Cabinet Approves Internal Security Act Enforcement In 7 Bangkok Districts; ISA

[webfact]

Cabinet approves ISA enforcement in 7 districts

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the enforcement of the Internal Security Act in seven Bangkok districts to deter protests by both red-shirt and yellow-shirt movements.

Acting Government Spokesman Panithan Watanayakorn said the seven districts are Wang Thonglang, Pathumvan, Rajthevi, Dusit, Pomprab, and Phra Nakhon.

The enforcement against demonstrations will take effect from Wednesday until February 23.

-- The Nation 2011-02-08

[timekeeper]

that's good news, one wouldn't want the red shirts to be able to accuse the government of employing the much vaunted double standards

if its good enough for the reds, it ought to be good enough for the yellows too!........

[webfact]

Cabinet Approves Security Law Enforcement

The Cabinet approves enforcement of the Internal Security Act in the vicinity of Government House and Parliament to prepare for mass rallies planned by several protest groups.

The special security law will be enacted in Dusit district, Bang Khunphrom subdistrict, Sommanas subdistrict and along Rajdamnoen Avenue between Fabruary 9 and 23.

National police chief Police General Wichein Podposri said police are ready to enforce the law once its imposition is approved.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban said before the Cabinet meeting that the enforcement of the Internal Security Act, or ISA, special law is needed to prevent possible unruly incidents from the protests planned by the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD , the Thai Patriots Network and the red-shirt group.

Suthep said after the Cabinet endorses the ISA enforcement, police will have power to order demonstrators to leave the areas under coverage of the law or ban them from besieging state agencies.

Suthep insisted police forces on duty will handle the protests properly and the government does not want any violence.

The deputy premier, meanwhile, reiterated the parliamentary vote on the final reading of the constitution amendment bills will not lead to chaos and he turned down the speculation that some MPs have been paid to vote in favor of the bills.

On the current Thai-Cambodian border conflict, Suthep said the Foreign Ministry is capable enough to explain the situation to the United Nations Security Council after Panom Penh has sent a letter seeking its intervention.

Suthep remarked the dispute can still be resolved through bilateral basis while the Interior Ministry will play the key role in helping border residents affected by the fighting.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-08

[webfact]

Thailand invokes special laws for political rallies

BANGKOK, February 8, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand said Tuesday it would invoke special security laws in Bangkok to cope with political rallies in the capital, the scene of violent anti-government protests last year.

The cabinet approved the use of the Internal Security Act in seven districts of Bangkok from February 9 to 23 "to effectively oversee security," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told reporters.

"Several important places are located in the area and there may be incitement of unrest or rebellion so government wanted to keep them under control," he said.

The laws -- less strict than emergency rule, which was imposed for more than eight months last year -- will authorise security personnel to stop people gathering in certain areas, officials said.

"The enforcement of the law is to prevent incidents that jeopardise national security," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of national security, told reporters.

Nationalist "Yellow Shirt" activists have been rallying near Government House in protest at Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's handling of deadly border dispute with Cambodia, and have vowed to step up their campaign.

The "Yellow Shirts" were once allies of the establishment-backed Abhisit, but relations have soured and the group's political party is eyeing elections expected some time this year.

The rival, anti-government "Red Shirts" -- behind mass protests in Bangkok in April and May of last year -- have also returned to the streets recently with peaceful gatherings and plan to hold two rallies every month.

"At least two groups of protesters have clearly declared that they intend to blockade, and intrude into, government buildings such as parliament and some ministries," said Suthep.

He said government would rely on the police as the main security forces rather than the military, adding that there was no need for now to return to emergency rule, which hands broad powers to the army.

The rallies by the Red Shirts ultimately left more than 90 people dead in clashes between demonstrators and the military. Most of the movement's leaders are in jail facing terrorism charges.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-02-08

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Protest Leaders Wary of Govt Crackdown

The People's Alliance for Democracy says the government's planned declaration of the Internal Securrity Act in certain areas aims to make way for a crackdown on its current protests.

Spokesperson for the People's Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, Parnthep Puapongpan said his group's leaders still have no plan to relocate the protests to Government House or Parliament, which are among areas covered by the imposition of the Internal Security Act, or ISA.

Parnthep said the fear over the PAD's possible occupation of those two state offices is merely the imagination of Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban and the government cannot make decision with imagination.

Parnthep said he believed the imposition of the ISA is meant for a crackdown on the PAD's protests, so his group will press charges against the government given its gathering is constitutional and the enforcement of the special law is not necessary.

He remarked the declaration of the ISA aims to appease and show Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that the Thai government has no relations with the PAD.

The spokesman then urged the government to inform the international community that Cambodia has used the Preah Vihear Temple and Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara Temple as bases to attack Thailand.

He claimed the delay in resolving the border conflict with Cambodia is meant for political gains.

PAD coordinator Prapan Khoonmee said if the group resolves to relocate its protests, there will be an explanation on the need for that and it will not cause problems to the public.

Prapan said the news that villagers affected by the border fighting have rejected donations offered by the PAD is the work of the government as the PAD has already verified the matter and found it was not true .

Prapan suggested the government should not implement the special security law to handle the current protests and the PAD's demands, particularly on the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding signed by Thailand and Cambodia in the year 2000, is necessary as Cambodia has never followed its requirements.

He added Suthep and Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan are the hurdles for Thai troops' efforts to defend the country's sovereignty.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-08

[phiphidon]

If Suthep and co can just keep renewing the ISA from the 23rd for a couple of months there will be no need to dissolve parliament for an early election as one of the three requirements would not have been met. Watch this space.

[OzMick]

"........PAD has already verified the matter and found it was not true . " Verified must have a different meaning in Thailand!

[patjem]

"........PAD has already verified the matter and found it was not true . " Verified must have a different meaning in Thailand!

Krub

[webfact]

ISA enforcement to get protesters off streets: Suthep

By The Nation

The enforcement of Internal Security Act will aim to reason with protesters to remove themselves from the streets and return traffic lanes, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thausuban said on Wednesday, the first day the security measures came into effect in seven districts of Bangkok.

The Peace-keeping Operations Centre, a task force under the Internal Security Operations Command, will explain to protesters every step for the implementation of security measures in order to reopn the roads, he said.

The government is prepared to fight the legal battle if the protesters will seek the judicial review on security measures, he said.

In a related development, police have started beefing up the security at Parliament on suspicion that the People's Alliance for Democracy may march and rally there tomorrow, coinciding with the vote on charter amendments.

-- The Nation 2011-02-09

[Robby nz]

I see PAD have got the message and cancelled their rally that was to be held Friday 11th.

Instead they will go to the border area and give out things to the displaced locals and army.

Doubt they will be welcome there either.

Wonder if the reds, who have been quiet lately, will give up also?

Possibly they have been told by the big boss to stay out of the Cambodian dispute as he is doing just fine with his mate Hun Sen.

[webfact]

Pheu Thai Party Opposes Imposition of Internal Security Act

The opposition Pheu Thai Party spokesman has urged the government to rethink its imposition of the Internal Security Act in seven Bangkok districts in an attempt to curb the protests, believing that it will only make the situation worse.

Pheu Thai Party Spokesman Prompong Nopparit called on the government to reconsider its imposition of the Internal Security Act, or ISA, in seven Bangkok districts from February 9 to 23 in an effort to control protests.

He offered his opinion that imposing the ISA will compound the situation, and suggested that the authorities continue to perform their duties under the normal laws.

Prompong alleged that the planned ISA enforcement is a government attempt to suppress movements by the People's Alliance for Democracy and the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship.

He added that another violent crackdown would be unacceptable.

The Pheu Thai Party mouthpiece also submitted a letter to the prime minister at the Government House, calling for disclosure of facts and an investigation into the 3G agreement which state-owned CAT Telecom signed with a private mobile operator last week.

He suspects the deal involved conspiracy.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-09

[Buchholz]

Wonder if the reds, who have been quiet lately, will give up also?

its imposition of the Internal Security Act, or ISA, in seven Bangkok districts from February 9 to 23 in an effort to control protests.

No word on two Red Shirt rallies planned during the time the ISA is in effect:

UDD moves rally site on 13 Feb to Criminal Court

BANGKOK, 31 January 2011 (NNT) – The anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has confirmed its schedule to stage a mass rally at Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road on 13 February 2011.

and

ONET on same day as reds' rally in Bangkok

The Ordinary National Educational Test (ONET) schedule won't be postponed even though red shirt protesters will stage a rally on the same day, according to National Institute of Educational Testing Service (NIETS) director Associate Professor Sampan Panpruk.

ONET for Matthayom 6 (Grade 12) students is due to be held on February 19-20. February 19 is the same day of a planned anti-government protest.

The demonstrators will march from Ratchaprasong intersection to Democracy Monument.

Edited February 10, 2011 by Buchholz