October 21, 2002	Monday	Sha’aban 14,1423

BANGKOK, Oct 20: Thailand’s National Security Council (NSC) announced plans to set up a telephone hotline to gather intelligence from the public about potential acts of international terrorism, the Bangkok Post reported on Sunday.

Concrete action would be discussed next week when security and intelligence officials would meet to strengthen the country’s anti-terrorism measures in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Indonesia and the Philippines, the newspaper reported.

A telephone hotline would be established so members of the public could pass on any information about things they considered suspicious or unusual.

Particularly taxi drivers working in Bangkok are regarded as the best sources of information because they deal with a great number of passengers every day and are engaged in or may overhear conversations.

It is dangerous to consider the country immune to terrorism as complacency would serve as an open invitation for an attack, according to NSC chief General Vinai said.—dpa