Security Act May Be Applied In At-risk Areas For Asean Summit: Defence Minister

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Security Act may be applied in at-risk areas for ASEAN Summit: Defence Minister

BANGKOK, Sept 17 (TNA) - The Internal Security Act (ISA) may be applied in at-risk areas to maintain law and order and ensure public safety during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cha-am and Hua Hin in October, according to Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan.

Thailand will host the 15th Summit of ASEAN and related meetings with the regional grouping's dialogue partners at the seaside towns of Cha-am and Hua Hin in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces southwest of Bangkok from October 23 to 25.

Gen Prawit said he would accompany Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees security matters, to inspect the venues for the summit and related meetings before deciding whether a security plan similar to that used during 14th ASEAN summit in Phuket would be used or not.

The Cabinet enforced the ISA during ASEAN's July meetings in Phuket.

If the ISA is needed, the government may invoke the ISA in specified at-risk areas for a short period to ensure that the ASEAN leaders' gatherings would run smoothly, he said.

The minister added that he believed that local residents would understand if the ISA is implemented and he was confident it would not cause any negative impact to the tourism industries in Hua Hin and Cha-am, two of Thailand's prime tourist destinations.

Gen Prawit admitted that the planned rally of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) at the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket and its rival, the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) rally on the same day on Saturday may affect the kingdom's image as Thailand is hosting the summit.

He urged the two groups not to do anything to affect national security because it could tarnish the country's image.

The PAD "Yellow Shirts" plan to rally at the border province of Si Sa Ket on Saturday to protest against the Cambodian government, urging the Cambodians to withdraw their military and civilians from occupying the 4.6 square kilometre contested zone surrounding Preah Vihear, an 11th-century temple.

Meanwhile, the UDD announced it will demonstrate at the Royal Plaza to mark the third anniversary of the coup d'etat which toppled then-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The government earlier planned for the 15th ASEAN summit and related meetings to be held in Phuket but the prime minister said it might be "inconvenient" to hold the summit there as the tourist-oriented community will hold its annual vegetarian fair at that time, and the necessary security arrangements could negatively impact tourism. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/09/17

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ASEAN SUMMIT

Govt may invoke ISA during the meeting

By The Nation

Thai government may invoke internal security laws in certain areas to maintain law and order as well as safety during Asean Summit in October, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said Thursday.

Thailand will host the 15th Asean Summit with dialogue partners Cha-am and Hua Hin from October 23 to 25.

Prawit said he will visit the meeting venues with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban before deciding whether to impose the internal security law during the summit.

The law was imposed in the Asean Summit in July in Phuket.

"If the law is needed, the government may impose it in some areas for a short period to ensure that the Asean leaders' meeting would run smoothly," he said.

The minister added that he believed that local residents would understand if the ISA is implemented and he was confident it would not cause any negative impact to the tourism industries.

He also said that the planned rally of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) near Preah Vihear Temple in Si Sa Ket on September 19 may affect the kingdom's image as Thailand is hosting the summit.

The Yellow Shirts plan to hold a rally to demand Cambodians to move out of the disputed areas near the temple.

-- The Nation 2009/09/17