Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the armed forces to provide full security support during the 35th Asean Summit and related meetings which kick off on Thursday.
Gen Prayut gave the order during the Defence Council meeting on Wednesday, according to defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich. He said Gen Prayut stressed the military must work closely with the Foreign Ministry in providing security for foreign guests. Lt Gen Kongcheep said security authorities are on high alert and fully prepared to respond to situations and avert a recurrence of a riot that disrupted the 2009 high-level meeting in Pattaya.
He said authorities have received no intelligence about security risks at the summit. Earlier, Mongkolkit Suksintaranont, leader of the Thai Civilised Party, claimed a group of 100 men had been recruited to incite chaos.
The defence spokesman also urged the public to help keep an eye out for trouble.
