Thai PM to call off ISA

BANGKOK, November 26 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says that she is ready to call off the enforcement of the Internal Security Act (ISA) if it is proposed by agencies concerned. Yingluck told reporters she had been informed that the security agencies concerned would propose the revocation of the special law, earlier announced to be effective from November 22-30, by Monday. The prime minister acknowledged it is not legally required to call a Cabinet meeting to decide on the lifting of the ISA, but whether or not she would sign in an official order to revoke the temporary imposition of the ISA by today would depend on details or steps indicated in the proposed letter submitted by the concerned agencies. Meanwhile, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Warathep Rattanakorn noted that the ISA can be legally lifted with immediate effect once the prime minister signs in an official order without any Cabinet resolution required. The Thai government decided to invoke the one-week ISA in three districts in Bangkok, including Dusit, Phra Nakhon and Pompab Sattrupprai, last Thursday, aimed to maintain order during an anti-government rally, planned last Saturday and feared to be prolonged. The mass demonstration, led by the anti-government Pitak Siam group, however, ended on Saturday evening. (TNA)