18,000 for peace-keeping in Bangkok

Published: 14/10/2009 at 07:18 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

A combined 18,000-strong force of police, soldiers and civilian volunteers will be deployed in Bangkok's Dusit district when the Internal Security Action takes is enforced during Oct 15-25, acting government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said on Wednesday.

Mr Panithan said this after a meeting of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, was assigned to be director of the Bangkok peace-keeping command.

He said 6,000 police, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 civilian volunteers will be deployed to maintain law and order while the ISA is enforced from Oct 15 to Oct 25 in the wake of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)'s plan to rally on Oct 17 and hold a no-confidence debate against the government outside parliament.

Checkpoints will be set up on Luk Luang, Nakhon Pathom, and parallel roads along Ratchadamnern avenue starting tomorrow. Attention will be given specially to Government House, parliament and Chitrlada Palace.

Mr Panithan said about 10,000 people are expected to take part in the Oct 17 rally.

About the author

: Writer: Online Reporters; Position: Online Reporters

Keep this article in your social bookmark:

Latest stories in this category:

Share your thoughts

For more candid, lengthy, conversational and open discussion between one another, use our Forum

Report objectionable comments click here. Include: discussion #, commenter name, comment date / time as it looks on the page. Example: discussion 15: 09/01/2009 at 10:00 AM.

jock

Discussion 10 : 15/10/2009 at 11:59 AM10
C'mon people, get real. Have you ever seen the deployment of police etc in London and Paris when there are large scale demonstrations? And okay the Government has perhaps played down the figures of the Red Shirts who will be demonstrating, but that folks is politics and if you believe everything a politician says, then you are perhaps a little more innocent than you think?
optimist

Discussion 9 : 15/10/2009 at 11:19 AM9
This many crowd controllers in the south just might help stop the killing and bombings. ISA the southern terrorist. For all the talk about the reds not wanting reconcillation and being trouble makers is is strange that the government will not hold elections. Lets be honest here. If you really want what the majority of Thais want then why not hold elections and let the people decide. They seem so so eager to let the public decide on charter change but not eager to let them elect their own politicians. Isn't this all so so difficult to see. Duuu !!!!!!
AntiRed

Discussion 8 : 15/10/2009 at 07:38 AM8
If the red shirts would finally shut up there would be no need for all the protection.
To all the red shirts: Start to think about Thailand. If you still want Toxin go find him somewhere in the desert and stay there!
John in BKK

Discussion 7 : 15/10/2009 at 06:36 AM7
2,000 civilian volunteers doing what?

What impression would representatives from democratic nations get if they see 10,000 armed troops and 6,000 police being required to hide protesters?
mustang67

Discussion 6 : 15/10/2009 at 02:03 AM6
Since the government and the people behind them seem to think that the majority of the Thai people are too ignorant and uneducated, they'll buy into anything the government tells them. Are they gonna be for a big surprise when the next election comes?
ricefieldradio

Discussion 5 : 14/10/2009 at 10:25 PM5
Wouldn't those 18,000 be of better use to the country helping alleviate flooding or helping those inundated by it at the moment.

I'll reiterate what I have said many times before. If you suppress the will of the people long enough they will eventually revolt.
Stock drop

Discussion 4 : 14/10/2009 at 09:31 PM4
I think it could mean more and have nothing to do with the red shirts. i think we may wake to some horrible news in the next few days.
Bangkok 15

Discussion 3 : 14/10/2009 at 08:00 PM3
A few things that seem a bit funny about this announcement by government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn. First up, Panithan seems to think there will only be 10,000 people attending, so why the need for 18,000 law enforcers? Or is this more government spin of trying to show how support for the UDD is dwindling, last time they seemed to get 20,000 plus. 2nd, 2,000 civilian volunteers! Who are they, where do they come from and why the need to bring in untrained civilians especially after an additional budget was assigned to train the police for these situations. Will these additional personnel be wearing blue or yellow shirts? Answers on a postcard please...........
Bubba

Discussion 2 : 14/10/2009 at 07:55 PM2
This is crazy...

18,000 to control 10,000.....???

Something is amiss here. Even if only the numbers.

And what country accept civilian "volunteers"?

From the 2,000 civilian volunteers I suspect to the last man they are comprised of PAD thugs...
ferwert

Discussion 1 : 14/10/2009 at 07:37 PM1
"Mr. Panithan said about 10,000 people are expected........" Yeah, the Government spokesman knows this. Try 50,000 plus Mr.Panithan.

This has been a favorite ploy of the agenda driven domestic media - undereporting the numbers attending pro-democracy rallies.

They are desperate to diminish this movement.

18,000 for peace-keeping in Bangkok