key organisers of the protests. During the two-day joint parliamentary session, it was decided that the state of emergency should be lifted as several people had been suffering due to the crackdown.
