PM unfazed by rumours of assassination attempt

BANGKOK, July 1 – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday that he is unfazed by rumours of a purported assassination attempt against him, but said that tightened security measures will be provided for the country’s key figures and that the state of emergency should remain in force in the capital.

The prime minister made remarks after acting national police chief Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert revealed that intelligence reports indicated some groups are plotting an assassination attempt against the country’s key figures and that security related officials have provided additional protection for possibly targeted persons.

Mr Abhisit said his government’s intelligence agency has monitored the situation and anyone who has been threatened should inform authorities so that the security officials will be dispatched to take care of them.

“For me, I’m not worried,” said the premier. “When some parties want to use violence, I have to be more cautious.”

The premier added he and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban agreed to extend the Emergency Decree enforcement in Bangkok which is the targeted area, but the period of the law’s extension is still unknown, depending on the situation.

The premier also expressed concern over the value of using violence in politics, saying that no country can move forward using violence and democracy cannot be developed in an atmosphere of violence.

Mr Abhisit however conceded that violence has been used in Thai politics at the moment and that the government is trying to resolve the problem.

This is the reason why the government must enforce the special law in parallel with the national reconciliation road map, he added.

Meanwhile, Pol.Lt-Gen.Tritot Ronnaritivichai, commander of the Special Branch Police, said on Thursday that Mr Suthep, in his capacity as director of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) has instructed the police bureau to step up security at some 40 targeted locations for possible sabotage in Bangkok.

Gen Tritot said Special Branch police are now seeking more information on possible attacks in the targeted locations and will discuss adjusted security measures in the capital with metropolitan police on Friday.

Pol Col Songpol Wattanachai, Deputy Metropolitan Police chief, said that security measures have been boosted at the homes of the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, other key ministers, and the president of the Supreme Court as well as state buildings such as Government House and Parliament.

Col Songpol added that the metropolitan police chief has called an urgent meeting with police chiefs in the capital area to assess the situation and set 68 high-risk spots, most of them fuel depots and electricity sub-stations.

Armed police will be deployed at the locations around the clock and they are allowed to use an all-out security measure against the wrongdoers to prevent possible damage.

Regarding the progress in investigating the Sunday night grenade attacks at an army oil depot in Nonthaburi, Col Songpol urged witnesses of the incident to give information on the four suspects so that the authorities have sufficient evidence for court approval of arrest warrants against them.

The information of the witnesses would be kept secret, he said.