Govt invokes security act to police UDD rally

       The government plans to reinvoke the Internal Security Act in Bangkok's Dusit district this week to ensure a planned protest by anti-government forces does not get out of control.
       Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn yesterday said the security law would be in force from Friday to Tuesday because the government was expecting large numbers of protesters at the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rally called for Saturday.
       Police, soldiers and civil servants would be deployed to secure order, he said.
       The government would monitor the situation and decide whether the security law's invocation should be extended.
       The act allows the Internal Security Operations Command to take over from police to secure law and order if necessary.
       Opposition Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the antigovernment UDD, said his group would rally on Saturday as planned despite the invocation of the security act.
       The demonstration was called in part to protest against the Sept 19,2006, coup which toppled the government led by Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai Party, which was subsequently disbanded for electoral fraud.
       Mr Jatuporn said the UDD would distribute 50,000 pairs of earplugs to those attending the rally to counter authorities'plans to use long-range acoustic devices to disperse the rally.
       The government would only prolong the protest by using the acoustic devices,he said.
       Mr Jatuporn said red shirt protesters from the Northeast would gather in front of the country home of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda in Nakhon Ratchasima before moving to the rally site in Bangkok at the weekend.
       Acting national police chief Thanee Somboonsap yesterday said 3,900 policemen would be mobilised for the protest, which was expected to draw at least 20,000 demonstrators.
       He said police would adopt a clear plan to handle the situation.
       Police will try to negotiate, avoid the use of weapons and prevent third parties from stirring up unrest.
       There will be commanders assigned to supervise the situation and every action will be taken in line with a written order.
       If it becomes necessary to disperse the protest, specially trained police will be deployed and will take the appropriate steps for using weapons and force.
       That will begin with a show of force and lead to warnings and the use of non-lethal weapons like water cannon,chemicals, tear gas and rubber bullets.
       Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who supervises national security,said the invocation of the security law would not violate anyone's rights.
       He said protesters had to respect other people's rights, too.
       The government must invoke the security law to secure public order because UDD demonstrators had instigated unrest in Pattaya and Bangkok in April and the same people who had led those protests would turn up again on Saturday,Mr Suthep said.