ICT launches crisis alert center to monitor protests

BANGKOK, 10 March 2010 (NNT) – The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has launched a crisis alert center following mass protests of the anti-Government group United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

According to ICT Minister Second Lieutenant, Ranongruk Suwunchwee, the hotline 1212 is a 24-hour alert center for crisis. The center will strictly monitor SMS messages instigating protests. Its operations are under the enforcement of the Internal Security Act (ISA) that was enforced yesterday, said Ms Ranongruk.

The two state-run telecommunications company TOT and CAT have also stepped up security measures as they are prone to attacks.

The minister added that efforts to cut the signal for ousted ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s video links could not be done as the signal would not be sent from a ThaiCom satellite.