Asean Foreign minister :Internal Security Act to cover entire island for meeting this month

Act, an Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) panel would be set up and chaired by the prime minister.

Even though it will take away some of the people’s basic rights for the duration, the latest move for the high-profile Asean foreign ministers meeting is aimed at boosting international confidence in Thailand.

Besides foreign ministers from Asean’s 10 member countries, those from dialogue partners, including the US, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as China and Japan will attend.

Army chief General Anupong Paochinda said all the Armed Forces branches had jointly proposed to the Cabinet the use of the Internal Security Act during the event.
The law, initiated by the military-backed government last year, lets the premier mobilise forces from any agency for security reasons. Article 18 of the law authorises the premier in his capacity as the director of Isoc to impose curfews, prohibit the movement of people and vehicles and block commuting routes.

The premier can also take action to manage the security situation in a pre-emergency state as it could be used without the declaration of a state of emergency.

Thailand, as the chair of Asean, has the duty to host the ministerial meeting but the government feared the red-shirted protesters might disrupt proceedings as they did with the East Asia Summit in Pattaya in April.

Isoc argued that the act would be indispensable following the Pattaya chaos, which it said ruined the country’s image and reputation as well as its economy. continue
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/07/01/politics/politics_30106449.php