BANGKOK, April 23 (UPI) -- The state of emergency imposed in Thailand in response to civil unrest is lawful, the country's Criminal Court said Thursday.
Thailand's Criminal Court found that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's emergency action does not violate Thai law as alleged by lawyers representing three imprisoned United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leaders, the Thai News Agency said.
The lawyers had made the Criminal Court claim as part of their attempt to earn the freedom of UDD leaders Veera Musikapong, Natthawut Saikuea and Weng Tochirakarn.
The attorneys alleged in a petition that since the Cabinet did not approve the state of emergency imposed April 12, the government action was unlawful.
But the Criminal Court dismissed the lawyers' petition for the imprisoned anti-government officials, prompting lead attorney Karom Poltaklang to say he would appeal Thursday's ruling.
The three UDD officials have been detained since last Thursday in relation to their three-week Government House protest over an April 13 riot that killed two civilians, the Thai News Agency said.
