Internal Security Act Meant To Kill Two Birds With One Stone

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BURNING ISSUE

ISA meant to kill two birds with one stone

By Kittipong Thavevong

The Nation

The Internal Security Act is in effect now after the Cabinet gave it the green light on Tuesday - it was proposed by the police force as a tool to help them cope with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally.

However, given the fact that the ISA covers seven Bangkok districts, which include the areas where the red shirts normally hold their rallies, it is obvious the government is looking beyond the ongoing yellow-shirt rally outside Government House. The yellow shirts are demanding the government follow their instructions in dealing with the Thai-Cambodia border conflict.

The districts of Phra Nakhon, Dusit and Pom Prab Sattru Phai cover the areas where the yellow shirts are currently active. There are significant political landmarks such as Government House, Parliament and the Democracy Monument in these districts. The rest of the areas under the ISA - Ratchathewi, Pathum Wan, Watthana, and Wang Thonglang - cover the sites where the red-shirt movement has frequently protested. These districts cover places such as the Ratchaprasong commercial district and the Imperial World shopping complex in Lat Phrao.

The yellow shirts have said they would challenge the justification of the ISA in the Administrative Court and the government says it is ready for the legal battle.

By imposing the ISA, it appears as if the government is trying to hit two birds -red and yellow - with one stone. Imposing the law shows the government's intention to cope with the yellow shirts when they step up their campaign as well as the red-shirt protest planned for later this month to demand their detained leaders be released.

Although the rivalling political colours are campaigning against the government at about the same time, the political situation is not as gloomy as it was during the red shirts' massive 10-week-long rally last year. Now, people are looking forward to general elections being held sometime this year, even though Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has not clearly specified the dates yet. All he has said is that he would not stay on until his term is completed at the end of this year.

Plus, many observers are finding rumours of a military coup being spread by both red and yellow camps quite unconvincing. Some say a coup is unlikely because there aren't enough reasons to justify it, while some say the coup makers missed the opportunity last year when the country was in turmoil and the government was unstable at the height of the red shirts' rally. Though it was a good time for a military takeover, Army generals did not dare stage a coup because it would have done more harm than good - both to themselves and to the country as a whole.

At this time, with the next general election just around the corner and the country needing to unify in the face of the renewed border fighting with Cambodia, there are even fewer reasons for a coup.

Dissolving the House will always be a trump card for the premier every time he is cornered or arrives at a political dead-end. Besides, once the poll date is announced, politicians as well as the red and yellow camps will shift their attention.

-- The Nation 2011-02-10

[asiawatcher]

Go for it - put the ISA in place and you have a chance to remove these Urban Terrorists. Sooner the better.

[WhySoSerious]

"Some say a coup is unlikely because there aren't enough reasons to justify it" - When is a military coup ever justified?

[Ricardo]

"Some say a coup is unlikely because there aren't enough reasons to justify it" - When is a military coup ever justified?

When it is to avoid something even worse ?

[WhySoSerious]

Ah, I was thinking in the legal sense.

In the moral sense, the only instance I can think of would be to topple a dictatorship, immediately followed by free and fair elections.

[Thai at Heart]

"Some say a coup is unlikely because there aren't enough reasons to justify it" - When is a military coup ever justified?

Whenever the guys with guns, APC's and tanks tell you so.

[Robby nz]

"Some say a coup is unlikely because there aren't enough reasons to justify it" - When is a military coup ever justified?

The most obvious reason for a coup is that someone in the military wants to be in control, (power).

We see this on both sides, Burma and Cambodia where the coup leaders have stayed on and intend to stay.

The latest Thai coup was different.

It had a purpose in evicting someone who was looking to try to hang on to power for his own ends.

The fact that the military held elections not long after the coup in which they took no direct part showed they were not interested in running the country but had achieved their purpose and wanted to return the country to democracy.

OK back on topic:

What a cheek the yellows have to 'demand' (always demand, never ask or suggest) a letter from Gvt asking them to move on.

Hope both colors get theit asses kicked good and proper with the ISA and General C ends up where he says he is prepared to be.

[Thai at Heart]

"Some say a coup is unlikely because there aren't enough reasons to justify it" - When is a military coup ever justified?

The most obvious reason for a coup is that someone in the military wants to be in control, (power).

We see this on both sides, Burma and Cambodia where the coup leaders have stayed on and intend to stay.

The latest Thai coup was different.

It had a purpose in evicting someone who was looking to try to hang on to power for his own ends.

The fact that the military held elections not long after the coup in which they took no direct part showed they were not interested in running the country but had achieved their purpose and wanted to return the country to democracy.

OK back on topic:

What a cheek the yellows have to 'demand' (always demand, never ask or suggest) a letter from Gvt asking them to move on.

Hope both colors get theit asses kicked good and proper with the ISA and General C ends up where he says he is prepared to be.

I reckon the government should ask the "people" to write letters individually addressed to the protest site and the government can deliver them in a 20 wheeler.

[OzMick]

Well, they would need an address to facilitate delivery of the order - how about c/- Cell Block J, Bankok Hilton. Put reds and yellows in the same cell, let them sort out their differences and work out who's going to be "mama".

[truethailand]

"Some say a coup is unlikely because there aren't enough reasons to justify it" - When is a military coup ever justified?

The most obvious reason for a coup is that someone in the military wants to be in control, (power).

We see this on both sides, Burma and Cambodia where the coup leaders have stayed on and intend to stay.

The latest Thai coup was different.

It had a purpose in evicting someone who was looking to try to hang on to power for his own ends.

The fact that the military held elections not long after the coup in which they took no direct part showed they were not interested in running the country but had achieved their purpose and wanted to return the country to democracy.

OK back on topic:

What a cheek the yellows have to 'demand' (always demand, never ask or suggest) a letter from Gvt asking them to move on.

Hope both colors get theit asses kicked good and proper with the ISA and General C ends up where he says he is prepared to be.

held elections shortly after the coup... 2 years is shortly after. They ousted the main man because he had been chipping away at the very same powerbase that ordered the coup. During there two years and especially near the end they tried to push thru laws to suit them once back in the barracks. We can only imagine how much they creamed off the top because they pushed thru a large budget increase for the army. Sure Thakky was a crook but do you think he is the biggest crook in this country.

"..return this country to democracy" compare the definitions of 'democracy' and 'plutocracy' and honestly tell me this place is a democracy

You must be on something

Edited February 10, 2011 by truethailand

[Buchholz]

2 years

For the sake of accuracy, your statement of 2 years is off by 270 days or three-quarters of a year.