PM confident in Thailand's peaceful New Year

BANGKOK, December 18 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha says he is confident in peace and order in the country during the upcoming New Year Festival. Prime Minister General Prayut expressed the confidence on Thursday, after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) in Bangkok, vowing to take tough actions against anyone planning to cause any untoward incident. The prime minister told journalists he has ordered authorities concerned and the Royal Thai Armed Forces to prevent any violent incident and he is confident that the upcoming New Year festivity should be free from violent incidents. The premier explained that the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Interior and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have all stepped up security measures and have surveillance cameras installed to cover all areas, warning that anyone planning to create any violent incident will not escape. Besides, the Thai leader ruled out the possibility of any terror attack, pointing out that Thailand is not a target and intelligence reports have not shown the possibility. The prime minister also denied any acknowledgment on reports that US authorities tortured their suspects in Thailand, stating that Thailand only handed suspects as asked by Washington and had no idea what it did with the people afterwards. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Chief Police Lieutenant General Sriwara Rangsipramnakul has issued an instruction, prohibiting his subordinates from taking a leave during the forthcoming New Year, December 30, 2014 to January 5, 2015, if not necessary. According to the metropolitan police chief, he has also ordered his subordinates to impose stricter anti-crime measures in the capital during the New Year celebrations. (TNA)