Deputy PM: Security law to be lifted Tuesday

BANGKOK, Sept 21 (TNA) – Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Monday that the Internal Security Act (ISA) imposed during the rally of anti-government protesters during the weekend just past will be lifted on Tuesday.

The Cabinet earlier resolved to apply the ISA from September 18 through 22 in Bangkok’s Dusit district, especially around the Royal Plaza, Saturday’s protest venue for the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to mark the third anniversary of the 2006 coup which ousted the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The protesters dispersed just after Saturday midnight without any violence.

Mr Suthep, who is acting premier while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attends the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in Pittsburgh, said that as the situation returns to normal, there is no need to enforce the ISA.

He said the security measure’s enforcement will be revoked on Tuesday as earlier scheduled by the Cabinet.

“The government did not misjudge the situation,” Mr Suthep said. “We are responsible to maintain law and order. It’s good that no violence occurred.”

Mr Suthep added that the security personnel stationed at the Government House compound during the ISA enforcement will return to their original postings.

When asked whether the ISA will be imposed during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit  October 23 to 25 at the seaside resort province of Prachuab Khiri Khan, the deputy premier said that it depends on the situation and intelligence evaluations. (TNA)