Thailand has sent a strong message to antigovernment protesters in Bangkok by "exiling" Southeast Asian leaders in the cozy resort district of Cha-am in the province of Phetchaburi as an "escape" from protesters during the 14th ASEAN Summit.
The meeting had been postponed from the original schedule in December in the capital Bangkok, after Thailand was plagued by protests last year by rival groups of demonstrators who either supported or oppose ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - once one of the country's richest men, now living in self-imposed exile after being forced from office in a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
Last year's protests were dominated by Thaksin's opponents, who occupied the prime minister's office compound for three months and then seized Bangkok's two airports for eight days in November and December.
The naming of Cha-am as the venue for the ASEAN Summit was due to its safety as the district, with a population of only 42,000, was not a stronghold of Thaksin supporters. This alleviated the worries over mass occupations of government buildings or airports or sudden strikes in the streets. Sea front Cha-am is not at all disappointing. Far from the crowds and traffic, it provides a stunning ocean view that can be enjoyed from almost all hotel balconies available here.
As Cha-am is yet to have its own meeting hall for such a major event, there are limitations on the facilities for delegates and the media. Officials and leaders have had to hold media conferences in a small packed room that can only accommodate half of more than 100 journalists, mostly from Asia.
"I have to travel back and forth to press conferences and the media center more than four times a day. It's still okay because it only takes five minutes by bus. But I think the media conference room is just too small, as you see many journalists have to squeeze themselves into the tiny room," says one journalist from the Philippines.
The organizing committee has had to distribute the events over the two districts of Cha-am and Hua Hin, located in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Cha-am mostly hosts summit meetings - at the Dusit Thani Hotel for meetings of leaders and officials, the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa for the press center and press conferences, and the Mrigadayavan Palace for the gala dinner for ASEAN leaders and their spouses.
Meanwhile, Hua Hin will host a luncheon for leaders' spouses and dinner for ASEAN economic ministers at the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas.
There was confusion earlier for attendants about the exact location of the summit, because the Thai government often referred to the venue as Hua Hin only, which is a more popular resort than Cha-am, although the venues are 25 kilometers apart.
As Cha-am is yet to have its own meeting hall for such a major event, there are limitations on the facilities for delegates and the media.
-- Lilian Budianto
