THE LAST FORTRESS

       In one of the biggest security lockdowns in recent history, the government will place more than 36,000 security forces on high alert under the Internal Security Act to protect 16 leaders attending the annual Asean Summit that starts tomorrow in the Hua Hin/Cha-am area.
       Having lost face in April, the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration cannot afford another embarrassment, and thus the security troops are basically the last line of defence fro the government's reputation.
       In addition to the expansive deloyment, authorities have set up several escape routes by land, air and sea, said Panitan Wattanayagorn, acting government spokesman and deputy secretary-general to the PM.
       Speaking ot reporters from the Nation Multimedia Group, Panitan said half the 36,000 security personnel would be dispathed to the Cha-am/Hua Hin area and the other half throughout Bangkok.
       "It is believed people looking to create disturbances might cause incidents in Bangkok to divert attention away from the summit," Panitan said.
       Panitan said security officials had been mobilised from the national police and all branches of the armed forces. They have been instructed to watch for a wide range of potential problems, from ovements of people to explosive materials that could be used in a car bomb.
       The government has purchased at least 20 armoured cars to provide security for the leaders, Panitan said.
       The tight security measures follow the leaders, Panitan said.
       The tight security measures follow the embarrassing incident from April 11-12, when supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra stormed the venue of a summit venue in Pattaya, forcing the leaders to run for their lives and other leades to turn back to their home countries while still flying in.
       Panitan said the nine tambons around the summit venues and sensitive areas in Bangkok would be placed under the ISA. Specific guidelines with clear-cut rules of engagement have been issued to the security forces, Panitan said.
       Panitan said the security setback at the Pattaya summit had been partially caused by security details under various commands without proper guidelines to contain the anti-government red-shirt protesters.
       Panitan said besides the high presence of security in the Cha-am/Hua Hin area, government agents were following up on leads, some from the ordinary citizens, about movement of red shirt in the area.
       When asked if the authorities had pinpointed the exact location of Arisman Pongruangrong, the anti-government leader who led the sabotage of the April Asean Summit, Panitan said: "We have detected some signals but are still looking for him."
       The chaos in Pattaya followed the cancellation of an earlier Asean Summit supposed to be held in Bangkok after the anti-Thaksin yellow shirts blocked Bangkok's airports for nine days late last year.
       Panitan said it was of the utmost priority to ensure the upcoming summit went smoothly, because that would restore Thailand's reputation in the international arena and put an end to the ghost of Pattaya once and for all.
       The fact that all Asean leaders, including their counterparts from India, China's South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, have agreed to take part in the summit indicates not only how serious they take Asean as a regional body, but their trust in Thailand's ability to host the event. The Kingdom is the current chair of the Asean Standing Committee.