Cabinet extends ISA till Nov 30
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Urupong rally, parliamentary session and pending ICJ verdict cited as three key reasons
AT A SPECIAL meeting yesterday, the Cabinet decided to extend the enforcement of the Internal Security Act in three Bangkok districts till November 30, the day after the parliamentary session ends, National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabutr said.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who also holds the Defence portfolio, chaired the meeting.
Paradorn explained that Dusit, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Phra Nakhon districts would continue being under ISA until November 30 due to three reasons: The rally at Urupong intersection is continuing; Parliament is considering some important bills; The International Court of Justice is scheduled to deliver its ruling in the Preah Vihear case on November 11, which may lead to more protests.
“Security agencies have learned that protest groups will return to demonstrate outside Government House. However, since general laws do not cover this, the government needs to invoke a special law,” he said.
An informed source said the Cabinet chose not to put more areas under the ISA for fear of confrontation with protesters.
Meanwhile, a source at the Urupong intersection rally site said the protest should continue until at least November 11, the day the ICJ is expected to issue a ruling on Preah Vihear. The source added that some 200 guards from the yellow-shirt movement would be deployed to guard the protesters.
Uthai Yodmanee, a representative of the Students and People Network for Thailand Reform, said his group would continue rallying at Urupong, adding that he had also filed a petition with National Human Rights Commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara to see if the government is violating the people’s rights under the Constitution.
Niran visited the rally site yesterday to see things for himself after his agency received a lot of complaints from the public. After the visit, he said the rally was not affecting the residents. He also said that his agency would check to see if the government was within its power to enforce the ISA.
Yesterday, Wasan Meewong, the spokesperson of the Bangkok governor, denied that the Bangkok Metro-politan Administration (BMA) was supporting the protesters at Urupong.
Though he admitted in a radio programme on FM97 MHz that the BMA had sent electric generators to the rally site, he said this was done to provide lighting and prevent any untoward or violent incidents. He said the police should be thankful that the BMA is able to attend to the needs of each and every resident.
“Sukhumbhand [Paribatra] was also Bangkok governor in 2010 and he did the same for the red-shirt rally. So, why are you questioning us today? Aren’t the protesters Thai citizens who are exercising their rights under the Constitution?” he asked.
