| Thai's NLA Overwhelmingly Passes Internal Security Bill |
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BANGKOK, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- Thailand's military-appointed National Legislative Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve the much-criticised Internal Security Bill amid outcries from protesters gathering outside Parliament demanding that the NLA not to pass the bill as there are only two days left before the December 23 general election.
Thailand News Agency (TNA) reported that with a speedy deliberation, the bill sailed through with 105-8 votes and two abstentions.
Hundreds of protesters who earlier dispersed, however, vowed to collect at least 10,000 signatures to amend the law.
Rights advocates and critics voiced concern over Thailand's Internal Security Bill which confers sweeping powers to the military to take very wide-ranging actions with little accountability, warning that the measure could violate international human rights standards as well as further jeopardise human rights in the country.
The new law empowers the prime minister as head of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and the Army commander as deputy chief of the top national security body to bar public gatherings, restrict citizens' freedom of movement, place anyone under house arrest and close down roads or transportation routes.
The legislation was proposed by the interim government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont installed after the then army commander Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin staged a bloodless coup last year to oust elected then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had been accused of corruption and abuse of power.
-- BERNAMA
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