The situation has largely returned to normal, says Prasopsuk Boondej. Emergency legislation is counterproductive, scaring away investors and tourists. Speaker is set to lead a senate delegation to two northeastern provinces to get first-hand information from residents.

Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The government should lift the state of emergency that is still in place in 19 provinces because the situation has largely returned to normal, Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej said on Friday.

According to the Bangkok Post, the senate speaker said he was glad the emergency decree had been lifted in five provinces; but that it would be better if it was lifted in the in Bangkok and 18 provinces as well.

In the speaker’s opinion, the emergency legislation has scared away investors who are under the impression that Thailand is not a safe place. Equally, the tourist sector has been badly affected by this spring’s unrest.

A former head of the Appeal Court, Prasopsuk Boondej does not share the government’s concern that red-shirt protesters, who are close to exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, are plotting more street mayhem in order to overthrow current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Instead, he plans to head a senate delegation this weekend to the provinces of Udon Thani and Ngon Khai, in northeast Thailand, a stronghold of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the main opposition group that led the protest movement.

The senate speaker said he wanted to listen to people, hear their grievances on political, social and economic issues that affect the region. For this reason, local government offices will be bypassed in favour of temples and communities to get first-hand information.

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