Thailand news

Thaksin 'dying in the desert'

2009-06-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

Ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra urged his supporters not to leave him "dying in the desert" of Dubai on Saturday as he made an impassioned address to a rally in Bangkok.

The fugitive politician, who is living in exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption, made a 50-minute telephone address to tens of thousands of anti-government protester who gathered despite heavy rain in the Thai capital.

"We come here because we want to see real democracy. We hate injustice and double standards,'' Thaksin told the cheering red-clad crowd, which numbered 25,000 according to police estimates.

"I am fine and doing some business and travelling around but I am really lonely, I want to go back,'' Thaksin said. "Why do you have to leave me dying in the desert when I can work for our country?"

Appealing to his grassroots support base in the poorer north of Thailand, Thaksin said the government of premier Abhisit Vejjajiva should wipe out household debt and attacked its record on the economy.

"This government is good for three things: borrowing, hiking taxes and hounding Thaksin," the exiled media tycoon said.

The crowd of "Red Shirt'' protesters in the historic quarter of Bangkok made up the biggest anti-government rally since bloody riots erupted two months ago.

Protest leader Jatuporn Prompan said it would organise three more gatherings, without saying when they may be.

"They (the government) hoped that they had wiped out the Red Shirts after the last crackdown but instead we are getting stronger and red over Thailand,'' said Jatuporn.

He repeated the group's demands to a jubilant crowd _ that Abhisit must dissolve parliament and call fresh elections _ and berated royal adviser Prem Tinsulanonda, whom they accuse of instigating the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin.

The group have said they will stay at the site until dawn on Sunday but have promised a peaceful demonstration.

Police said more than 3,000 officers and 1,000 soldiers were on hand to guard government offices and search the crowd for trouble-makers.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has placed the national police chief in control of security but said he had drafted a document to invoke an internal security law that gives more power to the army in case the rally turns sour.

Abhisit plea for 4 days to restore order

2009-04-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

Soldiers shooting in the air and firing tear gas have cleared the first small group of red shirts from an area near the Victory Monument. Dozens of people were injured.
Troops began moving in to disperse red-shirt protesters at about 4 a.m. Monday morning in their attempt to open traffic at Din Daeng intersection which has been blocked since Sunday.
Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that troops first ordered the protesters to leave, but they answered with tear gas, gunshots and petrol bombs hurled from the expressway.
He added that a protester rammed a hijacked bus into the troops, injuring some.
In retaliation, the troops fired tear gas and their automatic rifles into the air as they moved in to break up the protesters. The troops managed to disperse the rowdy crowd and open part of the road to traffic half an hour later.
About 10 troops and 49 protesters were injured, mostly from tear gas.
Despite the clash at Din Daeng, the red-shirt protesters were still blocking traffic at several main road intersections, including Si Ayuddhaya and Ratchadamnoen. Most protesters were in front of the Government House and its surrounding areas as their leaders urged on the protesters to resist the government.
The situation is still very tense with thel ikelihood of more violence or, in the worst case scenario, a riot, if government forces decide to break up the protest at and around the Government House.
The spokesman also said some of the red-shirt core leaders were held in custody at an undisclosed location. He did not give details.
Government spokesman Panitarn Wattanayakorn insisted that the government would “do everything within the limits of the law to restore order and peace in the country”. He urged the public in general to understand and to have trust in the government and to report to authorities any suspicious movements.
Meanwhile, authorities said that three M79 grenades were fired into the Constitution Court building around 1am on Monday, causing some damage but no casualties

Police said that only one grenade exploded and it was unknown who the perpetrators were.

In Pattaya, one improvised explosive device went off, apparently detonated by a mobile phone, causing damage to a water pipe. Three other IEDs were also found at the scene.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva went on the nationwide television with the commanders of the three armed forces at about midnight on Sunday.
He repeated the need for the government to take tougher actions against the red-shirt protesters charging of blatantly breaking the law under the guise of struggling for democracy.

Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jakkabat has been appointed director of peace-keeping in Bangkok to enforce the state of emergency law.

Earlier report:

Several hundred troops opened up with tear gas against a few hundred red shirts near the Din Daeng intersection.

Hospitals and protesters reported that 49 people were injured, several of them seriously. No deaths were reported.

Most of the reported injuries were from tear gas inhalation.

There were no other reports of clashes between the security forces and protesters. Under the Emergency Decree, troops are authorised to take any steps to break up groups of more than five people, and can detain anyone at any time.

The 4am military attack was shown on TV. Footage showed protesters scattering as the troops moved in.

Source from Bangkokpost

PM: Army ready to quell protesters

2009-04-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, appearing on the national television again on Sunday, called on the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters to stop inciting unrest because the army is now ready to use force under the Emergency Decree.

In the afternoon, Mr Abhisit announced a state of emergency in Bangkok and five neighbouring provinces of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya, in an attempt to restore order quickly.

However, he said the anti-government protesters had been trying to create mayhem despite the enforcement of the decree.

He asked public members to remain calm, and assured them that the government would do anything to bring peace back to the country.

Private and public hospitals are prepared to look after injured people, should the decree be seriously implemented, the prime minister added.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, called on police and army officers to strictly carry out the policy, and as the enforcer, he is ready to be responsible for the consequences.

The protesters are breaking the law by detaining and hurting state officials, including Prime Minister's secretary general Niphon Prompan, he said.

Source From Bangkokpost

At least 2 killed in border clashes

2009-04-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

By: AFP

Thai and Cambodian troops fought heavy gunbattles on their disputed border Friday, leaving at least two soldiers dead in the biggest flare-up for months in a bitter feud over an ancient temple.

Soldiers exchanged rocket, machinegun and mortar fire near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple on the frontier, following a brief skirmish earlier in the day, officials from both sides said.

The area was the scene of several clashes last year after Cambodia successfully applied for United Nations world heritage status for the ruins in July, with four soldiers killed in a battle there in October.

One Thai soldier died at the site of the clash on Friday and another passed away in hospital later, while 10 others were injured, regional Thai military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Wichit Makarun said.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith initially announced that two soldiers from his country were killed, but later retracted the statement, saying it was an unofficial figure but without providing further details.

"We are fighting with each other, it is serious gunfire,'' Khieu Kanharith said, adding that the fighting happened in at least two separate areas near the temple.

Military commanders later held talks to ease tensions near the clifftop temple, ownership of which was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, although the land around the ruins remains disputed.

But a war of words continued between the two sides after the clash, coming just one week before the prime ministers of the neighbouring countries are due to meet at a key regional summit in Thailand.

"This is an intended aggressive invasion by the Thai military,'' said Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong. "The foreign ministry will... write a protest letter about the invasion by Thailand.''

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was ready to call his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen about the matter but defended Thailand's right to "preserve our sovereignty.''

"It was likely caused by a misunderstanding or accident,'' Abhisit said on his return from the G20 summit in London.

The first clash erupted on Friday morning after Cambodian soldiers went to inspect an area where a Thai soldier lost a leg in a landmine blast a day earlier. Both sides blamed each other but said there were no casualties.

Heavy gunfire then broke out at 2:00 pm (0700 GMT) in a number of spots near the border, which has never been fully demarcated due to landmines left after decades of war in Cambodia.

Several officials said the fighting lasted between half and hour and an hour.

A Cambodian soldier posted at the border, Yeim Kheang, told AFP by telephone that a Cambodian market at the gateway to the temple had been badly burned.

"We used heavy weapons including rockets, machineguns and mortars. In general, we used every weapon given to us. Many Thai soldiers ran away, leaving their weapons behind during the fight,'' Yeim Kheang said.

The clashes came three days after Hun Sen warned Thailand that it would face fighting if its troops crossed their disputed frontier. Thailand denies claims that about 100 of its troops went over the frontier a week ago.

Tensions first flared along the border in July last year over the granting of UN heritage to the temple on the border, although the countries have been at loggerheads over the site for decades.

Subsequent talks between Cambodia and Thailand have not resolved the dispute and Thailand's foreign minister was forced to apologise Thursday, after being accused by Hun Sen of calling him a gangster.

Further talks are due on Monday and Tuesday in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen and Abhisit are also scheduled to take part in a summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and key regional partners in the Thai resort of Pattaya, starting on April 10.

Government ready to be in talks with Thaksin

2009-04-03T08:47:00.001-07:00

Bangkok (Own Source) – The government is ready to hold talks with fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra in a hope to end a week-long rally at the Government House.

Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban is optimistic that the red shirts will stop their protest after the court’s injunction.

"I am ready to open talks with Thaksin as he's the real protest leader and decision-maker," Suthep said. "I will wait for his reaction this evening."

Suthep said the government was ready to negotiate with Thaksin anywhere to bring peace back to the country, according to AFP.

He admitted that some of Thaksin’s demands are not possible.

About 2,000 Thaksin supporters who have camped outside the Government House vowed to make an aggressive movement against the Abhisit government.

Thaksin, who is on the run due to several legal charges, keeps making his phone-ins to urge the red supporters to rise up against the government, accusing notable figures as well as the invisible hand of causing his misfortune.

Thaksin to make another phone-in this evening

2009-04-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

Bangkok (ASTV Manager Online) – Fugitive and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will give his speech via video link at 8:00 pm to update his supporters on Thailand’s current situation.

Natthawut Saikua, leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), said the then-premier would certainly deliver his speech after the two-day break.

Thaksin is going to talk about Thailand’s political situation, economic problem solving and the red shirts’ mass rally on April 8.

About 200,000-300,000 people are expected to join the rally.

Thaksin’s spokesman Pongthep Thepkanchana said Thaksin was ready to hold talks with Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, according to The Nation newspaper.

Suthep earlier proposed to hold talks between the government and Thaksin in a bid to end the one-week rally at the Government House.

The government insisted that it would not use violence against the DAAD protesters to bring peace back to the Thai society.

Abhisit warns of over-ambitious G20 summit

2009-04-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

LONDON (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cautioned Wednesday against over-ambitious aims at the G20 summit in London but said Southeast Asian nations would strongly back a coordinated fiscal stimulus.

Abhisit, who will attend the summit as the current head of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, warned that Thursday's one-day meeting was at risk of trying to achieve too much.

"It is a very ambitious agenda... but we are here to voice the issue of priorities," he said in a speech in London.

Comparing the crisis-hit world economy to a building in flames, Abhisit said: "The building is still on fire and there are still some people left inside.

"We need first to put out the fire and get the people out. That should be the priority."
British-born Abhisit said ASEAN supported calls by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama for a fiscal stimulus -- a move strongly opposed by some European nations such as France and Germany.

Asia recommended stimulus measures because it could draw on its own experience of the 1997 Asian crash, he said, echoing comments made Wednesday in the Financial Times by Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.

"But we still need to set clear targets, including the size of such a stimulus," Abhisit said.

ASEAN, which includes countries heavily dependent on exporting manufactured goods such as Vietnam, also wants to see the Group of 20 industrialised and developing nations take a strong stance on preventing protectionism.

Abhisit said that while world leaders publicly voiced opposition to protectionism, "the reality is that 40 or more cases of protectionist measures have been adopted since the (G20) Washington meeting" in November.

The Thai prime minister said Southeast Asian nations strongly backed moves to reform global institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam as well as Thailand. It represents a collective population of more than 500 million people.
News from Manager.co.th

Thai Protests Spark Fears of Coup

2009-03-14T02:01:00.001-07:00

ANCHOR: Thailand's capital has seen much civil unrest for the past week. The Thai prime minister has threatened police action to clear the streets. And though there is growing concern for a military coup, the police appear to have backed away from carrying out the threats for now. STORY: There have been anti-government protests in the heart of Bangkok for nearly a week - the latest in defiance of the Thai prime minister's warnings of a crackdown. Riot police were out in force. But the ...

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Kentucky World Trade Center

Thai GDP Picks Up Steam. Dividends Set to Make a Comeback in China ... a coup against the government of former ... But there are fears of tough times ahead ...

http://www.kwtc.org/Tradeview/online/1206tradeview/internationalnews1206.htm

TheSpec.com - World - Thai demonstrators disrupt air, rail service ...

Friday saw the worst unrest in the latest round of protests. ... He accused the protesters of trying to spark a confrontation with authorities ...

http://www.thespec.com/Wire/News_Wire/World/article/426781

Common Ground Common Sense > International News and Commentary

There are now fears of instability in a country that is a key supplier of natural gas to Europe. ... Hanging sparks media storm. Pictures of aftermath ...

http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t56635-1700.html

Khmer World News on The Story of Cambodia and Thailand Land

2009-03-13T09:40:00.001-07:00

Khmer World News on The Story inside the Cambodia and Thailand Land Dispute. The inside discussions, and video. Please Comment on what you think about the history of Cambodia and Thailand. Talk about the history of the land between these two countries. Khmer-world.com will follow up on your thoughts and complete the story on Preah Vihear. Visit www.khmer-world.com for more news, updates, entertainment, and more.

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Free food to promote ecotourism

2009-01-15T22:51:00.000-08:00

Date : 27 - 28 January 2009
Venue : Ranong
Villagers pitch in to create an amazing eating festival to entice visitors to explore nearby ecotourism trails.
It sustains life and it is certainly a pleasure very few can deny so it kind of makes sense to celebrate the simple task of eating. Villagers in La Un district, some 80 km northeast of Ranong provincial town, believe their culinary skills are up to the test as they launch into their very own Eating Festival scheduled 28 January.
We can understand their enthusiasm as Thailand is certainly a top notch destination for superb food and every village appears to have secret recipes.
Like other Andamam coast provinces, Ranong is blessed with fine sandy beaches, off shore islands and opportunities to go deep sea fishing or scuba diving at incredible bargain prices.
But Ranong is probably the greenest of all Thailand’s provinces blessed with abundant rain that keeps national parks in pristine condition for visitors who want to journey down the eco-tourism trail.
That trail leads north of Ranong to Lamnam Kraburi National Park and the famous Punyabun Falls just off Highway 4. After admiring the beauty of the 6 km wide Kraburi River estuary that separates Thailand and Myanmar, travellers can head 20 km inland to La Un district that lies at the end of the rural highway 4091. Here villagers hope to draw visitors to sample eco-tours that will ultimately supplement the district’s income.

To draw attention to their forest tours they created an eating festival. It promises a scrumptious display of snacks and heavy-duty dining delivered to the village stalls by no less than 35 villages that make up the La Un district.
No duplications are allowed. Villages have drawn on southern culinary skills to showcase a wealth of down-to-earth cooking skills delivering a selection of spicy main dishes to eat with rice and an array of sweet deserts and snacks.
All this is feasting and snacking is absolutely free, a sign that La Un’s villagers recognise that the way to a visitor’s heart is via the stomach.

Efforts to open the district to tourism begin a day earlier, 27 January, with villages introducing eco-tour options. They hope to convince travellers who journey on Highway 4, between Chumphon and Ranong, to make a diversion inland to stop for a meal and learn a little about the district’s natural beauty, forest trails and even three hot springs near the village of Bang Phra Nua, in La Un district.
You will have to admit the buffet spread has a remarkable price tag. And if their tours are as tasty as the food, eco-tourism will be on the map at La Un thanks to a day of hospitality.
Call the district office at Tel: 077 899 058.
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/forprint.asp?npid=77&lg=2

One die, more than 20 injured after bomb blast at Don Muang

2008-12-02T06:59:00.001-08:00

By Manager Online

2 December 2008 11:21

MGR Photo.

December 2, 2008
Bangkok - One People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protester died while several people were injured after a bomb blast at the Don Muang this morning.

       Another daily attack took place early this morning, causing one die and about 24 injured after the bomb blast.

       The blast was just about 200 metres from the stage.

       The exact number of culprits was not known. Injured people were sent to the Mongkut Wattana Hospital, Bhumibol Hospital and Central General Hospital for treatment.

       Somsak Kosaisuk, one of the PAD leaders, examined the scene and visited the injured people. Protesters were asked to stay close to the stage for their safety.

       The bomb blast happened just on the same day which the Constitutional Court would give its verdict on disbanding the People Power Party (PPP), Matchimathipataya Party and Chart Thai Party.

       The court confirmed reading the verdict at 10:00 am.

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Thailand to extend bank deposits guarantee until 2011

2008-10-29T02:13:00.000-07:00

Thailand to extend bank deposits guarantee until 2011

By Manager Online

29 October 2008 11:36

http://www.thaipr.net

October 29, 2008
Bangkok - The cabinet today agreed to extend guarantee on bank deposits for two more years in a hope to boost confidence amid global financial crisis.

The global economic crisis is leading to more and more shortage of funds worldwide. Such crisis was triggered by the US financial crisis.

As a result, investors are afraid that their money will not be safe in banks.

"The cabinet has approved the finance ministry's proposal to extend the 100 percent guarantee on deposits to August 10th, 2011," Finance Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvej said.

"The extension is due to the financial crisis... as most countries are suffering from liquidity crises," he added.

Thailand agreed in August to guarantee all banking deposits for one year.

The deposit protection will be reduced three years later. The maximum of one million baht per account is guaranteed in the fifth year.

There were six trillion baht deposited in Thailand-based banks at the end of September, according to Deposit Protection Agency.

Small step in Thai-Cambodia talks

2008-10-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

The two sides have had troops and equipment in the area since July

Generals from Thailand and Cambodia have been holding talks in an attempt to resolve a border dispute that led to a fatal exchange of fire on Wednesday.

Reports say both sides have agreed to joint border patrols as a way to ease the tensions.

But there are no reports of further advances, such as reducing troops in the zone or making headway on the core issue of settling the border.

At least two Cambodian troops died in the clash near the Preah Vihear temple.

Two Cambodian soldiers were injured, along with seven Thai troops, in the skirmish, which lasted less than an hour.

Both countries claim the area around the temple, and despite several rounds of talks a settlement remains elusive.

The issue of ownership is partly a nationalist one, but the area is also prized because the temple became a Unesco World Heritage site in June and the site could one day generate lucrative tourist revenues.

The UN, US, EU and China have all called for restraint, and Indonesia is said to have offered to mediate in the border talks.

Small step

"We will introduce the joint patrol to avoid this kind of incident happening again," Lieutenant General Wiboonsak Neeparn, Thailand's north-eastern army commander, was quoted as saying after the five-hour meeting.

New conflict near ancient ruins

In pictures: Preah Vihear

But he also suggested "not much" progress had been made, pointing out "troops on both sides will stay where they are", a report said.

Cambodian commander Maj Gen Srey Doek said negotiations would continue.

Meanwhile, there is confusion over the fate of 13 Thai soldiers Cambodia claimed it captured during Wednesday's confrontation.

Cambodia says it has returned the men's weapons and released them. Thailand however continues to deny any of its soldiers were ever held.

Nationalist passions

Senior government figures on both sides have called for negotiations to continue, and played down Wednesday's confrontation.

Thousands of Cambodians have fled the area

But the incident prompted thousands of Cambodians to flee their homes, and some reports say Cambodian military reinforcements are still being dispatched to the disputed zone.

Meanwhile the issue continues to stoke fervent nationalist passions. In the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, security guard Bun Roeun told Reuters news agency he was angry.

"If the Thais continue their attempt to cross our border, I am ready to join the army to fight back," he said.

According to the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head, the Thai government is nervous about committing itself to any deal over the border, for fear of stirring up more nationalist anger, or of violating the constitution, which it was judged to have done when it initially supported Cambodia's bid to get World Heritage status for the temple.

But Cambodia needs a deal soon if it is to present its management plan for the site by the World Heritage Committee's deadline of February next year.

The temple sits on top of a 500m cliff, and access from the Cambodian side will still be impractical for tourists unless a new route can be built through the disputed territory, our correspondent says.

'Death zone'

The military stand-off began in July when Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally.

TEMPLE DISPUTE TIMELINE

1970s-1990s: Khmer Rouge guerrillas occupy site

2001-2002: Thai troops block access over water row

July 2008: Unesco lists temple as a World Heritage Site

July 2008: Thai FM quits after court rules he violated constitution for backing Cambodia's Unesco bid

July 2008: Both sides move troops to temple area

August 2008: Troops withdrawn after high-level talks

October 2008: Fighting erupts around temple area

More than 1,000 soldiers from both countries moved into the area, digging trenches into the rough terrain around the temple.

Both sides agreed in August to withdraw their personnel, but last week Cambodia claimed that Thai troops had returned, and Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" if they did not withdraw.

The dispute centres on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims.

Disputes between the two countries date back centuries, when the Thai and Khmer monarchs fought each other for territory and power.
Source from BBC News

Gov't foundering as protesters strengthened: analysts

2008-10-09T06:43:00.001-07:00

Gov't foundering as protesters strengthened: analysts

By Manager Online

9 October 2008 18:13

AFP Photo.

October 9, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's government appears crippled after political turmoil erupted into bloodshed, with the army refusing the role of enforcer and powerful backers siding with the protesters, analysts say.

Since the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) launched their campaign to bring down the elected government in late May, they have managed to disrupt two key state institutions -- the prime minister's offices and parliament.

It was their move on parliament on Tuesday that provoked the clashes, as police fired tear gas and the PAD responded with rioting and gunfire. At least two people were killed and hundreds were injured in the chaos.

Thousands of protesters late Tuesday retreated back to their protest camp at the prime minister's office where they have been camped out since August, with the authorities seemingly unable or unwilling to remove them.

"The government looks weak and it is lurching from crisis to crisis," said Giles Ji Ungpakorn, an academic and author of a book about the September 2006 coup here which overthrew premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"If this happened in London, Paris, Sydney, the PAD would have been smashed and put in jail," he told AFP.

"They are a reactionary movement with the backing of some of the powerful conservative elites, for example (elements in) the army, the conservative bureaucrats ... that is why they are allowed to get away with it."

On Thursday, a Thai court revoked arrest warrants on insurrection charges against the nine PAD leaders, which has been filed after the August 26 occupation of Government House, a move that analysts say strengthens the PAD's hand.

Forty senators, meanwhile, have filed a court request urging police not to use violence and Queen Sirikit, wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is reported to have offered 23,000 dollars in medical expenses to people injured on Tuesday.

The PAD claim they are carrying out their campaign out of loyalty to the revered king, but the 80-year-old monarch -- who was hospitalised last year causing great concern to a nation that relies on his moral guidance -- has remained silent.

Thailand's current problems, analysts say, reflect a deep divide between rich urbanites and the poor rural classes.

These came to the fore of Thai politics when Thaksin bypassed the old political patronage system and appealed directly to the voters, overwhelmingly winning elections in 2001 and 2005.

Thaksin's alleged corruption and abuse of power brought protesters out on the street in late 2005 and led to the formation of the PAD, and the unrest culminated in the September 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin.

But despite the best efforts of the military and old elite to rid the political landscape of Thaksin, they failed.

The former premier may be living in exile in Britain now, but elections last December brought his allies in the People Power Party (PPP) to government -- and once again the PAD spilled out on to the streets.

"The PAD are not against any individual anymore, they're against the system," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, an analyst based at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

Michael Nelson, a visiting professor at Chulalongkorn, said that Thai media was speculating about three possible ends to the current turmoil -- another coup, the resignation of the prime minister, or the dissolution of parliament.

"It's difficult to see how the government can get the PAD out of Government House without military assistance," said Nelson.

But the army appears unwilling to get their their hands dirty.

After the storming of Government House on August 26, the prime minister briefly declared a state of emergency, but the military appeared to want to play referee rather than enforce the law.

On Thursday, army chief General Anupong Paojinda repeated that he had no intention of staging a coup, but said it was "up to the government to decide what to do if it cannot contain the situation."

Quite what the government can do is unclear.

If they call new elections and the PPP win -- a likely outcome as they still have wide support -- the PAD will simply resume their protest, claiming the victories are just the product of an uneducated rural class and vote buying.

"I can't see it ending in the near future and I can't see it ending very well," said Giles.

PM tries to reassure foreign allies after deadly clashes

2008-10-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

By Manager Online

8 October 2008 13:58

AFP Photo.

October 8, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat met foreign ambassadors on Wednesday to try and calm fears of further unrest after deadly clashes in Bangkok, an official statement said.

The meeting, however, had to be cut short after rumours circulated that anti-government protesters were marching on the foreign ministry, prompting the ambassadors and Somchai to leave the building, an AFP correspondent said.

The newly appointed premier told 67 ambassadors that his government would adhere to international law, a day after police pelted thousands of rowdy protesters with tear gas in unrest that left two dead and hundreds injured.

"Our police forces have acted under the framework of the law," he said, according to a copy of his speech released to media.

"We will resolve the domestic problems through the democratic process.... Thailand is a resilient society and has been able to weather political storms in the past with great strength," he told the diplomats.

"Thailand continues to respect all its existing commitments and obligations under international law," Somchai added.

He also tried to ease concerns about the economy, telling the diplomats that foreign investment was still safe in the kingdom.

A planned reception for the ambassadors was called off amid concerns that thousands of protesters were on the way, but the rumours appeared unfounded with only a handful turning up.

Somchai then headed to a hospital to visit police who were injured on Tuesday.

The clashes outside parliament capped months of political unrest, with the People's Alliance for Democracy protest group taking to the streets since May to try and unseat the government.

They claim the administration is acting as a puppet for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and also object to plans to amend the constitution.

Thailand deputy PM resigns amid fresh protests

2008-10-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

Thailand deputy PM resigns amid fresh protests

By Manager Online

7 October 2008 15:38

MGR Photo.

October 7, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) - A recently appointed deputy prime minister in Thailand, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, resigned on Tuesday because of a crackdown on fresh anti-government protests.

In a resignation letter seen by AFP, Chavalit, one of five deputy prime ministers, said his role as chief negotiator with demonstrators had been compromised after police twice fired teargas to disperse crowds Tuesday morning, injuring 116 people.

"The reason I resign is because what the security officials have done is not in line with what I had promised and I have attempted to avoid casualties," Chavalit's letter said.

"I consider that I have to take responsibility for the injuries... I quit as deputy prime minister post as of now," it said.

Recently appointed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat had tasked Chavalit with ending a six-week occupation of the main government compound by the People's Alliance for Democracy, a coalition of protesters calling on the government to step down.

The group marched to nearby parliament late Monday to protest plans to amend the country's constitution.

Talks between the PAD and government were already in jeopardy after two PAD leaders were arrested on charges of treason over the past week.

Cambodia urges restraint in border dispute with Thailand

2008-10-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian officials are urging restraint after a round of angry finger-pointing over Friday's shootout between Cambodian and Thai troops on the border near Preah Vihear temple, national media reported Monday.
"Cambodia has shown clearly that Thai soldiers are provoking confrontation, but our side is trying to continue negotiations and avoid any more fights," Koy Kuong, Cambodian Foreign Ministry Undersecretary of State, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.
One Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were injured in the first military clash over disputed border territory since a standoff began in July.
Cambodia on Saturday accused Thai troops of trespassing and firing first.
"Such armed provocation" could lead to "full-scale armed hostilities", a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Thai authorities responded later that day that Cambodian soldiers crossed the border and fired on unarmed Thai rangers in " a brutal and aggressive act."
Srey Doek, commander of Cambodian forces in the area, said after he met with his Thai counterpart Saturday that the situation had normalized, according to the Post.
Top military officials from both sides have insisted reinforcements would not be sent to the border, it said.
The border row between the two neighbors erupted after Cambodia 's arrest of three Thai nationalist protesters on July 15, whom were charged with crossing illegally into Cambodia close to the disputed Preah Vihear temple site.
Since then, Thailand and Cambodia have been building up their forces near the temple and tensions have escalated, spreading to other temple sites along the border. Enditem
Source - Xinhua News Agency (Eng)

THAI Boosts Tourism to Thailand

2008-10-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) will hold a Mega Familiarization trips and event for media and travel agents from around the world next week.
The Mega Familiarization trips and events are joint efforts of THAI and the Tourism Authority (TAT). The number of tourist arrival have declined significantly due to the twin setbacks of a global fuel crisis and ongoing political conflict in the country.
Mr. Pandit Chanapai, THAI’s Executive Vice President, Commercial said with many countries having issued travel advisories to their citizens to avoid visiting Thailand and the resulting cancellation of bookings, THAI, as the national carrier, with TAT are determined to take a lead, along with other tourism organizations, to beat the tourism downturn and boost business long term. The national carrier has always been spearheading the tourism recovery efforts from the impact of major event such as SARS and Tsunami.
“ We are encouraging our offices around the world to reassure customers that Thailand is safe to visit. We are trying to mitigate any fallout from the fuel and political issues with prompt and effective action through the travel and tourism trade, where appropriate, that will be positive for customers. Refunds, fee waiving and an interim payment were made to passengers affected by cancellation of flights caused by the recent political situation,” Mr. Pandit Chanapai said.
Mr Pandit Chanapai has instructed every THAI’s overseas offices all over the world on accelerated sales and marketing push. THAI has also obtained assistance and recommendation from Star alliance for the Mega Familiarization trip. Star Alliance, of which THAI is a founding member, is the world’s largest airline network.
As part of Thailand’s tourism recovery plan, THAI and TAT will be co-hosting a “Thailand Invitation” Mega Familiarization trip for over 800 media representatives and travel operators worldwide, all of which will be flown to/from Thailand courtesy of THAI. From the official event commencing from the 8th of October, the participants will be presented with opportunities to experience products from various categories presented under the Seven Amazing Wonders of Thailand theme. They will be invited to different part of the country, with travel itinerary featuring 30 routes, covering Northern and Northeastern Thailand as well as routes in Phuket and Krabi.

tourism buoyed but tat has work to do

2008-09-16T06:28:00.001-07:00

         Agency needs to urgently reassure world that normalcy has returned
          Tourism operators yesterday expressed optimism that ending the state of emergency in Bangkok would win back visitor confidence, noting that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would need to work harder to tell the world that the political situation has returned to some sort of normalcy.
          Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said the tourism industry should get nearly back on track during the coming high season, following the interim government's withdrawal of the emergency decree on Sunday.
          ATTA expects many countries will now cancel their travel advisories issued during the weeks of political chaos, but operators have not seen any such move yet.
          Many foreigners who postponed their trips during the turmoil will come back, Apichart said. However, inbound tour operators this week saw slow advance bookings.
          "ATTA and the Tourism Council of Thailand and 60 tourism associations will talk about the situation in Bangkok today to initiate measures to boost tourism," Apichart said.
          Somboon Jirayus from the Phuket Tourism Business Association said the lifting of the state of emergency was the first step in letting the world know that Thailand was recovering its composure.
          The TAT must inform all countries, particular the 23 that issued warnings against travelling to the Kingdom, including China, which is now planning to send some groups to Thailand during the long holiday early next year, he said.
          The two protesting camps need to talk about solutions so that tourist confidence can be restored. However, the tourism business will run as usual despite the soaring oil price, he said.
          Methee Tunmanatrakul, vice president of the Thai Hotels Association's southern chapter, said tourism in Phuket and the Andaman Coast would be better in 2009 thanks to the emergency decree's revocation.
          The tourism industry will benefit from the absence of the state of emergency, as more foreign visitors should return, said Krabi Tourist Association president Amarit Siripornjuthakul.
          Sentiment in the provinces along the Andaman Coast has improved but the government should strive to inform the international community that conditions in Thailand have stabilised and the tourism industry is ready to accommodate visitors.
          Itthirit Kinglek, owner of the Ao Nang Princeville Resort, said that while the state of emergency was in place, about 10 to 20 per cent of bookings at the resort had been cancelled. He said the resort had since won back some guests.
          Chinaphat Mannae, manager of the Krabi Southern Free Shop, said the benefits of the revocation remained unclear. She said 70 to 80 per cent of customers had disappeared during the political disturbance, which included the provincial-airport siege as well as the state of emergency.
          Visut Buachum, tourism bureau chief in Mae Hong Son, said more tour packages had been sold to foreign investors since the lifting of the state of emergency. He noted that if the news did not spread as fast as expected, business operators may need to come up with promotions and public relations activities.
          "Overall, the situation is not that worrisome. Though the number of foreign tourists is declining, the number of newcomers has been rising. This should offset some losses," he said.
          Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com

Cambodia gripes that Thailand is 'testing patience'

2008-09-15T07:18:00.001-07:00

Cambodia gripes that Thailand is 'testing patience'
          Phnom Penh (dpa) - Last week, Cambodia said it was content to be patient with Thailand over disputed border areas, but claims Thai troops had moved into a third border temple area over the weekend have freshly irked Cambodia, the government said Monday.
          Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said by telephone that claims Thai troops had moved into an area close to Ta Krabey temple, close to the Ta Moan temple complex which is also in dispute, had angered the government and Cambodia was preparing to appeal to a "third international party" to intervene.
          "We are preparing our documents. We will see if Thailand changes its character or not. If not, we will go to an international agency to mediate," Kanharith said.
          Thai troops moved into what Thailand says is disputed territory and Cambodia says is sovereign around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple in July, just a week after UNESCO awarded the temple World Heritage listing over Thai objections.
          Ta Moan, 150 kilometres to the west, soon also drew Cambodian complaints, with claims of Thai encroachment, and now Ta Krabey.
          Thailand says the claims are baseless and it has always had troops stationed near the latter two temples.
          Last week Kanharith said Cambodia was prepared to give Thailand time to sort out its turbulent political affairs before delayed bilateral border talks, several rounds of which have so far failed to reach an agreement, were resumed.
          However local media, including Khmer-language Rasmei Kampuchea daily, reported over the weekend that Prime Minister Hun Sen's patience has been tested over the latest developments and he had called for all relevant authorities to prepare a case to take to an international mediator which Cambodia has not yet identified.
          Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com

3rd Ld Writethru: Thai court approves arrest warrants to protest leaders

2008-08-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

BANGKOK, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Criminal Court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants to nine leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for instigating unrest in the capital by leading protesters against government institutions.

Later in the evening, the Civil Court also issued an injunction, ordering the protesters to immediately leave the Government House compound, which they have occupied since Tuesday afternoon and used as a rally venue to call for the step-down of the government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

The injunction also ordered the protesters to stop blocking roads accessing Government House.

The court cited that the protests affected the works of government officials and the Cabinet, which was forced to hold its weekly meeting on Tuesday at a different venue.

The Criminal Court reportedly issued the arrest warrants early Wednesday afternoon.

The accused included the PAD's five core leaders -- media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, retired Major General Chamlong Srimuang, Piphop Thongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, and PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila, as well as three other activist leaders -- Chat Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornrattananond and Terdphoom Jaidee.

The nine were charged with severe offences including rebellion, rebellious attempt, storing weapons, inciting unrest and disorder in society and refusing to obey police orders, by organizing thousands of its supporters to besiege and trespass state institutions including the Government House, several ministries' office compound and the state-run NBT TV station since early Tuesday.

Related penalty will be a maximum five-year jail-term.

The leaders earlier said they were not afraid of arrests and named a list of successors to carry on the protests.

The successors include Sawit Kaewwan, a union leader for state enterprises, Sirichai Maingam, leader of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Union, and Samran Rodphet, former member of the National Legislative Assembly.

By press time several thousands PAD-led protesters continued their occupation at the government seat, where they camped overnight. It's estimated that more than 2,000 police forces, including riot police, were deployed around and in the Government House.

After Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej gave ultimatum Tuesday afternoon to the protesters for them to retreat and demanded the police forces to bring back law and order in the capital, police had tried to negotiate the protesters out of the compound, but to no avail.

Police on Wednesday issued more than one warning to ask the PAD protesters to leave the compound immediately, but the PAD people, many of whom reportedly transported here from provinces out of Bangkok, remained unmoved. They were even in a party-like mood as they sang with umbrellas overhead when heavy rain befell in Bangkok Wednesday afternoon.

The PAD also used a few trucks to block different gates of the Government House compound, while many of its supporters crowded in front of the gates, in an effort to prevent the police from making arrests of the leaders. Enditem
3rd Ld Writethru: Thai court approves arrest warrants to protest leaders
Source - Xinhua News Agency (Eng)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 22:51

Fighting for gold

2008-08-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Somjit Jongjohor landed his biggest prize in the final fight of his career, but Manus Boonjumnong failed to become Thailand's first two-time Olympic champion when the two fighters contested the boxing finals at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday night.
Flyweight (51kg)
Gold: Somjit Jongjohor (Thailand) .

Light Welterweight (64kg)
Gold: Felix Diaz (Dominican Republic)
Silver: Manus Boonjumnong (Thailand)
Somjit overpowered Andris Laffita of Cuba. He held up a picture of His Majesty the King before the world immediately after his victory, and also announced his retirement from the ring.
The Thai boxer opened up a 6-0 lead after two rounds with effective counter-punching, using his speed to stay out of harm's way and then kept out of trouble in the last two rounds.
"All my life I've been waiting for today. I went through so much, hurt so much but I have tried my hardest," said Somjit.
The 33-year-old Buri Ram province native, who also was world champion in 2003, said the Olympic triumph will be the last fight of his career. He dedicated the gold medal victory to his son, Kampan, whose birthday was also on Saturday.
His Cuban opponent paid him some tribute. "I knew this bout was going to be very hard," said Laffita. "He's a good boxer, although I think that either one of us could have won."
Somjit credited his success to hard work.
"For the past 12 years I've been through many obstacles. If I didn't fight through those challenges, then I'd just be a normal boxer," said Somjit.
"Everyone who puts in effort on the job that they do can become a success like me."
Manus, the defending champion who won gold at the 2004 Athens Games, lost the final to a better boxer in Felix Diaz of the Dominican Republic.
In a brawling four rounds, Diaz continuously beat the Thai to the punch, scoring heavily with rights to the head and a series of body blows. Diaz pulled away in the third round and Manus never rallied.
Diaz went into the fight as underdog but refused to be roughed up by his Thai opponent. The Dominican eventually gained the upper hand in the third round, outscoring the Thai 8-1 and forcing him to take a standing count thanks to a flush left hook.
Manus was a shadow of the fighter who beat Cuba's Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo in his semi-final bout Friday and Diaz could even afford a spot of showboating to the crowd in the final round as he cruised to a 12-4 points win.
The Diaz victory was only the second gold medal the Dominican Republic has ever won at the Olympics, and the the first gold medal in boxing. The country of 10 million people shares the Carribean island of Hispaniola with Cuba,
Medal standings
Place Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
30 Thailand 2 2 0 4
Summary of Somjit's bout from the official Olympics report:
The fight started conservatively, with Laffita Hernandez being the more aggressive boxer but struggling to keep his footing on a couple of occasions. Somjit seemed intent on throwing punches at the Cuban boxer's ribcage and scored a couple of points in the first round.
In the second round, the experienced Thai boxer held back and waited for the Cuban to open up his defense. Somjit picked up four points in the second round, while Laffita Hernandez remained scoreless. One punch by Somjit connected solidly with Laffita Hernandez's head.
The Cuban boxer scored his first point of the bout early in the third round, but Somjit picked up another two points by exploiting the frustrated Cuban boxer.
Laffita Hernandez scored a second point in the fourth round, while Somjit was content to stay out of harm's way, knowing that he had secured the first gold medal of the Olympic boxing competition.
Source From Bangkokpost.com

Nong Kae lifts gold

2008-08-10T23:35:00.000-07:00

Beijing - Prapawadee Jaroenrattanakoon was unbeatable in the clean and jerk at the Beijing Olympics as she won the second consecutive women's 53-kilo featherweight weightlifting gold for Thailand - and set an Olympics record.

It was a terrific comeback for Thailand after two other top lifters failed. Pensiri Laosirikul could only finish fifth, while Premsiri Bunpithak could not make a single successful lift in an event which was comfortably won by China's Chen Xiexia on Saturday.

Correction: In previous reports, the first name of Prapawadee was mistransliterated.

The 24-year-old Thai lifter - nickname Nong Kae - used to be known as Junpim Kuntataen, but said a fortune teller told her to change her name last year to improve her luck, and it seems to have worked.

"I changed the name because I wanted to win the Olympic Games," she said. "I don't know if you believe in fortune tellers but she said that if I change my name I will win gold."

She was tied with Novikava after the snatch, but clinched the win with her first clean and jerk at 120 kgs (264 pounds), a weight than no one else was able to match.

After setting the Olympic record in her second attempt, Prapawadee went for a world record clean and jerk in her third lift. But 126 kgs (277.2 pounds) was too much, and she gave up halfway through the lift, laughing.

"I don't mind that I didn't get the record. I just wanted a medal," she said.

Asian champion Prapawadee , 25, won with 221kg, leaving only the silver for Yoon Jin-Hee of South Korea and bronze for Nastassia Novikava of Belarus, who both lifted 213kg. Yoon got the silver owing to her lower weight at the pre-competition weigh-in.

Novikova and Prapawadee were tied on 95kg after the snatch portion, with Yoon on 94.

But the Thai then added an Olympic clean and jerk record 126kg for an undisputed gold. Thai IOC member Nat Indrapana, draped the medal around his countrywoman's neck.

Yoon was second on 119kg and Novikova on 118kg.

It was the second straight gold for Thailand in the event following Udomporn Polsak's success 2004 in Athens. (dpa)

It was a terrific comeback for Thailand after two other top lifters failed. Pensiri Laosirikul could only finish fifth, while Premsiri Bunpithak could not make a single successful lift in an event which was comfortably won by China's Chen Xiexia on Saturday.

Earlier report:
Disappointing start for Thailand as pair miss out on medals
By Wanchai Rujawongsanti
Bangkok Post Sports Editor
There were only tears from the two Thai weightlifters in the women's 48kg competition yesterday.
Pensiri Laosirikul could only finish fifth, while Premsiri Bunpithak could not make a single successful lift in an event which was comfortably won by China's Chen Xiexia.
The duo, who are both 24 and were tipped to win Thailand's first medal of the Beijing Games, burst into tears after the competition.
It was a miserable day for Pensiri as her room in Chiang Mai was hit by a fire during the competition, killing her two dogs.
"How unlucky I am," said the Nakhon Si Thammarat native.
She was told about the fire after her failure to win a medal and was still crying over the double setback hours after the competition.
Pensiri failed to lift 85kg in her first two attempts in snatch but managed to clear it in the third and final effort. She then cleared 110kg in clean and jerk but could not lift 114kg in her last two attempts.
Her total was 195kg, just one kg behind Chen Wei-Ling of Taiwan, who won bronze, and Im Jyounghwa of South Korea. Taiwan are now coached by former Thailand coach Zhang Jiamin of China who guided the Thai lifters to clinch two gold and two bronze medals at the 2004 Games.
Chen lifted 95kg and 117kg for 212kg and set new Olympic records in clean and jerk and total weight. Sibel Ozkan of Turkey took silver after lifts of 88kg and 111kg for 199kg.
Pensiri said she had done much better in training and at the recent National Championships when she managed 91kg in the snatch and 116 in the clean and jerk.
"I felt the weight was light but I don't know why I could not lift it," she said.
"I had a chance to win medal but could not take it."
Pensiri said she had been confident that either she or Premsiri or would have a podium finish but both suffered a heartbreaking end.

Premsiri failed in all her attempts to clear 84kg in snatch and was eliminated. She said she gave her all but she was unfit and only fought with her heart.

She revealed that she had been sidelined for one month due to a back injury and only returned to training 10 days before the Games. "Being here was already good enough for me," said the Suphan Buri star. "I am sorry to disappoint Thais."
Premsiri, who weighed 47.95kg for the competition, also had weight problems during the weigh-in and had to take time to make the 48kg limit. "I will fight on," said Premsiri.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn watched the competition at the BUAA Gymnasium. She was accompanied by Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat and Thai Olympic chief Yutthasak Sasiprapha.
According to Charouck Arirachakaran, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, the Princess praised the two lifters for their efforts and said she would follow the other Thai lifters on TV.
The burden to win Thailand's first medal of the Games now rests on the shoulders of Prapawadee Jaroenrattanakoon who will compete in the 53kg today.
"I don't feel any pressure but I won't take anything for granted although there are no lifters from China and Taiwan in this division," said Prapawadee, one of the favourites.

The Thai female weightlifting squad claimed two gold and two bronze medals in weightlifting at the 2004 Games. However, gold medallists Udomporn Polsak and Pawina Thongsuk and bronze winner Aree Wiratthaworn have retired.
Athens bronze medallist Wandee Kamaeim is the only female lifter left from the 2004 Olympics. She will take part in the 58kg division in Beijing.
Thailand had aimed to win four medals in weightlifting in Beijing.

School head badly hurt by shooter

2008-08-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

YALA : A school director received serious gunshot wounds in a drive-by shooting in Muang district yesterday afternoon, local police said.
Police said Sitthichai Jan-apiban, Ban Krong Pinang school director, 54, was shot by a motorcycle pillion rider while on his way home from the school with his wife.
Mr Sitthichai was hit three times while his wife escaped unharmed.
Police believed the gun attack might have been the work of a local insurgent group.
In Narathiwat, a bomb exploded near a security coordination station in Muang district on Monday night. No casualties were reported.

Police said the blast took place at a food shop opposite the station. At the time, it was manned by several staff.
The station was set up to get local people involved in quelling the unrest in the strife-torn South.
In neighbouring Pattani, a group of 160 security volunteers from eight districts of Yala received a 30-day training programme to boost their skills.
The opening ceremony of the training took place in a military camp in Yarang district yesterday.
Source From Bangkokpost.com

Chaos on first day of free rides

2008-08-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

Long waits, big crowds for bus, train services
The government's six-month package of free train and bus rides caused chaos and confusion among commuters on the first day of its launch. ''Go inside and stay close. The doors cannot be closed now. Share space, please,'' said Somthawil Rodrasami, a bus conductor of passenger bus No 29 running between Rangsit and Hua Lamphong.
The conductor's non-airconditioned bus provided free services under the government's scheme to ease the financial burden of the public.
On the first day of free rides, the number of passengers using her bus doubled during the morning rush hour. The bus was crowded with up to 270 passengers a trip, said Mrs Somthawil.
Pin-anong, a company employee, said she took a free ride on bus No 70 running between Prachanives 3 and Sanam Luang, but she was not happy with the service.
''It's crowded and hot. I have to wait at least half an hour for a bus offering free services. Other passengers have to wait more than one hour for the arrival of only one bus. So who can go to work on time? I had better take a pay-bus service so I will neither waste time nor become stressed,'' said Mrs Pin-anong.
Pimchanok Kaewmongkok, a secondary school student, said she did not want to pin her hopes on the free bus services as she had to wait several hours for a bus.
However, Nongnutch, 60, said the free rides won her heart.
In recent months, she had opted to stay at home to save money.
On the first day of free bus rides, she left her home in Charansanitwong to get on bus No 203 to Sanam Luang. The free service saved her about 50 baht a day.
Boonsri Thonprom, a housewife, said she caught the normal bus, mistaking it for a special bus, and left it after the conductor came to collect the fare.
Office worker Suthin, 42, said he set off early to catch the free bus offered close to his home, but it is not because he is poor. He said the service was free because the government was subsidising it.
''There's no free lunch. Why do I have to pay twice?'' he said.
He pays income tax and should not have to open his wallet when the government is ''generous'' enough to come up with a scheme which dents the public purse.
The free train service also received mixed reactions from passengers. Most said the free service was too limited in scope as it was available only on short-route and non-express trains.
Suchitra Sirichan, a cloth vendor who boarded a Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani train service yesterday, said she was disappointed that the free ride did not include long-distance trips.
''Only small groups of people living in Bangkok and urban areas will benefit from the scheme. Those who live in remote areas who have low incomes will still have to pay,'' said Ms Suchitra.
Free train services available under the scheme run from Bangkok to satellite provinces such as Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Ratchaburi, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Hua Hin station in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Passengers travelling from Bangkok have to pay if they get off the line further on from these stations.
Kamnan Thongkaewla-ead, 67, who paid a full-price train ticket to Pattani province, said he did not expect any substantial benefit from the scheme.
''It is just a show the government uses to gain support from the public,'' he said.
Passenger Chintana Ratanaburi, who travelled to Phichit, said she was happy with the free-ride initiative because she could take a free train to meet her son in the province more often.
However, she said it was a shame the service did not last longer. The free-ride scheme runs until January 31.
The State Railway of Thailand predicts train passengers will increase 20% during the period.
Chiang Mai railway station was quiet as most people were not aware that free services were offered. In Nakhon Ratchasima, free train rides confused people as trains that offered free services were not clearly marked
Source From Bangkokpost.com

Samak govt will last for six months

2008-07-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

Democrat Suthep says PM buying time
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government will probably stay alive until at least the end of the year, predicts Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban. Mr Samak will give some hints about how he intends to get his government through its worst political crisis in his weekly political broadcast today.
Mr Suthep said yesterday the ruling People Power party (PPP) can buy at least six months until the Constitution Court hands down a verdict on whether the party should be dissolved for electoral fraud.
He said a House dissolution is likely to be the last resort for the PPP as long as it has yet to complete the constitutional amendments it wants.

''Mr Samak will struggle on by reshuffling the cabinet so the government is refreshed, and it may survive until the end of the year or January next year,'' he said.
Mr Suthep said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is believed to be pulling the strings behind the Samak administration, will be trying to get Article 309 of the constitution repealed.
The provision deals with the work of the Assets Scrutiny Committee, whose term has now run out.

''Dissolving the House seems out of the question and it does raise risks for Mr Thaksin. In the case of a House dissolution, at least four months would elapse before a new government is formed.
''By that time, his court trial will be over,'' he said.
The Democrats yesterday called for a reshuffle of economic ministers, saying the government's team had failed to solve economic problems, which are now a priority.
Meanwhile, PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrachang said the party has given Mr Samak full authority to reshuffle the cabinet.
Mr Kudep said all party members support Mr Samak's decision, and insisted there would be no lobbying attempts that would lead to conflicts within the party.

Mr Samak would neither resign from his post or dissolve parliament, he said.
''We are inviting anyone who is capable to join us in a ministerial post, but they need to know that it is not some kind of reward, but is likely to involve sacrifice,'' said Mr Kudep.
The PPP was ready to form a new party with the Chart Thai and Matchimathipataya parties, if the three were dissolved.
The Election Commission has decided to ask the Constitution Court to dissolve the Chart Thai and Matchimathipataya parties after their executives committed election fraud.
The PPP is expected to meet the same fate after the Supreme Court affirmed the red card against its former deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat.
Pressure over the Preah Vihear temple saga has also hurt the government.
Political scientists are split over what the prime minister should do.
Sombat Thamrongthanyawong of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) said Mr Samak should dissolve the House, form a new political party and field candidates for the next election with clean records.
Mr Sombat said Mr Samak may choose to reshuffle the cabinet, resign, or even let the Democrat party form a new coalition administration.
''Any option he takes involves risks. And if Mr Samak stays on and chooses to amend the constitution, he will stir up political turmoil which will finally force him to dissolve the House,'' he said.
Prayat Hongthongkham, a former dean of Chulalongkorn University's political science faculty, considers a major cabinet reshuffle to clear the decks a better move. He said dissolving the House would not solve the political impasse because the Election Commission will still have to ask the Constitution Court to rule if the PPP should be held responsible for poll fraud.
''A major cabinet reshuffle is highly likely. At the end of the month, two or three ministers might have to suspend their duties due to the digit lottery case. I believe the government will turn the crisis into an opportunity,'' he said.
By King-oua Laohong
SOURCE BANGKOKPOST.NET

Perfect Spa Experience at Spa De Concorde

2008-06-21T23:36:00.001-07:00

Swissotel Le Concorde Bangkok’s Spa De Concorde offers the special promotion; “Perfect Spa Experience”, perfect set to make beautiful and happy on your whole body and mind, from now till end of July.

With the natural body therapies touch of the senses in 4 steps; Aroma Steam to reveal the pore with aromatic smell then clean the dirt away from your skin by natural scrub before massage by aromatherapy oil and facial treatment, in the special price only Baht 3,800 from original price Baht 4,400.
Spa De Concorde opens daily from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. For more information and reservations, please call 0 2694 2222 ext. 1717.
For more information, please contact:
Kunjarika Kunjara
Boderat Kuratchatchaval
Sarin Saktaipattana
Marketing Communications Department
Source from http://www.thailand4.com

Army says all its land in use

2008-06-13T07:33:00.001-07:00

The government's plan to distribute unused land owed by the State Property Bureau to poor farmers could hit a snag _ the armed forces don't want to give it up.
The largest share of the bureau's land is rented by the Defence Ministry, which will be the first agency asked to hand some of it back, a source at the Treasury Department said.
The department, which oversees the property bureau, was on Tuesday ordered by the cabinet to get one million rai of land back from other agencies, so it can be allocated to landless farmers.
Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda had ordered a review of bureau-owned land countrywide to consider how much the army could return to the owner, and quickly came up with the answer.
''We've replied to the bureau that all the land is being used,'' the source said.
Many areas have been turned in to bases for military units or training sites, or set aside for ''secret'' purposes. The rest of the land is covered by vast tracks of forest, according to the source.
Deputy army spokeswoman Col Sirichan Ngathong said the answer was not final. ''But whether we would give some back to the government depends on our commander,'' she said.
The army is believed to control most of the land the Defence Ministry rents from the property bureau. It has four million rai in 58 provinces.
The bureau has 12.5 million of land in all provinces. Much of it is in Kanchanaburi followed by Surat Thani, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Kalasin. The rent is just 20 baht per rai.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has set three months as the deadline for the plan to be realised
Source From Bangkokpost.net

Killer of Marines dead

2008-06-08T01:16:00.001-07:00

A southern insurgent with a million-baht bounty on his head for the brutal 2005 murders of two kidnapped Marines died in a gunfight with government forces in Narathiwat province, police said on Saturday, after a night of insurgent terror attacks.
Alinsan Nikaji was killed after 100 police and soldiers sealed off the village of Tanyong Limo in a hunt for a suspected militant hideout.

A 20-minute gun battle broke out as government forces found four suspected rebels inside a home in the village. Alinsan, 25, was killed during the battle.
Thai authorities had a 1 million baht ($30,000) reward for Alinsan, who was wanted in the hostage-taking that ended when he and accomplices beat the two Marines to death in Tanyong Limo in 2005.
Two other men, each with 500,000-baht rewards on their heads, were arrested after the Friday night firefight, police said.
In the hostage crisis in Tanyong Limo, hundreds of veiled women and young children dramatically faced down heavily armed soldiers for 18 hours, while militants held the two Marines hostage inside the village's mosque.
The women only allowed the soldiers to enter the village after the Marines had been savagely beaten to death, and the hostage takers had escaped.
The Friday raid on Tanyong Limo came during a bloody night of insurgent terrorist attacks.
Two Muslim construction workers, aged 24 and 29, were shot dead late Friday in an insurgent murder in Songkhla province, while a 50-year-old Buddhist woman was murdered in a drive-by shooting in nearby Yala, also by suspected rebels, police said.
A 48-year-old Muslim man was gunned down late Friday inside his home in Narathiwat province, while a 23-year-old Muslim rubber tapper was shot dead in the same province early Saturday. (BangkokPost.com, Agencies)
source from Bangkokpost.net

THAI and SCB Introduce ATM e-Ticket Payment

2008-05-31T21:06:00.001-07:00

THAI Airways International Public Company Limited led by Danuj Bunnag, Vice President of Marketing Planning/ Revenue Management and Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited’s Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer Charamporn Jotikasthira recently organized a press conference at SCB head office to introduce ‘SCB ATM e-Ticket Payment’, the latest truly online service for SCB customers using their ATM cards for THAI tickets payment on traveling within Thailand.

SCB customers are able to make payment at over 5,000 ATMs across the country, simply make reservation at THAI Contact Center 0-2356-1111.
Seen in photo from left are:
1. SCB presenter showing SCB ATM e-Ticket Payment
2. Mr.Grish Attagrish , SCB’s Executive Vice President, Head Corporate Division 2
3. Mr. Charamporn
4. Mr. Danuj
5. Ms.Ratanawalee Loharjun, THAI’s Director of Brand Management and Commercial Communications Dept
6. THAI presenter showing SCB ATM e-Ticket Payment
For more information, please contact
Maxima Consultants Company Tel 02-434-8300, 02-434-8547
Suchinda, Saengnapa, Chinnaree

Source from http://www.thailand4.com

PM issues ultimatum

2008-05-31T04:04:00.001-07:00

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Saturday ordered the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to end their street protest by nightfall because it is blocking normal movement. The supreme commander said troops have not been ordered to use force - yet.
Core leaders of the protest movement were meeting Saturday afternoon to decide their next steps. They announced on Friday they would continue their protest in order to topple the government. Several thousand demonstrators remained at the protest site. In a nationally televised speech on Saturday morning, Mr Samak said the week-long protest had created troubles for other people, including blocking traffic.
Demonstrators must leave the area "within today", said Mr Samak, and police and soldiers were on standby to act if needed. He said there was no question he would yield to protesters' demands to step down.

Supreme Commander Boonsang Niampradit told reporters on Saturday morning that he had not ordered troops to prepare to use force to disperse the PAD protest. He said he has not discussed the situation with Mr Samak directly, but that he has been monitoring news about the rally closely.
He said soldiers have the duty to follow orders, and that they will have to follow the premier's order if he gives one.
The PAD had earlier demanded the impeachment of government MPs and senators who had endorsed the government's plan to amend the 2007 constitution.
The government's motion to amend the charter, written by military-appointed legal and constitutional experts, was automatically dropped on Friday after more senators withdrew their support for the charter rewrite motion, and automaticatically lost legal status.
Some members of the People Power Party, led by Mr Samak, vowed to try to would renew the bid to rewrite the charter and collect signatures of supporting MPs later.

The PAD protesters and supporters have demanded that the coalition government resign because it is nothing but a puppet government under the direction of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
They also said they would move the site of protest - now near the UN building in the old area of Bangkok - to nearby Government House. (BangkokPost.com, TNA)
Source From BangKokpost.net

Police arrest key suspect in southern insurgency

2008-05-26T07:46:00.001-07:00

A wanted insurgent suspect was arrested in Yala's Than To district yesterday.
Acting on a tip from an informant, authorities scoured Jaropae village and found Masoguelee Asu, 30, a suspected leader of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil militant unit which is active in the area.
The group is believed to be responsible for an ambush in the district on Feb 11 which injured four border patrol officers
Mr Masoguelee was wanted on an arrest warrant for charges of attempted murder, criminal association and teaming up to oppose the authorities.
In Narathiwat, Deputy Education Minister Boonlue Prasertsopha, who travelled to Muang district to hear first-hand about problems education institutions were facing, promised to propose that cabinet allocate 400 million baht for the construction of new buildings for community colleges in the three southernmost provinces.
He said education was the best cure in the long run for security problems.
As well, to solve a shortage of doctors and nurses in the region, he recommended that Princess of Naradhiwas University admit more medical students in the upcoming semester.

He said higher education institutions in the South had enough teachers. There was only a need to adjust the education programmes to social contexts, such as introducing courses in the operation of halal food businesses.
Mr Boonlue also asked universities to admit poor students who had successfully passed the admissions process, without waiting until they were granted student loans.
He vowed that the Student Loan Fund would grant poor students loans of 150,000-200,000 baht and asked university executives to help correct the wrong perception of students who saw authorities as rivals.
Source from
ISARA NEWS CENTRE
Bangkokpost.com

Thailand Tourism Awards Launched

2008-05-24T22:55:00.001-07:00

HE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently launched the first Thailand Tourism Awards aimed at giving recognition to those organisations which contribute to the country's sustainable tourism development. The awards comprise six categories and the winners will be selected by a panel of judges who have expertise in their respective fields of responsibility.

According to TAT Governor Seree Wangpaichitr, the event is part of the TAT's commitment to sustainable tourism development. "Tourism is a business sector which depends very much on the sustainable management of resources. We have always realised this characteristic of the industry , and as a result the TAT has placed continuous emphasis on this issue.

And because this year is so special, with Thailand celebrating the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne, as well it being the 36th anniversary of the TAT, we decided to organise this very special event, "he said. He added that the Thailand Tourism Awards will open a new page of tourism history in Thailand as business operators and the public will be well aware of the importance of conservation and management of resources to tourism and economic development.

Meanwhile, the event is also considered an tool to promote product development in line with global trends, in terms of a higher degree of liberalisation and environmental concern. The Thailand Tourism Awards comprise six categories including Best Tour Programme, Best Tourist attraction, Best Conservation/Preservation Project, Best Travel Article/Television documentary. Each category is broken down into divisions.

The Best Tour Programme covers In-bound Tour Programmes and Domestic Tour Programmes.

Best Tourist Attraction includes Natural,Cultural, Recreational and City/Community Attractions. Best Tourist Accommodation is divided by region into Bangkok, Central, Northeastern, Northern and Southern regions. Applications can be submitted both from direct applicants or by nomination, with detailed project descriptions as well as implementation process and project evaluation.

This will be combined with a public opinion survey carried out by the Rajabhat Institute Suan Dusit. The judging process will begin in September, culminating with an inspection tour by the committee.

"In addition, the organising committee of the TAT has received very kind support from Ajarn Nonthivathu Chandhanaphalin , Dean of Silpakorn University's Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, who designed and will be handling the making of the awards. Ajarn Nonthiwat is one of the country's most eminent sculptors whose latest work was for His Majesty the King's Maha Janaka project, explained governor Seree.

The award has been designed in the form of a Kinnaree, a mythical being that is half-woman half-bird. The Kinnaree, representing Thai arts and culture, holds a lotus flower in one hand and a pigeon in the other. The lotus symbolises the highest quality of nature, while the pigeon represents the unity and solidarity of the people.

Thaksin turns on Jakrapob

2008-05-21T06:36:00.001-07:00

PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair is now under fire from all sides after Thaksin Shinawatra demanded he take responsibility for a controversial speech considered by many as an attempt to challenge the royal institution.
Mr Thaksin sent the message distancing himself from Mr Jakrapob through another former prime minister, Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, during talks at the 76th birthday of the former army chief at his house in Nonthaburi last Thursday.
Gen Chavalit unveiled Mr Thaksin's call yesterday, the same day police began investigating Mr Jakrapob's actions and the opposition moved for his replacement.
The embattled minister also faces pressure from the People Power party (PPP) to resign to bring an end to the problem, but he is insisting on fighting to prove his innocence.
''Pol Lt-Col Thaksin is very concerned about what Mr Jakrapob said. I remember that Pol Lt-Col Thaksin said Mr Jakrapob would have to be responsible for the issue and should know what to do,'' Gen Chavalit told reporters.
Mr Thaksin was referring to Mr Jakrapob's remarks delivered at the forum organised by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) in August of last year.
Gen Chavalit once worked under Mr Thaksin. He led most of the members of New Aspiration, the party he founded, to eventually join Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party.
A police source said the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) will investigate the allegation that Mr Jakrapob had challenged the royal institution during his address in English at the FCCT.
CIB chief Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn Nonsee has formed a committee to handle the investigation into Mr Jakrapob's remarks at the foreign correspondents' club, the source said.

The panel comprises deputy CIB chief Pol Maj-Gen Somdet Khaokham as its head, Pol Col Somyos Promnim, deputy chief of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), as the committee's deputy chief, and five interrogators from the CSD.
The action is being taken in response to the lese majeste complaint filed by Pol Lt-Col Watanasak Moongkijakandee, an interrogator from the Bang Mod police station in Bangkok.
The probe committee will meet tomorrow. It is waiting for the Thai translation of Mr Jakrapob's remarks.
Mr Jakrapob, who has actively supported Mr Thaksin, especially since the Sept 19, 2006 coup that ended the Thaksin administration, stood by his position that he was innocent and had no intention of criticising the monarchy.
He said the previous translation of his remarks at the FCCT was incorrect and was aimed at attacking the current government.
Mr Jakrapob will issue a ''correct'' translation that, he said, would put an end to the matter so that he could concentrate on his job in the government.
He hoped that Gen Chavalit, whom he met on Monday in Nakhon Phanom, would help him clarify the issue and his remarks at the FCCT.
Mr Jakrapob denied that his meeting with Gen Chavalit was arranged on purpose, saying it was a coincidence as he had to work in the northeastern province at the time. PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrajang has demanded that Mr Jakrapob step down from his cabinet post.
But the minister is banking on support from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, confident that the premier would stand by him. Mr Samak knew who was behind the attempt to rock the government by using him as a target, Mr Jakrapob said.
Opposition and Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged Mr Samak to reconsider Mr Jakrapob's position in the cabinet. The minister was not suitable for a cabinet seat due to his behaviour, he said.
Mr Abhisit said he would give Mr Samak some time as he had just filed his complaint about Mr Jakrapob along with the translation last Friday.
If Mr Samak ended up ignoring the issue, he could be considered as having neglected his duty, the opposition leader said.
''The act of ignoring many issues in the past has caused problems to get out of control,'' Mr Abhisit said.
He denied that the Democrats' action against Mr Jakrapob was aimed at attacking the prime minister or the government.
The Democrats will also file a motion to seek impeachment of Mr Jakrapob with Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej today.
Opposition chief whip Sathit Wongnongtoey said the Democrats are accusing Mr Jakrapob of meddling with the work of the media and of using the National Broadcasting Service of Thailand (NBT) as a political tool.
NBT, formerly Channel 11 television, is now under the supervision of the Public Relations Department.
Mr Sathit alleged that Mr Jakrapob had been involved in bids to take control of some radio stations and to acquire a production company for the NBT.
The Democrats' impeachment motion to be lodged with the Senate Speaker comprises more than 10 pages of complaints against Mr Jakrapob, as well as over 100 pages of documentary evidence including a list of witness, VCDs and DVDs.
Sorce from Bangkokpost.net

Thai help accepted

2008-05-14T07:19:00.001-07:00

On the 12th day of the Burmese cyclone
disaster, the military junta has agreed to welcome an all-Thai medical
relief team sent by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
to help the victims.

Public
Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab said 30 volunteer doctors will help
treat Burmese victims of Cyclone Nargis, which devastated much of
Rangoon and the southern rice delta on May 2 and 3.

Psychiatrists are also part of the
team, and will be able to deal with trauma among the surivors, most of
whom have been neglected for more than 10 days by the junta.

The medical team is tol leave Thailand on Friday, and will be on duty in Burma for two weeks.

On Tuesday, His Majesty the King
urged Thai people to help Cyclone Nargis victims. The cabinet also
approved a grant of $500,000 (16 million baht) for Burma.

According to World Health
Organisation figures based on junta reports, 31,938 people were killed,
1,403 injured and 29,770 were missing since the cyclone hit Burma.
source from Bangkokpost

Surayud to fly to Burma to negotiate

2008-05-11T08:23:00.001-07:00

Privy Councillor and former prime minister Surayud Chulanont and a six-member entourage will reportedly fly to Burma's new capital Naypyidaw today in an effort to convince the ruling junta to accept humanitarian aid for cyclone victims.
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama was reported to have told reporters in Japan that one of the missions of Gen Surayud's delegation was to convince the Burmese government to accept humanitarian aid from other countries and allow international aid workers into the cyclone-ravaged country.
Gen Surayud's entourage includes air force commander-in-chief ACM Chalit Pookpasuk and Raja Prachanukroh Foundation secretary-general Prasong Phithunkijja. The foundation is under His Majesty the King's patronage.
They will also present aid packages provided by the King to the Burmese generals today.
The King yesterday instructed the foundation to send 2,000 bags of utensils and bedding weighing 10 tonnes to Burma.
The 2,000 "subsistence" bags will be flown to Rangoon today at 8.30am on a Thai Air Force C-130 aircraft, foundation officials said.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also ordered three electricity generators along with a second package of disaster relief aid to be sent to Burma yesterday.
The relief packages include 20 water purifiers and six boxes of water purifying tablets, 500 packs of basic commodities, 120 boxes of chocolate-malt powder, 63 large tents, 34 small tents and 300 pieces of plastic clothes.
The packages, prepared in cooperation between the air force, the Thai Red Cross and the Puen Pung (Pha) Yam Yak Volunteer Foundation, arrived in Rangoon at about 2.30pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, UN refugee agency UNHCR said its first trucks had arrived in Burma without a hitch yesterday, carrying 20 tons of emergency aid for survivors of the cyclone. The trucks, with enough emergency material to provide shelter for up to 10,000 people, crossed over from Thailand at the Friendship Bridge border at Mae Sot. They carried plastic sheets and tents.
"This convoy marks a positive step in an aid effort so far marked by challenges and constraints," said Raymond Hall, the UNHCR's chief representative in Thailand.
"We hope it opens up a possible corridor to allow more international aid to reach the cyclone victims.
"What we are sending in by road is in addition to the supplies we have already procured locally in Yangon and the 100 tons of supplies we started airlifting today from Dubai."
The UNHCR also started airlifting 100 tons of shelter supplies, including 4,500 plastic sheets and 17,000 blankets, from its Dubai stockpile to Rangoon early yesterday.
The first 33 tons left on a World Food Programme aircraft with two other flights scheduled for early next week.
The refugee agency is focusing on providing emergency shelter for the cyclone victims in the Irrawaddy delta and parts of Rangoon, which were among the worst hit.
More than one million people are estimated to have lost their homes after the cyclone hit last week.
The UNHCR has already distributed US$50,000 worth of shelter items bought locally in the aftermath of the storm.
The lorry convoy is expected to take about two days from the border to Rangoon in the south.
The supplies, raided by the UNHCR from its existing stockpiles normally intended for refugee camps scattered along the Thai-Burma border, will be distributed by UNHCR staff.
The UNHCR negotiated a concession for the border posts to stay open at the weekend to allow the convoys through.
The UNHCR launched a $187 million appeal for Burma on Friday which included $6 million to provide 250,000 cyclone victims with shelter.
Source from Bangkok Post

Hi-Thaksin website says 'bye' Thaksin

2008-04-29T08:00:00.001-07:00

The pro-Thaksin Shinawatra website hi-thaksin.net is being shut down at the request of the former prime minister, who says he wants to distance himself from politics.

The website was set up by Mr Thaksin's supporters shortly after the Sept 19, 2006 coup which removed him from office.

The site's webmaster, who identifies himself only as Pradab, said Mr Thaksin's personal spokesman Pongthep Thepkanchana has asked that Mr Thaksin's name not be used in any political context, because Mr Thaksin had already said he intended to stay right out of politics.

The webmaster said he believed Mr Pongthep was conveying a message from Mr Thaksin. The website had to shut down to protect Mr Thaksin because it was recently accused of insulting a highly-respected institution, the webmaster said.

He absolutely denied any wrongdoing.

It had earlier been intended to continue the website until the 2007 constitution is amended.

A message posted on the website yesterday announced it would be closed down in 48 hours.

The webmaster said the website had already accomplished its mission, that was to bring Mr Thaksin back to Thailand from self-exile after the coup.He denied his website was a political tool of Mr Thaksin or the People Power party (PPP) and insisted that he had not received any kind of support from Mr Thaksin.

Actually it was his website that supported Mr Thaksin by being a channel for the former premier to communicate with people. It also helped campaign for votes for the PPP, Pradab said.

Mr Thaksin has his own online mouthpiece at the truethaksin.com which has been expanded since hi-thaksin.net faced criticism over alleged lese majeste.
Source from Bangkokpost.net

PAD fights amendments

2008-04-20T00:27:00.001-07:00

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has threatened to hold a 20,000-signature collection campaign against MPs who join the bid by the government to amend the constitution.

The campaign will kick off at the PAD's second political forum on Friday at Thammasat University.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said the 20,000 signatures, which were expected to be gathered within 15 days, would be submitted to the Senate to impeach politicians supporting the move.

The activist was speaking after a PAD meeting at the October 14 Memorial at the Kok Wua intersection yesterday.

He said the group would also ask the Office of the Attorney-General to rule on the proposed amendments.

The PAD said confrontations were unavoidable in the next two months as PAD networks nationwide mobilise in mass demonstrations to oppose charter amendments, while the government presses ahead with the move.

The PAD said MPs joining the bid to change the constitution would be violating Article 122, which stipulates that constitutional amendments by politicians must be made for the common interest of the people and be without any conflicts of interest.

The government's attempts to rewrite the constitution are seen as a conflict of interest, it said. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej suggested the need to revamp the Election Commission (EC) and the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC). The PAD demanded the government hold a referendum on the proposed amendments.

Democrat deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit said the charter amendments were for the government's own benefit.

The first step was to amend Article 237, involving party dissolution.

Mr Jurin said the last step was to weaken independent agencies to serve the government's own interests and establish a new and submissive independent agency under its orders
Source from Bankokpost.net

Girly Berry band too sexy for Anusorn

2008-04-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

Wearing skimpy outfits at a Songkran event may lead to the popular girl band Girly Berry being stripped of their role as the respectable young face of the Culture Ministry. Culture Minister Anusorn Wongwan expressed disappointment with the teenage girl band yesterday and threatened to ''blacklist'' them.

The band, known for their revealing stage outfits and audacious dancing, were chosen to front the ministry's campaign for girls to dress modestly during the Songkran festival.

They were paraded in traditional Thai costumes and posed for photographs as the campaign became the talk of the town with mixed reactions.

But on Songkran day they again turned out in revealing tops and hot pants while performing amid the water-splashing chaos on Khao San road.

Mr Anusorn said he had instructed ministry officials to find out why the entertainers chose such inappropriate outfits.

The ministry would have to be more cautious with its choices next year, he added.

Mr Anusorn said the band's agent, RS Promotion, had initially contacted the ministry, suggesting the girls be presenters for the cover-up-for-Songkran campaign.

The ministry considers tank tops and miniskirts too sexually arousing when soaked in water.

RS Promotion appeared unfazed by the minister's huffiness yesterday.

''The campaign had its time [only during the Songkran festival],'' said spokeswoman Nusra Kongsujarit. The band had offered their services free to the ministry and the girls had to ''live a normal life''.

An official said the ministry normally set a ''high standard'' in choosing its cultural ambassadors.

''In the past, we have turned down many, many companies that offered sponsorships just because they are producers of liquor or other questionable products. Cultural campaigns need consistency and presenters who lead by example. Without both elements, it is better to do nothing,'' said the official, who asked not to be named

Riverside summit

2008-03-30T04:54:00.001-07:00

Prime Minster Samak Sundaravej headed to Laos again on Sunday as a six-nation Mekong River summit kicked off in the only capital actually located on the waterway.

The meetings began on Sunday in land-locked Laos with a series of youth and business meetings, officials said.

It is the third summit of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries: Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma and Vietnam, as well as Thailand. It began in Vientiane with meetings of a regional youth group and businessmen, Radio Laos reported in a broadcast monitored in Bangkok.

The Mekong flows from China. It forms the Laos-Burma border north of Thailand, meanders into and beside Thailand and Laos, and then cuts through central Cambodia on its way to the sea via southern Vietnam's delta region. It meets the Tonle Sap River near the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, but Khmer refer to the river at that point as the Tonle Sap, not the Mekong.

Khamthan Suthienamtha, secretary general of the Youth Union of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, opened the GMS meeting on Sunday with the prediction that the summit would help "meet the strategic targets of the younger generation in all six countries."

"The visiting leaders met with the youth and business leaders in the afternoon," Lao Foreign Ministry spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy said.

The leaders will meet on Monday.

"The most important document expected to come out of this summit will be the Vientiane Declaration and the Vientiane Plan of Action for the Mekong," Yong said in a telephone interview.

Several bilateral agreements were signed Sunday between the visiting leaders and their Lao counterparts.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived Saturday to attend the summit and met with Lao President Choummaly Saygnasone Sunday morning to discuss bilateral relations.

China has become a leading aid donor to Laos in recent years. Chinese companies have become major investors, especially in rubber plantations and hydroelectricity projects, in the land-locked communist country of less than 6 million people but a land mass equal to half of France.

The summit co-hosted by the Asian Development Bank is expected to mark the official opening of a 1,800-kilometre road from Kunming, in China, to Thailand's capital Bangkok.

Besides Wen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Vietnamese Prime Minister Ngueyn Tan Dung and Burmese Premier General Thein arrived in Vientiane Saturday to attend the two-day summit. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej arrived on Sunday.

The bloc was established in 1992 to promote economic and social development, irrigation and cooperation within the six countries linked by the 4,200-kilometre Mekong River. (BangkokPost.com, dpa)

Sleepy Satun to be developed

2008-03-24T07:20:00.001-07:00

The persistent insurgency in the South may well result in sleepy Satun becoming the economic powerhouse of the southern border area, with the province already exploring its development potential.

Satun has been chosen _ along with the vibrant Songkhla _ to be part of an economic revitalisation project led by the military.

Adjacent to Satun and Songkhla are Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, where insurgents have been very active. The insurgents have struck in parts of Songkhla, but rarely in Satun.

The ongoing violence in the three provinces has slowed the overall economy in the border region to a trickle as tourism and commercial investments stagnate.

Last week the government decided to try to boost the region's economy by promoting military-led investments in the border provinces.

The economic development plan, which calls for military agencies to invest in private local businesses, will be first launched in Satun and Songkhla. The government hopes the success of the project will set examples for Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to follow.

Satun governor Kwanchai Wongnitikorn said Satun was a buffer zone, helping to limit the insurgency.

Despite its close proximity to the insurgency, the province where the majority of the population are ethnic Malay has enjoyed relative peace. Mr Kwanchai said Buddhists and Muslims live in harmony there and respect one another.

He said the government should improve the transport routes between Satun, which is on the Andaman coast, and neighbouring Songkhla on the South China Sea side. A better link would help freight services as goods are off-loaded from ships at a deep-sea port in Pak Bara in Satun before being delivered overland to Songkhla and reloaded onto freighters there.

The planned port in Langu district of Satun will cost up to 30 billion baht to build.

The project has attracted prospective investors from China, South Korea, Brunei, Malaysia and Middle Eastern countries.

Nawee Promsap, the head of a Satun development group, said Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej expressed interest in following up on the project.

Mr Kwanchai said Satun could also tap tourism from Malaysia and Singapore as a new road is to be cut connecting the Malaysian border with popular Andaman provinces, including Krabi and Phuket.

The new road would enable tourists from Malaysia to go directly to Phuket without detouring through Songkhla.

Meanwhile in Yala, a man was hit by a stray bullet when a gunfight broke out between security forces and suspected insurgents in Bannang Sata district yesterday.

Seng Hamida, 50, was hit by the bullet while he was looking for his daughter, who was taking a bath at a well near his house in Ban Noh Puteh Nai.

The security force was in the area hunting a group of men believed to be insurgents. They exchanged gunfire and a stray bullet injured Mr Seng.

Military will lead investment bids to spur region's economy

2008-03-22T10:37:00.001-07:00

The military will lead a revival in investment in the restive southern border provinces to restore business confidence and help spur the region's economy, a high-level meeting decided yesterday.

The meeting of a government committee on the special southern economic development zone, chaired by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, was held at Government House yesterday.

Mr Samak, the nation's security chiefs and executives of agencies concerned looked at new ways of tackling the unrest, which has claimed about 3,000 lives over the past four years.

The government is counting on investment from military agencies to help revive the troubled southern provinces, said the prime minister.

Investments will begin in Satun and Songkhla to convince people in the security hotspot provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat about the merits of such investments.

Mr Samak said the far South is one of the poorest areas in the country, with economic growth averaging 1.8% per year, compared with 4.3% for the entire southern region of Thailand.

At least 108 factories have already shut down in the Muslim-majority region while investment has slowed to a trickle, said the prime minister.

Mr Samak said economic development in the far South would have a chance to grow alongside security deployments.

He said private businesses saw the potential to implement investment projects in the region, but were too afraid to enter the area.

A plan has been conceived where the military will enter into joint ventures, holding a 51% stake, with the remainderof the shares to be held by private businesses.

The Defence Ministry's two state enterprises, the Battery Organisation and the Tanning Organisation, could function as its investment arms.

Yesterday's resolution is based on an economic development model for the far South designed by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).

According to Mr Samak, the development plan will be launched first in Songkhla and Satun.

Successful economic developments in the two provinces will set examples for Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to follow, he said.

Songkhla and Satun will also become buffer zones to contain violence from the three southern border provinces.

The NESDB proposes that Songkhla be developed as an international hub for rubber, education, tourism and sports.

Satun will be promoted as an economic gateway to Malaysia and Indonesia.

In the future, Pattani will be developed as an international hub of halal food and Islamic studies, Yala as the centre of agriculture and agricultural products and Narathiwat as an economic gateway to the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) of Malaysia.

Fish and livestock raised locally will feed the halal food industry there, according to the government committee.

The Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and agencies concerned have been given 45 days to flesh out details of the regional economic development plan.

For security, the army has changed the format of its standard military training and oriented it more towards countering unrest perpetrated by insurgents.

From now on, soldiers will be trained how to work in the three southern border provinces. They will learn how to react to ambushes and bombings and how to evacuate people, conduct patrols, befriend the local people and seal off areas during security searches, said the source.

Meanwhile in Narathiwat, about 300 people rallied outside special army unit 39 in Rueso district to condemn soldiers based there over the death of an imam.

Imam Yapa Kaseng, 56, was found dead after being detained for questioning by the unit early yesterday on suspicion he was a core member of an insurgent group. It was reported that Yapa had suffered cuts and broken ribs. BANGKOK POST AND AFP

Thai-Burma pact

2008-03-15T04:20:00.001-07:00

Naypyidaw, Burma - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has committed Thailand to an investment accord with Burma under which Thailand will try to boost the economy and help the military regime.

Mr Samak and his Burmese counterpart Gen Thein Sein witnessed the signing of the investment pact during Mr Samak's one-day visit to Burma on Friday.
The agreement was kept secret until Mr Samak arrived back in Thailand.
The accord reportedly protects Thai investors, although Mr Samak's aides have not presented details on that part of the still confidential agreement.
Thailand will discuss taking part in Burmese plans to built a deep sea port at Tavoey opposite Thailand's Andaman Sea coast, and commits the Thai government to press Thai business leaders to invest in the port project and other unspecified projects sponsored by the military regime.

It was a major step forward to helping the so-called State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) rulers. Previous Thai governments have not opposed investment in Burma, but have seldom committed the country to directly aiding Burmese government projects.

Thailand is already one of Myanmar's largest investors and trading partners, with Thai state-owned energy firms being the largest buyers of natural gas from that country.

Mr Samak and Gen Thein Sein witnessed the signing of the agreement after holding bilateral talks soon after his arrival in the new Burmese capital. Prior to the signing, Mr Samak met SPDC chairman Senior General Than Shwe at the Bayintnauang Yeiktha Building in Naypyidaw.

Mr Samak later presided at the opening of a new office building in the Thai embassy in Rangoon, the biggest Burmese city and former capital.

The pemier said during the opening ceremony that he had ordered Thai ambassadors worldwide to operate a "one-stop service" to facilitate foreigners wishing to invest or explore investment possibility in Thailand.

Before returning to Bangkok, Mr Samak presented his government's policy to "Team Thailand" officials at the embassy, then met about 500 Thais, mainly from the business community, hotel staff and personal care workers and beauticians.

Mr Samak told a TNA reporter that he had received sufficient information from Snr Gen Than Shwe on military-ruled Burma's plans for its self-designated "roadmap to democracy".

The Thai premier said he would inform the leaders of European countries when he visits them in future and that he would speak at the UN General Assembly in September.

Leaders of military-ruled Burma last month made a surprise announcement that it would hold a referendum in May on a draft constitution and would hold a general election in 2010. These alleged elections have won strong endorsement from the Thai government.

The elections will be the first since detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy to a landslide victory in the 1990 elections, but the party's victory was never recognised by the junta.

"The information is vital for countries interested (in Burma) and Snr Gen Than Shwe also expressed during the talks that he wanted to see peace in the country," said Mr Samak.
Source from Bangkokpost.net

Muslim protest

2008-03-12T09:10:00.001-07:00

Around 800 Thai Muslims claiming to represent the Bangkok Islamic community burnt a Danish flag and marched on the country's embassy on Wednesday to protest the reprinting of cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammad by Danish newspapers.

Members of the Thailand-based Muslims Group for Peace rallied outside the embassy, shouting "Allah Akbar," (God is great"), burnt a flag and photos of the Danish prime minister Anders Fosh Rasmussen and Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard.

They called on all Thai Muslims to boycott Danish goods.

There also were demonstrations in Pakistan, where young people burnt tyres and blocked roads in Multan to protest the reprinting of the cartoons.

In Bangkok, leaders of the group denied reports they were organised or supported by the Iranian embassy in Bangkok.

They said that the protesters came from Nong Chok district in Minburi, a Muslim neighbourhood in Bangkok, but were Sunni Muslims with no affiliation to Iran.

They also denied any political motivation behind their demonstration, apart from a protest against the Danish government's "disregard" of the offensive cartoons.

"We should do something more violent than just protest, but today we are keeping it peaceful," said Suloh Salaimad, a member of the Muslim group for Peace.

The Bangkok protest followed a call last Friday in Teheran by prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami for the Islamic world to cut ties with Denmark over the cartoons, and hardline members of parliament echoed that call.

According to the Teheran media, Iran hopes to make the cartoons and "those who desecrate Prophet Muhammad" a central issue at the summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference which opens on Thursday in Dakar, Senegal.

The protesters, some of them wearing T-shirts reading "Jihad" or "We Love Mohammad," sat in the road in front of the embassy and listened to speeches denouncing the Scandinavian country. Several demonstrators unfurled a banner saying "Boycott Denmark."

The Bangkok protest was purportedly prompted by last month's reprinting of 12 cartoons that triggered an uproar in 2006 when they were first published in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten newspapers, sparking violent protests in many Muslim countries.

The cartoons were reprinted in February in several Danish newspapers after police said they had foiled a murder plot against Danish newspaper cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, whose cartoon of Muhammad with a bomb in his turban was deemed especially offensive.

"We want the world to know that you can't fool with Islam," said Mureed Teemasean, addressing the demonstration outside the Danish embassy in Bangkok.

Source from bangkokpost.net

That's 'Real PM Samak' to you

2008-03-06T07:37:00.001-08:00

Thaksin Shinawatra on Thursday urged Thais to stop talking about two leaders, because Samak Sundaravej is the only prime minister around.

"Please be more constructive," said Mr Thaksin in his first media appearance since the day of his return to Thailand a week ago.

"Stop instigating conflicts in society."

He appeared before reporters after chairing a meeting of the Professional Golf Association of Thailand at the Thai Com Foundation - formerly the headquarters of his banned Thai Rak Thai party.

Mr Thaksin added that he had not met face-to-face with Mr Samak since his return, but has talked with him "a few times" on the telephone.

"We did not talk about politics. I did not give him any advice on politics, because I am not in the political arena any more. I came back to dedicate myself for charity work focusing on sports and education development."

The former premier, deposed by a bloodless military coup on Sept 19, 2006, when he was attending the United Nations, reiterated that his return was to fight multiple corruption charges filed against him and his family.

After a hearing scheduled for March 13, he plans to seek court permission to go to England for business, presumably having to do with his Manchester City Football Club.

Mr Thaksin – now free on bail – affirmed he also planned to meet Statesman and Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanond.

"Gen Prem is a respected figure in the country. So I need to meet him in person some day. For the time being, I need to concentrate on defending myself in court," said Mr. Thaksin. (BangkokPost.com, TNA)
Source from bankokpost.net

Four soldiers hurt in blast in NARATHIWAT

2008-03-05T08:05:00.001-08:00

Four soldiers were injured, two of them critically, in a bomb explosion at a school in Tak Bai district yesterday afternoon. The bomb, triggered by mobile phone, went off at Ban Sripa-ngan school about 3pm. The device was hidden under a bench near where the four soldiers were waiting to escort teachers home.
The mobile phone signal reportedly came through a Malaysian network.

Meanwhile, two suspected rebels were arrested in separate raids on villages in Yi-ngo and Rueso districts early yesterday morning. They were Masofee Taenima and Ma-uzman Niingjehhae, who face charges from insurgency to illegal firearms possession of firearms. They denied all allegations.

Meanwhile, 10 soldiers on patrol escaped unharmed following a bomb attack in Rangae district yesterday morning.

The bomb went off on the Yurupareh-Torlang road in tambon Tanyong Limo while the soldiers in two jeeps were patrolling the neighbourhood.

In Yala, governor Theera Minthrasak gave cash to four soldiers who were wounded in a bomb attack in Krong Pinang sub-district on Feb 27, and another four soldiers injured in an ambush in Raman district on March 2.
source from Bangkokpost.net

TRUE SUPPORTS "CHIM PAI BON PAI" EVENT TO PROMOTE THAI CUISINE

2008-03-02T18:33:00.001-08:00

Mr. Kittinut Tikawan, General Manager of True Lifestyle Retail Ltd, receives an honorary plaque from HE Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej following the company’s support of the “Chim Pai Bon Pai” event held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center to promote Thai cuisine.

At the “Chim Pai Bon Pai” event, visitors were able to enjoy a wide variety of True Coffee pastries as well as True Coffee hot and cold beverages.
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications - True Group
Sisadhi Reuben Tel: +66 (0) 2699 2782 Email: sisadhi_reu@truecorp.co.th
Nattakorn Plubprasit Tel: +66 (0) 2669 2773 Email: nattakorn_plu@truecorp.co.th
Thana Burin Asia Pacific Ltd
Kasemsri K Eufemio
Tel: +66 (0) 2231 6158-9
+66 (0) 8 1611 4696 Email: kasemsri@thanaburin.co.th
Angkana Teerapornamornrat
Tel: +66 (0) 2231 6158-9
+66 (0) 8 1721 7523 Email: angkana@thanaburin.co.th
Source from http://www.thailand4.com

Thaksin kisses Thai soil

2008-03-01T00:37:00.001-08:00

Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra ended 17 months of exile abroad by falling to his knees and kissing Thai ground at Suvarnabhumi airport. Thousands greeted him with banners and signs but Mr Thaksin said he wanted to be an "ordinary citizen."
His wife Khunying Potjaman, youngest daughter Paethongtan and Mr Thaksin's sister Yingluck went to receive him. Their son Panthongtae came back with Mr Thaksin from Hong Kong.
Mr Thaksin emerged from the airport VIP exit at 10:13. He fell to his knees and kissed Thai ground. A huge roar went up from the waiting crowd. The ex-premier looked sombre as he gave a traditional wai of greeting.
Dressed in a dark suit, Mr Thaksin spent just 10 seconds greeting the crowd before boarding a car in a convoy of vehicles with a police escort, which whisked him out of the airport and towards Bangkok.
Mr Thaksin's first date in the country was to be before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Transport Minister Santi Prompat were at the airport to welcome the ousted premier.
Mr Thaksin will go straight to the Supreme Court to acknowledge charges over the 772-million-baht Ratchadaphisek land deal. He is expected to spend about an hour there, and ask for bail.
After that, he will go to Peninsula Bangkok hotel, where he will spend the night. If everything goes according to plan, he will hold a press conference there at around 1pm. His residence in Bangkok is currently under repair.
source from Bangkokpost.com

Waiting for Thaksin

2008-02-26T07:22:00.001-08:00

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama says ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be back within one to five days by private jet. Friendly websites predicted his return on Thursday by the Thai national carrier.

Mr Thaksin's lead lawyer Pichit Chuenban, who would accompany the former premier to court to hear graft charges, said Mr Thaksin was "poised to return" on Tuesday.

Two websites run by Thaksin supporters, Hi-Thaksin.net and TrueThaksin.com, both said the ex-premier would fly into Suvarnabhumi airport at 9a.m. on Thursday from Hong Kong, aboard a Thai Airways International flight.

Mr Noppadonm, meanwhile, said he met the former prime minister last weekend in China and discussed legal work which would be handed over to a new legal adviser.

The foreign minister earlier said he relinquished his role as legal advisor to Mr Thaksin after his appointment as foreign minister early this month.

Asked if he could confirm that Mr. Thaksin would return home Thursday as is being publicly speculated, Mr Noppadon said he would try to find out.

Soon after he returns, Mr Thaksin almost certainly will report to the Supreme Court to faces charges of corruption and abuse of power.

Mr Thaksin has said he would not re-enter politics when he comes home. He said that he and his family had "suffered enough" but that he wanted to face the charges against him and prove his innocence.

Source from Bangkokpost.com

PM, Dems clash over Oct 6

2008-02-19T06:40:00.001-08:00

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej locked horns with the Democrat party yesterday over his role in shutting down newspapers when he was interior minister in the wake of the Oct 6, 1976 student uprising at Thammasat University.

Mr Samak denied any links to the massacre of student protesters and denied he had a role in silencing the media. Instead, he said, he was the one who pushed for the newspapers to re-open. During the debate on the government's policies in parliament yesterday, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, as leader of the opposition, called on the government to respect the media's role in monitoring the government.

Mr Abhisit spoke of the time when Mr Samak was interior minister in the wake of the Oct 6 massacre.

''During that period a lot of newspapers were ordered closed,'' Mr Abhisit said.

The present government must make sure nothing similar would happen again.

Mr Abhisit said ways of interfering with the media at that time, such as closing newspapers, were different.

Today, meddling with the media was more subtle, such as applying pressure on media organisations and making them fear their business would suffer if they continue to heap criticism on those in power.
`It was I who pushed for the re-opening of newspapers that were closed. I disagreed with the newspaper closures'
SAMAK SUNDARAVEJ PRIME MINISTER

Mr Abhisit also wondered why the promise of freedom to information on government organisations and other public media was omitted from the government's policy.

He touched on the spat involving Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair and outspoken former senator Chirmsak Pinthong, whose radio programme was pulled off the air.

Mr Abhisit said Mr Chirmsak should be allowed to do his duty of presenting the facts. His show on FM 105 was axed after airing evidence to counter claims by Mr Samak that only one demonstrator died during the Oct 6, 1976 uprising.

Mr Samak made the comment during a recent interview with CNN and repeated it to a reporter from Al Jazeera TV.

Mr Chirmsak accused Mr Jakrapob of pressuring Fatima Broadcasting International, the Public Relations Department's concessionaire, to end the show.

Mr Abhisit wondered whether the company acted because it was afraid of the government. If the government believed in freedom of the press, it should let Mr Chirmsak return to host the show.

In response, Mr Samak insisted that he di not order the closure of newspapers when he was appointed interior minister immediately after the uprising. He contended he did exactly the opposite, sitting on a five-member committee set up ''to open newspapers'' on the orders of the National Administration Reform Council, which staged a coup following the massive civil unrest.
''It was I who pushed for the re-opening of newspapers that were closed. I disagreed with the newspaper closures,'' Mr Samak said.
He pointed out he was not the interior minister at the time of the uprising. He took the job on Oct 22, 1976 and was never linked to the violent suppression of the student movement on Oct 6.
''I swear that I did not have any links to the Oct 14 [quashing of the democracy uprising in 1973] and Oct 6 incidents,'' Mr Samak said.

At one point in his speech, Mr Samak indicated that Mr Abhisit, as the opposition leader, was too young and may not have enough experience.

He said Mr Abhisit might not have full information about events of Oct 6 and suggested he ask Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai to brief him.

Mr Chuan responded: ''I cannot give the answers because at that time I was fleeing because I was accused of being a communist.''

''Mr Samak should accept the fact that when the Oct 6 coup took place, newspapers were closed although they were allowed to reopen later,'' he said.

Samak denies role in shutting newspapers
POST REPORTERS
www.bangkokpost.net

PM cool to fast return of Thaksin

2008-02-09T09:07:00.001-08:00

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej indicated yesterday that there was no real need for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand earlier than originally planned.

''I think the political situation has returned to normalcy. The entire world has congratulated us on this. They are happy for us.

''So, I will not discuss [about Mr Thaksin's return]. Let the matter take its course,'' Mr Samak said when asked if the present situation was conducive to Mr Thaksin's return from self-imposed exile.

The comment was deemed slightly out of character for Mr Samak who is known to sympathise with the former prime minister who is facing abuse of power and corruption charges.

Mr Samak insisted his administration would not provide special treatment for the ousted prime minister.

''I see him as an ordinary Thai who has the right to come back to fight the charges [against him]. He will be under police protection and the cabinet ministers will not interfere,'' said Mr Samak.

He also lashed out at Mr Thaksin's critics who suggested the ousted prime minister's premature return would stir up chaos.

Mr Samak's remarks came in the wake of reports that Mr Thaksin may return to the country sooner than expected.

Mr Thaksin's wife, Khunying Potjaman, told the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office that her husband would return to Thailand in May to defend himself against charges.

The couple have been indicted under anti-corruption laws and the criminal code over the 2003 purchase of Ratchadapisek land for 772 million baht from the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF), a state agency, when Mr Thaksin was prime minister.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Mr Thaksin would come back from self-imposed exile before May.

''Definitely he will return before May and his legal team will work out an exact date,'' said Mr Noppadon, a former legal adviser for Mr Thaksin.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, a brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin, said he had no knowledge of any plans for the former prime minster's early return and insisted he had not talked with him recently.

''Everything must be under the rule of law and it is not unusual for Mr Thaksin to come back to stand trial in court,'' Mr Somchai said.

The issue of Mr Thaksin's planned return has drawn flak from anti-Thaksin groups who are not convinced that the People Power party-led coalition government will be able to distance itself from the charges levied against the man many believe to be the driving force behind the PPP.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy and a core member of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), doubted that the Samak government would leave the judicial process to take its course.

''Our group has never objected to Mr Thaksin's return. In fact we want him to enter the judicial process. It would be better if he came back tomorrow,'' said Mr Suriyasai.

He also expressed concerns about plans announced by the newly-appointed foreign minister to give Mr Thaksin back his diplomatic passport.

He said the matter should be carefully considered or it could backfire.

''We will closely monitor him to see whether he carries out his duties effectively as a foreign minister or if he still remains Mr Thaksin's private lawyer to protect his interests,'' he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said he saw nothing wrong with Mr Thaksin exercising his right as a Thai citizen to return home to fight the charges against him.

''Such a decision is good and proper,'' he said.

Mr Surapong, also finance minister, dismissed the possibility that the PAD would engineer more street protests against Mr Thaksin.

He said Mr Thaksin's return was a private matter and had nothing to do with politics.

Meanwhile, Mr Samak said yesterday the government would deliver a policy statement to parliament on Feb 18.

He said the draft statement would be reviewed by cabinet ministers during the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Three officers, 3 villagers hurt in roadside bomb blast in Yala

2008-02-05T06:04:00.001-08:00

Yala _ Six people, including three policemen, were wounded in a roadside bomb attack near a police station in Muang district yesterday. The blast took place in front of a shop about 100 metres from Lammai police station on Phetkasem road.

Three police officers and three villagers were injured in the blast. They were being treated at Yala regional hospital.

Investigators said a homemade bomb was attached to a motorcycle and detonated by mobile phone. The targets were the three policemen who were about to set up a road checkpoint.

A bomb disposal squad used a mobile phone jammer to disrupt signals in the area to prevent another bomb attack while they inspected the scene.

Security forces launched a manhunt for the bombers in Muang district and its vicinity. They took five teenagers into custody after spotting them at the blast scene. The suspects were later sent to be checked for traces of explosives. Their mobile phones were also seized.

In Pattani, an agricultural expert was killed in a bomb blast which also left a district chief and nine other people injured yesterday afternoon. One of them, assistant district officer Loh-ob Musemsadao was critically wounded.

The blast took place at Tadeekakrasoh school, in Mayo district, as district chief Wirat Prasetto and other district officials were releasing fish into a school pond as part of a sufficiency- economy project.

The district chief was visiting the school to meet outstanding kamnans and village heads from tambon Krasoh.

Police said the blast was caused by a 5kg bomb hidden in a metal box which was left under the pier where the officials gathered to release the fish. The device was detonated by remote control.
source from
MUHAMMAD AYUB PATHAN and ABDULLOH BENJAKAT
WWW.Bangkokpost.net

Victims just keep on coming

2008-02-02T09:36:00.001-08:00

Five more people on Friday said they were innocent victims of a gang of Border Patrol Police officers who forced them to make false confessions to drug charges and extorted money from them. The gang and leader Nat Chonnithiwanit also face allegations of torture, and claims that victims were imprisoned with false testimony if they failed to pay the ransom.

Chaiwiwat Bunkua, a 33-year-old from Phuket, lodged a complaint with Crime Suppression police on Friday, saying Pol Capt Nat's gang had physically assaulted and detained him and his two friends in September 2006.

Mr Chaiwiwat claimed the gang arrested him along with his friends Sirithep Mingpicharn, 33, and Rewat Rongmuang, 22, on Sept 12, 2006, in Phangnga province, accusing them of trafficking methamphetamines. Mr Chaiwiwat said he and his friends had never been involved with drugs.

He claimed the three were taken to a hotel where they were beaten and tortured until they agreed to make false confessions that they had metham-phetamine pills for sale.

Their trial on charges of trafficking methamphetamines is still before the courts.

Mr Chaiwiwat said he once filed a complaint against the gang at Phuket police station after the incident, but no action was taken.

Nukul Ruangjui, 44, and his wife Somsi Yos-in, 45, from Kanchanaburi have also filed a complaint with Surajit Klai-udom, the deputy superintendent of the 41st BPP unit and Pol Capt Nat's supervisor, accusing him of malfeasance, unlawful detention and robbery.

Mr Nukul alleged Pol Lt-Col Surajit and his associates beat up his son and his son's friend on August 3 last year and forced them to confess that they had 1,182 methamphetamine pills for sale.

Two other people filing similar charges against Pol Capt Nat's gang with Crime Suppression Division police on Friday were named as Chokdee Thong-o, 32 from Krabi, and Jamnong Rungruangma, 50, from Songkhla. Ms Jamnong said she paid extortion money to the gang and was still charged.

In Chumphon, another drug suspect on bail, Somchai Baengbun, 25, lodged a similar complaint against the gang.
source from BangkokPost.net

Samak shows he's no puppet

2008-01-31T07:58:00.001-08:00

Steps in and changes cabinet list, says source
POST REPORTERS

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej went some way to dispelling rumours he is just a puppet leader when he stepped in yesterday to alter the proposed cabinet line-up, according to a People Power party (PPP) source.

At yesterday's meeting with core PPP members, Mr Samak said certain portfolios should be revised before he submits the cabinet list for royal endorsement.

''I have to be sure that every cabinet minister is up to doing his job, so I have to consider suitability,'' he told the PPP core members, according to the source.

Mr Samak's show of power in choosing the cabinet line-up, which was prepared by PPP deputy leader Somchai Wongsawat and PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee, came as a surprise to some observers, as many people feel the former Bangkok governor is just the political nominee of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

In a statement he delivered after receiving royal endorsement as prime minister on Tuesday, Mr Samak insisted he was in total control of the party.

According to Mr Surapong, the cabinet line-up is expected to be forwarded for royal endorsement in a couple of days.

The source said Mr Samak disapproved of the nomination of party-list MP Santi Prompat as transport minister and that of Chaiya Sasomsap, also a party-list MP, as justice minister.

Sources in the PPP said Mr Samak felt that Mr Santi might not be suitable for the transport portfolio as he had only had experience in running a construction firm.

A source close to veteran Buri Ram politician Newin Chidchob, who reportedly supported Mr Santi's bid to be transport minister, said Mr Newin agreed with the decision.

Mr Samak, according to party sources, suggested Mr Santi and former president of Mcot Plc Mingkwan Saengsuwan, tipped to be commerce minister, swap seats.

The sources added that certain party members felt Mr Chaiya was not appropriate for the justice minister's portfolio and that he was likely to be made public health minister instead.

Sompong Amornvivat of the PPP, who looks set for a deputy prime minister post, has told Mr Samak he is interested in taking over the Justice Ministry, the sources said.

The sources added that Mr Samak has suggested that Anusorn Wongwan, PPP MP for Lamphun, take charge at the Culture Ministry instead of the Education Ministry.

According to the source, Mr Samak has also suggested dropping Chai Chidchob from the PPP's cabinet line-up.

Mr Chai, father of veteran Buri Ram politician Newin, has reportedly been nominated as a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.

A group of 40 northeastern MPs reportedly complained to Mr Samak that most of the cabinet seats have been allocated to politicians with close connections to Mr Newin.

They said they did not belong to Mr Newin's faction and therefore did not get the cabinet seats in the quota reserved for northeastern MPs, who make up most of the PPP MPs.

The source said that Mr Samak has also hand-picked Sahat Bunditkul, who served as his deputy while he was Bangkok governor, as a deputy prime minister.

Mr Samak also wants Mr Somchai, tipped to be a deputy prime minister, to double as education minister.

A source close to Mr Newin said the former deputy agriculture minister clarified with Mr Samak that he had never pushed for a cabinet seat for his father.

Mr Newin believed the report that his father would be awarded a cabinet post was an attempt to discredit him.

PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrachang said Mr Samak will have the final say on the list which would be kept confidential until it received royal endorsement.

''The prime minister has the authority to make changes to the list if he wants to,'' said the spokesman.

The Puea Pandin party has reportedly revised its proposed cabinet line-up.

According to the new list, party leader Suvit Khunkitti will be a deputy prime minister and double as industry minister.

Man Patthanothai, an unsuccessful candidate in the Dec 23 polls who is close to party adviser Vatana Asavahame, will take charge as information and communications technology minister while Sitthichai Kowsurat will be made deputy interior minister.
source from bangkokpost.net

Samak also eyes defence post

2008-01-29T07:16:00.001-08:00

Samak Sundaravej will double up as prime minister and defence minister in the new cabinet to be dominated by factions under deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Newin Chidchob.

The decision to take on the Defence Ministry by Mr Samak comes despite strong opposition from the armed forces and now-defunct Council for National Security (CNS), who have made it clear their choice for the new defence chief should have a military background instead of being an outsider.

Three key players in the People Power party (PPP) were of the view that the party does not need to listen to the voices of the armed forces over the key post, given that the election results showed the coup makers had lost the battle to prevent their party from rising to power, party sources said yesterday.

The three were Mr Samak, party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee and Mr Newin, a close aide to Mr Thaksin who was banned from politics for five years but remains influential in the party.

Mr Samak was selected by the House of Representatives yesterday as the new prime minister with 310 votes against 163 votes.

He easily beat Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was proposed as a candidate by the Democrats, the lone opposition party.

Three MPs abstained - House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, Mr Samak and Mr Abhisit.

Mr Samak's last step to becoming prime minister is to be endorsed by His Majesty the King. The speaker forwarded his name to the King after the voting in the lower house.

He refused to talk about his position as government leader until royal endorsement, which is expected in days.

But Mr Samak said the cabinet line-up is "80%" ready and he will unveil the names by next Tuesday.

The same PPP sources said the former Bangkok governor was working closely with Mr Surapong and Mr Newin on selecting new cabinet members for the leading coalition party.

Mr Newin's faction will probably be given seven seats in the new government, a move interpreted as a reward for his success in taking PPP candidates from the northeastern region to parliament in the Dec 23 polls, sources said.

Other cabinet slots will be rewards for the factions under Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, who oversaw the PPP race in Bangkok, and Yaowapa Wongsawat, who was responsible for the political battle in northern provinces, besides those loyal to Mr Thaksin himself.

Other key cabinet positions which were settled included the finance minister post, which will be given to Mr Surapong, and the commerce minister and a deputy prime minister posts, which will go to former MCOT Plc president Mingkwan Sangsuwan.

Mr Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama will be the foreign minister and Jakraphob Penkair will be a minister to the Prime Minister's Office.

Those positions were given the green light by Mr Thaksin, who is in Hong Kong now, staying closer to Thailand while the party is forming the cabinet.
Mr Mingkwan was responsible for promoting economic policy for the PPP during the political campaigns. But he will not be designated as the leader of the economic team in the PPP-led cabinet.

Mr Surapong told the Bangkok Post that he proposed the party not have just one person leading the economic ministers. Economic issues involved 10 ministries and all coalition parties should share responsibility, he added.

"In the past only Boonchu Rojanastien deserved to be an economic czar. That was 30 years ago," he said. "Over the past five years in the elected government under Mr Thaksin, he never assigned any person in particular to be the economic team leader," he added.

The coalition government now has 316 seats in the 480-member House. That includes seats from the Chart Thai, Matchimathipataya, Puea Pandin, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Pracharaj parties.

Chart Thai will control the Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Tourism and Sports ministries in addition to a deputy prime minister post, which will go to chief adviser Sanan Kachornprasart.

Matchimathipataya will be responsible for the Labour Ministry, Puea Pandin will get the Industry Ministry, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana will oversee the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and Pracharaj will handle the Public Health Ministry.
Source from Bangkokpost.net

AEC asks taxman to seize assets of Thaksin children

2007-11-19T07:22:00.001-08:00

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) on Monday resolved to ask the Revenue Department to seize the assets of the children of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra totalling Bt1. 035 billion after they failed to pay back taxes and fines totalling Bt12 billion.

AEC spokesman Sak Korsangrueang said the committee would submit a letter to the department asking it to confiscate the assets of Mr. Panthongthae and Ms. Pinthongta, son and daughter respectively, of the ousted prime minister, whether in the form of land, shares or other assets.

"The revenue department must take action immediately, or the delay could result in the siphoning off of the assets to somewhere else," the spokesman said.

Although the department is authorised to proceed with assets seizure, it may ask the AEC to act instead as is allowed in the coupmakers' 2006 order, he added.

Mr. Sak explained that the Bt1.035 billion has nothing to do with the Bt17 billion earlier frozen by the AEC.

The Thaksin children were accused by the assets examiners of evading taxes on the capital gains they made from share transactions related to Shin Corp's takeover by Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

Mr. Panthongtae and Ms. Pinthongta purchased shares from Ample Rich, a British Virgin Islands-registered company, for one baht per share and then sold the shares to Temasek for 49.25 baht apiece.

Following the AEC's findings, the revenue department ordered them to pay personal income tax and fines worth Bt12 billion.

The two filed an appeal with the department but without putting up any assets as collateral. The deadline to pay fell due last week. (TNA)

Source By Bangkokpost.net

Army lets suspects go home

2007-11-18T08:12:00.001-08:00

Election, haj given as reasons to lift ban on returning to southern provinces

The Fourth Army has agreed to lift a six-month ban on 384 Muslim men suspected of being involved in the separatist insurgency from re-entering the four violence-plagued southern provinces, effective as of yesterday. According to a letter to Surat Thani governor Winai Buapradit, Fourth Army chief Lt-Gen Wiroj Buacharoon said the ban was lifted for the sake of the Dec 23 election and the annual haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

As Thai citizens, those who were banned from re-entering the restive southern provinces should be allowed to exercise their voting rights and go on their spiritual pilgrimage to the holy city in Saudi Arabia, he said.

The order, banning entry to Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, as well as Chana, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi and Thepa districts in Songkhla, had been in place since July 22.

The ban was aimed at preventing the insurgent suspects from being drawn back into the separatist movement, say the military.

Some 384 people were on the list of suspected insurgent sympathisers banned from returning to the far South.

The men were forcibly taken to military training camps earlier this year after the authorities did not have enough evidence to charge them.

They were originally detained for suspected involvement in the separatist movement, either actively or as sympathisers.

The army put them in three military camps _ in Chumphon, Ranong and Surat Thani _ under a four-month vocational training programme.

However, after rulings by three provincial courts on Oct 30 that the military did not have the legal right to force the men to attend the work training camps, many of the men left. However, the courts did not rule on the ban on them returning home, leaving them in a state of limbo.

With nowhere else to go, many have been taking refuge in the central mosque in Surat Thani.

Of the 384 men held at the military bases, 178 were left at the camps and were delighted yesterday to hear the news they could finally return home.

All 178 of them were scheduled to be bussed to the central mosque in Yala at daybreak today.

Meanwhile, on Friday, a salvage operation team used a balloon to bring the wreckage of a police helicopter that crashed in Yala last Monday to the water's surface before using boats to tow it three kilometres to the shore.

The helicopter, with six policemen on board, crashed into Bang Lang dam's reservoir in Bannang Sata district. Three of the six officers survived the crash and were rescued.

In Narathiwat, 43 people suspected of being involved in the insurgency were sent back home in Rueso district yesterday. They had received forced vocational training outside the strife-torn provinces.

All swore they would not have any hand in the insurgency and would help authorities bring peace to their hometowns, officials said.

In Yala, militants shot dead a couple in a drive-by shooting yesterday, police said. The couple, identified as Somsak Supong and his wife, Chand, both in their 40s, were both shot in the head as they were driving a motorcycle in tambon Yupo in Muang district.

Source Bangkokpost

UN envoy: Burma admits killing 15

2007-11-17T08:05:00.001-08:00

The Burmese military government has reported a higher death toll during the recent democracy demonstrations than it had previously acknowledged.

The United Nations envoy to the isolated regime, human rights expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, said on Friday at Bangkok's UN regional headquarters the admitted death toll by the military dictatorship has inched up to 14 Burmese nationals plus a Japanese photojournalist.

The predominantly Buddhist country, Thailand's neighbour to the west, rocketed to international notoriety in September when its military opened fire on peacefully protestors in the former capital on Rangoon.

Pinheiro, who ended a five-day mission to Burma on Thursday, said the military authorities insisted that no Buddhist monks were killed during the peaceful marches.

On the road to peace in a troubled country which has been under military control for 45 years, Pinheiro said his visit evidenced more openness than previously.

The Brazilian academic said that the access the regime accorded him to political prisoners and opposition politicians, despite obvious limitations, did facilitate more access than before and allowed for opening some added communication.

"My visit was not a full-fledged fact-finding mission because five days and I have interviewed prisoners, met monks, it was very much contact with the government authorities which is very useful for me to have a full consideration of all aspects of the crisis," he said.

At the same time, the UN envoy also called for the release of those detained and imprisoned.

Pinheiro's visit was his first in four years, and falls almost on the eve of his scheduled report to the UN Human Rights Council in New York on December 11.

The human rights investigator said that he was still reviewing the evidence gathered in Burma and could not yet give his own estimate on the casualties or detentions resulting from the crackdown. However, he expected to present a full report before the UN on December 11 which would detail the number of deaths and detentions from the recent crackdown.(TNA)

Man City's election strike

2007-11-16T07:09:00.001-08:00

In a move reeking of politics, Britain's Manchester City club - now owned by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - on Friday signed three Thai players and announced plans to set up a football academy.

"Manchester City has signed up the Thai international footballers Suree Sukkha, Kiatprawut Saivaew and Teerasilp Dsangda and our world famous Manchester City Academy will open a centre in Thailand to help produce Thai football stars of the future," said team manager Sven-Goran Eriksson at the signing ceremony held at Bangkok's posh Conrad Hotel.

Observers have questioned the timing of the sign-up, noting that the Thai footballers would not be able to play for the Club until January.

With a general election scheduled on December 23, the outcome of which will determine whether Thaksin can return "safely" to the country, there is little doubt that Manchester City's local recruiting was linked to local politics.

"I think everyone knows the motives," said Wootinon Boonwanit, a sports writer for the Siam Rath newspaper.

"It certainly has something to do with politics," Apisit Apisuksiri, another well-known sports writer, told the Bangkok Post.

Thaksin, a billionaire telecommunications tycoon who was prime minister of Thailand between 2001 to 2006, was deposed by a military coup on September 19 of last year, while attending the United Nations annual Security Council meeting in New York.

He has spent much of the past year in London, keeping himself in the Thai news through his much-publicized purchase of the ailing Manchester City Club, a first for football-crazed Thailand.

Eriksson used the signing ceremony in Bangkok to sing the praises of his new boss, former Thai premier Thaksin who bought the football club four months ago.

"Since I joined the club in July, the transformation under Dr Thaksin Shinawatra has been nothing short of amazing," said Eriksson. (Thaksin holds a PhD in criminal law from a Texas university and is sometimes referred to as "doctor".)

Manchester City is currently ranked third in England's football premiership, a performance that has been attributed in part to Thaksin's deep pockets in bringing in old and new talent to the club, including hiring Eriksson as manager.

Thaksin, in a video presentation aired at the signing ceremony, made the most of the publicity.

"When I was your prime minister I ran a government that promoted and defended free and fair elections," he said. "As the December elections approach, I hope the military junta and the next government will do the same."

Thaksin, whom Thai authorities are seeking to extradite from England to face corruption charges, has said he will only return to to Thailand after the December election, depending on its outcome.

He is allegedly supporting the People's Power Party (PPP) in the polls.

But Thaksin insisted in his video presentation that "my main reasons for speaking to today is not politics.

"Once I had the chance to manage the club, I have set my mind from the beginning that as a Thai patriot, I want to see Thai youth standing at the forefront as international professional players," he said of the decision to hire on three Thai players.

"The signing of these three players is the pinnacle of the campaign and also part of the strategy of the club," Thaksin said. "Now the club has a strategy to recruit talented players form Asia to strengthen the team."

Eriksson, on his trip to Thailand, was accompanied by Sun Ji-hai, a Chinese footballer who has played for the Manchester City Club for the past five years.

Thaksin has plans to turn the Manchester City Club into a "global brand," which he will do by recruiting more players from Asia and by boosting football skills in Asia at the Manchester City Academy to be set up in Thailand at an unspecified date.

"At the academy, kids will be taught how to play football correctly and according to international standards, but I did not intend the academy be only for Thais. I want this academy to develop to be the centre for football training and knowledge for all the South-east Asia region."

Thaksin viewed himself as a leader of regional, if not global status, in the last years of his premiership, before his sudden ouster. (dpa)

Thai climbers abandon Everest

2007-11-15T06:55:00.001-08:00

A nine-member Thai team trying to climb Mount Everest has been forced to abandon the climb less than 350 metres from the summit.

Reports from Kathmandu said on Wednesday evening the expedition, with four staffers of TiTV, three members of the Royal Thai Navy and two others, was forced to turn back by bad weather.

"The safety of our members is our first concern," the Thai Embassy in Kathmandu told the Indian news agency IANS. "The team is now coming down."

The climb was devised as part of a tribute to His Majesty the King on his 80th birthday.

The Thai Everest Expedition reached the 8,500-metre mark on the climb before being forced off the mountain.

It is also the only team so far to attempt to scale Mt Everest from the Nepal side this autumn, in sharp contrast to last spring, when dozens of climbers had headed for the 8,848-metre summit. (From agency reports)
Source Bangkokpost

Philippines bomb kills moderate Muslim

2007-11-14T06:49:00.001-08:00

Manila - A massive, remotely detonated bomb killed three people including its apparent target, Representative Wahab Akbar, a former Muslim rebel who ran for Congress and backed a military offensive against Islamic militants.

Radio reports said 11 people were rushed to hospitals, many of them suffering shrapnel injuries and burns from the blast.

Among the injured was another congressman, Henry Teves, who was said to be in a serious condition from the bomb, which hit the south lobby of the sprawling complex in suburban Quezon City shortly after most congressman had left for the evening, officials said.

Manila police chief Geary Barias said initial investigations showed the bomb was planted on a motorcycle parked near Akbar's car, prompting media to speculate the congressman may have been the target of the attack.

Akbar, 47, had spoken in the past of his links with the founder of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, Abubakar Abdurajak Janjalani.

He had twice served as governor of Basilan, the southern Philippine island used by the extremist Abu Sayyaf as a base to launch kidnapping and bombing raids, including some of the deadliest in the nation's history.

"I am saddened to know that a good friend and a leader in Basilan is among the casualties," said Jesus Dureza, a senior presidential aide.

"Whatever the reasons and motives, whether he was the target or the intended victim, we will have to leave that to the authorities to investigate," he said.

Despite his apparent links with the Abu Sayyaf founder, Dureza said Akbar had helped the government in its anti-terrorism campaign against the group on Basilan, where the militants are on the run from a massive military manhunt.

Akbar was killed along with the driver for congresswoman Luz Ilagan, who suffered minor injuries. Local television footage showed doctors frantically trying to revive Akbar as he was wheeled into surgery.

"Congressman Akbar is gone, he is gone," one of his staff who took him to hospital said on DZMM radio. The hospital later confirmed the death.

Ilagan said she was walking to her car when "there was a sudden explosion."

"I was heading to my car because the session had already adjourned," Ilagan said from a hospital. "When we were going down the south wing, there was a sudden explosion. I managed to walk but after a while I stumbled and realised my feet were bloodied and I couldn't stand up anymore," she said.

"My driver did not make it," she added.

The bomb collapsed the ceiling at the building's entrance, damaged cars and injured seven people, including two congresswomen. Their injuries were not life-threatening.

"I felt the blast although I was on the other side of the building," Rep Teodoro Casino said.

The loud bomb explosion occurred at the south entrance lobby of the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City at 8:07pm (7:07pm Thailand time) on Tuesday, Radio dzBB reported.

The explosion was heard kilometres away, and the tremor was felt to as far as about two kilometres from the site, according to witnesses.

Witnesses said they saw a van and one or two vehicles burning after the explosion. A destroyed motorcycle was found and experts were conducting chemical swabs on it to find out if it was used to carry the bomb.

Philippines officials said they were investigating but said the blast may have been the work of outside groups not directly aligned with the terrorist forces operating in the Philippines. They said Akbar had received death threats from Islamist militants, but also from other sources.

"If this is terrorist action or work of an anarchist I'm sure it was deliberately done to cow us," House Speaker Jose de Venecia told reporters at the site.

Political tensions are high in the country. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is facing a third impeachment complaint in as many years.

"We cannot rule out anything until the investigation is completed," De Venecia said. "There are many threats to us personally and officially. We will have to decide whether we have to augment security."

He said he would speak with the president "to inform her tonight that we will not be cowed by terrorists."

"Let me assure our people and our friends here and abroad that the Philippines and your government shall not rest until we get to the bottom of this tragedy and hunt down and punish the perpetrators," Arroyo said in a nationally televised address.

Security personnel guarding the complex in Quezon City were relieved from their post. Interior Secretary (minister) Ronaldo Puno said that authorities from the Philippine National Police’s special action force (SAF) took over the task of guarding the area. (Compiled by BangkokPost.com from agency reports)

Source Bangkokpot.net

Sonthi rules out running for a seat

2007-11-13T07:48:00.001-08:00

Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin declared yesterday he will not run for election to the House or the Senate, but did not rule out holding ministerial office again in the future.

Gen Sonthi said he already had other engagements planned after the interim government's term ends.

''Sporting activities such as football, tennis and golf will be my reward for a long year of hard work,'' the coup leader said after attending a seminar at the National Defence College.

''I won't enter politics for sure. The idea has never crossed my mind. You can make a contribution to the country whatever your profession,'' he said.

Asked what his response would be if the new government offered him a ministerial portfolio, he said that was a matter for the future. He had no idea who would invite him.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has assigned the former army chief to oversee security policy and to crack down on vote-buying in the Dec 23 election.

People Power party leader Samak Sundaravej has claimed Gen Sonthi is unfairly targeting his party to prevent it winning the election.

But Gen Sonthi said he would accept whoever the people elect to head the next government, including Mr Samak.

He said all political parties should develop their own policies, in line with the national strategies.

''When the political parties drive policies home, no matter if it is the Democrats, Chart Thai, PPP, Puea Pandin or Matchimathipataya, you should keep in mind whether your policies are in line with national policies or not,'' Gen Sonthi said.

He was concerned that political parties' plans rarely match the nation's development needs or protect its best interests. If this flowed through to the new government, the country would be back where the previous government began.

WASSANA NANUAM
BangkokPost.net

'$100 laptops' start to deliver

2007-11-12T08:06:00.001-08:00

BangkokPost.com, with agency reports

Low-cost notebook computers once considered for mass purchase and giveaways by the Thaksin Shinawatra government are rolling off the production lines in China.

The first of the XO laptops being built at a Quanta Computer facility in Changshu are destined for Uruguay, marking a milestone for the charity group founded by Nicholas Negroponte in Massachusetts two years ago.

"Against all the naysayers ... we have developed and now manufactured the world's most advanced and greenest laptop and one designed specifically to instill a passion for learning in children," Negroponte said.

A challenge for the organization has been that governments have not backed effusive words of support with willing flows of cash to buy laptops for children inside their borders.

Mr Negroponte at one time thought he had convinced Mr Thaksin to buy one million of the small, unique notebooks in order to give them away to Thai school children, the original aim of the initiative worldwide.

But Mr Thaksin and his ministry of information and communications technology never had any strong interest in acquiring the computers, which - while cheap - are very different from the standard Windows-type computers available in Thailand.

In August of 2006, Mr Thaksin claimed that "every elementary school child will receive a computer that the government will buy for them, free of charge, instead of books, because books will be found and can be read on computers." But he was clear that this plan covered locally assembled Windows-type machines, not the laptops from the world project.

The Sept 19, 2006, military coup put paid to the last chance that the Thai government would purchase the machines. Then-ICT minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, who does not use the Internet, was unimpressed with the machines.

And Education Miniser Wijit Srisa-arn was dismissive from the time he entered the military-appointed government. "The project is not urgent and not in my education reform plan in the one-year timeframe, which focuses on improving education quality for teachers and students," he said a year ago.

Nectec chairman director Thaweesak Koanantakool helped a project to test the machines in the field in Thailand only two weeks after the military coup, but by then it was clear the project was dead in the water in Thailand.

Still, as recently as February, Mr Negroponte insisted Thailand would be among "the first batch" of five countries to shell out $200 million to buy and give away a million of the computers.

With the price of the "$100 laptops" now at $200 or more, there is no chance Thailand will participate in the programme.

source form Bangkokpost.net

Police arrest man over 10 murders

2007-11-11T03:05:00.001-08:00

Security guards sleeping on the job led to killing spree
By Post reporters

A security guard who had beaten 10 fellow workers to death was arrested yesterday, bringing an end to his fatal dislike of guards who liked taking a nap on duty.

Witaya Jaikhan, a security guard at Samitivej Srinakarintara Hospital, confessed to police he had ''wiped out'' those he said took advantage of their bosses and did not deserve to be paid for sleeping on the job.

The 30-year-old, who had worked as a security guard for slightly more than one year, decided to punish other security guards after his attempts to wake them failed.

''I used to wake them up, but they scolded me. So I've remained enraged since then,'' said Mr Witaya.

Since January he killed 10 and seriously wounded eight others, according to Metropolitan police chief Assawin Kwanmuang.

His latest offence occurred on Nov 4 when he beat a guard at a pawnshop on Navamin road.

Mr Witaya told police that his crimes were done in steps, starting by waking them up first. If they kept sleeping, he would beat them to death or give them severe injuries, he added.

Police said the man used a one-metre wooden or metal stick as his weapon and would strike his victims on the head when they slept.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has been hunting him since he hit the security guard of a car showroom on Ram Inthra road in July. Police had his photo from a security camera and traced him from a stolen mobile phone. He called his wife in the northeastern province of Nong Khai using the stolen phone.

According to the police interrogation, Mr Witaya often cruised down Ram Inthra, At Narong, Nuan Chan, Navamin and Srinakarintara roads looking for sleeping security guards. He also went to Samut Prakan to look for victims there.

After killing or injuring the drowsy guards, he would steal their belongings and flee.

''I took their candies, chocolates and mobile phones,'' he told police.

''Then I sold the phones at Seacon Square shopping mall.''

Police initially pressed murder and theft charges against him, said Pol Lt-Gen Assawin.

Police sent him to Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute yesterday to check if he is mentally ill.

However, Taweesin Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the Department of Mental Health, questioned his motive, saying he may not be suffering from a mental disorder.

''His actions apparently were aimed at robbery,'' said Dr Taweesin.

If Mr Witaya is found to have a mental illness, his punishment will be reduced.

Kampanat Tantitabutkul, a psychiatrist at the Galaya Rajanagarindra Institute, said psychiatrists need at least two weeks to discover if he is mentally ill.

Dr Kampanat said the suspect needed to do a set of questionnaires which would initially tell if he has signs of mental illness. Then experts from various fields, including social work specialists, would observe his expressions before making final conclusions, he said.

Source form Bangkokpost

Sonthi plays coup card

2007-11-10T03:38:00.001-08:00

BangkokPost.com

Coup leader Sonthi Boonyaratkalin refused to rule out staging another coup d'etat if the People Power party (PPP) loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinwatra wins the election on December 23.

"It is a future matter that we shall have to wait and see," Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi said when he was asked whether a coup will be staged if PPP gets to form a new government.

He also countered PPP leader Samak Sundaravej's statement that the party's victory will mean ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra was right all along, saying that the court is the only one to decide whether Mr Thaksin committed any wrongdoing.

"Laws, not statements of anyone, will tell whether he is right or wrong," Gen Sonthi told reporters.

He also challenged Mr Thaksin to return to Thailand, saying "he can return now so we can prosecute him."

Meanwhile, acting chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) Chalit Phukphasuk said the CNS is not worried if Mr Samak brings back Mr Thaksin's regime if his party wins the election.

Under a democratic system, people will decide what is good for the country, he said.

Gen Chalit, also chief of air force, insisted the CNS and the military will maintain politically neutral and will not get involved in politics in any way.

Officers who are found to have involved in political acts will faced harsh punishment, he added

Tourists stranded on Samui, flights grounded

2007-11-09T09:08:00.001-08:00

SUPAPONG CHAOLAN & NUCHAREE RAKRUN

More than 1,000 tourists were left stranded at Samui airport yesterday as torrential rain battered the resort island and other parts of the South.

The bad weather grounded planes on Koh Samui and at Surat Thani airport on the mainland.

Tourists and local residents struggled to return to hotels and homes along roads submerged under deep floodwater.

The air force was called in to help.

''We had to use our six-wheel trucks to help them. Otherwise they could not have returned to their hotels and homes on such flooded roads,'' said Flight Lieutenant Surapong Sarakul.

Surat Thani governor Winai Buapradit declared six tambons and 11 villages on the island disaster zones.

Soldiers were assigned to help people carry their belongings out of flooded areas.

Samui airport was turned into a temporary shelter for stranded tourists as Bangkok Airways, which has a monopoly on all flights in and out of Samui airport, cancelled all its 72 flights yesterday because of the weather.

A One-Two-Go airliner crashed while trying to land during bad weather at Phuket airport less than two months ago, killing 90 people on board, mostly foreign tourists.

Some tour operators did not appreciate the safety precautions being taken by Bangkok Airways.

''The company has not done the right thing,'' complained a frustrated tour operator on Koh Samui.

''It could have solved the problem by landing their planes on the mainland in Surat Thani province so we could transport people here by ferry and boat.''

The island has suffered severe floods since Wednesday night when heavy rain fell across much of the South. After a brief lull, monsoon storms continued to slam the island late yesterday afternoon, hampering efforts to drain water from flooded areas.

Flood waters rose quickly to reach one metre deep in areas of Talad Dow, Talad Laemdin and Chaweng beach, said Koh Samui district chief Adisorn Kamnerdsi.

Chaweng beach road is a seaside thoroughfare often crowded with tourists and is regarded as a key part of the island's business zone.

Officials closed some sections of the main road around the island because of the flooding and at least 10 schools were also forced to close.

Mr Adisorn said local authorities would be able to bring the flooding under control if the rain stopped soon.

However, the Meteorological Department said heavy rain, caused by a low pressure front, would continue to fall across the South for the next two days.

Apart from Koh Samui, floods crippled movement in four districts in Surat Thani and seven districts in nearby Nakhon Si Thammarat province, affecting thousands of villagers.

Nakhon Si Thammarat was hit particularly hard, with over 24 centimetres of rain yesterday, officials said, and over 30,000 people were affected by the floods.

About 20 families in tambon Pakpoon of Muang district were forced to evacuate their homes, Nakhon Si Thammarat's disaster prevention and mitigation unit reported.

Provincial officials were also closely monitoring coastal erosion in tambon Laem Talumphuk in Pak Phanang district where strong waves were pounding the coastline and threatening to destroy some fishing communities.

SOURCE http://www.bangkokpost.net/

Thaksin calls home to end PPP list row

2007-11-09T08:48:00.001-08:00

POST REPORTERS

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday intervened to end rifts in the People Power party (PPP) over party-list candidates running in a cluster including Bangkok, a party source said.

Mr Thaksin called from London to plead for unity in the PPP, saying as the list could not be changed, members should focus their energy on the general election, the source said.

The ousted premier had blamed secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee and Newin Chidchob for causing the problem by adjusting names on the list hours before registration for party-list candidates started on Wednesday.

The unexpected change, which elevated United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship of Thailand (UDDT) leaders Jatuporn Prompan and Manit Jitjanklab into the top five positions on the party list, led to threats by 32 politicians running for Bangkok constituencies to resign.

They were concerned about their ability to draw support from Bangkok voters if Mr Jatuporn and Mr Manit campaigned in a confrontational nature.

PPP Bangkok candidates held talks with their leader Samak Sundaravej yesterday.

Mr Samak said he had mended the rift in the party and there was no need to talk about the matter again. He insisted that PPP hopefuls for Bangkok would still run in the Dec 23 election and not quit. Mr Samak said an understanding had been reached and everybody was satisfied.

The two deserved the chance to run due to the kudos they gained in fighting the coup-makers, he added.

But the source said the issue was not settled and another round of talks would be held today.

Mr Samak also lambasted reporters who tried to dig into the details of his efforts to end the party conflict, saying it was an internal matter and journalists should not try to publish details and harm the party's reputation.

Mr Jatuporn said he would let PPP executives handle the dispute with candidates themselves.

However, Mr Jatuporn said he and other former UDDT leaders had devoted themselves to the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party. They had risked their lives and spent time in prison, he added.

''We deserve to be welcomed at 'home','' said Mr Jatuporn, but added that he would not fight fellow members in his party and would be ready to talk over all differences.

Veera Musikhapong, an executive of PTV and former UDDT leader, yesterday defended Mr Jatuporn and Mr Manit, saying they were qualified to run on the list.

Mr Jatuporn had devoted himself to protesting against dictatorship since the Black May uprising in 1992, while Mr Manit was a former chief judge in the Supreme Court, said Mr Veera

source Bangkokpost

King returns to palace

2007-11-08T06:34:00.001-08:00

His Majesty the King left Siriraj Hospital on Wednesday after making a "significant recovery" from 25 days of treatment. Hundreds of well-wishers in yellow shirts gathered at the hospital to get a glimpse of the world's longest-reining monarch.

His Majesty, wearing pink blazer and black trousers, left the hospital at 11.30am, with thousands of well-wishers shouting "Long Live the King" as he passed.

His Majesty, who was admitted on Oct 13 after experiencing weakness on the right of his body, was accompanied by members of the royal family, including Her Majesty the Queen and their eldest child, Princess Ubolratana.

Before leaving the hospital, His Majesty, moving on his own with the help of a walker, paid respect to the statutes of his late father and mother situated in the hall of the hospital.

He was scheduled to return to Chitralada Palace, where thousands of Thais lined along the motorcade route to get a glimpse of the 79-year-old monarch.

In its latest statement, the Royal Household Bureau said that the royal medical team advised the monarch to continue physical exercise to regain muscle strength after his release from hospital.

Seven killed by rebels in bomb, gun attacks

2007-11-06T06:49:00.001-08:00

Southern insurgents killed seven people yesterday, including two Muslim religious leaders and two village headmen, in separate attacks.

Insurgents yesterday morning placed a bomb, which was attached to a bottle of acid used in the production of rubber sheets, on a road near the Aisatia railway station in Narathiwat's Cho Airong district before detonating it by remote control. The target was a patrol unit.

The explosion seriously injured two passers-by, Suraida Mareusa, 29, and a 15-year-old boy, Arfundee Dolor, who arrived at the scene at the same time as the patrol unit. The officers were unhurt.

Police said insurgents are now increasingly attaching explosives to bottles of acid to attack patrol units.

In Yala, a village head and a village defence volunteer were shot dead in Yaha district yesterday morning. Binsor Masae, 48, the village head in Baju village, and Aree Samae, 36, were attacked by unidentified gunmen.

The attackers stopped Binsor's car on the Patae-Bannang Sata road before opening fire at the two.

Meanwhile, a village head and two other villagers were gunned down in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district.

Latae Kama, 54, the village head in tambon Paku and Abdullor Hipae, 35, were travelling in a pick-up taxi driven by Seksan Kama when assailants in another pick-up gave chase and opened fire at them.

In the same province, Sgt Sakkria Malinee, attached to the Inkhayuthboriharn military camp in Nong Chik district was seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting at around 4pm yesterday.

The officer and his wife Nantha were travelling on a motorcycle when a pillion-riding gunman fired shots at him.

Ms Nantha was injured when she fell off the motorcycle.

Two religious leaders, or toh imams, were shot dead and two other Muslims seriously wounded while they were travelling along the Rueso-Suwaree road in Narathiwat's Rueso District yesterday.

Police rushed to the scene in tambon Suwaree where they found the blood-stained bodies of the men.

The dead were identified as Lormae Dueramae and Arsae Daekae, both toh imams in Rueso district, while the injured Muslim villagers were Sahor Maehae, 42, and Ma Maehae, 81.
source form Bangkok post

Embassy aids arrested Thais in Kuwait

2007-11-05T07:24:00.001-08:00

Thai embassy officials have met with Thai workers involved in a massive brawl in Kuwait on Thursday and are providing them with legal and other assistance, Labour Ministry spokesman Pairoj Suksamrit said.

About 20 Thai workers are being detained by the Kuwaiti authorities for drinking alcohol, an offence usually punished by one month's detention followed by deportation.

About 300 Egyptian workers stormed a camp occupied by 200 Thai workers on Thursday.

The clash erupted after some drunken Thai workers intruded on the camp site's Muslim prayer room, Thai ambassador to Kuwait Dusit Chantasen said.

Labour permanent secretary Juthathawat Intharasuksri said the remaining Thai workers had been transferred to a new camp after the incident.

The ministry is carrying out its own investigation into the cause of the clash.

Source By Penchan Charoensuthipan Bangkokpost

King becoming more mobile every day

2007-11-04T04:09:00.001-08:00

His Majesty the King's health continued to improve yesterday and he is now finding it easier to move around with the aid of a walker, according to the latest update on his condition. The Royal Household Bureau also announced yesterday that results of a blood test on His Majesty showed no major problems.

The announcement also said there had been progress in the treatment of Princess Galyani Vadhana, the King's elder sister who is also being treated at Siriraj Hospital.

The Princess' speech has become clearer and she is able to move her right hand with greater ease. The team of royal physicians is providing her with physical therapy and has increased the volume of intravenous feeding, the announcement said.

Supaksorn will doing One’s Best for Opening – Closing Ceremony of SEA Games

2007-11-02T09:32:00.001-07:00

Mr. Supawat Jongsiri or “Supaksorn”, the responsible man of the Opening – Closing of the 24th SEA Games 2007, reveals the progress of preparation that presently we will speed up working against time because had a few days before starting the competition at this period the Com Art Limited, went to schools in Nakhon Ratchasima province to choose 15,000 performers join in the Opening-Closing ceremony and we had the performers from 38 institutes to joining too.

         He expected the choosing of performer will completed on this October and next will already starting practice on November 1 2007, then will using real location which is His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Sport Complex to practice on December 1 2007.
         For the grand rehearsal on December 4 2007, he said that from the primary schedule, the Organizing Committee of the 24th SEA Games 2007, will have the selling of the ticket on the grand rehearsal day on December 4 2007, which same day as Thai football team compete with Cambodia so may be change the grand rehearse day to December 3 2007, and he will rush to discuss this issue in the main meeting on October 26 2007.
         “I’m very serious because had a few time and must work for all day all night to prepared everything but I’m happy that we got the great cooperation from Korat citizens and every schools. I want to make impressive and beautiful show because I had organized the opening-closing ceremony for the 18th SEA Games at 12 years ago, so presently I’m come back to do again in the 24th SEA Games so I would like to do the best and this SEA Games will be the last for me because in the next 12 years in the future, I’m already out of date” Mr. Supawat said.
Supaksorn said about the song for the opening-closing ceremony of the 24th SEA Games 2007, assigned to Tick Chiro (Mr. Sirisak Nuntasen), the famous singer and songwriter which he is a Korat citizen, to managing the song. For the singer in the opening ceremony we already sound out Tata Young to sing this song which we already send the details of any show for her decision. We expected Tata will response in next week and about torch relay team now we choose Mr. Suriya Prasathinpimai, the boxer who won the bronze medal in Olympic Games 2004 at Greece, and “Nong On” Miss Udomporn Polsak, the women’s weightlifting who won the gold medal in Olympic Games 2004 at Greece, which both is a Korat citizens too.
         For the opening ceremony of the 24th SEA Games 2007, will have 8 shows, first show was Mahassajan Tairomprabaramee, Mahassajan PathapeeakeE-san, Mahassajan Mahanakornchatchawan, Mahassajan Panithankarnkeela, Mahassajan Faiprareaksangsit, Mahassajan Namjaijit Sathidka, Mahassajan Mittraparbtrabdinfa, Mahassajan Mahanakornalungkarn.
         For the closing ceremony of the 24th SEA Games 2007, will have 7 shows as follows
Niramit Dok-mai-ngam-hang-num-jai, Niramit Sai-yai-hang-kwam-fun, Niramit Mo-ra-dok-loke-rueng-a-nun, Niramit Kwam-pook-pan-wan-jak-krai, Niramit Fai-dao-prow-kwam-wang, Niramit Loke-gee-rung-dung-fun-fai, Niramit Kwam-sook-lum-roj-um-pai-plaeng-pla-kod-kwam-ying-yai-ma-ha-na-korn.

SEA Games’ Football Team prepare to go to Korat
Mr. Kittirut Na Ranong, the Manager of Thailand Football Team, reveal that Thailand Men Football Team prepared to compete in the 24th SEA Games at Nakhon Ratchasima, which Football will compete on November 30 2007 with Cambodia. Recently, he went to investigate the His Majesty the King 80th Birthday Anniversary Sport Complex December 5 2007, which using for men football competition, he found that it’s being good state and he think he will led SEA Games National Team to training with real stadium to making familiarity between November 3-7 2007 among National Team will compete world championship 2010 in the 2nd qualify round of Asia Zone.
For Men Football competition in the 24th SEA Games 2007, Thailand team which the champions for 7 times, was being in group A with Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia. Group B were Vietnam (2nd runner-up) together with Malaysia, Lao and Singapore.

Source from Dailynews Newspaper Date: October 24 2007.
website http://www.2007seagames.com

Thaksin kicks in more funds

2007-10-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has pledged more funds to back Sven-Goran Eriksson in the January transfer market, the British media reported Thursday.
Thaksin has already spent 40 million pounds on new players since his summer takeover of the Eastlands outfit, or about 2.8 billion baht.
This is despite having nearly 100 billion baht of his assets frozen in Thailand.
Thaksin has already earmarked more money for Eriksson to continue his astonishing start to life with the Blues, according to the SportingLife.com website on Thursday morning.
The move seems to indicate that Thaksin is not intimidated either by threats in Thailand to seize assets to pay his children's tax bill, or a new investigation by the military-appointed Assets Scrutiny Commission into the source of the funds Thaksin used to complete his City buy-out earlier this year.
Currently third in the top flight, Manchester City are to play former champions Chelsea on Saturday knowing victory will take them an amazing seven points clear of Chelsea in the Premiership.
Both Thaksin and Eriksson accept there is still plenty of work to be done, SportingLife reports.
But having vowed to take City into Europe within three years, Thaksin has confirmed he will back Eriksson when the transfer window opens in the new year in a bid to gain Uefa Cup qualification well ahead of schedule.
He told the Manchester Evening News:
"There will not be many new faces like there were in the summer but possibly, there will be a few.
"There is no doubt that I trust Sven to spend my money well... His track record has been brilliant so far. There were those who questioned us when we appointed Sven as manager but they are not doing so now. So far, he has proved to be a perfect choice."
Thaksin has said he will not return to Thailand until at least next year, after elections and the formation of a democration government. That leaves him free to concentrate on Manchester City, and turning the team into a major Premier League force.
"We set out with a three-year plan and though people will say we are ahead of that plan we have only played 10 games so far," he told the Manchester newspaper.
"But we have started very well and we seem to be winning the disillusioned fans back."

Surayud welcomes NLA ethics scrutiny

2007-10-06T21:58:00.001-07:00

PM says he declined favour for Prasong

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he is no saint, but welcomes parliament scrutiny of the land he owns in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Speaking on the weekly television programme Perd Baan Phitsanulok, Gen Surayud said he was ready to explain his acquisition of the land in a forest reserve on Khao Yai Thiang mountain.

He is likely to undergo grilling by members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) during an ethics debate in parliament later this week.

The ethics motion was filed last week by a group of NLA members who wanted to question cabinet members about their performance.

But some members withdrew their signatures following reports Gen Surayud would face the onslaught.

The prime minister said not everyone is "pure and white". He said he still had a lot to improve and was working on it.

"I know well that I'm not a saint. I have done nothing so lofty to speak of," he said.

He denied the government had lobbied NLA members to back down from the ethics motion.

Gen Surayud said he believed parliament was the right place to divulge such information.

He declined to comment on his relations with Prasong Soonsiri, head of the NLA ethics panel who reportedly was behind the ethics motion.

He said he had worked with Sqn Ldr Prasong in the past.

He said Sqn Ldr Prasong had asked a favour of him while he was army chief, but he declined because the request went against his better judgment. He did not elaborate.

Sqn Ldr Prasong denied ever asking anything of the prime minister. He will hold a press conference tomorrow to give his side of the story.

Busted: Hat Yai bomb plot

2007-10-06T21:56:00.001-07:00

By Wichayant Boonchote and Waedao Harai
Security forces have foiled a suspected terrorist plot to wreak havoc in Hat Yai, the commercial capital of Songkhla province, recovering 17 bombs in the city yesterday before they could be detonated.
A bomb disposal unit discovered the 17 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden in two locations in the city.
A security source said five bombs were discovered near a fence of the Prince of Songkhla University on Poonakan road. Explosives experts said the detonation cords were missing and would have probably been attached only shortly before an attack.
Another 12 bombs were discovered outside a restaurant belonging to the navy in downtown Hat Yai.
All the bombs were home-made and authorities believe they were destined to be planted at various places in the commercial hub of Hat Yai.
The source said the low-pressure bombs were apparently intended to cause havoc rather than deaths. They were similar to a device that exploded near the army headquarters in Bangkok last week, which injured two bomb disposal officers.
On Sept 22, security forces came across five bombs at a public park in Hat Yai. That discovery, coupled with intelligence warnings of possible attacks in the once-bustling tourist city of Hat Yai, has spurred the authorities into beefing up security patrols in the area.
Further south in Narathiwat, around 10 suspected insurgents, including at least two women, were rounded up in Yi-ngo district.
The security sweep was prompted by a tip-off about possible insurgent hideouts in Ban Ton Tan, Ban Lubopara and Ban Yue Loh in the district.
One of those captured in the raid, Waesama-ae Mahadung, 35, is wanted on an arrest warrant. He was found with Molotov cocktails, a BB gun and equipment for producing kratom cocktail drinks, an illegal stimulant.
The raid team also captured Nureeda Laening, 20, seizing 29 AKA rifle bullets, some photos of Ms Nureeda in soldier uniforms and gun cleaning oil. Police did not say what she had been charged with.
Bomb making materials, wires, communication radios, remote controls, mobile phones, electronic circuits and fake automobile registration plates were also taken from one of the raided houses. The owner of the house had fled, police said.
Eight other suspects were arrested on drug possession charges. One of them was named as Noyaneesa Bumaekalee, wanted on an arrest warrant. She was charged with possession of five methamphetamine tablets with intent to consume.
Mr Waesama-ae and Ms Nureeda were sent to Ingkhayuthboriharn military camp in neighbouring Pattani for questioning while the other eight suspects were placed in police custody.

source http://www.bangkokpost.net

Prachai leaves Pracharaj party

2007-10-06T05:18:00.001-07:00

Fuels talk of Matchima revival with him as boss
POST REPORTERS
The departure of Prachai Leophairatana from the Pracharaj party and its leader Sanoh Thienthong has triggered speculation over the possible resurrection of the Matchima group with him as its new leader.
Former members of Matchima, which merged with Pracharaj last month, have followed Mr Prachai out of the party, of which he was chairman of the executive board. They include Karun Sai-ngam, Somboon Thongburan and Maj-Gen Intharat Yodbangtoey.
Anongwan Thepsutin, secretary-general of Pracharaj and wife of Matchima group leader Somsak Thepsuthin, will announce the group's political future today.
The group is expected to announce its departure from the Pracharaj party to join with Matchima.
It is reported that Mr Prachai, founder and ex-chief executive of Thai Petrochemical Industry Plc, approached Mr Somsak about having the Matchima members leave Pracharaj and that he promised to look after all of them.
A close aide to Mr Somsak filed a request with the Election Commission on Sept 3, asking to register Matchima as a political party. It is reported that the EC is about to endorse this status.
Prachai Leophairatana, chairman of Pracharaj’s executive board, announces his resignation yesterday at the party headquarters. The businessman-turned politician said he would join another party to pursue his political ambitions and denied he had a policy conflict with Pracharaj leader Sanoh Thienthong

Mrs Anongwan said that the group backs Mr Prachai's decision and several of its members feel uncomfortable with Mr Sanoh being the party leader and directing the party's election campaign and policy platform.
Sophon Phetsawang, a key member of Matchima, said if Mrs Anongwan decides to leave Pracharaj, the remainder are likely to follow her.
''The group is willing to have Mr Prachai as party leader. He is distinguished and suitable to be prime minister. We have not pressured Mr Sanoh and our members believe in Mr Prachai's economic knowledge and expertise,'' Mr Sophon said.
A source in Matchima said Mr Prachai and Mr Sanoh have been at odds over the selection of election candidates.
The source said Mr Sanoh tended to pick only those who have a chance of winning and insisted on having his way.
The source said Mr Prachai's abrupt resignation was apparently forced by Mr Sanoh's failure to attend yesterday's party meeting.
Mr Sanoh was expected to announce at the party meeting that he would support Mr Prachai as the party leader but he would remain in the leadership post until the general election.
On Thursday, Mr Sanoh said Mr Prachai should found his own party if he was so well-versed in economic policy. The remark was believed to have been a catalyst for Mr Prachai's resignation.
According to the source, Matchima will hold a general assembly on Oct 15 to pick Mr Prachai as its leader.
Mrs Anongwan is tipped to be the party secretary-general and Mr Karun a deputy party leader.
At yesterday's press briefing, Mr Prachai said he decided to quit Pracharaj because his political ideology went against Mr Sanoh's policies.
He denied that his resignation was related to his attempts to be the party leader or to disputes over selection of candidates to contest the Dec 23 poll.
Mr Prachai said he will announce his political future on Monday.
Meanwhile, Mr Sanoh yesterday shrugged off Mr Prachai's departure, saying it was not a matter of life and death.
He said he was committed to working for the good of the country.
Suchart Bandasak, a close aide to Mr Sanoh, said some 50 members confirmed that they would stay with the party and support Mr Sanoh as the party leader.
Political analysts believe that Mr Sanoh, known as a political king-maker, is mobilising his resources to groom a new prime minister. However, they believe that Mr Sanoh has someone other than Mr Prachai in mind.
sourec form http://www.bangkokpost.net

Sketch issued of army HQ bomb suspect

2007-10-04T06:44:00.001-07:00

Police are confident of arresting culprit

Police have distributed a sketch of a man suspected to have planted a bomb which exploded outside the army headquarters on Sunday. The suspected bomber is in his early 30s, 165-170 cm tall, with a square-shaped face and tanned complexion and military-style short, cropped hair.
He was wearing a T-shirt and dark-coloured trousers, according to Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) deputy commissioner Krissada Pankongchuen.
He said the investigation into the bombing, which injured two bomb disposal policemen, was progressing well.
A special team had been set up to investigate the case and analyse all evidence, Pol Maj-Gen Krissada said. He expected more news soon.
Deputy commissioner Jade Mongkolhatthee said police were confident the sketch would lead to the arrest of the bomber. It was based on descriptions given by eyewitnesses.
''We're checking whether he is in our record of criminals,'' Pol Maj-Gen Jade said. ''Once we have enough evidence we will ask the court to issue an arrest warrant for him.''
Investigators have taken fingerprints from the bomb scene and are still examining footage from a nearby security camera.
The bomb went off Sunday night at a telephone booth in front of the Survey School of the Royal Thai Survey Department, adjacent to army headquarters.
The event occurred on the eve of Gen Anupong Paochinda taking over the post of army chief.
National police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej said police were informed by intelligence sources that people in uniform masterminded the bombing. One of them was reported to be a general whose name begins with the letter ''P'', he said.
''But a report is only a report,'' he said, ''we have to verify it.''
Special Branch police are also helping with the investigation.
Pol Gen Seripisuth said police had still not found a link between Sunday's explosion and the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok and neighbouring Nonthaburi.
However, senior city police concluded at a meeting yesterday that the motive was probably similar. It was an act of intimidation to cause chaos in the city, they said.
Nine separate bombs went off on the night of Dec 31 and early hours of Jan 1, 2007, killing three people and injuring 42, including tourists.

Source http://www.bangkokpost.net

Bannawit moved to inactive post

2007-10-04T06:39:00.001-07:00

Maverick legislator Adm Bannawit Kengrian has been transferred from his military position as deputy permanent secretary to the Defence Ministry, allegedly for refusing to stop criticising last month's military reshuffle.
He admitted that the transfer order had shocked him, and "came as a surprise".
His response follows reports that he will soon be investigated for criticising several top military brass.
"I haven’t been informed of an order to assess whether I had violated the army’s code of conduct but I can assure you that I have never spoken badly about my superiors," he stressed.
He is known as a close friend of Army Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, a strong supporter of last year's military coup. Gen Saprang was a strong contender to be promoted to army commander on Oct 1, but lost out in the final selection.
His Majesty the King today endorsed the appointment of Gen Totsarat Muang-Um to replace him as Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Defence Ministry. Adm Bannawit was appointed Chairman of the Board of Consultants for the Defence Ministry.
The order is effective from Wednesday, even though it was not made public until Thursday.
Asked if there were any mistakes he made in the past which he now regrets, Adm Bannawit contended that his efforts had always been aimed at benefiting the public.
source http://www.bangkokpost.net/

Asean slams Burmese junta

2007-09-29T06:27:00.001-07:00

Dissidents say over 200 killed in crackdown
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT and AGENCIES
Thailand and the Association Of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have demanded that Burma stop using violence against demonstrators and voiced "revulsion" at the killings in Rangoon.
The strong position against Burma, also an Asean member country, was delivered by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Thailand joined the grouping in demanding that Burma "exercise utmost restraint, seek a political solution and resume its efforts at national reconciliation. It should work towards a peaceful transition to democracy.
"We call for the release of all political detainees, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," said Gen Surayud.
His speech was part of a statement worked out by nine Asean foreign ministers which read: "We are appalled to receive reports of automatic weapons being used and demand that the Myanmar (Burmese) government immediately desist from the use of violence against demonstrators.
"[The foreign ministers] expressed their revulsion to Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win over reports that the demonstrations in Myanmar are being suppressed by violent force and that there has been a number of fatalities."
Mr Nyan Win was not present when the statement was issued and his representative sat stony-faced and made no comment after the meeting.
While not mentioning sanctions or other punitive measures against Burma, the statement used unusually strong language for the grouping.
The ministers said they gave their full support to the dispatch of Ibrahim Gambari by the United Nations and welcomed Mr Nyan Win's assurance that a visa would be issued to Mr Gambari in Singapore. Mr Gambari, the UN secretary-general's special adviser, will enter Burma today.
Asean's position came as the violent crackdown on protesters continued in Rangoon yesterday.
Soldiers in Burma clubbed protesters and fired tear gas, decisively breaking up demonstrations before they could gain momentum. Troops occupied Buddhist monasteries and cut off public internet access, raising concerns a deadly crackdown was set to intensify.
The government claims 10 people have been killed since the violence began earlier this week, but diplomats say that the toll is likely to be much higher. Dissident groups have put the number as high as 200.
Burmese troops pounded dissenters by swiftly breaking up street gatherings while a smaller group of die-hard activists played cat-and-mouse with armed security forces.
In Bangkok, Portuguese ambassador to Thailand Antonio de Faria e Maya defended the European Union's policy of using sanctions against Burma, saying the EU has some leverage in working towards a peaceful solution in Burma.
Head of the European Commission Delegation to Thailand, Friedrich Hamburger, said the EU sanctions might not be able to bring about significant political change in Burma due to neighbouring countries' economic associations with the regime. He urged Mr Gambari to call for more serious and structured dialogue with the Burmese junta.
"The regime has to be convinced by the UN representative that they have to change, or face increasing international community pressure," he said.
He also expected the UN Security Council would deal with Burma when it meets next week.
"Asean plus Three [China, Japan, and South Korea] also has leverage and a role to play here,"he said.
Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) president Zaid Ibrahim urged the UN to do more. The Security Council must act quickly and collectively and China and Russia should not stand in the way, he said.
National Legislative Assembly member Kraisak Choonhavan lashed out at the Thai government for being soft on Burma.
"As a neighbour, the government's stance on the issue is shameful despite its efforts to return democracy to the country. The government fails to show support for the Burmese public or call on the junta to show morality towards its people," he said.
Source http://www.bangkokpost.net

Thaksin on the coup

2007-09-20T08:32:00.001-07:00

By THAKSIN SHINAWATRA

I awoke on the morning of Sept 19 last year to the news that my government - and Thailand's democratic constitution - had been overthrown in a military coup. The coup came as a shock to me and to most Thais.
[Thaksin Shinawatra is a former prime minister of Thailand. This article has been reprinted from The Wall Street Journal Asia 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.]
One year ago I was in New York, preparing to address the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of my nation. I was filled with pride as I looked forward to delivering my remarks. One year before that, I had been overwhelmingly re-elected as prime minister of Thailand. Thanks to the people of my nation, I was the first leader in the near 100-year history of Thailand to be not just democratically elected, but democratically re-elected.
Under my administration, we had cut poverty almost in half, provided universal access to affordable health care for the first time, balanced the budget and paid off our debts to the International Monetary Fund.
In addressing the United Nations, I intended to emphasise to the world the success and maturity of our democracy.
I was never able to deliver my remarks, however, because I awoke on the morning of Sept 19 to the news that my government - and Thailand's democratic constitution - had been overthrown in a military coup.
The coup came as a shock to me and to most Thais. Democracy appeared to have become well entrenched in Thailand following adoption of the Constitution of 1997. Also known as the "People's Constitution," this charter was universally acclaimed as the most democratic constitution in the history of Thailand.
The people of Thailand have the same democratic aspirations and expectations as the people of other mature nations, and they will not rest until these are restored to them. Regrettably, the military rulers in Bangkok have spent most of the past year worrying not about promoting our nation's economic development or restoring basic rights to the Thai people, but rather about preventing me or anyone sharing my political philosophy from returning to political power.
In reflecting on the past year, I am appalled by the suffering that has been inflicted on the Thai people by the junta's misplaced priorities. I have made clear to all who will listen that I have no desire to again hold political office in Thailand. As a patriot whose first loyalty is to my King and country, I wish only to return to a democratic Thailand to live in peace with my family.
The junta justified the coup in part on the assertion that my administration was corrupt. Once in power, they created a government agency whose sole purpose was to validate this claim by finding me and my family guilty of some form of financial malfeasance. After investigating me for a year, none of the original charges has been sustained, so they have concocted new ones.
In so doing, they have had to invent new interpretations of Thai law with respect to investment and taxation.
These new legal interpretations cannot be applied only to me, however, which has jeopardised Thailand's hard-earned reputation for predictability and respect for the rule of law.
As a result, foreign investment - long a principal engine of Thailand's economic growth - has begun to dry up.
To try to stop me or anyone sharing my enthusiasm for free markets and democracy from ever regaining power in a free election, the junta has banned my former political party, forbidden over 100 of the most prominent political figures in Thailand from running for political office, and frozen my financial assets in Thailand.
For most of the past year, Thailand has been under martial law, with freedom of the press restricted and activity by political parties severely limited.
The junta appointed a committee to draft a new constitution for Thailand, stacking it with hand-picked bureaucrats. The committee's top priority was to reduce the role of the Thai people and their elected representatives in national decision-making.
The constitution they produced needlessly reduces the size of the lower house of Parliament to 480 from 500 members, the size of the Senate to 160 from 200 members, and redraws parliamentary districts in a manner designed to diminish the voting strength of the 35 provinces in northern and northeastern Thailand that have been most strongly opposed to the coup.
In addition, the new constitution strips the Thai people of the power to elect the Senate. Instead, senators will henceforth be appointed by unelected selection committees. The anti-democratic role of the Senate and the judiciary is amplified by features empowering the Senate to appoint heads of independent agencies and to remove the publicly elected prime minister.
In a referendum last month, an unexpectedly large number of Thais voted against adoption of the constitution, despite severe restrictions on organised opposition to the referendum imposed by the junta during the campaign.
There will now be a national election on Dec 23, which the junta wants the world to accept as free and fair. As campaigning begins, however, the junta continues to apply martial law in the 35 northern and northeastern provinces. In those provinces, it remains illegal for more than 10 persons to gather for political purposes - though this rule and others are rarely enforced against political parties favoured by the junta.
To ensure itself a free hand, the junta is resisting efforts by the European Union and others to deploy election monitors.
The world appears inclined to accept all these departures from democratic norms. The explanation is as simple as it is troubling. The international community is so disgusted by the junta's mismanagement that it wants it to pass from the scene as soon as possible. Rather than quarrel over the details of democracy, the world appears ready to look the other way so as to provide no reason for the junta to delay the Dec 23 election.
In a bizarre twist, the junta's greatest weaknesses - its incompetence and unpopularity - have been transformed into its greatest short-term strengths.
The world is miscalculating, however, if it thinks there can be stability in Thailand without true democracy. The voters of northern and northeastern Thailand who the junta wants to disenfranchise may be poor, but they will not be denied their voice - nor will the millions of other Thais whose rights are being restricted.
We will not have stability, democracy and development in Thailand until we have genuine national reconciliation.

Needless to say, national reconciliation will not be achieved at gunpoint or through rigged elections, but rather when our generals and politicians finally put the national interest above their own narrow interests.
Source Bangkokpost

88 die in Phuket plane crash

2007-09-17T08:33:00.001-07:00

Aircraft veers off runway, hits embankment, breaks apart
POST REPORTERS

A budget airline flight with 130 people aboard crashed on landing at Phuket airport in heavy rains and strong winds yesterday, killing 88 people and injuring 42.

The One-Two-Go Airlines plane was carrying 123 passengers, two pilots and five attendants from Bangkok. It landed in heavy rain and veered off the runway, before hitting an earth embankment, breaking into two and bursting into flames.

The 12-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-82 plane that served flight OG/OX269 left Don Mueang airport at 2.30pm before crash-landing on arrival at 3.40pm.

Only 44 passengers were Thai. The other 79 passengers were foreigners.

Witnesses said the plane seemed to abort its first landing attempt. However, it skidded when it touched the runway, before hitting the embankment.

Wreckage was strewn over a large area. Rescuers battled smoke and intense heat to remove bodies of the dead, and evacuate the injured.

A pilot informed the control tower that he would abort the first landing attempt because he could not see the runway.

According to witnesses, a fire broke out on the right wing while the plane was slipping from the runway. The fire went out, but then re-ignited until flames covered most of the aircraft.

Eighty-eight people on a One-Two-Go airliner were confirmed killed when the plane crashed and burned on landing at Phuket International Airport about 4pm yesterday in heavy rain and low visibility. Another 42 people were admitted to hospitals. The burnt bodies of the victims, wrapped in white sheets, were carried one-by-one from the smoking wreckage to the airport terminal pending identification. More than half the 123 passengers on Flight OG-269 from Bangkok to Phuket were foreigners. The plane, an MD-82, normally has two pilots and five attendants.

Many of the dead perished in their seats, and were found with their seatbelts fastened. Other passengers, mainly from the rear of the aircraft, jumped from windows, or squeezed through jagged openings in the fuselage.

Some made it out through the plane's emergency exits.

The plane had flown in from Bangkok in mid-afternoon in heavy rain and low visibility.

''The pilot asked to go around,'' said Chaisak Angsuwan, director-general of the Aviation Department. ''The control tower allowed it but the aircraft fell to the runway and the body broke.''

Rescue workers had put out the blaze by 5.20pm, then kept evacuating survivors and removing bodies. The airport was closed and about 20 flights were cancelled immediately.

Dr Tinakorn Pongwiwat, adviser of the Narenthorn rescue centre in Phuket, said injured passengers were admitted to Thalang Hospital, Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Vachira Phuket Hospital and Siriroj Hospital.

Most injured passengers suffered impact injuries and burns. The injured foreigners included Australian, English, Dutch, German, Iranian, Israeli and Irish nationalities, according to hospital officials.

The bodies of the dead victims, some badly burnt, were gathered at Phuket airport for an initial autopsy.

Mr Chaisak initially attributed the accident to heavy rains and strong winds at Phuket airport. Inquiries will focus on communication between pilots and the control tower, and flight recordings.

One-Two-Go Airlines chief executive Udom Tantiprasongchai said he was shocked, and expressed regret for the accident. He would arrange compensation for victims and relatives.

''I would like to express my deep sorrow to the relatives of the dead and I will take full responsibility,'' he said upon arrival in Phuket last night.

Airline staff and insurance officials headed to Phuket airport to arrange compensation as the airline opened a 1126 hotline centre and a coordination centre at Don Mueang airport to answer inquiries.

Phuket airport director Pornchai Ua-aree said the airport would stay closed today until the accident site was cleared.

He said the accident took place in heavy rain. However, visibility remained at 3-4 kilometres and the winds were not so strong, about 11 knots or 19 kilometres an hour. He said the airplane's tyres touched the runway but it slid 60 metres from the tarmac. Then its right wing hit the earth wall before the plane caught fire.

Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said the lists of killed and injured foreign passengers were being reported to the countries concerned last night.

Chantra Purnriksha, secretary-general of the Office of the Insurance Commission, said the airplane was rented from abroad and insured with foreign agencies. Forensic police chief Pol Maj-Gen Saengchai Suwatthanapakdi suggested relatives send in personal documents and medical records of dead passengers to help with identification. Forensic staff will arrive at Phuket airport today.

Source Bangkokpost
more information please visit http://www.fly12go.com/

Thais to scale Everest 'for the King'

2007-09-16T03:32:00.001-07:00

Kathmandu - A Thai television station is planning a lofty birthday gift for His Majesty the King by organising the country's first expedition to the peak of Mount Everest next month, news reports said Sunday.

Thai television station TITV (formerly iTV) has sought permission of Nepal's Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry for the expedition up Everest, the highest mountain in the world, IANS news agency reported from Kathmandu.
It plans to sponsor a nine-member team of Thai climbers, supported by Nepalese sherpas, who will plant the Thai flag, a Buddhist pennant and a flag with the king's emblem on the 8,848-metre Everest summit.
"We want to show the Thai people's faith and loyalty towards the king, country and Buddhism," TITV's letter to the Nepal government said.
People of various nationalities have climbed Mount Everest, but this would be a first for Thais. State-run TITV said it wants to organise the expedition in October.
King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, turns 80 in December and is highly revered by Thai people.
Scores of people have climbed the Everest in the summer of 2007, but most have chosen to do it from the Tibet side rather than Nepal, perhaps, due to the political turmoil in the country.
"We want to climb from Nepal and not from Tibet since Nepal is the birthplace of the Buddha," TITV said in its request to the Nepal government.
The television station estimates the total cost of the expedition would come to about $450,000 (aboiut 15.5 million baht) including a steep royalty fee of $90,000 charged by Nepal for climbing the peak.
TITV plans to cover the event from training sessions scheduled to begin in August to the point of the team reaching the summit, some time in October. (dpa)

Islamic panels urged to step up anti-rebel role

2007-09-08T21:31:00.001-07:00

Islamic panels urged to step up anti-rebel role
'Spiritual leaders need to work harder'
By Post reporters

Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday asked provincial Islamic committees in the restive South to step up their role in tackling the insurgency. Gen Sonthi said people in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala alone could not cope with the problem and needed assistance from all Islamic groups across the South to help restore peace.
Gen Sonthi, who is also the outgoing army chief, made the request while speaking with more than 100 Islamic spiritual leaders in Hat Yai, according to those who attended the meeting.
He received an open letter from Waedueramae Mamingji, chairman of the Pattani Islamic committee, which urged the government to pay more attention to education in the deep South and also set up an agency to oversee local education and provide scholarships for southern students.
Mr Waedueramae said education played a key role in preventing youth from being indoctrinated by insurgent groups.
He said the CNS chairman asked the spiritual leaders to work harder to strengthen faith among the people.
If people had greater trust in their spiritual leaders the resolution to the southern issue would be easier, he quoted Gen Sonthi as saying.
After the meeting in Songkhla, the CNS chairman travelled to Pattani to meet community leaders.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Aree Wongarya was in Narathiwat yesterday to follow the progress of construction of a model religious school in Cho Airong district.
He also met local religious teachers and urged them to stay away from insurgents and keep a closer watch on Muslim youths.
In neighbouring Sungai Padi district, security forces launched a pre-dawn raid on Ban Buera-ngae following a report that some key insurgents were hiding in the village.
Thirteen suspects, 11 named in arrest warrants, were taken into custody. All detainees pleaded innocent.
In a related development, an assistant to a village headman was killed in a rubber plantation in Songkhla's Thepha district yesterday.

source form BangkokPost

EARLY MORNING BLAZE AT THE MANDARIN

2007-09-06T09:06:00.001-07:00

Hotel had no sprinkler system
The old Mandarin hotel was declared a danger zone yesterday after a fire in the early hours of yesterday morning sent hundreds of foreign guests fleeing. Sixteen were treated for smoke inhalation, with five remaining in hospital last night.
Police said the 30-year-old building on Rama IV road in Bang Rak, had no water sprinkler system. The blaze had started on the second-floor and smoke spread quickly to the 10th floor. About 400 guests were evacuated. The blaze took nearly four hours to bring under control. The Mandarin hotel management said the fire affected a storage area, a fitness room and one wing of a connected building.
Police were investigating the cause, but said an initial investigation showed a short-circuit was responsible.
The flame- and smoked-scarred structure was declared off limits after an inspection by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration safety officers yesterday.
Bang Rak police chief Santi Jeekangwan said guests had not been allowed back into the building to get their belongings.
They must wait until it was declared safe by city public works department building inspectors.
Initial estimates put the damage to the hotel at 100 million baht.The fire in the 372-room hotel started shortly after midnight. Police evacuated the hotel guests to a nearby Christian church, known as Saphan Lueang, before they were found accommodation at other hotels owned by the Mandarin group. The Mandarin hotel comprises two buildings. The fire started in the rear building.
Bang Rak police said Prasit Pantharuea, a 32-year-old room attendant, was the first to see the fire as flames spread through the hotel's fitness room, and he spread the alarm.
Security officers and other staff exhausted 10 fire extinguishers trying to put out the blaze but to no avail and the flames quickly spread along the hotel's carpeted floors.

About 40 fire engines were called to the scene. Because of the lack of a sprinkler system it was four hours before the fire was declared out.

Danish tourist Martin Andersen, 27, from Copenhagen, said there was no fire alarm. His girlfriend Gitte Christensen, 27, called the situation ''chaotic''.

''This has been handled very, very badly in my opinion. There is just nobody in charge,'' said George Adigun, 39, a commodities consultant from London. ''There is no evacuation point. No one from the hotel has come out to tell us what is happening.''

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said City Hall yesterday asked the Thai Hotel Association to come up with measures to ensure safe structures and effective warning systems in hotels, particularly in old hotel buildings. BANGKOK POST and AP

Sonthi denies plans to stay on as army chief

2007-09-02T08:41:00.001-07:00

Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday denied he was planning to extend his tenure as army chief beyond his mandatory retirement date which is due at the end of the month. Gen Sonthi, who is also chairman of the Council for National Security, said he would not extend his tenure as commander-in-chief of the army.

However he declined to respond to speculation that he was planning to contest the upcoming election, saying he was still in the military.

Gen Sonthi also said he had already made a decision on who will replace him as army chief, but refused to say who that was.

The army reshuffle list will be sent to the Defence Ministry in the middle of the month, he said.

He made the statement after returning from Chiang Mai province where he bid farewell to personnel of the Third Army Region, which oversees security in the North.

The three army officers tipped as the most likely successors to Gen Sonthi are assistant army chiefs Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr and Gen Anupong Paochinda as well as army chief-of-staff Gen Montri Sangkhasap.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has said that the new army chief's name will be announced by Sept 20.

However, he said Gen Sonthi will be the one making the final decision on who replaces him.

Gen Surayud said he only learned from Defence Minister Gen Boonrawd Somtas that there are three candidates for the post and said Gen Sonthi did not need to consult him on the appointment of the new army chief.

Nevertheless, as the appointment of the new commander-in-chief and all other top brass officers must be endorsed by His Majesty the King, Gen Surayud said he believed the Defence Ministry will finalise the reshuffle before Sept 20.

Any delay would affect the new successors of not only the army chief's post, but also many senior officers of the navy, air force, supreme command and the ministry, who would be either transferred or promoted, he said.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

2007-08-29T09:35:00.001-07:00

HM's demonstration farms help residents affected by insurgency
Story by ISSARA NEWS CENTRE, PATTANI

Her Majesty the Queen's demonstration farms have given a new lease of life to Buddhist and Muslim residents whose livelihoods have been affected by unrest in the strife-torn province of Pattani.

As violence in the far South scares many people from travelling to work, the Queen's four farms at Ban Bang Khao, Ban Nam Dam, Ban Khok Mhad and Ban Yabi in Nong Chik district have been designed for villagers to work near their houses and earn sufficient income to feed their families.

Similar projects have also been set up in Yala and Narathiwat.

Sompol Sirichok, a district agricultural official responsible for the demonstration farm project, said the scheme was carried out after a group of local residents affected by the southern unrest sent a letter about their grievances to Her Majesty the Queen.

Soon after hearing about the sufferings of her subjects, the Queen asked the locals to prepare a list of those wanting her help and assistance later poured in from the palace and several state agencies, including local land development, fisheries, livestock, irrigation and forestry offices, said the official. Many residents felt gratitude to the Queen for her assistance. The demonstration farms had made their dreams come true.

A Buddhist project manager at the Ban Bang Khao demonstration farm, which has 155 workers, mostly Muslims, said integrated farming was introduced at the farm. As the soil in the area was acid, bean seeds were used as green manure to improve soil quality.

Various crops were planted at the farm, said the manager. The farm promotes the use of organic fertilisers.

Yawahaeng Maming, Mareeyor Wayeng, Romeekayor Putae and Roseeda Dueramae are among workers at the farm who say their lives have improved since the Queen's farm project was launched. Before, they worked at a canned fish factory which was very far from their community, they said.

Maeyor Mama, one of the farm workers who applied the demonstration farm concept to her farm, looked happily at her bean farm, which gave good yields this year.

"Before my land plot was left vacant as its soil was not good. I've applied the knowledge on organic fertiliser production which I learn from the demonstration farm to my plot. My bean crops grow fast and give good yields," said Ms Maeyor.

Khorleeyor Sulong, a Muslim project manager at the Ban Nam Dam farm, said most workers on her farm were Buddhists affected by the unrest.

The demonstration farm created jobs for the locals, including those who had no land to till, she said. The Queen's farm project has significantly boosted the local economy in the deep South and strengthened ties and understanding among Buddhist and Muslim residents.

source from bangkokpost.net

Burma's regime getting worse

2007-08-27T09:44:00.001-07:00

Even for a regime that hardly ever treats its people with respect, the action against Burmese demonstrators last week was beyond the pale. It speaks volumes that the generals who mismanage Burma could not tolerate a tiny, peaceful protest against unacceptable economic hardships. But it was totally unacceptable that the dictators could not even treat the demonstrations with a show of legality. By turning loose gangs of its own thugs against the Rangoon protest, the Burmese military junta once again demonstrated that promises to bring democracy to the country are as empty as ever.

Credit where credit is due, however, and for once its Southeast Asian neighbours are not sitting on their hands. Two days after the junta recommenced beating, jailing and intimidating the Burmese opposition, the main parliamentary group in the region took a small step forward. The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, known as Aipa, an official arm of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), said it may award the main Burmese opposition party a place at its table. The Aipa reasoning: Since the National League for Democracy won the futile 1990 Burmese elections, it is the official parliamentary group in Burma.

This is a small step, but credit the Asean arm with doing something. Compare that with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. After two days of government attacks on peaceful protesters, Mr Ban called on the Rangoon government to exercise restraint. He even called for ''constructive dialogue towards national reconciliation''. The futility of such a timid call from the new UN chief was so evident that neither the Burmese regime nor the beleaguered and unbowed opposition bothered replying to it.

Democracy remains the goal of the small Burmese opposition groups. They clearly have the support of much of Burma, although as always it is difficult to know just how much. When the opposition met last week to stage peaceful street marches against huge and unaffordable price increases on basic commodities, Rangoon residents along their route shouted or showed encouragement. The savage attacks by thuggish gangs in the pay of the generals was totally uncalled for, as were the arrests of protesters who either resisted the attacks of goons or tried to continue their peaceful demonstration. The Rangoon regime, which did not even have the fortitude to use its law enforcement agencies, also allowed no mention of the protests in the mouthpiece media it controls.

It should be no surprise that the protests began after the generals announced they were doubling the cost of diesel and increasing the price of compressed gas used for cooking and driving cars by 500%. Buses could not run and people could not get to work. As always, the incompetent and arrogant junta members saw no reason to justify the new, heavy burdens on the heavily troubled working men and women. They also gave no warning of the huge and _ for many _ unbearable price increases.

This totally anti-democratic attitude is as ingrained in the Burmese military regime as its incompetence at ruling the country. In a vote, the military would be thrown out in a flash. Indeed, it was tossed out in free and fair elections 17 years ago. Brutality and intimidation keep the generals in power. Virtually everything they have touched has turned to ashes, tragedy or both. Last week, as they drove the economy even further down than ever, it became clear they are mismanaging even a fairly simple programme designed to provide substitute legal crops for farmers now forbidden from growing opium. Instead of consulting the farmers and following the advice of anti-drug experts in Thailand and the United Nations, the generals have actually lowered farmers' income. Chinese merchants are buying up huge farm areas from the impoverished Burmese in the region.

The Burmese regime has truly lost credibility. There is strong evidence the junta also has lost both local and international legitimacy despite the kid-gloves treatment it still gets from the UN chief, from individual neighbours including Thailand, and from Asean. No one believes the generals will slowly switch the country to a democratic system, as they claim. We can only wish the Burmese good luck and offer moral support as they try to peacefully change a corrupt and brutal regime.

Thailand takes battle to deep-South's Islamic schools

2007-08-25T01:13:00.001-07:00

Analysis by Abdullah Wangni and Peter Janssen, dpa

After almost four years of battling a deadly separatist struggle against a seemingly nameless foe in Thailand's deep South, the Thai military have learned a thing or two.

Firstly, they are now convinced that the main organizer behind the violence, which has claimed more than 2,500 lives since early 2004, is the BRN-Coordinate, the political arm of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional or National Revolutionary Front.
BRN-Cordinate is blamed for the January 4, 2004, raid by Muslim militants on an army arms depot in Narathiwat that made away with 300 war weapons and is now seen as the watershed for the region's transition from a long-simmering separatist struggle into a nasty conflict with daily shootings, bombings and beheadings.
Secondly, Thai military intelligence is convinced that the BRN-Coordinate has used the deep South's Islamic schools (pondoks) and religious teachers (ustas) to recruit and instruct a new generation of Muslim youths dedicated to the Pattani separatist cause and a more militant form of Islam.
The deep South, comprising Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces, was an independent Islamic sultanate known as Pattani for hundreds of years before being conquered by Bangkok in 1786.
The area came under direct rule of the Bangkok bureaucracy in 1902, and was subject to a military-led assimilation campaign in the late 1940s that sparked a separatist struggle that has sputtered on and off for the past six decades.
Although the deep South has remained an essentially separatist fight, it has taken on a new al-Qaeda flavour in recent years, complete with beheadings and terrorizing civilians, partly due to the influx of a new generation of ustas to the traditional pondok school system, analysts say.
The Thai military is convinced that these foreign-trained ustas, especially those from Indonesia, are at the heart of the problem.
"The BRN-Coordinate has been recruiting followers from the Thai Students Association of Indonesia," claimed Colonel Shinawat Maendej, Commander of the Army Infantry Unit 1 in Narathiwat.
Shinawat told a recent press briefing that the BRN-Coordinate has for years been recruiting Thai graduates from Indonesian universities in Bandung, Jakarta and Yogyakarta, and then providing them with ideological and military training with help from the Indonesia's Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Jemaah Islamiah (JI) - the radical Java-based Islamic group blamed for the 2002 Bali bombing.
When these graduates return to Thailand many of them find jobs at pondoks, where they recruit and radicalize youths, said Shinawat.
Most southern specialists agree that there is an element of truth to the hypothesis.
There have been many arrests in the deep South and many of the suspected insurgents have fingered their ustas as ringleaders.
"The evidence is mounting against the pondoks and some of the radical teachers, forcing many of them to run away," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University and a leading expert on the southern conflict.
Mahamu Mama, 48, alias Pador Mamu, is one such former usta now on the lam. Mahamu is believed to be the mastermind behind the January 4, 2004 incident. He fled to Indonesia last year, sources said.
While it is believable that some ustas are involved in the conflict, the military's campaign to denounce religious teachers as prime suspects is a risky business that can easily backfire.
"Most of us went to Indonesia to study religion, not bomb-making," said Nuradin, a ustas in Pattani. "The government should not accuse us without proof."
False accusations against religious teacher by the military can lead to yet more violence.
"Some military officers make accusations against us just to impress their bosses," said Rusdee, another Pattani ustas. "This ruins many careers and means innocent teachers have to flee abroad. Others have taken up arms against the government."
Nearly 80 per cent of the current students in the deep South attend Islamic religious schools, which are subsidized by the state on a per capita basis.
Worawit Baru, a community development expert at Prince Songkhla Univserity in Pattani, has long advised the government to improve the curriculum, teaching standards and learning equipment of the pondoks rather than trying to force Muslim children to go to Thai public schools - the traditional incubus for Thai nationalism.
While the government is starting to heed the advice (for instance Thailand recently agreed to cooperate with Malaysia in improving the quality of its southern pondoks) it must tread carefully.
"It's a very sensitive issue for local people," said Panitan. "It's a major battle because the Muslim community leaders see the pondoks as their sphere of influence."

source bangkokpost

Thailand's referendum endorses army-backed charter

2007-08-19T21:49:00.001-07:00

Thailand's first-ever referendum has endorsed the country's 18th constitution that promises to weaken the political party system and strengthen the hand of the bureaucracy and military, initial results showed Monday.

A count of 93 per cent of the ballots cast in Sunday's plebiscite, found that 58.3 per cent voted yes, 41.7 per cent no and the remainder were invalid, said Election Commission secretary general Sittipol Paveechaikorn.
About 25 million out of 45.6 million eligible voters, or about 55 per cent, participated in the referendum. Official results will be announced by 4 pm Monday, Sittipol said.
But the initial results also show Thailand's north-eastern region, the most populated and poorest, voting 63 per cent against the charter, which many have seen as a popularity contest between the military and the former populist regime of Thaksin Shinawatra who was deposed by a coup September 19.
"The military is satisfied with the people's acceptance of the constitution," said Army General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who heads the junta that ousted Thaksin.
Political analysts, however, said the results indicate that Thailand remains deeply divided.
The north-east was Thaksin's stronghold during his six years in power between 2001 and 2006, and the region, home to nearly half of Thailand's population, still supports him and his Thai Rak Tahi Party, observers said.
"This vote shows that the polarization of Thailand is entrenched," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of Thailand's Institute of Security and International Studies. "It signifies a deeply divided country."
Thailand's other four regions - Bangkok, the south, the central plains and the north - supported the charter.
The endorsement of the constitution will pave the way for a general election scheduled in December.
Had it been rejected, Thailand's junta - the self-styled Council of National Security (CNS), would have chosen one of the country's 17 past constitutions instead.
The September 19 coup discarded Thailand's 1997 constitution, deemed by many to have been the kingdom's most liberal and participatory charter to date.
The 1997 charter, however, gave rise to Thaksin, a billionaire populist politician, who became one of the most divisive figures in Thailand's recent political history.
Thailand has been in political upheaval since January 2006, when a strong anti-Thaksin movement took off in Bangkok and built in force until it culminated in the September coup.
Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, first came to power in the 2001 general election on a populist platform and slick campaign gimmicks that won him the backing of the rural poor and disgruntled urban middle class.
A good delivery record on campaign promises won his Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Party an overwhelming majority in the 2005 polls, giving Thaksin an unprecedented parliamentary majority that allowed him run roughshod over over the opposition and independent bodies established by the 1997 charter to provide checks and balances to the executive.
Abuses of power eventually led to Thaksin's downfall, at the hands of the military, last year. Thaksin, who faces various corruption charges and an arrest warrant in Thailand, is residing in London where he has purchased several properties and the Manchester City football club, which unexpectedly beat Manchester United in a match Sunday.
While the 1997 constitution was written to strengthen the political parties against their traditional downfalls, weak and corrupt coalition governments that led to military coups, the 2007 draft charter essentially strengthens the hand of the bureaucracy, including the military, at the expense of the political parties.
There are good points to the new charter, such as the articles that increase the people's participation in politics.
But the new constitution's pro-military content, especially article 309, which grants an amnesty for coup makers and legitimizes the military's future role as a overseer of Thai politics, deeply worries pro-democracy activists.
Opponents to the 2007 charter criticize it as a step backward for Thailand's political party system, and a revival of the rule of the traditional elite - the bureaucracy, the military and the constitutional monarchy.(dpa)

source bankokpost.net

Greenpeace slams APEC, Bush, Howard

2007-08-18T07:53:00.001-07:00

Sydney - Asia-Pacific leaders meeting in Australia next month are expected to endorse the US mantra that advanced technology is the antidote to climate change rather than setting binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a draft of the 21-member grouping's final communiqué that leaked out Saturday.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) draft declaration says energy efficiency and preserving forests as carbon sinks are the way forward on abating climate change - not emissions reductions targets.
The draft sets great store on cleaning up coal-fired power stations and the role of nuclear power in reducing carbon emissions.
US President George W Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard are both fiercely opposed to targets for reducing emissions and are the only two developed world leaders to have refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol that sets country targets for reductions.
"This is a 'Made in the USA' declaration, covered in Australian coal dust," Ben Pearson, from the environmental lobby group Greenpeace, told The Sydney Morning Herald. "It's Bush and Howard trying to look good for elections but actually doing nothing."
Kerry Nettle, who represents the Greens in federal parliament, said that APEC's apparent intention to duck binding targets and embrace just "aspirational goals" was deeply disappointing.
"We need our leaders to be tackling this as a serious issue and that means committing to definitive targets as occurred in the Kyoto Protocol," Nettle said. "We don't need George Bush and John Howard trying to take us backwards from what we achieved as an international community under the Kyoto Protocol."
Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who helped draw up the draft, defended its focus on initiatives other than reducing emissions.
"If you look at the international agencies' forecasts, they say that the biggest contributors to reducing growth in greenhouse gas emissions are firstly energy efficiency, a key priority, and after that is clean coal - so that's how important it is," he said.
Bush will arrive in Sydney for the APEC leaders' meeting on September 4 and leave before it ends on the following Sunday, when the declaration will be issued.
Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Vietnam comprise APEC, which represents half of world trade, a third of its population and 60 per cent of the output of goods and services.

Source bangkokpost.net

Global trend points to 'yes' vote at Sunday's constitutional poll

2007-08-12T22:49:00.001-07:00

Global trend points to 'yes' vote at Sunday's constitutional poll

SARITDET MARUKATAT

Supporters of the draft constitution hope the outcome of next Sunday's referendum will be the same as most of the other referendums held across the globe in the past eight years. Thailand's national referendum will be the 13th in the world since 1999, according to the Election Commission.

In nine countries the majority voted ''yes''; only three decided ''no''.

This record should come as a huge relief to those wanting to see a vote in favour of the draft constitution, including the Council for National Security and the government.

''Holding a referendum is not something new. Other countries have done it,'' said Krit Urwongse, the Election Commission (EC) deputy director responsible for the referendum.

However, a referendum is something new for voters in Thailand. This will be the first in the country's history.

Although seven Thai constitutions, beginning with the 1949 version and including the current interim charter, mentioned the need to organise a referendum, it has never happened before.

The law allows municipalities to hold referendums on issues in need of public endorsement, but this has never occurred.

One factor which could surprise other countries that have held referendums is the speed with which it has been organised.

The Australian government and its election officials took more than one year for voters to prepare for a referendum in 1999 on whether they wanted their country to become a republic.

Switzerland took two and a half years to prepare for a referendum this year on the liberalisation of its health services.

Thai voters, however, have had less than a month in which to study the draft constitution.

It was passed by the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) on July 6, and postmen began delivering copies of it to homes at the end of the month.

Critics say it is not possible for voters to understand the draft charter, which contains jargon and content written by legal experts, in such a short period of time

''Reading it will make you yawn,'' admitted Gothom Arya, a former election commissioner and now chairman of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, at a Thai Journalists Association forum on Aug 4.

However, reading and studying the draft was still a must for every voter, he said. It was essential they knew what they were voting for.

Given all the constraints, the referendum should not be held on Sunday, said Somchai Preechasilpakul, dean of Chiang Mai University's law faculty.

''The referendum does not give voters ample time for debate and the exchanging of views. Immediately people finish reading the draft, they have to go and mark their ballots,'' he said.

The EC has become a target of criticism by opponents of the charter and the coup.

With two of its commissioners, Sodsri Sattayatham and Praphan Naikowit, among the 35 charter writers, the question now is about the neutrality of the organisers.

But Mr Krit defended the performance of the two commissioners.

Although they helped write the draft charter, they had not made any comment on it since its passage by the CDA, he said.

He gave an assurance the EC would play a neutral role.

The referendum is costing taxpayers two billion baht _ 1.5 billion baht for the EC to organise the event and the rest for the government, CDA and other agencies' public awareness campaigns.

Mr Gothom said the referendum could be a first step for the country in letting the public decide on key issues.

A referendum might be new for people and voters might not be fully ready for it, but it was part of an encouraging process, he said.

''Certainly we will never be 100% ready. But we can go from here by learning by doing,'' he said.

Thailand claims 2nd gold through Taekwondo

2007-08-11T01:29:00.001-07:00

Thailand earned its second gold medal at the 24^th Universiade Bangkok 2007 with the win of Patiwat Tongsalab in Taekwondo yesterday, the second day of competitions.

Patiwat, the defending champion in the lightweight division, beat Iranian Alireza Nassrazadany 5-3 to retain his title for the second consecutive time.

He will receive a bonus of 1 million baht from The National Sports Development Funds for winning a gold medal.

“He performed very well but we will still have to wait as to who we will send at the next Olympics, as Thailand have other good Taekwondo players such as Nacha Pantong and Chatchawan Kaola-o,” said the President of Thai Taekwondo Association Pimol Sriwikorn.

In the welterweight division, Dam Srichan did his best and reached the last 8 before being defeated 2-3 by South Korea player Daesung Hwang.

Piyaporn Dongnoi, another Thai player in the women’s welterweight division, lost 0-3 to Taiwanese Lin An-ni.

Today the Thai Taekwondo team will compete in 3 weight divisions. Wacharaporn Dongnoi will figure in the women’s lightweight, Chanattha Thanalerkchai in the men’s featherweight and Cholnapat Premwaew in the women featherweight.
Source www.bangkok2007.com

193 killed, 1,056 wounded in 5 months in troubled South

2007-08-05T05:21:00.001-07:00

A total of 193 persons were killed and 1,056 wounded by militants in five southern provinces between January and May this year, said Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla today.

Dr. Mongkol said the number of casualties was obtained from 47 hospitals under the supervision of the ministry in the five provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun.

The number of people killed and wounded in Narathiwat stood at 76 and 393 respectively, and was the most when compared to other provinces, followed by Yala with 46 persons dead and 330 wounded, Dr. Mongkol said.

He said information obtained from the hospitals showed that about 80 per cent of the wounded recovered from their wounds, 19 per cent traveled to hospital by themselves, and seven per cent were sent for emergency treatment.

The aim of compiling the statistical report on the number of victims in the insurgency-affected region is to improve medical services as well as upgrading the communications system between emergency services and medical staff at hospitals so as to allow more wounded victims to survive, he said.

The Public Health Ministry had spent more than Bt3.7 million in treating the wounded and boosting the morale of families who had lost their loved ones during the period.

The ongoing bloody violence in the deep South resurfaced in January 2004 after a group of terrorists raided an army camp and emptied its arsenal. Since then, killings have occurred on an almost daily basis. (TNA)

Thaksin Where are you ?

2007-08-02T07:33:00.001-07:00

Thaksin lives the highlife in book out today

WASSANA NANUAM
A female lieutenant will give us a glimpse into the posh, post-coup lifestyle of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in London in her upcoming book, Thaksin, Where Are You?

The 200-page book, to hit bookstores today, features the ousted premier's latest 280-million-baht house in London suburb, his three-million-baht-a-month lifestyle and his favourite hangouts.

Lt Sunisa Lertpakawat, a military-beat reporter for army-run TV Channel 5, travelled to London twice at her own expense to try her luck tracking down Mr Thaksin.

She said she cried and begged the deposed prime minister to give her an interview. She admitted that the book may hurt her career prospects, but said it was the perfect start as the first book of her Unusual Publishing House.

Two interviews, altogether seven hours long, were given. One was on May 30 when the Constitution Tribunal ordered the Thai Rak Thai party disbanded and another was on June 12 when the Assets Scrutiny Committee froze his assets.

The book also contains snapshots, taken by his son Panthongtae, of Mr Thaksin pushing a supermarket trolley, eating a snack on a footpath, and posing with the so-called Queen of R&B, Saranrat Wisutthithada, better known as Lydia.

''Because Nong Aim [his daughter Pinthongta] studies here and England is a democratic country,'' said Mr Thaksin about the reasons for picking England for his self-imposed exile.

The book for the first time unveils his two-storey, five-bedroom house on a three-rai plot in Weybridge.

''This hundred-year-old housing estate was once home to pop stars Cliff Richard and Diana Ross,'' he said. ''Chelsea footballers, including striker [Didier] Drogba, live in this neighbourhood.''

Though his elder daughter stays in her own apartment in London, Mr Thaksin is not alone. He has a maid, a driver and a bodyguard. He has recently hired a Thai cook to make his daily meals.

Mr Thaksin is not cut off from the outside world by any means. The former prime minister carries eight cell phones, with 20 SIM cards altogether.

He remains a big shopper who does not hesitate to shower his wife and two daughters with designer handbags.

Besides shopping at Harrods, Mr Thaksin can be spotted at Thai restaurants, such as Thai Rice, Thai Taste and Patra. He is also a frequent visitor to the Chinese restaurant, Royal China Club.

What gives him a real headache during the exile is maintaining his hairdo. Mr Thaksin often took the trouble of flying his favourite hairdresser from Thailand whenever he took a break to go to Hong Kong and Singapore.

Eventually, he guided a Spanish hairdresser at Tony N' Guys salon to maintain his 'not-too-short' hairstyle.

Because it is only a short journey, Mr Thaksin often hops on a plane to France to shop and enjoy ''real wine and home-made food''.

To ''check his swing,'' Mr Thaksin recently surfed the net and booked a class at a golf school in Miami.

As for his golf companion, Mr Thaksin flies Lydia to London. She also doubles as a singer in their karaoke sessions.

''She is like another daughter to him,'' said Mr Panthongthae.

Mr Thaksin said he had invited Lydia to Japan so she could buy new clothes in Harajuku, the trendy shopping district in central Tokyo, for her new album Inside Out.

Source www.angkokpost.net

5 killed, 12 wounded in southern unrest

2007-08-01T10:10:00.001-07:00

Five people were killed and at least 12 wounded in a spate of gun, arson and bomb attacks in the restive South on Wednesday, police said.

Insurgents ambushed a group of army patrol soldiers along a train track at 5.50am in Yala province, killing two of the three soldiers. They took with them two M-16 rifles and a pistol.
In Narathiwat, insurgents set off a bomb hidden in a motorcycle parked in a busy market, killing a Buddhist woman and wounding 11 other shoppers.
In separate violence, at least three assailants sprayed dozens of bullets into a house in Narathiwat province, killing two men, said police Lt. Vorapong Klomsakun.
Other attacks included bombings at a petrol station, outside a local temple and at a hotel. Police also reported an ambush in Pattani province, where a patrol soldier escaped injury.
The series of attacks came after 500 security officers raided 17 several locations in Narathiwat and arrested 50 suspected insurgents including an alleged core leader on Sunday.
In the latest development on security, the government has dispatched more soldiers at government interests and schools in Pattani province following many reports of suspicious objects being found

Source www.bangkokpost.net

Army claims insurgents face dissension

2007-07-31T08:34:00.001-07:00

More local residents in the southernmost provinces are now cooperating with authorities, and internal conflicts are believed to be growing within the militant ranks, an army spokesman said Monday, claiming that increasing numbers of them now want to desert their groups.

Royal Thai Army Akara Thiprote said during a television broadcast that the improving cooperation being given by villagers in the violence-plagued South to officials is evident by the arrest of 46 suspected insurgents in Yi-ngo district of Narathiwat province on Sunday.
Also, several of the suspected militant detainees had offered a good cooperation before they were arrested, showing that there is an internal conflict within the militants, and that many of them do not wish to commit further mistakes against the government, said Col Akara, adding that many insurgents remain with the militants for fear of retribution if they leave the influential militant leaders.
Five of the 46 suspected militants detained Sunday proved to be core leaders of the especially hard-line Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) militant group operating in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
One of the detained five militant leaders was identified as Abdul Romae Pereesee, who reportedly plays a central role among the insurgents, according to Col Akara, as many youths were forced to join the militant groups after insurgents threatened to harm their relatives.
He said Sunday's lightning arrests were made after security officials learned that the militants would launch major attacks in Narathiwat in August and that the militant leaders would first assemble in Yi-ngo district to plan their offensive.
More arrests will be made later as intelligence officials learned that other militant factions plan to create violence in the restive South, he added.
The southern unrest erupted in 2004 in the three southern border provinces and sometimes spills over into adjacent four districts of Songkhla province. More than 2,300 people have been killed in the violence.

Source www.bangkokpost.net

Southern security to get injection of 7,000 men

2007-07-29T08:12:00.001-07:00

Plans are afoot to boost the number of defence volunteers and assistants to village headmen by more than 7,000 over the next three years in the three violence-plagued southern border provinces, Pranai Suwanrath, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), said yesterday. Mr Pranai said as many as 2,400 assistants to village headmen are to be deployed in 600 of the 1,750 villages in the restive region this year, while 3,600 are to be deployed in 900 villages next year, and the rest in 2009.

Moreover, these assistants would be allowed for the first time to carry shotguns due to growing safety concerns.

Meanwhile, the security forces would see another 2,016 defence volunteers joining them.

The plan is to make 1,800 of the 2,016 volunteers take care of security in 300 villages, with the remaining 216 to be deployed on trains and railway stations, Mr Pranai said.

The SBPAC director said an increase in the number of defence volunteers had never occurred for over 10 years now.

In Narathiwat, villager Hama Samae, 23, was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting on Friday in Sungai Kolok district as separatist violence continued in the three southern border provinces.

He was shot three times in the torso while riding a motorcycle home.

Police said he was attacked by men riding a pickup truck. A good samaritan took him to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

In neighbouring Chanae district, a petrol station owner was critically injured in an attack yesterday.

Police said Makorseng Jehhoh, 34, was shot three times in the chest and shoulders on the Chanae-Sukhirin road.

A human rights group accused security forces of beating to death a Muslim man suspected of having a hand in the execution-style slaughter of eight Buddhists.

On July 21, police and military officers raided a hut in Yala's Krong Pinang district and arrested five suspected members of a Muslim rebel commando unit believed to have carried out the execution-style shooting of eight Buddhists in a nearby district in March, according to the military and a human rights group.

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet of the rights organisation Working Group on Justice for Peace told the Associated Press that the officers severely beat Ashari Sama-ae, one of the suspects around his head and body while in custody.

The 25-year-old employee of a motorcycle shop later died at a hospital in Yala.

A National Human Rights Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the commission visited three of the other four suspects at a military base in Pattani where they were being detained on Thursday and that they all said they had been beaten.

The military said the suspects had violently resisted arrest.

''The injuries were the result of fighting while the security forces attempted to round up the five suspects who tried to run away,'' said Shinnawat Maendaet, the military commander in Yala province.

But Col Shinnawat said a panel would probe the 15 army and police officers involved in the operation.

Source www.bangkokpost.net

Govt readies 'true' website as Thaksin's goes online

2007-07-28T10:03:00.001-07:00

Govt readies 'true' website as Thaksin's goes online
The government is expected to launch a website next month to counter former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's official website that went live yesterday. Published on July 28, 2007
The website might be called www.truethailand.com, in response to Thaksin's www.truethaksin.com, according to Aran Wonganan, who works for a government PR committee.

He said yesterday that the administration's website would explain its position to counter "false information" from its opponents.

"The 'war room' will take responsibility for the website and there will be Thai and English versions," he said, referring to the PR team. The website is expected to be launched on August 15.

Truethaksin.com, which is in English, went online after 6pm after Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, held a press conference to launch the site on Thursday.

Its displays a large image of Thaksin along with the message: "The truth shall set you free".

The site gives Thaksin's view of the political situation after the coup, legal issues including the junta's charges against him and his view on the freezing of his assets.

There is also a section labelled "The Dawn of the Modern Dark Age" criticising the military-appointed government.

Source The Nation

POLICE IN SOUTH CAN LEARN FROM WISUT CASE

2007-07-27T09:04:00.001-07:00

Story by ANUCHA CHAROENPO

The outcome of the murder case brought against Wisut Boonkasemsanti, who was found guilty of murdering his wife Dr Phassaporn, should inspire police and forensic officials in the deep South to make more use of forensic and circumstantial evidence. The justice brought to the high-profile case should also give some hope to relatives of people killed in the southern violence which erupted four years ago.

So far, only a small handful of suspects have been arrested and prosecuted while many were let off the hook, mainly due to a lack of evidence.

Things might turn out differently if police and forensic experts in the far South opt to fully use forensic and circumstantial evidence in the investigation process.

It should also work well in the case of the missing Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit.

Dr Wisut was almost able to walk free as his wife's body was never retrieved and there were no witnesses to the murder.

It was only when Dr Phassaporn's father, Chote Pattanachet, filed a petition to the authorities that the case was re-investigated.

Police made use of closed-circuit television images that showed Dr Phassaporn with her estranged husband at a Japanese restaurant in Siam Square before she went missing. Investigators used the images as a base to widen their investigation, and with the help of forensic experts they found human flesh in a septic tank in a dormitory and a hotel where Dr Wisut checked in.

DNA from bloodstains and some flesh tissue found there was found to have belonged to Dr Phassaporn and matched that of her father.

In the South, forensic science has been used in an investigation into a religious school, Islamburapa, which was shut down after a raid resulting in a number of insurgent suspects being arrested.

More can be done and there is no reason for authorities to stick only to old-fashioned investigation procedures, particularly the requirement for eye-witnesses which is almost impossible in the strife-torn south.

More money should be set aside for the purchase of forensic equipment, as well, if this technique is to be developed further to bring offenders to justice.

source Bangkok post

New Thaksin website

2007-07-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

New Thaksin website

POLITICS :A new pro-Thaksin Shinawatra website will be officially launched today to allow the ousted prime minister to keep supporters updated on his fight against what he calls the "injustice" against him and his family.

The website, at http://www.Truethaksin.com, was online yesterday with the words "The Truth Shall Set You Free" in a rectangular box.But it contained no other details, and the full version is expected to appear in both Thai and English today.

Mr Thaksin wants to tell people what happened to him after the military coup in September last year and how he would use laws to recover his dignity, his legal advisor Noppadon Pattama said yesterday.

The website will replace http://www.thaksin.net, which has been closed down.

Mr Noppadon told the government not to "waste its time" in launching a counter website because it already had other channels of media to communicate with people.

Govt in counter-move

INTERNET WARS :The government is to go ahead with its plan to launch a website to counter that of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Information and Communications minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said his agency will use a budget of three to five million baht for the website.

The ministry only needed help from PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan to recruit qualified officials to counter Mr Thaksin's website, he said after a meeting with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday.

New parliament

SITES EYED :The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is eyeing army areas in Kiakkai and Pathum Thani as alternative sites for a new parliament after its plan to use a state-owned golf course met strong resistance.

The Irrigation Department, which owns the 210-rai golf course near Wat Cholaprathan Rangsarit in Nonthaburi, had yet to set up a team of negotiators to talk with protesters, including golf members, caddies and representatives from Cholaprathan Wittaya school.

"We have to wait for the department's move. Now we can't say for sure we will get this area," said Potjanee Thanavaranit, who leads a special committee under the NLA to find a new site for the parliament.

Apart from an army-controlled riverside area in Kiakkai in Bangkok, the panel is also interested in an unused armoury in Pathum Thani.

Charges delay sought

DSI :A lawyer for relatives of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to delay pressing charges against his clients in a case involving the alleged concealment of shares in in a property firm.

However, DSI chief Sunai Manomai-udom dismissed the call, saying the agency will seek arrest warrants if Yingluck Shinawatra, Bussaba Damapong and Pensom Damapong, executives of SC Asset, fail to show up without good reason.

source Bangkokpost.net