PHUKET: Troops and military hardware began arriving in Phuket today in preparation for the 42nd Asean Ministers Meetings at Laguna Phuket later this month.

The convoy of equipment, including flatbed trailers carrying armored vehicles, troop transport trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles, rolled onto the island over the Thao Thepkrasattri Bridge at about 3pm.

Military personnel waved on passing traffic after the convoy came to a halt along Thepkrasattri Rd at Mai Khao.

Navy, Army and Police will begin setting up security on Saturday.

The controversial Internal Security Act goes into effect across the island for 15 days starting tomorrow.

Phuket Governor Wichai Phriasa-ngop said the military presence would be limited to Thalang and that day-to-day activities of residents and tourists would not be affected.

-- Phuket Gazette 09/07/09http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=7554&display=1

Before the recriminations start about civil liberties being constrained (like they did when this was proposed), I want to highlight this:

Phuket Governor Wichai Phriasa-ngop said the military presence would be limited to Thalang and that day-to-day activities of residents and tourists would not be affected.

and say that I think it is prudent and smart to have a strong show of force this time. The Pattaya police should never have been trusted to suffice last time, even if the problems in Bangkok hadn't been brewing. This is a national issue, and thus it is a military, rather than police, issue. It isn't a show of who is "really" in power, it isn't some draconian measure designed to ruin anyone's fun, and it isn't over-reacting.

I hope the ASEAN summit goes well for all the members, and that the nation will continue to normalize politically throughout this. The time to move the country forward will come, but this is not the time for conflict.