Bangkok, Oct 18 (IANS) The Thailand cabinet Friday extended the enforcement of Internal Security Act (ISA) in Bangkok till Nov 30 to cope with prolonged anti-government rallies.
The decision was taken in a special cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who also serves as defence minister, reports Xinhua.
Earlier, the ISA enforcement was intended to be extended till Oct 30, covering eight sub-districts of Dusit, Phra Nakhon and Pom Prab Satruphai, said National Security Council Secretary General Paradorn Pattanatabutr.
However, considering an upcoming World Court ruling on the decade-long sovereignty dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, the cabinet finally decided to extend ISA till Nov 30, he said.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) based in Hague will deliver its verdict on the Thailand-Cambodia border row for a 4.6 sq km region on Nov 11.
The dispute has triggered deadly exchanges of fire between the two troops since 2008. Many people held rallies during ICJ's four-day hearing on the issue in April.
The ISA, which was due to expire Friday, has been imposed in three districts of the capital city since Oct 9 to prohibit protesters from entering areas surrounding the government house and parliament compound.
Paradorn said security officials have agreed that the enforcement of ISA is essential to deter protesters.
It is also a precautionary measure, as there is lack of legal provisions to deal with street protests, he said.