ISA likely for Chiang Mai
Northern region army chief fears tourism hit
- Published: 24/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Security authorities are being pressured to enforce the Internal Security Act in Chiang Mai amid concerns about death threats allegedly made by red shirts against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, a source says.
All top military leaders, chiefs of security agencies and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban agreed at a meeting to invoke the act in Bangkok in the Bang Khun Phrom area in Phra Nakhon district, Sommanat area in Pomprap Sattruphai district and locations at the Royal Plaza and Ratchadamnoen Avenue from Saturday to Dec 14.
They will propose the act be enforced in Chiang Mai from Saturday to Monday, despite opposition from the army, including Thanongsak Apirakyothin, commander of the army responsible for the northern region.
Mr Suthep was among those who pushed for Chiang Mai to be included, the source at the meeting said.
They pointed to the death threats allegedly made against Mr Abhisit by community radio stations in the northern province as grounds for including Chiang Mai in the order, the source said.
The decision will go before the cabinet for approval today. It will give the Internal Security Operations Command full authority to ensure law and order by taking over police duties.
If enforced in Chiang Mai, the act would cover areas near the Le Meridien Hotel where the Thai chambers of commerce from across the country will hold their annual meeting from Friday to Sunday.
RALLY FORECAST
• Bangkok: Intelligence agencies have estimated 40,000 supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra will show up on Saturday and split into small groups to rally in many places in the capital on Monday.
• Chiang Mai: The northern city could see 5,000 supporters of the Puea Thai Party and United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship demonstrators at the weekend, the agencies say.
• Each Puea Thai northern MP has been ordered to recruit 1,000 demonstrators to join 4,000 UDD members in the northern city, but the figures will be short of the target, they said. — Wassana Nanuam
Mr Abhisit had shrugged off the threats, saying he would go ahead with the plan to preside over the meeting on Sunday. But he said yesterday he would wait for the decision of the organisers.
Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security, was optimistic Mr Abhisit would not change his schedule. "I'll make sure the prime minister is safe," he said.
Narong Khongprasert, chairman of the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, said he has not cancelled his invitation for the prime minister. However, it was up to Mr Abhisit to decide whether or not to come to Chiang Mai.
Lt Gen Thanongsak said the ISA was not necessary in Chiang Mai. Instead, it would damage the economy there.
The army was also against it on the grounds that it would affect tourism in Chiang Mai, the source said.
A huge protest by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship is set to begin in Bangkok on Saturday and continue until early next month to try to oust the government.
Mr Suthep said the government needed to enforce the ISA in Bangkok to prevent the rally from affecting the celebrations and ceremonies for His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.
The government would expand the areas where the ISA is enforced later if red shirt protesters moved to other areas.
A Chiang Mai Court yesterday refused to issue an arrest warrant for Phetchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a leader of the Love Chiang Mai 51 group, who had reportedly threatened to assassinate Mr Abhisit on his community radio programme.
The court said Chiang Mai police only gave it a sound clip of Mr Phetchawat's programme - not enough to back their accusation against him.
About the author
- Writer: Wassana Nanuam, Pradit Ruangdit and Cheewin Sattha
