Not just any jog in the park

2003-10-14 21:56

Thailand - Bangkok authorities have ordered that the city's most beautiful park be spruced up for a VIP jogger: Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej told reporters that Howard, who will be in the Thai capital next week for the Apec summit, has said he wants to jog in Bangkok's popular Lumpini Park, which covers two blocks.

"I have ordered the sanitary division to make the park clean and clear for the Australian prime minister who will jog in the park during the summit," Samak said.

National police chief Sant Sarutanond told reporters that he will have tight security for the Australian leader.

"I will have the elite police officers jogging along with him and deploy security officers within the park and the high-rise building around the areas," Sant said.

To clean up Bangkok's congested streets and its seedy reputation, authorities have cleared the sidewalks of stray dogs, beggars, prostitutes and unlicensed vendors.

Thailand has also promised watertight security for the 21 leaders including US President George W Bush attending the October 20-21 Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum summit. Security concerns have been heightened since the August 11 arrest in Thailand of Hambali, a chief operative of the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror group.

- SAPA