ISA lifted from Bangkok

The Internal Security Act (ISA) has been lifted in Bangkok and the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has been closed down, Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen said on Tuesday.

Pol Gen Pongsapat, a senior police adviser, said security authorities believe it is unlikely that the overall situation in the country will become violent in thelead up to the elections,

The decision to close down the security centre was reached at today's meeting of CAPO chaired by the national police chief, Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree.

The meeting resolved not to seek an extension of the use of the ISA in Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Pomprap Sattruphai, Ratchathewi, Pathumwan, Watthana and Wang Thong Lang districts of Bangkok.

The previous 30-day extention of the ISA in the seven districts expires today, May 24.

The ISA was imposed in many parts of the country from Feb 8 this year to cope with rallies of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). The areas put under the ISA have gradually been reduced to seven districts in Bangkok.

The imposition of the ISA has been completely lifted after 105 days in use.

Pol Gen Pongsapat, deputy director of CAPO, said the meeting agreed that the situation is unlikely to become violent again and there is no reason to continue to use a special law to cope with the situation.

He said ordinary laws will from now be applied to cope with the situation.

The Metropolitan Police will be responsible for law and order in Bangkok and provincial police will take on this responsibility in other provinces.

Police will watch activities of political parties and their candidates during the lead-up to the July 3 election and will use the election law against offenders.

Legal offences which are considered special cases will be transferred to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Pol Gen Pongsapat said.