The cabinet has decided to impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) in three districts of Bangkok from today until Nov 30, as proposed by the National Security Council (NSC), Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said on Thursday.
Mr Chalerm said this after a special cabinet meeting of nine ministers assigned to handle the weekend anti-government demonstration by the Pitak Siam group of Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit.
Theose present were Mr Chalerm, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Surasawadi, Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana, PM's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat, Deputy Transport Minister Prin Suwanatat and Justice Minister Pracha Promnok.
The cabinet meeting followed a meeting of the NSC which resolved to proposed the use of the ISA.
Mr Chalerm said the ISA was effective from today until Nov 30 in Dusit, Phra Nakhon and Pomprap Sattruphai districts.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would tonight appear on television to explain the necessity for the government to use the special security law.
Mr Varathep said the ISA might be lifted before Nov 30 if the rally is orderly and peaceful.
He said Mr Chalerm would chair a meeting of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) this afternoon to set up a working committee to implement the ISA.
The special cabinet's decision to invoke the ISA was based on intelligence reports by security agencies which indicated that the Pitak Siam rally might put the people's lives and property in danger.
The imposition of the ISA is one of the preventive measures, he said.
Mr Varathep believed this would not affect neither Thai and foreign businessmen nor investor confidence, because the law was intended to maintain law and order and would be effective in only three districts, none of them an important economic zone.