Thailand To Announce New Asean Summit Dates Soon: Pm

[Oberkommando]

Thailand should be considered incapable of holding the ASEAN summit at the moment and it should be moved to another safer and more reliable country.

[geriatrickid]

So ASEAN was moved from Phuket to Pattaya because PM Abhisit forgot to make hotel room reservations for world leaders.Wooooooooooooooow. Just when you think he can't amaze you any more, he comes out and pulls a stunt like that.

Nope. To be fair please understand that the official ASEAN Summit dates were 10-12 April

Phuket's Songkran runs from the 10-13 and coincides with the motorcycle event that draws alot of foreign "tourists". The big bike event is booked every year and is an important local event for patong and the nearby tourist towns. Having the summit in Phuket at this time would have been a logistics nightmare.

Pattaya's different Songkran dates facilitated the selection of Pattaya.

Thailand should be considered incapable of holding the ASEAN summit at the moment and it should be moved to another safer and more reliable country.

Can't. It's a rotational thing and to deny Thailand the host role would upset an important player in the region. Whatever we think of Thailand, it is a powerful country in ASEAN. Can't really have it in Burma, and the Philippines & Indonesia have terrorism concerns at this time.Laos and Cambodia can't do it on short notice. Malaysia has its own political turmoil. That leaves Brunei, Vietnam and Singapore. Thais would crap themselves if the event was moved to Vietnam. Only Brunei and Singapore could pull it off. However, Thailand hadn't hosted since the 5th summit back in 1995 and desperately needed the event to boost government prestige. I think the summit will be postponed until November at which time we may probably see another postponement if the government changes again.

[LawnGnome]

Thailand should be considered incapable of holding the ASEAN summit at the moment and it should be moved to another safer and more reliable country.

Be sure to tell them that, Im sure they weigh your thoughts and opinions very much in the decision making process....

[webfact]

Military, police both failed to do their duty : PM

By The Nation

Published on April 18, 2009

The military and the police both appear to have lapsed in their duty at the Asean Summit in Pattaya last Saturday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

However, he said his government would not make any personnel changes at this time, although it would try to improve the security system. The country remains confronted with many tough challenges, and now is not the time to apportion blame, he said.

"I feel the policemen and soldiers did not do their jobs to the best of their ability," he said.

Abhisit made the first public statement blaming a flawed security system for the red-shirt protesters breaking through the barriers and storming the meeting, prompting its cancellation and the emergency evacuation of the national leaders attending.

He conceded his government had underestimated the red shirts and thus his initial decision to rely on law enforcement instead of crowd control.

"The delay in crowd control may have boosted the confidence of the red shirts in turning increasingly unruly, which eventually triggered riots in several areas around the capital," he said.

He disclosed he had not yet made up his mind whether to disperse the red shirts at Government House on Tuesday when rally organisers contacted the authorities and volunteered to call off the demonstration.

"At the time, I instructed the soldiers only to maintain pressure on the protesters and had not given a green light for a crackdown," he said.

He said he had been saddened by the incident in which the red shirts attacked his vehicle following the declaration of emergency rule on Sunday.

"The situation has accelerated from bickering to threats to people's lives," he said, admitting security for him and his family had been beefed up.

He voiced concern about yesterday morning's gun attack on yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul.

Security for the prime minister has been upgraded to the maximum level. The Armed Forces Security Centre is now completely in charge of providing a VIP-protection team consisting of Army officers.

Abhisit's motorcade will be organised by the military instead of the police.

- THE NATION -

[geriatrickid]

Security for the prime minister has been upgraded to the maximum level. The Armed Forces Security Centre is now completely in charge of providing a VIP-protection team consisting of Army officers.

Abhisit's motorcade will be organised by the military instead of the police.

A well deserved slap in the face to the BiB, but a move that worries me. He's becoming more and more dependent upon the military. Poor guy is in one hel_l of a tight spot and as much as I don't like the way he came to power, I sympathize with him. I have a feeling he may just say F-k it and walk away from the thankless job. He doesn't need the aggravation.

[animatic]

So ASEAN was moved from Phuket to Pattaya because PM Abhisit forgot to make hotel room reservations for world leaders.Wooooooooooooooow. Just when you think he can't amaze you any more, he comes out and pulls a stunt like that.

Nope. To be fair please understand that the official ASEAN Summit dates were 10-12 April

Phuket's Songkran runs from the 10-13 and coincides with the motorcycle event that draws alot of foreign "tourists". The big bike event is booked every year and is an important local event for patong and the nearby tourist towns. Having the summit in Phuket at this time would have been a logistics nightmare.

Pattaya's different Songkran dates facilitated the selection of Pattaya.

Thailand should be considered incapable of holding the ASEAN summit at the moment and it should be moved to another safer and more reliable country.

Can't. It's a rotational thing and to deny Thailand the host role would upset an important player in the region. Whatever we think of Thailand, it is a powerful country in ASEAN. Can't really have it in Burma, and the Philippines & Indonesia have terrorism concerns at this time.Laos and Cambodia can't do it on short notice. Malaysia has its own political turmoil. That leaves Brunei, Vietnam and Singapore. Thais would crap themselves if the event was moved to Vietnam. Only Brunei and Singapore could pull it off. However, Thailand hadn't hosted since the 5th summit back in 1995 and desperately needed the event to boost government prestige. I think the summit will be postponed until November at which time we may probably see another postponement if the government changes again.

I was in Phuket all that time and it was certainly a non-starter for the ASEAN meeting.

Beside the issues of transport, the idea of a world meeting surrounded by

10,000 bikers, 15,000 soaking wet hookers, and THEN the red Shirts come to town.

Ring 4 of Dante's Inferno comes to mind.

Pattaya with different Songkran scheduals seems quite rational.

Edited April 18, 2009 by animatic

[LawnGnome]

So ASEAN was moved from Phuket to Pattaya because PM Abhisit forgot to make hotel room reservations for world leaders.Wooooooooooooooow. Just when you think he can't amaze you any more, he comes out and pulls a stunt like that.

Nope. To be fair please understand that the official ASEAN Summit dates were 10-12 April

Phuket's Songkran runs from the 10-13 and coincides with the motorcycle event that draws alot of foreign "tourists". The big bike event is booked every year and is an important local event for patong and the nearby tourist towns. Having the summit in Phuket at this time would have been a logistics nightmare.

Pattaya's different Songkran dates facilitated the selection of Pattaya.

Thailand should be considered incapable of holding the ASEAN summit at the moment and it should be moved to another safer and more reliable country.

Can't. It's a rotational thing and to deny Thailand the host role would upset an important player in the region. Whatever we think of Thailand, it is a powerful country in ASEAN. Can't really have it in Burma, and the Philippines & Indonesia have terrorism concerns at this time.Laos and Cambodia can't do it on short notice. Malaysia has its own political turmoil. That leaves Brunei, Vietnam and Singapore. Thais would crap themselves if the event was moved to Vietnam. Only Brunei and Singapore could pull it off. However, Thailand hadn't hosted since the 5th summit back in 1995 and desperately needed the event to boost government prestige. I think the summit will be postponed until November at which time we may probably see another postponement if the government changes again.

I was in Phuket all that time and it was certainly a non-starter for the ASEAN meeting.

Beside the issues of transport, the idea of a world meeting surrounded by

10,000 bikers, 15,000 soaking wet hookers, and THEN the red Shirts come to town.

Ring 4 of Dante's Inferno comes to mind.

Pattaya with different Songkran scheduals seems quite rational.

When they schedule it again, chances are it will be back in Hua Hin - the one city the red idiots don't dare screw around in. (and my future retirement home 30 years hence)

[LawnGnome]

Funny, I didn't see - ability to write in all capital letters, and specialist in the use of excessive punctuation in his "Special skills" section.

[Scott]

I am sure the leaders of some of the countries will send their own front teams to check on security--or else not attend.

It was announced that security for the summit was 'up to international standards.' It would appear that that was a bold face lie.

[LawnGnome]

I am sure the leaders of some of the countries will send their own front teams to check on security--or else not attend.

It was announced that security for the summit was 'up to international standards.' It would appear that that was a bold face lie.

Quite sensible precaution. Security was lacking, for which our PM took responsibility. Lets hope next time we can keep the red shirted idiots and Thaksin from embarrassing our country any further.

[animatic]

I am sure the leaders of some of the countries will send their own front teams to check on security--or else not attend.

It was announced that security for the summit was 'up to international standards.' It would appear that that was a bold face lie.

Or a bold faced subterfuge.

We don't actually know that ANY international leaders

did more than arrive at the military airport.

Create a fake target and lure your enemy into attacking it,

by appearing weak and off guard.

Then gain the moral high ground and clobber them.

Not beyond Machiavelli and Ceasar Borgia...

I bet they were required reading for Kuhn Abhisit.

[sriracha john]

ASEAN Chief meets PM to reschedule Asian Summit

The ASEAN Summit with dialogue partners from Asia and the Pacific could take place not later than early June, ASEAN Chief Surin Pitsuwan said Friday.

Surin, a former Foreign Minister, was speaking after discussing the rescheduling of the summit with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Government House.

The Summit was postponed early this month after red shirted protesters stormed into a meeting hall of the summit held in Pattaya.

Members of the ASEAN and the dialogue partners wanted Thailand to resume the summit as soon as possible, said Surin.

However, Thailand as the Chair could not fix the date for the summit since many members are not ready during the period of late May and early June, he said.

Many countries would have general election while some leaders have tight schedules on their respective abroad trips, he said.

- The Nation / 2009-04-18

[amasus]

He can hold it in my village. Anti red feeling is so high here now that anyone in a red shirt coming near the place would be shot.

hahaha, love it!!!!!

[JetsetBkk]

Or a bold faced subterfuge.

We don't actually know that ANY international leaders

did more than arrive at the military airport.

Create a fake target and lure your enemy into attacking it,

by appearing weak and off guard.

Then gain the moral high ground and clobber them.

Not beyond Machiavelli and Ceasar Borgia...

I bet they were required reading for Kuhn Abhisit.

Ah! So it was all a cunning plan, as cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University.

So he announced Phuket as the venue even though he knew there weren't enough hotel rooms, then he changed it to Pattaya knowing that the red shirts would think it an easy target, so he let them cause mayhem, get over-confident, cause major problems in Bangkok thereby becoming very unpopular with the general public.

A very cunning plan indeed.

Almost unbelievable.

[Tokay]

So ASEAN was moved from Phuket to Pattaya because PM Abhisit forgot to make hotel room reservations for world leaders.

Wooooooooooooooow. Just when you think he can't amaze you any more, he comes out and pulls a stunt like that.

Planning another summit while the reds are talking about coming back is just foolish. When they storm the next meeting what can he say, "wow, we didn't see this coming" while the leaders get taken away in helicopters again?

Thailand should not get a 2nd chance to host the ASEAN summit. He put each and every leaders life at risk. Abhisit needs to go back and sit at the little kids table and let the adults handle international issues.

[animatic]

Or a bold faced subterfuge.

We don't actually know that ANY international leaders

did more than arrive at the military airport.

Create a fake target and lure your enemy into attacking it,

by appearing weak and off guard.

Then gain the moral high ground and clobber them.

Not beyond Machiavelli and Ceasar Borgia...

I bet they were required reading for Kuhn Abhisit.

Ah! So it was all a cunning plan, as cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University.

So he announced Phuket as the venue even though he knew there weren't enough hotel rooms, then he changed it to Pattaya knowing that the red shirts would think it an easy target, so he let them cause mayhem, get over-confident, cause major problems in Bangkok thereby becoming very unpopular with the general public.

A very cunning plan indeed.

Almost unbelievable.

TIT, what here IS NOT border-line unbelievable?

Just pointing out that they have to work WITH the security details of all the visiting dignitaries.

Satelites were trained looking down watching the area, information of the situation would be

well at hand for all security personnel involved.

And ALL those security teams have a Thaksin mental health, and Red Shirt M.O. dossiers well read through.

But then again TIT, they could have just dropped the security ball onto Kamnan Po's kid's Police Force,

forgetting he is a Thaksin ally, and then totally screwed the pooch. TIT

[h90]

Pleasing to see that Ashibit has already grabbed the bull by the horns and got on with re organising the summit.

Thankfully the ASEAN leaders have better thought patterns and intelligence than some of the media and others around this place. They will have noted the way that Ashibit dealt to the failure of the original security forces leaders and the speed and efficency that the Reds were then dealt with once Ashibit put in place people he could work with to resolve the situation. What is pleasing about Ashibit is he showed the qualities of an excellent leader. That being that as soon as he was betrayed by those who had the duty to lead the response, he had the ability to recognise the problem, find the solution quickly and get the correct result. The final expectation for the process is that one ensures the original mistake is not repeated. I think he has or is close to getting people around him that he can now depend on and now has the confidence to hold a successful summit and deal effectively with any further Reds trouble makers.

Still do not like the wat the guy came to power but the guy is starting to show that he has the balls needed to run this country and with a good lashing of straight forward fairness. Good luck to him and a successful ASEAN summit. There are some positive signs starting to come from his leadership.

A good leader would have replaced the original security forces BEFORE. Actually he got the informations before from PAD, but didn't follow it until it was too late.

[LawnGnome]

Asian Summit to be held in June in Phuket : PM

Asian Summit with dialogue partner countries which was delayed following the red shirts' protests is tentatively rescheduled to be held in June in resort island of Phuket, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday.

Abhisit said Thailand will consult first with Asian countries about the new schedule whether their leaders are free during the new schedule. Thailand will organise the meeting at our best to make the leaders be confident on the safety.

"Asean chief Surin Pitsuwan has suggested that Thailand hosts the summit as soon as possible for the benefits of the Asean grouping as a whole," he said.

India whose leader will attend the summit was not convenient to attend the Summit if it is held in May, Abhisit said.

Bangkok is forced to cancel the Asian Summit held in Pattaya after red shirted protesters stormed into a press hall which is connected to the meeting venue where leaders were scheduled to meet.

Source - The Nation

[sriracha john]

Hillary Clinton to attend Asian summit

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has confirmed she will attend the ministerial meetings of ASEAN and its dialogue partners in Thailand in July, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday.

Mr Kasit, who is on a one-week official visit to the USA, was speaking after a meeting with Mrs Clinton.

"I've informed her that the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration is working for national reconciliation," he said. "Some parts of the constitution will be amended to enhance the democratic system."

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-24

[webfact]

IMHO this is a clear signal and boost for someone... !

Edited April 24, 2009 by webfact

[samgrowth]

The government should mandate a law that all events in Thailand MUST be held in the South of Thailand (Hua Hin is southward).

Don't get me wrong, this has got nothing to do with the Red North. This is too boost developement for the poor South.

Edited April 24, 2009 by samgrowth

[sriracha john]

ASEAN members still back Thailand’s hosting of ASEAN +3, +6

All ASEAN member countries are reportedly still supporting Thailand to host the ASEAN +3 and +6 Summits while, in case of any emergency, the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia will be proposed as the summits’ venue.

Director-General of the ASEAN Affairs Department Vitavas Srivihok revealed today, following a meeting among ASEAN Director-Generals in Seattle, the United States of America, that all ASEAN member countries still wished for Thailand to reorganize the ASEAN +3 and +6 Summits despite the cancellation of the previous gathering in Pattaya due to the anti-government riot.

Mr. Vitavas asserted that Thailand would not give up its role as ASEAN Chairman while noting that, if any emergency arises, the ASEAN Secretariat located in Jakarta, Indonesia, can also be used as the venue for the occasion, so that the establishment of the ASEAN Community in compliance with the ASEAN Charter will not be impeded.

Meanwhile, a team of the Foreign Ministry’s staff will travel to inspect areas in the southern provinces of Phuket and Phang Nga in order to bring back information for the government to decide on which of the two places is suitable for the hosting of the ASEAN +3 and +6 Summits.

-- NNT 2009-04-25

[sriracha john]

PM Abhisit: Thailand hopes to host ASEAN summit with dialogue partners in June

BANGKOK - In an attempt to restore confidence in Thailand on the part of the international community, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that his government plans to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit with its six dialogue partners in June.

Speaking during his weekly television address, Mr. Abhisit said his government is now working to boost international confidence in the country and that the three-day summit, earlier held in Thailand’s Pattaya resort but cancelled on April 11 after anti-government protesters stormed the hotel venue, will be rescheduled for June.

The prime minister said restoration of the country’s reputation and prestige is one of the major issues at stake.

Mr. Abhisit said his government is now contacting government leaders of the 15 countries involved in the summit to determine whether they are prepared to come to Thailand and participate in the meeting.

Every country says the meeting should be held in order to help solve the global economic slump, and its impact in the ASEAN region, said Mr. Abhisit.

ASEAN and its partners fear that Thailand may not be able to provide a peaceful meeting site, despite the government’s security measures, Mr. Abhisit told the nation Sunday morning.

“I ask for cooperation from every sector of the public,’ Mr. Abhisit said, “and I hope that we are able to host (ASEAN) in June.”

He said several countries had now withdrawn warnings to their citizens about visiting Thailand after his government had lifted the state of emergency on Friday.

The prime minister imposed the state of emergency two weeks ago (April 12) in Bangkok and five neighbouring provinces after anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship stormed into the Pattaya hotel where ASEAN was meeting, forcing him to cancel the regional summit with its six dialogue partners -- China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Regarding Thailand’s current domestic political turmoil, Mr. Abhisit said there is still a “group of persons trying to create unrest” and that the public should use common sense in judging and acting upon any information they receive.

A special parliamentary committee comprised of both government and opposition whips, parties and senators will be appointed to discuss solutions to the country’s problems, he added.

-- TNA 2009-04-26

[samgrowth]

You think the chinese will still be here? After they send a nasty letter to the Thai government lately regarding security.

[LawnGnome]

You think the chinese will still be here? After they send a nasty letter to the Thai government lately regarding security.

Yes, I'm sure they will.

[sriracha john]

ASEAN leaders seek Thai ban on gathering during June meeting

ASEAN leaders have set conditions that they would join the event if the government banned protesters from coming near the meeting venue of ASEAN Summit within a radius of 5 kilometres, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday.

He said the security forces were reviewing safety and security measures and they would bring concrete measures within next week.

"We will declare the meeting venue off-limits to gatherings and for that we have to see which venue we can resort to in order to implement the measures,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2009-05-03

[Scott]

So Thailand can handle the security as long as someone tells them what to do.

[sriracha john]

ASEAN Summit to be held on June 13 - 14

Thailand set date for the ASEAN Summit with partners from Asia and the Pacific on June 13 - 14 in the resort island of Phuket with a guarantee of full safety, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Monday.

Suthep declined to commit whether the safety arrangement would meet international standard, but said that local residents in Phuket would not hold any protest against the Summit.

Suthep together with Defense Minister Pravit Wongsuwan and Foreign Ministry's Permanent Secretary Virasakdi Futrakul briefed diplomats from the ASEAN and dialogue partners on the summit preparation including the security matter.

However, the proposed date of Summit in June was not finalized since many leaders have not yet confirmed, said Virasakdi.

-- The Nation 2009-05-04

===============================================

Mods:

With this latest information, please reconsider re-titling the thread. Thank you.

Edited May 4, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

ASEAN Summit security plan in place

Security arrangements for the resumed 14th ASEAN Summit, this time in Phuket, are complete and will be explained to foreign ambassadors, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Monday.

Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, was speaking after a weekend trip to Phuket.

The main venue for the June meetings of ASEAN and its dialogue partners would be the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa. The press centre would be at a nearby hotel, he said.

Continued:

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa homepage:

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/HKTH...rt-Spa/index.do

[animatic]

You think the chinese will still be here? After they send a nasty letter to the Thai government lately regarding security.

Yes, I'm sure they will.

Of course they will be there.

They have way to many profitable business interests not to keep a toe in these waters.