Government reviewing necessity of Security Act in Chiang Mai: Deputy PM

BANGKOK, Nov 26 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday said he would evaluate the situation again on Friday whether the government should apply the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the northern city of Chiang Mai or not.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will himself decide whether or not to visit the city on Sunday as planned or not.

Mr Abhisit is due to participate in a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and the organisers want the prime minister to join, so that Chiang Mai regains its image as a peaceful province.

They cannot convince every group not to create disturbances, particularly the local anti-government ‘Red Shirt’ movement, Love Chiang Mai 51 group, the deputy prime minister said, adding that the government will wait to see what takes place and perhaps he will go to Chiang Mai and will assess the situation again on Friday.

“The violence by the Red Shirt demonstrators in the past damaged businesses and tarnished the tourist city image of Chiang Mai,” Mr Suthep stated.

Referring to the ISA security enforcement in the capital, the deputy prime minister said it will be maintained even though the Red Shirt group cancelled its mass rally, earlier planned to begin Saturday.

He said the group is changeable. However, police officers will neither be deployed at Government House nor along the capital’s roads to tarnish the image of Bangkok, but will remain on duty at their bases and ready to respond.

The Cabinet on December 1 will again assess whether to extend the ISA through December 14 or lift it before the scheduled date, said Mr Suthep. (TNA)