Thailand passes tough security law to control protest

BANGKOK, Aug 25 - Thailand's government passed a security law on Tuesday that clears the way for the military to be brought in to control a planned rally by supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), better known as the "red shirts", plan to demonstrate on Sunday outside Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's office, calling for his resignation.

A three-week occupation of the premier's office in April sparked Thailand's worst street violence in 17 years, forcing Abhisit to call a state of emergency and stoking concerns over the stability of Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy.

If Sunday's protests become unruly, the new law allows Abhisit and the military to move quickly without declaring a state of emergency. It also allows for more stringent checkpoints around the prime minister's office ahead of the protest.

Abhisit said he imposed the temporary law, which takes effect from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1, after receiving intelligence that trouble-makers may incite violence.

"We do not forbid the rally if it is within the limit of law. But we received intelligence of some third party that wants to incite unrest. That is the reason we imposed the security law," Abhisit told reporters.

The law underscores mounting concern over a four-year political crisis that economists say could limit how fast and how far the country recovers from its first recession in 11 years by curbing tourism and stifling investment.

The toll on the economy, they add, depends on how long Thaksin challenges Abhisit, and whether his protest movement undermines the confidence of investors and consumers.

Thaksin and his red-shirted supporters, the majority rural poor, show no sign of pulling back from their challenge to Abhisit and his allies, the urban elite centred in Bangkok who wear the king's traditional colour of yellow at protests.

Analysts say Thaksin is trying to stop Abhisit from consolidating his power, hoping to cause enough problems for him to call a snap election which could take place next year.

The government imposed a similar security law in the resort island of Phuket in July, deploying almost 10,000 security personnel during meetings of foreign ministers from many countries, including the United States.