ID :
163027
Tue, 02/22/2011 - 12:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/163027
The shortlink copeid
Thai cabinet extends imposition of security act in Bangkok for another month
BANGKOK, Feb 22 (TNA) - Thailand’s cabinet resolved Tuesday to extend the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in seven districts of Bangkok for another month to cope with the ongoing movements of several groups of protesters who have potential to cause violence or untoward incidents in the capital.
National police chief Police General Wichean Potephosree, in his capacity as head of the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), said that the cabinet agreed with the proposal of the CRES to extend the imposition for another month until March 25 in the same seven districts namely Ratchathevi, Pomprap, Wattana, Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Pathumwan and Wang Thong Lang.
The decision is based on the fact that many groups of demonstrators, especially the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), continue with their rallies and the police want to maintain order in the capital as the UDD will stage its rally there on March 12.
The Internal Security Act has been enforced in the seven districts of Bangkok since February 9. The imposition was earlier scheduled to end on February 23 but demonstrators are defying the act as red shirt UDD demonstrators keep rallying including their protests to call for the bail of their leaders who have been detained since the crackdown on their protest last May.
In the meantime, yellow-shirted PAD protesters have been rallying near Government House in Bangkok for nearly a month to demand solutions to border conflicts with Cambodia and to pressure the government to help their key figures who have been detained in Cambodia allegedly for trespassing and espionage.
The national police chief said the summons for key figures of PAD to acknowledge the charge of violating the ISA was a normal action of law enforcement and the police had more actions to take if PAD leaders return to their rally.
Pol Gen Wichean considers the imposition of the ISA as effective. Regarding PAD leaders’ plan to take legal actions against the prime minister and concerned authorities for imposing the ISA, he said that PAD leaders had the right to do so and the final decision on the issue would rest with the court.
Meanwhile, the Thai Patriots Network core leader Chaiwat Sinsuwongse earlier on Tuesday submitted to the Civil Court a petition to revoke the ISA, arguing that the law infringes on the citizens’ right to congregate.
Chaiwat further requested that the government not impose any other special laws without a court order.
The Thai Patriots Network is also drafting another petition to submit to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman, asking them to investigate the initial enactment process of the ISA.
On another matter, Chaiwat said the Thai Patriots Network had asked the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh to help representatives of the Network visit Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapibul at the Prey Sor prison on February 25th, to clarify whether or not the detainees want to continue fighting the lawsuit according to the legal procedures. (TNA)
National police chief Police General Wichean Potephosree, in his capacity as head of the Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), said that the cabinet agreed with the proposal of the CRES to extend the imposition for another month until March 25 in the same seven districts namely Ratchathevi, Pomprap, Wattana, Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Pathumwan and Wang Thong Lang.
The decision is based on the fact that many groups of demonstrators, especially the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), continue with their rallies and the police want to maintain order in the capital as the UDD will stage its rally there on March 12.
The Internal Security Act has been enforced in the seven districts of Bangkok since February 9. The imposition was earlier scheduled to end on February 23 but demonstrators are defying the act as red shirt UDD demonstrators keep rallying including their protests to call for the bail of their leaders who have been detained since the crackdown on their protest last May.
In the meantime, yellow-shirted PAD protesters have been rallying near Government House in Bangkok for nearly a month to demand solutions to border conflicts with Cambodia and to pressure the government to help their key figures who have been detained in Cambodia allegedly for trespassing and espionage.
The national police chief said the summons for key figures of PAD to acknowledge the charge of violating the ISA was a normal action of law enforcement and the police had more actions to take if PAD leaders return to their rally.
Pol Gen Wichean considers the imposition of the ISA as effective. Regarding PAD leaders’ plan to take legal actions against the prime minister and concerned authorities for imposing the ISA, he said that PAD leaders had the right to do so and the final decision on the issue would rest with the court.
Meanwhile, the Thai Patriots Network core leader Chaiwat Sinsuwongse earlier on Tuesday submitted to the Civil Court a petition to revoke the ISA, arguing that the law infringes on the citizens’ right to congregate.
Chaiwat further requested that the government not impose any other special laws without a court order.
The Thai Patriots Network is also drafting another petition to submit to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman, asking them to investigate the initial enactment process of the ISA.
On another matter, Chaiwat said the Thai Patriots Network had asked the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh to help representatives of the Network visit Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapibul at the Prey Sor prison on February 25th, to clarify whether or not the detainees want to continue fighting the lawsuit according to the legal procedures. (TNA)
