ID :
76880
Tue, 08/25/2009 - 17:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/76880
The shortlink copeid
Govt to activate Internal Security Act in Bangkok during Red Shirt protest
BANGKOK, Aug 25 (TNA) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday that his Cabinet will impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the capital to maintain law and order during the anti-government rally of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) this weekend.
Mr Abhisit said after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting that intensified security measures will be enforced from August 29 through September 1, but only in the capital’s Dusit district, the area where the UDD protesters will demonstrate.
The so-called Red Shirts earlier announced that they will gather at the Royal Plaza on Rajdamnoen Nok Road and will march to Government House to demand that the prime minister dissolve the House of Representatives due to what they claim is his government’s poor performance and alleged corruption in the Community Sufficiency Economy Project.
The premier said he has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to supervise the enforcement of the ISA and that the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and security-concerned agencies will meet on Friday to discuss about the ISA enforcement.
He said the ISA is aimed at preventing possible acts of incitement and protecting Government House and other government office facilities in the area.
"My government does not intend to incite the demonstrators," said Mr Abhisit. "I have been informed that some third parties may create disorder during this weekend’s Red Shirt rally."
The premier also stated that the ISA had been imposed during the foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phuket last month to prevent any undesired incident which might be caused by the protesters.
"The government wants to minimise imposing this kind of measure, but we cannot let the similar situation of April unrest to reoccur as it could tarnish the country's image", said Mr Abhisit.
In April, the UDD supporters stormed into the ASEAN summit venue in the seaside resort of Pattaya, forcing the government to cancel the summit.
"Using the (Internal Security Act) will not affect the right’s and freedoms of the people," the premier said, "They can protest peacefully at Sanam Luang."
The UDD's anti-government rally had also turned into violence and street protests during the Songkran Festival in April.
Some 130 people were injured, including at least 23 soldiers, in military crowd-control operations when troops moved against the protesters to force them off the streets. (TNA)
Mr Abhisit said after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting that intensified security measures will be enforced from August 29 through September 1, but only in the capital’s Dusit district, the area where the UDD protesters will demonstrate.
The so-called Red Shirts earlier announced that they will gather at the Royal Plaza on Rajdamnoen Nok Road and will march to Government House to demand that the prime minister dissolve the House of Representatives due to what they claim is his government’s poor performance and alleged corruption in the Community Sufficiency Economy Project.
The premier said he has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to supervise the enforcement of the ISA and that the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and security-concerned agencies will meet on Friday to discuss about the ISA enforcement.
He said the ISA is aimed at preventing possible acts of incitement and protecting Government House and other government office facilities in the area.
"My government does not intend to incite the demonstrators," said Mr Abhisit. "I have been informed that some third parties may create disorder during this weekend’s Red Shirt rally."
The premier also stated that the ISA had been imposed during the foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phuket last month to prevent any undesired incident which might be caused by the protesters.
"The government wants to minimise imposing this kind of measure, but we cannot let the similar situation of April unrest to reoccur as it could tarnish the country's image", said Mr Abhisit.
In April, the UDD supporters stormed into the ASEAN summit venue in the seaside resort of Pattaya, forcing the government to cancel the summit.
"Using the (Internal Security Act) will not affect the right’s and freedoms of the people," the premier said, "They can protest peacefully at Sanam Luang."
The UDD's anti-government rally had also turned into violence and street protests during the Songkran Festival in April.
Some 130 people were injured, including at least 23 soldiers, in military crowd-control operations when troops moved against the protesters to force them off the streets. (TNA)
