Translation:Statement of the Office of the Prime Minister dated 21 November 2490 BE

by Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand

Statement

---

As the Emergency Decree for the Protection of Peace in Order to Enable the Implementation of the (Interim) Constitution Dated 9 November 2490 Buddhist Era, 2490 BE, has already been promulgated, the Government would like to take this opportunity to address the people for good understanding about the necessity to enact the said Emergency Decree.

Now, the party of military officers that carried out the coup has already entrusted the Government with the exercise of the absolute power to implement policy and handle the public services of the Country. But the situation at this moment cannot really be considered normal yet. Thus, for peace and order which would surely ensure tranquility of the Nation, and for the advance prevention of unfavourable incidents which could occur, the Government comes to think of the examples which have taken place after coups, in which there would often be some groups or bands of people conspiring together to resist and obstruct the implementation of what the coup parties had done. For this purpose, it is appropriate to furnish the military with certain powers, such as the power to seize firearms, ammunition, and explosives, which may be exercised to suppress and prevent unfavourable incidents that could occur. And these powers are governed by a provision in the Emergency Decree, which decrees that they only be exercised in cases of necessity. In addition, the mentioned powers are given for a fixed period of time, that is, not over three months at most. Furthermore, there are examples, which have been observed in foreign countries, of granting such powers as these to the military after coups. Therefore, the Government hopes that all the people would realise the necessity and would be willing to help each other maintain peace of the Country, so that the promulgated Constitution would be implemented without difficulty.

Office of the Prime Minister
21th day of November 2490

Bibliography

• "Khamthalaengkan Samnak Nayok-ratthamontri" [Statement of the Office of the Prime Minister]. (1947, 22 November). Ratchakitchanubeksa [Royal Gazette], 64(56A), 6–7. (In Thai).