Cabinet Will Consider Lifting Security Act In Bangkok On Tuesday

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Cabinet will consider lifting Security Act in Bangkok on Tuesday

BANGKOK, Nov 28 (TNA) -- The Thai Cabinet will consider on lifting the Internal Security Act (ISA) imposed this week in the capital of Bangkok, from Saturday through December 14, after the anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) called off their planned rally, said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

So far no untoward incident has occurred, but security personnel are still in position around the capital, said Mr Abhisit.

Concerned security officials must report their assessment of the situation to him, and the Cabinet will on Tuesday consider revoking the Act, Mr Abhisit said.

The Red Shirt UDD protesters earlier planned to rally in Bangkok from Saturday with a determination to being down the government, but later decided to scrap the idea.

Asked whether he is concerned for safety of his ministers attending a three-day meeting of the Thai Chamber of Commerce held in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Mr Abhisit said he did not know which ministers were attending the meeting, but that Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul had decided to speak to participants via video conference.

Mr Abhisit was earlier scheduled to attend the meeting Sunday but scrapped his plan on the advice of the Chamber due to concerns of possible violence following recent threats against his life on a community radio programme in the province. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/11/29

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[Thailand]

I fear that the security act big stick implemented at every drop of a hat will soon loose it's value.

All well and good having it as a fall back but it is now actioned every time a dissenter sneezes.

[Stumbo]

I don't think the fascist ISA (it was imposed during a military coup for the many here with short memories) will lose potency to stamp on faces and crush dissent to the ruling elite, however the population is being softened up to have it deployed regularly, without complaining, in the name of protecting the state. Sort of like that other fascist state the USA with their terrorists behind every bush as an excuse to wipe out personal liberty and to empower big brother to monitor every facet of their populations lives.

The jackboots are marching world wide, sometimes to "protect" their populations and sometimes to enforce political correctness (a term that should send a shiver through anyones spine).

[wilbert]

The ISA seems to be quite effective in the few times its been implemented to stop these violent demonstrators. They apparently are quite intimidated by it lately, which in view of their ASEAN Pattaya and Black Songkran violence, is not such a bad thing.

[truthfulfox]

gouvernment & reds= tom and jerry.

endless story

[Ricardo]

I fear that the security act big stick implemented at every drop of a hat will soon loose it's value.

All well and good having it as a fall back but it is now actioned every time a dissenter sneezes.

It was implemented in Bangkok, to help control a rally aimed at overthrowing the government, with a million supporters being called-for, but not for a much smaller protest in Chiang Mai, despite a threat to assasinate the PM. So perhaps not yet being used "every time a dissenter sneezes" ?

Nevertheless, and longer-term, I share general misgivings about its possible misuse in the wrong hands, imagine how Thaksin might have used it in 2005 or 2006.

[animatic]

I fear that the security act big stick implemented at every drop of a hat will soon loose it's value.

All well and good having it as a fall back but it is now actioned every time a dissenter sneezes.

It was implemented in Bangkok, to help control a rally aimed at overthrowing the government, with a million supporters being called-for, but not for a much smaller protest in Chiang Mai, despite a threat to assasinate the PM. So perhaps not yet being used "every time a dissenter sneezes" ?

Nevertheless, and longer-term, I share general misgivings about its possible misuse in the wrong hands, imagine how Thaksin might have used it in 2005 or 2006.

Dissenters sneeze and also dissent daily and 24/7,

but not all groups avow to bring down the government via violence,

kill the PM with bombs, and cause social disorder,

all timed with their moneied backers court case.

Using it for the ASEAN meetings was a no brainer,

using it for red shirt rallies on the anniversary of the most recent coup

also was a logical act of public safety.

It may be a bit over written but it is the only strong option there have.

And on must also note as it has been used, the draconian possibilities of it's text,

have NOT materialized in the worst case versions so bemoaned here repeatedly.

And regarding a word bandied about willy nilly...

fascist –noun

1. a person who believes in or sympathizes with fascism.

2. (often initial capital letter) a member of a fascist movement or party.

3. a person who is dictatorial or has extreme right-wing views.

–adjective

4. Also, fa⋅scis⋅tic  /fəˈʃɪstɪk/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [fuh-shis-tik] Show IPA . of or like fascism or fascists.

Some how I really don't see Obama as a fascist, and neither does the far conservative right.

Dick Cheney, yeah he gets my vote for the F word.

fascist

1921, from It. partito nazionale fascista, the anti-communist political movement organized 1919 under Benito Mussolini (1883-1945); from It. fascio "group, association," lit. "bundle.

" Fasci "groups of men organized for political purposes" had been a feature of Sicily since c.1895;

the 20c. sense probably infl. by the Roman fasces (q.v.) which became the party symbol. Fascism,

also 1921, was originally used in Eng. 1920 in its It. form, fascismo. Applied to similar groups in Germany from 1923.

So easy to use and word and flail about, so hard to use it properly.

We had a PM who was dictatorial, and called a great leader by some,

as he stole from the country's coffers repeatedly.

We have a PM his is not dictatorial, and attempts to limit corruption,

and he is called weak, by some. Dichotomy?

There is a knife edge of balancing between the two sides.

Implement the ISA, dictatorial, rescind it weak.

Same man making the decisions.

The strong part is to make the decisions based on facts or logical probabilities

and not on what name your enemies are calling you....

Edited November 30, 2009 by animatic

[george]

Security agencies considering revoking security act

BANGKOK: -- Security agencies will convene Monday to evaluate the overall public safety situation and consider whether the Internal Security Act (ISA) should be revoked following the cancellation of an earlier planned Red Shirt protest, before forwarding the advice to the Cabinet.

Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs, will convene a meeting with security agencies Monday afternoon.

The Cabinet earlier imposed the security law across Bangkok from November 28 through December 14 to maintain law and order during the planned protest to oust the Abhisit Vejjajiva government by protesters of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

The so-called Red Shirt activists however announced the postponement of the group's rally, earlier scheduled for November 28 through December 2, to after the New Year celebrations following warning from many parties that the protest period is inappropriate as it is close to the king's birthday.

The security agencies are scheduled to evaluate the situation for the last time before concluding a report and submit it to the Tuesday's Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

-- TNA 2009-11-30

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