Public transport, telecom and other firms have deployed extra security measures to cope with possible busi¬ness disruption during the antigovernment protests this weekend.
Dr Anat Arbhabhirama, adviser to the board of directors of Bangkok Mass Transit, which operates the BTS Skytrain service, said security will be stepped up around the clock from March 1214.
He said the company was focusing on three priorities: ensure that the Skytrain service can be operated at its scheduled hours; step up security measures to ensure that BTS riders are safe; and ensure that all staff are safe.
There are more than 800 fullyfunctioning CCTVs around all 24 BTS stations, while the company's man¬agement will be on standby to make decisions in case of emergencies.
Airports Organisation of Thailand (AOT) said it had made contingency plans for protests that could target Suvarnabhumi Airport, which was besieged by another bunch of protesters in 2008.
AOT said the plans were to deal with travel disruption or a possible blockade from March 1123, the peri¬od when a special security law is in place to counter protests by backers of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"There are concerns that travelling plans of passengers may be disrupted," a statement from the AOT said, advising international travellers to check in three to four hours before flying.
Wichian Mektrakarn, chief executive of Advanced Info Service, said AIS will ensure that its telecom network is operational at all times with aroundtheclock monitoring and extra measures to solve any technical problems.
Meanwhile, regulator National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) yesterday told all telecom oper¬ators, cable TV and satellite TV broadcasters to strictly comply with rules forbidding the broadcast of provocative content.
NTC threatened to revoke licences if operators failed to abide by the law, while it would step up the monitoring of radio frequencies nationwide to prevent abuses that could affect national security.
Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, chair¬person of Toshiba Thailand, said the company would do business as usual tomorrow, even though there would be a major antigovernment rally in Bangkok.
"We don't want anybody to panic and impact the business and overall economy. I also asked many of my friends, who are business executives and all of them will also work as normal on that day amid the demonstration.
"Our Japanese partners are quite understanding of the current situation as they have been invested in Thailand for almost 41 years and have seen the country through both ups and downs," she said.
However, extra security measures will be adopted to ensure safety of customers and employees.
LPN Development managing director Opas Sripayak said the company has stepped up security at all its condominium projects.
The company's sale offices will remain open, but staff have been told to shut down if there are untoward incidents, he said.
Sansiri president Srettha Thavisin said that the company would keep its sales office open this weekend, but there would be no special sales events this week.
Sansiri also has stepped up security for all of its condominium and residential projects which are close to redshirt rally sites, he said, adding he hoped the protests will not turn violent.
Asian Property Development senior vice president Visanu Suchatlumpong said the company had stepped up security at all of its residential projects and its sales offices located close to redshirt rally sites.
