Govt is ready to issue state of emergency if situation gets out of control

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said his government will issue state of emergency in case the situation at Sanam Luang rally is out of control.

"I am ready to declare state of emergency if we could not control the situation," he said.

He was speaking after chairing an urgent meeting of security authorities to prepare for the pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on Friday.

Attending the meeting included Council of National Security's chief Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin, National police chief Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavej.

Many worried about the escalation of situation now that exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to give a televised address from London to the demonstrators.

Surayud told reporters that there would definitely no blocking of air signals of Thaksin because Thaksin has rights to do so as long as his speech was not considered instigating violence.

"We will do anything according to the laws as well as freedom of expression. We wish that other people would abide by the same principles," he said.

He insisted that the security authorities overseeing the situation will not be armed.

The Nation

PM says govt may have to impose emergency decree

BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) --Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Friday announced his readiness to impose an emergency decree if the rally to oust the military-led Council for National Security (CNS) and the interim government went out of control.

He said the decree would enable state officials to control the situation while the government maintained its policy of not using force in defusing violence.

The premier on Friday chaired a meeting with top officials to discuss the ongoing rally in Bangkok amid worries that the government may have to impose an emergency decree to deal with the protestors.

Among those attending the meeting were CNS chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, also army chief, and acting national police chief Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temiyaves.

Gen Surayud told reporters that the meeting was organised to evaluate the situation as protestors who have been holding a rally at Sanam Luang had set Friday as the ‘D-Day’.

The prime minister and security officials are concerned especially after Jakraphob Penkair, a core member of the Democratic Movement Against Dictatorship which had orchestrated the mass rally, told demonstrators Thursday that deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra would address them through a video conference call Friday night.

He affirmed that the government would not block a live broadcast address of Mr Thaksin to the demonstrators if the speech did not agitate them and caused trouble to the country.

Officials concerned will have to closely monitor Thaksin’s speech, Gen Surayud added.

Meanwhile, Gen Sonthi assured after a separate meetings with top security officials that the authorities would refrain from using force against the protesters.

TNA

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Military won't use force against demonstrators: Thai Supreme Commander

BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) - Thailand's supreme commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit Friday told Bangkok-based military attaches from 20 countries that no force would be used against demonstrators now holding a rally demanding that members of the Council for National Security (CNS) and the military-installed interim government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont leave their posts.

Gen. Boonsang, also a member of the CNS which toppled the government of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last September 19, told journalists that he had briefed foreign military attaches on the overall situation in Thailand as well as on the specifics of the demonstration, reiterating that the military would only leave their barracks if the situation had aggravated and beyond control.

Problems prevailing in the country now have affected economic growth, especially tourism, and there is a need to inform the international community to understand Thailand in the right way, he said.

Gen. Boonsang told the attaches that he personally did not want Mr. Thaksin, now in self-imposed exile in England, to return to Thailand. He said 90 per cent of the population also felt that if the ousted prime minister returned, a severe violence could erupt in the country.

Thailand would definitely hold a general election this December, Gen. Boonsang told the attaches, or perhaps sooner.

TNA

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7.30pm : Keymen of now-defunct Thai Rak Thai were seen travelling out of the country, immigration source said.

Family of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra; Khunying Pojaman and two of her children; and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, left for Singapore.

Newin Chidchob and Dr Prommin Lertsuridej left for Hong Kong but by different flights.

7.13pm : Chatuporn Prompan, a keyman of the rally said that Thaksin has responded to some reports that the Thai government may try to block the signals of his speech from London by recording his speech. But the government did not do so, Thaksin will speak live from his exiled residence.

7pm : Staffs at the Manager Media group were told to leave early as a rumor spreading that angry anti-junta protestors gathering at Sanam Luang may move and attack the group's headquarter at Phra-Athit Road which located few kilometers nearby.

The Manager's founder Sondhi Limthongkul led street protest last year to oust Thaksin Shinawatra before the military staged the coup in September.

A high ranking military officer tipped the Manager's executives that the angry mob would storm the office shortly after they listened to televised speech from Thaksin.

The Manager's headquarter was seen in defensive mode as both compound on the Phra-Athit Road and on the Chao Phraya River bank were surrounded by nets to prevent throwing stuff. Security guards at the office have been tightened for days since the protest erupted.

5.30pm : Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin warned he might consider dissolving motorcycle taxi stand whose taxi riders join the anti-coup protest and create violence.

If taxi riders joined the protest and created violence, the BMA - whose authority includes issuing permit for motorcycle taxi stands - might revoke the permit and proceed with legal actions against wrongdoers, he said.

5pm : Apirak said that in preparation for the mass rallies from June 15 to 17, to be held outside the Army headquarters, he urged BMA executives and district directors to work with police in risky areas.

He also asked officials to inform local residents and taxi riders about the situation and suggested residents and riders not to join the protest, as violence might occur.

4.45pm : Bangkok Governor Apirak said his office also set up a centre at the City Hall's fifth floor to monitor the protest situation around the clock, he said. The BMA is also cooperating with city police in dispatching municipality officials, firemen and water trucks, to "accommodate" the protesters.

3pm : Pro-Thaksin demonstrators plan to "stage" a self-immolation in front the headquarters Council for National security or Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, according to informed intelligence sources.

The sources told The Nation that this plan was mapped out to impress the media, both local and abroad, which will cover the demonstration this weekend.

"Whoever wants to burn himself will cover himself with wax to protect his body to escape immediate harms," said an intelligence source who is familiar with the tactics. The tactic was used during the Chatichai government from 1988-1990. For them, it is a show, nobody wants to die," the source said.

2pm : Security has been beefed up at state agencies located near the planned route of a march by anti-junta demonstrators this weekend for fear that a third party could create trouble.

1.30pm : The military has suggested government officials working in public agencies along Rajadamnoen Avenue not to stay on at their offices after work yesterday evening and to avoid working there this weekend.

The government agencies located in the Rajadamnoen vicinity include the ministries of Transport, Agriculture, Education and Tourism and Sports, as well as the Parliament.

11.50am : Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said his government has braced for every contingency, including a state of emergency if deemed necessary, due to concerns over the anti-junta rally that will showcase the appearance of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra via teleconference.

"Authorities will work with utmost effort to ensure peace during protests planned for this weekend," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Friday following a high-level security meeting.

Participants of the meeting included junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, acting national police chief General Seripisut Temiyavej and National Intelligence Agency directorgeneral Sirachai Chotirat.

Surayud said antiriot forces would not be armed so as to prevent any "accident" that could inflame the situation.

11.30am : Six heavily armed soldiers were sent to guard the Ministry of Interior, which is located near Sanam Luang. The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, which sympathises with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, plans to hold a protest march from Sanam Luang to the Army headquarters.

10.15am : The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) sent a circular letter to state officials who work in the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) building not to enter the office until Monday to avoid any potential violence.

Even though the DSI building is located on Prachacheun Road - and far from the rally at Sanam Luang, and the NLA are concerned agitators may destroy assets in the building.

9.30am : The Government Lottery Office (GLO) has moved the lottery-drawing machines to the department of Public Relations on Rama VI as a precaution. The GLO was scheduled to draw the lottery on Friday.

The GLO organises the lottery draw on every 1st and 16th day of a month.

The Nation