Army chief cautious on emergency law

“To enforce a draconian law would certainly impact on the people and the question is whether flood-hit Thais would agree to abide by such a law,” he said.

Prayuth said the government would have to decide whether emergency rule, if imposed, was a worthwhile option. In past cases of emergency rule, people were arrested for violating the ban on restricted areas, resulting in a large amount of litigation, much of which remained inconclusive, he said.

In several flood-hit areas, people broke down dykes, he said. Under existing provisions, trespassing on or destroying public property was an offence.

He said he did not expect the situation to improve even if the authorities arrested everyone living near the dykes. He urged police to talk to local residents instead of invoking the law. He also suggested the Flood Relief Operations Centre designate agencies and officials responsible for each flood zone in order to avoid confusion on relief and rescue efforts.