ID :
140515
Fri, 09/03/2010 - 18:08
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http://m.oananews.org//node/140515
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CRES tightens security at 464 sites across Bangkok
BANGKOK, Sept 3 - Thailand's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) on Friday issued tightened security measures to prevent possible untoward incidents in the capital with a combined force of police and army deployed at 464 high-risk locations following recent grenade attacks.
Pol Maj-Gen Piya Uthayo, police spokesman, said after the Friday CRES meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, that the centre has laid out a security plan to contain and prevent possible attacks in Bangkok.
The plan divided high-risk areas into three tiers; 130 very high risk locations which have already been targeted or areas which need the utmost security, such as royal compounds, homes of key public figures, the mass transit system and power distribution grids, said Gen Piya. About 10,000 security from police, military and and municipality civil servants are to be deployed.
The security forces will oversee the area surrounding each location within a 400-metre radius, while all closed circuit televisions will be improved and reinstalled.
The second tier comprises 198 specially-monitored locations including politically symbolic places, government buildings and the homes of public figures. At this stage, more checkpoints will be set up and the number of security personnel will be increased.
The third category is the remaining 136 spots including department stores and commercial banks across the capital, said the police spokesman.
Ten teams of special operations units to respond in case of any major incident are on standby, said Gen Piya, explaining that all measures will be adjusted due to the circumstances.
"CRES will meet the chiefs of nine metropolitan police divisions, the Army First Area, city law enforcement department, Special Branch police, mass transit system and other concerned agencies to lay out additional security measures.", said Gen Piya.
The police spokesman said the CRES also asked Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to examine the efficiency of nearly 3,000 closed circuit televisions (CCTV) across the city while Metropolitan Police reported that private firms which have installed their own CCTV systems will join the operation.
Gen Piya said there are 792 CCTV cameras at service stations, 2,533 at convenience stores, 1,908 at banks, 1,324 at gold shops and some 2,000 at internet cafes across Bangkok.
CRES also assigned the Ministry of Interior and the BMA to carry out more proactive measures at every level, seeking understanding and cooperation from local residents.
When asked whether the added tightened security measures have been launched due to warnings from intelligence agencies, the police spokesman said the CRES has thoroughly considered about the impact on people's daily activities and tourism industry, but agreed other big cities like New York and London have also applied similar measures for public safety.
The CRES move came in the wake of Tuesday M79 grenade attack at the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) station, the latest attack in less than a week after a security guard on August 26 was seriously wounded by a grenade explosion on Rangnam Road near the King Power duty-free shopping complex in central Bangkok.
The series of bombings occurred as a state of emergency is still in place in the capital and other six provinces.
The opposition Puea Thai party also claimed that there will be a 'big sabotage' in Bangkok in September, but the government and the CRES dismissed the claim. (MCOT online news)
Pol Maj-Gen Piya Uthayo, police spokesman, said after the Friday CRES meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, that the centre has laid out a security plan to contain and prevent possible attacks in Bangkok.
The plan divided high-risk areas into three tiers; 130 very high risk locations which have already been targeted or areas which need the utmost security, such as royal compounds, homes of key public figures, the mass transit system and power distribution grids, said Gen Piya. About 10,000 security from police, military and and municipality civil servants are to be deployed.
The security forces will oversee the area surrounding each location within a 400-metre radius, while all closed circuit televisions will be improved and reinstalled.
The second tier comprises 198 specially-monitored locations including politically symbolic places, government buildings and the homes of public figures. At this stage, more checkpoints will be set up and the number of security personnel will be increased.
The third category is the remaining 136 spots including department stores and commercial banks across the capital, said the police spokesman.
Ten teams of special operations units to respond in case of any major incident are on standby, said Gen Piya, explaining that all measures will be adjusted due to the circumstances.
"CRES will meet the chiefs of nine metropolitan police divisions, the Army First Area, city law enforcement department, Special Branch police, mass transit system and other concerned agencies to lay out additional security measures.", said Gen Piya.
The police spokesman said the CRES also asked Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to examine the efficiency of nearly 3,000 closed circuit televisions (CCTV) across the city while Metropolitan Police reported that private firms which have installed their own CCTV systems will join the operation.
Gen Piya said there are 792 CCTV cameras at service stations, 2,533 at convenience stores, 1,908 at banks, 1,324 at gold shops and some 2,000 at internet cafes across Bangkok.
CRES also assigned the Ministry of Interior and the BMA to carry out more proactive measures at every level, seeking understanding and cooperation from local residents.
When asked whether the added tightened security measures have been launched due to warnings from intelligence agencies, the police spokesman said the CRES has thoroughly considered about the impact on people's daily activities and tourism industry, but agreed other big cities like New York and London have also applied similar measures for public safety.
The CRES move came in the wake of Tuesday M79 grenade attack at the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) station, the latest attack in less than a week after a security guard on August 26 was seriously wounded by a grenade explosion on Rangnam Road near the King Power duty-free shopping complex in central Bangkok.
The series of bombings occurred as a state of emergency is still in place in the capital and other six provinces.
The opposition Puea Thai party also claimed that there will be a 'big sabotage' in Bangkok in September, but the government and the CRES dismissed the claim. (MCOT online news)
