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Thai prime minister fears chaos at weekend rally
Associated Press - August 25, 2009
Bangkok – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva invoked special security powers on Tuesday ahead of a major anti-government rally this weekend that he warned could turn chaotic and plunge the country back into turmoil.
Abhisit told reporters his Cabinet approved the use of the stringent Internal Security Act from Saturday until Sept. 1 in the Bangkok district surrounding his office, where anti-government protesters plan to rally on Sunday.
Supporters of deposed fugitive leader Thaksin Shinawatra have called for the protest outside Government House, the prime minister's office, to demand Abhisit's resignation. Thaksin was deposed in a 2006 coup but remains at the center of a protracted political crisis that has been calm in recent months but the government fears is heating up.
"The political situation from Aug. 30 onward may turn chaotic," Abhisit said in the order issued by the Internal Security Operations Command, which said some protesters plan to "besiege Government House to interrupt the work of the prime minister."
The Internal Security Act allows security forces to impose curfews and restrict freedom of movement in situations deemed harmful to national security.
The protest will be the first major rally outside Government House since April, when Thaksin supporters gathered outside the prime minister's office and riots erupted in downtown Bangkok that left two dead and more than 120 injured.
Protest organizers say their goal is to keep Sunday's protest peaceful.
"We plan to gather for a day and disperse peacefully unless security forces crack down on us," said Jatuporn Phromphan, a protest leader. He said protesters will reiterate demands for Abhisit to dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections, adding if their calls are ignored, "We will step up pressure."
Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who seldom comments on the political turmoil, called for unity on Friday. "Currently, our country is a mess," Bhumibol told a televised gathering of civil servants. "I am concerned that Thailand is sinking."
"In the recent past, I felt that the country was on the verge of failure," the king said. He added, "If everyone uses their knowledge and willingness, we can bring progress to the country. I ask that you help one another accomplish the task."
An October summit of Asian leaders in Thailand will be held under stringent security to avoid chaos, the prime minister said Monday, confirming a venue change to a seaside resort near the revered king's palace.
Abhisit Vejjajiva said the October 23-25 East Asia Summit, which includes 16 nations, will be held in Cha-am, a beach resort 120 miles (200 kilometers) south of the capital Bangkok near the tightly guarded seaside palace of King Bhumibol.
The summit was initially scheduled to take place in Phuket, but the Foreign Ministry has said the dates coincided with the popular Phuket Vegetarian Festival when hotel rooms might be scarce.
Abhisit said stringent security will be imposed to avoid any chaos. At the last East Asia Summit in April, leaders were evacuated by helicopter and boats after anti-government protesters stormed the venue in the seaside city of Pattaya.
"We will invoke the Internal Security Act to enforce security," Abhisit told reporters. "There may be people who want to cause chaos, which would affect the image of the country."
The Internal Security Act allows security forces to impose curfews and restrict freedom of movement in situations deemed harmful to national security.
Thailand's image has taken several beatings during its rotating chairmanship of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which ends in December and has coincided with the country's worst political tumult in years.
The East Asia Summit groups the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
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