The Thai government plans to invoke a tough security law giving the armed forces broad powers to control a rally in Bangkok by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a minister said today.
The Internal Security Act (ISA) allows the country's top security agency, the Internal Security Operations Command, to impose curfews, operate checkpoints and restrict the movement of demonstrators if protests by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) turn violent.
"Based on information we have received, there are many groups of protesters and some may attempt to use violent means," deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said after a meeting with top security officials, adding that violent acts may include bombings and the seizure of government offices.
The ISA, to be formally invoked after a cabinet meeting tomorrow, would be imposed from March 11th to March 23rd in Bangkok and surrounding areas, where anti-government protesters plan to rally to press for new elections.
Following the decision to use the ISA, Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cancelled a visit to Australia planned for March 13th-17th, a spokesman said, without elaborating.
Mr Thaksin's red-shirted supporters plan to kick off their rallies in parts of Bangkok and the provinces on March 12. They plan to merge in the historic part of the city on March 14 in an operation that they said would "peacefully halt Bangkok".
The UDD has said it would rally peacefully for at least seven days in what has been dubbed "a million-man march", although analysts doubt the group can mobilise that number.
However, even a smaller number could paralyse the capital, with the UDD promising tens of thousands of pickup trucks and tractor-drawn carts will descend on the city.
Protesters brought traffic in parts of Bangkok to a halt for days in April 2009, sparking Thailand's worst political violence in 17 years. The riots were quelled by the army.
Since then, the group has held peaceful rallies in Bangkok and elsewhere. The special security law has been pre-emptively invoked on seven occasions but no restrictions put in place.
After two election victories, Mr Thaksin was ousted by the military in 2006. He was later convicted on graft charges in his absence and sentenced to two years in prison.
On February 26th, the Supreme Court confiscated $1.4 billion of his wealth for abuse of power to help family business interests.
The government and its supporters have been criticised for using scare tactics ahead of the upcoming rally, repeatedly warning of violence or sabotage by the UDD.
Yesterday, officials said weapons and ammunition had been stolen from an armoury 840 km (520 miles) south of Bangkok. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said rifles, pistols and hand grenades were missing. Authorities were checking if they might have found their way to Bangkok to be used during the protest.
Separately, a rogue army major-general allied with Mr Thaksin, Khattiya Sawasdipol, who has travelled to Dubai several times in recent weeks to meet the ex-prime minister, was held in police custody for two days along with aides.
He and six of his aides were released on bail on Monday evening but police denied bail to another, who is accused of seeking to instigate unrest by appearing in a video clip, posted on the internet, predicting bomb attacks in Bangkok.
On Saturday, two grenades exploded at branches of Bangkok Bank, causing slight damage. Police have arrested two suspects.
Reuters