Narathiwat, Thailand
The government declared martial law in Muslim regions of southern Thailand this week in an effort to quell an insurgency. Under the Emergency Powers Law, decreed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the government can now tap phones, detain people without charge, and ban public gatherings. Opposition leaders said the new law was dictatorial. “Giving the authorities broader power could lead to increased violence and eventually a real crisis,” said former prime minister Anand Panyarachun. He said Muslim violence was often sparked by inept or unfair practices by local officials. Some 900 people have been killed in sporadic uprisings over the past 18 months.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
-
Today's political cartoons - September 16, 2024Monday's cartoons - a second assassination attempt, eating pets, and more
-
'If this is a race, China has a commanding lead'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
