Reinforced Security Measures For Un Conference

Reinforced security measures for UN crime conference

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will step up security measures during the country's host of the forthcoming United Nations crime conference, to a level nearly equivalent to that imposed during the kingdom's host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meetings in 2003 (APEC 2003), Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya has announced.

The measures were agreed at a meeting of agencies concerning national security, held at the Office of the National Security (NSC) here yesterday.

"Reinforced security measures will be imposed at all key points, some of which will be at the level equivalent to that imposed during the country's host of the APEC 2003, while others will be nearly equivalent to the APEC 2003 level", Pol. Gen. Chidchai, who chaired the meeting, told journalists.

"It's a significant conference in which more than

3,000 delegates from 170 countries and international organizations across the world will take part, 30 are world VIP, to discuss the problems of transnational crime and terrorism, as well as drug trafficking and approaches to prevention the problems. So, we need to beef up security measures at all points involved", he added.

Authorities attending yesterday's meeting also include senior security officers, Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop and senior officials from the Bangkok Metropolitian Administration (BMA).

Bangkok will host of the 11th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice between 18-25 April.

Pol. Gen. Chidchai said that during the conference, border patrol police would also be deployed and senior police officers would be on duty at Suan Ruen Ruedee, a main security centre, around the clock.

The reinforced security measures would also include the improvement of national intelligence integratedly, the deputy premier and interior minister disclosed.

"The meeting also discussed reinforced security measures during this year's Songkran festival", he noted.

--TNA 2005-04-12