ID :
115420
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 11:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/115420
The shortlink copeid
Cabinet extends security law for another two weeks
BANGKOK, April 7 (TNA) – The Cabinet on Wednesday has extended Thailand's Internal Security Act (ISA) for another two weeks to maintain order in the capital and two adjacent provinces as the Red Shirt anti-government protesters vowed to intensify their protest.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attended the meeting for 40 minutes and left Parliament for security reasons. His deputy Suthep Thaugsuban conducted the meeting on his behalf.
The cabinet session began earlier than scheduled and cabinet members left Parliament not long before many red-shirted protesters arrived at the Parliament compound.
In its action, the cabinet extended the imposition of the ISA, which
expired on Wednesday, through April 20 in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.
The ISA has been in effect since March 11 as the Red Shirts started the mass rally in Bangkok on March 13, demanding the House dissolution.
After two rounds of negotiation between the government and the key Red
Shirt leaders failed, the protesters moved to rally at the capital's
commercial and shopping district of Ratchaprasong where high-end shopping malls,luxury hotels and prime offices are located since last Saturday. Many malls remained closed for the fifth consecutive day.
The situation was tense on Tuesday when thousands of anti-riot police and soldiers confronted red-clad protesters in a stand-off that led to a minor skirmish but police and soldiers later retreated.
The key Red Shirt leaders vowed not to leave Ratchaprasong until the prime minister agrees to their demand to dissolve the House within 15 days.
Some protesters still remain at Phan Fa bridge, their main protest site.
Prime Minister Abhisit, in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, assured the people that he would apply legal measures to restore normalcy to the country as soon as possible. (TNA)
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attended the meeting for 40 minutes and left Parliament for security reasons. His deputy Suthep Thaugsuban conducted the meeting on his behalf.
The cabinet session began earlier than scheduled and cabinet members left Parliament not long before many red-shirted protesters arrived at the Parliament compound.
In its action, the cabinet extended the imposition of the ISA, which
expired on Wednesday, through April 20 in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.
The ISA has been in effect since March 11 as the Red Shirts started the mass rally in Bangkok on March 13, demanding the House dissolution.
After two rounds of negotiation between the government and the key Red
Shirt leaders failed, the protesters moved to rally at the capital's
commercial and shopping district of Ratchaprasong where high-end shopping malls,luxury hotels and prime offices are located since last Saturday. Many malls remained closed for the fifth consecutive day.
The situation was tense on Tuesday when thousands of anti-riot police and soldiers confronted red-clad protesters in a stand-off that led to a minor skirmish but police and soldiers later retreated.
The key Red Shirt leaders vowed not to leave Ratchaprasong until the prime minister agrees to their demand to dissolve the House within 15 days.
Some protesters still remain at Phan Fa bridge, their main protest site.
Prime Minister Abhisit, in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, assured the people that he would apply legal measures to restore normalcy to the country as soon as possible. (TNA)
