(VOVworld) – The Civil Court of Thailand on Wednesday ruled that the decree of a state of emergency issued for Bangkok and surrounding areas cannot be used as a reason to crack down on protesters.

Protesters besiege the temporary workplace of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Defence Ministry (Photo: Kyodo/ VNA)

The court banned using force in any form against the demonstrators, stressing that so far demonstrations have taken place in a peaceful manner. But the court rejected a request by former Democrat member of parliament Thaworn Saeniam to revoke the decree issued on January 21 by the caretaker government. How the court’s ruling affects the order to arrest protest leaders for their violation of the decree of a state of emergency is not clear.

The ruling came down after demonstrators besieged the temporary workplace of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Defence Ministry to demand her resignation. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban pledged to escalate the protests to a new level and to target the business of the Shinawatra family.