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AS IT IS 2015-04-03 Activists1 Question the End of Martial2 Law in Thailand 一些活动家对泰国戒严法结束表示质疑
Thailand’s rulers announced this week that martial law had ended, with the support of the King. The rulers say martial law will be replaced by Article 44, a security law in the country’s temporary charter.
Legal experts and human rights defenders3 in Bangkok say the announcement is not a reason to celebrate. They are warning that the new law will widen and strengthen the powers of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha.
The temporary charter replaced Thailand’s constitution following the government overthrow4 on May 22, 2014. Martial law was in effect for more then ten months.
Thailand's National Human Rights Commission says enacting5 Article 44 will give Prime Minister Prayuth absolute power.
The U.N.’s High Commissioner6 for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, strongly criticized the move. He released a statement saying Prime Minister Prayuth could now “issue any legislative7, executive or judicial8 order.”
Rupert Colville is a U.N. Human Rights agency spokesman. He says the new rule is even worse than martial law.
“It’s really very worrying because it could lead to quite large-scale human rights violations9 with total impunity10 and gives quite extraordinary powers to even junior military officers in their dealings with civilians12.”
Mr. Colville says the U.N. High Commissioner is also extremely concerned about the power the military now has in the reporting of news.
“They can also restrict the sale and distribution of books, publications, and on the very, very vague grounds, just a suggestion, that the book or the newspaper or whatever may create public fear or is intended to distort news and information. That is incredibly easy to abuse.”
Freedom to gather also remains13 highly restricted in Thailand. Protesters who gather in groups of more than five can face severe punishment.
A Thai government advisor14 on security issues says the U.N does not understand what Thailand did this week. He says the government established fourteen rules to lessen15 the power of martial law. He says he thinks the U.N. human rights agency missed that point.
Prime Minister Prayuth has promised to use his increased powers responsibly. He said those who have not done “anything wrong” have no need to be afraid. However, he strongly warned that “if there is any shooting and causing of chaos16 again, I will order arrests immediately.”
The U.N High Commissioner is calling on Thailand to honor international human rights law and return normal civilian11 rule to the country. The agency statement noted17 that Thailand promised, right after the overthrow, to take that action.
Observers say Article 44 guarantees the military will have control of Thailand during a period of royal change expected in the near future. King Bhumibol is 87 years old and has been in poor health for years. His son, the Crown Prince, is not as well-liked as his father.
Words in This Story
martial law – n. control of an area by military forces rather than by the police
absolute – adj. complete and total
impunity – n. freedom from punishment, harm, or loss
chaos – n. complete confusion and disorder18: a state in which behavior and events are not controlled by anything
royal – adj. of or relating to a king or queen
1 activists | |
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 ) | |
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2 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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3 defenders | |
n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
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4 overthrow | |
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆 | |
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5 enacting | |
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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6 commissioner | |
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员 | |
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7 legislative | |
n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 | |
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8 judicial | |
adj.司法的,法庭的,审判的,明断的,公正的 | |
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9 violations | |
违反( violation的名词复数 ); 冒犯; 违反(行为、事例); 强奸 | |
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10 impunity | |
n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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11 civilian | |
adj.平民的,民用的,民众的 | |
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12 civilians | |
平民,百姓( civilian的名词复数 ); 老百姓 | |
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13 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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14 advisor | |
n.顾问,指导老师,劝告者 | |
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15 lessen | |
vt.减少,减轻;缩小 | |
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16 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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17 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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18 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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