"Sihamoni and his father enjoy personal protection by North Korean bodyguards. And we all know how lovely those chaps can be": The Nation

Security alert

April 9, 2009
The Nation

A few years ago when the then Burmese prime minister Khin Nyunt permitted foreign media into the country, a foreign reporter got the bright idea of trying to doorstop the leader. He got to within three metres of the then security tzar of one of the world's most hated leaders. He was stopped cold when a member of Khin Nyunt's security detail flicked his wrist, hitting the reporter you-know-where. Khin Nyunt and the security personnel carried on as if nothing happened.

Cambodia's King Sihamoni and his father, HM Norodom Sihanouk, enjoy personal protection by North Korean bodyguards. And we all know how lovely those chaps can be.

If anything, the recent attack against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's car in Pattaya reveals the sorry state of the Thai security agency responsible for protecting the country's highest political leader.

While it may be understandable that one cannot look at the incident without taking into consideration the present political undercurrent, Bangkokian can't help but note the lack of professionalism in his security detail.

If Abhisit were Afghan President Ahmid Kazai, a number of the red shirted attackers would have got their heads blown off. But the fact that he is not the Afghan leader doesn't mean that supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra should be permitted to yank the car door open, much less smash the rear window or scream in his face.

The attack on Abhisit and the red-shirts' mass rally yesterday is a sign of things to come. Bangkokian thinks the government's security detail for high-ranking leaders, both local and visiting, cannot afford to carry on as if it were business as usual.

Abhisit's supporters may argue that the PM doesn't want to use force for fear that it could get out of hand. But then again, his security detail doesn't know where to draw the line, much less how to react to such a situation.

No, we are not pointing to a need for assistance from the boys at Blackwater. But it would be nice to see some of our security detail stopping some potential threats in their track.

Try cutting in front of a Blackwater security convoy, like the red shirts did to Abhisit in Pattaya, and see how these contractors eat intruders for breakfast.

Thai security officials like to wear shades, drive around on motorcycles and look cool. But instead of being professional bodyguards, they come across to Bangkokian as "GI Joes", especially the guys who provide security for the chiefs of each branch of the armed forces. They are armed with so much hardware, Bangkokian wouldn't be surprised if these guys ended up shooting themselves and each other in the feet. More importantly, Bangkokian wonders if any of these guys know the rules of engagement or the implication that comes with that if the rules are violated.

A prime minister is the highest person in the country's political system. And for that, like him or hate him, he has to be protected.

What is seriously needed is a group of professional, competent bodyguards working under a strict set of rules of engagement. Surely if the government can spend over Bt100 billion on its military budget, it can put some of that money aside for improving security. And if they can't find capable people from the rank and file, then an outfit like Blackwater should be considered. Just don't shoot out the radiator of a reporter's private car or the dogs guarding the news agency.