New security law would have halted Sunday mob
Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas yesterday cited Sunday's bloody uprising outside the residence of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda as justification for the strict internal security law proposed by the Council for National Security.
Published on July 27, 2007
Nine suspects in the violence at Sunday’s anti-coup protest in Bangkok are taken to Samsen police station after the Criminal Court granted a police request to detain them.
"My concern is that without such a law, police have to deal with circumstances according to their degree of seriousness by applying existing security laws. We just don't have a practical safeguard," he said.
The Defence Council met to discuss security issues, including the break-up of the rowdy protest by anti-coup and pro-Thaksin Shinawatra mobs and the CNS's proposal of a new national security maintenance law, which has run into growing opposition.
The general said police assigned to cover the protest had been unable to promptly forestall the demonstrators' march to Prem's residence since they could not act without legal authorisation under existing security laws.
"Currently, we have state-of-emergency and martial laws, but they apply to only the most threatening cases of emergency. The new law will be helpful in controlling a less serious situation from the very beginning," he said.
{literal}
Top Stories
- Counter rally held against anti-coup group
- Thaksin prefers to live in exile in China
- Arrest looms for leaders
- Sonthi hints at Thaksin role in violence outside Prem's house
- Military to boost Web security
- Drumming up support for new TRT name
- Court orders BKK Post to reinstate ex-security editor
- Thaksin's friend-turned-foe ready to enter politics
- Banners signal start of campaigns
- Thai embassies to explain about the Sunday clash
Politics Blog
Sonthi VS Sondhi
Junta chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin is still optimistic about his ally Sondhi Limthongkul.
Who is the Client? Temasek or Thaksin
Surin Upatkoon, the main shareholder in the controversial Kularb Kaew Co, was yesterday charged with a criminal offence for alleged illegal representation of a foreign company under the Foreign Business Act 1999.
Video
){kind=link}