BANGKOK—Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Wednesday that the venue for a regional summit next month had been moved from Bangkok to a seaside town, partly due to possible anti-government protests.In the latest in a series of changes since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting was postponed from December, Abhisit said the February 27 to March 1 summit would now be held in the resort of Hua Hin. Meetings with key regional partners China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand -- which were meant to occur simultaneously with the summit -- have been pushed back to April, he added. "The first section of the summit among 10 ASEAN leaders would be held in Hua Hin on February 27, 28 and March 1, because security officials have advised that it will be easier for security issues," Abhisit told reporters. His announcement came just a day after the foreign ministry gave the same dates but insisted that the annual conference would take place in the Thai capital. Abhisit conceded that one of the reasons behind the move was a threat to blockade the ASEAN summit by supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006. "It's one of the factors because we don't want any problems to occur during the meeting," Abhisit said after a meeting of top officials to decide on the final venue and date. Hua Hin is also the site of an important royal palace, which would make it difficult for protesters to stage demonstrations there without appearing to disrespect the widely revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thaksin loyalists had vowed to derail the summit in protest at the appointment of new foreign minister Kasit Piromya over his involvement in a blockade of Bangkok's airports by anti-Thaksin forces late last year. The airport siege not only helped to topple the previous, pro-Thaksin government -- after which Abhisit came to power -- but it also caused the postponement of the ASEAN meeting from its initial mid-December date. Abhisit said the second section of crucial meetings between ASEAN leaders and its heavyweight regional partners would be held in late April due to a "conflict of schedules." Abhisit insisted there would be no more changes to the main summit. "It's our resolution -- nothing can be changed now, neither the venue nor the date. I can reassure you that we will host the ASEAN summit in Hua Hin," he said. Hua Hin is the third venue in as many months to be proposed for the ASEAN summit, after the capital and the northern city of Chiang Mai, where the last government had planned to hold it due to anti-Thaksin protests. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he had summoned national police chief General Patchawat Wongsuwan to instruct him on security planning for the summit. "Hua Hin is easier for security measures," Suthep told reporters. "I asked him to personally supervise the security plan to ensure that all leaders must not encounter any unpleasant situation." Suthep had promised Tuesday that the summit would not be moved away from Bangkok. He declined to say whether the change of venue was to seek shelter from King Bhumibol, who frequently visits the summer palace at Hua Hin. "We should not mention him at all," he said. | 
