Emergency law won't be reinstated in Chiang Mai: PM

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected speculation yesterday that the government would reinstate the emergency decree in Chiang Mai following a grenade attack at an army camp in Mae Rim district two days ago.

However, the PM said the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation would have to evaluate the security situation in the northern province further.

The government has been told political rallies will be staged in several areas next weekend - which includes the fourth anniversary of the 2006 coup. The areas include some still under emergency decree and some without strict laws against people gathering in large numbers.

Abhisit said his government was keeping a close watch on any suspicious move that could lead to violence.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of national security, said it was not necessary to re-impose the emergency decree in Chiang Mai as existing security laws and regulations would be sufficient to control the situation there.

Security agencies are trying to determine who was behind the Chiang Mai bomb attack. Five M79 grenades were fired, and four exploded, at Khun Nen Army camp, on Thursday night. No casualties were reported.

The deputy PM said the government would also try to revoke the emergency decree in the remaining seven provinces.

Security has been tightened at the Army camp in Mae Rim with closed-circuit-TV cameras put in place and a bunker installed out the front and soldiers manning the area around the clock.

Local security officials have refused to comment on the attack. However, Surapong Pongdetkachorn, secretary to the Industry Minister, voiced concern over the attack. He said the incident had hurt business confidence in Chiang Mai, which had been hit hard from the economic slowdown last year.

Sriwan Chanoing, a red-shirt leader in Chiang Mai, denied that his group were responsible for the attack, saying they were not armed. She said what happened was the work of a group that wanted the emergency decree re-imposed. She claimed the situation in the northern city may end up like the far South.

-- The Nation 2010-09-12

In the same breath she says they're not armed but threatens a situation like the south; the only way that would develop would be if yellows started retaliating against red and vis versa, as it is now it's just red attacking the army and those businesses that support the gov; like the gun attack the other day on central world or grenade fired at it a couple of months ago or the numerous bombs left by bangkok banks and tescos and makro. Never see attacks on red side business like rimping do we, even though they are hi-so; obviously not about what so level then , but about who side your on.

Army needs to infiltrate these reds, double agent style; pretend to be a simpathiser and offer them weapons, gain their trust and learn who's who in side the violence network so they can be elliminated.

So where are the idiots now who think that the recent bombings have been done by the government in order to keep the State of Emergency and oppress the opposition? If it were true then they would have reinstated the State of Emergency in Chiang Mai, which would have also handily suppressed the upcoming rally there.

Edited September 12, 201015 yr by hyperdimension

Deafening silence from the redshirt supporters

Not a good statement by the PM - if the situation warrants then why would they not reengage the Emergency Decree? That may be a gesture (political) towards reconcilliation but not a very intelligent statement in my opinion.

Like before they seem to be trying to allow peaceful demonstrations and not be seen too heavey handed; ofcourse they could institute it later if the situation deemed it nessarcary; I'm not sure if right approach or not, but I tend to air on the side saying that reds need to be put down hard because every inch they get they push for a mile

unbelievable She claimed the situation in the northern city may end up like the far South.

The red shirts now threaten us with violence directly aimed at civilians They claim to be unarmed yet make the statement that they will kill indiscriminately. Thaksin must be in his glory now.

The red shirts must be stopped now. Apply the same rules of conduct to them that they apply to the rest of us.