Thai security chiefs reject foreign armed guards to ASEAN summits

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 13:29

BANGKOK, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The idea of allowing foreign state leaders to bring their own armed guards during the resumed ASEAN summits in Thailand has been rejected by senior security officials here, and the proposed security plan may deploy at least 10,000 Thai security forces to protect the summits, Thai media reported on Wednesday.

Allowing foreign armed guards will deal a heavy blow to the country's integrity and security image, Bangkok Post online quoted an undisclosed high-level source as saying, who attended a high-ranking meeting Tuesday to discuss security preparations for the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits scheduled for June 13 and 14 in Thai island resort Phuket.

The summits were initially scheduled for April 10-12 in Thai resort Pattaya before an abrupt cancellation on April 11 due to the anti-government "red-shirt" protesters stormed into the summits venue.

The source said two security plans for the renewed summits were under way. The two plans will be proposed to the Internal Security Operations Command and then to be scrutinized by diplomats from countries attending the summits.

It was reported that at least 10,000 security forces personnel would be deployed to protect the summits' venue, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, with authorities vowing to toughen security by setting up cordons around the venue.

The resolution of Tuesday's meeting, chaired by Army Chief of Staff Ratchakrit Kanchanawat at the armed forces headquarters, contradicted Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban's comments earlier the day that the government does not mind the regional foreign leaders to bring their own armed guards to Phuket.

The source said, though, the security officials understood why the ASEAN leaders made the request after "red-shirt" protesters stormed into the venue of ASEAN summits in April.

On the other hand, Wisut Tangwitayaporn, the local "red-shirt" leader in Phuket, said on Tuesday that his group would not take any action to disrupt the summit meetings.

Editor:Zhang Yun