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Pubdate: Sun, 27 May 2001 Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand) Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2001 Contact: http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39 Author: Sermsuk Kasitipradit NEW BILL VITAL IF ARMY IS TO ENSURE SUCCESS The government's effectiveness in tackling drug trafficking could be greatly hampered without a new security bill, said Gen Panlop Pinmanee, security adviser to the prime minister. Gen Panlop, who is acting deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), said a new security act was indispensable if the government wanted soldiers to play an active role in tackling drug and other national security issues, stipulated under the new ISOC structure. The ISOC had been given a direct role in tackling drug trafficking, illegal immigrants and ethnic minority groups. The agency also handled border security including stabilising border villages, security development in remote areas and defusing conflicts in the southernmost Muslim-dominated region. "Military officers assigned to tackle these problems could easily face lawsuits if there was no security bill to give them protection," said Gen Panlop, a Thai Rak Thai party list MP. Third Army commander Lt-Gen Wattanachai Chaimuenwong said the government's determination to snuff out drug trafficking was unlikely to succeed unless the military were given legal protection. Gen Panlop, a close associate of former Palang Dharma leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, distanced Thai Rak Thai from the controversial People and State Security Protection Bill. The measure, he said, was drafted by a New Aspiration party-appointed panel led by former defence permanent secretary Gen Prasert Sararit, and had nothing to do with his party. Critics said the bill was undemocratic and unconstitutional. It gave the military the power to arrest anyone and search homes without a court order. "Thai Rak Thai has nothing to do with the bill. We became aware of its existence only after the draft was put up at the last security council meeting," said Gen Panlop. Some provisions came as a surprise, including a proposal to replace the ISOC with a new outfit called the People and State Security Protection Command. "That is really weird," said Gen Panlop. He also denied the army had anything to do with the bill. "We have not talked about a security bill that would give absolute power to the military. "We are talking about a bill that will provide the military with legal protection in carrying out their tasks. Otherwise no military people would want to get involved-it would put them in legal trouble." Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he would strive for a balance between people's rights and freedoms and security that worked. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens