Thailand gov't asks provincial governors to control anti-government movement

Thailand government has asked 38 provincial governors to closely monitor anti-government movement in a bid to prevent chaos, Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs, said Tuesday.

It is reportedly said that the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protestors will block some provincial governors' residences, Thai News Agency quoted Suthep as saying.

As the provincial governors are chiefs of local office of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), they have been authorized to order a combined force of local police and civilians to maintain law and order, Suthep said.

The local combined force was tasked to control the anti- government movement and prevent chaos. However, the government has ordered them not to use violence to deal with the UDD or red- shirted people, the deputy premier said.

The provincial governors can request the army to help maintain security, if the combined force of police and civilians is not sufficient to control the anti-government movement, he said.

In a related development, Suthep said some 200 check points will be set up in capital Bangkok and suburbs in order to prevent the anti-government protestors to bring weapons to Bangkok, Suthep said.

Source: Xinhua