Internal Security Act Could Be Extended.

[Lite Beer]

ISA could be extended

BANGKOK, 20 February 2011 (NNT)-The Center for the Administration of Law and Order (CAPO) will consider extending the Internal Security Act today as the Red Shirt rally is likely to continue into the future.

The CAPO Spokesperson Pol Maj-Gen Prawut Thawornsiri reported that yesterday’s rally on Rachadumnoen road was under control. However, the Internal Security Act, which will be lifted next Wednesday, could be re-imposed.

The CAPO Spokesperson will meet with Police Chief Pol Gen Wichean Potphosri, who is also the Director of the CAPO, at 2 p.m. today to discuss the situation surrounding the political movements and consider the re-imposition of the ISA. Pol Maj-Gen Prawut added that he personally thinks there is a possibility it will be extended as protesters have not left the venues.

-- NNT 2011-02-20

[Credo]

How many rallies has the ISA prevented? How many people have been deterred by it?

How much does it cost to have it in place?

[whybother]

How many rallies has the ISA prevented? How many people have been deterred by it?

How much does it cost to have it in place?

I don't think it's designed to stop protests, just to make it easier to control them and respond to problems.

[Credo]

Oh, just like the State of Emergency? How did that work out?

[asiawatcher]

These declarations mean nothing at all. There has been no policing of the actual acts and most likely will not but it only protects when there is an 'issue' that needs to be cleared and covered under law. If the act is in place, then it allows a plethora of things to happen that cannot happen if the act is not ratified and passed. Draw your own conclusions. Usually the act is put in place when something is about to or needs to, happen - such as clearing the streets when directives are ignored.

[TimeBandit2]

The city is crawling with red shirts and yellow shirts and blue shirts and every other kind of douche bag blocking the streets off...yeah let's extend the ISA

[Lite Beer]

Police seeking extension of Internal Security Act for another 15 days.

BANGKOK, Feb 20 - Reasoning that the Internal Security Act (ISA) is still necessary to contain possible unrest in the Thai capital, police will request Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to extend the ISA, which is due to expire this Wednesday, for another 15. days, said national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree on Sunday.

Pol Gen Wichean told journalists after holding a meeting with Mr Abhisit that he had informally requested that ISA should be extended for another 15 days but areas of which it is enforced would be reduced.

He said he would explain the reason to the prime minister on Monday.

Several rallies are still being held in Bangkok, especially the 'Yellow Shirt' movement of the People's Alliance for Democracy which is demanding the ouster of the government on its charge of mishandling the Thai-Cambodian border conflict.

The Cabinet earlier re-enforced the ISA from Feb 9-23 in seven districts around Government House including Dusit, Phra Nakorn, Wattana, Ratchathewi, Wang Thonglang, Pathumwan and Pom Prap Sattru Phai districts.

It is expected that the green light would be given for an extension of the Act as Mr Abhisit said that he believed that ISA is still necessary as it could prevent trouble from occurring.

"The ISA doesn't affect the daily lives of people or limit their freedom," Mr Abhisit said.

-- TNA 2011-02-20

[Credo]

These groups don't obey the laws and the police/military don't enforce the laws, at least not until it's too late.

I have a hard time believing that a group of people can close off roads and block traffic because they feel like it. I have a hard time believing the gov't has to have a special security law to enforce civil law.

But I could be wrong.

[whybother]

These groups don't obey the laws and the police/military don't enforce the laws, at least not until it's too late.

I have a hard time believing that a group of people can close off roads and block traffic because they feel like it. I have a hard time believing the gov't has to have a special security law to enforce civil law.

But I could be wrong.

It seems like the police can't do anything without getting a specific court order, even when they say a group is doing something illegal.

They have stated a number of times that protesters shouldn't be blocking roads, but it continues anyway. All the police seem to do is negotiate.

[webfact]

CAPO move to extend internal security law

By The Nation

The Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has decided to seek Cabinet approval to extend imposition of the Internal Security Act for 15 days - but revoke the law in a few districts that have seen no protests.

CAPO spokesman Maj Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said 10 leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy had agreed to meet the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday for questioning for allegedly violating the security law. Police are also gathering additional evidence to summons more PAD leaders.

He said CAPO did not intend to disperse the rally or resort to violence to crack down on the protesters. It only wanted to control their protest, as it feared it would pose a threat to security.

New Politics Party secretary general said the red shirts' demand for the release of their leaders detained since May last year was not right because they intended to pressure judges and were thus tampering with the justice system.

"Mobilising masses to rally against court verdicts or order or intimidate judges is not appropriate because this could set a bad example for others to follow suit,'' he said.

"Such a move risks causing chaos in the country again and this could invite a coup.

"The red shirts always say they disapprove of coups but why do they open the door for a coup?'' he said.

Suriyasai urged the red shirts to refrain from politicising the issue over the PM's nationality saying the topic was only technical. Rather, they should focus on irregularities in projects such as 3G. "This would be more useful to the public than attacking personal issues of leaders."

Red shirt leader Worawut Wichaidit said some red shirts would turn up at the Criminal Court today to offer moral support to seven leaders at a hearing when they request bail. He said red shirts were told to peacefully attend the hearing and not to disrupt justice procedures.

He said the red shirts didn't intend to pressure court to release their leaders. Actually the red shirt leaders did not want them to go to the court, as they feared a mishap or unfortunate incident.

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Chatuporn Prompan said the red shirts would stage a mass rally outside the Criminal Court on Ratchada Road if the seven UDD leaders were not released. He said the protesters did not want to see only two leaders released but all of them as they were all detained under the same charge.

He said the group would gather again on March 12 to commemorate first year anniversary of their big rally last year.

-- The Nation 2011-02-21

[webfact]

Police Chief Proposes Extending ISA Enforcement

The national police chief has proposed extending the enforcement of the internal security law for another 15 days, while the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order is set to decide on the proposal.

National police chief Police General Wichien Pojphosri said after meeting with the Prime Minister that he has proposed extending the enforcement of the Internal Security Act to another 15 days in areas where protests are still ongoing.

The current internal security law, which has been in force since February 9, is due to expire this Wednesday.

The Center for the Administration of Peace and Order will meet this afternoon to consider the extension of the security law.

Wichien said he believes extending the imposition of the security law will not affect the country's image and the daily life of citizens.

He added the authority will continue to negotiate with demonstrators to stop blocking roads.

Meanwhile, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy Major General Chamlong Srimuang expressed no concern about the possibility that the internal security law enforcement will be extended.

He said PAD protesters will continue camping at the Makawanrangsan Bridge unless the government does its duty in protecting the nation's sovereignty.

Chamlong criticized the use of the security law as a mean to ensure the stability of the administration, not of the nation.

-- Tan Network 2011-02-21