Asean summit will be guarded by a 20,000-strong contingent

       The Defence Ministry plans to deploy more than 20,000 soldiers to ensure maximum security during the summit of Southeast Asian leaders next month, a ministry source says.
       The Asean meeting will be held from Oct 21 to 25 in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district and Hua Hin district in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
       All 10 Asean leaders and six dialogue partners have confirmed their attendance, director-general of the Asean Affairs Department Vitavas Srivihok said yesterday. The dialogue partners are China,Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.
       The armed forces will implement a security plan codenamed "Cha-am-Hua Hin 521" using soldiers from three infantry regiments in the 1st Army and special warfare units from the army and navy as well as a commando unit from the air force, the source said.
       Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the government would propose invoking the Internal Security Act during the summit because the two areas were considered "at risk" from antigovernment rallies.
       The act aims to better control rallies by allowing soldiers to act in parallel with police.
       The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship has announced it will stage a demonstration in October,but has not set the exact date.
       In April, its rally coincided with the Asean summit held in Pattaya. The government was criticised for failing to prevent angry demonstrators from breaking into the meeting venue, an act that immediately saw Asean leaders returning home in chaos.
       Gen Prawit asked red shirt protesters not to disturb the event because it was a significant international meeting and had nothing to do with the existing internal conflicts between the UDD and the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.
       He said officers would ask local people in the two districts for cooperation to help keep order.
       Mr Vitavas said at least 20 documents would be signed by the leaders, including a memorandum of understanding on establishing the Asean-China Centre to promote trade, services and tourism.
       The agenda includes food security,energy security, disaster management and climate change. Thailand would push for negotiations on education in order to promote and raise awareness among Asean citizens, the official said.
       "The highlight is the meeting of Asean leaders and civil society, youth and parliamentary representatives as well as the official establishment of the InterCommission on Human Rights on Oct 23," Mr Vitavas said.