Thai anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban speaks to protesters from a Shutdown
Bangkok protest camp at an intersection outside MBK shopping centre in central Bangkok.

DPA/Reuters/Bangkok

Thailand’s government has announced a ban on gatherings of more than five people as part of the state of emergency imposed on Bangkok for the next 60 days.

The ban on the mass anti-government protests that have been staged in the capital since early November was announced by caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, commander of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), which was set up on Wednesday to enforce the emergency decree, The Nation online news reported.

“Gatherings of five or more people in areas prohibited by CMPO cannot be done,” the announcement said. “Any action that incites disorder cannot be done.”

The announcement appeared to contradict claims made by the government on Wednesday that it would refrain from dispersing the protests, which have intensified since January 13 when the demonstrators launched a campaign to shut down Bangkok.

The CMPO also invoked the emergency decree’s authority to impose censorship on the media.

“News publicity and distribution of newspapers and other publications that will cause public panic or distort information about the emergency situation affecting the peace and order and good morality cannot be done,” the centre’s order said.

The two clauses are part of an article under the decree that the foreign ministry’s permanent secretary, Sihasak Phuanggetkeow, had assured diplomats on Wednesday had not been invoked.

“The decree is meant as a deterrent,” Sihasak said. “In no way will there be the use of force, and utmost restraint will be the order of the day.”

Sihasak acknowledged that one reason for invoking the decree was the government’s worries about maintaining security during a snap election set for February 2.

The strengthening of the emergency decree came after protesters showed defiance of the state of emergency, which applies in the capital and neighboring provinces.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban led marches yesterday through Bangkok to drum up support for his campaign, which seeks to a force the resignation of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her cabinet. Similar protests were staged on Wednesday.

“The People’s Democratic Reform Committee will continue to protest until we succeed in reaching our goals,” said Akanat Promphan, spokesman for the anti-government movement that has occupied seven key Bangkok intersections since January 13.

It has been demanding the appointment of a new prime minister who would set up an interim cabinet and people’s assembly to institute political reforms.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court meanwhile deferred a ruling on whether a general election scheduled for February 2 can be postponed, as protesters who say they will boycott the vote kept up pressure on the government to step down.

The Election Commission says the country is too volatile to hold a general election now and that technicalities mean it is anyway bound to result in a parliament with too few lawmakers to form a quorum.

The government says the decree to hold the election on that date has been signed by the king and cannot be changed.

“The Constitutional Court has accepted this case and we will look at the legal issues involved. If there is enough evidence, we may hand down a decision tomorrow,” said court spokesman Pimol Thampithakpong.

The protests are the latest eruption in a political conflict that has gripped the country for eight years. The emergency decree failed to clear the demonstrators, though the capital has been relatively calm this week.

Broadly, the conflict pits the Bangkok middle class and royalist establishment against the mainly poorer supporters of Yingluck and her brother, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the military in 2006.

Nine people have been killed in outbursts of violence, including two grenade attacks in Bangkok last weekend.

A leading pro-government activist was shot and wounded on Wednesday in Thailand’s northeast, a stronghold of the Shinawatra family, in what police said may have been a political attack, adding to fears the violence could spread.

A ruling in favour of the Election Commission would deepen Thailand’s political quagmire, already weighing on investor enthusiasm for Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy.

The main opposition Democrat Party says it will boycott the vote. Protest leader Suthep, a former Democrat minister, wants democracy suspended so that a “people’s council” can push through electoral and political changes.

Thais living overseas have already voted and some advance voting takes place around the country on Sunday. The protesters have said they would try to disrupt the election.

On Wednesday, an unidentified gunman opened fire on Kwanchai Praipana, a leader of Thailand’s pro-government “red shirt” movement and a popular radio DJ.

The attack in Udon Thani, about 450km northeast of Bangkok, was the most significant violence outside the capital and illustrates the risk that the turbulence could spread to other parts of Thailand.

Just a day before, Kwanchai had warned of a nationwide fight if the military launched a coup, as widely feared.

So far the military, which has been involved in 18 actual or attempted coups in the past 81 years, has kept out of the fray. Police are charged with enforcing the state of emergency and are under orders from Yingluck to show restraint.

“We announced a state of emergency to help police do their work,” Yingluck told reporters yesterday.

“But given what happened in 2010 I don’t want police to use force outside of the legal framework,” she added, referring to a military crackdown that year on pro-Thaksin protesters during which scores were killed.

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said this week his troops might have to play a bigger role if serious violence breaks out.

“If such violence erupted and no one is able to solve it, the troops would have to step in and tackle it. We would look after our nation using the right methods,” he told reporters.

The emergency decree gives security agencies powers to detain suspects, impose a curfew and limit gatherings.

Some analysts said it was in part designed to give Yingluck legal protection if police step in.

Several governments have warned their nationals to avoid protest areas in Bangkok, among the world’s most visited cities.

China called on Thailand to “restore stability and order as soon as possible” through talks.