ID :
69983
Sun, 07/12/2009 - 15:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/69983
The shortlink copeid
40,000 vehicles to carry ID stickers at July ASEAN meetings
PHUKET, July 12 (TNA) -- More than 40,000 vehicle owners in the southern resort of Phuket have already received ID stickers to pass through checkpoints during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) which begin later this week on the island, a senior army officer said Sunday.
Col. Piyapong Wongchan, deputy chief of Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, said that vehicle owners wanting special stickers to facilitate their passage through checkpoints could contact village heads in Thalang and Kathu districts. Col. Piyapong said distribution of stickers will be completed Thursday.
The forthcoming 42nd ASEAN foreign ministers meeting and the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum will be held at a luxury hotel in Phuket between July 17-23.
Security before, during and after the meetings will be tight as the Cabinet on Thursday moved to impose the Internal which is enforced from July 10-24, aimed at preventing a disruption of the two meetings by anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
Demonstrators of the ‘Red Shirt’ group on April 11 stormed into a hotel in the eastern resort of Pattaya where the ASEAN summit was to be held, forcing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to cancel it immediately.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that many VIPs would attend the meetings and encouraged the Thai public to play good hosts, especially people living in Phuket as the meetings could help stimulate tourism for the island.
Mr. Abhisit said intelligence reports showed that “certain groups of people” are still trying to organise protests to disrupt meetings as happened with the incident in Pattaya.
The government has no choice but to impose the Internal Security Act in Phuket and surrounding areas, he added. (TNA)
Col. Piyapong Wongchan, deputy chief of Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, said that vehicle owners wanting special stickers to facilitate their passage through checkpoints could contact village heads in Thalang and Kathu districts. Col. Piyapong said distribution of stickers will be completed Thursday.
The forthcoming 42nd ASEAN foreign ministers meeting and the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum will be held at a luxury hotel in Phuket between July 17-23.
Security before, during and after the meetings will be tight as the Cabinet on Thursday moved to impose the Internal which is enforced from July 10-24, aimed at preventing a disruption of the two meetings by anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
Demonstrators of the ‘Red Shirt’ group on April 11 stormed into a hotel in the eastern resort of Pattaya where the ASEAN summit was to be held, forcing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to cancel it immediately.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that many VIPs would attend the meetings and encouraged the Thai public to play good hosts, especially people living in Phuket as the meetings could help stimulate tourism for the island.
Mr. Abhisit said intelligence reports showed that “certain groups of people” are still trying to organise protests to disrupt meetings as happened with the incident in Pattaya.
The government has no choice but to impose the Internal Security Act in Phuket and surrounding areas, he added. (TNA)
