Thai government lifts state of emergency

Thailand's government on Tuesday lifted a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas nearly two months after imposing it to curb anti-government protests, saying that the number of demonstrators has steadily declined.

The government decided to revoke the emergency decree, which expanded the power of security forces, four days before the originally scheduled expiration date after security agencies said the violence had "significantly decreased," said Department of Special Investigation chief Tharit Phengdit.

Protesters, mainly from Bangkok and the south, have been trying since early November to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and rid the country of the influence of her brother, ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Twenty-three people were killed, most in shootings and grenade blasts targeting protesters, but demonstrations have waned in recent weeks and are now mostly confined to Lumpini Park in Bangkok's central business district and a few other sites.

The government said that from Wednesday, the state of emergency will be replaced with the Internal Security Act, a less harsh law that still allows authorities to impose curfews, operate security checkpoints and restrict the movement of protesters as needed. The act will be in place until April 30.

Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the move will improve Thailand's international image after the sometimes violent political conflict left more than 700 people wounded since November.

The government set the 60-day emergency law from Jan. 22 to help contain protests in the run-up to a general election on Feb. 2, but most of its measures were barely used, especially after a court ruled on Feb. 19 that some had been imposed illegally.

The election in February was disrupted by protesters in almost 70 of the 375 constituencies, leaving the House of Representatives without a quorum to open and elect a new prime minister.

The Constitutional Court has accepted a petition to consider annulling the election, which could further delay the formation of a new government.

Last month, a Thai court struck down several provisions of the decree, leaving beleaguered Yingluck with fewer options in dealing with the protesters, who had camped out for a month with virtual impunity in major intersections across the capital to press for her resignation. It noted that Thailand's Constitutional Court earlier ruled that the protesters were rallying peacefully.

Sporadic attacks, nonetheless, have continued in the capital city and nearby provinces.

Yingluck, whose Puea Thai Party had been expected to win the election, faces a slew of legal challenges that could bring her down, including negligence charges over a rice subsidy scheme that owes money to hundreds of thousands of farmers.

Tourism has suffered during the unrest, with tourist arrivals down 4.1 percent in January and February compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Wire services