Asset ruling spurs security hike

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POLITICS

Asset ruling spurs security hike

Published: 9/02/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

The government is stepping up security ahead of Feb 26, when the Supreme Court is due to bring down its ruling on the Thaksin Shinawatra assets seizure case.

Red shirt supporters led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rally yesterday at the Office of the Attorney-General to inquire about the progress on cases involving land encroachment on Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima and on Khao Soi Dao in Chanthaburi. The group also demanded that the lese majeste case involving People’s Alliance for Democracy and New Politics Party leader Sondhi Limthongkul be sped up. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

Two hundred checkpoints will be set up at key locations around Bangkok and in adjacent provinces, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said yesterday.

The security measures have been increased but they will be beefed up even further starting next Monday to avoid a repeat of the bloody demonstrations during last year's Songkran festival.

Thirty-eight other provinces will have a combined force of about 750 police, soldiers and defence volunteers to monitor the situation and moves by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, Mr Panitan said.

Provincial governors will work closely with the Internal Security Operations Command in their provinces. Isoc's provincial branches will coordinate with the command's headquarters in Bangkok.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday said provincial governors could demand more security personnel to maintain law and order if they feared a situation might require reinforcements.

Political tension has escalated recently as the UDD stages rallies ahead of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions ruling on Feb 26 whether to seize 76 billion baht in assets from former prime minister Thaksin and his family.

The government is keeping close tabs on the movements of Thaksin supporters, especially those in his strongholds in the northern and northeastern provinces and Bangkok.

The UDD, led by one of its core leaders, Jatuporn Prompan, yesterday rallied at the Office of the Attorney-General to step up pressure on public prosecutors to speed up the land case of privy councillor Surayud Chulanont at Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district and another case involving land in Khao Soi Dao in Pong Nam Ron district in Chanthaburi which the protesters claim is linked to people close to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.

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Report objectionable comments click here. Include: discussion #, commenter name, comment date / time as it looks on the page. Example: discussion 15: 09/01/2009 at 10:00 AM.

wantmymoney

Discussion 16 : 09/02/2010 at 05:10 PM16
Every rich thai or thai businessman knows Thakin became rich before he became prime minister. His wealth was managed by his family and their advisors,and alot of businessmen owe him a favour if corruption is to blame. Therefore it is not just Thaksin losing his billions, it is also many legimate businessmen going to loose their millions. The winner will be PAD and those who desire easy money without working for it. Family fortune will disappear going into the wrong hands, abhisit will become extremely rich once this is over.
The next prime minister will have to task of cleaning up this mess, reunite the country again. They should not hold any election if thaksin is going to loose his billions, let abhisit and his PAD supporters bring thailand down to Haiti level.
somchai

Discussion 15 : 09/02/2010 at 03:06 PM15
The PM and the government are once again showing leadership taking an proactive approach to the thugs blindly following the Fugitive who is becoming more and more desperate.
Ray Ong

Discussion 14 : 09/02/2010 at 03:00 PM14
Turning Thaksin into a bogeyman through paranoid media coverage has given him far more importance and power than he would have had otherwise. He was one of the richest men in Thailand before he became PM. Taking all of it would be patently unfair whether you like him or not. Thailand has gone through a major shift from rural to urban shift in the last 30 to 40 years which will only continue. The days in the ricefields are over for a lot of people and the trend will continue. It is in the process of becoming a different kind of country whether most people realize it yet or not.
David Jansawang

Discussion 13 : 09/02/2010 at 02:10 PM13
These new security measures are certainly an over reaction on the part of the goverment and could have a reverse effect of provoking the red shirts into action.I'm afraid it's yet another another case of 'double standards' - what was done when the yellow shirts occupied the airports and crippled the Thai economy - Nothing!!!
nonsense

Discussion 12 : 09/02/2010 at 01:37 PM12
Look like we are at war with Government and Adhasive administration already...since 38 provinces that will be enforced or is enforced...what's meaning of this action!? Adhasive government are ready for war with whole nation of its citizen? EVen up til now, he is still showing double standards toward citizen...where is PAD thugs and how their court cases going!?
Rayko

Discussion 11 : 09/02/2010 at 01:08 PM11
Wow, am not surprised that the court already decided to make Thaksin guilty again without any evidence what so ever. Some high power is controlling the verdict and all those money will not go to Thailand but their own pockets, now Abhisit can buy 10 more houses, and PAD members can buy houses to. As I said 100 times before, Samak got kicked out for cooking on TV says it all. PAD members that hurt innocent people, block airports, government house, streets of Bangkok etc etc, didnt get any punishment at all!
ricefieldradio

Discussion 10 : 09/02/2010 at 12:03 PM10
Maybe the government is in Fear, Total Fear. While it wasn't reported in the English language Thai media the Straits Times and others who had reporters on the scene reported.

"Last weekend, the UDD held consecutive rallies, gathering 100,000 in Khon Kaen and 50,000 people in Ubon Ratchathani. The rallies were largely unreported by the Bangkok-based mainstream media. The pattern is similar to events last April. Huge rallies held in the red shirts' strongholds at that time were under-reported by the mainstream media, leaving many Thais in the capital shocked at the numbers who turned up at rallies held in Bangkok and Pattaya"

The government is most likely going to thwart any attempts by the Reds to move into Bangkok, if they do not succeed there are many Thai's that really will be shocked at their numbers.
ricefiendtv

Discussion 9 : 09/02/2010 at 10:45 AM9
Drey of discussion # 1..........

You are spot on and can't agree with you more. The Abhisit Government is all out to get rid of Thaksin and definitely expect to put on the last nail on Thaksin.

Imagine before the court case is over, Abhisit already sent signal to the judges by saying they will be protected by the police. Very obvious.

True, 4 years after the illegal coup and things are worst for Thailand and the people, except for PM Abhisit and his Democrats and also his PAD supporters.
timjack

Discussion 8 : 09/02/2010 at 10:43 AM8
Does this mean that the government already knows the verdict? A 50 50 deal should be the verdict or all hell will break loose over time.

This Prime Minister and his "nit wits" just don't understand the real meaning of the word reconciliation.

Watch the Thai stock market dive more and more over the coming months!

For me, the Bangkok elite know that they don't have the support of the nation.

So sad to see a once beautiful country in so much turmoil.

Bad call Mr Prime Minister!
Bill W

Discussion 7 : 09/02/2010 at 10:40 AM7
"Defence volunteers" ? Is that what they are calling the Yellow Shirts now?
Why is Thailand so afraid of Democracy? These big power boys keep talking about it but nothing seems to progress. I guess they are not protecting the rights of their countrymen but the rights of just a special few!
It's time the "tea parties" end and the people of Thailand are allowed to peacefully speak their mind!