BANGKOK, 18 Mar 2014 — Replacing the Emergency Decree with the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the reinstatement of the Prime Minister’s adviser Tawil Pliensri to his original position, are today’s cabinet meeting’s top agenda.
Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC), Lt. Gen. Paradon Pattanathabutr has confirmed the discussion topics, adding that the ISA would provide the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) with more authority to do its job effectively.
He said that initially the ISA should be imposed for one month on all the areas that are currently under the Emergency Decree, claiming there is no obvious need to expand the monitoring zones at the moment. Lt. Gen Paradon said other details such as the role of Minister Chalerm Yubamrung as the CMPO’s Director General and the number of troops assigned to the center would also be discussed during the meeting.
The current NSC Secretary General points out that police officials are still working on urgent issues such as the recent separatist movement in the northern and northeastern regions and the arrest of core members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.
Lt. Gen Paradon also said that he is ready to return his present post to its former occupant Mr. Tawil.
