The United Nations human rights chief has criticized Thailand’s military leaders for replacing a state of martial law with “an even more Draconian” decree that grants the kingdom’s junta sweeping new powers.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha this week said he asked the country’s king for permission to lift the martial law, which was put in place after the military ousted a democratically elected government in May.

The martial law, which the military has used to silence critics and political rivals, will be replaced by a section of the interim constitution that many say will remove any restraints on the military’s powers.

“I am alarmed at the decision to replace martial law with something even more Draconian, which bestows unlimited powers on the current Prime Minister without any judicial oversight at all,” U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement Thursday.  “This clearly leaves the door wide open to serious violations of fundamental human rights. I appeal to the government to ensure that these extraordinary powers, even if provided for by the Interim Constitution, will nevertheless not be exercised imprudently.”

The military seized power in May after embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was removed by a court order. It was the military’s 12th coup in the last 80 years.

Junta leaders have said the coup was necessary to restore order following months of sometimes violent protests against Yingluck.
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