Govt Allows Leaders To Bring Bodyguards

[churchill]

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 12/05/2009 at 04:55 PM Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday gave a green light to Asian leaders to bring their own armed bodyguards to the Asean+6 summit when it resumes in Phuket.

But they would require the prior agreement of Asean, he said.

Red-shirt protesters stormed the Asean summit venue in Pattaya last month and caused the cancellation of the regional forum.

Mr Suthep reiterated that Thailand is ready to host the resumed Asean summit, but said the date still has not been confirmed because it must be convenient for leaders from all 16 countries.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1...ring-bodyguards

-- Bangkok Post 2009/05/12

Edited May 13, 2009 by sbk

[churchill]

Security chiefs reject outside bodyguards

Officials blast plan as insult to Thai integrity

By: POST REPORTERS

Published: 13/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: NewsSenior security officials have raised objections to the government's plan to allow regional leaders to bring their own armed bodyguards to the rescheduled Asean summit, set to be held in Phuket next month.

The proposal would deal a heavy blow to the country's integrity and security image, said a high-level source who attended a meeting of senior officials yesterday to discuss security preparations for the coming summit.

The meeting at the armed forces headquarters was chaired by army chief of staff Ratchakrit Kanchanawat.

The source said two security plans were under way, one named Thep Satree-Sri Sunthorn 52 and the other Phuket 09.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1656...side-bodyguards

-- Bangkok Post 2009/05/13

Edited May 13, 2009 by sbk

[basjke]

Haha,the meeting hasn't started yet and they making fools of themselves already with contradicting news conferences.

[oldsparrow]

No big deal... It's normal for the job. Some foreign officers stationed here are also armed.

The armed guard have always come with both states and organisation VIP. The UN security guards for UN Congress Meeting who carried Glock 19 openly. BTW, Col. Gaddafi's son once forgot to declare his sidearm..

[churchill]

Asian Summit postponed to October

The problems with the Asean summit with dialogue partners seem to be continuing. The planned meeting in Phuket has been postponed to the end of October.

The Abhisit government has cited busy schedules of other heads of states. But sceptics believe unsettled political trouble in Thailand might be the main reason.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya announced the postponement from the middle of next month to late October.

He told reporters that many government leaders of several countries found the June schedule to be inconvenient.

The decision to postpone the summit yet again followed a news report two days ago that foreign leaders were still feeling uneasy about political trouble in Thailand.

They witnessed the kingdom's problems first-hand when anti-government protesters forced cancellation of their meeting in Pattaya on April 11.

The report said some foreign leaders were pondering bringing their own guards to the planned June summit.

This has unsettled the Thai government, with Army chief Anupong Paochinda reportedly saying that presence of foreign guards could affect Thailand's image and reputation.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/05/13/pol...cs_30102589.php

-- The Nation 2009/05/13

Edited May 13, 2009 by sbk

[Scott]

What a bunch of bafoons! They can....they can't...they can...they can't. Maybe. We'll see.

The Cambodians are leaving it up to the Thais. Given the on-going tit-for-tat, I am sure Cambodia knows the Thai's will screw it up!

[churchill]

Asean summit postponed for the second time

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 13/05/2009 at 04:07 PM The government has decided to postpone the Asean+6 summit from next month to October because some leaders are not available to attend the summit in June, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the delay was not linked to Thailand's failure to control red-shirt protesters, who stormed the summit venue last month in Pattaya and forced the the regional meeting's cancellation.

The proposed date for the summit's resumption in Phuket, June 13 and 14, did not fit the schedules of some leaders, including Indonesia, India and New Zealand.

"Some countries are holding elections, others have already scheduled official visits," he said.

Security concerns were not the reason for the postponement, he insisted.

The East Asian Summit meeting of senior officials on Tuesday would further discuss the date for the resumed biennial meeting, he said.

"There are two possibilitiesfor the rescheduled summit -- around the end of July, which is not that convenient, and in October, which is around the time for organising the 15th Asean summit," Mr Kasit said.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asean Nations (Asean) organises a summit every two years.

The 14th Asean summit was originally scheduled in Chiang Mai last year, but postponed because of the political turmoil in Thailand.

The forum finally began Hua Hin from Feb 28 to March 1. The second stage was scheduled for Pattaya last month but collapsed in chaos as red-shirt protesters breached weak security and invaded the venue. Foreign leaders were evacuated by helicopter and boat and martial law declared.

"Many countries agree that it should be held in October, but the final decision would not be made until agreement is reached on Tuesday," Mr Kasit said.

Although the summit cannot be held next month, accords such as the economic agreement between Asean and China and Asean and Australia could still be signed before October, he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1431...for-second-time

[PeaceBlondie]

Easy way to solve this: every Asean leader is guaranteed his personal bodyguard is a Thai four-star general.

[Scott]

I am sure those generals have had such a plush life that they can't do anything. Most likely they have their own bodyguards!

[sbk]

Asean summit covered here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Asean-Summit...er-t264886.html

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