Phuket Enforces Draconian Internal Security Act

george · June 30, 2009

Phuket's draconian Internal Security Act

Update edit: The cabinet approved the security law at today's cabinet meeting.

PHUKET: -- The Cabinet will today consider a proposal to apply Thailand's Internal Security Act to Phuket during the upcoming Asian ministerial meeting which will be attended by the US Secretary of State.

An informed source said this morning that the Act, if approved, would task the nation's powerful Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), which is chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, with the responsibility and authority to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure security for the meeting.

Implementation would put Phuket under the Act from July 10 to 24.

The Asian foreign ministers' meeting is scheduled to be held from July 16 to 23. It has been postponed twice since red-shirted protesters broke into a nearby building at the aborted initial meeting in Pattaya in April.

The Phuket meeting will be attended by ministers of 26 countries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Phuket will also host the 42nd Asean Ministerial Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences, and the 16th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on Phuket.

The ISOC reasons that imposition of the Internal Security Act is necessary following the Pattaya disaster which tarnished Thailand's image and reputation as well as inflicting severe damage to its economy.

The ISOC is said to believe that an ill-intentioned group, based both inside and outside Thailand, may again try to stage unrest during the meeting, similar to what occured in Pattaya.

If today's Cabinet meeting agrees to impose the Internal Security Act, it will cover Phuket island as well as a radius of five kilometers out to sea.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-06-30

ozymandious · June 30, 2009

hmmm this is really going to bugger the traffic up

webfact · June 30, 2009

Internal Security Act

Does it mean Phuket can be declared "state of emergency" like Bangkok a few month ago?

What IS the Internal Security Act?

TAWP · June 30, 2009

They should do like one of the G8 meetings. Hold the event in some castle/mansion far from the city, some place that is easy to cord off some 1km from the site in question and arrest anyone that tries to go over any fence/barricade.

Or draw a line in the sand and shoot anyone that steps over it, but same-same...

Why they need to put these meetings in a tourist-location...is just beyond me. Or actually, it is not...it's about money.

LeungKen · June 30, 2009

hmmm this is really going to bugger the traffic up

July 16 to 23.

I think this is the time for me to do a little tour to Chang Mai & Chang Rai

What's the weather and the traffic like up that way during this period.

It's either that or dig in deeper here at the beach-head and let the rest of the world go by.

Old Man River · June 30, 2009

Internal Security Act
Does it mean Phuket can be declared "state of emergency" like Bangkok a few month ago?

What IS the Internal Security Act?

Yes.

This should help:

http://www.geocities.com/changnoi2/thailan...08inenglish.pdf.

Sandstone Art · June 30, 2009

Internal Security Act
Does it mean Phuket can be declared "state of emergency" like Bangkok a few month ago?

What IS the Internal Security Act?

I hope it's 'detention without trail' and any trouble makers can stay behind bars indefinately!

animatic · June 30, 2009

I suspect the main trafic issues will be at customs/security station coming onto the island,

and around Karon where the hotel is, last I heard. This venue is not perfectly defensible, but not too bad.

The internal security act basically means if trouble starts, they will deal with it without delay etc.

And this would be what i would expect after Pattaya. As there have been rumblings about

islamic groups targeting some or several regional heads of state to make a statement,

this would seem a prudent basic plan. Get this in place BEFORE trouble starts.

Draconian; in that some rights are temporally abridged till the show is over, maybe?

I suspect this is a cut them off at the pass strategy, letting the trouble makers know

in advance, that this might be a lot harder than they want it to be... so don't do it.

I doubt a single barstoll in Patong will be inconvinenced,

certainly less than with the Navy in town this week.

ScubaBuddha · June 30, 2009

Internal Security Act
Does it mean Phuket can be declared "state of emergency" like Bangkok a few month ago?

What IS the Internal Security Act?

Its whatever they want it to be.

Crushdepth · June 30, 2009

I've got a better idea. Why don't they convene the stupid meeting in some isolated place so that the lives of the ordinary citizenry are not disrupted? Holding a whole city to ransom to stroke the egos of a few politicians and their flunkies is about as inconsiderate as you can get and has no real benefit to anyone.

Stick them in some fancy wilderness resort. Security arrangements will be easier too.

HagenvonTronje · June 30, 2009

21 provinces surrounding Phuket prepared for ASEAN Summits

BANGKOK, 30 June 2009 (NNT) – 21 provinces will be on 24-hour alert against mobs that may seek to disrupt the ASEAN Summit set for this coming 17 to 23 July 2009 in Phuket province.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Suthee Makboon this morning chaired a video conference with provincial governors from 21 provinces surrounding Phuket. Mr Suthee iterated the importance of hosting and maintaining security for the upcoming renewed round of the ASEAN +3 and +6 Summits taking place in Phuket next month.

Mr Suthee briefed the governors on security work overseen by Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. The minister this morning led military personnel to review and prepare security measures for the summit venue.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary asked all 21 provinces to closely monitor the movements of protest groups. He also suggested they prepare equipment necessary for an emergency situation such as fire trucks and generators for any unforeseen complications. On top of safeguarding against disruption, he asked the governors to put up signs welcoming foreign delegates and prepare to host the world leaders attending the event.

-- NNT 30 June 2009

article here

oevna · June 30, 2009

They should do like one of the G8 meetings. Hold the event in some castle/mansion far from the city, some place that is easy to cord off some 1km from the site in question and arrest anyone that tries to go over any fence/barricade.
Or draw a line in the sand and shoot anyone that steps over it, but same-same...

Why they need to put these meetings in a tourist-location...is just beyond me. Or actually, it is not...it's about money.

Mai pursunul cunnspirisy theerie / preedickshun iz that this iz eggzackly wut they arr going to do. All uv the ASSEE-YUNN reprezentutivs will fly into Pooget azz plannd, and then they will be seecritlee shuttld onto unuther airplayn and flone to sum reemoat littel eyeland in the "And A Man See" with armd botes serrounding it. Toorizm munny will bee lost in Pooget, but the greyter loss caused by unnuthur potenshul disrupshun will be avurted.

Eye sedd it heer on Tye Veeza furst but the manns filturs diddint kech it.

les Dennis · June 30, 2009

with the Navy in town this week.

You simply must be American with that attitude. It may suprise you to know that many countries have navys, so stating 'the navy' doesn't actually clarify what countries navy is in Thailand.

animatic · June 30, 2009

Draconian a. Pertaining to Draco, a famous lawgiver of Athens, 621 b. c.

Draconian code, or Draconian laws, a code of laws made by Draco.

Their measures were so severe that they were said to be written in letters of blood;

hence, any laws of excessive rigor.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

draconian

1876 (earlier Draconic, 1680), from Draco, Gk. statesman who laid down a code of laws for Athens 621 B.C.E.

that mandated death as punishment for minor crimes. His name seems to mean lit. "sharp-sighted" (see dragon).

--------------------------------------------------------------

So death to protesters and anyone caught out of line?

I think not, but "sharp-sighted" could be meaning foresight in application.

We can easily fore see trouble from multiple sources if it isn't prevented.

Most countries host summits at pleasant locations for the participants.

UN speeches in NYC regularly caused disruption if you live on Upper East Side.

Davos is taken over every year for the conference.

G10+3,. G20 etc all take place in nice surroundings.

Same goes for most large scale international conferences.

animatic · June 30, 2009

with the Navy in town this week.

You simply must be American with that attitude.

It may suprise you to know that many countries have navys, so stating 'the navy'

doesn't actually clarify what countries navy is in Thailand.

What attitude?

I have seen at least 5 different Navy's during ports of call.

Plus 2 Tall Ship parade weeks.

Noting that there is an ongoing rather lurid thread about the USA Navy being in Phuket,

it seemed an non-attitude type of comment. Why must I automatically be American

for noting that what sailors do in ports world wide is likely happening in Phuket this week?

And that from the thread several TVF members are avoiding Patong right now, by their own volition.

I saw the USA Navy in Boston's Combat Zone in 1972, and nothing has topped that since.

Russia in NYC '91 came close, but no cigar.

Ausi je vue les marineurs français, a porte du Marseille '94 + Nice '03,

bourée com une quince, avec les nana des rue, et travesti dragée.

Translated: I have also seen the French Sailors in Marseilles port, drunk as skunks,

with street hookers and katoeys in tow.

Edited June 30, 2009 by animatic

Robby nz · June 30, 2009

Dont know about Muslim groups but the Mrs reckons that if the reds turn up in Phuket the locals will kill them.

Thailand · June 30, 2009

Dont know about Muslim groups but the Mrs reckons that if the reds turn up in Phuket the locals will kill them.

That's encouraging for peaceful protesters or "mobs" dependent on your point of view.

puyaidon · June 30, 2009

Sounds like the perfect time to go to Pattaya. After the last fiasco, they need all the financial help they can get. Friends have said that the bar industry people there are getting hungrier.

animatic · June 30, 2009

Sounds like the perfect time to go to Pattaya. After the last fiasco, they need all the financial help they can get.
Friends have said that the bar industry people there are getting hungrier.

And seemingly contagious too.

baht&sold · June 30, 2009

Sounds like the perfect time to go to Pattaya. After the last fiasco, they need all the financial help they can get. Friends have said that the bar industry people there are getting hungrier.

Pattaya sure could use a break (couldn't we all...) Let's hope the Phuket meet and also the upcoming Pattaya II meet goes ok:

Asean Inter-Parliamentary meeting Pattaya (article link)
Thai parliament is ready to host the 30th meeting of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meeting at the Royal Cliff

Beach Resort Hotel in Pattaya, Chon Buri, on Aug 2-8, said Sompol Wanikphan on Friday.

When you combine all the above with:

Mr. Jatuporn also demanded that Mr. Abhisit to dissolve the House within one month and called for fresh general elections,
otherwise the UDD would stage a more violent rally. (article link)

the caution is prudent (unfortunately). Basically it aint over until square-faced Frank gets to sing 'MY Way'

Datsun240Z · June 30, 2009

.....including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Run god dammit, Run!!

george · June 30, 2009

Update:

Cabinet to invoke special law in Phuket during regional summits

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Cabinet on Tuesday agreed in principle to enforce the Internal Security Act on the southern resort island of Phuket during the ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings there next month.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said it was necessary to enforce the Internal Security Act in Phuket and Thai territorial waters within a five-kilometre radius offshore as advised by security agencies.

Enforcement of the special law will begin July 10 and last to July 24, he said, adding that the heightened security will not affect tourism in Phuket.

“I think what other countries want to see is our ability to host the meeting in an orderly manner," Mr. Abhisit told a news conference.

Meanwhile, Porntip Jala, Secretary-General of the Office of the Council of State, said the office was assigned during the meeting to study the draft announcement concerning regulations and authority of officials under the Internal Security Act before forwarding it to the cabinet meeting next week, so it will be approved and announced for enforcement before July 10.

Thailand will host the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Phuket between July 17-23.

The enforcement of the special law is part of the government’s attempt to ensure security at the meeting venues after red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship protesters stormed the ASEAN summit venue in the eastern seaside resort town of Pattaya on April 11 forcing the Thai premier to cancel it.

-- TNA 2009-06-30

george · June 30, 2009