ID :
110934
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 22:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/110934
The shortlink copeid
Security law in full force Thursday
BANGKOK, March 10 (TNA) - The Thai government on Wednesday tightened
security at key government offices and public transportation hubs before enforcing the Internal Security Act (ISA) Thursday as the government representative is set to talk with the leading protest leader in the hope of warding off possible violence during the weekend's expected Red Shirt mass rally .
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after chairing a meeting of the
Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) that his government has prepared appropriate measures to respond to the demonstrators in accordance with international practice with armed police rapid response units assigned to cope with any emergency.
The Cabinet on Tuesday announced its plan to enforce the Internal Security Act (ISA) from Thursday (March 11) through March 23 throughout Bangkok and Nonthaburi, plus some high-risk districts of other six provinces surrounding the capital.
The premier added that the ISOC meeting also agreed to the appointment of Mr Abhisit's secretary-general Korbsak Sabhavasu to coordinate with the Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders in order to create better understanding and prevent any misunderstanding between the two sides,while Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban will oversee the overall
situation with the help and advice from the government-appointed committee monitoring the overall situation.
Mr Abhisit stated that his government has never thought of using force
against any demonstrators, but some Red Shirt activists such as Arisman Pongruangrong and others had been quite obvious in announcing that they are ready to use violence.
The premier urged the public not to panic over reports about possible
sabotage and that Bangkokians can live their lives normally and cooperate with the authorities.
Following news reports that family members of ousted convicted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have left Thailand ahead of the upcoming Red Shirt rally,Mr Thaksin said in his social network Twitter @Thaksinlive that his two daughters Pinthongta and Paethongtan went to see a hotel exhibition in Germany and that the trip has been planned in advance.
When asked by another Twitter user how confident he is on the upcoming rally as it seems that the Red Shirt has been divided into many groups, the ousted premier replied that the real Red Shirt has the ultimate aim to achieve 'true' democracy and justice.
The ex-premier also sent an SMS to his Red Shirt supporters inviting them to join the Sunday rally in Bangkok which reads "March 14, join the protest calling for the lost democracy and justice for the future of Thai generations."
As this weekend's anti-government rally may paralyse traffic across the capital, Nirandra Theeranartsin, president of the Airports of Thailand (AoT)on Wednesday warned passengers for international flights to arrive the airport three to four hours in advance, while two hours is advised to domestic passengers.
Mr Nirandra added that the AoT has prepared a contingency plan with police and civil officials of Samut Prakan province where the airport is located.
He said that the security plan was rehearsed last December and that the airport will facilitate passengers and their belongings to reach the aircraft without any disruption.
Meanwhile, Gothom Arya, as director of the Mahidol University Research
Center for Peace Building, said after negotiating with the Red Shirt leaders that the UDD will send Weng Tojirakarn as its representative to talk with acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn on Thursday to create better understanding among the two parties.
Mr Gothom said that both the government and the Red Shirts accepted his proposal to hold a talk in order to reduce the use of violence.
Peace academic Gothom said that he was assured by UDD key leader Veera
Musikapong that the Red Shirts will gather in six Bangkok locations without any road blockade and will move to its main rally venue at Ractchadamnoen Avenue as soon as the gathering is done. (TNA)
security at key government offices and public transportation hubs before enforcing the Internal Security Act (ISA) Thursday as the government representative is set to talk with the leading protest leader in the hope of warding off possible violence during the weekend's expected Red Shirt mass rally .
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after chairing a meeting of the
Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) that his government has prepared appropriate measures to respond to the demonstrators in accordance with international practice with armed police rapid response units assigned to cope with any emergency.
The Cabinet on Tuesday announced its plan to enforce the Internal Security Act (ISA) from Thursday (March 11) through March 23 throughout Bangkok and Nonthaburi, plus some high-risk districts of other six provinces surrounding the capital.
The premier added that the ISOC meeting also agreed to the appointment of Mr Abhisit's secretary-general Korbsak Sabhavasu to coordinate with the Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders in order to create better understanding and prevent any misunderstanding between the two sides,while Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban will oversee the overall
situation with the help and advice from the government-appointed committee monitoring the overall situation.
Mr Abhisit stated that his government has never thought of using force
against any demonstrators, but some Red Shirt activists such as Arisman Pongruangrong and others had been quite obvious in announcing that they are ready to use violence.
The premier urged the public not to panic over reports about possible
sabotage and that Bangkokians can live their lives normally and cooperate with the authorities.
Following news reports that family members of ousted convicted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have left Thailand ahead of the upcoming Red Shirt rally,Mr Thaksin said in his social network Twitter @Thaksinlive that his two daughters Pinthongta and Paethongtan went to see a hotel exhibition in Germany and that the trip has been planned in advance.
When asked by another Twitter user how confident he is on the upcoming rally as it seems that the Red Shirt has been divided into many groups, the ousted premier replied that the real Red Shirt has the ultimate aim to achieve 'true' democracy and justice.
The ex-premier also sent an SMS to his Red Shirt supporters inviting them to join the Sunday rally in Bangkok which reads "March 14, join the protest calling for the lost democracy and justice for the future of Thai generations."
As this weekend's anti-government rally may paralyse traffic across the capital, Nirandra Theeranartsin, president of the Airports of Thailand (AoT)on Wednesday warned passengers for international flights to arrive the airport three to four hours in advance, while two hours is advised to domestic passengers.
Mr Nirandra added that the AoT has prepared a contingency plan with police and civil officials of Samut Prakan province where the airport is located.
He said that the security plan was rehearsed last December and that the airport will facilitate passengers and their belongings to reach the aircraft without any disruption.
Meanwhile, Gothom Arya, as director of the Mahidol University Research
Center for Peace Building, said after negotiating with the Red Shirt leaders that the UDD will send Weng Tojirakarn as its representative to talk with acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn on Thursday to create better understanding among the two parties.
Mr Gothom said that both the government and the Red Shirts accepted his proposal to hold a talk in order to reduce the use of violence.
Peace academic Gothom said that he was assured by UDD key leader Veera
Musikapong that the Red Shirts will gather in six Bangkok locations without any road blockade and will move to its main rally venue at Ractchadamnoen Avenue as soon as the gathering is done. (TNA)
