Leaders of the armed forces have been directed to “fully support” meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year and not allow a repeat of the disastrous summit in Pattaya in 2009.
Thailand is again chairing the regional grouping and will host at least 180 meetings, big and small, throughout the year.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon chaired the Defence Council meeting on Monday and ordered the top brass of all the defence forces to “fully support” the Asean meetings to be hosted by Thailand, ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said.
The armed forces leaders must learn from what happened in 2009, when Thailand was last in the chair, and come up with measures to ensure there is no repeat, the spokesman said.
Importance would be placed on the security of Southeast Asian leaders and officials during their stay in the country.
Thailand chaired the 10-nation bloc in 2009, when Abhisit Vejjajiva was the prime minister, under a rotation format. The highlight of the year was supposed to be the Asean summit in Pattaya, but it collapsed in chaos when red-shirt protesters forced their way into the venue on April 11, demanding that Mr Abhisit step down.
The political storm forced the hasty evacuation of Asean leaders by helicopters and boats.
The focus of Asean this year will be on two summits where the leaders will gather to discuss regional and global issues. Tentative dates have been set for June and late October in Bangkok, according to the website of the Asean Secretariat.