Police will tighten security in key areas expected to be the venues for anti-government rallies opposing lawmakers who will try to push through amnesty bills which are to be tabled for debate next Wednesday.
Police prepare for planned rallies against the government and amnesty bills when parliament reopens on Thursday, Aug 1, 2013. (Photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)
The move follows a cabinet decision to impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Dusit, Phra Nakhon and Pomprap Sattruphai districts between Aug 1-10 to keep law and order after the reopening of parliament. The legislative branch convenes on Thursday and the focus will be next Wednesday when an amnesty bill proposed by Worachai Hema, a Pheu Thai Party MP for Samut Prakan, is put on the agenda.
National police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, as chief of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) centre, will be responsible for handling the situation.
National Security Council secretary-general Paradon Pattanatabut said after the meeting of cabinet members in charge of security that the security plan is the same as that deployed in November to curb the Pitak Siam group's rally led by retired general Boonlert Kaewprasit. The group was broken up shortly after the anti-government rally began near the Royal Plaza.
The areas in focus this time will be Government House and parliament, according to Lt Gen Paradon.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn and attended by Deputy Prime Minister Pol Gen Pracha Promnok, Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana and Deputy Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa, in addition to Lt Gen Paradorn and representatives from the Royal Thai Police, Isoc and relevant ministries.
Pol Maj Gen Prinya Chansuriya, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), said checkpoints will be set up in those two places and nearby areas including Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue and Uthong intersection from midnight but traffic will be allowed to go through.
The MPB will be the main force during the ISA to be aided by supporting units from other provinces, he added.
Details of the plan will become clearer when MPB chief Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang holds talks with officials on Thursday.
But Lt Gen Paradorn said Isoc has been assigned to carry out prevention and suppression operations in case of incidents which may affect national security.
Security agencies told the meeting that the ISA should be invoked, because many groups had declared their intention to rally in relation to the amnesty bill.
The rally might draw a large number of protesters and the situation could escalate to the point that it obstructs the work of the parliament, said the NSC chief.
The enforcement of the ISA means a group of red shirts calling themselves the People's Radio Media Group, which has been gathering in front of the parliament building since Monday to support charter amendment and the amnesty bills, will have to withdraw.
The situation is tense as the Pitak Siam group and an allied group calling themselves the "People's Army" have called for an extended rally on Sunday to oust the government and some Democrat Party members including Suthep Thaugsuban urged people to go out on the streets to unseat the government.
The opposition party has made clear its position on the Worachai bill.
The People's Alliance for Democracy - the yellow shirts - has also opposed all amnesty bills and urged lawmakers to withdraw all drafts from the House.
They claim any amnesty is aimed at benefitting Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who was found guilty of abuse of authority in a Ratchadaphisek land deal in 2008. He was ousted from power by a coup two years earlier.
Core members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will stay well clear of areas where anti-government rallies are occurring when they meet on Saturday, Jatuporn Prompan said on Wednesday.
Mr Jatuporn was speaking before attending a meeting of Pheu Thai's strategy committee to discuss the political situation and preparations to push contentious legislative bills through the House.
Arrangements have been made for UDD core members from throughout the country to meet at Don Muang Technical College on Saturday to listen to a situation briefing.
"I will ask the red shirts not to go near to where the anti-government protesters are rallying because what the other side wants is a clash. This could lead to a really bad situation," said Mr Jatuporn, who has been tipped to replace Tida Tawornseth as UDD chair.
Mr Jatuporn said if there are casualties the main force of red shirts would be forced to take to the street. This would lead to a deteriorating situation which the other side wanted to happen, he added.
Permanent secretary for finance Areepong Phucha-um said on Wednesday that imposing the ISA risks eroding the confidence of investors.
Mr Areepong said the use of the special security law could worry investors, who might delay investment plans, which could have a negative effect on the investment climate and stock market.
Over the past few months, investors have been buoyed by the government's policies, particularly its planned 2-trillion-baht infrastructure development megaprojects, he said.
But negative reports showing political uncertainty, especially involving national security, would encourage investors to take a "wait and see approach", he added.