Red shirts call off rally, easing security threats - The government is likely to call off its plan to invoke the Internal Security Act after the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Wednesday cancelled its planned rally this weekend.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said from Qatar on Wednesday the cabinet was likely to defer enforcing the special law.
"If there are no incidents from now until next Tuesday then there will be no need to enforce the ISA. It may be cancelled at the cabinet meeting next Tuesday," he said.
Mr Abhisit and security authorities would meet on Thursday to assess the situation after his return from Qatar.
On Tuesday the cabinet decided to bring in the ISA from Saturday to Dec 14 across Bangkok after the UDD announced it would stage a protest from this weekend to Dec 2, to topple the government.
Enforcement of the ISA gives security officials the right to take whatever action is needed to pre-empt any incidents like those which occurred during the Songkran riots.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government would monitor developments before deciding whether to cancel enforcement of the ISA.
"We will withdraw it when we're confident that no violence is likely to arise," Mr Suthep said before attending the Internal Security Operations Command meeting on Wednesday.
Acting national police chief Pateep Tanprasert, a member of the Isoc committee, said after the meeting that Isoc was still adamant about the need to enforce the ISA.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the army's security preparations remained in place despite the UDD's decision to cancel the rally.
The UDD's change of heart came after deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday urged rally organisers to think twice about holding the protest.
Thaksin was concerned about the timing of the rally, which comes as the nation prepares to celebrate His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.
UDD leader Veera Musikapong said the UDD decided to postpone the rally indefinitely because the government had decided to enforce the security act, a response he described as "immature".
The UDD had intended to take precautions to make sure the rally did not affect celebrations for the King's birthday.
"We think the government is behaving immaturely and want to teach it a lesson. "We have agreed to put off the rally indefinitely. This is to show we are res dhponsible," he said.
However, Mr Veera said the UDD has not given up its push to oust the government and its leaders would discuss their stance again in mid-December.
UDD leader and Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan said he would lodge a motion in parliament on Thursday questioning the appropriateness of enforcing the ISA.
Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit was tight-lipped about whether he would go ahead with his visit to Chiang Mai on Sunday to attend the annual meeting of the Thai Chambers of Commerce.
Security authorities were monitoring the situation, he said. Concerns were raised about Mr Abhisit's safety after red shirt supporters made threats against his life on a community radio programme.
Mr Suthep said the ISA would be enforced in certain areas of Chiang Mai, a stronghold of Thaksin, if the prime minister joined the meeting. Mr Abhisit was keen on attending the conference to boost the confidence of the private sector, Mr Suthep said. But another option was to address the meeting via a video conference link.
The government will make a recommendation about the trip on Thursday.
Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a red shirt leader in Chiang Mai, said if Mr Abhisit showed up, the red shirts would be there to greet him.
Puea Thai MPs urged Mr Abhisit to skip the visit to avoid creating a bad atmosphere. "The meeting can proceed if he is not there. But if he goes the ISA will be enforced and it will damage tourism," said Surapong Towichakchaikul, a Puea Thai MP for Chiang Mai.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said from Qatar on Wednesday the cabinet was likely to defer enforcing the special law.
"If there are no incidents from now until next Tuesday then there will be no need to enforce the ISA. It may be cancelled at the cabinet meeting next Tuesday," he said.
Mr Abhisit and security authorities would meet on Thursday to assess the situation after his return from Qatar.
On Tuesday the cabinet decided to bring in the ISA from Saturday to Dec 14 across Bangkok after the UDD announced it would stage a protest from this weekend to Dec 2, to topple the government.
Enforcement of the ISA gives security officials the right to take whatever action is needed to pre-empt any incidents like those which occurred during the Songkran riots.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government would monitor developments before deciding whether to cancel enforcement of the ISA.
"We will withdraw it when we're confident that no violence is likely to arise," Mr Suthep said before attending the Internal Security Operations Command meeting on Wednesday.
Acting national police chief Pateep Tanprasert, a member of the Isoc committee, said after the meeting that Isoc was still adamant about the need to enforce the ISA.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the army's security preparations remained in place despite the UDD's decision to cancel the rally.
The UDD's change of heart came after deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday urged rally organisers to think twice about holding the protest.
Thaksin was concerned about the timing of the rally, which comes as the nation prepares to celebrate His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.
UDD leader Veera Musikapong said the UDD decided to postpone the rally indefinitely because the government had decided to enforce the security act, a response he described as "immature".
The UDD had intended to take precautions to make sure the rally did not affect celebrations for the King's birthday.
"We think the government is behaving immaturely and want to teach it a lesson. "We have agreed to put off the rally indefinitely. This is to show we are res dhponsible," he said.
However, Mr Veera said the UDD has not given up its push to oust the government and its leaders would discuss their stance again in mid-December.
UDD leader and Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan said he would lodge a motion in parliament on Thursday questioning the appropriateness of enforcing the ISA.
Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit was tight-lipped about whether he would go ahead with his visit to Chiang Mai on Sunday to attend the annual meeting of the Thai Chambers of Commerce.
Security authorities were monitoring the situation, he said. Concerns were raised about Mr Abhisit's safety after red shirt supporters made threats against his life on a community radio programme.
Mr Suthep said the ISA would be enforced in certain areas of Chiang Mai, a stronghold of Thaksin, if the prime minister joined the meeting. Mr Abhisit was keen on attending the conference to boost the confidence of the private sector, Mr Suthep said. But another option was to address the meeting via a video conference link.
The government will make a recommendation about the trip on Thursday.
Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a red shirt leader in Chiang Mai, said if Mr Abhisit showed up, the red shirts would be there to greet him.
Puea Thai MPs urged Mr Abhisit to skip the visit to avoid creating a bad atmosphere. "The meeting can proceed if he is not there. But if he goes the ISA will be enforced and it will damage tourism," said Surapong Towichakchaikul, a Puea Thai MP for Chiang Mai.
Source: Red Shirts news, Thaksin news, Political news at Bangkok Post.
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