Thailand’s ruling junta eases ban on political activities
Thailand’s ruling junta on September 14 partially eased its ban on political activities, paving the way for the general election scheduled to take place on February 24, 2019.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Source: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand’s ruling junta on September 14partially eased its ban on political activities, paving the way for the generalelection scheduled to take place on February 24, 2019.
Under the decision, which was announced by Prime Minister PrayutChan-o-cha, political parties are now permitted to elect their leaders, recruit new members andhold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least 250 members.
However, election campaigning, including holding public gatherings, isstill forbidden.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge ofthe government’s legal affairs, said election campaigning would be allowedafter a law on the election is issued, possibly in December.
After the military staged a coup in 2014 to oust then Prime Minister YingluckShinawatra, a ban was imposed throughout the country on all political activities.This included a ban on any public gatherings of more than five people.-VNA
The Government of Thailand said on December 21 that it will lift the political ban after the bill governing election of members of parliament is promulgated, possibly in June 2018.
The ban on political activities, which has been imposed in Thailand since the coup d’état in May 2014, will be lifted in June, said Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
The National Council for Peace and Order has agreed to partially lift the ban on political activities, with an official announcement to be issued shortly, NCPO deputy chief Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister in charge of legal affairs Wissanu Krea-ngam has said political parties will be given 60 days to campaign for the general election scheduled for December 2018 after the junta partly lifted a ban on political activities.
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Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Source: Xinhua/VNA) 
