Police standing guard as commuters on motorbikes stop at a traffic signal near the venue of the Apec summit Bangkok. - AP
BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): Final preparations were underway amid beefed-up security in Bangkok, Thailand, for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit later this week.
World leaders will gather at the two-day regional meeting from Friday (Nov 18) to discuss trade and economic cooperation.
Heavy security presence and riot police were seen in the city on roads leading to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) where the summit will be held.
Trained sniffer dogs from the police canine unit were spotted working on the grounds surrounding the venue.
"The security operations carried out by all the officers for this event are of national interest to maintain order. We are providing high level security to ensure the safety of the world leaders attending the meetings," police chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat said.
"As this is a global-level meeting, we don't want to see any disruption. If any chaos (from political protests) were to happen, the police would have to enforce the law and implement it effectively."
Damrongsak warned against any political protests and said police would enforce the law “effectively” in the event of any disruption.
