Thailand tightens security ahead of Thaksin ruling

Thailand has started deploying about 20,000 security forces to brace for protests ahead of a widely anticipated court ruling on the $2.2 billion fortune of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra, a spokesman said Monday.

Supporters of Thaksin have stepped up anti-government demonstrations ahead of the Feb. 26 Supreme Court ruling on whether to seize Thaksin's assets. The former tycoon's riches were frozen after he was ousted by a coup in 2006.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said more than 13,000 army, police and civilian security officers will be deployed across Thailand's 38 provinces. About 6,000 additional security will be deployed in the capital, where 200 checkpoints will be set up at "every entrance into Bangkok," he said.

"We started to deploy forces earlier this month, but it will increase after Feb. 15," Panitan told reporters. "This is to prevent any uncertain situation from arising."

Thaksin was removed from power after being accused of massive corruption while in office but remains a politically divisive figure in Thailand, where his supporters say he was unjustly treated and are demanding fresh elections.

The Supreme Court will decide whether Thaksin's assets in Thailand were obtained through corrupt means and should be confiscated by authorities.

Thailand has been gripped by pro-Thaksin and anti-Thaksin protests for more than three years. Thaksin supporters staged rallies in April that turned violent and the army had to be called in to restore order.

"We don't want a repeat of what happened last April when the troops came out a little late," Panitan said, adding authorities hoped to avoid invoking stringent security laws to keep order. "For now, we will use the normal laws. It depends on the situation."