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Thai official: summits to be held in tight security

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-10 14:02

A high-ranking official from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said here Thursday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) related summits would be held as scheduled.

"Everything is under control and nothing is beyond expectation though there are rumors about the current situation," said Vitavas Srivihok, director-general of the department of information under the ministry.

Supporters of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra push a police bus as they break through police blockade near the venue of the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Pattaya April 10, 2009. [Agencies]

He made the remarks at a press conference on the preparation of the ASEAN related summits which are to be held in the coastal city of Pattaya during the weekend.

Pro-Thaksin protesters are now carrying out a large-scale rally in capital Bangkok, threatening to move the rally site to Pattaya if their demand were not met.

Vitavas said that the security people are now following the situation closely and even if there would be anything unexpected, they have contingency plans underway.

He said that several thousand police have been sent to Pattaya but he didn't give the specific figure.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier on Wednesday that his government will ensure the security for ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners during the upcoming summit despite mass rally held in Bangkok, according to the report on the website of the local newspaper Nation.

The ASEAN leaders and their counterparts from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand will meet in Pattaya for the three-day meeting, starting from April 10.