PM: Imposing ISA is necessary

Published: 24/11/2009 at 03:20 PM
Online news: Local News

The government needs to enforce the Internal Security Act (ISA) across Bangkok between Nov 28 and Dec 15 to deal with the red-shirt protesters if they split up and rally at different locations, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) plans a prolonged anti-government protest from this Saturday to next Wednesday in front of Government House in its latest attempt to topple the Abhisit administration.

"There are reports that people, including foreign workers, have been gathered from different regions to join the demonstration," Mr Abhisit said.

He would continue to monitor the security situation before deciding whether to attend the Thai Chambers of Commerce annual national meeting in the northern province of Chiang Mai this weekend.

Speaking before his scheduled departure on a three-day investment-boosting visit to Qatar, the prime minister said he thought the diplomatic tension around the arrest of alleged Thai spy Sivarak Chutipong in Cambodia would ease now that a bail request had been made to the Cambodian court on Monday.

Mr Abhisit also extended his condolences to the family and supporters of former prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who died of liver cancer in Bangkok on Tuesday morning.

"He was a politician who had played key roles for a long time and this is a great loss to Thai politics," he said

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Good Pics

Discussion 10 : 25/11/2009 at 02:25 PM10
Ben, nice pic of some weary travelers inside the airport and a well behaved crowd sitting peacefully outside the airport. No violence in those pics - now show us the Songkran pics.
Steve

Discussion 9 : 25/11/2009 at 01:33 PM9
NO COLORED SHIRT (that looks like just the first of many false statements) in #8 asks "Why PM Somchai and his cabinet didn’t apply ISA".....

I guess NCS chooses to forget that PM Somchai requested Gen. Anupong to intervene - a legal request (order, in fact) from the legitimate Head of Government. As we know, Gen. Anupong refused (and also went on TV to call for Somchai's government to resign). Does NCS think any PM could or should have done the job himself - maybe with just a few secretaries from his office?

"they never invaded halls, rooms and tarmac"? So, I guess all the photos and TV footage of them inside were just faked? The many reports of them invading the control tower - just made up?

Instead of just reciting from the ASTV/Manager script, NCS would do better to check the facts. Then he might actually "understand what happened" for himself.
NO COLORED SHIRT

Discussion 8 : 25/11/2009 at 09:59 AM8
@RICHARD COLLINS could you please understand what happened...
Yellowshirts has never closed international airport. They demonstrate in front of airport entrance, but they never invaded halls, rooms and tarmac. It was a decision of airport direction to close.
During Yellowshirts were moving from Changwttana road to Suwannphoom, what did government to stop Yellowshirts ? NOTHING…. That showed to the world a big weakness of Thai government… If you are honest RICHARD, blame people in charge of governing to not do their duty.
Of course, close airport for 10 days made big dommage to Thailand… Why PM Somchai and his cabinet didn’t apply ISA ????
I’m not red, I’m not Yellow… I’m boring of people say NO TAKSIN and I’m boring of people say YES TAKSIN… Can we forget this name TAKSIN for a while and work all together to improve our life with family and friends, all together for the benefit of our lovely Thailand ?????
Ben

Discussion 7 : 25/11/2009 at 09:13 AM7
To Christopher Hale,just to add on to what Richard Collins had earlier said.I have added this weblink on the yellow shirt taking the bangkok airport as hostage last year.(www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00090/pg-24-thailand-main-_90811s.jpg) & (static.indianexpress.com/m-images/M_Id_48842_bangkok_airport.jpg)Probably you should reconsider who's rally demostration is more terrifying.You only saw the songkran riots but this link will provide you of what the yellow shirts do.You can search through Google Images to see more on yellow-shirts PAD airport seiges.
Richard Collins

Discussion 6 : 25/11/2009 at 04:34 AM6
To Christopher Hale, I realise you might be worried about your safety for you and your family which is admirable, but remember these red shirts are fighting for a better life and democracy for all of Thailand, but remember it was the yellow shirts who actually caused harm to tourists! The airport blockade? It seems people have forgotten that! What would you rather do Chris, come to Thailand, visit the lovely beaches, or mountains etc. and hear about red shirt protesters in the cities, or would you rather come to Thailand and be not able to leave because the yellow shirts decided they wanted to block the airport? Think about the difference.
Christopher Hale

Discussion 5 : 25/11/2009 at 02:33 AM5
As tourists who wish to visit Thailand again - my family and I decided that it was too dangerous when these red shirt people are on the loose. We saw them at the time of your Song Kran - a terrifying mob - not a political demonstration.

We have postponed our trip until hopefully the red froth settles down or finishes. I ask both sides - do you really know how much you damage your country?
smelly

Discussion 4 : 24/11/2009 at 08:49 PM4
@ TRAVEL
not to say your point is moot but what did you think of the yellow shirt protests last year (November!) when they seized the international airport? are you hypocritical or do you have the memory of a goldfish or what hole were you in then? Thaksin is a megalomaniac but this gov't and people like you are either amazingly naive, or just blatantly double-talk, two faced one sided yellows.
Although, we should look at all the reconciliation Abishit has delivered as promised, there's no room in jail for all the yellow shirt terrorist leaders! Tourism is booming since the PAD protests, how dare these selfish red shirts!!! Of course to save the power of the powerful is more important than the other 63 million. Lets elect the coup leader because he is the real champion of democracy.
from the ouside

Discussion 3 : 24/11/2009 at 05:31 PM3
Abhisit administration is really tough and intimidate toward people against his aimless idealogical all and all is against democracy and only support coup makers and agroup that can seize the airport and the government house
and the world record on intimidate on civilian
world record of making thread world record in loose canon MP ,world record in double standard, and look like a dictator in the making.
TRAVEL

Discussion 2 : 24/11/2009 at 03:35 PM2
Internal security law is for protection of citizens. Bravo to government to do that, tourists can trust Thailand is safe... Demontration of redshirts as expected on 28, 29, 30 November will really affect tourism... All people know December is peak of tourism season, so why redshirts have to choose this period to demonstrate ? Of course to save 76 billions of one is more important than hurt business and job of others... redshirt are really selfish !!!!
Ben

Discussion 1 : 24/11/2009 at 03:32 PM1
So imposing ISA on UDD demostration is neccessary,why the cabinet did not impose ISA on PAD demostrations.Another example of Sub-Standard or favouritism of this government.Oops i forgot, this current government was brought into power by the PADS.This PM is so hungry to have a taste as a PM.Now got the chance of his lifetime, so must return back their favours.An eye for an eye!

PM: Imposing ISA is necessary