BANGKOK, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- The deputy prime minister of Thailand says decisions about lifting and reinstating martial law are being made for security reasons, not politics.
The National Security Council, headed by Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, decided Friday to end military rule in 11 provinces and reimpose it in three. That leaves 27 of the country's 76 provinces under martial law, The Thai News Agency reported.
The three provinces where martial law was reinstated, all in the northwest, are regarded as strongholds of the Thai Rak Thai party, founded by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin has been living in exile since he was ousted last year in a military coup led by Sonthi.
The entire country was placed under martial law immediately after the coup.
