10 July 2009

Phuket lockdown for Asean ministers meeting

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

"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.

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

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

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.

Source: The Nation

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