The politics of decreeFor the sixth time, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government has extended the controversial emergency decree, claiming that the special law is still a necessary tool for coronavirus control. Although it has vehemently insisted that the use of decree in handling critics and opponents is apolitical, the opposite is the truth. Prime Minister Prayut has downplayed allegations of power abuse, saying critics are "only misunderstanding" that the authorities have used the decree against pro-democracy activists demonstrating against the state. Another reason claimed by the government is without the decree, the state would have to abolish the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). And even though the Prayut government still wants to keep the decree, there is no justification in using it against pro-democracy activists.

Source: Bangkok Post October 01, 2020 23:15 UTC