Legislators cast an overwhelming vote of approval for the emergency decree for the Deep South Thailand early Thursday following a lengthy debate in the House of Representatives.

A total of 356 government MPs voted for the decree, compared to 99 opposition MPs who voted against it.

The new executive decree, which the Cabinet approved on July 15 and has been enforced in the southermost provinces since last month, empowers the prime minister to declare any troubled areas as emergency zones for a duration of three months each time.

Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier commented that he and his colleagues had resolved not to endorse the decree, which he said, had wedged deeper rifts among the people, violated human rights and breached the Constitution.

The Democrat leader also called for the government to open a public forum to pave way for future amendment of the decree.

Nonetheless, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra argued that the decree was just a tool for him to combat insurgency in the region and that he would not abuse his power or mistreat innocent people.

Thaksin stressed that the legislators should speak in one voice and refrain from making unconstructive criticisms at the expense of national security.

Source: Xinhua