Draconian Internal Security Act for Phuket
Phuket may face draconian Internal Security Act
PHUKET: — The Cabinet will today consider a proposal to apply Thailand’s Internal Security Act to Phuket during the upcoming Asian ministerial meeting which will be attended by the US Secretary of State.
An informed source said this morning that the Act, if approved, would task the nation’s powerful Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), which is chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, with the responsibility and authority to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure security for the meeting.
Implementation would put Phuket under the Act from July 10 to 24.
The Asian foreign ministers’ meeting is scheduled to be held from July 16 to 23. It has been postponed twice since red-shirted protesters broke into a nearby building at the aborted initial meeting in Pattaya in April.
The Phuket meeting will be attended by ministers of 26 countries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Phuket will also host the 42nd Asean Ministerial Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences, and the 16th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on Phuket.
The ISOC reasons that imposition of the Internal Security Act is necessary following the Pattaya disaster which tarnished Thailand’s image and reputation as well as inflicting severe damage to its economy.
The ISOC is said to believe that an ill-intentioned group, based both inside and outside Thailand, may again try to stage unrest during the meeting, similar to what occured in Pattaya.
If today’s Cabinet meeting agrees to impose the Internal Security Act, it will cover Phuket island as well as a radius of five kilometers out to sea.
Internal Security Act now in force in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The controversial Internal Security Act to ensure there is no disruption at the upcoming 42nd Asean Ministers Meeting is now in force, but very few locals will have noticed any difference.
Military hardware, much of it on flatbed trucks, rolled onto the island yesterday afternoon.
Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is in charge of security during the meetings, said no street demonstrations would be allowed during the meetings, which would include the 16th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) and Post Ministerial Conferences.
“Phuket must have no protests whatsoever,” he said.
“No areas will be designated for demonstrations, there will be no road blockages, and there will be no protest letters submitted.
“Not even a peaceful gathering is allowed.”
General Prawit asked prospective protest groups, including the red shirts and local and foreign non-government organizations, to comply with the regulations.
He said international standards would be applied in providing security for the leaders of the 28 countries due to attend.
The Internal Security Act will remain in force in Phuket for two weeks, until July 24.
Gen Prawit said he did not think the extra security would affect local businesses and said he was confident the meetings would run smoothly.
Deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said Cabinet had ordered relevant authorities to cooperate with officials from the Internal Security Operations Command, who are empowered to designate certain buildings or places off-limits.
Unauthorized people are not allowed to carry weapons outside their residences and the Isoc director has the power to ban the use of electronic devices in certain areas.
The Isoc chief can also impose restrictions on the use of certain roads or vehicles, the spokesman said.
Suthep Thaugsuban, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs, said local residents would be told about any restrictions.
Gatherings will not be allowed at the airport or on roads to and from the airport, or in areas around the hotels where the delegates will stay, the spokesman said.
Phuket Provincial Police have also been busy gearing up for the event.
On Wednesday morning, hundreds of policemen in full riot gear practiced their crowd control techniques outside Phuket City Police station.
The exercise involved using shields to form phalanxes to drive off protesters.
A band of volunteer motorcycle taxi drivers who acted as ‘protesters’ relished the opportunity to hurl plastic bottles of water and other missiles at the police.
Internal Security Act lifted in Phuket as Asean talks end
PHUKET: — Thai government on Friday lifted Internal Security Act in place in Phuket as Asean foreign ministers meeting with dialogue partners came to an end on Thursday, said Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.
The government had imposed the Act on the island since July 10 in a move to prevent gathering of pro-Thaksin supporters, known as red shirts.
The red shirts disrupted Asean Summit in Pattaya in April by storming into a building adjacent to the meeting hall where leaders and delegates were meeting.
Prawit said the success of the Phuket meetings can restore confidence regarding Thai security measures among participant nations.
Security units from each participant country were also satisfied with the strict measures of Thailand’s security-concerned agencies, as well as with the cooperation of local residents, he said.
When asked whether the government will apply the Phuket-model security plan to the upcoming Asean Summit scheduled for October, the defence minister said it depends on where the summit will be held.
The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will further discuss this, he added.