Asean Meetings

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ASEAN MEETINGS

Ban on protests in Phuket

By The Nation

Thai News Agency

Published on July 10, 2009

No street demonstrations - even peaceful ones - will be allowed during the upcoming meeting of Asean ministers in Phuket, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said yesterday.

"Phuket must have no protests whatsoever. We will designate no areas for demonstrations. No road blockade, no submission of a protest letter, and not even a peaceful gathering is allowed," said Prawit, who is in charge of security during the international meetings.

He said he had asked for cooperation from prospective groups of protesters, including the red shirts, plus local and foreign non-government organisations.

The defence minister said international standards would be applied in providing security to leaders from 28 countries due to attend the upcoming events.

Thailand will host the 42nd Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC), plus the 16th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) in Phuket from July 17 to 23.

The Internal Security Act is due to be enforced on the resort island from today until July 24 (two weeks). Prawit said he did not think the law would negatively affect businesses in the province.

Prawit expressed confidence that the meetings would run smoothly without any untoward incidents after the Cabinet yesterday approved enforcement of the Internal Security Act.

In April, the Asean Summit and related meetings in Pattaya were cancelled after the anti-government red shirts stormed the meeting venue.

The minister said the total number of civil, police and military security personnel being deployed was enough to ensure the safety of all meeting participants.

He said the officials involved, notably Phuket residents, had cooperated with the government. The use of force would depend on the situation but he believed it would not get out of control.

The Cabinet yesterday issued additional rules for the implementation of security during the Phuket meetings, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said.

Relevant authorities are required to cooperate with officials from the Internal Security Operations Command when requested. Isoc officials are empowered to designate certain buildings or places off-limits.

Unauthorised people are not allowed to carry weapons outside their residences, and the Isoc director is empowered to impose a ban on use of electronic devices in certain areas. The Isoc chief is also empowered to impose restrictions on the use of certain roads or vehicles, the spokesman said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, said local residents would be told about prohibitions. For example, gatherings would not be allowed in the airport or on roads to and from the airport, as well as areas around hotels where meeting participants will stay.

-- The Nation 2009/07/10

[geriatrickid]

ut oh, this has the makings of a PR disaster.

If it was just an ASEAN event, then the Burmese and Chinese attendees would feel at home. No one would care, but it's an ARF event. I think Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA & EU and even Japan and South Korea media will be asking a lot of embarrassing questions of their government attendees due to the ban on free speech.

I didn't realize it was the full 28 ARF members attending. If the western reps are there, there will be western media also. Can you imagine the pointed and embarrassing questions asked?

Hopefully, the Governor of Phuket will have been trained in diplomatic protocol by the time the foreign reps arrive.