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GOOD I PRAISE ... DOUBTFUL I RAISE

As hosts, we must not let Asean's security fail again

LAST WEEK, I heard the announcement by the Foreign Minister that Thailand will host the Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) during July 17-23, followed by the Asean Summit in October.



I take it as a piece of good news because it would not only tighten relations and trade cooperation among Asean members, as well as trade cooperation with trading partners, but will also be a good opportunity to prove to the world that we are capable of providing decent security for our ministerial guests attending the meetings.

The failure to prevent the closure of airports by protesters for many days during the end of November until the beginning of December last year, impressed on people all over the world the low efficiency of our security measures and forces in safeguarding places vital to our own economy.

It conversely impaired confidence of foreign investors and tourists in the security of living and travelling in Thailand.

Later on, when the Thai government hosted the Asean+3 Summit in April, I was glad we were to have another chance to prove, in the international arena, our ability to internally safeguard our own country.

If we had done it well and efficiently all over again, it should have improved the confidence of foreign investors and tourists in Thailand to some extent. However, to my disappointment, the protesters burst through the security forces into the meeting venue. It is not uncommon to see protesters at international meetings all over the world.

The host countries must prepare adequate security measures to ensure that the meetings continue successfully. Various measures have been used in order to prevent those who disassociate with the events from having access or even getting near the meeting venue.

In the past, I have attended various international meetings which have gone smoothly without any interruption.

However, for the Asean+3 Summit in April, the ability to prevent the aggression of the protesters was of very low standard. The Royal Cliff Hotel, the venue, has very limited access when compared to venues in the centre of urban towns where other international meetings were held. There, the protesting was well contained and never allowed to get access to the rooms where the meetings were in progress.

Security experts explained to me that it would be impossible for protesters to get inside the Royal Cliff Hotel with sufficient security forces and measures in place. The disbanding of the red-shirt mob in Bangkok during that period could have been completed by the security forces within a short time. How come the prevention of aggression by the protesters, relatively easier than the demobilisation, was not done successfully?

The operation seemed to be quite loose - as if there was no backup or contingency, which is uncommon in prevention plans.

It is possible that the leader of the security team underestimated the force and ability of the protesters. Such poor comprehension brought much damage to the country. Instead of using that meeting as a springboard to restore foreigners' confidence in our security system, this careless man demolished that confidence time after time.

Really sad was that there has not been any leading authority accepting the mistake in not running to full security capacity, or even expressing apologies. The culprits are still unashamedly in the Cabinet and various official positions.

I am elaborating on the April unrest simply to prevent such inefficiency. I wish the government would use the AMM/ PMC/ ARF events of July 17-23 as an opportunity to prove our ability to provide security for the meeting participants and effectively prevent the violent behaviour of protesters with swift and polite action and without undue injuries.

Such effective action is needed to attract leaders of all countries concerned to attend the Asean Summit in October which would need even more attention on security measures.

Please do understand that only one more mistake will cause manifold deterioration of foreigners' confidence in our security measures.

One more note, please do not name a politician who is always blaming others for their failure as head of the security team at these meetings. Please appoint one who is a real and noble gentleman to take responsibility when a mistake comes about, since the public is now sick of ministers who do not dare to show responsibility for their own performance or action.

Until next Monday.

 



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