THE Minister of Defence, Prawit Wongsuwan, and Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda, were touring Phuket today to assess the island's readiness for the Asean Regional Forum later this week.
Their first stop was at Sala Prachakorn, the community centre in Phuket City, which has been converted to a temporary Army centre and barracks.
At the barracks, Khun Prawit addressed a contingent of troops and urged them to ''keep doing your job properly.''
Under the Internal Security Act, which is in force for a fortnight to cater for the July 17-23 Asean Regional Forum, the armed forces have control of the island.
Senior representatives from 27 nations, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will be arriving on Phuket for a series of important meetings.
Governor Wichai Praisa-nob and other local leaders were there to greet the minister and the general early this morning.
Their tour will take in the Navy base at Cape Panwa, the Cherng Talay area, where a five kilometre security zone will be in force shortly, and the airport.
Last week Khun Prawit, a retired army general, told the Reuters news agency that, following the protests that stopped the last Asean gathering in Pattaya in April, ''I will do whatever it takes to stop these demonstrations from happening. This is for the country and all Thais.''
Khun Prawit said police would conduct regular searches in hotels and guesthouses to flush out those planning to disrupt the meetings, but assured tourists they would not be affected by the tight security measures.
''Visitors with a transparent agenda to visit the island have no need to be worried. We believe our work will not harm tourism,'' he told the news agency.
Thailand will deploy almost 10,000 security personnel to Phuket, Reuters quoted the minister as saying. But so far, only a few platoons of troops have been visible on the island.
Tourism leaders are urging a low-key approach so that tourists who may consider coming to Phuket in future are not led to believe it is over-policed.
The Laguna Phuket destination resort, on the island's west coast, will provide accommodation for many of the Asean delegates, with others staying at nearby resorts.
Meetings will mostly centre on the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket. About 40,000 residents and people who work in a five kilometre radius are to be issued with special vehicle passes.
Residents and visitors are advised to carry ID or passports at all times.
Today there were flags at the Heroine's Monument in central Phuket and banners along the road north to the airport but no obvious security measures in place along Thepkrasattri Road, the island's main artery.
PHUKET residents who need to enter the five-kilometre security cordon around the Asean Regional Forum are advised to go to the Cherng Talay Wittayacom School, behind the temple on the road from the Heroines' Monument to Laguna Phuket, with passport, car or motorcycle documents and house papers.
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Their first stop was at Sala Prachakorn, the community centre in Phuket City, which has been converted to a temporary Army centre and barracks.
At the barracks, Khun Prawit addressed a contingent of troops and urged them to ''keep doing your job properly.''
Under the Internal Security Act, which is in force for a fortnight to cater for the July 17-23 Asean Regional Forum, the armed forces have control of the island.
Senior representatives from 27 nations, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will be arriving on Phuket for a series of important meetings.
Governor Wichai Praisa-nob and other local leaders were there to greet the minister and the general early this morning.
Their tour will take in the Navy base at Cape Panwa, the Cherng Talay area, where a five kilometre security zone will be in force shortly, and the airport.
Last week Khun Prawit, a retired army general, told the Reuters news agency that, following the protests that stopped the last Asean gathering in Pattaya in April, ''I will do whatever it takes to stop these demonstrations from happening. This is for the country and all Thais.''
Khun Prawit said police would conduct regular searches in hotels and guesthouses to flush out those planning to disrupt the meetings, but assured tourists they would not be affected by the tight security measures.
''Visitors with a transparent agenda to visit the island have no need to be worried. We believe our work will not harm tourism,'' he told the news agency.
Thailand will deploy almost 10,000 security personnel to Phuket, Reuters quoted the minister as saying. But so far, only a few platoons of troops have been visible on the island.
Tourism leaders are urging a low-key approach so that tourists who may consider coming to Phuket in future are not led to believe it is over-policed.
The Laguna Phuket destination resort, on the island's west coast, will provide accommodation for many of the Asean delegates, with others staying at nearby resorts.
Meetings will mostly centre on the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket. About 40,000 residents and people who work in a five kilometre radius are to be issued with special vehicle passes.
Residents and visitors are advised to carry ID or passports at all times.
Today there were flags at the Heroine's Monument in central Phuket and banners along the road north to the airport but no obvious security measures in place along Thepkrasattri Road, the island's main artery.
PHUKET residents who need to enter the five-kilometre security cordon around the Asean Regional Forum are advised to go to the Cherng Talay Wittayacom School, behind the temple on the road from the Heroines' Monument to Laguna Phuket, with passport, car or motorcycle documents and house papers.
Phuketwan Phuket News
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MediaWATCH: Storm Sinks Phuket Phi Phi Ferry
Thai Army Issuing Color-Coded Permits for Asean
Latest Phuket residents who live and work within the five kilometre security zone around Laguna Phuket will be required to display a permit on cars and motorcycles during the Asean forum.
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Photo Album Whether rain or shine, the one constant on Phuket is the needless deaths on the roads. We came across the aftermath of one mysterious incident on scenic Patong Hill.
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