Anything & Everything About Thailand [Archive] - Page 2

U-Need

18-01-2006, 10:47 AM

685 words
18 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - For those who are sceptical about the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport, given the numerous false starts so far, June 2006 is the date they should look forward to, the Bangkok Post reports.

The words of assurance come not from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra or other politicians, but from the person who is supposed to know what is going there best - Somchai Sawasdeepon, the airport's general manager.

"By the end of May, all systems will definitely be ready for commercial flights," he said in an interview last week.

"Yes, the airport will be 100% ready and can be safely operated by June."

However, the official opening date of the 125-billion-baht facility, first planned some 40 years ago, will be decided by the government, said Mr Somchai.

The government reportedly plans to open the airport for flights carrying world leaders and dignitaries who will be attending celebrations later this year to mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.

Mr Somchai said work on the airport was 99.8% complete and most of the activities now under way involved testing, commissioning and correcting minor defects.

About 25,000 workers are still engaged in various phases of work to ensure that the new deadline is met.

At the height of construction in the middle of last year, the labour force swelled to 50,000 as they worked around the clock to prepare for the first test flight on Sept 29, 2005 - the date previously set for completion.

According to Mr Somchai, by March all construction activity will be completed. "What we will see then will be experts, engineers and technical personnel testing various systems," he said.

The senior executive of Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) did acknowledge concerns over the baggage-handling system, which has undergone months of rigorous tests so far.

"There is 3-5% malfunction rate resulting from problems such as misreading of barcodes on baggage tags and the mechanical system of the carousels," he said.

The baggage-handling system must work faultlessly if the airport is to be declared fully ready for operation, Mr Somchai said.

The system, with its 22-kilometre conveyor belt, is designed to handle 10,500 bags per hour.

While the aviation industry said the integration of computer-based units around the site of the main airport into the 'Aims' (airport information management system) was the most critical factor that would hold up the opening of Suvarnabhumi, Mr Somchai thinks differently.

"I'm not concerned about Aims so much. I can guarantee that the whole system will be operational by May 15," he said.

Appointed as the airport's general manager last October, Mr Somchai confirmed that AoT on Dec 30 sent out letters to all airlines, 99 in total, announcing that the airport "will be ready for operational service in 180 days and AoT will inform you of the exact opening in due course".

However, aviation executives still question the June opening date, in spite of the written notification, saying that facilities need more time for test runs.

Critics have said the more likely date for the commercial start-up of the airport, about five times the size of the existing Don Muang airport, is the last quarter of the year.

Mr Somchai acknowledged that doubts that still lingered in the minds of aviation executives because they did not have access to full information and updates about progress.

"There is a shortcoming in the communication and information flow that we will seek to improve," he conceded.

"In fact, we have only 140 people (AoT officials) who are handling this mammoth project."

As well, he said, misinformation had been fed to the media and the public on some airport-related issues by parties with hidden agendas.

For instance, some companies have complained that they still did not know how much they would have to pay AoT for the use of space at the airport.

Mr Somchai produced a letter dated Nov 18, 2005 with details of the charges.

U-Need

18-01-2006, 10:51 AM

670 words
18 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT & SUJINTANA HEMTASILPA

Ad agencies, media companies and alcoholic beverage producers have cried foul over a new public health measure to ban the advertising of alcoholic beverages.

Industry executives said the proposed law would have a sweeping impact on entertainment businesses and the economy well beyond the 2.6 billion baht spent each year on advertising alcohol.

Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat on Monday floated an idea to either curb TV slots for alcoholic beverage commercials to just three hours per day from seven now, or to prohibit advertising altogether.

Commercials for beer, spirits and other drinks are permitted on TV only from 10 pm to 5 am. The new proposal would curb airtime to between 2 am and 5 am. A decision is expected within 45 days, with the general aim to curb underage drinking and drunk driving.

The debate over advertising alcohol comes amid a massive public campaign against plans by Thai Beverage, the largest producer of alcoholic beverages in the country, to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Securities regulators earlier this week said they would delay any review of ThaiBev's listing plan until a new law is passed to regulate the sales and marketing of alcoholic beverages. ThaiBev produces market leaders Chang beer, Mekhong rum and dozens of other spirits.

Kasemsant Veerakun, a spokesman for Thai Beverage, expressed concern about the impact of tighter ad controls.

"We accept that controls will happen, even though they will affect sales, so long as they are applied equally to all," he said. "But such controls will affect other industries, including entertainment and media companies."

Mr Kasemsant said there were a number of laws that already existed to control alcohol sales, but they were undermined by poor enforcement.

A blanket law would impede the introduction of new brands, he added, and suggested that authorities look to other countries over how they used public education campaigns to curb consumption.

Chaipranin Visudhipol, the president of the Advertising Association of Thailand and chairman of the agency TBWA/Thailand Co, agreed that an ad ban would hurt the growth of the market.

Both Chang and Singha beers, the two largest brands in the market, would face obstacles in expanding locally through new brands, which in turn could hurt efforts to grow overseas, he said.

The proposed restrictions also conflicted with the government's policy to encourage free trade.

"Personally, I think the government has its reasons and will be methodical before making a decision. Any move will have to consider both the social and economic impact," Mr Chaipranin said.

According to Nielsen Media Research, alcoholic product ad spending totalled 2.6 billion baht in 2005, up from 2.2 billion the previous year. Alcoholic beverage ads accounted for 2.9% of all media spending.

TV commercials accounted for 65% of total spending by alcoholic beverage producers at 1.7 billion baht last year, followed by 382 million spent on newspaper ads, 249 million on cinema ads and the rest on outdoor, radio and magazine ads.

Niwattumrong Boonsonpaisan, the executive chairman of the television station iTV Plc, said the channel would be only slightly affected by any curb on ads.

At Major Cineplex, the country's largest cinema chain, executive chairman Vicha Poolvaraluck shared similar sentiments.

"But of course, it's certainly better if the Public Health Ministry decided to be kind enough to spare us," Mr Vicha added.

For Major Cineplex, ads accounted for just 8% of the company's total annual revenues of four billion baht per year.

Sasikorn Chansate, managing director of Kantana Group Plc, a major TV producer, said advertising restrictions would affect some popular television shows that are currently sponsored by alcoholic beverage companies.

"I think the government is addressing the problem in the wrong way," Ms Sasikorn said.

"Better enforcement of existing laws would be better, as well as more education campaigns among the public about the dangers of excessive drinking."

U-Need

18-01-2006, 10:57 AM

377 words
18 January 2006
09:36

TOP STORIES

- Confusion arose over the fate of 130 Muslim Thais who sought refuge in Malaysia in August after senior officials in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok released conflicting reports regarding their repatriation (THE NATION)

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra continued to dole out "assistance" to poor villagers in At Samat district of Roi Et as his poverty-eradication reality show went into its second day (BANGKOK POST)

- After arriving from China more than two years ago, giant pandas Xuang Xuang and Lin Hui delighted Chiang Mai Zoo officials and hordes of visitors who witnessed their first mating (BANGKOK POST)

- Nit Pibulsongkram is to resign as head of the Thai team negotiating a free-trade agreement with the United States because of the tremendous political pressure weighing on him, according to a source at Government House (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Norway's Telenor expressed indifference to stiffer competition if Singapore's Temasek Holdings manages to acquire a major stake in Advanced Info Service , saying DTAC was ready to compete with any rival (BANGKOK POST)

- Thai Airways International is expected to achieve improved revenues and profits in its first fiscal quarter of 2006, similar to the levels of a year ago, a senior executive said (BANGKOK POST)

- Ad agencies, media companies and alcoholic beverage producers have cried foul over a new public health measure to ban the advertising of alcoholic beverages (BANGKOK POST)

- Anti-alcohol protesters remained in front of Diethelm Tower, vowing to proceed with their protest until the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) puts up a definite block against the listing of alcohol companies (THE NATION)

- Siam Commercial Bank urged banks not to be so afraid of a future Thailand-US free-trade agreement, citing an example from the European Union where the banking sector enjoys full liberalisation but customers still prefer local banks due to their long-standing trust (THE NATION)

U-Need

18-01-2006, 11:03 AM

274 words
18 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - This year's Chinese New Year celebration is deemed as an auspicious event to celebrate His Majesty the King's 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne. And thus, the TAT is collaborating with various agencies who are working on the China Town's Chinese New Year celebration in Yaowarat this year. A press briefing was organized on this promising festivity, where Tourism and Sports Minister Pracha Maleenont, TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan, Bangkok Governor Aphirak Kosayothin and other VIPs were presented.

Almost every year during the Chinese New Year celebration in Yaowarat, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has usually visited the festivity. As for this year, a ceremony will be arranged to bless the Thai-Chinese descendants resided in Thailand, where the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a representative from the Chinese government will give the New Year's blessings near Odien Roundabout. A ceremony will also be held to honor His Majesty the King and His Majesty's dog named Tongdang as this year is the Year of the Dog.

In addition, visitors can also enjoy many different food items from the emperor's menu, and they can be involved in other Thai-Chinese activities as well, such as paying homage at six auspicious locations. Once they have paid homage at all six locations, they can then participate in a raffle draw, to win more than 600 prizes. The raffle tickets will be drawn on January 30th.

KatoeyLover69

18-01-2006, 01:11 PM

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 18 January 2006 :-

Two fishermen get death sentence for Horton's murder

Surat Thani - The Surat Thani Provincial Court today sentenced to death two fishermen for raping and murdering a British student who was taking holidays at Koh Samui during the New Years holiday.

The crime they committed has terrified people, the judge told the packed court room when he read out the verdict.

To prevent others from committing similar acts, the court rules that the two defendants be sentenced to death.

BualoiPosit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, had pleaded guilty last week to beating, raping and killing Katherine Horton, a 21-year-old student from Wales who had been vacationing on the Koh Samui.

I'm sorry for what I did, Bulaloi told reporters.

Hortonwas believed to call her mother when the two fishermen attacked her from behind on the New Years eve.

U-Need

18-01-2006, 05:13 PM

SURAT THANI, Jan 18 (TNA) - Two Thai fishing trawler crewmen were sentenced to death Wednesday for raping and killing a British tourist who was holidaying at an island resort of Koh Samui in the Gulf of
Thailand on New Year's Day.

Nearly three weeks after Welsh tourist Katherine Horton was killed on the resort island of Samui, Surat Thani Provincial Court handed down the verdict in a high-profile case, which drew much attention from both local and international media.

"The court considers that the forensic evidence could not be disputed that the two suspects brutally committed the serious crimes," chief judge said. "To prevent others from committing similar crimes, the court rules that the two defendants be sentenced to death.''

The two trawler crewmen--Bualoy Posit, 23 and Wichai Som Khaoyai, 24--who were arrested last week, had pleaded guilty to raping and killing the 21-year-old Welsh student at Lamai beach and dumping her body into the sea.

The murder charge carried a maximum penalty of death. The defendants have one month to appeal.

Worried that the murder case might have a negative impact on local tourism industry and the country's image, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called for the justice system to deliver the "hardest punishment" possible to the killers.(TNA)

U-Need

18-01-2006, 05:15 PM

SUPHANBURI, Jan 18 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-18 / 11:37:51 (GMT+7:00)

A small aircraft belonging to an aviation training school crashed in the central Thai province of Suphanburi Wednesday morning, killing its pilot.

The two-seat, single-engine propeller plane from the Kampaengsaen Aviation Training School in nearby Nakhon Pathom province crashed into a four-storey commercial building in Suphanburi's Bang Plama district about 10:00 a.m.

The pilot, identified as Nawin Klinprasert, was found dead in the wreckage. He is believed to have been an instructor, but there appeared to be no student on the flight.

Initial reports indicated that damage was confined to the third floor of the building.

An official investigation on the cause of the incident is being conducted. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

18-01-2006, 05:20 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 18 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-01-18 / 16:03:40 (GMT+7:00)

Thailand will host a 28-nation Asian Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) forum in Bangkok from 30 April to 1 May.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wanted the forum to focus on the benefits of maximising member countries' international currency reserves, according to Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya.

The key objective of the ACD exercise was to ensure member-states concentrated on economic stability to avoid a recurrence of the 1997 financial crisis, said Dr. Thanong.

The Bangkok forum was also expected to discuss plans for a further issue of local currency bonds and the linkage between ACD and the Executives Meeting of East Asia-Pacific Central Bank (EMEAP).

The Asian Development Bank is playing the leading role in encouraging the issue of Asian currency bonds.

The ADB had also taken up the leadership in developing a credit rating system for regional bond issues, the finance minister said.(TNA)-E007

U-Need

18-01-2006, 05:24 PM

Sandra Laville
Wednesday January 18, 2006
The Guardian

A senior British diplomat in Thailand broke through three pairs of plastic handcuffs, threatened to kill fellow airline passengers and abused cabin staff after drinking heavily on a flight to London in the aftermath of the tsunami, a court heard yesterday.

Fellow passengers seated near Colonel Peter Roberts, defence attache at the British embassy in Thailand, said it became clear very quickly that he was an important man with an important job.

But as the Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow flew over Belgium in February last year, Col Roberts' behaviour deteriorated until he went berserk, Isleworth crown court heard.

At one point he screamed at cabin staff and passengers who tried to restrain him: "You are a fucking wanker, you're fucking dead. Do you know who I am? I'm the head of the British government in Thailand and you're treating me like this."

Gareth Rees QC, prosecuting, said Col Roberts had drunk two or three bottles of wine - of the small size served by airlines - three Black Label whiskies and some port on the plane.

He had also been drinking wine on his connecting flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi and the court heard he had been taking the antidepressant Seroxat, which should not be mixed with alcohol. He was seen drinking whisky at the airport.

Fellow passenger Anil Mohun Kumar said the defence attache launched a foul-mouthed tirade against the country of Thailand. "He said 'Fuck this country, fuck the king, fuck the Buddha,' " Mr Kumar said.

"He made several threats to kill the people trying to restrain him. It took five people at one stage to restrain him."

During a continuing tirade of abuse, his ramblings included his personal views on North Korea, a country he labelled as "untrustworthy", according to Kevin McGuire, another passenger.

Flight attendant Roseanne Montero said she found Col Roberts sitting on a seat reserved for cabin crew during the flight: "I saw him lean across and try to grab a female passenger and I saw him trying to grab a woman with a small boy about two years old and the woman and the small boy looked terrified.

"This was accompanied by shouts of 'Fuck off, fuck off.' "

She said Col Roberts then went "mad" and attempts were made to restrain him with plastic handcuff straps.

But he broke through three pairs before cabin staff and passengers finally managed to bind his wrists and feet. He was arrested when the plane landed at Heathrow.

Col Roberts denies being drunk on an aircraft. The case continues

U-Need

19-01-2006, 10:26 AM

349 words
19 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Repairs are needed to the southern end of the west runway at Suvarnabhumi airport which has begun to peel because of cost-cutting during construction, and Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri has launched an inquiry.

Gen Chainant said yesterday he had assigned Bancha Pattanaporn, acting president of Airports of Thailand (AOT), to have the runway section repaired and improved to the same high specifications of the remainder of the surface.

He had also ordered an investigation to find the people responsible for compromising the quality of the runway specifications.

Gen Chainant said the west runway is 3.7 kilometres long and 60 metres wide, but different paving materials were used on parts of the runway surface.

The surface on the middle part of the runway, which is 2.9km long and 30m wide, and the northern part incorporate a polymer, which is strong and flexible, as this area will receive significant wear from aircraft.

The remainder, comprising the 15m wide runway shoulders and the southern end of the runway, which is 400m long, were not polymer-based as they would face less wear from aircraft.

Leading reporters to the runway, Surajit Surapolchai, an AOT senior executive vice-president for airport development, said the partial use of the non-polymer surface was normal at all airports and was aimed at saving money. A paving mixture of polymer and concrete cost 4,000 baht per cubic metre, while non-polymer concrete cost only 2,700 baht.

He said the peeling was "normal" at all airports and would not affect safety or the safety of staff. It was often repaired monthly, or even daily.

Gen Chainant said the tarmac had begun to peel after test take-offs and landings were carried out, and AOT officials responsible for the acceptance of the runway had rejected the construction, questioned the contractor and insisted it be repaired.

He wanted all parts of the runway to have the same polymer-based standard for the sake of safety which, he said, should matter more than cost.

U-Need

19-01-2006, 10:28 AM

293 words
19 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

POST REPORTERS

Thai Airways International's catering plant under construction at Suvarnabhumi airport caught fire while about 200-300 people were working there last night. One died in the blaze and three were injured.

Chokchai Panyayong, THAI's vice-president supervising the airline's investments at Suvarnabhumi airport, could not confirm whether the fire would delay the opening schedule of the airport tentatively set for June.

Three workers were seriously injured after jumping from an upper floor to escape the flames. The fatality was Jessada Chanram, an air-conditioning mechanic.

Thick smoke billowed from the second floor of the four-storey building around 4.20pm. Three elevator technicians who worked on the second floor jumped off the building and injured themselves.

Woranont Termsap, 25, broke his legs, while elevator technician Wasant Bankhan injured his back. Another worker, Weerawat Meedee, 28, sustained broken arms and legs.

Twenty-fire engines were deployed to control the fire.

The 3.9-billion-baht catering plant is three kilometres from the airport terminal.

Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri said the fire started as welding sparks set fire to insulating material. The blaze took a little over an hour to put out. Damage to the building would be examined today.

Anucha Mokawet, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said interior decoration workers caused welding sparks which set the insulating material ablaze. Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal quoted Mr Wasant as saying the lights went out as he and his colleagues were installing an elevator inside the building. Mr Pongsak said the building appeared to be slightly damaged.

Somchai Sawasdeepon, airport director, said the sprinkler system did not work because it was still being installed.

U-Need

19-01-2006, 10:34 AM

341 words
19 January 2006
09:36
English

TOP STORIES

- Bangkok's much-heralded new international airport bore a major mishap just a few months before its official opening when a fire broke out in its flight-catering building, leaving a construction worker dead and three injured (THE NATION)

- Less than three weeks after the rape and murder of a British tourist on the resort island of Koh Samui received international attention, the Surat Thani Provincial Court sentenced the two fishermen convicted of the crime to death by lethal injection (THE NATION)

- Airports of Thailand has refused to endorse the Suvarnabhumi Airport runway handover after a cracks on the west runway were found (THE NATION)

- Violence swept through the deep South as militants set fires at 26 locations across Pattani and Yala and launched attacks that killed a policeman and injured two teachers and three soldiers (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- After years of delay, Bangkok Mass Transit System's debt-restructuring process is reaching a new crescendo as major shareholders and its chairman fight over different strategies to deal with debts of more than 40 billion baht (THE NATION)

- The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said the watchdog would not press Shin Corp to clarify a reported takeover attempt by Singapore's Temasek Holdings (THE NATION)

- Thai Pure Drink Co, the local bottler of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite, plans to spend about 900 million baht ($22.6 million) to expand its soft drink business this year (BANGKOK POST)

- Bangkok Metro (BMCL) cancelled a briefing scheduled for Thursday where it was to announce a 25 percent share sale to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (BANGKOK POST)

(US$1=39.80 Baht)

U-Need

19-01-2006, 10:42 AM

149 words
19 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra insisted that the news report on the return of 130 Thai Muslims in Malaysia to Thailand is untrue.

Prime Minister Thaksin said that the news was reported by foreign press. He said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry has checked this matter with Malaysia and related agencies, and found that there is still no progress on this case. He said that both countries will attempt to work things out on the issue, but said that the 130 Thai immigrants have yet to return home.

Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana said that complaints have been filed with foreign press that reported the news. He said that the background of the story and the source of the news will be checked, as it has caused confusion.

U-Need

19-01-2006, 10:45 AM

993 words
19 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Son of the Landmark business empire has his feet firmly planted on the ground

Yvonne Bohwongparsert

Thiti Sihanatkathakul prefers to spend his vacation in a rustic environment with just the basic amenities, even though he is born in a lap of luxury. The eldest son of Mr Jatuporn, the owner of Landmark Hotel on Sukhumvit Road, he is still learning the ropes of his family business of which he is assistant managing director.

Among others, the Sihanatkathakul family empire includes a number of businesses, a hotel in London and a hospital. No wonder Thiti values every little time he gets to relax.

The London-educated hotel executive calls himself a low-key traveller. He prefers to either escape to a peaceful beach destination in southern Thailand or go camping in Khao Yai National Park.

"My leisure travels so far have been mostly in Thailand. The places I choose to visit depend on my prevailing mood," revealed the soft-spoken entrepreneur.

"As I have very little free time for myself, I normally spend my leisure doing whatever my gut feeling dictates. If I had a few days to spare and you asked me where I would like to go, it would probably be Hong Kong; enjoy some dim sum, take a ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong and sip freshly brewed coffee at a restaurant overlooking the city. "

Thiti flies to England every month to oversee operations at the family-owned Royal Lancaster Hotel. Personally, the 30-year-old hotel executive finds English people much less complex to work with than Thais.

English people are efficient, he says, adding that employees at the Royal Lancaster are versatile and multi-skilled.

You seem besotted by England's charm.

Indeed, I am because it is a very nice country to live in. Apart from the winter season, I find the climate there very pleasant. The quality to life is also very good.

I fell in love with the huge parks in and around London. I recommend people to go and visit them.

London is a great city for walks. You can stroll by the river along the popular Thames path. You can also meander in a wealth of green space, from the famous Royal Parks to large semi-rural areas like Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest. There are countless other parks, gardens, nature reserves and woodlands.

To experience typical English culture, Thiti advises visitors to drop by a pub where locals can be seen chilling out watching football and drinking beer.

What are your fondest memories of England from your university days?

My fondest memories of England were the strolls I took in the parks that offer breathtaking view. One of my favourites was Hyde Park, the largest of the royal parks.

Also, the vast variety of food found in its restaurants makes London special.

People tend to think that because I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I had an easy time during my university days in England. In fact, I had to work and study like the rest of my friends. That's why most of my free time was spent relaxing in parks.

You hardly have anytime for leisure travel, how do you cope?

I like travelling to leisure destinations close to Bangkok, given the constraints on free time at my disposal. When ever possible, I like to visit the beach in Bang Saen, Chon Buri, just 45 minutes drive from Bangkok. The sea, sun and mouth-watering seafood there make the trip worthwhile. Sometimes I travel alone because getting a group together takes time.

What do you consider a perfect vacation?

I love the sea and nature. I look for places which are quiet and peaceful because it calms me down after the hectic work schedule I keep. And it doesn't cost a lot of money.

If I have the time I would like to visit beach destinations in southern Thailand. I also like camping in Khao Yai. My idea of good fun is reading a book and sipping freshly brewed coffee. I head for Ayuthaya when I am in the mood to brush up my knowledge of Thai history and culture.

As a hotelier what are your concerns for 2006?

A perennial concern is the way hotels dump prices to attract guests. Cheap prices attract customers, but hoteliers shouldn't over do it. I hope in 2006 our government would think about how to develop and promote Thailand in a better way so that hotels don't have to resort to price war which benefits just a few people.

Nowadays, hotels in Bangkok are starting to position their room rates much better than a couple of years ago, but there are still numerous hotels that can only think of quantity, not quality. I suggest we regulate room rates.

Any suggestions on how to improve Thailand's tourism sector?

I think tourism officials have to take a more aggressive approach. Right now I feel their marketing strategy benefits only a few people. Failure of the Elite Card is one of the many examples of this discrepancy. I suggest in the future the government should plan tourism-related projects more meticulously and enforce them with a sense of commitment to make sure they succeed. Failure to do that will be bad for the country's image.

Tell us about current projects you're working on?

We are waiting for the green light to demolish Siam Hotel on Petchaburi Road and build a five-star hotel catering to business travellers.

It will have about 200 rooms. We want to keep it small and hope to turn it into a boutique-style property offering top class service.

It will also follow the current trend of having limited food outlets while emphasising spa and gym facilities, backed by contemporary design and architecture

U-Need

19-01-2006, 03:48 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 19 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-01-19 / 14:04:09 (GMT+7:00)

National economic growth is likely to be between 4.5 and 5.0 per cent this year with an inflation rate staying at around 4.0 per cent, according to the head of the country's largest commercial bank.

Kosit Panpiemras, Executive Chairman of Bangkok Bank, suggested that to make it easier for the business sector to plan, the government should be focusing on maintaining economic stability.

However, he said the government also had to keep a close watch on the current account deficit and inflation, and to adopt the correct monetary policy to manage them.

As well, Mr. Kosit said, the government must encourage companies in each business sector to pay attention to risk management, to strengthen their economic base, and to manage costs efficiently.

Sawat Horrungrueng, president and chief executive officer of Nakhonthai Strip Mill PCL, said although interest rates were tending to rise, it should not be a worry.

He said while interest rates had increased up to 20 per cent, the purchasing power of people, who had been reluctant to spend in the past, continued to increase.

On current political woes, he said it should not be of concern because the government still had a parliamentary majority.

Mr. Sawat also described free trade agreements, such as that being negotiated with the United States, as part of the process each country had through to reduce tariffs under the World Trade Organisation agreement. (TNA) – E005

U-Need

20-01-2006, 11:02 AM

450 words
20 January 2006
09:40
English

TOP STORIES

- The chief executive of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, Ho Ching, is to appear at a news conference on Monday to announce the takeover of Thailand's top telecom group Shin Corp PCL , according to a telecom industry source (THE NATION)

- Nine days of performances of Mozart's music began in Bangkok to mark the 250th anniversary of the Austrian composer's birth (THE NATION)

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he wants to retain Nitya Pibulsonggram as an adviser to Thai negotiators for the trade talks with the U.S. (THE NATION)

- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has issued summonses for four people, including a deputy city governor, alleged to have been involved in irregularities in the e-auctions of contracts for 16 megaprojects in Bangkok (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- U.S. financial giant GE Money is looking to sign a strategic deal with Bank of Ayudhya PCL within the next few months to tap into the robust consumer banking business in Thailand, according to sources (BANGKOK POST)

- At least one Hollywood feature, the action drama Crash Bandits, is expected to be shot in Thailand this year, with an estimated production cost of six billion baht, with further film titles in the pipeline (BANGKOK POST)

- A local industrial company, the Montree Group, has expanded its business to Nauru, one of the world's smallest independent republics (BANGKOK POST)

- State-run mobile phone operator Thai Mobile plans to spend 5.6 billion baht ($141 million) to roll out a 3G broadband cellular network in the major cities and will seek a strategic partner to help develop the service (THE NATION)

- The imminent takeover of Shin Corp by Singapore's Temasek Holdings is responsible for the recent strengthening of the baht against the US dollar, as a huge amount of foreign capital has flowed into the country prior to the transaction, the central bank said (THE NATION)

- Stock Exchange of Thailand president Kittiratt na Ranong has been approached to apply to be the new president of Thai Airways International , says an aviation industry source (THE NATION)

- Suvarnabhumi Airport will open for commercial services in June, as scheduled, despite a fire at the flight catering building of Thai Airways on Wednesday, Thai Airways's acting president Somchainuk Engtrakul said (THE NATION) ($1=39.80 Baht)

U-Need

20-01-2006, 11:11 AM

624 words
20 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Government and Politics - Govt to invest heavily in mega-projects; Bt1.48 trln spending plan based on optimistic growth forecasts, The Nation reports.

The Cabinet on January 17 approved a budget of Bt1.48 trillion for the 2007 fiscal year, up Bt116 billion, or 8.5 per cent, from the previous fiscal year amid optimism that the economy will continue to grow strongly.

The budget was worked out on the assumption that the economy would expand 5.5-6 per cent in the year. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last week said the economy should grow by at least 5 per cent this year.

While Bt1.03 trillion is set aside for fixed expenses, up 7.5 per cent on the previous year, Bt388 billion, or 26 per cent, of the total budget is earmarked for investment. To maintain fiscal stability, outstanding public debts will be kept below 50 per cent of gross domestic product and the debt-service ratio at less than 15 per cent of government expenses, said PM's Office Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee.

In 2007, the government will focus on boosting the country's competitiveness especially through the investment in mega projects, as well as seeking economic, social and fiscal balance, he noted.

Fiscal imbalances have been in the public focus after the Finance Ministry raised the borrowing ceiling in the 2006 fiscal year by Bt80 billion to Bt250 billion, amid the delay in the sale of state-owned Egat Plc's shares.

According to the public debt management office, Thailand's outstanding public debts as of November 30, 2005 stood at Bt3.26 trillion, or 45.9 per cent of gross domestic product. An amount of Bt1.82 trillion is direct government borrowing. Out of total debts, 18.2 per cent are foreign loans. Mean-while, Bt2.66 trillion, or 81.5 per cent, of the total are long-term loans.

The office director Panna Stavarodom said that month on month, public debt was down Bt6.7 billion from October. In the first three months of the 2006 fiscal year, starting from October 2005, the government borrowed a total of Bt22.7 billion. Out of that, the Finance Ministry raised Bt9.5 billion while the rest was borrowed by state enterprises.

According to Surapong, the budget is set in accordance with the economic forecasts from four economic agencies - the Finance Ministry, the Budget Bureau, the National Economic and Social Development Board, and the Bank of Thailand - which forecast the 2007 economic growth at 5.5-6 per cent with inflation at 3.4 per cent.

The four agencies concluded that in the year, public investment will be the major economic driver, coupled with foreign investment, while domestic private spending could be adjusted.

Meanwhile, the economy will suffer from the effects of higher oil prices, which are expected to subside in the latter half of the year. The export and tourism sectors should expand due to the recovery in the global economy.

Risk factors include the upward cycle of interest rates and fund flows, as well as the possible increase in global competition. Each ministry must submit their budgets in detail to the Budget Bureau by February 23.

On the allocation of central funds to local administrations, the Budget Bureau has set the ratio at 26 per cent of total government expenses, below the constitutional requirement of 35 per cent.

To increase their revenue, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and PM's Office Minister Suranan Vejjajiva were assigned by the Cabinet on January 17 to come up with suggestions. Primarily, the government might transfer the educational and health expenses allocated to the Education and Public Health ministries to local administrations.

U-Need

20-01-2006, 03:26 PM

Last Update : 2006-01-20 / 14:12:35 (GMT+7:00)

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (TNA) - The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has set April 19, 2006 as the Senate election date.

The EC has, therefore, asked eligible voters in all constituencies across the country to check the presence and accuracy of their names in both household registrations and identity cards.

Any amendments are required to be reported to and corrected by officials in their respective areas within April 8.

Thailand's electorates--citizens with 18 years of age upward, are invited to exercise their right in the new election for the 200-member Senate.

Unlike 500 members of the Thai House of Representatives who each has a four-year term in office, all the newly-elected senators will be in office for six years. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

20-01-2006, 03:28 PM

Last Update : 2006-01-20 / 13:05:48 (GMT+7:00)

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (TNA) - The Thai Red Cross Council's National Blood Centre is calling on the public to donate blood as 'a gift of life' as part of the kingdom's celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne.

With its campaign entitled, 'Love the King, Donate Blood to Honour the King's 60 Years on Throne', from Jan 1 through Dec 31, 2006, the National Blood Centre hopes to receive 1.6-1.8 million units of donated blood nationwide, 480,000 units in metropolitan Bangkok, and 1.2 million units in other provinces, said Dr. Rachanee O-Charoen, head of the centre.

In addition, the campaign will encourage more public-spirited donors to give blood every three months, or four times a year. The campaign is designed to generate the 10 per cent increase in the number of those who practice donating blood quarterly, she said.

Dr. Rachanee also said that World Health Organization (WHO) has asked Thailand to become the core of Southeast Asian countries organizing activities expressing thanks to blood donors to celebrate the World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

Activities -- including a parade of over 3,000 youths from ASEAN countries -- will be held in conjunction with the celebration of the King's 60 years on the throne.

Thailand's monarch, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's longest-reigning monarch. He ascended the throne on June 9, 1946.(TNA)-E009

U-Need

20-01-2006, 03:32 PM

The disappearance

After receiving several death threats, Somchai Neelaphaijit made a practice of informing friends and colleagues of his whereabouts at all times. But friends lost contact with the 53-year-old lawyer on the night of March 12, 2004. Somchai was last seen at the Chaleena Hotel in the Ramkamhaeng area. His car was later found abandoned with a fresh dent in the back, suggesting it had been rammed from behind.

Somchai was chairman of the Muslim Lawyers Group and deputy chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Law Society of Thailand (now the Lawyers Council). He was also representing several groups of men detained following violence in the southern region of Thailand. Just before his disappearance he had filed a complaint against the police for torturing his clients. And just two weeks earlier, Somchai delivered a speech on police torture and impunity that one journalist described as "a powerful, bitter, outraged speech."1

The investigation

The police investigation has been characterized as rushed and incomplete. Police officers investigating the crime scene are reported to have damaged important evidence, such as by sitting in the vehicle before it could be examined by forensic experts.2 Meanwhile a Senate inquiry, which might have shed light on the disappearance, has been hampered by lack of cooperation from senior government officials.

In the absence of a body or sufficient forensic evidence, the charges did not rise to the level of the crime. Five police officers arrested in April 2004 were later charged with coercion (Article 309 of the Criminal Code) and "gang robbery" (Article 340). They were released on bail, and one was even allowed to remain in his job throughout the trial.

The primary evidence consisted of eyewitness testimony that Somchai had been seen forced into a car just before he disappeared, and phone records showing 75 calls between the five men near the lawyer's last known whereabouts. A second flurry of calls occurred several days later, after the victim's car was found. However, while phone records are often used in the course of an investigation, they are rarely cited in Thai courts.

Despite repeated, and often contradictory, claims that the Ministry of Justice's Department of Special Investigations (DSI) would mount an investigation, there have been few signs of an active investigation.

The trial

Human Rights First periodically observed the trial and interviewed numerous parties involved in the process. We have identified a number of concerns, to be included in a detailed trial report to be released in the near future. In addition to the concerns of inadequate investigation and inappropriate charges noted above, the trial appeared to suffer from problems relating to the protection of witnesses and the rules of evidence.

While the Government of Thailand has a witness protection program housed in the Ministry of Justice, in most cases the actual protection is carried out by the police, which would be inappropriate in this case. Neelaphaijit's wife, who is also a co-plaintiff in the case, received several threats. Several eye-witnesses gave courtroom testimony that differed from initial statements to the police, raising fears of intimidation.

The trial also operated under rules of evidence in which lawyers were not given access to documents and other exhibits in advance of their introduction in court, making cross-examination of witnesses much more difficult. This problem was exacerbated by frequent turnover on the prosecution team.

On January 12 Major Ngern Thongsuk was convicted on the coercion charge and sentenced to three years. He is free on bail of 1.5 million bhat; both sides will appeal the verdict. The other four defendants were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The Torture Case

Five of Somchai's clients had been detained on February 23, 2004, on charges involving "national security, conspiracy to commit rebellion, to recruit people and gather arms to commit rebellion, to function as secret society and to act as criminal gang." They were: Makata Harong (49), Sukri Maming (37), Manase Mama (25), Sudirueman Malae (23), and Abdullah Abukaree (20).

On March 4 Somchai Neelaphaijit sought a court order for the five to receive a physical examination for effects of torture. His application included the following remarks:

While under police custody and during the interrogation conducted at the provincial police station of Tanyong subdistrict, the 4th Suspect was blindfolded by police officer(s) and physically assaulted; strangled and choked, hand-tied behind his back and beaten with pieces of wood on the back and head, suffering some head wounds. In addition, he was also hanged from the toilet door with a piece of rope and was then electrocuted with a piece of fork charged with electrical currents, on the back of his torso and right shoulder. As a result, the Suspect had to make a confession.

The Criminal Court released the five in May after state prosecutors failed to file charges against them within the required 84 days. The police immediately rearrested four of them on separate charges of conspiring to murder police officers. Their alleged torturers have not been punished.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 12:40 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

Axe falls on Koh Samui police chief, two others

By Supapong Chaolaen

Surat Thani - Three senior police officers on Koh Samui, including the island's police chief, have been transferred to inactive posts in the fallout from the rape and murder of 21-year-old Welsh student Katherine Horton. Pol Col Arkhom Saisamai, superintendent of Koh Samui police station, will now assist at Surat Thani police station; Pol Lt-Col Charoon Uchuparb, deputy superintendent for crime suppression, goes to Surat Thani's Phunphin station; and Pol Lt-Col Samai Prompakhon, crime suppression investigator, goes to the province's Wiang Sa station.

The order, signed yesterday by Police Region 8 commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Komol Huayhongthong, cited inefficiency in crime suppression as the reason.

However, a source said the transfer stemmed from the murder, which happened on the night of Jan 1, as Pol Col Arkhom reportedly failed to inspect the crime scene on the first day.

The body of the 21-year-old psychology student, who was in Thailand on a backpacking break with a female friend before her final university exams, was found floating in Lamai bay, Koh Samui, on Jan 2.

Two fishermen were arrested and on Wednesday sentenced to death for raping and murdering Ms Horton.

The source said Pol Col Arkhom, the Samui police chief, had worked on the island for more than 10 years, since he was a crime suppression inspector.

He reportedly runs a bungalow business, capitalising on the island's tourist boom.

Meanwhile, a Swedish woman yesterday lodged a complaint with Koh Samui police, saying she had been raped by two Thai men on Wednesday night.

The 40-year-old woman told police the rape occurred behind Wat Sila-ngu on Koh Samui. She could not remember the faces of the rapists. She was sent for a physical check-up at a local hospital to find any traces of rape.

According to police, the woman, her husband and their friends had been drinking at a restaurant on Koh Samui on Jan 18.

Her husband and six other friends left the restaurant around midnight for Coral Bungalows, where they were staying.

The woman and some friends stayed at the restaurant.

She later left alone and arrived at the bungalow about 1.40am. She told police the rape occurred about 1.30am.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 12:46 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

Barge procession to be held in June

By Prapaiparn Rathamarit & Achara Ashayagachat

The prestigious royal barge procession will be held again in June as part of the country's celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. The procession will be held on two days, June 12 and 13.

The government has sent out invitations to 28 countries, and several foreign royal dignitaries - kings, crown princes and princesses and their representatives - have confirmed they will attend the auspicious ceremony, said Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who heads an organising committee for the special event.

His Majesty the King is the world's longest-reigning monarch. He became the ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty in June, 1946.

The majestic royal barge procession is organised to mark the kingdom's special occasions. The latest performance was in 2003, to entertain state leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bangkok.

A total of 52 royal barges with 2,082 oarsmen will take part. The Fine Arts Department and the Royal Thai Navy will organise a 45-minute-long se-pha performance, Thai classical chants, during the procession. The organising committee will also propose that the cabinet announces the two days as public holidays for Bangkok and nearby provinces, to ease traffic during the ceremony.

The procession along the Chao Phraya river will start at 7.30pm. Royal guests will watch the event from the Navy Council Building. Senior police officers will be assigned to drive royal visitors, while security escorts and liaison officials will undergo special training on how to address the monarchs and practise the different protocols for each royal visitor, Mr Surakiart said.

An exhibition on royally-initiated projects will also be displayed at the navy auditorium. Royal visitors and those who might be interested in the projects will be invited to visit the sites, he added.

A hard cover book about the ceremony will be presented to the guests as a gift. It will go on sale to the public after the event.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 12:50 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

PM: Airport to open on time despite blaze

By AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK & BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is confident that the fire that hit Thai Airways International's flight catering building near Suvarnabhumi airport will not delay the hoped-for June opening of the airport. But the blaze, which killed one construction worker and injured another three on Wednesday, could put off the opening of the 3.68-billion-baht facility by three months from end-March to June.

''An accident during construction is normal and it could happen anywhere. The mishap does not compromise the overall safety standards,'' said Mr Thaksin in Roi Et's At Samat district during his anti-poverty campaign.

The fire, believed to have been caused by welding sparks igniting insulating materials, broke out Wednesday evening in the kitchen area when about 200 workers were in the five-storey building.

They are racing to complete the building as the government wants to open the airport for commercial flights in June. The opening has been delayed from last September and the airport was only used once for a landing test on Sept 29, 2005.

An initial inspection found damage to concrete on the first floor of the building while some repairs were also needed to the ceiling, wall lamps and electrical lines, according to a THAI statement yesterday.

But having conducting an initial assessment together with external experts and contractors, senior THAI executives were confident the building's opening schedule of end-March could be met.

''The problem is not critical. There is still an opportunity for us to expedite and catch up to restore the damaged facilities,'' Chokchai Panyayong, THAI's vice president for Project Development at the new Bangkok airport, said yesterday.

Even in the worst-case scenario whereby the catering facility was not up and running in June, when Suvarnabhumi airport was expected to be ready for commercial operations, THAI has a contingency plan.

In that event, THAI will have meals cooked at its Don Muang flight kitchen and transported in bulk over a distance of 27km by chiller trucks to Suvarnabhumi catering facilities, he explained.

THAI's Don Muang catering facilities can churn out up to 75,000 meals a day, exceeding the demand expected from its airline passengers in the initial stage of operations of Suvarnabhumi airport.

The national carrier produces nearly 70,000 meals a day serving 48 international airlines and its own passengers.

Its Suvarnabhumi facility, the largest among three flight catering plants at the new airport, will be able to produce 87,000 meals a day, though THAI expects to make only 65,000 meals a day in 2006.

Mr Chokchai said the restoration of the fire-damaged location, covering an area of 20 by 30 metres in the building's cold room, will be quickly undertaken regardless of the outcome of the probe by police and the five-man THAI investigation team led by executive vice president ACM Narongsak Sangapong.

The probe, to be concluded within seven days, is focusing on whether the fire affected the building's structure. The facility is covered by a three-billion-baht insurance policy from Diphya Insurance.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 12:53 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

Runway peeling not a safety issue, says PM

By AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK & SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday played down reports of the peeling runway at Suvarnabhumi international airport, saying it is just a technical problem. ''It's not at all related to runway safety,'' Mr Thaksin said.

The reports renewed concerns about the airport's readiness, called into question again after Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri discovered on Wednesday that the southern end of the west runway was not reinforced with polymer, a substance that would help strengthen the runway surface.

He wanted airport runways to come under the same standard no matter how much it cost.

However, Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal thought differently.

''That part of the runway is not an area for take-offs and landings, so we have no need to adjust the paving work,'' he said.

The polymer-reinforced paving would make the runway surface more durable and last longer. Mr Pongsak said the paving work was useful on the main runway. But peeling was always possible even with the polymer, which only slowed the peeling, but did not prevent it.

Surfaces of the middle and northern sections of the runway would get the polymer treatment, as they would receive significant wear from aircraft, but the runway to the south did not require polymer, as it would not be exposed to as much wear and tear.

Democrat party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr demanded to know why the government did not say anything about the peeling earlier.

For the flight test at the airport in September last year, when the prime minister was also on board, the pilot avoided landing on the western runway, which raised questions.

He opted to land on the eastern runway instead even though its surface grooving was not completed, Mr Alongkorn said.

He accused the government of trying to defend the consortium construction companies IOT (Italian-Thai Development Plc, Obayashi Corp Ltd and Takenana Corp Ltd).

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 12:56 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

Singapore's Temasek to buy out Shin Corp

Shin Corp, the telecom giant founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is due to announce today a take-over by Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Sources say Temasek will buy out the 49.6% of Shin held by Mr Thaksin's family at less than 50 baht per share. At an estimated 70.8 billion baht it would be the largest acquisition ever in the Thai market.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 01:01 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

Thailand sends 50,000 condoms to Africa

Bangkok (dpa) - Thailand on Friday donated 50,000 condoms to seven African countries as part of the kingdom's "forward engagement" policy with Africa in the fight against HIV/AIDS, UN officials said.

The prophylaxis, provided by Thailand's foreign ministry and health ministry, will be shipped by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda to help combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.

"The plans for this condom shipment emanate from a workshop held last year in Kenya in which 25 senior-level participants from national HIV/AIDS councils, non-health ministries, relevant non-governmental organizations and community leaders dealing with HIV/AIDS attended from the African region, with 15 visiting Thai experts on HIV/AIDS from the Ministry of Public Health, NGOs, academia and the private sector," said the UNDP in a statement.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region of the world most affected by HIV and AIDS. An estimated 25.8 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2005 and approximately 3.1 million new infections occurred during last year.

While Thailand has been successful in slowing the spread of the virus, one in 100 Thais - about 550,000 - are infected with HIV, and AIDS has become the leading cause of death in the country.

"This shipment is an expression of Thailand's interest in working with Africa to halt this killer in its tracks," said Joana Merlin-Scholtes, UN resident coordinator and UNDP representative for Thailand.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 01:06 AM

Report from The Nation dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

Sex change spares Thai prostitute from caning in Singapore: report

Singapore - A Thai prostitute who was born a man and underwent a sex-change operation was spared from caning in Singapore on drugs charges after doctors determined she was a woman, a report said Friday.

Because Singapore does not cane women, the fate of Mongkorn Pusuwan has hung in the balance for weeks as a district court awaited a medical report on her sex, the Straits Times said.

Pusuwan underwent a sex-change 10 years ago. However, Thailand does not recognise sex changes and Mongkorn's passport still listed her as male although she looks like a woman.

District Judge Bala Reddy spared her from caning after it was medically proven she was a woman, but sentenced her to six years in jail on Wednesday after she pleaded guilty to trafficking small amounts of drugs.

In Singapore, the death sentence is mandatory for trafficking in more than 15 grams (half an ounce) of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine and 500 grams of cannabis. Caning is carried out for a number of criminal offences.

Agence France Presse

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 01:14 AM

Report from The Nation dated Friday 20 January 2006 :-

Massage parlour shut down

La Defense massage parlour on Rama 9 Road was closed for 30 days yesterday for employing underage girls and illegal immigrants as masseuses.

Three senior officers at Wang Thonglang police station have been transferred to inactive posts while an investigation is conducted. They are station chief Colonel Susak Prakkamakul and lieutenant-colonels Sitthiphorn Phankhongchuen and Natthaphongthorn Phoolphol.

Two other lieutenant-colonels, Amornnat Malai and Natthaphanop Watcharassewee, are facing investigation on serious disciplinary matters. A police source said the two officers narrowly escaped being transferred.

Another investigation was being carried out to determine whether human trafficking charges could be laid against the owners of La Defense.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 09:25 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 21 January 2006 :-

Thais consuming too much sugar

By APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

A research on Thais' dietary habits has shown that they are taking excessive amount of sugar in their food, and not the other way round as was expected from the findings, said the Health Department yesterday. When the department studied the nutritional situation among people nationwide in 2003, it found that on average they had consumed just 7.5gm of sugar a day, which almost doubled to 13.7 grammes a day in 1995.

Currently each Thai consumes over 30 kilogrammes of sugar a year, or 82 grammes a day or 20.5 teaspoons a day, against the World Health Organisation's recommended amount of only 8-10 teaspoon a day.

Uraiporn Chitchang, an academic from the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, said the rate of sugar consumption was high mainly because Thais had started indirectly taking a lot of sugar through products like sweetened milk, carbonated drinks, food seasoning and green tea.

''There is a figure clearly showing how Thais consume most of their sugar indirectly, increasing to 52.5 grammes a day in 2003 from only 6.8 grammes a day in 1995, an eight-fold increase, which was a very dangerous sign as this can badly affect people's health,'' Dr Uraiporn said. If all the people in the country have just one teaspoon of sugar less a day, there would be more than 240 tons of sugar left a day, which means the raw material used in producing sugar could be better utilised for other purposes, such as in biodiesel production.

Dentist Chantana Ungchusak, the manager of children's non-sweets eating network, said the packaging size of sugar was one factor that encouraged people to eat more sugar. The amount of sugar contained in a package served with coffee was eight grammes in Thailand against four in Malaysia and only three in Japan and England. She called for food manufacturers to pay more attention to people's health by reducing the amount of sugar in their products.

''During a sugar shortage, food manufacturers should cut production costs by reducing the amount of sugar in their products, instead of increasing the price. It would be a win-win situation for both the manufacturers and the consumers,'' the dentist said.

A large number of Thai children have been suffering from obesity, which leads to other more serious health problems. Sugar is a prime suspect.

The Public Health Ministry has prohibited powdered milk manufacturers from adding sugar to food products available for babies at birth to 12 months and other measures are in the pipeline to boost young children's health.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 10:09 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 21 January 2006 :-

New Thai / Burmese border bridge to be opened tomorrow

Chiang Rai - The second Thai-Burmese friendship bridge, crossing the Mae Sai river, will be opened tomorrow in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district. Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win and his Thai counterpart Kantathi Suphamongkhon will preside over the opening ceremony at Ban San Pak Hee.

The 400-million-baht project, which consists of the second Mae Sai bridge, linking roads and state office buildings was completed in November last year.

Burmese authorities have reportedly launched a massive crackdown recently on narcotics and illegal weapons in the border town of Tachilek to ensure a smooth opening.

Mae Sai district chief Chusak Uppanant, said the new bridge, which was built by the Thai government, was aimed at easing traffic congestion on the 36-year-old Mae Sai bridge, which cuts through commercial and residential areas.

The second Mae Sai bridge would also promote trade and transport between Thailand and Burma and link northern Thailand with China via Burma's 270-km Mae Sai-Tachilek-Kengtung-Talo route.

Mr Chusak said the old Mae Sai bridge, which leads to the centre of Tachilek in Burma, would be mainly used for tourism, while the second bridge would serve border trade businesses. ''The new friendship bridge will eventually boost trade under the quadrangle economic cooperation and the one-stop service system will shorten customs procedures,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Thai-Burmese Township Border Committee met on Wednesday in Mae Sai district to work out details of the establishment of a permanent border checkpoint and to draft measures on suppression of smuggling between the two countries after the bridge is opened.

Thai exports to Burma through Chiang Rai have reached 2.65 billion baht while imports stand at 258 million baht.

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 10:14 PM

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 21 January 2006 :-

Secrecy shrouding Shin Corp sell-off sparks furore, unease

Ask my children, says PM as he evades questions about Bt76-billion deal. Though his business empire appears set to be sold to Singapo-reans in a matter of days, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday remained elusive about the jumbo deal that should generate enormous economic, financial and political ramifications, not to mention possible legal and constitutional questions. “Ask my kids: I’m not the owner; they are,” Thaksin said. His daughter Pinthongta Shinawatra holds the single largest stake with 14.67 per cent of Shin Corp.

Shin yesterday said it had not yet been notified by its major shareholder of any stock sale to Singapore’s state-owned Temasek Holdings.

It will inform the Stock Exchange of Thailand “promptly upon receiving information from Shin’s major shareholder”, it said.

It is expected to reveal the deal on Monday, when the Shinawatra and Damapong families sell their 49.61-per-cent stake to Temasek for about Bt76.5 billion, or Bt51 per share.

Shin closed at Bt47.25 when trading closed yesterday, rising Bt1 from Thursday.

The secrecy of the deal and the ambiguous role Thaksin may have played have sparked much criticism, with activists charging his government and stock authorities with not doing their utmost to protect the interests of the Thai public.

“This whole thing lacks transparency and good governance,” said Suriyasai Katasila, head of the Campaign for Popular Democracy. “As prime minister, he should be worried about the effect on the public and the stock market, but he doesn’t seem to show that kind of responsibility. The stock-market authorities meanwhile have just sat and watched and appear more eager to go after companies that are not related to Thaksin and his family.”

That the deal involves a lucrative telecom concession has prompted the question whether a major “national asset” can be transferred into foreign hands so easily.

Thaksin would only distance himself. “I’m still asking my wife for money,” he said yesterday. “I haven’t given my kids any instructions [regarding Shin Corp shares]. On the contrary, they are the ones who advise me, because they are the real owners.”

KatoeyLover69

21-01-2006, 10:19 PM

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 21 January 2006 :-

BUMRUNGRAD HOSPITAL: Foreign investors inject Bt2.2 billion

S’pore, Mid-East firms to use investment to fuel expansion. Singaporean and Middle Eastern investment houses have co-invested Bt2.17 billion in the listed Bumrungrad Hospital Plc, owner of the largest private hospital in Southeast Asia. Istithmar PJSL, an investment house based in United Arab Emirates, and Singapore-based Temasek Holdings’ two indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, TLS Alpha Pte Ltd and Aranda Investments Pte Ltd, agreed to go in on the combined stake in Bumrungrad Hospital Plc from Sinnsuptawee Asset Management Co Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bangkok Bank.

The stock purchase brings their combined stake in the company to 11.8 per cent.

They hope to use their interest in the Bangkok hospital as a springboard for expanding their investments throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Carl Stanifer, group chief financial officer of Bumrungrad International Co Ltd (BIL), said he hoped that the newcomers would not only provide financial support, but also help the company to grow internationally.

“Management at Bumrungrad is pleased with the new shareholders as they are both well known and have good contacts in Middle East and Asia,” said Stanifer.

BIL is one of three Bumrungrad Hospital Plc subsidiaries, the other two being Bumrungrad Medical Centre Ltd and Vitallife Corp Ltd. It also owns an interested in LS Cleaning Co Ltd.

Bumrungrad’s 554-bed hospital in Bangkok bills itself as Southeast Asia’s largest private hospital with comprehensive world-class healthcare services. The company’s other activities include investments in other companies and property rentals.

Istithmar acquired 43.4 million shares in the deal, or 5.9 per cent of outstanding shares, while TLS Alpha and Aranda each bought 21.9 million – for a combined 5.9 per cent. But the shares became non-voting shares because the two outfits are foreign.

When the shares were purchased they were pooled in Thai NVDR Co Ltd, which serves as a vehicle for holding the shares of foreign investors with no voting rights.

The transaction was finalised yesterday at Bt25 per share, based on the weighted average share price prevailing at the time the discussions took place.

Bumrungrad Hospital’s book value is around Bt23 each share. The shares yesterday closed at Bt31, down Bt2.5 from the previous day.

The company’s shareholding structure is now:

- 20.2 per cent held by Thai NVDR,

- 13.2 per cent by Bangkok Insurance Plc,

- 12.09 per cent by Sinnsuptawee Asset Management Co Ltd (down from 24 per cent of paid-up capital,

- 7.8 per cent by HSBC (Singapore) Nominees Pte Ltd,

- 6.6 per cent by Bangkok Bank Plc.

The rest of the share are held by smaller investors.

As long-term strategic partners, both Istithmar and Temasek have also entered into a primary agreement with Bumrungrad Hospital to make direct investments in BIL, the wholly-own investment arm of Bumrungrad International.

Istithmar and Temasek have agreed in principle to co-invest in BIL which will be subject to a further due diligence process and approval by various parties. With additional investments in BIL by Istithmar and Temasek, BIL will be in position to actively pursue more projects throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Stanifer said BIL is looking for joint ventures, acquisitions, and developments in the hospital business.

“Two hospitals in the Philippines and Dubai have been already received investments from BIL,” Stanifer said. BIL invested in Asian Hospital of the Philippines in 2005 and plans to build a hospital in Dubai with Istithmar.

Curtis J Schroeder, group chief executive officer of Bumrungrad Hospital Plc, said that the company’s expansion is aimed at capturing the benefits of regional growth in healthcare, while providing a referral network and other synergies to its flagship operations in Bangkok.

Tan Suan Swee, managing director of Temasek Holdings for investment, said that Bumrungrad is an attractive investment with good domestic and regional growth potential, reflecting a positive outlook on the prospects of the healthcare sector in the region.

Sultan Bin Sulayem, Istithmar’s executive chairman, said his company saw immense growth potential in Bumrungrad and an opportunity for it to play a major role in the industry throughout Thailand, Asia, and the Middle East.

Sasithorn Ongdee
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

22-01-2006, 04:09 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 22 January 2006 :-

Festival to focus on old Phuket town : Rich architecture, history will be brought to the fore in bid to encourage sense of civic pride among island's residents

By Achadtaya Chuenniran

In an attempt to maintain a balance between a popular modern resort island and its rich cultural heritage, Phuket will hold the 8th Old Phuket Town Festival next month, when the island's rich history and architecture will be brought to the fore. The festival will be held on Feb 3-5 at Phuket's ''Streets of Culture'' - Thalang road, Soi Romanee and Krabi road.

The island's three oldest streets feature magnificent Sino-Portuguese buildings, and the area has been declared a cultural heritage conservation zone.

The area, a reflection of the island's prosperity, dates back over 100 years. Influences from Malaysia's Penang and Singapore are evident.

This year's festival will highlight Ngo Kha Khi, or covered walkways, which connect the wonderful Sino-Portuguese buildings. These were designed to shelter pedestrians during stormy weather.

Symbolically, Ngo Kha Khi represent the kindness extended by the owners of mansions towards Phuket's residents.

Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansuppana hopes the festival will bring about a sense of pride among young people and encourage locals to preserve the city's heritage.

The festival will develop collaboration between the civil and private sectors towards sustainable development and conservation and to stimulate locals' appreciation of the town's architectural history.

''As the focus for visitors to Phuket has shifted away from the historical area to beach resorts, the three roads have seen their popularity wane. About 10-20 years ago, foreigners flocked to admire and photograph the Sino-Portuguese mansions,'' the mayor said.

It is hoped the event will also boost tourism on the island, which has sharply decreased since the tsunami struck on Dec 26, 2004, she said.

''People here love and cherish our hometown'', she said. ''Despite the pace of technological development, the city's unique characteristics and traditions will endure,'' Mayor Somjai said.

The festival would help put the spotlight back on Phuket's historic centre, while its culture and traditions, including food, games and dress, would be on display throughout the festival.

The 8th Old Phuket Town Festival will open on the evening of Feb 3 with a parade.

The festival includes an exhibition at Phuket Thai Hua School Museum and a light and sound show at a residence of the President of the Thai Hotels Association. Visitors can try dishes and desserts such as Lo Bah (fried sausage served with tofu and spicy sweet and sour sauce), Mee Hokkian (Chinese noodles), Mee Huhn Pah Chang (dry fried noodle in pork bone soup), Buae Tod (deep fried vegetables), and Khanom Chin Phuket (soft noodles in a tasty sauce).

Bang Yai canal, within walking distance of Thalang road, will feature a free cruise on a long-tail fishing boat for a view of old Phuket Town from the canal. On Feb 5, a Buddhist ceremony and Chinese puppet show will be performed at Her Majesty the Queen's 72nd Birthday Anniversary park

KatoeyLover69

22-01-2006, 04:13 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 22 January 2006 :-

Police aim to restore image of Koh Samui : Recent murder, rape have tarnished
island

By Supapong Chaolaen

Koh Samui police have been instructed to take crime suppression operations more seriously in a bid to restore the image of the resort island, which has been tarnished by the rape and murder of 21-year-old Welsh tourist Katherine Horton. Pol Maj-Gen Santhan Chayanont, Police Region 8 deputy commissioner, yesterday ordered the three newly-assigned police officers appointed to assist work on Koh Samui to enhance tourist safety by increasing foot patrols, sharing information with local media and state officials, solving conflicts among police officers, and taking tougher action against influential people and law breakers.

The officers - Pol Col Jakrit Srisuwan, Superintendent of Koh Lanta police station in Phuket, Pol Lt-Col Aphichart Boonsriroj, Deputy Superintendent for crime suppression at the Phunphin police station, and Pol Lt-Col Udomrat Sarapong, Crime Suppression Investigator at Tha Chana police station in Surat Thani - have been moved to Koh Samui to replace the three senior officers moved to inactive posts in the aftermath of Horton's murder.

The island's police chief, Pol Col Arkhom Saisamai, was shifted to the Surat Thani police station.

Horton's murder and a rape complaint made last week by a 40-year-old Swedish woman have damaged Koh Samui's image as a tourist paradise.

The Swedish woman told police that she had been raped by two Thai men on Wednesday night. But the woman failed to show up at Koh Samui police station for further questioning.

The woman claimed that she was raped at around 1.30am on her way back from a restaurant to Coral Bungalows.

KatoeyLover69

22-01-2006, 04:19 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 22 January 2006 :-

A dagger for their majesties : Master craftsman hopes to make a traditional 'kris' for King and Queen

By Wassana Nanuam

A famous dagger-maker from a Muslim village in Yala's Raman district has been struggling to overcome the climate of fear in the restive South so he can concentrate on making the finest weapon at a traditional kris-making contest.

The competition will be held in March at Balukaluwa village in tambon Talo Halo. The aim is to find the finest craftsmen to make a traditional kris - a Malay-style dagger with scalloped edges - to be presented to Their Majesties the King and Queen in return for their concern and care for people in the three southern border provinces.

"The art of kris-making requires togetherness of mind, concentration, purity of the heart and fearlessness. Bad situations have a negative mental impact on us. We have to tell ourselves to remain strong and maintain our craftsmanship," said 55-year-old Teepalee Atabu, a veteran kris-maker from Balukaluwa.

The craftsman said the violence which has plagued the far South in the past two years has demoralised kris-makers in the village. As they are artists, the situation has affected their craftsmanship and the beauty of their works, he said.

Kris-makers from Ban Balukaluwa are very famous. Even the Sultan of Malaysia's Kelantan state has ordered daggers from the village. People from the US, France and New Zealand have been to the village and learned the art of kris-making.

Mr Teepalee, an acclaimed craftsman of more than 20 years, said he had made kris for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the King's elder sister, and Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, when they were on a trip to Yala to visit the people.

"I and other people of this kris-making village appreciate Their Majesties' concern for the people in the South. We thought about what we should do in return for their kindness and agreed to make a kris for them, because it is what we are best at," said Mr Teepalee.

He said the making of the kris for Their Majesties will be strictly based on an orthodox book on kris-making by the Panaesarah family.

The handle of the kris will be made of sao dam and muang pa luang wood carved into the shape of a Panga, a bird in literature similar to a fish-eating nok kraten or kingfisher. The blade of the kris will be imprinted with a pattern of an elephant's footprint.

Ban Balukaluwa is the only village in the border provinces where kris craftsmen strictly follow traditional ethics.

They do not take advance payments but get paid only when the work is completed. They do not make the daggers without an order.

More importantly, the craftsmen must be responsible for their families. Although a Muslim man is allowed to have up to four wives, every kris-maker in the village has only one.

On average, the village receives orders for 30 to 35 daggers a month. It takes a craftsman one week to finish a dagger. However, an elaborately crafted one can take up to a month to finish.

A dagger-makers' cooperative has been set up at the village, where a craftsman earns at least 4,000 baht a month.

However, because of the continued violence, especially in Raman district, there have been fewer orders for daggers. Since people are too frightened to come to the village, orders are made by phone and the daggers are sent to the clients by mail. The orders, from the North, Central and South of Thailand as well as Bangkok, have enabled kris-makers at Ban Balukaluwa to continue earning some income.

According to Mr Teepalee, there are 50 dagger-makers in the village, but only 17 with recognised skills.

In order to conserve the art and produce new craftsmen, kris-making has been put on the curricula of Mathayom 1 and 2 classes and the district's vocational college, so students can learn to carve the handles of the daggers, make the daggers from steel and produce sheaths. A kris-making training centre will also be set up soon.

KatoeyLover69

22-01-2006, 04:27 PM

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 22 January 2006 :-

EDITORIAL: Rushed trial a worrying sign

By not according all cases of rape or murder the same respect, the PM is displaying a disregard for justice. Even if the death penalty were not controversial, the speed with which two fishermen on trial for the rape and murder of British tourist Katherine Horton were convicted and sentenced to death is bound to raise questions. Bualoy Phosit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, were sentenced to death by lethal injection on Wednesday, after a one-day trial held in an atmosphere of strong political pressure for a quick resolution of the case, not the least of which came from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Amnesty International has expressed concern, and local human rights activists have joined in the scrutiny of a justice system that makes the convicts’ fate an exception, not the rule.

There is a strong argument in defence of the speedy trial. The suspects confessed. The scientific evidence was damning, and the case was under a glaring public and international spotlight. But nothing can take away from the fact that the two men were sentenced to death one week after their arrest and following a trial that lasted only a few hours. Do they deserve to die? Maybe this is not the time to debate capital punishment. But did they deserve a longer trial? That might be an easier question to answer.

It was a heartbreaking New Year’s Day crime that rattled the tourism industry. This explained the resources and technology poured into the investigation, which was swift and effective. DNA samples were gathered and many witnesses and potential suspects interrogated. Forensic work was fast. And in just a few days the two men were captured, police wrapped up their case against them and prepared it for the court.

Had it been a nameless Thai village woman, they might still be trying to ascertain the identity of the victim. While Katherine Horton fully deserved our best efforts in the pursuit of justice, she also deserves to become a catalyst for soul-searching within our own justice system. She would have wanted all female victims to be treated equally by police, investigators, judges, lawmakers and the government. She would have wanted all sex crimes to be dealt with in the same manner, whether they take place in a resort in paradise or a rural, impoverished area. She would have wanted, in her own case, to be sure that our system punishes the right people. While it is understandably normal for high-profile criminal cases to be processed faster given the public’s interest, there has been little evidence of low-profile cases being treated with even half the enthusiasm accorded this one.

Thanavadee Thajeen, director of the Friends of Women Foundation, hailed the swift response to the Horton murder, but deplored the fact that the same standard was not applied to several other cases. The activist noted that when a Westerner dies in Thailand, police gather several people together to resolve the case within a few weeks, while cases involving Thai victims are often met with police complaints that they have inadequate human resources. Last year there were 40,000 sexual assaults reported, but arrests were made in only 17,000 of those cases. It’s no surprise that much of the pressure on the justice system in the Horton case came from Prime Minister Thaksin, who has always shown little respect for the rights of suspects. Commenting on the crime after it happened, he said the culprits had no place to stay in Thailand and must be “brought to justice dead or alive”. Why? “Because this crime is severely detrimental to the country”.

The point he missed was that Bualoy and Wichai are no different from rapist-murderers who have preyed on Thai women in the past. Either Bualoy and Wichai ought to have been treated like the others, or the other way round. In suggesting that they deserved heavier punishment because they had committed a crime that hurt Thailand’s image, the premier showed an alarming lack of a personal sense of justice. In making that inexplicable statement, Thaksin has discriminated against not only suspects, but also their victims. What if Bualoy and Wichai went after a Thai woman and raped and killed her?

Thaksin will probably react to this by invoking his oft-repeated line, that human-rights idealists are crying for the villains again. Here he will miss another point. This is not about Bualoy and Wichai; it’s about the principle that calls for the protection of their rights. When that principle is not respected, sooner or later innocent men will become victims. This is believed to have happened under this government.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 10:57 AM

Kathleen Kingsbury
259 words
30 January 2006
Time
U.S. Edition
English

Sugar shortages are leaving a bitter aftertaste. Bad weather and rising energy costs have pushed raw sugar to its highest world price in a decade, about 15cents a pound. In the U.S., a protectionist trade policy has made the situation even worse. "The 1 million-ton gap between sugar supply and demand will only grow more dire," says Sergey Gudoshnikov, a senior economist at the International Sugar Organization.

None of sugar's major producers have gone unscathed. Brazil, the world's largest exporter, is diverting more of its drought- shortened crop to the production of ethanol, a cheaper alternative to imported oil. In Thailand, the world's No. 2 exporter, supermarkets have begun rationing supplies. Drought in 2004, the worst in 40 years, reduced output by more than 2 million tons.

Europe's overhaul of its sugar-tariff regime in November and the resulting 4.5 million-ton decline in its exports have exacerbated shortages. Now sugar users in the U.S. are clamoring for the government to drop its quotas after last year's hurricanes drove the already artificially high domestic price up 25cents a pound in a year. By law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture can't allow more than 1 million tons of sugar imports annually without a change in policy. Says USDA senior economist Larry Salathe: "It certainly looks like we're going to need it."

U-Need

23-01-2006, 10:59 AM

--Pattaya Mail 2006-01-20--

On-line visa extensions are one of the services offered by the new Pattaya Immigration headquarters, which has just opened in extensive new premises on Beach Road.

Pol Col Itthipol Ithisarnronachai, superintendent of Pattaya Immigration, on January 10 opened the new headquarters building to reporters, inviting them on a tour of the premises and describing future plans for the service.

He said that under the policies of Pol Lt Gen Suwatt Damrongsrisakol, commander of Immigration Police, the intention is to develop the Pattaya facility as a model immigration control point. Pattaya is one of 15 centers and a prime industrial and tourism gateway that needed to be both an effective control center and to present a favorable image of Thailand to visitors.

Pattaya’s original Immigration headquarters were set up at the time when American servicemen were coming to Pattaya on R&R leave, which required more police to look after the locals and tourists, so the Thai Royal Police sent down officers to offer visa services. In 1985 the Royal Thai Police recognized the growth of Pattaya and provided a budget to build accommodation, the first of its kind in Thailand. That was at a time when Pattaya wasn’t as developed as it is today.

The old premises eventually became too small, and unsuitable for providing services to foreigner visitors even though modern services were provided using IT, cue tickets and information over the internet. There was insufficient parking, and no room for expansion. Land and buildings were donated at a new location and the move to new premises took effect from December 6.

The new premises have ample parking space and the service has a 30 million baht budget provided mostly by the private sector, with Pattaya City Council providing a 1 million baht budget for a conference room. Solar cells are being used under the government energy saving policy and a Japanese company has supplied a 1 million baht budget for this. The old premises are being utilized as a lock-up and staff residences.

“We will be the first immigration center to offer on-line visa extension applications where the applicant will submit the application over the internet,” said Pol Col Itthipol. “Immigration police will check the information overnight and be ready to extend the applicant’s visa the next day. This will take only 10 minutes as we already have the information needed.”

Service by officials will be improved under an internal campaign designed to make visitors using the headquarters leave with a good impression.
“I feel proud the facility has been built. It is the property of everyone, accepted by everyone and we will serve everyone and everyone will trust Pattaya Immigration Police,” said the superintendent.

Pol Col Itthipol showed reporters around the conference room, offices and service booths, and pointed out the forms where people can express their opinions or submit complaints and suggestions to improve services even further.
The new headquarters is located at Beach Road. For further details call 0 38252 750-1.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:00 AM

Ibis budget hotels make debut in Bangkok; The Accor Group has opened its first Ibis economy brand hotels in Thailand. Promotional rates until April start at 888 baht a night at the 269-room Ibis Huamark Bangkok, and 999 baht per night at the 180-room Ibis Siam Bangkok hotel.
75 words
23 January 2006
Bangkok Post

English

The two hotels offer high-speed wireless Internet coverage everywhere, plus no-frills food services, where guests pick up meals from the lobby restaurant.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:02 AM

163 words
23 January 2006
10:20
Dow Jones International News
English

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Siam Commercial Bank (SCB.TH) and Bangkok Bank PCL (BBL.TH) will each lend THB13 billion to a unit of Singapore's Temasek Holdings (TEMAH.YY) as part of the THB70 billion-THB80 billion required to buy a stake in Shin Corp. PCL (SHIN.TH) from the family of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Nation newspaper reports.

The two banks will lend the money to Cedar Holdings, which will use the money as a part of its purchase of a 49.6% stake in Shin Corp. from relatives of Thaksin and of his wife, according to The Nation.

Shin Corp. is expected to notify the Stock Exchange of Thailand Monday of the transaction, followed by a news conference, the paper said.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:03 AM

454 words
23 January 2006
English

BANGKOK, Jan 23 - Highlights of today's newspapers:

BANGKOK POST:

- Thai consumer confidence is at its lowest in seven years, but is expected to pick up by the end of this year, according to MasterCard International.

- Local sugar prices should be floated in the next crop season to reflect actual production costs and develop the industry, according to a committee set up to reform the sector.

- Syrus Securities expects an increase in revenue from last year, thanks to an improvement in stock market turnover.

- Bualuang Securities hopes to boost its market share to 4 per cent from 3.3 per cent this year, driven in part by growth in its institutional client base.

- Thai Airways International plans to axe direct services from Australia to Phuket due to poor passenger traffic, dealing a setback to the island's post-tsunami tourism revival.

- Phetchabun, one of the key rice-producing provinces in Thailand, has embraced the challenge of increasing the price-setting power of Thai rice exporters within a fiercely competitive global market.

- A total of 24,902 out of 78,000 village funds could be upgraded to village banks by 2008 to offer more services to their communities.

- The Accor Group has opened its first Ibis economy brand hotels in Thailand.

THE NATION:

- A number of Singaporean firms have made their presence felt in Thailand, but Temasek Holdings imminent takeover of Shin Corp Plc marks the beginning of a new wave of Singaporean investment in the Kingdom thanks to its strategic regional position and clear rules and regulations.

- Thailand should discuss an immediate jewellery-tariff cut under the Thailand-US free-trade agreement (FTA) for the bountiful opportunities it will create, according to the head of the Thai Gems and Jewellery Traders Association.

- Sales of condominiums in central Bangkok have slowed, due mainly to the rapid growth in supply, according to real estate service and investment management firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

- Low rates for credit cards, mortgages United Overseas Bank (Thai) aims to boost its retail customer base on the strength of its pricing strategy.

- American International Assurance (AIA) has dropped its plan to either establish its own mutual-fund firm or invest in existing ones, said Thomas J White, the insurers executive vice president and general manager.

- TPT Petrochemical Plc has announced that is has signed an additional eight year contract with Aromatics (Thailand) Plc for paraxylene supplies worth Bt25 billion.

- Few projects in Bangkok have the clout to raise prices in the manner Noble Development can with its Tara Pattanakarn. While billboards still say homes there sell from Bt10.5 million, visitors to the site will be told prices now start from Bt13.4 million.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:09 AM

619 words
23 January 2006
The New Paper
English

IN the US, they were Mr and Mrs McRowan, a quiet-living professional couple with a showpiece suburban home.

But on their regular visits to Thailand, they were Prince Anouvong Sethathirath IV and Princess Oulayvanh, mobbed by Laotian exiles wherever they went.

On New Year's Day, their local newspaper in North Carolina exposed their extraordinary double lives.

On Wednesday this week , the couple was shot dead in Thailand while visiting the Sala Kaewkoo temple, a popular tourist site near the Laos border.

Temple worker Charan Saengla, 45, recalled the couple arriving at the temple and asking to speak to an elderly man, reported the Bangkok Post.

While they milled around waiting for the man to come out, two men arrived and open fire near the temple's entrance, killing the couple instantly.

Mr Anouvong, 49, claimed on his website to be a direct descendant of the Sethathirath family that ruled a part of Laos in the 19th century over an ethnic community known as the Lan Xang.

He was not directly related to Savang Vatthana, the last king of Laos, who abdicated after the communist takeover in 1975.

AMERICANISED

Mr Anouvong and his wife, Madam Oulayvanh, 37, were in Thailand to attend a conference on the arts and culture of the Lan Xang people, many of whom have settled in north-eastern Thailand in recent years, reported the news agency AP.

The couple visited the area every year, but were not known to have been involved in violent activities against the Laotian government, reported AP.

Indeed, if a recent profile in the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper in their hometown in North Carolina is any indication, they were more at home in the US than in the jungles of South-east Asia. Both had been US citizens since childhood.

Madam Oulayvanh is described in the report as 'a fresh-faced woman in jeans and a white blouse' with 'no makeup and a ponytail' who 'seems so wholesome, so normal. Americanised and Westernised'.

The two-storey bungalow the couple had lived in for more than 10 years is described as 'modern and impeccable'.

Mrs Ashley McRowan, as she called herself in the US, was described as studying for a degree in international studies 'so she could do more good for her former country and its people'.

Her husband, who called himself Mr Phillip McRowan, worked as a pathologist's assistant at a local hospital. He was described as a medical doctor trained in Cuba.

According to the paper, the couple had agreed to finally reveal their royal identities and their real names 'for the good of their former country and the Laotian people'.

The pair dated for two years - with a chaperone in tow each time - before marrying in December 1987.

As they settled comfortably into the American way of life and made their way up the property ladder, they told no one of Mr Anouvong's royal ancestry.

In 1995, they moved to the prosperous hillside suburb of Fairview to build their dream home and raise their children.

But as time passed, they became more interested in exploring their heritage and began visiting the Lan Xang community in Thailand.

When they are there, they are 'received like major celebrities,' they said. 'People crowd around us like locusts,' Mr Anouvong said.

Asked if he would ever try to reclaim his throne, Mr Anouvong told the paper that it was not an option in the short term. But the couple said they dreamed of one day being able to return to Laos and use their status to improve the quality of life there.

Two weeks after the interview was published, they were dead.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:12 AM

802 words
23 January 2006
The Nation (Thailand)
English

Political observers are divided over the likely outcome of government critic Sondhi Limthongkul's anti-Thaksin rally on February 4. Many say the gathering at Sanam Luang will be peaceful while others fear it will turn violent. Some see it as a futile exercise if the intent is to dethrone Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra under the pretext of rewriting the charter.

Opposition politicians and academics have distanced themselves from the rally, saying the political situation does not warrant such action.

Sondhi announced the march at his latest "Thailand Weekly" talk show at Lumpini Park on Friday.

Somkiat Pongpaiboon, of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, expects Bangkok's middle class to turn out in force.

"Sondhi has been generating a lot of publicity to raise awareness of the anti-Thaksin movement," he said.

Somkiat said protesters on issues like free-trade agreements and school transfers might join forces with Sondhi, raising the possibility that the crowd could swell into the tens of thousands.

Whether or not violence erupted depended on three factors - how well Sondhi managed the rally, the government's crowd-control measures and media restraint to not inflame the situation, he said.

Senator Sawai Phramanee fears the situation is spinning out of control. He said Sondhi was going too far by holding his anti-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang, adding: "I urge him to vent his frustration via Parliament instead."

If it is mishandled, the rally could have a tragic and violent ending, the senator said. Sondhi and Thaksin should iron out their differences rather than taking a confrontational approach, he added.

Political analyst Asadang Panikabutr called for the government to exercise restraint and refrain from harsh methods of suppressing the crowd.

"Authorities and rally-organisers are both obliged to strictly observe the law," he said.

Analyst Sukhum Nualskul opposes the rally because he does not think it can bring about change. "Sondhi has chosen the wrong way to be heard," he said.

Sukhum said many people would turn up just to hear Sondhi attack Thaksin even though they did not support the media mogul's campaign.

Political scientist Prayad Hongthongkham said Sondhi lacked a well-thought-out plan of political reform.

"Sondhi is using a lot of catch phrases, like 'return the Royal Powers', without being clear about their meaning," the associate professor at Chulalongkorn University added.

Although Sondhi has the right to free expression, he should not incite the crowd, Prayad said.

Prasarn Maruekpitak, former activist in the October 1973 uprising, said Sondhi had erred in trying to portray himself as leader of a democracy movement.

"I disagree with Sondhi's comparison between his rally and what happened in 1973," he said.

He said he suspected Sondhi was trying to stage the rally in order to bring an end to his "Thailand Weekly" shows rather than lead a political movement.

The conditions that led to the 1973 uprising are completely different from the present situation, and Sondhi is likely to fail if he tries to re-enact what happened 33 years ago, said former student leader Sombat Thamrongthanyawong.

Thai Rak Thai Party deputy spokesman Jatuporn Phromphan said Sondhi did not need to stage a rally if he just wanted to submit a petition to the Royal Palace via Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda.

"Sondhi can petition His Majesty the King without having to inconvenience the people," Jatuporn said.

He said he suspected Sondhi's real motive was to incite violence to force Thaksin out of office. The ploy was similar to the Black May incident of 1992 that resulted in the resignation of former premier Suchinda Klaprayoon following the deaths of protesters.

In the beginning, Sondhi attacked Thaksin as a journalist, but his grudges overwhelmed his judgement, and he became a mob-leader, Jatuporn said.

"Sondhi has no justification in comparing his upcoming rally to the three democracy uprisings in 1973, 1976 and 1992," he said. "Those democrat heroes shed their blood fighting for elected governments, and Sondhi is trying to oust an elected prime minister."

Sondhi is derailing democracy instead of advancing it, he added.

Democrat Party deputy leader Sathit Wongnongtoey said all citizens, including Sondhi, had the right to air their views and gather peacefully.

"The ruling party should not try to bully citizens who have dissenting opinions. Government politicians should stop acting like thugs against a peaceful rally," Sathit said.

Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Democrats had no stand on Sondhi's rally.

"Sondhi is quite ambivalent about what he really wants to achieve with the rally," Abhisit said.

The opposition party's chief adviser, Chuan Leekpai, urged Sondhi to ensure a peaceful rally. "I don't know what Sondhi will do, but everyone has to abide by the rule of law," he said.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:14 AM

23 January 2006
TODAY (Singapore)

Thailand and Myanmar yesterday opened a new 90-metre "friendship bridge" across the Sai River that divides the two neighbours, which Thailand hopes will boost trade with its neighbour and with China.

"We expect closer ties with Myanmar not only in trade but in transportation and tourism," Thai foreign ministry spokesman Apichart Phetcharatana said. The China-Myanmar border is only about 100km from the bridge. û AFP

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:29 AM

Powerful developer claims to be owner of Thai beachfront

By Kim Barker
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published January 22, 2006

LAEM POM, Thailand -- The woman struggles to the front of the room on her knees, always keeping lower than the government officials seated before her.

Ratree Kongwatmai's demeanor is deferential, but she is also at war. Since the tsunami just over a year ago, she has led the fight for her village, battling a powerful company that claims it owns the valuable beachfront property on which Laem Pom sits.

"We really want to keep our land safe for the next generation, since we have all risked our lives tremendously," she tells the country's interior minister. "Unless you wish to see us risk our lives any further."

The interior minister laughs nervously, along with villagers in the audience. Ratree smiles and adds, only half-joking: "If you can't negotiate nicely with company officials, could you please harass them?"

The disaster exacerbated these existing tensions in the tiny village of Laem Pom. Villagers accuse developer Far East Co. of preventing them from looking for their loved ones the day after the tsunami. Ratree, 32, who lost her daughter, father and sister in the rush of water, shifted anger over her loss onto Far East, which reportedly wants to build a resort on the land.

So reviled is Far East that villagers have named stray dogs after company officials.

From early days to court

Laem Pom was founded almost 40 years ago, when Thais moved here to work in a tin mine; after the mine closed, villagers stayed. Laem Pom remained small, with only 52 homes and a few dirt roads.

No one objected until the mine sold the land to Far East Co. in 2002. The company tried to evict the villagers but had little luck -- until the tsunami washed everything away.

The government, obsessed with protecting Thailand's international reputation, would like such disputes to be settled. The struggle over Laem Pom and other villages is one of the few remaining tsunami-related controversies dogging the country since the disaster. In many ways, recovery in Thailand has been successful and relatively swift.

In Phang Nga province, which suffered 4,255 of Thailand's 5,395 confirmed deaths, officials have already rebuilt the 2,000 homes destroyed by the tsunami. Foreign volunteers have helped clean up beaches and build new boats. Fishing is almost back to normal. International money has paid for a tsunami memorial, including a wall with victims' names.

Accusations against company

A former fish vendor with a 6th-grade education, she has marshaled international support to rebuild homes on the disputed land. Diplomats and foreign volunteers have flocked to help Ratree. And this month, she even won a meeting with one of the top officials in Thailand, the interior minister.

Ratree and other villagers say a barbed-wire fence set up by Far East workers before the tsunami ended up strangling several villagers as the water rushed ashore.

They accuse company security guards of continual harassment, of poisoning dogs, making threatening phone calls and firing guns into the air. They call company workers "the mafia" or "gangsters."

Far East officials have declined to comment on specific charges, although security guards deny harassing villagers or preventing them from searching for loved ones. The company offered to move the villagers to smaller parcels of land, farther from the ocean. But most villagers declined.

Tracing ownership of the land or the company, allegedly based in Thailand, is almost impossible through public records in the country. But several officials and villagers say the company is owned by an influential member of parliament known to use intimidation and violence.

She's an activist now

Before the tsunami, Ratree never attended a protest. Now she organizes demonstrations, wearing T-shirts with messages such as "distribute the land fairly."

She keeps pictures of her daughter's body in a binder, along with a plastic bag containing scraps of her daughter's yellow underwear, all that the girl was wearing when found.

She has turned her grief into revenge. "I've lived all my life on this land," she says. "I lost my loved ones on this land. I have to keep this land."

Her parents moved here almost 40 years ago for the same reason as everyone else--to work in the tin mine.

After the mine closed, villagers turned to fishing and farming, raising vegetables and pigs. The villagers had government-recognized addresses, phone lines and electricity.

But Thailand was changing. In recent years, the resorts that had swallowed Phuket, about 70 miles down the coast, started to move north. Five-star hotels gobbled up chunks of pristine beach. It's easy to see why any developer would be attracted to Laem Pom, with its secluded, white-sand beach framed by palm and pine trees.

The Far East Co. bought the land from the mining company in December 2002, villagers and government officials say. Villagers were sent eviction papers. Court cases were filed. The company set up a barbed-wire fence near the village.

Still, villagers did not worry. They believed that the law supported them because they had lived on the land without objection for more than 10 years.

Then the tsunami came, wiping Laem Pom off the map. The company moved in.

Finding only each other

On that morning, Ratree had driven her motorcycle to a nearby village, trying to persuade a new resort to buy fish from her. Her husband, Panich, had gone to his construction job.

After the monstrous wave struck, Ratree and her husband immediately thought of their 8-year-old daughter, Panipha, and what she had said before they left.

"Please don't go to work today," she had told them, hugging her father's legs. "Please stay with me."

Both Ratree and her husband made their way to the village, but nothing was left. They found each other, but no one else.

The next day, according to Laem Pom villagers, the land was off-limits. "No trespassing" signs had been put up, and Far East security guards patrolled the area.

All told, the tsunami killed 43 of the 139 people in Laem Pom, including six in Ratree's family.

Laem Pom villagers were not the only ones facing land disputes after the tsunami. Three other villages fought against private developers; the government said more than 50 villages would have to move from land it claimed was public.

"The tsunami wiped everything out," said Noppan Promsri of the Save Andaman Network, a coalition of Thai relief groups that has helped Laem Pom. "So for companies and the government, it was seen as the perfect time to go in and clean up and say to villagers, `It's time for you to move.' They thought the villagers wouldn't have the energy to fight anymore."

Fighting and rebuilding

At first the villagers stayed in a refugee camp. But Ratree and others plotted their return.

On Feb. 25 the villagers came back as a group, with foreign volunteers and the news media in tow. They set up tents. With international attention came money; the Thai ambassador to the U.S. sent about $50,000 in American donations to buy material to rebuild 10 houses.

"They have been living here for generations," said Kasit Piromya, who retired as ambassador in September. "It's tradition in Thailand. And suddenly, a big politician, a big baron, came up with the title. It should not have been allowed."

Over several months, villagers and volunteers built 33 new houses where village homes stood before. The company backed off any strong-arm tactics, likely because of the publicity, and chose instead to pursue its claim in court. That allowed the villagers to set up makeshift power poles and string lines to connect illegally into government power supplies. Villagers bought mobile phones because the government would not install phone lines. They dug wells.

Today, the threat from the company lurks everywhere, making it difficult for villagers to relax or go back to work. Security guards sit in a house just outside the village. Signs blare a variety of warnings: "This is private land. No entry . . . This land is still in court." "No entry or building here." "Don't collect any garbage from this area."

Ultimately, there's no guarantee that the villagers will be able to stay. "Flip a coin," says Phiraphol Tritasavit, director general of the department of lands for the government. "In court, they have a 50-50 chance."

But at the meeting, Interior Minister Kongsak Vantana listens patiently as Ratree outlines plans for Laem Pom. He promises a crying woman that he will investigate her claims of intimidation by big business.

Kongsak tells Ratree that Laem Pom will get government power and phone service. After the meeting, Kongsak says he wants to help the community stay where it is.

Ratree seems satisfied with Kongsak's promises, but she plans to keep fighting. After a year of battle and trying to win help from the government, she says she does not trust people in power or anything they say. "He's fair," she says. "But I want him to stay that way."

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:37 AM

707 words
23 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

It is time for government to come up with a comprehensive plan to promote and to encourage alternative energy. Authorities have sketched a rough, hodge-podge programme to replace some of the gasoline and diesel used by autos, trucks and buses. But the country needs, and is ready for a lot more than a few scattered tax incentives to encourage big industry cronies to build hybrid cars or to sell more gasohol at ever higher prices. Citizens must be involved, as the ones who switch from mostly imported fossil fuels. This will take a large government investment, to help move the country over the hump from carbon dependence to alternative energy.

Everyone in Thailand is vitally aware of volatile oil prices which have raised the cost of living. And if they think about it, Thais also know the government is juggling books and supplies without much thought for the future of individual citizens. By contrast, California under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has set aside $2.9 billion - 115 billion baht - to subsidise one million citizens who install rooftop solar systems. Americans who buy or lease a hybrid car or pickup this year are to receive direct tax credits of up to $3,400, or 135,000 baht.

Such tax incentives, loan guarantees and subsidies create a win-win situation, and contrast to current plans for subsidies to a few, favoured big industries. Subsidies and tax breaks may encourage auto makers to produce hybrid cars, but consumers will not buy products they cannot afford. At the moment, micro-economics works against alternative energy. Gasohol, bio-diesel, hybrid cars and solar energy installations all cost more than their fossil fuel alternatives. Even citizens eager to switch cannot often afford the transition to alternative energy. Paltry pump subsidies are fine, but not enough.

The government has money and credit. It must help beyond special treatment for the two or three companies jumping aboard the gasohol and biodiesel bandwagon. It is time for leaders to stop talking the talk for a few favoured business cronies, and begin to walk the walk for all. That means giving citizens loans and tax breaks for using alternative energy, buying power-saving vehicles and devices, and installing equipment to save energy, now and for years to come. It also means combing the law books to rewrite laws which conflict with energy saving, and start encouraging alternative sources.

For example, a regulation strongly enforced until recently banned all forms of electricity generation except by the former state monopoly, Electrical Generating Authority of Thailand. Dozens of such laws date back to the days when the main job of the state monopoly was to sell electricity - or gas, petrol and other energy - and the more they sold, the better. Now these sectors have been liberalised, the companies privatised, and the laws are worse than useless. They still inhibit investors from starting up new ventures to make, market and popularise solar electricity generation, wind power and battery research.

But the biggest block to developing alternative energy is money. Here, the government can and must help. Take the simple case of 250,000 hot water heaters installed in Thai family dwellings each year. A builder can put in an electric or gas unit for around 5,000 baht, and it will cost the home buyer perhaps a few hundred baht a month in electricity, maximum. A solar panel may cost 30,000 baht to install, but then costs nothing to run, and will work for 15 to 20 years, guaranteed. The homeowner uses no electricity, but doesn't break even for around nine or 10 years after a costly investment. A small loan can mean the difference between adding to the demand for electricity, or subtracting from it.

In Thailand, most homes can be run on solar electricity, and even air-conditioned with such roof-mounted power units. Companies can power production plants from the sun. Industrial estates can establish windmill "farms" to provide electricity to their clients. But because of large start-up costs, there is little incentive and almost no available funds. Tax incentives can quickly convince businesses and households to switch. Easy loans, subsidised by the state, can do the same.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:41 AM

KRABI, Jan 23 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-23 / 09:52:22 (GMT+7:00)

The government-supported bio-diesel project is anticipated to help reduce Thailand's imports of diesel by up to Bt60 billion annually over the next five years, according to Energy Minister Viset Choopiban.

Mr. Viset told journalists on Sunday when he inspected progress on stated-backed oil palm plantations in the country's southern Krabi Province that the resort province is now ready for bio-diesel production both for community and commercial consumption--as an alternative energy in the future.

The government had supported expanding oil palm plantations up to eight million rai (2.5 rai = 1 acre) nationwide by 2010, he noted.

The government had also targeted to reduce the country's diesel imports by 10 per cent or around Bt60 billion by 2011, replacing them with the locally-produced bio-diesel, said the minister.

The local bio-diesel project will also help generate more incomes for local farmers, according to Mr. Viset.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:45 AM

134 words
23 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Police have arrested the owner, driver, and staff of a coach after they were found to have been stealing belongings of foreign tourists.

15 foreign tourists from the United States, Ireland, South Africa, and South Korea alerted the tourism police of their missing belongings while they were traveling from Surat Thani Province to Bangkok. An interception point was set up and police successfully searched the coach, finding digital cameras and many currencies tucked away at different spots inside the vehicle. Initially, the two staff on the coach confessed the group had previously carried out such act several times. However, the owner and the driver of the coach were still denying charges.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:50 AM

Grade 3 Junior High School girl bites rapist's jewel

董里府那傭縣某校摩3（高中3年級）學生艾(化名，16歲)小姐前天凌晨2時到該府縣警署報案稱，她遭乃錫提蓬(28歲，家住該府縣拉摩區2村)誘拐強暴不遂。

她供說，大前天晚，她有事到附近親戚家，當時她的親戚乃諾和數名男女在該處共飲。乃諾邀她加入，飲了一會，乃諾建議到該府縣某卡拉OK喝唱玩樂，並邀她同往，她一口答應。

該卡拉OK店打佯後，乃諾的1名男友乃錫提蓬自願騎他的機車送她返家。她見乃錫提蓬是乃諾的好友而答應。

乃錫提蓬騎機車到半路黑暗角落停下，到附近雜貨店買了1瓶啤酒邀她共飲，同時上前擁吻她。

她搶過他的酒瓶猛毆他頭部致流出鮮血。他大怒，當即摑她數記耳光。她拔足奔逃，他隨後緊追。她奔至河邊，見前面已無去路，當即跳入河中。他也隨後跳下追上，把她拖上岸，然後用繩子把她綁起來，將她衣服剝光，迫嚇她口交。他威脅她，若拒絕就當場把她殺死。

她急中生智，當即照辦。當他將那話兒塞進她口中時，她猛力一口咬下，他當場痛得失聲嚷叫。恰好有人開車經過，她大聲喊救。乃錫提蓬見勢不妙，忍痛跳上機車逃逸。她即穿上衣服馳往報警。

警稍後逮獲乃錫提蓬。他狡辯說，艾小姐用酒瓶敲破他頭顱激起他怒火他才摑她耳光。他並沒強暴她。警將乃錫提蓬扣押，控以拐帶不滿18週歲少女和淫穢罪，同時押他往醫院檢查他那話兒被咬痕跡。

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:55 AM

Mia Luang drove her car and bang into husband and Mia Noi's bike

婦人駕車跟蹤丈夫，發現丈夫帶情婦共餐，餐畢還要騎車送情婦回去。婦人叫丈夫停下談判，但丈夫不理睬，反而騎車帶著情婦離去。婦人打翻醋罈子，駕車追撞，將丈夫與情婦撞死，自己和同車的女兒亦受傷。警已將她扣押，將治以故意駕車撞死人的罪名。

暖府直縣挽詩曼區警署前天下午4時接報，在直轄縣干乍那披適路橋下轉車處發生車禍，且有人死傷，據報即率員前往調查。

失事的是小貨車，撞上橋底下的圍牆。另有1輛機車被撞成廢鐵倒在附近。死者是執教於某校的少女巴哇麗莎(2 5歲)。現場還遺留1隻長筒靴。此外還有3個受傷，已被人送往拍喃告醫院救治。傷者是隸屬於暖府直轄縣警署的交警乍倫警上士，因傷勢過重，抵院不久便告不治。另2傷者是乍倫警上士的妻子娘通貢及其6歲女兒，。

警查知，娘通貢早探知丈夫乍倫警上士不忠，在外和少女巴哇麗莎搞婚外情。她因吃醋曾和少女巴哇麗莎打過架，事情還鬧上警署。

肇事前，她又探知丈夫又要去和情婦幽會，因此駕駛小貨車帶同女兒隨後跟蹤。她發現丈夫騎機車帶同少女巴哇麗莎到拍喃5路某餐廳去用餐。餐畢，他又騎車要送少女巴哇麗莎回去。他出來時發現妻子已在守候。

娘通貢叫他停車談判。但乍倫警上士卻不理會，逕自騎車帶同少女巴哇麗莎朝著反方向馳去，打算甩掉妻子。但娘通貢也駕車朝反方向隨後緊追不捨。

她追上後猛踩油門撞過去，少女巴哇麗莎自機車上掉下來，腦袋碰撞到人行道，當場香消玉殞。乍倫警上士跌地後，又被車子輾過，因傷重死在醫院。娘通貢因小貨車猛撞上圍牆，所以腦部受到震盪，醫生正竭力搶救。她女兒只受輕傷。

警問明案情後，已扣押娘通貢，將治以故意駕車撞死人的罪名。

U-Need

23-01-2006, 11:59 AM

688 words
23 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG

Sociologist and former student activist Thirayuth Boonmi yesterday predicted that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will win an unprecedented third term in office, but that corruption and intra-party bickering will eventually bring down his government.

The scholar called on all parties to join hands to amend the constitution and plug the gaps that allow for interference in corruption-monitoring agencies that results in widespread graft.

In his annual review of the country's social and political situation, Mr Thirayuth said the Thai Rak Thai party's politics were based on akkhara yam prathet, or the large-scale exploitation of the country's natural resources for the benefit of people in the party's inner circle.

The former student leader in the Oct 14, 1973 popular uprising said the problem of corruption had become critical because of interference in graft-monitoring mechanisms and the attempted silencing of the mass media.

If left unsolved, he warned, it could lead to social violence, as evidenced by speculation including talk of a possible coup, a demand for the return of power to the monarch and street protests.

He said the government had upheld the idea of making the public sector smaller and the private sector bigger by "deconstructing" the country, such as through the privatisation of state enterprises.

Such deconstruction "helped to weaken the public sector and allowed friends and cronies to reap benefits from it before letting foreign investors take over, leaving only the scraps for the people."

As an example, Mr Thirayuth said, Mr Thaksin had built himself up by deconstructing the telecom industry - winning a state concession which returned massive income to him.

The huge gains Mr Thaksin received from the state could not be compared to the few thousand baht he handed out to villagers during the reality show in Roi Et's At Samat district.

He described Mr Thaksin as the "super prime minister" of a "closed institution" which had been left untouched because all the necessary monitoring agencies had been paralysed.

In the future, as he became more powerful, word would get around about the massive corruption khotranuwat - "the mother of all corruption" - which would lead to hatred and eventually violence, Mr Thirayuth said.

The Thai Rak Thai party was a hub of election professionals whose aim was to make a fortune from political windfalls. This would lead to a situation he called akkhara yam prathet, the plundering of the country's resources.

Amendments to the constitution were urgently needed to prevent this from happening, he said.

Mr Thaksin had often cited the fact that his party was elected by 19 million voters to run the country in an effort to silence his critics, Mr Thirayuth said.

But he warned that those voters would turn against the government if they found out about the widespread corruption within it.

He predicted that Mr Thaksin would return as prime minister for a third term, but the corruption issue and bickering within the party would eventually bring it down.

In proposing that the constitution be amended, the Thammasat lecturer suggested prominent academics, politicians and representatives of people's organisations be appointed to study possible areas for amendment.

To tackle the problem of corruption, Mr Thirayuth proposed that Privy Council president and statesman Gen Prem Tinsulanonda be appointed to chair a committee to campaign for an improvement in ethics and morality within society.

Unrest in the three southernmost border provinces was another issue that required serious attention from the government.

The degree of violence seemed to be easing, but it would be a long time before the situation was brought back to normal as separatist ideology still existed among certain groups of people. Gen Prem, with his previous success in pacifying political violence, could be particularly helpful in tackling the problem, he said.

The fourth issue requiring more attention was for all parties to join hands to solve the country's problems, which had become more complex.

The present government tended to let only one person try to solve the problems single-handedly, he said.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 12:05 PM

300 words
23 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Tharn Settakij editorial - Why is it so difficult to reduce poverty, particularly among poor, rural people?

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in Roi Et's At Samat district last week to give a first-hand demonstration to officials on how to solve local problems.

But the Thai Rak Thai party has been in power for almost five years and it has yet to solve problems that have trapped millions of Thais in poverty.

Mr Thaksin attributes this failure to civil servants' inability to reach the people and learn about their grievances. They stay in their air-conditioned rooms and let problems come to them.

The government has already put through measures to reform the bureaucracy and further adjustments are needed to move the reform forward.

During his five-day stay in Roi Et, Mr Thaksin approved the allocation of funds for several projects. Does this mean the government does not have adequate resources to take care of the rural poor?

From another point of view, the Roi Et roadshow suggests that the executive branch has taken over the traditional role of elected representatives in taking care of the well-being of their constituents.

Where were these elected representatives, one may ask, when poor people in their constituencies cried out for help?

Poor people in the countryside need education, land, money and managerial skills to rise above poverty. Who can provide them with these tools?

A large number of Thais are still poor despite the implementation of several populist policies by the government during the past five years.

We hope the Roi Et experience will give the prime minister and his cabinet new insights into the daily struggle of rural people and strong measures will be taken to reduce their suffering.

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 01:29 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dtaed Monday 23 January 2006 :-

THAI ending direct flights from Down Under

By Boonsong Kositchotethana

Thai Airways International plans to axe direct services from Australia to Phuket due to poor passenger traffic, dealing a setback to the island's post-tsunami tourism revival. The national carrier expects to suspend its three scheduled flights a week linking Phuket, Sydney and Melbourne on Feb 1 in light of losses that have approached 260 million baht.

The airline is filling 62-65% of the seats on its Boeing 747-400 jets but needs 70% to break even, according to Vasing Kittikul, executive vice-president for the commercial department.

THAI launched the direct Australia-Phuket service last April to support the country's bid to resuscitate the tourism industry after the December 2004 tsunami.

''It's not that we don't want to help Phuket but our operations have to make economic sense, especially in the wake of skyrocketing fuel prices,'' Mr Vasing said.

''It came to the point where we could no longer sustain the financial burden.''

He said that passengers flying from Australia and New Zealand to Phuket could always connect through Bangkok.

THAI offers 14 Bangkok-Sydney flights a week, and 11 Bangkok-Melbourne flights, plus a daily service to Auckland, with 70-75% of the seats filled on average.

In another development, Austrian Airlines has denied reports that it would suspend its direct scheduled flights from Vienna to Phuket.

''No, we are still flying to Phuket,'' said Buranut Limjitti, Austrian Airlines' manager for Thailand and Indochina.

In fact, since Dec 12, the airline has doubled flights to twice a week until April 29. From April 29 to Oct 28, it will reduce the frequency to once a week to coincide with the low season. The airline reports a healthy 78-79% seat occupancy on the route, according to Mr Buranut.

Pornchai Eua-aree, the director of Phuket International Airport, said the airport was now handling long-haul flights operated by five scheduled airlines and eight charter operators. There are also 10 carriers flying regional flights to Phuket including China Airlines, Asiana and AirAsia. In addition, five airlines operate domestic flights to Phuket.

Preliminary figures show total arrivals at Phuket airport in December were 17% below the same period last year, he said.

Since November, arrivals have gradually recovered but are still lower than in the pre-tsunami period.

''It is hard to say when we can revert to the 2004 level,'' he added.

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 01:49 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

A family affair for the Chokwatana family : The third generation of the Chokwatana family provides an insight into what's in store at The Saha Group, one of Thailand's biggest conglomerates

Story by Pitsinee Jitpleecheep

It is very rare for most family-owned corporations to keep hold of their business for three generations. Passing the torch is notoriously challenging.

There is a saying among Chinese families that the first generation makes the fortune, the second generation holds onto it and maybe helps it grow, then the third generation squanders everything.

However, the Saha Group is an exception to the rule.

The conglomerate has more than 100 billion baht worth of assets , more than 200 companies involved in various industries and 80,000 employees, and it is still expanding 63 years on. And, in future, it plans to list as many as 100 subsidiaries on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

At the moment, 18 subsidiaries are listed on the SET. And almost 20 members of the third generation are part of the group's management, with one venturing out into the entertainment business.

The career paths of each member of the third generation have been different from those of second.

The third generation is luckier, for a start. Their parents have allowed their offspring to choose their own career paths independently. In comparison, the second generation was forced to take care of new businesses that had no executives to spearhead the enterprise.

At present there are seven members of the second generation working for the group, and six - Boon-ek, Boonpakorn, Boonsithi, Sirina, Boonkiet and Boonchai - have children.

Boon-ek's son Vathit looks after the 108 Shop convenience store chain and Pitsnu oversees Thai Cubic Technology; three of Boonpakorn's children work at Newcity [/COLOR[COLOR="magenta"]](Bangkok) ; Boonsithi's children - Thammarat, Thirada and Thitipoom - work for ICC International; Sirina's children, Pravara and Panitarn, are responsible for Boutique New City; Boonkiet's daughter Kityaporn handles St Andrew's products at ICC International Plc (ICC); Boonchai's daughter Chailada works at Far East Advertising and her brother Chailadol runs its graphics firm.

Most of the third generation started their careers as trainees, mostly at Saha Pathanapibul Plc, the consumer products distribution arm, and ICC International Plc, another major distribution and marketing arm for cosmetics and apparel.

Employment of the second and third generation has overlapped, and they meet once a month to share their experiences.

The president of ICC International Plc, Boonkiet Chokwatana, 59, of the second generation said: ''My father (Thiem Chokwatana) taught us that we had to perform better than him. Younger sisters and brothers have to be better than the elder ones. Also, I hope the third generation will be better than the second generation.''

The Saha Group has now expanded into new frontiers by building up its own brand instead of distributing international brand names, as it did in the beginning.

Today the group has several of its own labels in fashion, food, shoes and cosmetics. They include Enfants, St Andrew's, Essence and BSC, which stands for Best Selection Collection. The group is also moving into the entertainment business and fields such as event organising.

Boonsithi's second daughter, Thirada Amphanwong, brand manager of BSC, said the brand was strong enough to encompass various products from instant noodles and towels and bowling products. Sales of BSC, including the local and international markets, stood at 600 million baht last year.

Perhaps because Thirada is Boonsithi's daughter, many people in the business keep a close eye on her. However, Mrs Thirada says, ''I prefer our staff to treat me like a normal executive.''

She acknowledges, though, that support from members of the second generation of her family has helped business go smoothly for BSC, particularly assistance from her uncle Boonkiet, who counselled her about mistakes in the past.

''The more we analyse the mistakes, the more we can reduce costs from them,'' she says.

Another strategy the family has employed is to let the older executives get on with new work while the new executives do traditional jobs. This has given the Saha Group enough clout to compete.

The elder son of Mr Boonsithi, Thammarat, said all scions of the Chokwatana family have had to prove their capability.

''Though I am Khun Boonsithi's son, I did not get any special treatment. On the contrary, I was forced to learn many things. I don't like the whole process of producing Wacoal lingerie or mixing shades of eyeshadow,'' he admits frankly.

Mr Thammarat said business would continue to go forward as long as employees didn't rest on their laurels. ''If you become satisfied with something, everything will stop.''

Mr Boonkiet's daughter, Kityaporn, started her career as an assistant to her father, taking notes at division meetings and reporting to executives, rising to executive assistant.

''This job may not seem significant when compared to marketing or sales. But I learned a lot from it in terms of detail and it's the best way to see a total picture of ICC business,'' she says.

She is now involved in the St Andrew's toiletry, baby apparel and fragrance brand, which was created by her father.

Mr Boonpakorn's son, Pipop and his siblings, work at Newcity Bangkok, the producer of Cherilon brand stockings.

''I want Cherilon products to go beyond just stockings,'' said managing director Pipop. This would pit Newcity against formidable foreign brands such as Victoria's Secret of the US and Wolford from the UK.

Mr Boonchai is the managing director of Saha Pathanapibul. His son, Chailadol, has forged his own way of working. He has set up a graphic design business and works in entertainment.

Members of the third generation of the Chokwatana family are now independent enough to introduce their own management styles and channels for business expansion. Perhaps there will be fresh challenges for the fourth generation.

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 02:40 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

SHIN SALE: Two Thai banks to fund deal

SEC to be told today of Temasek’s purchase backed by local loans of Bt26 billion. Siam Commercial Bank and Bangkok Bank will each extend Bt13 billion in fresh loans to a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings of Singapore, as part of Bt70-80 billion in cash required to take over Shin Corporation Plc, financial sources said yesterday.

Financial sources said Bangkok Bank’s Bt13-billion loan to Cypress Holdings would come in the form of a standby letter of credit guaranteed by Siam Commercial Bank.

Altogether the two Thai banks will be lending a combined Bt26 billion as part of a financing package for the largest corporate takeover ever in Thailand.

Shin Corp is expected to notify the Stock Exchange of Thailand today, followed by a news conference.

Financial sources identified the Siam Commercial Bank as one of the key players behind the Shin deal, providing financial advice and the loan to Cypress Holdings, a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings.

Cypress Holdings then will re-lend the money it gets from the Thai banks to Cedar Holdings, which will use the money as part of its Bt70-80 billion takeover of the 49.6 per cent stake in Shin Corp from the Shinawatra and Damapong families.

“If Cypress Holdings is a son company of Temasek, you can say that Cedar Holdings is a nephew company of Temasek,” said one financial source.

ML Chayothid Kritdakara, managing director of SCB Securities, has been identified as a key adviser for the mega-deal, which will reshape the face of Thailand’s corporate scene.

According to Krungthep Turakij’s Saturday edition, there are 10 shareholders in Cedar Holdings, with Siam Commercial Bank holding about 10 per cent, Kularbkaew Co 41.1 per cent and Cypress Holdings 48.99 per cent.

Apparently, Temasek’s buying into Shin Corp would breach the foreign ownership limit of 49 per cent, which has prompted it to rely on its subsidiary Cedar Holdings, incorporated in Thailand, to do the buy-out. The shareholders in Cedar are largely nominees for Temasek.

Around 49 per cent of total Shin shares are “free floating” and avail?able in the local market, and most of these are expected to be snapped up by the foreign investment group.

With the sale of the Shinawatra and Damapong families’ majority stake in Shin Corp to be announced today, critics of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra are sharpening their knives – over a deal they believe would raise more questions about conflicts of interests.

Shin will call an urgent meeting of its board at midday before mak?ing a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand. A joint press conference with Temasek executives will be held in the afternoon at a location yet to be confirmed, a source at the Thai conglomerate said.

The families of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his in-laws jointly own a 49.6-per-cent stake in Shin which Temasek is expected to buy at a price of about Bt50 per share, totalling between Bt70-80 billion. Shin Corp has 3,000 million shares outstanding.

Temasek will also stage a tender offer for minority shares of Shin and its flagship company, mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS).

The biggest deal in the Thai stock market history has been shrouded in secrecy and controversy, and Thaksin and market authorities have come under fire over the past month for lack of transparency about the imminent transfer of a major Thai asset to foreign hands.

Questions about tax and whether the Shinawatra and Damapong families would stack the staggering amount of money earned from the sale overseas are also likely to become a major political issue.

Despite suggestions that the Temasek deal was aimed partly at easing criticism of Thaksin over conflict of interests, his opponents insist that the opposite could hap?pen.

“Let’s see when the dust settles,” leading social critic Thirayuth Boonmi said during a press confer?ence yesterday when he continued to denounce “massive corruption” among top government politicians and their cronies. “The first key question is where they keep they money [from the sale] and how.”

The Campaign for Media Reform warned that the problem of conflicts of interests could become even “more complicated and scari?er” with key foreign players involved.

In a statement yesterday, the organisation attacked stock market authorities and the PM for failing to protect national interests affected by the mega deal.

Meanwhile, the Shin Corp source said a Chinese telecom group had offered the families a better price than Temasek but they finally opted for the Singaporean suitor.

He said Temasek would have newly created affiliate, Cedar Holding, to hold the shares it buys from the families and would later try to project that Shin is still a Thai-owned company.

While Temasek had Goldman Sachs as its financial adviser in the deal, the families have not hired an adviser but scrutinised the deal themselves, the source added.

The source said Pong Sarasin, former chairman of Thai Pure Drinks and Surathip Group, would replace Bannapot Damapong, elder brother of Thaksin’s wife Pojaman, as Shin chairman.

There is also expected to be a new chairman at AIS, a post currently held by Paiboon Limpaphayom.

The source said Temasek was interested only in AIS and would gradually sell off Shin’s other major businesses, including free-TV operator iTV Plc and budget airline Thai AirAsia.

Shin’s also has a satellite service and broadband Internet business.

Telecom, Political Reporters
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 02:44 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

Shinawatra's clan sells Shin at Bt49.25/share

The Shinawatra and Damapong families have sold their combined stake of 49.59 per cent in Shin Corp Plc, at the price of Bt49.25 per share, according to an announcement by the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The exchange said there is a big-lot transaction, and it thus halted the trading of Shin and its subsidiaries - Advanced Info Service Plc, CS Loxinfo Plc, ITV Plc and Shin Satellite Plc - until all details involving the deal are unveiled.

Shin is to host two press conferences today afternoon, expected to reveal details of the planned takeover of Temasek Holdings for the company's majority stake.

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 03:05 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT: The apple of Singapore’s eye

The city-state has invested heavily here of late, and it seems more funds are on the way. A number of Singaporean firms have made their presence felt in Thailand, but Temasek Hold-ings’ imminent takeover of Shin Corp Plc marks the beginning of a new wave of Singaporean investment in the Kingdom thanks to its strategic regional position and clear rules and regulations. Kiatpong Noychaibun of the Federation of Thai Industries believes that the inflow of investment from Singapore is likely to increase due to the huge amount of capital and limited resources in the city-state.

“Thailand has become one of the targets, mainly because of the clarity of its investment-support rules compared to other countries in this region. From here one can service the 60-million Thai population and also cover the entire region,” he said.

Kevin K Yip, senior partner of global fund-management company General Enterprise Management Services, which manages funds worth US$700 million (Bt27.4 billion), agreed. Overseeing China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand, he noted that for some time Singapore had invested in China and Hong Kong, expecting huge profits from the emerging Chinese economy.

“A few years ago China was the magnet because of its 1.2-billion population, attracting funds from Singapore and Hong Kong, but it has capital controls that do not exist here,” he said.

These, he said, which limit the movement of money in and out of the country, as well as multi-level government, reduce the attraction, and foreign investors are channelling money out of China. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Indonesia are facing political instability, and Malaysia has its ethnic-Chinese problem, giving Thailand the highest potential with its political stability and absence of capital controls, he said.

“Aside from funds, what is coming to Thailand is direct investment, mostly in real estate and the service sector including telecoms and consumer-related business.” he said.

Since the financial crisis, a bunch of Singaporean investors have made their presence felt in the Kingdom. The most prominent is the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) , an investment arm of the government which has acquired shares in a number of blue-chip listed companies, including Thailand’s largest property firm Land & Houses Plc, Advanced Info Service Plc and PTT Plc.

After GIC comes Temasek Holdings. Though a later arrival, it is making the bigger move. Through Singapore Telecommunications, of which it owns 60 per cent, Temasek indirectly bought a 19-per-cent stake in AIS in 1999.

And if its takeover of Shin Corp Plc is wrapped up today as expected, Temasek will be in closer focus, for the deal could be worth nearly Bt80 billion, making it the biggest acquisition in Thai history. This is not surprising now that the trade-dependent Singaporean economy is expected to grow 3-5 per cent this year, after better-than-forecast growth of 5.7 per cent in 2005. In November its foreign reserves exceeded US$114 billion.

Thai companies in the service sector are apparently the most attractive targets, led by commercial banks. From minority stakes in Thai financial institutions, Singaporean banks have been expanding here since the crisis of 1997.

In the first quarter of 1998, DBS Bank increased its investment in Thai Danu Bank (since renamed DBS Thai Danu Bank) from a minority shareholding to more than 50 per cent, with an initial investment of Bt6 billion, though since the merger with Thai Military Bank, DBS Group’s stake in the resulting house has been diluted to around 10 per cent. The Singapore bank is now focusing on its credit company, Capital OK, which is jointly owned by Shin.

United Overseas Bank is also expanding. It acquired Radanasin Bank’s shares in October 1999, and its Bt6.5-billion investment made it the biggest shareholder in UOB Radanasin Bank. Last year it injected Bt22 billion to buy out Bank of Asia and merged it with UOB Radanasin. It is now represented in Thailand by United Overseas Bank (Thai).

In other sectors, Singapore’s pan-Asian consumer group Fraser & Neave in December 2005 bought a 33.3-per-cent stake in Krungthep Land Plc, a subsidiary of Property Perfect Plc; on Friday Temasek appeared as a new shareholder in Bumrungrad Plc; and Banyan Tree Group has invested billions in Thailand with its Phuket centre where service personnel are groomed to work at its worldwide properties.

While acquisitions are the most popular means, there are more and more joint ventures and even direct investment. CapitaLand has teamed up with liquor tycoon Charoen Siriwadhanabhakdi to develop luxury condominiums under the aegis of TCC Capital Land Co Ltd, and Hotel Property has invested billions in a luxury condominium building, the Met, on Sathorn.

Viboonphan Chantrachote, deputy secretary-general of the Board of Investment, expected the move to foreign direct investment (FDI) from Singapore to Thailand, particularly in electronics, auto parts and logistics management.

“Thailand is promoting the industries as clusters, so when parent companies move here, so do their subsidiaries,” she said, adding that more FDI could also flow into the Thai real-estate and agricultural sectors.

While some businesses may be fretting about takeover sprees and penetration by Singapore investment, Kosit Panpiemras, executive chairman of Bangkok Bank, sees it differently.

“Globalisation has allowed Thai companies to access overseas funds with the first wave of foreign players. It’s a normal phenomenon in the globalised world. The difference is that now Thailand is the focus of the world,” he said.

Supporting this wave is the allocation of global resources, as many countries have built up their foreign reserves at the expense of huge deficits in the United States. To make profits from these resources, some channel the excess money to the US, but many are eyeing other destinations.

“It is interesting to observe this movement, to see what consequences the inflows have. Certainly, the funds flow in now, but they could also flow out. We’re in the globalisation era, and we are changing with the globe,” he said.

Aviruth Wongbuddhapitak, chairman of Deves Insurance Plc, agreed. He does not consider Temasek’s acquisition of Shin a special case, as foreign capital moves both in and out.

“If I were Singapore, I would love Thailand too,” he said, noting that with Singaporean investors now preferring to diversify their investments within Asean, Thailand is seen as one of the most attractive places.

Business Desk
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 03:07 PM

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 03:29 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

Woman's dying wish to punish traffickers who ruined her life

Urairat Soimee, 38, said she was lured into prostitution in Japan and jailed for killing her “mama san” (pimp) before she was sent back home after authorities found she was dying of cancer. Believed to be in the last stages of the disease, Urairat said she has one last wish.

She wants to live long enough to punish the people who destroyed her life and set the stage for other victims of forced prostitution to take action against human traffickers.

“I hope that I may witness the end of this story,” said Urairat.

She has filed a Bt4.68-million civil lawsuit against three locals who allegedly lured her to Japan and forced her to work as a sex worker.

The ordeal left her with ovarian cancer, she said.

“What I want [from the fight] is not money. I am doing it for Thai women who face the same fate as I did,” she said.

In 2000, Urairat was offered a job as a waitress in Japan by neighbours.

The family next door comprised Sarit Kampa, his wife Kai Kampa and daughter Pattama Kosaka. The three were accused of being human traffickers by Urairat.

The three allegedly sent her to a Yakuza gang who forced her to provide sex to pay off a 5.5-million-yen (Bt1.9 million) debt.

She was kept in a small, old apartment controlled by a Thai “mama san”. Every day Yakuza members took her to service customers who made arrangements over the phone.

The Yakuza would take her from one customer to the next. She serviced five or six customers a day.

“I had to work from mid-day until dawn without holidays, regardless of illness or menstruation,” she said. “They watched my every step. It was a real nightmare.”

If she failed to work or received a complaint by a customer, she was fined 200,000 per incident.

After six months, she paid off Bt3.8 million but freedom appeared a distant possibility.

She learned the gang planned to sell her to another ring where she would have to start repaying debt again.

“I couldn’t stand it anymore. I heard I was to be sold to another gang to work on an island. If I appeared useless to them, I may be flung into the sea to drown. So I decided to escape.”

During her attempt to flee, Urairat, with the help of a Thai man, killed the mama san. She said it was an accident.

She was arrested and a Japanese court sentenced her to seven years in prison.

After five years she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. To treat her, doctors removed her reproductive organs.

She was then flown home to Thailand to spend her remaining years.

At that time, the Japanese authorities were informed of how Urairat was tricked into the flesh trade.

Her three Thai agents were soon arrested in Thailand and Phetchabun province’s Lom Sak criminal court gave them a 13-year jail sentence.

She said there were many Thai women, even retards, who were forced into prostitution in Japan. Many were given drugs or beaten, she said.

Last October, Urairat returned home in Phetchabun where her family, including her husband, son and daughters, tearfully received her.

Urairat’s adopted mother, Lamyai Kaewkerd, 62, said: “It was torturous period for me as I did not know what had become of her. She went to Japan and then she was ‘missing’ until she turned up in jail. The agents came and all they said was ‘Urairat killed somebody’.”

The reunion may prove to be short as the cancer had spread to several parts of her body. They also live in fear, saying they had been threatened by the agents.

“I am afraid but I won’t surrender. I want to unmask the traffickers to the public. I want the world to know some Thai women are not willing to be prostitutes and they had been forced into it,” Urairat said.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 03:36 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

Bangkok condo sales slow

Sales of condominiums in central Bangkok have slowed, due mainly to the rapid growth in supply, according to real estate service and investment management firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

However, the average asking prices continue increasing as several new projects that were launched last year were in the high-end segment, the company said in a statement.

According to Jones Lang, there are 47,500 condominium units in central Bangkok. Another 12,160 units are being built. While finished buildings are 98 per cent sold out, projects under construction and those that are still on the drawing boards are sold out 66 per cent on average.

“As predicted, conditions in the condominium market in central Bangkok have softened with average sales rates slowing. This has not been the result of weakened demand, but the rapid growth of supply which demand could not keep pace with,” said Suphin Mechuchep, managing director of Jones Lang.

“Though the market outlook for 2006 is not as bright as 2005 following the rising interest rates that are expected to weaken buyers’ spending power, we remain optimistic that the market overall will not experience any big crash, provided that most of the existing developers in this sector are well experienced and know what their target customers are looking for,” Suphin added. Jones Lang’s study indicates that there has been an average of 6,000 new units launched annually in central Bangkok over the past three years, while an average of 5,500 units in both completed projects and projects that were newly launched were sold each year over the same period.

In central Bangkok, there are currently 5,300 units remaining unsold. In theory, if there were no new condominium projects launched this year and demand continued at the same level as in 2005, all of the remaining units would be sold by the end of the year.

Jones Lang’s findings show that the average asking price of all grades of condominiums in central Bangkok rose by almost 10 per cent, from Bt65,800 per square metre in January 2005 to Bt72,100 per square metre at the end of the year, and by 90 per cent from the bottom level in December 2000.

U-Need

23-01-2006, 03:42 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-01-23 / 13:17:33 (GMT+7:00)

The Thai baht has strengthened to nearly 39 to the US dollar this morning since there is an inflow of huge foreign capital into the market for an acquisition of shares of Shin Corporation Public Company Limited, according to money dealer.

Aniruth Pimpunth of Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited said the money market opened this morning with the baht appreciating to 39.13-39.15 to the dollar and reaching 39.05-39.07 to the dollar during the trading.

The sharp appreciation was attributed to the inflow of large foreign capital from Singapore into the market for the purchase of shares of Shin Corp and its subsidiaries as well as equities of Bamrungrad Hospital Public Company Limited.

He said the US greenback had also weakened in expectation that the US Federal Reserve would raise key interest rates by 0.25 per cent for a final time. Then, the interest rates would turn to decline gradually.

Analysts had earlier projected the Thai baht would continue to appreciate to 38.30 to the dollar in the first or second quarters of this year.

Manoon Siriwan, Senior Executive Vice President of Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Limited, said although the baht appreciation would help reduce costs of oil imports to a certain extent, it had been already recorded in an oil trading account.

So, it is expected local fuel prices would rise further. But when they would edge up depended on a decision of PTT Public Company Limited, the country’s giant oil trader.

He said fuel oil prices had surged because of the nuclear project in Iran, hostage-taking of Shell Corporation’s staff in Nigeria, and cold weather in many regions.

Thai Oil Public Company Limited reported a crude price in West Texas rose by US$1.33 per barrel to $68.60 per barrel, the highest in five months.

Refined fuel prices in Singapore also edged up with that of gasoline increasing by $0.75 per barrel to $67.96 per barrel and that of diesel by $0.96 to $69.16 in the same direction with crude prices in Middle East. (TNA) – E005

U-Need

23-01-2006, 03:44 PM

LAMPANG, Jan 23 (TNA) -Last Update : 2006-01-23 / 09:52:22 (GMT+7:00)

Thailand's northern Lampang Province is developing itself to become a national logistics centre in the upper North.

Deputy Lampang Governor Wanchai Suthiwarachai said on Sunday that the governor had called a meeting of all district chiefs in the province to discuss the plan.

"The plan, when completed, will bring prosperity to not only the province and neighbouring areas in the North, but also the nation as a whole," he told journalists.

"This's because Lampang will become a key gate to expanding trade and business contacts between Thailand and neighbouring countries located North of Thailand," he noted.

The deputy governor said experts would be invited to study potential districts in the province to be selected and developed as the focal location for the planned northern logistics centre. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

23-01-2006, 03:49 PM

SURAT THANI, Jan 23 (TNA) - A new naturally pristine resort island has been discovered in Thailand's southern Surat Thani Province and has been declared as a pollution-free tourist destination.

Deputy Governor of Surat Thani Thawatchai Terdphao told journalists on Monday that "Koh Tan", the newly-discovered resort island, is located three kilometres South of Koh Samui.

The resort island with white-sand beach and abundant resources and ecological attractions was discovered in a recent survey by local authorities, he disclosed.

Deep in the sea around the isle of 18 household-dwellers currently, there are plenty of charmful reefs and variety of attractive sea-lives, where hundreds of tourists and divers will be welcome daily in the near future, according to the deputy governor.

"Koh Tan has been declared as a pollution-free tourist destination and the province is developing a town planning and infrastructure on the island, including local power system and communication networks," he said.

"To preserve its pristine nature and environment, local authorities have decided to ban all engine-based vehicles and motocycles from the isle," added the deputy governor. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

23-01-2006, 03:54 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-01-23 / 12:39:14 (GMT+7:00)

The property business is likely to grow 10-15 per cent this year, boosted by the implementation of government mega-infrastructure projects, according to an industry executive.

Chuan Tangmatitham, Executive Chairman of M.K. Real Estate Development Public Company Limited, said here on Monday that the property market would be engulfed with many negative factors such as higher interest and inflation rates, as well as fuel price volatility this year.

However, there exist several positive factors to offset them.

Included are the country's economic growth projection of 4.5-5.5 per cent, declined trade deficits, improved exports and investment in mega-projects.

Given these factors, it is forecast that the real estate market this year will expand around 10-15 per cent.

“Although lending rates are likely to increase by 1-2%, it is not high when compared with the rates in 1995-1996 that stayed at around 10%. Because of this, we believe people will be able to take the increased interest burdens,” said Mr. Chuan. (TNA) – E005

U-Need

23-01-2006, 03:58 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-01-23 / 12:09:41 (GMT+7:00)

Most bankers have conceded that competition in extension of housing, consumer, and credit card loans remains stiff although local interest rates have begun to increase, according to a survey by the Bank of Thailand (BOT).

They view local commercial banks have competed fiercely in lending, particularly in housing, consumer and credit card businesses.

The lending to small and medium-sized businesses is expected to grow satisfactorily as a risk management system has been applied for loan approval.

The housing loan extended by specialized state financial institutions has expanded considerably since clients want loans with a fixed rate for the first three years of lending.

Deposits in the banking systems are projected to grow at a slower pace since actual interest rates remain negative, resulting in more households and business sectors turning to invest in government bonds.

Higher interest rates will not significantly affect a financial position of the business sector, but will have a psychological impact since its financial cost is lower.

Although most companies have managed to reduce debts considerably, operators remain uncertain about economic conditions and investment returns. (TNA) – E005

U-Need

23-01-2006, 04:18 PM

Paul Carey, Western Mail

THREE senior police officers on the Thai island where student Katherine Horton was raped and murdered have been suspended from active duty.

Meanwhile there were reports last night of another rape on the paradise island of Koh Samui, a week after a 12-year-old holidaymaker was reported raped and just days after Miss Horton's two killers were tried and sentenced to death.

The police officers who have been transferred to "inactive posts" for the foreseeable future include Police Colonel Arkhom Saisamai, the chief of police on Koh Samui, as well as the island's deputy superintendent for crime suppression and another crime suppression investigator.

The order, signed this week by Police Lieutenant-Colonel Samai Prompakjon, a Thai police commissioner, cites "inefficiency in crime suppression" as the reason.

Reports in Thailand suggest that the transfers stem directly from the murder of the 21-year-old from Cardiff, who was on a back-packing holiday at the time of her death. In particular there has been criticism of police chief Saisamai because he reportedly failed to inspect the crime scene on the first day after the murder.

The body of the Welsh psychology undergraduate, who was in Thailand on a break before her final university exams, was found floating in Lamai Bay, Koh Samui, on January 2. Two fishermen were arrested and on Wednesday sentenced to death for raping and murdering Katherine.

Thai police fast-tracked the case and the British Embassy praised them for their fast work.

But despite the Thai authorities' attempts at swift retribution, the crime has severely affected the country's image as a paradise for young travellers.

As the murder and subsequent trial dominated the media, details of more sexual attacks on the island have gradually emerged. Last week there were reports that a 12-year-old Swedish girl holidaying with her family on the island had been raped by a member of hotel staff. On Thursday an older Swedish woman lodged a complaint with Koh Samui police, saying two Thai men had raped her on Wednesday night after she had been drinking at a restaurant.

The 40-year-old woman told police her husband and six friends had left the restaurant early while she stayed with some other friends. On her way back to her bungalow at 1.30am two men attacked and raped her close to a Buddhist temple. She could not remember the faces of the rapists. She was sent for a physical check-up at a local hospital to find any traces of rape.

But despite the impact of these reports hitting the image of this former tourist magnet, officials on Koh Samui have denied that the removal of the three officers from active duty was linked directly to Katherine's murder.

Saisamai was transferred to his inactive post yesterday, for a minimum 180-day period. But this was "not a punishment" according to Police Lieutenant General Kamol Huayhongthong, commander of the Police Bureau Region Eight, to which Saisamai has been transferred.

"The colonel had served with the Koh Samui police force for a long time and I want him to assist me in the jurisdictional areas under the Region 8 Bureau," he said.

Huayhongthong said he would decide after the end of the 180-day period what to do with Saisamai, depending on his performance during the period.

Saisamai had worked on the island for more than 10 years, ever since he was a crime suppression inspector. Ironically he also runs a bungalow business, capitalising on the island's tourist boom.

Saisamai will now assist at Surat Thani police station; Cha-roon Uchuparb, deputy superintendent for crime suppression, goes to Surat Thani's Phunphin station; and Samai Prompakhon, crime suppression investigator, goes to the province's Wiang Sa station.

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 10:20 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

PM Thaksin's family sells Shin Corp

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Monday his family sold their stake in Shin Corp., which controls Thailand's biggest mobile-phone operator Advanced Info Service, to a fund, bowing to public pressure about conflict of interest.

''It's the decision made by my son and daughters who want their dad to remain in politics happily.''

But the prime minister became frustrated when reporters asked if the timing of the share sale was related to the amendment of the telecommunication operation act.

``They are not related at all. You asked for a trouble,'' he replied.

The act has just been amended to allow an increase in foreigners' holding in a Thai telecommunication company from 25% to less than 50% and to lift the requirement that three quarters of directors have to be Thai. The amendment was published in the royal gazette on January 20 and took effect January 23.

In its statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Shin Corp said Pintongta Shinawatra, Bhanapot Damapong, Phantongtae Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra and Busaba Damapong had sold their shares in Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings.

The shareholders sold the combined stake of 1.488 billion shares or 49.60 per cent Monday at the price of 49.25 baht per share, to Cedar Holdings Ltd and Aspen Holdings Ltd. Both are under Temasek Holdings. The deal is worth 73.7 billion baht (1.9 billion dollars).

Under the deal, Cedar and Aspen are obliged to make a tender offer for all securities of the company.

Cedar and Aspen have confirmed to the company that they have no intention to delist the company from the stock exchange during the 12-month period after the end of the tender offer unless the company is unable to maintain its listing status under the regulations required by the SET or the board of directors deems it appropriate to propose to delist the company," Shin said in the statement.

Temasek, Singapore's investment arm, stated at a press conference that it has no obligation to sell back shares to the Shinawatra and Damapong families.

"We at Temasek Holding are very happy to have been given this investment opportunity in Thailand," S. Iswaran, a Temasek representative told the press conference announcing the buy out, dubbed the biggest in Thai corporate history.

Shin Corp. 's assets span phones, satellites, finance and airlines.

The SET in the morning halted trading in Shin Corp, Advanced Information Service (AIS), ITV, Shin Satellite and CS Loxinfo - parts of the Shin business empire founded by Thaksin in the 1990s.

KatoeyLover69

23-01-2006, 10:31 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 23 January 2006 :-

Thais develop instant rice products

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) - Thai researchers are using innovative technologies to add value to Thai rice by making it more healthful and easier to cook quickly.

Two rice product development projects entitled "O-Rice" and "Instant Rice" -- conducted by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) with financial and technological support by the National Innovation Agency (NIA) -- are pilot projects paving the way for the launch of a new "One Province one Agricultural Product" scheme, aimed at developing Thai agricultural products throughout the country, said NIA Director Supachai Lorlohakarn.

The new product called "O-Rice", produced by Phetchabun Innovation Co. Ltd., is a result of a new technology using a process called "orisination" to help rice absorb and retain all the nutritional value in the grain, making the rice more healthful than general white rice since it contains all nutrient vitamins.

The "instant rice" produced by Asian Superior Foods Co Ltd. in Thailand's central Ratchaburi province can be cooked in just three-five minutes, as quickly as instant noodles. The technology used to develop the new instant rice was invented by Kasetsat University researchers.

Also, two other new products have been the focus of a quality upgrade by innovative technologies are "bai miang" or 'rice wrapper ' and Japanese-style "Udon" noodles.

The new value-added rice products are an attempt to upgrade Thai rice in terms of price and quality and to strengthen Thailand's bargaining power as the world's biggest rice-exporting country, according to Mr. Supachai.

He said the development of new rice products with new technology will lead to similar developments regarding other agricultural products and will be expanded throughout the country to fulfil the "One Province One Agricultural Product" plan.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:28 AM

511 words
25 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Business News - Phetchabun, one of the key rice-producing provinces in Thailand, has embraced the challenge of increasing the price-setting power of Thai rice exporters within a fiercely competitive global market, the Bangkok Post reports.The effort involved innovative technology for producing superior-quality, highly nutritional brown rice, which could quadruple its value and is expected to earn the province 600 million baht this year.The work is being done by local officials in co-operation with Kasetsart University, the National Innovation Agency (NIA) and the Federation of Thai Industries, according to Direk Theung-Fung, the provincial governor.Kasetsart University provided "orizination" technology and the result after six months was the production of brown rice with improved quality, now being marketed under the tradename O-Rice.The high nutritional value and the low glycemic index in O-Rice are good for diabetics who need to balance blood-sugar levels.

O-Rice can also help prevent Alzheimer's disease, help relieve depression and assist with weight control.Orizination begins with putting rice grains in water until they reach the saturation point. The grains then undergo a heating process until they are semi-cooked. Finally, they are blow-dried. Brown rice produced from this technique is superior to other processed brown rice because it retains all of the vitamins and minerals that occur naturally in rice germ and bran.O-Rice is priced at about 28 baht per kilogramme, compared with seven baht for common white rice, noted Mr Direk."An O-Rice manufacturer would enjoy increasing value, while wider employment opportunities would be created for local farmers. Consumers would benefit from a better quality product," he said.Based on total rice paddy area of 1.1 million rai and annual output of 400,000 tonnes, the project could expand the production of the special rice significantly."Phetchabun farmers will be encouraged to grow more rice to increase the supply of raw materials for O-Rice production while we will encourage prospective investors in the area to set up O-Rice franchised factories," said Mr Direk.Authorities aim to create a network of community enterprises in the province in a pilot project to become part of the 'One Province, One Agricultural Product' government initiative, said Mr Direk.Supachai Lorlowhakarn, the NIA director, said O-Rice production was expected to earn Phetcabun 600 million baht this year, accounting for 10% of the global brown-rice market worth six billion baht.Mr Direk said Phetchabun Innovation Co was established by an outside investor to operate the project. It has developed a prototype mill to produce 15 tonnes of O-Rice in one year. However, the capacity could be enlarged to 150 tonnes soon due to overwhelming market response.Jaturaporn Pornsilapatip, a technical consultant for Phetchabun Innovation, said the O-Rice technology was developed from a traditional orizination technique used in Thailand, India and Bangladesh. It is innovative because temperature and environment are controlled in order to produce standardised output.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:29 AM

860 words
25 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Business News - By Kriengsak Niratpattanasai,

founder of TheCoach, specialising in executive coaching in leadership and cross-cultural skills. - Bangkok Post - Roger and Nopadol are discussing staff promotions. Over the past 12 months, their organisation has done very well. Roger is a sales manager and Nopadol is the human resources manager. Roger wants to promote one of his five sales representatives to be a senior sales executive as part of their career development.The pair run through the strengths and weaknesses of the team members. In terms of sales performance they are all doing about the same. Good service and strong branding are keys to their business, but English isn't the employees' mother tongue and it is an important consideration for their choice.Nopadol suggests MBA-qualified Wanida, who is the most senior person in the team, but Roger disagrees."She's a good person but in terms of performance, she is about the same as the others," he says.

"For me, the MBA is not related to her performance. I don't factor in a degree for this promotion. A degree does not promise anything here. It just shows that she spent more time than others at university. I don't promote people by seniority, I consider work performance."Ruling out Wanida, Nopadol proposes another employee, Somsak. Both agree his written and spoken English is superior since he spent many years living and studying in the US.But after some thought, Roger decides on another team member, Danai.I think I will promote Danai for the following reasons. He's a good communicator. When I give him an instruction, he always repeats it to me at the end. In some cases if the instruction is a long one, he sends me an e-mail to summarise what he has understood. This way of checking his understanding has helped both of us to bridge the gap since English is not our mother tongue. Sometimes, he misunderstands and I know this from his e-mail."Apart from that, he always does his sales reports promptly, the day after visiting a customer. His report is short but meaningful and he writes about the situation, problem and the solution."This is unlike Somsak, who he thinks that he has good English skills and tries to show off his English by writing very long reports. He uses lot of vocabulary that he might think impresses me. But it doesn't, it's too much. I don't time - I want the report to be short, simple and precise."Although Danai's English is not so fantastic, I look at the content not the grammar or fancy words. I like the fact that Danai's reports are very timely. Instead of trying to impress me with good English, he concentrates on being short and timely, which is what I want."I'm also impressed by the way he handles e-mails. Whenever I send him e-mail, if he's in the office, he will acknowledge immediately. That's very important because I know right away that my message is getting across. He may not take action immediately but acknowledgment is important. He also gives me a deadline as to when he will get back to me with result. For example, I e-mailed him on January 22 to check on a competitor for a new promotion. He replied immediately that he would get back to me within two days. That's what I want to know - first that he received it and then when he will get back to me."He always delivers on his promises. For example, in the e-mail where I asked for information on a competitor, he came back within a day with the result. I'd like to have 10 Danais in my office."Nopadol appears impressed, but tells Roger he has some reservations, which surprises his colleague."You mention several of Danai's strengths, but I think he's impolite. I observe that in meetings, he's always disrespectful to you. He always argues and disagrees with you. He acts differently from the other sales reps who usually show you respect and follow your ideas."But Roger sees Nopadol's comments as a plus point to promote Danai.He replies: "Nopadol, you misunderstand him and perhaps the other sales reps as well. When I run a meeting, I always look for different opinions. I am open to people challenging or disagreeing with me. In fact, I consider it respect. When people disagree with me but don't want say so to my face, then express their disagreement behind my back, I think that is cowardly and disrespectful."Danai keeps me informed. When he's going out to meet with a key customer, he always calls me to tell me what's going on. With most of the other sales representatives' key accounts, I have to ask if I want to know about their movements. But for Danai's key accounts, I have the same up-to-date knowledge and information that he has."

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:32 AM

279 words
25 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Road-projects collusion probe to point finger beyond deputy governor, 2 others, The Nation reports.

The Department of Special Investigation plans to issue arrest warrants for more suspects allegedly involved in bidding collusion for multi-billion-baht contracts awarded by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), its deputy chief said on January 21.

Colonel Tawee Sodsong also said deputy Bangkok governor Samart Ratchapolsitte as well as the deputy chief of the city's civil works unit, Patrarut Tathanont, and civil engineer Uthai Khankaew had confirmed they would report to police on January 23.

He said his department is investigating other city officials but declined to give details.

Samart, Patrarut and Uthai have been accused of facilitating collusion among the bidders who recently won numerous BMA projects worth a combined Bt20 billion.

Meanwhile, Chuan Leekpai, a former premier and the chairman of the Democrat Party's advisory committee, admitted the scandal had damaged the party's image because Bang-kok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin is a deputy leader of the party.

Chuan also backed Apirak's decision to suspend the BMA projects pending further investigation. Police General Pratin Santiprapop, a former Bangkok senator, was appointed chairman of a BMA committee set up to investigate irregularities in the bidding.

The ruling Thai Rak Thai Party has suggested Apirak might have been aware of the bidding irregularities, even though the governor has insisted he had assigned Samart to oversee the projects

Earlier, the national government faced a corruption scandal involving the multi-billion-baht procurement of CTX explosive detection machines for the new international airport.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:33 AM

629 words
25 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - While the tobacco industry pours a lot of its profits back into society as part of its social-responsibility approach, the anti-smoking alliance is trying to put a stop to it, The Nation reports.

Regarding it as sin money, anti-smokers argue that social projects should not be funded by the profits from tobacco sales. Tobacco products are obviously harmful and kill people. Money from this business should not be used for any social projects, with no exceptions, Thai Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, a core organiser of the anti-smoking alliance, says.

Counters the industry: Yes, but don't forget this is a legal business ... We want to return something to society. Our contributions have no conditions [such as being named as a sponsor].

With the anti-smoking lobby in full cry, Philip Morris Thailand (PMT) last year finally pulled out of its sponsorship of the Asean Art Award after 10 years.

It was solely our intention to promote art activities among youth in Asean, PMT's Paul Riley said.

Not so, argues Prakit Vateesa+++it of the alliance: It is a trick by the tobacco company to paint a good image for the public, a concerted public-relations effort that is being carried out around the world.

As the anti-smoking debate rages, the tobacco industry is unrelenting in seeking out opportunities around the country to spread its largesse.

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) makes Bt50 million in social contributions each year (money that is sought by particular groups), not including special projects it initiates itself.

PMT tends to concentrate money on community-based activities -it won't reveal how much each year - including donations to certain activities of the Klong Toei-based Human Development Foundation, the Population and Community Development Association and the Don Muang-based Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women (APSW).

British American Tobacco (BAT) plays a smaller role by mainly supporting the youth smoking prevention (YSP) campaign. This campaign is supported by all tobacco companies.

We support the ban on children and young people smoking. Smoking should be an adult choice with knowledge of the harm in it, the three companies say.

That is just another trick, rejoins Prakit. When you say smoking is an adult choice, it is an incentive to kids to try smoking as naturally they want to be seen as a grown up.

Complicating the debate is that groups supported by the sponsorships see the donated funds as a godsend. APSW, the only organisation in Bangkok to provide emergency shelter for women caught in violent domestic situations, says the money allows it to give priority to an urgent problem.

I used to be a part of the anti-smoking movement when I was young, and I still support it in principle, but on January 22 at 70 and a leader of APSW, I realise that sometimes you have no other choice, APSW president Suteera Thomson Vichitranonda said of the critical funding from the tobacco industry.

Our organisation depends mostly on donations, as less than 5 per cent of our total expenses [more than Bt30 million] comes from the government. But the job needs to be done, and a budget is required, she said, explaining why the group had agreed to accept contributions from Philip Morris to set up the Violence Against Women Data Centre in order to improve its ability to help women in distress.

However, the anti-smoking alliance insists the Thai Health Promotion Foundation is a more suitable option for financial support. The foundation is funded by the tobacco tax and currently receives 2 per cent of the total tax take from tobacco and alcohol sales.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:36 AM

529 words
25 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Government and Politics - MP warns against any arrangements outside the norm for Singapore's Temasek group, The Nation reports.

A senior opposition figure has warned the Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission to stick to the letter of the law in the imminent sale of Shin Corp shares.

Fearing there could be a massive capital outflow, Korn Chatikavanij, deputy leader of the Democrat party, said the authorities should not give special treatment to the mega-deal, especially as it would set a bad precedent.

The Temasek Group of Singapore is understood to be ready to purchase a huge stake worth more than Bt70 billion from the Shinawatra and Damapong families, especially Prime Minister Thaksin's children and his brother-in-law.

If Temasek decides to buy more than 25 per cent of the shares in Shin Corp from the prime minister's family, it would be required by the SEC to make a tender for the rest of the shares held by all minor shareholders at the same price.

There have been market rumours that the Singapore group doesn't want to do it that way because the deal would cost much more, up to Bt200 billion for 100-per-cent ownership, not Bt80 billion just for the 40-per-cent-plus holdings to be sold by the premier's children and relative, Korn said.

As a result, it wants to split the deal into two parts so as to avoid making the tender. This is wrong.

In addition, Korn said a tender would have to be made for Advanced Info Service plc (AIS) as Shin Corp currently held more than 25 per cent in this subsidiary.

The same SEC rules requiring the buyer to make a tender also apply to iTV Plc, another subsidiary of Shin Corp, since it holds more than 50 per cent in the free TV station.

On iTV, Korn said he was not sure if the Thai public was ready to allow foreigners to hold a majority stake in a major TV station In fact, the National Telecom Commission needs to come up with a position to protect the public interest since this TV station was originally set up and intended to be an independent free TV station, so there should be no predominant shareholder group. The public should have the right to buy back some of the shares, he said.

In the event that the Temasek-Singtel/Shin Corp transaction is carried out as a share swap, Korn said the Bank of Thailand would have to grant approval as money would have to be taken out of the country.

The BOT currently does not allow individuals to do that. If it approved the share swap, we would ask why, since other Thais are not permitted to do this, he said.

In addition, the central bank would have no means to ensure that the money would return to Thailand since the Shinawatra family could just sell its stake in Singapore Telecom the next day. In short, there would be a capital outflow.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:37 AM

290 words
25 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Livestock officials from Phuket, Ranong and Surat Thani were recruited on January 21 to help their colleagues in Phang Nga's Thai Muang district quarantine thousands of water buffaloes in a bid to stop the spread of a lethal form of blood poisoning, The Nation reports.

Rawiwan Yingwansiri, head of the Phang Nga provincial livestock office, said the outbreak of haemorrhagic septicaemia in the province was still at a critical stage. As of on January 21, the number of deaths of buffaloes in the district had climbed to more than 100. About 400 other animals have contracted the disease and show symptoms.

The first cases of the outbreak were reported last Sunday, when 18 buffaloes died from the disease on the same day.

Rawiwan said high air temperatures and the close quarters in which the buffaloes were held accelerated the spread of the disease.

About 1,500 buffaloes and cows out of 1,620 that were registered with the livestock office have been vaccinated and injected with antibiotics to prevent further spread of the disease.

All cattle in the province are quarantined, and the transportation of cattle from other provinces to Phang Nga is banned. Slaughterhouses in the province have been ordered to stop operations and local people have been warned not to eat buffalo meat.

Rawiwan said the disease might be under control within the next week.

Sutha Buri, a villager whose 23 buffaloes were claimed by the disease, said one buffalo is worth tens of thousands of baht and the government should provide him with financial support.

Rawiwan said she was discussing compensation for the villagers with the provincial governor.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:40 AM

354 words
24 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

There will be no need of troops to keep the peace during Sondhi Limthongkul's talk show at Sanam Luang on Feb 4, Deputy Prime Minister Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit said yesterday.

Police were quite capable of handling the gathering and would be prepared for any contingency, he said.

People had the right to stage a demonstration and could use Sanam Luang as their rallying point as long as they respect the law. The media firebrand's popular show is expected to draw many demonstrators from outside Bangkok, not just city residents.

The army on Sunday said it was ready to step in if police fail to control the situation.

Pol Gen Chidchai, also the justice minister, said he believed people who will attend the rally have judgment, knowing what is right or wrong.

Mr Sondhi plans to conclude the rally with a protest march to the Royal Plaza and the submission of a petition to His Majesty the King through statesman and chief privy councillor Prem Tinsulanonda.

Pol Gen Chidchai said police were continuing to build their case against the anti-Thaksin demonstrators who invaded Government House on the night of Jan 13. The investigation would be transparent and follow due process of law.

He could not say how many people in Bangkok were against the government, but was confident the silent majority were still law-abiding citizens who did not want to let the country slip into lawlessness and disorder.

Pitipong Phuengbun na Ayutthaya, permanent secretary for natural resources and the environment, said he had yet to receive a report on allegations employees of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department caused havoc during Mr Sondhi's Muang Thai Rai Sapda , or Thailand Weekly, talk show at Lumpini park last Friday. A disciplinary investigation would be ordered into anyone found responsible for any commotion.

Senator Kaewsan Atibhodi said that he would submit initial findings on the orchestrated anti-Sondhi protest to the House committee on natural resources and environment tomorrow.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:42 AM

264 words
24 January 2006
09:48
English

TOP STORIES

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gave his children all the credit for helping him avoid conflicts of interest in their sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL] that will generate a tax-free windfall of 73 billion baht (BANGKOK POST)

- The Stock Exchange of Thailand says it will investigate possible insider trading in Shin Corp shares (BANGKOK POST)

- Opposition Member of Parliament Korn Chatikavanij questioned whether Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family and relatives evaded hefty income tax of as much as 20 billion baht on their mega-deal with Singapore investors (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Three companies involved in the takeover of Shin Corp Pcl -- Cedar Holdings, Aspen Holdings, and Kularb Kaew Co -- were hastily established in Thailand this month, showing how intense the manoeuvres had been (THE NATION)

- MCOT on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana, the largest broadcasting firm in Italy, to cooperate business and exchange programmes (THE NATION)

- The Thai Commerce Ministry aims to reduce oil imports by 10 percent this year to cut the country's trade deficit to $5.7 billion from $7.3 billion in 2005 (THE NATION)

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:43 AM

Ven Sreenivasan
410 words
24 January 2006
Business Times Singapore
English

Temasek will now become partner in Thai AirAsia

(SINGAPORE) It really does look like Tony Fernandes will have to live with a Singapore partner in Thailand.

Temasek's takeover of the Thai prime minister's family's stake in Shin Corp effectively makes Temasek a partner in Thai AirAsia.

The budget carrier is a 49:51 joint venture between Malaysia's AirAsia and Shin Corp.

It makes for strange bedfellows, given the Air Asia boss's rather prickly relations with Singapore - or, more specifically, with some of its key aviation policymakers. Nevertheless, Mr Fernandes seems to be taking the unexpected turn of events in his stride.

'I am very confident that our partners will act in the best interest of our very successful joint venture,' he said in an SMS text message to BT last Friday night, when the deal seemed close to being sealed. However, he declined to comment when contacted again yesterday.

Mr Fernandes is still sore at not being given a Singapore Air Operator's licence to set up Singapore AirAsia two years ago. And he has clashed with the Singapore authorities after AirAsia was not allowed to run a shuttle bus service from Singapore to its second Malaysian hub in Senai, Johor.

The latest deal cements Temasek's position as a major player on Asia's budget airline scene.

It already controls 19 per cent of Jetstar Asia and has an 11 per cent direct stake in Tiger, both of which are in competition with AirAsia.

Temasek also controls about 55 per cent of Singapore Airlines, the world's second-biggest capitalised airline.

And with SIA controlling 49 per cent of Tiger, Temasek has another 27 per cent indirect interest in the Singapore budget carrier.

Thai AirAsia, set up in 2003, operates 134 flights a week to 13 destinations in South-east Asia and south-east China using a fleet of eight Boeing 737-300s.

It is a cog in Asia's largest budget carrier group, which operates 33 aircraft via three related associates in three countries and covers 60 destinations in nine countries.

The group has taken delivery of the first of 60 Airbus 320s it ordered last year as part of a total fleet renewal and route expansion plan.

Many observers are watching to see whether there will be any opposition in Thailand to Singaporean and Malaysian interests entirely controlling a Thai-based budget carrier.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:46 AM

Wong Wei Kong
617 words
24 January 2006
Business Times Singapore
English

THE Shinawatra and Damapong families look like clear winners in the sale of Shin Corp, the biggest ever deal in the Thai stock market. The jury, though, is still out on Temasek Holdings, which is leading investors to buy the two families' shares in the Thai conglomerate.

After weeks of speculation, it was finally confirmed yesterday that Temasek, Siam Commercial Bank (in which Temasek is a shareholder) and a group of Thai investors have agreed with the Shinawatra and Damapong families to acquire their 49.6 per cent stake in Shin for 73.3 billion baht (S$3 billion), or 49.25 baht per share.

Much has been said already of the political motivations behind the sale. When Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra became premier in 2001, he stepped down as chairman of his companies. However, the Shinawatra family's stake in Shin - one of Thailand's biggest listed companies - was still the subject of criticism. The sale of the stake now will allow Dr Thaksin to deflect criticism of potential conflicts of interest.

But in all likelihood, there are also financial drivers that are no less important, although these have not been highlighted as much. The two families are exiting Shin at prices that are at 11-year highs.

They are also making an exit at a time when the group's core business is facing growth challenges. Shin's net income in the third quarter of 2005 dropped 10 per cent to 1.98 billion baht. Competition eroded the market share of mobile player Advanced Info Service (AIS), Shin's most important asset, to 56 per cent from 58 per cent.

Major investments are needed for new 3G networks. AIS also faces a stronger rival in Total Access Communication (TAC), backed by Norway's Telenor, which bought into TAC's parent United Communication Industry.

So it's a winning deal for the selling families - an exit at an attractive price and the removal of a political impediment at the same time.

Political sensitivities

But where does this leave Temasek? First, there are potential political potholes. As past acquisitions involving Indosat and Global Crossing showed, Temasek is often viewed as a Singapore government entity overseas, notwithstanding the fact that it is commercially driven. The structure of the Shin deal already reflects political sensitivities. The deal was put together in a way that ensures Shin will remain a majority Thai-owned company, in response to criticism from some in Thailand that the country's assets are being sold to foreigners. But still, the investment could become a political issue.

Second, Temasek is buying into Shin after its shares have risen almost 30 per cent in the past two months to levels not seen in more than a decade. At 49.25 baht per share, Temasek is paying almost four times the book value of Shin shares (SingTel is trading at around twice book). To make the investment pay, Temasek will have to add value to its acquisition. It faces the task of streamlining Shin's widespread assets, which include mobile, satellites and airlines.

Another major challenge is to take Shin and AIS into 3G, with Thailand expected to issue its first 3G operating licences in the next few months. And with the politically influential Shinawatra and Damapong families out of the picture, Shin and its units will have to compete on the same footing - if one subscribes to the view that they enjoyed an edge in the past - as their rivals.

There's no doubt that Thailand is a highly attractive market. But whether Temasek will also emerge a winner from the Shin deal remains to be seen.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:48 AM

221 words
24 January 2006
09:15
Dow Jones International News
English

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Five brokerage houses are being investigated by the Stock Exchange of Thailand for possible insider trading following the country's historic share sale of Shin Corp. PCL (SHIN.TH) to Singapore's Temasek Holdings (TEMAH.YY) worth THB73.3 billion, the Nation reports, quoting SET President Kittiratt Na Ranong.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family sold a combined 49.6% stake to two holding units of Temasek at THB49.25 per share. The transaction boosted the SET's total trading value Monday to a record high of THB94 billion.

The five houses are SCB Securities Ltd., KGI Securities (Thailand) Ltd., Phatra Securities PCL (PHATRA.TH), and National Securities Ltd. SCB Securities filed the buy and sell orders for Shin's shares, while the other four houses supported the selling.

Kittiratt said the brokerage houses are being investigated for insider trading because after they executed the buy and sell orders Monday morning, the Shin share price immediately jumped by THB1. Shin opened Monday at THB46.50 and rose to THB48.25 before trading was halted. Shin, along with its four key units, will resume trading on Tuesday.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:53 AM

84 words
24 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - A large number of Buddhists have been visiting Bhichai-Yatikaram Varavihara situated in Klong San District, to pay respect to a Buddha relic loaned by the Sri Lankan government.

The sacred urn will be installed at the temple for 69 days as part of the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the Throne.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 10:57 AM

183 words
24 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - A century-old boat has been found in Bangpakong river, and locals believe it may have belonged to an abbot in the locality, 70 years ago.

Residents of Muang District of Chachoengsao Province have brought flowers, candles, and incense sticks to carry out religious procession for the boat that aged about 100 years. The boat recently floated to the pier of Laemtai Temple and got stuck to the pier.

Mr. Luang Ongsomboon, the local who found the boat, said that he first saw the boat when washing his hands in the river. However, he thought it was a log and pushed it away, to no success as it floated back. He then figured that it was an old boat.

Residents have lifted the boat from water and placed it in the temple. The boat is believed by locals to be the one used by the first abbot of the temple about 70 years ago. It was reported to have been stolen from the temple back then.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 11:00 AM

BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) -Last Update : 2006-01-24 / 07:49:09 (GMT+7:00)

“In the run-up to Chinese New Year celebrations late this month, Thailand's Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry will require chicken slaughterhouses nationwide to upgrade their quality standards, the ministry announced Monday.

The ministry also ordered local authorities to pay special attention to the hygienic standards of slaughterhouses during the Chinese New Year, as chicken plays a special role in ceremonial offerings to the gods and among various kinds of food specially prepared for the occasion.

Tradition and technology are joining together under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to bring chicken producers and chicken consumers a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Traditionally, an entire chicken represents prosperity and wholeness and has special significance when presented ceremonially to the ancestors and the kitchen god (household spirit).

Speaking after observing state-of-the-art chicken processing at Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Public Company Limited, Thailand's largest poultry producer, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan said the ministry is drafting ministerial regulations to upgrade sanitary standards in poultry slaughterhouses across the country for the safety of consumers.

Expected to be in effect within the month, the regulation is designed to improve the hygiene of chicken products, she said, not only for the Chinese New Year, but for year-round well-being.

The quality controls of export processors do meet international requirements, the minister said, indicating that poultry produced for export is subject to more stringent regulation.

Small-scale poultry producers and processors would be affected, she indicated.

The ministry plans to help them to enter the new system.

The government may provide soft loans for them to improve their businesses, she said.

Several hundreds of local slaughterhouses in small and medium-sized business categories are still not in compliance because there was little law enforcement in the past regarding the issue.

Owners of slaughterhouses would be given six months to bring their facilities up to standard, she said.

After that they will be forced to close if the procedures in their slaughterhouses fail to meet the standard.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 11:03 AM

609 words
24 January 2006
English

Highlights of today's newspapers:

BANGKOK POST:

- Shin Corporation chief executive Boonklee Plangsiri says he will remain as chief executive of the company although there have been changes in the company's board of directors.

- Thai shares closed up 0.35 per cent yesterday after market regulators called a halt on share trading of Shin Corporation and its subsidiaries after the Temasek Holdings takeover was confirmed.

- After weeks of denials, the largest corporate takeover in Thai history was finally completed yesterday with Singapore's Temasek holdings paying 73.3 billion baht in a cash deal for a 49 per cent stake in Shin Corp.

- Last year was a record year in the Asian fixed-income market, with more than US billion raised by Asian companies taking advantage of low interest rates and tight credit spreads.

- Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BGH), the operator of Samitivej, BNH and Bangkok hospitals, plans to invest in a hospital in Phnom Penh following a deal to set up a new facility in Siem Reap.

- Shares of International Engineering Corp fell sharply yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand as trading resumed following last week's five-day suspension.

- The Government Housing Bank is looking at overseas borrowing to expand its home-loan business as local liquidity is getting tight, according to president Khan Prachuabmoh.

- Thai Airways International has leased two more aircraft to Nok Air as part of a process enabling its sister budget carrier to take over domestic routes that the flag carrier wants to exit due to losses.

- After achieving total sales of 660 million baht last year, state-backed Allied Retail Trade Co (ART) is set to open 50 additional shops this year to increase sales to at least one billion baht.

- Samchai Steel Industries Plc projects to gain 30 per cent of the total revenue it targets this year from the sales of new steel products that will be mainly used in government megaprojects.

THE NATION:

- Three companies involved in the takeover of Shin Corp Plc Cedar Holdings Co Ltd, Aspen Holdings Co Ltd and Kularb Kaew Co Ltd were hastily established in Thailand this month, showing how intense the manoeuvres have been.

- Trading volume on the Thai stock market hit an all-time high of Bt94.6 billion yesterday, thanks to Temaseks Bt73.3-billion buyout of Shin Corp Plc (SHIN).

- MCOT yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana, the largest broadcasting firm in Italy, to cooperate on and exchange programmes.

- Five brokerage houses are being investigated by the Stock Exchange of Thailand for possible insider trading following transactions in shares of Shin Corp Plc prior to the formal announcement to the exchange of the change in the company's shareholding structure.

- The Commerce Ministry aims to reduce oil imports 10 per cent to reduce the country's trade deficit to US$5.7 billion (Bt223 billion) this year from $7.3 billion last year.

- The Government Housing Bank (GHB) is preparing to tap investors from the Middle East who have expressed an interest in increasing their Asian asset holdings, the banks president, Khan Prachuamoh, said yesterday.

- Stock in International Engineering Plc (IEC) fell by almost 30 per cent at one point yesterday, on the first day of resuming trading after a week-long suspension as the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) investigated alleged stock manipulation.

- Kasikorn Research Centre said that for December 2005, commercial banks lent Bt4.61 trillion, an increase of 8.57 per cent for the year and 1.13 per cent, or Bt51.33 billion, up on the previous month.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 11:06 AM

Published on January 23, 2006 Kavi Chongkittavorn

When Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra went to Washington DC last September to meet President George W Bush, they agreed that the Thai-US free-trade agreement (FTA) would be completed by this June. At a subsequent meeting with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, he also asked for US assistance in southern Thailand. Obviously there was a clear link between the trade and defence policies of the two countries.

With the FTA deadlock in Chiang Mai and the resignation of veteran diplomat Nitya Pibulsonggram last week, it has become clear that Thai-US ties are not what they once were. New and unpredictable factors have permeated the relationship. For instance, the protest movements that have their sights set on stopping the trade talks as they do not trust Thaksin would protect the Thai national interest. Moreover, if the anti-Thaksin campaign continues to grow, it will further erode his mandate.

Thai-US FTA negotiations have been going on for 18 months with little progress. The prospect of the deal being wrapped up by June is highly unlikely. The current politicking going on in Thaksin’s mind and within the trade negotiation teams have hampered the whole negotiating process. Nitya’s departure came at a time when Thaksin and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak wanted to wrest control from the Foreign Ministry to expedite the talks. The former Thai chief negotiator had been a lame duck from the first day because he had no mandate whatsoever. As a retired diplmat, he has no political base and was not linked to the Thai Rak Thai Pary. Worse, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who chose him, is no loger heading the Foreign Ministry. In contrast, Vice Commerce Minister Uttama Savanayana, who heads the new negotiating team, is Somkid’s lieutenant and has all the right connections.

The absence of a common position on the Thai side prior to Chiang Mai indicated his weakness and the lack of coordination among various Thai committees. The US informed the Thai government prior to the negotiations in 2004 that the FTA would be comprehensive, including the financial and service sectors, environmental cooperation and labour standards. In the Chiang Mai round, Thailand still failed to forge a common stance on these issues.

The US government has already stepped up pressure and informed the Thai side that talks should be ideally completed by April. Without any progress, the US investment in Thailand could be jeopardized. The national treatment for the US business contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation has already expired in December. Both sides hope that the FTA will replace the treaty and provide the same privileges to Americans. New investment from the US would be hard to come by at this juncture without the privileges granted in the treaty.

In addition, both Republican and Democrat lawmakers in the US, industrial lobbyists and the media are hostile to Thailand and Thaksin at the moment. The mid-term polls later this year will also complicate the issue. If the FTA is completed on time, the Congress will have to vote on it before the Trade Promotion Authority of the US president expires in the middle of next year.

Thaksin has his own serious problems and his credibility is at stake. In 2003 he called for the launching of FTA negotiations with the US after he demonstrated tangible increased cooperation with the US on the war in Iraq and the global war on terrorism. He dispatched Thai troops to take part in the peacekeeping and rehabilitation of Iraq, and in August 2003 Hambali, al-Qaeda’s top Southeast Asian terrorist, was arrested in Thailand.

It is an open secret that the US Congress has been unhappy with Thaksin’s dictatorial tendency. When the proposal to begin FTA talks with Thailand reached Congress, it was passed by a margin of just one vote. Since then, Thaksin’s reputation has dropped to an all time low in the eyes of US lawmakers and civil-society organisations. The American media continue to attack Thaksin as a strongman who disregards human rights and democracy. Thailand’s blind support for Burma has attracted the condemnation and wrath of key US lawmakers.

Therefore, Washington was flabbergasted when Thaksin appealed for US assistance in its southern provinces last September. Previously, the prime minister had called the conflict an internal matter, insisting that it must be dealt with domestically. So far, the US government has not decided what kind of assistance to offer.

The US government is fully aware of how sensitive an issue it would be to provide assistance in the three provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. That explains why the US is now consulting intensely with Thailand to draw up a strategy involving non-military programmes focused on civilian-military cooperation, which has proven successful in combating terrorism in the Philippines and elsewhere.

Indeed, it is difficult to gauge Thaksin’s motive in calling for US assistance. When he met Bush, he said Thailand was reluctant to sign the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a global anti-terrorism measure, because he was concerned about the situation in the South and neighbouring countries. The Foreign Ministry recommended signing the PSI as it would enhance Thailand’s newly designated role as a major non-Nato ally and a partner in the broader war on terrorism. It would also complement the Container Security Initiative, which Thailand was a party in 2003. The CSI allows US officials to check containers in Laem Chabang to prevent terrorists from smuggling weapons into the US.

The ministry’s plan to inform US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of its decision during her brief visit last July to Phuket was halted by Thaksin at the last minute, who said it would jeopardise the security situation in the South.

Apparently, Thaksin wants to use the PSI and FTA as a bargaining chip to attract a greater US commitment to fighting terrorism in the South if the situation there worsens. If that is the case, it would have serious ramifications on Thai-US strategic relations. Although Thailand and the US are close allies, they do not have a common strategic security blueprint. Most bilateral cooperation has been based on the Thanat-Rusk Defence Agreement of 1962, or has been single-issue oriented and ad hoc.

Unlike the US, China is currently working intimately with Thailand to draft a joint strategic action plan, which gives top priority to political, defence, security and strategic cooperation. It will be signed in late March in Bangkok during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Last September, Thailand and the US agreed to start drafting on the first Thai-US strategic action plan, but progress has been slow.

Thaksin is playing a dangerous game with the world’s most powerful country by mixing personal and national agendas. The FTA negotations with the US should not be rushed or be held hostage to Thaksin’s problems with the South.

U-Need

24-01-2006, 12:42 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-24 / 10:25:55 (GMT+7:00)

Thailand's exports grew 15 per cent in 2005, meeting the government's target; while the export growth this year is anticipated to reach 17.5 per cent, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The country's total export last year reached US$110.883 billion, a 15 per cent growth from the previous year, meeting the government's target, Director-General of the Department of Export Promotion Chantra Purnariksha told journalists here on Monday.

Last year's export growth was particularly boosted by expanded shipments of Thai manufactured goods of 18.5 per cent, she noted.

These included canned food, processed fruits, vegetables and chikcen, as well as frozen shrimps, automobiles and parts, computers and parts, plastic products, construction materials, gems and jewellery, printing products and cosmetics.

Mrs. Chantra said, however, that the country's total import in 2005 stood at US$118.223 billion, a 25.7 per cent year-on-year increase, spurred mainly by imports of oil (59.1 per cent), capital goods (27.2 per cent), as well as raw materials and semi final products (16.9 per cent).

Therefore, the country still faced a trade deficit of around US$7.340 billion, she reported.

The Ministry of Commerce targets that Thailand's total export in 2006 will reach US$130.288 billion, a 17.5 per cent growth from last year, according to the department's director-general.

To meet the target, the ministry would help Thai exporters penetrate new markets of around 40 per cent, while maintaining the existing markets of 60 per cent, she said.

The ministry's export promotion mission, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, will begin late this month in Japan, followed by countries in the Middle East, including Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from February 18-21 and European countries, including Italy and Gernamy, in March.

Mrs. Chantra said that the stronger baht currently would remain only in the short run and would not affect the country's overall exports.

"The Department of Export Promotion has discussed the current volatility in the currency market with Bank of Thailand (BOT)'s Governor M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula and was ensured that it would occur only in the short run. The BOT and the Ministry of Commerce also agreed that the Thai baht should be around Bt40 a US dollar on the average this year--the level where the projection of this year's export growth was base on," Mrs. Chantra told journalists.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade Rachane Potjanasuntorn cautioned that the country would still face a trade deficit of around US$5.712 billion this year, a drop of about 13-14 per cent from last year's figure.

The continued trade deficit would be, again, caused mainly by high oil import bills, he noted.

KatoeyLover69

24-01-2006, 11:18 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 24 January 2006 :-

PM: Shin sale my kids' idea : Says he'll avoid conflict of interest charges in 73-billion-baht, tax-free sell-off to Singapore's Temasek

By Bangkok Post Reporters

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday gave his children all the credit for helping him avoid conflicts of interest in their sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings that will generate a tax-free windfall of 73 billion baht.

But the move was blasted by lawmakers who accused the Prime Minister of using the laws of the country for his own benefit.

Mr Thaksin insisted the sale by his family was the business of his children who held Shin Corp shares - protecting him from allegations of conflicts of interest.

''The kids would like their dad to devote himself completely to politics. The kids know their dad is working and they want Dad to do his best at work,'' he said.

''This is their decision. It took them quite a long time to make it,'' Mr Thaksin told reporters at Government House.

His family sold the controlling stake in Shin Corp to Temasek in a deal worth 73.3 billion baht, allowing the investment arm of the Singapore government to acquire a 49% stake.

But the Prime Minister was angered when reporters asked if the share sale had been delayed until the amendment of the Telecommunication Operation Act, which allows foreigners to hold 49% stakes in Thai telecoms firms from 25% previously, had been finalised.

''They are not related at all. You're just looking for a problem,'' he replied tersely.

The act, which was only recently amended, also lifted the requirement for three quarters of directors in such companies to be Thais.

The amendment was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday and took effect yesterday, the same day the historic trade of Shin Corp shares on the Stock Exchange of Thailand took place.

Korn Chatikavanij, deputy secretary-general of the Democrat party, charged that the act was amended and used in such a timely fashion to facilitate the deal in what he said was just another example of ''policy corruption''.

He added that he was not convinced by Mr Thaksin's claim that the share sale was the decision of his children.

This was also the best time for the Shinawatra family to sell the shares since the National Telecommunications Commission has not set out any new rules for mobile phone services that might affect the business of Advanced Info Service (AIS), a firm under Shin Corp, he said.

Bangkok Senator Sophon Suphapong slammed the Shin transaction, saying it was tantamount to selling off radio frequencies that were the national assets to foreigners. Other countries such as the US and Australia limited foreign holdings in their telecom firms to 25%, he said.

In 2001, the government tried to amend the act to allow greater foreign participation and over 100 senators had opposed it successfully. The attempt was repeated a few months ago and only about 10 senators voted against it, he said.

''Suddenly, the government has it [the act] amended to let foreigners hold up to a 49% stake. There is no good reason. There might have been a special order,'' Mr Sophon said.

He did not say that the legal amendment was related to the Shin Corp sale but said that both seemed to have coincided.

''The 49% holding by foreigners will ruin the value for the nation because a few people priced and sold it to foreigners. How can our children survive in the future? This will affect everything, including national security,'' he said.

He predicted the foreign shareholding would lead to higher charges for telecommunication services. The Thai public paid at least 300 billion baht annually for such services, he said.

Supinya Klangnarong, secretary-general of the Campaign for Media Reform, said the prime minister should not make jokes with his excuse that the share sale was the business of his children.

Sangsit Piriyarangsan, director of doctorate programmes at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University, said Mr Thaksin could not simply claim that the share sale did not involve him because in practice he was actually involved.

Mr Sangsit also raised concerns that the Singapore government could influence the content of Shin Corp's iTV channel, especially in terms of tourism promotion.

The academic also said that as the 2.5G mobile phone service had reached saturation point in Thailand, Shin Corp had been sold to raise funds to invest in the 3G telecommunication business.

The sale also calls into question whether the Shinawatras should be taxed for selling their shares to the Singaporean firm.

Mr Thaksin said his children would not be taxed because the money was made on the stock exchange and they might give some of their profits to charity.

His position was backed by Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya who explained that any individuals who sold shares on the stock exchange could legally enjoy income tax exemption on earnings.

But tax lawyer Ruangkrai Leekitwattana said the Shin Corp share sale should not enjoy capital gains tax exemption because Mr Thaksin's children had acquired the shares cheaper than their market price out of the stock exchange. They were not considered to have invested in the shares inside the stock exchange which would justify tax exemption, said the lawyer.

Mr Korn claimed that Temasek actually wanted control of Shin Corp's mobile phone giant AIS but its acquisition via the purchase of Shin Corp in the stock exchange was aimed at avoiding taxation.

While AIS would go to Temasek, he believed the Shinawatras would buy back other Shin Corp businesses such as iTV, CS Loxinfo and Shin Satellite.

He also thought the sale should be taxed. The sale generated a windfall gain of 73 billion baht to the Shinawatras but not a single baht was taxed, Mr Korn said.

He also said that Mr Thaksin should be setting a good example in terms of paying taxes so that the general public would follow suit.

''People must decide what kind of Prime Minister they want. Should he be one who works for his own interests and gives a few thousand baht to villagers at a time or one who devotes himself to his work without any issues over conflicts of interest?'' he said.

Ubon Ratchathani Senator Nirun Pithakwachara said the transfer of public services to foreign investors was a dangerous signal of economic colonisation

KatoeyLover69

24-01-2006, 11:22 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 24 January 2006 :-

PM angry over criticism on Shin share sell-off

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday vented his frustration over wide criticism over a tax waiver for his family’s sell-off of shares of Shin Corporation Public Company Limited, reiterating the exemption of a capital gain tax is made under the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s rules and regulations.

“SET has exempted the capital gain tax for several years. The rule has been imposed since Tarin Nimmanhaeminh was the finance minister of the previous government,’’ he said.

Asked whether the deal should be subject to taxation because it generated revenue, he said no one had paid any taxes when Bangkok Post and Matichon newspapers sold shares on the stock market.

“Revenue is not the issue. It is a matter of the capital gain tax that can be exempted under the SET rules,” he said.

On criticism by some academics that why should his family not sell off Shin Corp’s shares when he assumed the premiership if he wanted to evade accusations of the conflict of interests, he said rather loudly that the deal was not easy to do like the sale of Kanom Kaeng (Chinese traditional sweet) because it involved a huge amount of money.

“The deal is worth more than 70 billion baht. It is unlike the sale of Kanom Kaeng. How many people in the world have such a huge amount to buy the shares?”

He reiterated the sell-off of the shares took place since he wanted to dedicate himself to working for the sake of the country’s interest. But how long he would do that depended on the situation.

“How long I can serve the country depends on the situation. But I promise to do it to the utmost. On February 9, it will be the fifth anniversary of my performance.

“I don’t think raising the issue of the share sell-off to undermine the political stability will work because everything is done under existing rules,’’ he said.

On news that his family planned to bring some of the money for charity, the premier said he was considering conducting a research for ways to help the poor such as the processing of agricultural output.

Asked whether the deal would set an example for possible takeover of Thai businesses by foreign investors, he said he did not think so. Rather, it is a matter of investment.

Thailand could make investment in any countries while foreign countries could do the same thing in Thailand. Now, the investment is boundless.

Asked what the Shinawatra family would do next from now on, Mr. Thaksin said personally he would concentrate working for the country. His children are expected to do petty jobs because they are still young.

KatoeyLover69

24-01-2006, 11:32 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 24 January 2006 :-

Ethnic Shans given Thai nationality

The Ministry of Interior has granted Thai nationality to more than 1,200 ethnic Shan people, a minority group in the mountains of northern Chiang Rai province.

The first batch of 1,209 Shan people attended a ceremony Tuesday morning, vowing to be good Thai citizens and to refrain from illegal activities particularly the illegal drug trade.

Chiang Rai governor Worakiart Somsoi personally presented them their official identification cards after local authorities had conducted a survey and compiled the documents necessary to confirm their status following the cabinet's approval on the issue.

The Interior Ministry earlier granted Thai nationality to minority ethnic groups such as Akha, Lahu, and Haw Chinese.

Meanwhile, there are more than 43,000 stateless ethnic minority people in Mae Fah Luang district, waiting for the authorities to grant them Thai nationality.

KatoeyLover69

24-01-2006, 11:49 PM

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 24 January 2006 :-

Sale had been bubbling along for months under cover of a security blanket

The sell-off of Shin Corp follows months of top secret talks between the Shinawatra family and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and the involvement of several influential individuals.

This became known on Sunday, when a secret meeting was held to finalise details of the deal prior to its announcement yesterday.

Those present at the meeting included Wichit Surapongchai, president of Siam Commercial Bank, eminent tax-law expert Suvarn Valaisathien, representing the Shinawatra and Damapong families, and Thanachart Bank president Supadet Poonpipat, who was involved on the buyers’ side.

Also there to represent Temasek were officials of Goldman Sachs, although the financial firm had denied any involvement in the deal.

But the most important man there must have been Shin Corp Plc CEO Boonklee Plangsiri, who had denied the planned takeover all along.

Indeed, the deal started taking shape late last year when the Shinawatra and Damapong families first contacted Singapore Telecommunications about a share sale.

A source at Shin said the families proposed to sell the shares at Bt55, but SingTel chairman Chumpol Na Lamliang commented the price was too high and asked them to reduce it to Bt30 per share.

“That’s why the talks were aborted,” the source added.

The families later assigned Boonklee as their representative to propose the deal to the Singapore’s state investment arm, Temasek, which controls SingTel, the source said.

Earlier, Japan’s NTT DoCoMo, Singapore Telecom, and China Mobile were among the companies speculated to be possible buyers.

“Temasek was interested and the relevant parties and the families went to Singapore on January 6 this year to sign a letter of intent to enable it to conduct the due diligence on the deal,” the source said.

He added the letter of intent required the families and Temasek to officially conclude the deal within a month.

“The reason for the family to exit the telecom empire is that Thaksin wants to end the criticism of conflict of interest against him and his family. Thaksin first considered exiting the telecom empire two years ago, but the situation was unfavourable at that time,” the source said.

S Iswaran, Temasek’s managing director for investment, said both the Shinawatra and Damapong families and Temasek had been in extensive talks on the deal over the past six weeks.

The negotiations were not smooth. Both parties took a long time to agree on the sale price, Shin’s holdings in other subsidiaries, the reorganisation of Shin businesses after the transaction and the concern if the families would have to pay taxes after the share sales.

Suvarn was in the deal to solve this. There was a rumour that the five members of the families who held the shares would not have to pay a single satang in taxes.

Once the tax issue was resolved, so were the others. Temasek made it clear it was interested only in Advanced Info Service Plc. “They also discussed about how to make people feel that Shin was still a Thai company after the deal,” the source added.

He said the families and Temasek had initially planned to announce the deal last Monday but put it off until yesterday because the Temasek-led group had not yet finalised the method of payment for the shares.

Business Reporters
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

24-01-2006, 11:58 PM

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 24 January 2006 :-

SHIN CORP SOLD TO FOREIGNERS: Deal of the century

Temasek promises no changes to Thailand’s largest telecom company. The Shinawatra and Damapong families have netted Bt73.3 billion from the sale of their shares in Shin Corp Plc in a historic deal that some claim could eliminate Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s conflicts of interest and introduce new challenges to the Thai telecom industry.

The months-long takeover saga was wrapped up yesterday when Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and allies took over 1,488 billion shares or 49. 6 per cent of Shin’s paid-up capital at the price of Bt49.25 per share.

One of the deal’s advisers said Temasek would need an additional Bt196 billion to complete the deal: Bt76 billion for the remaining shares in Shin and another Bt122 billion for AIS shares.

The deal was wrapped up after months of speculation amid rumours that Thaksin wanted to diffuse criticism of conflicts of interest allegations by his political rivals. Thaksin was quoted as saying to Shin executives two weeks ago that his exit was meant to soften persistent criticisms of his family.

Dr Suvarn Valaisathien, who represented the families, said at a press conference yesterday that the divestment was based on “pure business reasons.”

“The families think that the telecom business has demanded a great deal of investment,” Suvarn said, adding his clients would receive the proceeds on Thursday. Suvarn said the Shinawatra family had yet to receive the cash from the share sales so they had yet to work out what to invest their money in.

He said family members had no plan to buy back shares in any interests currently owned by Shin and that the money to be gained from the deal was not subject to income taxes.

The transaction signifies the Shinawatra family’s exit from the telecom flagship that Thaksin and his wife Khunying Pojaman co-founded in 1983. But telecom industrialists said it remained to be seen if the families could really cut ties with the telecom business.

At a meeting with over 200 executives of the Shin group of companies yesterday evening, Shin CEO Boonklee Plangsiri said the deal benefited three parties. While major shareholders could clear their names on the conflicts of interest issue, buyers gained access to the nation’s cream assets. Lastly, the group had no political attachments so its executives could be promoted for regional positions.

“No executives will be changed, except Khun Yingluck [Shinawatra, a sister of Thaksin who is president of AIS]. But she remains in her post,” he was quoted as saying. He also brushed aside the rumour that Shin would sell its stakes in subsidiary ITV Plc to GMM Grammy. “That’s entirely a rumour,” he said.

Aside from the shareholding changes, only three directors at Shin will be replaced. While Boonklee remains as a director, Pojaman’s brother Bhanapot Damapong, as well as Surasak Vajasit and Arak Chonlatanon, have resigned as directors. Replacing them are Pong Sarasin, S Iswaran, Temasek’s managing director for investment, and Wichit Surapongchai, president of Siam Commercial Bank.

Pong will also replace Bhanapot as Shin’s new chairman.

AIS president Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday her resignation would take effect by the end of next month.

While quoting the price of Bt72.31 for AIS shares, against the market price of Bt104, the new buyers announced they would introduce no change to other subsidiaries of Shin, which include iTV and Shin Satellite Plc. iTV operates a TV station while Shin Sat operates satellites, both on concessions. Prior to the announcement, there was a public outcry that both companies would fall under foreign control.

Iswaran said there would be no major changes in Shin’s business direction and both Shin and Temasek executives would later discuss in more detail how to chart the future of Shin.

Contrary to rumours that the new Shin could sell some businesses back to the Shinawatra family, Iswaran insisted Temasek had no plans for such divestitures or to delist Shin from the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

“We have a long term commitment to the group,” Iswaran said.

The deal was wrapped up in a complicated manner. Joining hands with Temasek in the takeover were Siam Commercial Bank and a newly established Thai company Kularb Kaew Co Ltd. Kularb Kaew is owned 51 per cent by Pong Sarasin, former chairman of DBS Bank, and Thanachart Bank president Supadet Poonpipat.

The tender offer for Shin and AIS shares will start on February 2 and end on March 23.

The Shinawatra family’s exit from the telecom industry leaves the Chearavanonts, who own True Corp Plc which is a major shareholder in TA Orange, as the only Thai family remaining in the field.

The Bencharongkuls were the first Thai telecom family to seek an exit by divesting all their 40 per cent stake in United Communication Industry Plc to Norway’s Telenor last October.

Sigve Brekke, chief executive of Total Access Communication (DTAC), said DTAC did not have to change its strategies to cope with the entry of Temasek into Shin.

“We’ll continue launching new products and be very active in marketing, regardless of the shareholding change in Shin,” he said.

Iswaran of Temasek said he did not believe the entry of Temasek would spur fiercer competition in the industry.

“The Thai market has already been intensely competitive [even before Temasek’s entry],” he said.

Business Reporters
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

25-01-2006, 12:07 AM

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 24 January 2006 :-

Accor opens two economy hotels in Bangkok

Accor has launched its economy hotel brand in Thailand with two new hotels –Ibis Siam Bangkok and Ibis Huamark Bangkok.

Opening rates at Ibis Huamark Bangkok start at Bt888 net a night, and Bt999 net a night at Ibis Siam Bangkok until April 30.

The entry into Thailand is part of Accor’s expansion of its economy hotel brand in the Asia-Pacific region. Ibis is already located in countries such as China, Korea, Indonesia and Australia and will make its debut later this year in India. There are 715 Ibis hotels globally in many of the world’s large cities.

The company bills the hotels as offering “a combination of modern international standard accommodation, value-for-money rates, cutting-edge facilities and prime locations in the capital”.

The economy hotels focus on no-frills accommodation.

They keep rates low by giving their employees multiple responsibilities. Reception-desk workers check guests in and out, work as cashiers and also help out in the cafe and bar, especially after dinner service ends. There are no barmen or bellhops. Ibis guests are provided with trolleys to bring their luggage to and from their rooms.

The 180-room Ibis Siam Bangkok is in Bangkok’s Pratunam shopping area within walking distance of Suansantipab Park and the Victory Monument Skytrain station. Its location is easily reached from Don Muang Airport, and is close to Chatchuchak market and shopping malls and entertainment districts, according to the company.

Ibis Huamark Bangkok features 269 rooms and is next to a shopping mall, Ramkhamhaeng University and Huamark Stadium. It is 25 km from the new Suvarnabhumi Airport and offers access to Bangkok’s central business district and Pattaya.

The Nation

KatoeyLover69

25-01-2006, 12:20 AM

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 24 January 2006 :-

TOURISM: Travel agents see boom year

TOURISM: Travel agents see boom year
Published on January 24, 2006

Sector confident its problems are behind it following poor 2005

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) says figures from last year show an 8.5-per-cent drop in tourists handled by its member companies at Bangkok International Airport.

In 2005, ATTA members served 2,457,548 travellers at the city’s airport, compared with 2,688,455 in 2004.

The association says the decline was caused mainly by economic concerns such as rising fuel costs and strong competition from other destinations. Contributing factors included security threats in the country’s southern provinces and the long-term impact of the tsunami disaster.

The belief that most of the problems are now behind them led ATTA travel agents to express optimism yesterday that 2006 could be a “rebound year”, with record arrivals throughout the country. They believe a full recovery will come to the southern provinces later this year and next winter – the next high tourist season – could “break all records”.

Their concerns, if any, focus on possible political disturbances, escalation of the unrest in the deep South and the emergence of new competitive destinations, particularly beach resorts. Fuel surcharges on air fares are also a constant worry for the travel industry because airlines are reluctant to remove them after oil prices drop.

ATTA president Apichart Sankary and some key travel industry representatives will hold a media confer-ence today to outline their suggestions for boosting tourist arrivals this year.

According to ATTA figures, the country supplying the most visitors to its members in Thailand last year was China, with 309,738 tourists. Japan followed with 287,791, Korea with 266,954 and Singapore with 138,319. The UK was ATTA ’s top European market with 130,184 visitors, while Germany supplied 69,615 and France, 30,137.

Among other markets, 40,615 tourists came from Australia and 32,988 from the US.

ATTA members handle about 25 per cent of all tourist arrivals in Thailand. The figures do not take into account direct arrivals to Phuket handled by ATTA members on behalf of charter or tour operators. Very few overland arrivals use an ATTA member company for transfers or tours.

In December 2005, ATTA recorded 232,403 visitors, a 6.9-per-cent drop from the 249,779 visitors in December 2004. Top markets once again were China, Korea and Japan.

Suchat Sritama
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

25-01-2006, 12:21 AM

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:15 AM

764 words
25 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

SURASAK GLAHAN

Residents in northern provinces were last night shaken by a moderate earthquake which hit the Shan State in Burma, about 300km from Chiang Mai.

The Meteorological Department reported that the 8.42pm quake was measured at 5.7 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was in the Burmese state. It was felt throughout Thailand's northern region.

Short messages from those who were jolted flooded late-night talk shows on television.

A message from Chiang Mai reported that buildings also shook. One person from Chiang Rai said the tremblor was so strong that residents dared not move out of their homes. Similar SMS messages were also received from residents in Lampang, Lamphun and Phayao.

No damages or casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, experts at a seminar warned authorities to think of a worst case scenario and take some steps to avoid serious damage and fatalities from floods if the Srinakharin Dam in Kanchanaburi province was struck by a major quake. They urged authorities to work together to implement effective warning systems and initiate information-sharing and disclosure.

They said the dam, sitting on two active fault lines, was not designed to withstand strong earthquakes which could cause overflows as strong as a tsunami.

Pennung Warnitchai, a structural engineering expert at the Asian Institute of Technology, said Kanchanaburi could be in deep trouble if the active faults underneath the dam happen to trigger an earthquake.

He urged the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) which operates the dam, the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDW) and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DPM) to disclose all the important and sensitive information on the dam to the public.

He said information available to the public had been incomplete, not specifying how strong an earthquake the dam could withstand.

Mr Pennung, speaking at a seminar yesterday on Srinakharin dam, earthquakes, prevention and mitigation measures, held at the office of National Human Rights Commission, said most of the planning done by the DPM only involved mitigation measures but did not address preparedness and prevention. He urged Egat to disclose all information on possible damage the dam could cause and integrate it with that of the other two agencies.

If the dam is breached, it would take just a few hours for the overflows to reach Muang district of Kanchanuburi and causing floods of 2-3 metres high, said Mr Pennung. The floods would come with a high current velocity, not different from the tsunami, and cause serious damage and kill a lot of people.

Many cheap and high technology warning systems were now available to prevent such a catastrophe, he said. These systems can quickly process information on the overflow from the dam and send it to the dam's disaster prevention centre in Kanchanaburi town. They can also help prioritise risk areas and select what mode of transmission to use for sending messages.

"The National Disaster Warning Centre should install such a system because it can also access the TV pool system," said Mr Pennung. Egat also needs a back-up support system because it has engineering resources, he said. "It is a matter of commitment by related parties. But information available now is scattered among different agencies [and should be pooled and shared]," said Mr Pennung.

Thamrong Thavajjaipraya, a former Egat employee, said Egat Pcl had given false information to the public by saying that the dam could withstand an earthquake of 7.5 magnitude on the Richter scale.

As one of the engineers who built the dam, Mr Thamrong said he knew that the dam can withstand earthquakes of such magnitude only if their epicentre is at least 250km away from the dam.

If an earthquake is centred at the dam, the maximum magnitude it can withstand is 5.75, he said.

A local doctor from Kanchanaburi said his source informed him that the governor of Kanchanaburi had given the task of drafting a disaster prevention and mitigation plan to a single person. Such a task, he said, should involve every concerned party.

Geologist Prinya Nutalai said existing disaster prevention and mitigation systems were not reliable and the Kanchanaburi governor should not be in charge of planning. "It should only involve experts from central government agencies."

Anusorn Kaewkangwan, a representative from the DMT, said the department would organise workshops with local people and related agencies to draft emergency plans. He said the DMT also had requested the NDW for disaster warning systems to be installed in Kanchanaburi in which Egat had agreed to provide financial support.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:17 AM

587 words
25 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN, KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA & WORANUJ MANEERUNGSEE

The acquisition by Singapore's Temasek Holdings of telecom giant Shin Corp has raised public concerns over the deal's threat to national security, economic development and media independence.

Criticism grew after the Shinawatra and Damapong families, in a series of transactions, on Monday completed the sale of 1.48 billion Shin shares to two holding vehicles controlled by Temasek for 73.3 billion baht.

What worries academics and political observers most is the sale to foreigners of radio frequencies and satellite broadcasting, which are national assets. They fear it could jeopardise political stability and therefore national security.

The Temasek takeover reflects foreign dominance of the country's telecom industry. All mobile telephone operators are now owned by foreign partners except for TA Orange, which is searching for a new foreign partner.

Late last year, Telenor of Norway took over United Communication Industry and its mobile subsidiary Total Access Communication, the operator of DTAC, which consequently forced the founding Bencharongkul family to exit the Thai telecom industry.

"Allowing foreign companies to have a controlling stake in Thai telecom firms carries a high risk of interference by their own government agencies to track confidential information and tap the communications of our national security agencies," an academic from Chulalongkorn University said.

Local fixed-line and mobile telephone operators have already voiced concern over mounting requests by government agencies in charge of drug suppression, anti-money laundering, intelligence, national security and crime suppression to tap communications of customers.

An executive at a telecom company said there had been daily requests to track down prepaid mobile customers and even wiretap land-line customers. But only requests that were urgent and significant would be accommodated, and they needed necessary legal documents.

Another industry veteran urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to step in and formulate a regulatory framework for the industry.

"The NTC should now come up with rules of fair competition to prevent operators manipulating business or monopolising the market," he said.

Anuparp Thilalarp, president of Thailand Telecommunications Management Academy, said his study of the joint concession contract between TOT and Advanced Info Service revealed no legal problems in the change of the shareholding structure from Thais to foreigners.

Somkiat Tangkitvanit, a researcher with the Thailand Development Research Institute, questioned whether the Temasek deal would remove the "conflict of interest" issue from the Shinawatra family as claimed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The prime minister and his family should clarify publicly how they are going to spend the 73 billion baht. If they invest in other businesses, there could still be conflict-of-interest claims, he said.

The deal is an obvious violation of the Alien Business Law which limits foreign holding in a Thai company to a maximum 49%, said Mr Somkiat. Direct and indirect holding through nominees in Shin Corp by Temasek was up to 80%.

By law, the deal was a liberalisation of the telecom sector, but in fact it amounted to a liberalisation of the entire service sector through pyramid holding by the foreign firm, he said.

It also set a precedent for other foreign investors to take up stakes in other sectors reserved for Thais through cross holdings.

TOT president Teerawit Charuwat said agencies concerned with national security and confidential information could shift to TOT if they felt unhappy with the takeover by the Singapore-government firm. The central intelligence service and military agencies already used TOT.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:21 AM

283 words
25 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS

CAT Telecom yesterday cut the signal of the ASTV satellite-based TV network's live broadcast of Sondhi Limthongkul's political talk show in Hat Yai.

Mr Sondhi and co-host Sarocha Porn-udomsak were explaining their plans to rescue the country during their show at the Prince of Songkhla University's conference hall when the signal was cut off, disrupting the live transmission of the programme from Hat Yai to Bangkok.

The station director, Pramen Thuk-diwatee, said they were forced to continue the broadcast via the internet.

Thaiday.Com, a firm belonging to Mr Sondhi's family, would sue those involved in cutting the transmission. The shut-down was politically motivated, he said.

State-run CAT Telecom, citing security problem, had ordered the signal cut.

PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva, who oversees the Public Relations Department, said he asked CAT Telecom to suspend the ASTV signal because the network was operating without permission.

He said it was policy to strictly enforce the law in a straight forward manner.

CAT Telecom had been asked to terminate the signals of community radio stations and all cable televisions which violated the broadcasting regulations.

ASTV had also violated the law by operating without permission, he said, insisting there was no ill motive involved.

Mr Pramen argued his station had rented the signal from CAT Telecom for two years. The network was legal. He had documents to prove he paid the rental he could not understand why the signal suddenly went off the air when Mr Sondhi's talk show was being broadcast.

Mr Sondhi said CAT Telecom had followed the government's orders.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:24 AM

491 words
26 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Corporate News - Toilets can make or break the image of a public or private organisation that chooses to welcome guests, the Bangkok Post reports.Now with Danish-patented technology, Thai properties can sport classy washrooms with clean, odourless, urinals that don't need water.Uridan (Thailand) Co, a subsidiary of Uridan A/S in Denmark, has recently introduced waterless urinals under the Uridan brand to the Thai market.Uridan units have already been installed at Bangkok and Samitivej hospitals on an experimental basis.The fibreglass urinals contain a patented built-in waste trap, which is in effect blocking fluid that is lighter than urine.

It effectively creates a seal eliminating unpleasant odours and can stand 7,000 rinses.Rajesh Menon, managing director of Uridan (Thailand), said the company would revolutionise toilets in Thailand, following the waterless system's success in Europe, Australia and Japan since it was introduced in 2003.He said that success stemmed from savings made on water and electricity, adding that the product was easy to install because only a drainage system is needed.The product received a Highly Commended Judges' Award for Water Efficiency at the 21st Annual Plumbing Industry Awards held in Australia in 2003.The company also claimed that the Australian government now requires new airports to use waterless urinal systems.The other factors that Mr Menon says make the product a success are that it is odour-free and easy to clean.Uridan (Thailand), which was established late last year, aims to sell its urinals to organisations that provide public toilets, such as hotels, hospitals, factories, sports stadiums, cinemas, airports and gasoline stations."We feel that revolutionary change will catch on in all industries and gradually spread all over the country. We hope that people will understand the product so it can be sold without pushing," said Mr Menon.Marketing director Gerald Hansen said that the company anticipated that it would sell about 3,000 units in its first year in the Thai market. A Uridan urinal costs about 20,000 baht, but the company believes purchasers will realise savings in maintenance and installation as well as utility bills.Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to market Uridan urinals.Mr Menon said the parent company was concerned about the violation of intellectual property rights in the region, as the product will also be launched in Malaysia, India, Singapore and Vietnam.The company will consider manufacturing the fibreglass bowls in Thailand when product sales reach about 5,000 units per year. Uridan products are manufactured in Denmark, which has the capacity to produce around 2,000 units a month.Uridan A/S also plans to make a model for women's toilets in the future."My vision is to see Uridan become a common name for urinals in future, similar to the success of Xerox for photocopiers," added Mr Menon.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:26 AM

327 words
25 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Siam Rath Editorial - Accident prevention seems to be very low on the government's priority list these days. Accidents happen every day, and sometimes small accidents can cause great damage to society, or the country. Therefore, the government must pay serious attention to the problem by launching a continuous campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of accident prevention. Tough legal punishment must be meted out against those who cause accidents that result in deaths or great damage to property.

Government agencies in charge must routinely inspect factories, buildings and all types of vehicles to make sure that they comply with safety standards.

We used to have a serious campaign for safety in the workplaces, but in recent years focus has been put on preventing road accidents during the festive season. The campaign against drunk driving has been quite successful in reducing the number of road deaths in the past few years.

However, railway accidents are still common. Last year, passenger trains derailed in Lampang province twice. There have been no follow-up reports in the press about what caused the accidents.

On Jan 18, a fire broke out at Thai Airways International's (THAI) flight catering building inside the Suvarnabhumi Airport, with one person killed and three injured. The four were repairing part of the cafeteria building. An initial investigation found that the blaze was sparked by metal welding being carried out inside the building. This should be a wake-up call for the government. The Suvarnabhumi Airport uses state-of-the-art designing and construction techniques, but the standards of certain construction work seem to be low. In the Jan 18 fire, the welder was apparently careless, or he could be inexperienced. But the responsibility lies with his supervisor. Of course, accidents cannot be totally avoided, but those responsible must do their jobs well. Workers must be trained to be responsible and careful in everything they do.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:32 AM

BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-01-24 / 18:00:36 (GMT+7:00)

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed Tuesday to crack down firmly on 'mafia types' -- criminal groups controlling passenger van services -- warning that unless the gangsters 'stop bullying the poor,' they will have no place to hide.

Referring to a passenger van bombing at Future Park Mall in Pathumthani province's Rangsit district Monday night, the prime minister admitted that despite the government's war on organised crime, mafias still exist.

"More importantly," the prime minister said, "some police have been found to be involved, so the crackdown must continue.".

"The problem has been dragging on a long time," Mr. Thaksin said, "but we must keep on fighting. We must get rid of it absolutely."

According to police, before the bombing the van owner had petitioned the prime minister several times by mail saying she had been threatened by gangsters, who claimed that her vans ran on their controlled routes.

Police said the bomb was detonated as a retaliatory action to give a lesson to the van owner.

An obviously angered Mr. Thaksin said he did not know details of this case, but vowed prompt action once the authorities had discovered who was involved in the incident.

"They can't do this, especially bullying the poor," the prime minister warned. "If I know who they are I'll crush them until they won't have even a place to stand.".

It is believed that thousands of both legal and illegal passenger vans are operated by criminal gangs -- and police -- in Bangkok. The government loses much potential tax and licensing income to extortionists running the queues or demanding 'protection' from illegal services.

Earlier, a group of van operators asked the government to investigate their complaints and offer them official protection.

The prime minister said he assigned Deputy Prime Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya, who also serves as Minister of Justice, to deal with this issue.(TNA)- E009

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:33 AM

151 words
25 January 2006
Xinhua News Agency
English

BANGKOK, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand has been named as the World Best Tourist Country in the 2005 Grand Travel Award held in Norway early this month, the Thai News Agency said on Wednesday.

It is the third consecutive year Thailand won the award with Greece and Italy coming second and third.

Chitriya Pinthong, Thai Ambassador to Norway, and Nattheera Kachornserilikitkul, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand ' s Stockholm Office in Sweden, represented Thailand at the annual award presentation ceremony.

The accolade was granted to Thailand under the deliberation and decision by the Travel Trade Jury and 300 tour companies in Norway.

It shows tourists remain impressed by the friendliness of Thai people, as well as natural beauties and charms of Thailand's tourist sites although the country experienced a great loss from the tsunami disaster in late December 2004, the official News Agency said.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:34 AM

100 words
25 January 2006
The Gold Coast Bulletin
27
English

A DOCUMENTARY highlighting the plight of the Thai people after the 2004 tsunami, will make its Gold Coast debut tonight.

Singer Michelle McRae produced the 38 minute doco, Back to Paradise - Life after Tsunami, the story of one woman's journey across Thailand's devastated areas, in the hope of helping the people she has grown to love.

It outlines the economic and emotional destruction in the tsunami's aftermath.

Michelle has travelled to Thailand regularly, over the past six years.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:36 AM

BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-24 / 15:34:45 (GMT+7:00)

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday played down a planned anti-government rally led by Media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul at Sanam Luang on Feb 4, but warned protestors to abide by the law.

Mr. Thaksin said he was not concerned that Mr. Sondhi's Muang Thai Rai Sapda ('Thailand Weekly') talk show and the gathering of demonstrators would cause any trouble, including shaking foreign investor confidence-- especially those invited to bid on the mega-projects under the government's "Thailand Partnership for Development" initiative at Government House on Jan 26.

"No problem. Don't pay any attention. Believe me! They (the investors) won't be frightened. Everything is all right so far," he said.

The prime minister said people had the right to stage a rally but they had to respect the law. However, he said, many people did not respect the law and tried to draw attention from others.

"Someone doesn't care about the rules, having problems in living in a society and trying make himself a hero," he said, apparently referring to Mr. Sondhi.

Mr. Thaksin also noted that the Thai press has been abused by those leading the anti-government gatherings.

"The weak point of the press here is that they make any news report just because it's their duty to do so. It therefore enables those who have problems with the society to do anything that can make them look good," the prime minister said.

Responding to the use of Sanam Luang as the rally point of demonstrators, Mr. Thaksin said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), not the government, allowed Mr. Sondhi and his supporters to use the area to stage the rally, and BMA seemed happy to do so.

"BMA is more than willing to allow them to use it (Sanam Luang)," the prime minister said.

The (Democrat-led) Bangkok municipal government even reserves Lumpini Park for the demonstrators every Friday, Mr. Thaksin said sarcastically, apparently criticising the BMA, which is headed by Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, deputy leader of the opposition Democrat Party.(TNA) -E009

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:37 AM

BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-24 / 12:22:14 (GMT+7:00)

The government will go ahead with its negotiations with the United States on the proposed Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) Agreement, Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon reaffirmed here on Tuesday.

"The negotiations have been carried on with some positive results so far. The talks will be continued with no suspension," Mr. Kantathi told journalists.

"When overall benefits to the nation and the Thai people are taken into careful consideration, the government has decided to go ahead with the talks," he noted.

Mr. Kantathi's comments, when asked by the journalists, followed a recent call by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the government to suspend the planned Thai-US FTA talks, citing fears of adverse effects on the Thai economy caused by trade liberalization with the stronger US economy.

Asked whether the government would raise the controversial Thai-US FTA talks at the House of Representatives' sessions, the Thai foreign minister said that the government had exchanged views with parties concerned, including the private sector, the parliament and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), since the beginning.

The government is scheduled to appoint a new three-member Thai negotiation team on January 24 following a recent resignation of the former head of the previous Thai negotiation team--Nitya Pibulsonkram, according to the Thai foreign minister.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak confirmed that the government would continue the Thai-US FTA talks.

He requested the public not to be against the new Thai negotiation team.

"The US is a huge export market of Thailand and all officials concerned have kept in mind to give priority to national benefits and not to put the Thai economy at the disadvantage," Mr. Somkid stressed. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:39 AM

148 words
25 January 2006
English

Bangkok Post:

-- The acquisition by Singapore's Temasek Holdings of telecom giant Shin Corp has raised public concerns over the deal's threat to national security, economic development and media independence.

The Nation:

-- With the dust settling on the historic takeover of Shin Corp, the purported attempt to improve Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra 's political image is threatening to backfire, with a growing number of critics questioning whether he has jeopardized public interests with the 73 billion-baht sell-off, virtually tax-free.

Sing Sian Yit Pao:

-- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick in Beijing Tuesday. They exchanged views on Sino-U.S. relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:44 AM

436 words
25 January 2006
Asia Pulse
English

BANGKOK POST:

- Yingluck Shinawatra, the youngest sister of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, will take a post with no official title for the first time at SC Asset, the property investment arm of the family.

- Thai shares dropped 0.58 per cent yesterday on sluggish trade, with shares of companies in the Shin Group mostly ending lower as investors digested the ramifications of Monday's historic deal between the Shinawatra family and Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

- Dismayed Phuket authorities have asked Thai Airways International (THAI) not to axe its direct flights from Australia to the island, fearing it would hurt the tourism industry's revival.

- The state agency that owns the Bangkok subway system has received cabinet approval to borrow money to buy shares in the subway operator, Bangkok Metro Co (BMCL), in preparation for the latter's listing on the stock market.

- Bangkok Art Auction made its debut yesterday with the aim of tapping the growing interest in works by local artists and promoting liquidity in the domestic art-collecting market.

- Merchant Partners Securities Ltd, Thailand's newest brokerage firm, hopes to attract a 0.5 per cent market share by the end of the year and plans to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand within three years.

THE NATION:

- The Bank of Thailand is undaunted by the possible strengthening of the baht, if Temasek Holdings is to bring in as much as Bt201 billion in cash to finance tender offers for the remaining shares in Shin Corp Plc and Advanced Info Service Plc.

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday mentioned that a portion of the profits his family made from selling Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings will go to foundations for charitable purposes.

- Pong Sarasin shocked reporters when he told them that, through his stake in Kularb Kaew Co Ltd, he was just a proxy in the earthshaking Shin Corp-Temasek deal.

- Cabinet yesterday approved broad guidelines for selecting contractors for its planned Bt1.8 trillion infrastructure projects, which are expected to draw interest from many foreign companies.

- Non-performing loans (NPLs) at financial institutions are likely to decline below the earlier expectation of 5 per cent of total loans this year due to supporting measures and robust economic sentiment, according to the Bank of Thailand (BOT).

- The TMB Bank said it will issue hybrid securities worth US$200 million (Bt7.85 billion) to foreign investors in the first quarter of the year to replace Bt5 billion worth of capital augmented preferred shares which expire in May.

Mark3517

25-01-2006, 11:48 AM

for which agency I still not sure though.

"agency" is the basis to everything we know about this subject.

Chicago Dating
(http://www.local-dating.info/illinois-chicago-dating.html) - South Africa Cabins
(http://www.local-cabins.info/south-africa-cabins.html)

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:48 AM

99 words
25 January 2006
Vietnam News Agency Bulletin
English

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin = Shinawatra has launched a national poverty alleviation campaign in Samat district, northern Roi Et province. PM Thaksin said the fight against poverty could not be won in the near future, but it could be won within two or three years with proper governmental policies and intensive efforts by citizens. The government will budget several billion baht for poverty alleviation programmes, he added. The PM pledged to implement infrastructure projects in disadvantaged areas and provide assistance for families without housing or farmland.

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:50 AM

Grace Ng
574 words
25 January 2006
Straits Times
English

Analysts divided, with core telecoms business, AIS, facing uncertainty

ANALYSTS say Temasek Holdings surely had its eyes wide open to the risks of buying into a diversified behemoth like Thailand's Shin Corp, but they are divided over what it saw in the conglomerate's core telecoms business that warranted a 73.3 billion baht (S$3.1 billion) price tag.

On Monday, Temasek and a group of Thai investors paid 49.25 baht per share for a 49.6 per cent stake in Shin, just as the stock hit an 11-year high.

Temasek's deal also comes at a time when Shin's crown jewel Advanced Info Service (AIS), the telecoms business, is grappling with regulatory inertia in granting the sought-after 3G cellular licences that may significantly boost its flagging bottom line, they note.

AIS, in which Shin owns a 42.86 per cent stake, saw its net income drop 10 per cent to 1.98 billion baht for the quarter ended Sept 30 last year, due to an intense price war in the Thai market. But it still retained its No. 1 spot.

Although Thai analysts expect AIS' growth prospects to recover, they note that Shin shares traded on an estimated price-earnings multiple of 16.1 times, compared with an average of 11.8 for the Thai telecoms sector, according to Reuters data.

'The price is not what most will consider cheap for the overall quality of assets that Temasek will get from the conglomerate, especially since AIS contributes about 90 per cent of Shin's bottom line,' noted one Bangkok-based analyst.

He reckons that Temasek may have 'some difficulty' streamlining Shin's diversified holdings in consumer finance, transport, broadband and telecoms in future and this is 'a hidden cost'.

Temasek will make a tender offer for all Shin shares as well as all AIS shares that it does not already own at 72.31 baht per share - about 23 per cent below the current market price of 99 baht apiece.

This 'low tender offer price suggests that Temasek may not be that keen to get a larger stake in AIS', noted one analyst with a local broking house.

Analysts say Temasek made this low offer because it was aware of the business uncertainty facing AIS now that it no longer has the backing of a political figure like Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to navigate regulatory changes.

AIS' earnings are currently hit by its payments - 24 per cent of annual gross revenues - to state-owned Telephone Organisation of Thailand for a cellphone concession that allows it to operate specific services until 2015, said Tisco Securities analyst Monchai Mokaranuraksa.

Some of AIS' rivals have to fork out even more, about 34 per cent, to the regulatory authorities for their own concessions. A way to avoid paying this amount is to apply for a new 3G licence, so that the telcos would pay only about 17 per cent of their gross revenues, said UOB Kayhian analyst Kowit Ongwinyoo.

'We expect that over the next five years, AIS will migrate 60 to 70 per cent of its subscriber base, who are the 'high-usage' customers, and 70 per cent of its revenues under the 3G new licence. With the lower fees they have to pay to the telecoms regulator, their growth prospects are better.'

U-Need

25-01-2006, 11:56 AM

John Aglionby South-east Asia correspondent
404 words
25 January 2006
The Guardian
English

If the Thai masses won't come to Buddha then Buddha will come to the Thai masses by video, an alliance of monks, Buddhism experts and a devout businessman announced yesterday.

The group is seeking to arrest the declining popularity of Buddhism and materialism's seemingly unstoppable rise by using 21st-century technology to reach the masses in a way they can relate to.

It will produce a 250-part video CD - a simpler version of a DVD - series on Bud dhist teachings in the hope that a generation which has largely given up reading, and thus the religion, will be drawn back to the faith.

"We will translate text scripts into moving pictures to encourage people to practise Buddhist teachings," Phra Rachamethaphon, the acting head of Mahamakut Buddhist University, told the Associated Press.

Buddhism, which teaches compassion for all beings, and achieving inner peace through detachment from desires, is officially the religion of 90% of Thailand's 65 million people but in the past decade the number who see themselves as practi tioners of the religion has dropped significantly. "I've been to the countryside and seen abandoned temples. There were no monks," said real estate developer Sanan Sukdi, who plans to produce the videos.

"I was thinking of ways to help people understand Buddhism, and how to maintain religion in Thai society."

Monks will take three months to translate the Tripitaka - the three collections of Buddhist teaching - from Pali, the largely defunct language in which most Buddhist texts are written, into vernacular Thai. Film experts will then adapt them into a video series covering the Tripitaka's 45 books, which have 48,000 sections.

"We want to make that which is deemed difficult easy and accessible to Buddhists," Mr Phra said.

The project will cost some 97m baht (pounds 1.4m) and the video CDs will sell for 200 baht (pounds 2.80) each.

The first run will take up to four years to complete and will all be in Thai but there are plans to make an English version for the international market.

The videos are being made to celebrate the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne in June. Video production is scheduled to start before the king's 79th birthday in December.

A Buddhist monk washes his clothes

KatoeyLover69

25-01-2006, 11:49 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 25 January 2006 :-

PM insists airport will open by early July despite hiccups

By Amornrat Mahitthirook

Despite a runway surface problem and a recent fire at its catering facility, Suvarnabhumi airport will be finished and open some time between June 28 and early July, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday.

Visiting the new airport, Mr Thaksin said it would be ready for opening during that period but the exact date of the official inauguration will be set when the government consults His Majesty the King.

He inspected the airport construction site east of Bangkok yesterday and chaired a meeting of the airport development panel where he was briefed on the progress.

Mr Thaksin said Thai Airways International could repair the catering building, which caught fire last week, in time for the opening, while fixing parts of the west runway which peeled off because they were not reinforced with polymer, would not be difficult.

The THAI management has told him the catering facility will be repaired and completed in four or six months. Mr Thaksin said that even if the schedule is delayed, THAI can provide catering services to Suvarnabhumi airport using its old facility at Don Muang airport.

Regarding the runway, he said it was not cracked as some in the media had reported. The peeling resulted from the grooving of the runway surface and its material and improving it would only require use of a simple technique.

Mr Thaksin said the overall construction work and preparation of the airport's operations have so far been satisfactory.

The baggage handling system had posed a major concern because it is a crucial factor for the new airport's success. Officials had assured him the system was now functioning well.

Authorities have set the transition time for Bangkok air traffic to switch from Don Muang airport to Suvarnabhumi at 3am on the inauguration day because of the low number of flights at that hour.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) submitted its plan for public transport services at the new airport for Mr Thaksin's committee to approve yesterday.

The panel agreed with the plan to introduce air-conditioned buses, taxis, limousines and rental cars.

Air-conditioned buses will be divided into the ''Airport Express'' and ''Airport Bus'' services.

Airport Express will shuttle between Suvarnabhumi and leading hotels in the Silom, Bang Lamphu, Hua Lamphong and Witthayu areas. Airport Bus will ply between the new airport and Min Buri, Happy Land, Victory Monument, Bang Na, Don Muang and Samut Prakan.

There will also be inter-provincial airport buses that will reach Pattaya city and Sa Kaeo and Nong Khai provinces.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will provide airport buses for the short routes while state-run Transport Co will introduce buses for long routes.

AOT plans to select a contractor to manage all the public transport services. But Mr Thaksin suggested that AOT set up a subsidiary to manage them to prevent any possible vested interests of its contractor coming into play.

KatoeyLover69

25-01-2006, 11:55 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 25 January 2006 :-

Thai car production reached 1 million in 2005

Thailand's automobile production reached 1,125,316 units in 2005, of which 440,717 were exported, industry sources said on Wednesday.

Vehicle exports last year totaled 440,717 units, with a value of 203 billion baht (5.2 billion dollars), up 36 per cent on 2004 figures, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) disclosed.

Auto Industry Club spokesman Surpong Paisitpattanapong said altogether the automotive industry earned 294 billion baht (7.5 billion dollars) from combined exports of vehicles, engines and auto parts in 2005, an increase of 45 per cent.

Production of vehicles for the domestic market reached 684,599 units, up 21.3 per cent, said Surapong.

Thailand's vehicle production surpassed the one million mark for the first time in 2005, securing the kingdom's claim to being the "Detroit of Southeast Asia."

The vast majority of vehicles manufactured in Thailand are one-ton pickups, amounting to 822,867 units in 2005 made for both the domestic and export markets.

The FTI predicts Thailand will produce 1,245,000 vehicle in 2006, including 723,000 units for the domestic market and 522,000 for exports.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 10:51 AM

Agence France Presse
Published on Jan 25 , 2006

London - A British diplomat accused of going "beserk" on a plane as he returned from dealing with the aftermath of the Asian tsunami disaster was cleared on Tuesday of the sole charge of being drunk on an aircraft.

Colonel Peter Roberts, the former British defence attache in Thailand, had been on trial for allegedly launching a series of foul-mouthed tirades and threatening to kill passengers and crew at 35,000 feet (10,668 metres).

The 51-year-old was said to have lost control in business class after drinking wine, port and whisky on an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, to London Heathrow on February 17 last year.

Roberts, a father of three, had been involved in trying to identify British victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami and was travelling to London to brief Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office colleagues on the disaster.

The former British army helicopter pilot told the jury he had been suffering from stress following the tsunami and had accidentally taken too much of the anti-depressant drug Seroxat, which he had been prescribed.

He also said he had no recollection of his behaviour on the flight.

Speaking outside court, Roberts' lawyer, Look Chih Wang, told reporters Roberts was found not guilty because he was not drunk.

Instead, his behaviour was due to "a temporary abnormality of function caused by long-term chronic stress, tsunami-related post-traumatic stress, sleep deprivation and a combination of the anti-depressant Seroxat and alcohol".

The diplomat's doctor had advised him he could drink in moderation while taking Seroxat, the lawyer said.

"Although Colonel Roberts has been acquitted he nevertheless wishes to apologise to all those who were affected by his behaviour and offended by his remarks," Look added.

"Colonel Roberts would like to state categorically that the alleged remarks in no way are representative of his views or beliefs."

U-Need

26-01-2006, 10:52 AM

361 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Nakhon Pathom's provincial administration and the provincial chamber of commerce will hold an annual fair where many varieties of fruits and local goods are being sold. The fair will be held near Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakorn Pathom between January 29th and February 4th.

Nakorn Pathom, one of the provinces located near Bangkok, is famous for its delicious fruits, such as its sweet pomeloes. Apart from its fruits, the province comprises of the wax museum where there are many wax figurines of important persons. And in order to help support these attractive features of Nakorn Pathom, particularly it's agricultural and food products, the TAT will then organize an annual fair to promote the provincial fruits and other local products.

In response to the government policy of promoting tourism, the fair will also sell many OTOP goods. Further, the production standards of OTOP goods are being raised, to help bring in more revenues to the province.

At the festival, people can taste many clean and fresh fruits at only 29 baht. These fruits are being handpicked in high-quality farms. People can also travel to other provincial tourist destinations. Not to mention, tourists can also buy a number of 3-star to 5-star OTOP products which are being gathered from different districts of Nakorn Pathom.

Mr. Pramaysuan Amatayakul, the Director-General of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Central Region Office in District 1, said this type of fair is being held on a yearly basis. He said the selected fruits are being carefully chosen, and officers have ensured that the fruits do not have any chemical residue. The fair organizers would like to invite tourists to come over as it is not too far from the capital city of Bangkok.

This annual fair, which will be held for the 21st time, will take place in Phra Phathom Chedi, Nakhon Prathom Province from January 29th to February 4th.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 10:54 AM

160 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Appeals have been filed for the two fishermen sentenced to death for raping and killing a British tourist on Samui Island.

Appeals were filed yesterday for Mr. Wichai Somkhaoyai and Bualoi Posit who were sentenced to execution by the Surat Thani court on January 18th, under charges of raping and murdering British backpacker Katherine Elizabeth Horton on Samui Island.

The lawyers of the two men said the appeal came as the punishment was too severe and the two men should receive reduced penalties due to the lack of human witnesses of the crime. They argued that the court had used only DNA evidence in making its judgment, while the convicted men had confessed to all charges and provided corporation in every step.

The two men have been sent to the Nakhon Si Thammarat special prison since January 19th.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 10:55 AM

160 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Police have appointed 3 investigative teams to work on the case of a passenger van in Bangkok that was bombed, after officials found the cause to have sprouted from conflicts between the van owner and influential figures.

Police Lieutenant General Witthi Phuawet, the Commissioner -general of the Region 1 Provincial Police, said that the cause of the incident has now been concluded to have arisen from conflicts between the van owner and influential figures. 3 investigative teams have been created, comprising officials from 3 police jurisdictions. Officials are now gathering evidence and will soon call in related people for questioning. Meanwhile, officials are providing security for the owner of the bombed van.

Prime Mnister Thaksin Shinnawat has insisted that he will handle influential figures with strictness, saying that he has appointed a central committee to investigate the matter.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 10:58 AM

811 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Business News - Exports rise 11.6% in December

EXPORTS :Customs-cleared exports rose 11.6% to $9.45 billion in December from the same month in 2004, following a 14.5% increase to $9.84 billion in November, according to the Commerce Ministry.

Imports rose 27.9% from December 2004 to $9.59 billion, after a 14.7% rise to $9.79 billion in November. The December trade account showed a $142-million deficit against a $55-million surplus in November.Exports were worth $110.9 billion in 2005 while imports were $118.2 billion, leaving a $7.34-billion trade deficit for the year, the ministry said.

Robinson renovating

RETAILING :Robinson Department Store Plc will spend 560 million baht on store renovations and marketing this year.

Of the total budget, about 300 million baht would be used for store improvements, according to president Preecha Ekkunagul.

He said Robinson's sales in the last nine months of 2005 grew by 9%, higher than the industry growth of 6%, because the company had adjusted its merchandise mix by adding more fashion house-brands and a home decoration zone.

The company on January 23 launched a Robinson Visa card, offering holders discounts of 5-30% when shopping at 19 outlets nationwide. It expects to have 100,000 cardholders by the end of this year.

Shares of Robinson closed on January 23 on the SET at 7.80 baht, down 0.05 satang, trade worth 940,000 baht.

G Steel ready to trade

STOCKS :Shares of G Steel will begin trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on January 25 under the symbol GSTEEL.

The company will list 9.7 billion shares at one baht par value. A total of 1.5 billion new shares were issued in its initial public offering last week at 1.60 baht per share. Asia Plus Securities was the adviser for the listing.

'Unlimited' talk time

MOBILE PHONES :Advanced Info Service (AIS) has introduced an "unlimited" talk time package for prepaid and postpaid customers during selected hours.

The tariff is 399 baht per month for prepaid customers, who can make unlimited calls from 6 am to 4 pm, and 10 pm to 8 am.

For postpaid users, the monthly fee is 799 baht for unlimited calls between 10 pm and 4 pm on workdays, and for 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

Calls are calculated at five baht for the first minute and two baht a minute thereafter for the packages, which are valid until Feb 28.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:00 AM

374 words
26 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Pongpet Mekloy

There are still a few more routes in the North that I need to tell you about while the weather over there is still nice and cool. This one starts from Mae Malai, the point where Highway 1095 from Pai meets with Highway 107 from Chiang Mai.

From Mae Malai, follow the 107 up north for four kilometres and you'll find the minor road to Mae Ngat Dam on the right-hand side. The dam is 11.5 kilometres down that road and the headquarters of Si Lanna National Park is about three kilometres from the dam.

To get to Mae Taman, today's Point B, drive back to the 107 and go on for another 1.5 kilometres. Mae Taman is about nine kilometres off the highway.

Now continue along the 107 northward to Chiang Dao. This section of the highway is full of curves so you'd better be extra careful. The minor road to Chiang Dao Cave is 800 metres further from the district office.

After you're done with the cave, get back on the 107 but this time go on for only three kilometres then veer left onto Highway 1178. The King Naresuan Memorial is 4.5 kilometres up the 1178.

Almost 21 kilometres from the memorial, you'll reach the headquarters of Chiang Dao National Park. Seven kilometres from the park is the Rin Luang intersection. There, turn right and you'll soon reach the Chinese community at Ban Arunothai. Oh, by the way, for those interested in hilltribe culture, between Rin Luang intersection and Ban Arunothai, there's a Kachin cultural centre worth dropping by.

And for those who wish to know more about the Kuomintang (KMT) in Thailand, don't miss the next two routes!

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:01 AM

530 words
26 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

Businesses and service providers are increasingly filing counter lawsuits against consumers who complain about their conduct or services, a consumer group said yesterday.

Several attempts by consumers to exercise their rights had been blocked and they had even been threatened by irresponsible operators, Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, said. Existing state mechanisms were not strong enough to protect them.

Speaking at a seminar at the National Health Foundation, Ms Saree offered as an example the case of David Haines who has been fighting against alleged fraud by a developer.

A British retiree, Mr Haines, 62, said he and about 30 Thais and foreigners purchased condominium units at the Yacht Haven Phuket condominium project in 1996 at prices of four to 13 million baht each. They were promised that construction would be completed and the units ready for hand-over by 1998.

"The project appealed to a lot of people as a dream retirement home. Besides, it was run by the Phataraprasit Group whose name used to mean financial credibility and respectability," said Mr Haines.

Most buyers had already paid 30% of the price, totalling more than 50 million baht. However, they later found that the project was unlikely to be finished. After years of waiting, the buyers collectively filed a criminal fraud case against the company and its executives.

However, the court found no sufficient grounds and rejected the suit.

While the buyers were preparing an appeal, the company launched a countersuit, charging the group with filing a false claim. The court is in the process of deliberating whether to accept it.

"It's a very sad state of affairs that a foreigner bringing money to Thailand to buy property and retire should now be charged by the developer who has stolen his money," said Mr Haines.

Ms Saree said many people facing similar suits had gone to the foundation for help.

About a dozen people, for example, were sued by hospitals under the Social Security programme after they filed complaints about substandard treatment. About 20 were sued by estate developers after they demanded the hand-over of management rights to their purchased condominiums.

Another person was facing a 300-million-baht defamation suit from a hospital after saying in an interview that the medical outlet caused disability or death to a member of his family.

Chairat Saeng-arun, of the Law Society, said Thailand needs a special consumer court as the current legal system was not efficient enough to protect consumers.

"The existing system leaves the burden of proof on consumers," said Mr Chairat.

Operators' counter lawsuits were a tactic to intimidate consumers. He advised consumers not to panic, stand united and continue to deliver their messages in the hope the courts would better understand.

Ms Saree said some other mechanisms could be set up to ease the problem, such as a consumer court and an independent body for consumer protection as stipulated in the constitution.

However, the best protection for the consumers was to be aware of their rights, form strong networks and be determined to fight injustice, she said.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:05 AM

1604 words
26 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Shaken by rumours he may be replaced, the police chief has been trying to strengthen his support base * The air force chief has reversed his earlier objections and now supports the proposal to acquire Russian jets * During the trip to Roi Et, Newin Chidchob stayed close to the prime minister, much to the ire of other ministers

The road that led Pol Gen Kowit Wattana to the top post at the Royal Thai Police Office was not strewn with roses.

And many people, even Pol Gen Kowit himself, are aware that he may not be able to hold on to the position until his retirement in September next year.

The fact is that none of the former national police chiefs has been able to withstand the political storms that forced them to leave the post before their last day in the police service.

Even Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont, Pol Gen Kowit's predecessor, fell under this category.

Pol Gen Kowit started his police career in the border patrol police force. At the age of only 32, he became a police captain. He was made police major-general at 48 and a full police general at 53.

He was one of the most fast-advancing officers in the history of the police force.

No doubt, he was one of those tipped to become national police chief.

In October 2004, when he had three years left in the police service, Pol Gen Kowit, being the most senior officer at the time, was by tradition seen as being most suitable for the top police post.

And he was appointed national police chief, but not without obstacles.

By that time, it was widely known that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wanted Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit - an officer with higher seniority who looked after him while studying in the United States - in the post. Mr Thaksin moved Pol Gen Chidchai, then secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Suppression Board, to be deputy national police chief in preparation for the push-up to the top police post.

Before a final decision was made, Pol Gen Kowit and Pol Gen Chidchai went through fierce competition, with a lot of lobbying and politicking.

With a "special power" behind him, plus traditional observation of seniority in the police force, Pol Gen Kowit was named national police chief after Mr Thaksin agreed to a resolution made by the Police Commission.

Mr Thaksin later made Pol Gen Chidchai deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs instead. Pol Gen Chidchai now oversees police affairs.

Although Pol Gen Kowit is due to retire in September next year, there have been rumours during the New Year that he would be replaced because he had failed to satisfy the government leader as well as Pol Gen Chidchai.

Pol Gen Sereepisut Temeeyaves, the police inspector-general, would be his replacement, according to these rumours.

A reputed crime buster, Pol Gen Sereepisut was in the past close to Maj-Gen Sanan Kachornprasart, former secretary-general of the Democrat party.

Despite this, the government under Mr Thaksin has assigned Pol Gen Sereepisut, who has won high social acceptance, to launch suppression activities against vice and influential persons, including street mafia figures preying on pavement vendors in the capital.

Shaken by rumours about Pol Gen Sereepisut taking his place, Pol Gen Kowit recently paid a visit to various metropolitan police stations to expand his support base.

When he led a number of high-level police officers to pay respects to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda on the occasion of the New Year, Gen Prem said, "With Pol Gen Kowit as national police chief, the image of the police has looked much better."

This has greatly boosted Pol Gen Kowit's morale. But observers say he cannot be complacent and must be careful not to commit any mistake or he could be easily removed - as many former police chiefs have found.

Air force chief has a change of heart

Things are getting better for air force chief ACM Chalit Pukpasuk after several weeks of worrying, as the Russian SU-30 fighter jets now seem to be the right choice of aircraft for procurement.

His earlier comments on the SU-30 model - that they were too big and too fast - reflected his reluctance to throw support behind the Russian jets.

And this appeared to rock his prospects as the air force commander, according to media firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul, who claimed in his Thailand Weekly talk show that ACM Chalit would get the boot from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for being so lukewarm with his support.

It was only recently that ACM Chalit came out in favour of buying the SU-30s, saying the present demand for the jets in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, India and the Philippines would ensure the availability of spare parts in the future.

"I don't think I have to follow the government or buy the jets so that CP may export its chicken to Russia" under a barter trade, ACM Chalit said, referring to the giant agro-business conglomerate and a key financier of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.

"We have other industries, steel, and rice, which would gain benefits from the barter trade. We have to think of their advantages. And the air force considers the Russian jets appropriate and in line with our requirements and missions."

He insisted the air force was given a free hand to choose the right fighter jet from alternative manufacturers in Russia, Sweden, and the United States.

The government, meanwhile, has not made a final decision, but the air force's choice will be forwarded to the PM for consideration in March.

Barter trade is an attractive proposition for Mr Thaksin, who sees it as a way to open a new market in Russia, whose demand for chicken meat is high.

Mr Thaksin also had a talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the government's interest in the SU-30s, but no further details were drafted.

ACM Chalit's expression of support for the deal with Russia is a relief.

ACM Chalit said he was not worried about reports to the effect that he would be removed.

"There would not be any problem if we give our hearts to the job and don't go against the [government's] policy," he said.

His swing in support of the fighter jet choice became clear when he himself compared the specifications of various fighter jets to reporters and eventually concluded that the SU-30 jet was the best choice.

"ACM Chalit has to follow the government in buying the SU-30s for sure, because they are good jets. Why should he have to take a risk by opposing the PM?" said a close aide to ACM Chalit.

Newin stays close to the PM

With the dust settling down in Roi Et's At Samat, some cabinet ministers may seek chances to settle scores with PM's Office Minister Newin Chidchob, who throughout the five-day anti-poverty workshop, rose to political stardom at the expense of his colleagues.

The spotlight was definitely on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during the Jan 16-20 reality show in the impoverished district of At Samat.

But the show also was a stage for the accompanying cabinet ministers to translate their understanding of poverty eradication into action.

Mr Newin was the only cabinet minister who drove around with Mr Thaksin Shinawatra throughout the visit. He was there, along with PM's personal secretary Phadung Limcharoenrat, to shed light on the prime minister's queries, including the schedule and arrangements.

If Mr Thaksin received a tip, usually from Mr Newin, that his next stop had been "dressed up" ahead of time to please him, he would avoid dropping by and go somewhere else. No wonder other ministers who had arranged the visit felt sore.

In a workshop, if the prime minister was seated too far from the villagers and Mr Thaksin complained about the distance and the red-carpet welcome, Mr Newin would have the venue changed to a more natural and down-to-earth setting.

The PM's Office minister would choose a spot under a shady tree and have the prime minister seated on the ground covered with an ordinary mat, if the villagers were to sit on the floor.

His intervention was bad for the television crew, who had to move cameras and props around.

When Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan showed Mr Thaksin a successful shrimp-farming business, Mr Newin showed him the opposite for comparison purposes.

Apparently, many cabinet ministers did not understand the concept of the workshop.

While Mr Thaksin wanted to show how to solve the problem in case there was only 1,000 rai of land but a large number of people, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat was prepared to hand out land ownership papers to forest encroachers.

"If this is what cabinet ministers understand, they totally spoil my mood," Mr Thaksin reportedly said to Mr Newin, Mr Phadung and his secretary-general Prommin Lertsuridej.

What irritated the ministers was the seating arrangement during the workshop designed to train district chiefs how to tackle problems.

Aware he was not the most popular figure, Mr Newin "grabbed his shield" by having Mr Thaksin explain the rationale: it was the prime minister whom the district chiefs were to meet.

Khunying Sudarat reportedly told one of her close aides, "Newin stabs me in the back all the time."

Off the air now, the reality show has left the ministers a bone to pick.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:08 AM

296 words
26 January 2006
English

Bangkok Post:

-- Singapore's Temasek Holdings has received assurances that mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) will be awarded a third-generation (3G) licence as a condition for its investment in Shin Corp, according to local sources.

3G licences will give local operators the right to unroll new network technology with considerably faster transmission speeds than existing cellular technology.

The Nation:

-- The focus of the scrutiny of the Shin Corp takeover deal has now shifted to Bhanapot Damapong, who is not paying any tax on the big sell-off, nor has he ever paid any related tax, all the way from his obtaining the Shin stocks from his sister Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra in 2000 to his sale of 404.43 million shares to Temasek of Singapore on Monday for 19.92 billion baht (498 million US dollars).

Bangkok Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanij said that within the next few days the Democrats would form a working committee to closely trace the Shinawatra and Damapong families' transfer of Shin Corp stocks and examine the tax questions that might arise.

Sing Sian Yit Pao:

-- Cuban President Fidel Castro spoke to the closing rally of a demonstration of 1.4 million people protesting United States policy outside the U.S. interest office, the country's de facto embassy, on Tuesday.

The demonstration was held to protest U.S. plans to free Luis Posada Carriles, described as a terrorist by Cuba. Havana said that Posada, who was arrested last year in the United States, took part in the bombing of a Venezuelan airliner which killed 73 people, including many Cuban citizens, in October 1976 in Barbados.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:09 AM

419 words
26 January 2006
10:14
English

TOP STORIES

- Singapore's Temasek Holdings has received assurances that mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service will be awarded a third generation (3G) licence as a condition for its investment in Shin Corp , local industry sources say. (BANGKOK POST)

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra slammed critics of the 73.3 billion baht ($1.86 billion) Shin Corp share sale, saying they were motivated by envy of his wealth. (THE NATION)

- The focus of the scrutiny of the Shin Corp takeover deal has now shifted to Bhanapot Damapong, who is not paying any tax on the big sell-off, nor has he ever paid any related tax since his acquisition of Shin shares from his sister Pojaman Shinawatra several years ago (THE NATION)

- The Scorpion Queen and Centipede King will tie the knot on Valentine's Day and then consummate their nuptial in a coffin, organizers of the wedding said on Wednesday. (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- The laissez-faire approach of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Stock Exchange of Thailand in the run-up to the takeover of Shin Corp have benefited shareholders of Shin and battered the reputations of the 2 agencies. (THE NATION)

- U.S. ambassador to Thailand Ralph Boyce has sought assurances from the Thai government that American businesses would not be affected by the expiration of trade and investment provisions under the Treaty of Amity between the U.S. and Thailand, a source said. (THE NATION)

- Thai Airways International Pcl plans to revamp its domestic routes by shifting unprofitable flights to its sister airline Nok Air. (THE NATION)

- The urgency for Thai telecom reforms has become greater than ever following this week's Shin Corp share deal, according to local phone service providers. (BANGKOK POST)

- M Link Asia Corp Pcl, co-founded by Prime Minister Thaksin's younger sisters, will switch its focus from bidding for state projects to its main retail phone handset business. (THE NATION)

- Thai Charoen Commercial Group is set to take a significant stake in the country's largest green-tea producer, Oishi Group Pcl , according to industry sources. (BANGKOK POST)

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:11 AM

153 words
26 January 2006
09:52
English

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's True Corp. PCL (TRUE.TH), a telecom group, is in talks with Korea Telecom of South Korea on a partnership deal, Krungthep Turakij reports.

The paper cited an industry source as saying the foreign operator is interested in buying a stake in True, while True feels greater pressure after holding companies, controlled by Singapore's Temasek Holdings Pte. Ltd., bought a controlling stake in Shin Corp. PCL earlier this week.

Supachai Chearavanont, True's president, said the company will wait for a 3G operating license from regulator National Telecommunications Commission before entering any partnership deal, the paper said.

The NTC is expected to award 3G licenses to operators this year.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:12 AM

BANGKOK, Jan 26 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-26 / 10:09:33 (GMT+7:00)

A jarring voice of caution amid a symphony of upbeat expectations, Thai Chamber of Commerce president Pramon Sutheewong said the government should prioritise infrastructure development projects to avoid saddling the public sector with debt burden.

Mr. Pramon said the Chamber believes that all the projects are good, in particular those relating to infrastructure improvement. Yet to avoid the pitfall of "investing beyond one's means," he advises, the government should prioritise the projects.

At the same time, Mr. Pramon praised the government's decision to lift the requirement that bidders must enter into barter trade deals -- accepting commodities in lieu of monetary payments. Relenting on the barter trade demand will open up opportunities for more investors to take part in developing these projects.

What the Thai private sector wants to see the most, he said, is transparency in the process of implementing the projects, he said.

Having the infrastructure projects up and running will not boost Thai economic growth overnight, he emphasised, as it could take a few years for the economy to feel a tangible impact from newly functioning infrastructure. (TNA)-E007

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:14 AM

BANGKOK, Jan 26 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-26 / 09:33:42 (GMT+7:00)

A senior executive of Thailand's largest bank predicts that Chinese companies will snap up a significant share of the mega-infrastructure development projects planned by the Thai government.

Speaking on the eve of a high-profile event at Government House on Thursday at which Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will entice foreign companies to bid on varied large-scale infrastructure development projects in Thailand, Prasong Uthaisangchai of Bangkok Bank Ltd., the kingdom's largest bank, said he believed several Chinese companies are keen contenders in the bidding.

According to Mr. Prasong, Chinese contenders are likely to win at least a 20 per cent share of the pie.

Chinese companies are technologically advanced and they can usually offer lower prices for their services comparable to European and American companies -- which are typically more expensive, according to Mr. Prasong, pointing to the state-of-the-art infrastructure in cities like Shanghai.

Bangkok Bank, one of Thailand's largest commercial banks, has four branches in China and it would still like to open additional branches -- as many as the Chinese authorities will allow, Mr. Prasong said.

U-Need

26-01-2006, 11:15 AM

606 words
26 January 2006
English

BANGKOK POST:

- A Senate committee has accused the Securities and Exchange Commission of failing in its regulatory duties for not taking action against alleged disclosure violations by Siri Jirapongphan, a member of the plan administrator's team for Thai Petrochemical Industry (TPI).

- The urgency for telecom reform has become greater than ever before, following this week's historic Shin Corp deal, according to local operators.

- Siam Cement Plc (SCC) expects its total sales to grow between 5 per cent and 10 per cent, driven by petrochemical operations, despite rising costs, according to the group's president, Kan Trakulhoon.

- Thai Charoen Commercial Group (TCC) is set to take a significant stake in the country's largest green-tea producer, Oishi Group Plc, according to sources.

- Bangkok Bank expects to double net profits from its international branches to four billion baht this year, thanks to its rapid expansion in China.

- Sicco Securities expects to re-invest in the stock market this year with a 200-million-baht budget, confident of an improving economy and positive market sentiment.

- Thai Asset Management Corp is prepared to take the lead role in managing the 39-billion-baht debt owed by skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS).

- Between 5% and 10% fewer real estate units are likely to be launched this year, amounting to a 10% to 15% drop in value, according to the independent consulting firm Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA).

- Listed constructor Syntec Construction Plc has joined with Mivan (Thailand) Co Ltd to build 50,000 units of low-priced houses worth 21 billion baht under the Baan Ua-arthorn project for the national housing authority.

- G Steel Plc made a disappointing debut on the market with its share prices falling 16.8% from its initial public offering of 1.60 baht despite the market rally.

- Thai Airways International (THAI) is spearheading the formation of an alliance with the national carriers of Laos, Cambodia and Burma to tap the air traffic potential in the Greater Mekhong subregion.

- Shipping agencies and the private sector plan to meet by the middle of next month to work out an action plan to develop and promote shipbuilding in Thailand.

THE NATION:

- The laissez-faire approach of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) over the past two months in the face of the impending takeover of Shin Corp have benefited the shareholders of Shin and battered the regulatory reputation of the two agencies.

- Thai Asset Management Corp (TAMC) says it wants to play a greater role in restructuring the debts of the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), operator of the Skytrain, and plans to ask local creditors to allow it to become lead debt-restructuring manager.

- The Thai Chamber of Commerce is sticking with its 2006 economic growth forecast of 4.5 per cent made last year as it sees some adverse trends souring investment appetite.

- The Oishi Group, operator of a Japanese-restaurant chain and manufacturer of green-tea beverages, announced it would spend more than Bt500 million this year to bolster both of those operations.

- LG Mitr Electronics has announced a 50-per-cent increase in its marketing and advertising budget to Bt80 million as it bids to counter an estimated 5-per-cent drop this year in the local audio-visual market.

- The Siam Cement Group (SCG) yesterday reported a 46-per-cent drop in its net profit for last years fourth quarter, because of higher energy costs and a maintenance shutdown of its major petrochemical plant.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:03 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Bangkok top holiday spot on S'pore online portal

Bangkok, Hong Kong and Jakarta are the top three destinations over the Chinese New Year holidays booked for local flights through an online travel portal, Zuji Singapore said on Friday.

While 15.6 per cent of total purchases on Zuji.com.sg for flights over the festive period were to Bangkok, 14.7 per cent were for Hong Kong, and 13.7 per cent to Indonesia's capital.

"Bangkok is a perennial favourite, an affordible holiday destination steeped in culture, shopping and entertainment," Zuji said.

Festive packages to second-place Hong Kong were sold out two weeks before the New Year is ushered in on January 29.

Jakarta offers museums, galleries, lively nightlife and spicy cuisine, Ziji added.

The Malaysian resort island of Penang emerged in fourth place with 11.9 per cent of purchases and Kuala Lumpur fifth with 11.2 per cent.

The next five destinations were, in order, the Indonesian island of Bali, Colombo, Ho Chi Minh City, New Delhi and Perth.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:10 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Chuwit stripped of MP status

By Surasak Tumcharoen & Supawadee Inthawong

The Constitution Court revoked the MP status of political maverick and ex-massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit yesterday on the grounds he had spent too short a time with the Chart Thai party before contesting the general election.

Unfazed by the verdict, Mr Chuwit vowed to continue blowing the whistle on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, especially in regard to the mega sell-off of Shin Corp shares.

''I shall return,'' he announced in English after hearing the verdict.

Paiboon Varahapaiboon, the Constitution Court secretary-general, said the judges voted 9 to 5 in favour of stripping Mr Chuwit of lower house membership.

The majority of judges agreed with the petition filed by 118 Thai Rak Thai party MPs alleging the time Mr Chuwit had been with Chart Thai up until the general election on Feb 6 last year had fallen short of 90 days, the legal minimum.

Mr Chuwit dissolved the First Thai Nation party, which he headed, and merged with Chart Thai.

The court felt Mr Chuwit did not satisfy the 90-day requirement and so was not qualified to run for an MP seat under the Chart Thai ticket in the first place.

The minority of judges, however, thought everything including Mr Chuwit's ''right'' was transferred to Chart Thai. That right should entitle him to carry over his stint at First Thai Nation.

The other judges, however, deemed such a right as belonging to a party and not the individual.

Mr Chuwit said he could not tell at the moment where his political destiny lay.

It has been speculated he will either run for Bangkok senator in April or join the New Alternative party, founded by veteran politician Chalerm Yubamrung.

''It's a pity I won't have the [House] floor to do a censure debate against the government as earlier planned. But I'll keep track of Mr Thaksin's performance, including the tax-free, 73-billion-baht sell-off of Shin Corp shares,'' he said.

Mr Chuwit added that he will today give a press conference exposing the government's alleged involvement in the ''robbery of the country's wealth'' and the historic Shin Corp share offload.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has not yet decided whether Mr Chuwit must return the MP salary along with position allowances that he had received during the past year.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:15 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Bus service to Laos seen as boosting tourism, trade ties

By Anucha Charoenpo

Trat - Thailand and Laos have sealed an agreement to launch a bus service between Ubon Ratchathani city and Pakse town in the southern Lao province of Champassak next month to promote tourism and cross-border ties. The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Chaiyanant Thammasutjarit, manager of Thailand's Transportation Co and Sisang Pommajan, chairman of the Champassak Bus Company at the closing of the 14th Thai-Lao bilateral meeting held on Koh Chang in this eastern province.

The signing of the agreement was witnessed by Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon and his Lao counterpart Somsavat Lengsavad.

The two transport companies will each provide four daily trips on 40-seat air-conditioned buses on the 138-km route. The one-way fare is 200 baht. ''We believe people from the two countries will benefit from the international bus service project,'' said Mr Chaiyanant, adding the two countries also planned to operate another route from the provincial capital of Mukdahan in Thailand and Savannakhet province of Laos next year after construction of the second Thai-Lao Friendship bridge there is completed.The Ubon Ratchathani-Pakse line is the second bus service between the two countries after the operation beginning two years ago between Udon Thani and Nong Khai and the Lao capital of Vientiane.

The countries also agreed at the meeting to open eight more border liaison offices to suppress drug trafficking.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:22 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Carabao heads for Malaysia : Initial response better than expected

By Pitsinee Jitpleecheep

Having established its presence in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the maker of Carabao Dang energy drinks is expanding into Malaysia this year and aims to be in Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia at some point in the future. Carabao Tawandang Co Ltd this week signed an agreement appointing Mofaz Dagang Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Mofaz group of companies, as its sole distributor in Malaysia, where the drinks will be sold under the Carabao brand.

Mohamed Fauzy Abdul Hamid (second from left), president of Mofaz Dagang Sdn Bhd, and Kamoldist Smuthkochorn, marketing director of Carabao Tawandang, try out Carabao energy drinks at a briefing yesterday. The company is expanding into Malaysia this year, with plans to target foreign workers.

Kamoldist Smuthkochorn, marketing director of Carabao Tawandang Co, said there was huge potential for the energy drink business in Malaysia. He estimated that 10 million of the country's 24 million people were potential Carabao Dang customers.

''The economy of Malaysia has grown rapidly over the past five years. Many foreign workers, who are expected to be our core target, are hired to work there,'' he said.

''Based on our market survey, the consumption of energy drinks in the market is not high at present. Though there are many local brands available in the market, product positioning is still unclear.''

Carabao is positioned as a Thai premium energy-drink brand in terms of international quality, design, packaging and taste.

''The response to the first three shipments of Carabao products to Malaysia was better than our expectation. Thai-made products, both food and beverages, are well accepted by people in this region,'' said Mr Kamoldist.

One advantage the product has is that its name is similar to ''Karabao'', the Malay word for buffalo.

Mofaz Dagang is one of the pioneering companies in Malaysia in distributing fast-moving consumer goods, with a network of 30,000 outlets.

Currently, Carabao is available in 7-Eleven convenience stores throughout Malaysia and will later to be distributed at petrol stations and at rest areas along highways.

Carabao's main rivals in the Malaysian market are the local brand Livita and Red Bull, the top-selling international brand of Thailand's Krating Dang.

Mr Kamoldist said the company would promote its products in Malaysia with below-the-line marketing activities including product free samples. Carabao is available in cans and glass bottles.

The Malaysian distributor is aiming for annual sales of eight million ringgit (82 million baht) in the first year from Carabao products.

Apart from Malaysia, Carabao products have been exported to international markets since 2003. They are available in the US, Canada, the Middle East, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. However, exports still account for less than 10% of total sales.

Mohamed Fauzy Abdul Hamid, president of Mofaz Dagang, said he hoped the Carabao products would contribute at least 8-10% of its total sales of fast-moving consumer goods.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:29 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Hotel investors avoid US chains

By Somporn Thapanachai

Asian hotel brands are likely to grow at a stronger pace in the international market as investors shy away from American chains over fears about terrorism, according to the director of a Thai hotel chain. Pornsarin Meathivacharanondh, director of property development and investment at the Dusit Group, said Asian brands such as Banyan Tree, Shangri-La, Macro Polo and Dusit Thani had performed well over the past five to 10 years.

She said several investors, particularly those from Middle Eastern countries, had refused to sign contracts with American hotel chains in order to protect their investments from terrorist attacks.

The trend stemmed from the bombing of several American hotel chains in Jordan last year.

However, Ms Pornsarin said, ''There is nothing wrong with American chains, as they can manage hotels well and generate benefits to investors.''

She added that the Dusit Group was in discussions with investors about opening more hotels under the Dusit brand in Thailand and overseas.

The group has three brands: Dusit Thani for five-star hotels; Royal Princess for three-to- four-star hotels; and its latest brand, D2 for four-star lifestyle hotels.

At present, it owns and operates 20 hotels, 15 of which are in Thailand, with the rest in Indonesia, Burma, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.The company plans to persuade at least three more new hotels to use its brands in Thailand and other countries this year.

Ms Pornsarin said the company aimed to have at least five D2 hotels in Thailand and abroad in the next five years.

The Dusit Group is also looking at buying existing, compact hotels in tourist destinations and renovating them to become part of its company.

Ms Pornsarin was speaking about investing in the hotel business at a training event yesterday in Bangkok, organised by the Thai Appraisal Foundation.

She said the challenges for hoteliers lay in diversifying risk, customer loyalty, and expanding into new customer bases.

Aongorn Somprasong, Corporate Manager of Rajadamri Hotel Plc, which owns The Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok, warned investors that hotel operating costs would be affected by rising interest rates, inflation and oil prices.

Though the hotel business can generate high yields for investors, he said it was a long-term investment and should be held for a minimum of 10 years.

Ms Aongorn said the outlook for investment in the hotel business in Thailand was upbeat because the country attracted a large number of tourists.

Statistics have shown that the number of international tourists has grown by eight percent annually on average over the past 10 years.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:36 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Best Western brand explodes into region

By Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The US hotel chain Best Western International is expanding its portfolio in Thailand and Asia to capitalise on the rapid growth in tourism. The Phoenix-based company plans to become the biggest hotel chain in Asia in 2010, lending its name to more than 200 hotels, up from 75 at present in 15 nations.

The company also operates booking services by phone and online, which has increased rapidly in recent years.

The hotelier is focusing on extending its brand to hotels in countries such as China, India, Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia, according to David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western International Inc.

The company got a foothold in Thailand when it established offices here three years ago. Now it intends to increase the number of Best Western hotels in the country to 30 in 2010 from what will be 20 by the end of this year. At present, it has 14 member hotels in the kingdom with another six to open in the remainder of 2006, in Kanchanaburi, Cha-am, Chiang Mai, Koh Kut, Koh Chang and Bangkok.

The chain will have two brand names in Thailand: three-star hotels can use the Best Western brand and four-star plus hotels can use Best Western Premiere.

Mr Kong said the outlook for Thailand's tourism industry was upbeat, largely due to economic and political stabilities. Also signs of foreign tourists coming back to the country this year following the 2004 tsunami was a good sign.

Furthermore, he expected the number of people using the Internet to rise in Thailand, which would encourage more tourism-related portals and double its hotel-bookings each year.

Worldwide, Best Western operates more than 4,200 hotels in 80 countries in two ways: through signing agreements with local hoteliers to use the brand, and by managing certain tasks for operators who have no past experience in the hospitality sector.

The service consists of training, and providing sales and marketing assistance. The company does not provide accounting and purchasing services.

The company has no plans to finance the construction of its own hotels. Local hoteliers have to finance becoming part of the Best Western chain, and meet company standards before being able to use the brand.

The minimum contract with the company is five years.

Payment to Best Western depends on the number of rooms a hotel has and the way clients book, whether it be online or by telephone.

Worldwide in 2005, 41% of its bookings were carried out online. During this period, the company claimed to have earned more than US million per day from online bookings across the globe.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:42 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Milk firms pool resources

By Pitsinee Jitpleecheep

Two long established brands of milk in Thailand and the Netherlands - Thai Dairy Industry and Campina International - have formed a joint venture to share facilities, increase economies of scale and strengthen business. The pair have also got together to prepare for the entry of new dairy products, especially from Australia and New Zealand, to Thailand through free trade agreements that came into force last year.

The venture is also intended to help Campina International fulfil an ambition to branch out into Asia, which now generates only 3% of its US.4 billion worth of worldwide sales.

Campina International entered the Thai market in 2004 when it took over Chokechai brand dairy products from a local firm and took the distribution of its sweetened condensed milk brand, Alaska, back in-house.

Thais and shareholders from the Netherlands would hold equal stakes in the new joint venture firm, TDI Campina Co, which will be based in Ayutthaya province.

Campina has moved equipment from its Pak Chong factory in Nakhon Ratchasima to Ayutthaya. Both companies' UHT and pasteurised products will be produced at the factory by the new venture by March.

The result will increase the combined capacity of Campina and TDI to 131 million litres per year, up from 80 million litres, and help reduce operational costs by 20%.

''It is the first time Campina has gone into a joint venture in the area of production,'' said Rob Nieuwendijk, managing director of Campina Asia and the Middle East.

''We saw huge potential to expand our business in this region because dairy consumption has more than tripled from 15 years ago. In Thailand, alone, consumption is only 20 million litres, compared to 58 million in Singapore and 140 million in European countries.''

Mr Nieuwendijk said that Campina would focus on expanding its three dairy products - Chokechai, Alaska and Campina - with sales of 1.3 billion baht predicted this year.

Apart from sharing a factory with TDI, the firms will also co-operate in marketing and distributing in the future.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:49 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

Singapore brings True Fitness to Thailand

By Chadamas Chinmaneevong

A Singapore-based business plans to open the largest fitness complex in Thailand this June, according to Patrick Wee, the founder and CEO of True Fitness. Covering 6,000 square metres, the True Fitness centre will be a one-stop shop offering activities including yoga, and comprising a spa and aesthetic centre.

''We expect to have 6,000 members by year end and are confident to break even in the next two years,'' Mr Wee said.

The complex, in the Exchange Tower on Sukhumvit Road, will require a capital investment of 200 million baht for decoration and equipment. Monthly memberships will start at 1,299 baht.

The company plans only one branch for now but will look at other potential prime locations.

True Fitness expects the Thailand branch to contribute 15% to its total revenues this year, while the majority of revenue would come from Singapore and Malaysia, said Mr Wee.

He said the fitness business in Thailand still had growth potential. At present, Bangkok has a population of around 10 million, only about 2% or around 200,000 people exercise regularly. This figure is likely to increase in the future in line with health trends in Europe and the US.

Also, this year, the company plans to invest 700 million baht to create another five branches internationally. He declined to reveal targeted countries.

Currently, the company operates three branches in Singapore and two branches in Malaysia. It plans to open 20 additional branches within the next three years.

Mr Wee said True Fitness would be positioned as a premium brand in Thailand, and believed that providing different facilities and better services would separate it from competitors.

Mr Wee also holds a 10% stake in California WOW Xperience, the fitness chain that recently listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 04:56 PM

524 words
27 January 2006
The Nation (Thailand)
English

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday slammed critics of the Bt73.3-billion Shin Corp share sale, saying they were motivated by envy of his wealth. "I say this to my critics: Try to use your right brain instead of your left lobe," he said, criticising them for attacking him over bits and pieces rather than seeing the whole picture of the Shin Corp transaction. Thaksin said the critics were one step behind his legal and tax advisers, who had already replied to every question raised.

"Regarding the issue of [alleged] tax evasion, stock market regulations have been enforced for more than 20 years. They state that individual investors are exempt from tax on sales of shares as well as the premium price on their stocks," he said.

"I follow established rules. In my position, I am so visible that I could not have escaped detection [if I had done something wrong]," he said, denying any attempt to avoid tax responsibilities.

"The hue and cry about the deal boils down to this: envy for my money," he said.

He also said his critics weren't justified in linking the deal with past transfers of shares made by him and his wife Pojaman to his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and his brother-in-law, Bhanapot Damapong.

Issues relating to past transfers were resolved and had no bearing on whether Monday's deal was taxable, he said.

Wang Nam Yen faction MP Pramuan Ruchanaseree said Thaksin had paved the way for Singapore investors to take over Thailand and not just the telecom giant Shin Corp.

"I call on my fellow government MPs to try and safeguard the national interest rather than blindly follow the government's orders," he said.

Pramuan said he was concerned Thaksin had given Singapore control over mobile-phone services and communication satellites that have security and military applications.

"I am worried that Singaporean investors have stakes in many commercial banks," he said. "The next thing I hear might be 'Made In Thailand but from Singapore'."

PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva said Pramuan had unfairly picked on his boss.

"The sale of Shin shares was a private decision and Thai Rak Thai members should not try to portray it as a national issue," he said.

"The prime minister was entitled to deal with his family's business and that is of no concern to the government or Thai Rak Thai Party," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday defended the premier's family by saying that trading shares on the stock market was not taxable. "The law doesn't say you need to pay tax on profits made from share sales. This is aimed at encouraging transactions in the stock market," he said.

Democrat and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the party would set up a working group to "track the traces behind the Shin share sell-off". He said the focus would be on the impact the deal would have on the country's economic structure.

The group would also try to determine if the interest of small investors had been properly protected, he said.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 04:57 PM

Report from The Nation dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

The Public Health Ministry is going all out in its effort to discourage smoking with comprehensive plans ranging from a ban on packets of slim cigarettes to declaring pubs and bars smoke-free.

In future, non-smokers may also be allowed to seek compensation from cigarette companies if they fall ill because of exposure to smoke.

“We have prepared short and long-term measures to curb smoking,” Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said yesterday.

One short-term measure to be implemented before the end of this year will be banning packs of slims and selling cigarettes individually instead of in packs.

“We are urgently pushing for the legal amendment,” he said.

Pinij said he believed the measure should reduce the number of women and youth smokers because the slim cigarettes, with special favours like strawberry and chocolate, appealed to these segments.

He added that his ministry would also change the pictures and warning messages on cigarette packs in the next one or two years.

“The change is necessary because studies have shown that people get accustomed to the warnings after some time and might just ignore them,” Pinij said.

He said his ministry also planned to require cigarette packs to list their toxic ingredients.

By 2008, Pinij said, all pubs, bars and entertainment venues will be declared smoke-free areas. “We will push for legislation,” he said.

He said his ministry would also open a legal channel for people to sue cigarette companies for damaging their health.

Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul
The Nation

U-Need

27-01-2006, 04:59 PM

426 words
27 January 2006

BANGKOK POST:

- The Revenue Department acknowledges growing concern that Thai people will no longer pay taxes after a storm of criticism over the tax-free sell-off of Shin Corp shares by the Shinawatra and Damapong families.

- Local contractors say they expect to get only a tiny share of the work on megaprojects worth a total of 1.8 trillion baht, as it seems the government is favouring foreign investors.

- Liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi and a low-profile Hong Kong investor yesterday confirmed their acquisition of a 55% stake in the green tea maker Oishi Group Plc.

- Franchising is becoming a popular business format in Thailand, among both consumers and entrepreneurs.

- TMB Bank's existing capital fund is adequate for the redemption of five billion baht worth of capital-increase preferred shares and for lending growth in this year, according to president Subhak Sivaraks.

- Krung Thai Bank plans to set aside more provisions and sell non-performing loans this year to improve its financial position, according to president Apisak Tantivorawong.

- PTT Plc has signed an agreement to purchase crude oil from the Jasmine field operated by Pearl Oil (Thailand) Co for 20 years, in a bid to reduce its reliance on imported oil.

THE NATION:

- Hong Kong telecom giant Hutchison Telecom has indicated it might bow out of the market here by proposing that local partner CAT Telecom Plc take over its cellular network.

- Liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi has led a group of investors to acquire a 55-per-cent stake in green-tea maker Oishi Group Plc, for a total investment of Bt3.3 billion.

- Singapore-based True Fitness is leaping into the fast-growing fitness market here by opening the largest centre in the capital, boasting a total area of 6,000 square metres.

- Top executives of PTT Plc are considering whether to split the par value of shares for its subsidiary, PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP), after overwhelming interest from foreign investors pushed PTTEP's share price past the Bt500 mark.

- The baht appreciated to Bt38.80 to the US dollar yesterday in intra-day trading, a level not seen since January 14, 2005, with about US$3 billion (Bt116.8 billion) in capital having flowed into the stock market since the start of the year, according to the Bank of Thailand (BOT).

- Krung Thai Bank aims to reduce its non-performing loans (NPLs) by Bt20 billion-Bt30 billion this year, said its president Apisak Tantivorawong.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:01 PM

259 words
27 January 2006
English

Bangkok Post:

-- Many of the nearly 1,300 foreign investors who gathered Thursday at Government House for a briefing on the state's 1.8- trillion-baht megaprojects expressed bewilderment at the lack of clarity of the massive plan. Lothar Herrmann, president and chief executive officer of Siemens Limited in Thailand, said the government failed to clearly describe its proposals or identify the framework and specifications of the project development.

The Nation:

-- The Securities and Exchange Commis-sion (SEC) is investigating why big-lot share transactions between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's son and daughter, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, and Ample Rich Investment Co Ltd, a company owned by Thaksin, did not appear on the main trading board of the stock exchange on the day of the transactions, when they might have given the public advance knowledge of the Temasek Holdings-Shin Corp deal.

Sing Sian Yit Pao:

-- China expressed concern about the current situation of Iran' s nuclear issue and calls for all relevant parties to assert greater diplomatic effort and restraint to avoid escalation of the situation.

When meeting with visiting Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in Beijing, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan expressed the wish that all parties concerned should step up diplomatic effort to create favorable conditions for the resumption of talks before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) holds a special session of its board of governors in February.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:03 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 27 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-27 / 12:31:12 (GMT+7:00)

Boosted by people spending for traditional worships, the circulation of cash during this year's Chinese New Year festival is expected to reach Bt11.2 billion, according to a leading economist.

Director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Centre of University of Thai Chamber of Commerce Thanawat Polvichai said here on Thursday this year's structural spending of consumers for the Chinese New Year remain unchange from last year.

Most of the people's spending, particularty those of Chinese origin, are for ceremonial worships to Gods and anchestors.

However, the total amount of money spent is higher than last year due to rising prices of consumer products caused by increased fuel costs, he said.

Dr. Thanawat projected that the total amount of cash circulation in the Thai economy during the Chinese New Year celebrations this year would reach Bt11.2 billion, a 6 per cent increase from last year--in line with this year's influation rate.

A survey on consumers' behaviours during the Chinese New Year conducted by the university during January 10-22 also found that most of the 1,300 interviewed on the random basis, or 67.6 per cent, said they spent more this year due to rising prices of products.

Asked what they want from the government as a Chinese New Year present, the city respondents said they want the government to help address the problems of fuel price hikes, rising living costs of living, poverty and crime.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urged the public to purchase only food products verified their safety by the Ministry of Public Health.

"People should buy food labelled either 'clean food, good taste', or 'safe food' of the Ministry of Public Health and should have some exercises after enjoying the food for their Chinese New Year celebrations for the sake of their good health," suggested the minister. (TNA)--E002

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 05:04 PM

Report from The Nation dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

BizBits: Is it lucky 23 for Thaksin?

Numerology is really important for Thais as propitious licence plate and cell-phone numbers can fetch more than Bt100,000. So the question immediately arises whether there are any “good” numbers involved in the Bt73-billion Shin deal in which PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s family agreed to sell their stake to Singapore’s Temasek.

Nation TV moderator Krissana Chaiyarat figured the lucky number was “23” since the deal was announced on January 23.

Moreover, he said, Thaksin is the 23rd prime minister of the country, and Shin was set up 23 years ago.

True or not, all this talk about numbers doesn’t amount to much, unless Thaksin agrees to discount his price to Bt23 billion or pay that much in taxes on the deal.

lSpeaking of numbers, 2006 will be a year of “good number” celebrations for many businesses. The oldest is the Oriental Hotel which celebrates its 130th year, followed by Siam Commercial Bank and Deithelm marking their centennials. The Thai Chamber of Commerce will be 72. Television’s channel 5 has reached its fourth cycle (48 years) while the Nation Group plans to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

But the most important will be the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s coronation on May 5. Public and private bodies are planning a series of great celebrations.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:10 PM

494 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the private sector are thrilling Thai wrestling fans by organizing WWE Smackdown Live Tour in Thailand 2006. It's not a very common occasion for this highly entertaining smack-fest to take place in Thailand. This year, the WWE, or the World Wrestling Entertainment, will only tour in Thailand and Japan.

The TAT is cooperating with RS Promotion, UBC, and Total Sport Asia in holding WWE Smackdown Live Tour in Thailand 2006. This exhilarating sport entertainment will set off on February the 2nd at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani, starting 17.00 hours onwards. One of the objectives of the show is to celebrate His Majesty the King's 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

A press briefing on this wrestling tournament was held on December 7th last year at Dusit Thani Hotel, where TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan chaired the event. The atmosphere was certainly lively as passionate Thai wrestling fans joined the press briefing to acknowledge the event's details.

The TAT Governor said this is a very fortunate time for the WWE to decide to hold an ultimate wrestling show in Thailand rather than other countries in Asia. And this will show Thailand's capability in organizing a world event, and in the long term, our kingdom's image will also be more positive. As a result, Thailand will welcome more foreign tourists from all over the world. About 3,000 people across Asia are expected to come into our kingdom to primarily see this wrestling extravaganza.

As for the highly-rated WWE wrestlers who will display their agilities and powers in Thailand, some of the names include Batista, JBL, and Rey Mesterio. And this is just to name a few.

Earlier on January 15th, an event entitled GET READY!!! SMACKDOWN TOUR IN THAILAND 2006" was held to acknowledge and heat up the Thai fans about the main event next month. Various fun activities were arranged on that day such as how to cheer for their favorite wrestlers during the actual show. Furthermore, famous Thai wrestling broadcaster named Na Ting also attended the event.

At the show on February 2nd, there will be many other entertaining activities apart from the wrestling brawl itself. There will be WWE Playground, sales booths, and other wrestling-related activities. In addition, singers from the RS Promotion record will hold a concert to entertain the crowd, and souvenirs will also be given to the participants as well.

Wrestling fans and devotees out there should not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Interested persons can reserve their seats at Thai Ticketmaster booths nationwide or simply call them at 0-2262-3456. The ticket prices are 5,000 baht, 4,000 baht, 2,500 baht, 1,500 baht and 1,000 baht.

KatoeyLover69

27-01-2006, 05:14 PM

Report from The Nation dated Friday 27 January 2006 :-

CAPITAL INFLOW: Baht appreciates to a one-year high

The baht appreciated to Bt 38.80 to the US dollar yesterday in intra-day trading, a level not seen since January 14, 2005, with about US$3 billion (Bt116.8 billion) in capital having flowed into the stock market since the start of the year, according to the Bank of Thailand (BOT).

Yesterday’s currency surge was also due to importers purchasing dollars in preparation to buy oil, dealers said.

The baht opened at Bt 39.15-Bt 39.17 (offer and buy prices) and closed at Bt 38.87-Bt 38.89. Dealers said the baht could hover between Bt 38.50 and Bt 39 in the near future.They also said the Singapore dollar and the Korean won appreciated yesterday.

Of the $3 billion in capital inflows, more than $1 billion was used to buy Shin Corp shares in its buyout this week, said Mr Pridiyathorn Devakula, the BOT governor. He said the rest was due to foreign investors’ heightened interest in the economy.

The capital inflows for portfolio investment were $2 billion for all of 2005.

Speaking at the “ Economic Outlook and Strategies for Economic Management” seminar organised by the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, Pridiyathorn forecast that commercial banks’ lending this year would grow 10 per cent, the highest since the 1997 economic crisis, thanks to high industrial capacity utilisation.

Pridiyathorn said loans were likely to grow 10 per cent from 2005, compared to 8 per cent between 2004 and 2005. The double-digit growth is expected due to industrial expansion. Industry was running at an average 74 per cent of capacity in December.

In addition, listed companies, which reported an aggregate net profit of Bt279 billion for the first three quarters of 2005, will also be expanding this year, he said, adding that firms would plough their profits back into operations.

Credit expansion is expected to record double-digit growth for the first time since the 1997 financial crisis, when plenty of companies went bankrupt and the banking system’s non-performing loans skyrocketed.

Despite high capacity utilisation, investors during the last few years delayed their reinvestment plans because they lacked confidence in the economy and were concerned about political conditions, the violence in the deep South and increasing oil prices.

Pridiyathorn said the current-account deficit last year had grown to $3.7 billion. It could have been worse, save for the second half of the year, which saw a surplus of $2.2 billion, compared to a deficit of $5.9 billion in the first half.

He said the current-account deficit would be around $3 billion to $4 billion for some years to come because of high oil prices. But the deficit would not have much impact on the economy thanks to strong international reserves of $53 billion. In addition, capital inflows would help strengthen economic stability.

“The $3 billion-$4 billion deficit is acceptable even if there is no capital inflow at all. But, the deficit will not last for many years,” said the governor.

The governor said he would continue to gradually raise the 14-day repurchase rate, which is currently at 4.25 per cent, in a bid

to slow down inflation and encourage positive real deposit interest rates.

Anoma Srisukkasem
The Nation

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:17 PM

287 words
27 January 2006
The Nation (Thailand)
English

After 10 years of construction work, a new five-star hotel on the Chao Phraya River, the Millennium Hilton Bangkok, will be ready to open on March 1.

It is the first luxury hotel to open in the capital this year. The hotel was under construction during the 90s and was scheduled to open in 1996 or 1997 under the management of Accor's five-star brand Sofitel, but the economic crisis ground the project to a halt leaving the guts of the building unfinished. In 2003, a new investment company, Krungthep Rimman Co, with major shareholders US-based Westbrook Partners and City Development Limited of Singapore, took over the property and spent millions of baht on renovations.

General manager Frederic Lucron said the renovation would be completed before the opening date. The 32-floor hotel has 543 rooms and 10 restaurants as well as various meeting rooms.

Millennium Hilton Bangkok is the chain's third in Thailand, after Hua Hin and Phuket. "In the first year of operation, we hope to have a 50-per-cent occupancy rate. Major customers will come from Western countries [50 per cent], Asia [40 per cent] and Thailand [10 per cent], " said Lucron. Rate will be comparable to the Shangri-La and several other five-star hotels along the river.

The hotel said it would focus on both leisure and business travellers, particularly guests who are making their first trip to Bangkok. Hilton is installing a management team led by former general manager of the Hilton Nai Lert Park, Frederick Lucrom. Hilton has been expanding in the Asia-Pacific region, adding three hotels in Malaysia, Japan and Australia last year.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:19 PM

476 words
27 January 2006
Business Day
English

HIS Majesty the King on Thursday presented the Prince Mahidol Awards to two professors for their dedication to medicine and pubic health during a ceremony held at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok.

Professor Eugene Goldwasser, pictured right, of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Chicago was honoured and awarded in the field of medicine while Professor Harald zur Hausen, pictured left, of the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg won the award in the field of public health.

Professor Goldwasser played a major role in the purification and characterization of erythropoietin, which has provided an effective therapy for severe anemia in kidney failure and cancer patients worldwide, and his work has proven to be beneficial to the health and quality of life of mankind throughout the world.

Professor zur Hausen played a vital role in research on cervical cancer, one of the major causes of death in women. Cervical cancer is the third most frequently occurring cancer in women, and afflicts an estimated 500,000 women each year.

His breakthrough discovery has had a major impact on the understanding of the causes of cervical cancer, and has led to the improvement of preventative measures and treatment as well as to the development of vaccines against skin wart viruses.

The Prince Mahidol Award was established in on January 1, 1992, by the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the father of His Majesty the King who has been recognised as the “Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health“ in Thailand.

Prince Mahidol of Songkla, born January 1, 1892 to King Chulalongkorn and Queen Savang Vadhana, graduated in Medical Science from Harvard University in the United States. During the first period of his residence at Harvard, he negotiated and concluded, on behalf of the Thai government, an agreement with the Rockefeller Foundation for assistance in medical and nursing education in Thailand.

The Prince worked at Siriraj Medical School in Bangkok and McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai and greatly contributed to the improvement of Thailand’s modern medicine and public health.

He once told his medical students that he did not wish them to be only doctors, but also human beings, and that true success exists not in learning but in its application for the benefit of mankind. The Prince Father died of a severe kidney disease at the young age of 37.

The awards are given each year to those whose works in the fields of medicine and public health have been internationally recognized as each award consists of a medal, a certificate, and a cash prize of 50,000 US dollars.

The Prince Mahidol Award is administered by the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation, with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as the chairperson.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:21 PM

412 words
27 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Yongyut Tiyapairat played down fears that the Srinakarin dam would face major structural failure if a stronger earthquake were to hit Thailand.

The minister Wednesday morning met with agencies concerned -- including the Department of Mineral Resources, the National Disaster Warning Centre and the dam's owner-caretaker, the state-owned energy firm, EGAT Plc. -- following news by researchers that the Srinakarin dam was built above a fault and might fail structurally if an earthquake measuring 7.5- 8.0 on the Richter scale were to occur.

After the meeting, Mr. Yongyut told a press conference that the dam didn't lie on the fault zone which could trigger strong earthquake measuring over six on the Richter scale.

He said a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in 1983, 50 km distant from the Srinakarin dam did not damage the dam. The technical information could confirm the dam was strong enough.

According to Minister Yongyut, if the dam were to fail, it would not cause a flash flood as described in the media by a former engineer of EGAT.

Paiboon Thepthong, EGAT's vice president of power plant management, meanwhile, said that the agency has monitored and controlled the standard of the dam since it started operation.

The information given by the former engineer is not new and two vibration metres installed at the dam were improved two years ago, he said.

Prodprasob Surasawadee, director of the Natural Disaster Warning center, today ordered officials to use state-of-the-art equipment to increase efficiency in measuring the earth tremors at the dam.

He reiterated that Thailand's natural disaster warning system is advanced, and that it can report the warning via television and radio immediately. He said he is certain that people will be able to evacuate in time if the disaster occurs at the dam.

Meanwhile, Srinakarin dam manager Anuchit Asampinwong said the dam can sustain an earthquake of 7.5 magnitude not 5.9 magnitude at a 200km distance.

He added the dam is equipped with modern technology to monitor the earthquake and has an emergency plan if the disaster happens.

The news about possible earthquake threat on the Srinakarin dam followed a 5.7 magnitude earthquake which occurred in Myanmar's Shan state about 200km from the earthquake centre in Chiang Mai last night. It was felt throughout Thailand's northern region.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:34 PM

779 words
27 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Atiya Achakulwisut

The first time I saw 200,000 baht in cash was 12 years ago, when my father was seriously ill and needed an emergency operation. The hospital asked that we pay for everything immediately, in cash. Since my mother had to watch over my dad, I was assigned the business duty. I withdrew the necessary amount from the bank, placed the two stacks of new, crisp bills with their distinct money smell, in a brown bag - our family's years of savings - to be handed over to the hospital, and thought... these wads, which were worth a lot to a middle-class family like ours, didn't look big at all.

But how about 73,300,000,000 baht? Can you imagine how many stacks would that be? Would the bills fill up a whole room?

The staggering amount is beyond my imagination. I bet this is so with millions of people in this country as well. Do we envy the Prime Minister for his wealth? Not really, Mr Prime Minister. It's beyond us. If anything, we are curious. Why someone like you, who has so much - I mean, such an unbelievable amount - must also try so hard to protect your every satang from returning to the state, the land, the resources, the people, among whom you have lived and made such a huge profit from?

This is perhaps not a question of legality. With that many zeros in his bank account, the PM can hire the most capable tax lawyers the world has to offer, who will bend all the rules to protect his best interests. Not just best, I suppose, but recycling-plant or black-hole best; taking everything, giving nothing.

This is a question of morality; that of a leader, to be exact.

Every year, at exactly this time of the year, an ordinary working citizen like myself receives that familiar form from the Revenue Department calling on me to do the duty of paying my taxes. And I comply. Dutifully, I fill out the form and let them take a chunk of the money I earn. There are certain means for me to reduce my tax burden, buy a tax-deductible insurance policy, long-term investment or other funds. But that's it. At the end of the day, I still pay. I might not agree with how the government goes about spending my hard-earned taxpayer's money, but I comfort myself that it is my obligation to the land and to my countrymen. We are in this together. Each person helps in ways that each person can.

But as I read on about the PM's gain, as many questions bubble in my head as those zeros. I wonder if it's fair for ordinary citizens like us to be paying in full this quota of what we earn - meaning, we have to do physical work, writing news, hawking food, designing clothes - while those who make a profit from trading stocks do not need to? If introducing a capital gains tax discourages the growth of the stock market, can we devise a system so that it only taps into large gains only possible among big-time investors, who can afford to pay it anyway? Why are we content with a system that only milks the earnings of small guys and lets the big ones get away with lots of zeros?

A good leader is one who does the right thing even if it is more difficult, even if it costs him more, financially, emotionally, physically.

He must be the one who shows the way. If he see holes in a system, he tries to fix them, not take full advantage of them.

But then again, our generous PM might have a grand merit in mind. Last week in Roi Et, he handed out nearly 200,000 baht to poor souls in At Samat district - farmers, dessert sellers, children. He loves doing charity, or so the reports said. The amount he gave was perhaps less than he would spend for a meal at the capital city's most elegant French restaurant.

In the spirit of the At Samat (meaning it might work or definitely maybe, take your pick) model of poverty eradication, I would suggest that our charity-loving PM take it another step further.

Why doesn't Mr Thaksin keep, say, 3 or 4 billion baht for himself and his family and hand out the rest to the poor in this country? That way, our poverty line might immediately move up one notch.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:36 PM

690 words
27 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

POST REPORTERS

Many of the nearly 1,300 foreign investors who gathered yesterday at Government House for a briefing on the state's 1.8-trillion-baht megaprojects expressed bewilderment at the lack of clarity of the massive plan.

Lothar Herrmann, president and chief executive officer of Siemens Limited in Thailand, said the government failed to clearly describe its proposals or identify the framework and specifications of the project development.

His colleague, senior vice-president Joern Grasse, added that such lack of clarity would make it hard for potential investors to evaluate investment costs.

For instance, he said, the government provided only minor details on the proposed 10 new mass transit rail routes without specifying the number of stations and trains for each.

Jean-Pierre Gollot, vice-president of Alstom Transport Asia-Pacific, expressed concern about the difficulty of gauging the government's expectations as investors were given only broad guidelines about the projects.

A Danish executive of a communication equipment company wondered whether all the projects, particularly those involving defence, have the government's full support in terms of funding. He said barter trade is impractical.

Investors at the workshop yesterday represented leading companies from 29 nations, mostly from Japan, followed by Singapore, Europe and the United States.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday briefed them about the government-supported megaprojects covering mass rail transit systems, water management systems, information networks, defence modernisation, agriculture, science and technology, culture and public health under the so-called Thailand Modernisation framework.

The government pledged to offer them flexibility and transparency with some regulations relaxed in the bidding contests.

The government set a broad guideline promising to give them freedom to design their proposals so they would be able to provide Thailand with the best technology and implementation methods.

Mr Thaksin said the process would enable the government to choose the best international expertise with the best offers.

"Generally, for large projects processed under tight state regulations, the opportunity is quite slim for us [the government] to get good things. This time we offer opportunities for those who know their industries well to come up with their proposals for us to choose," he said.

The government has set April 28 as the deadline for interested parties to put forward their technical proposals. About one to two months later, they will then be invited to tender financial proposals.

Screening is expected to be completed by September with the first project to be embarked on by the end of this year.

To ensure transparency, ministry-level committees would screen the tenders before submitting them to the policy committee chaired by Mr Thaksin and the cabinet would have the final say.

The government has promised to conduct all of the screening process publicly, such as through live television and radio broadcasts.

Mass transit projects alone attracted more than 400 interested developers and also drew the most critical comments.

An executive from a French consulting firm said Thailand's current mass transit system was "confusing" and the government's vague terms and guidelines did not help.

Denis de Baecque, chairman of the consulting service DB Impact, called on the government to sort out the problem of too many operators in the system.

"Whoever is entering the bid, they have to talk with at least three existing operators for the skytrain and the subway, and more players like the State Railway of Thailand for the airport link and even the former operator like Hopewell for the use of their huge poles," he said.

"It will not work to bring in new ideas as invited by the government under this complicated system."

He suggested that the government look to Hong Kong or Singapore for models of an efficient mass transit system.

Prommin Lertsuridej, the prime minister's secretary-general, said evaluation of proposals would take into account all aspects, such as technical expertise, financing, investment return and the repayment period.

Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya said for the financing proposals the ministry would take into account not only financial return but also economic return and net present value.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:38 PM

343 words
27 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

CHEEWIN SATTHA & PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra backs the role of local bodies in fighting poverty whereas Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has other ideas, saying the At Samat model is less than ideal in solving the problem.

At a meeting of tambon administration organisations from across the country in Chiang Mai yesterday, Mr Thaksin stressed the importance of local bodies which he said were key to easing national poverty.

The grassroots bodies are the first to come into contact with ordinary people's problems and have insight into them, said the prime minister.

He said technological innovations would also be brought in to assist the TAOs' poverty eradication efforts.

The newly-established anti-poverty centre headed by Gen Chavalit will act as a coordinator in delegating authority and distributing resources to district chiefs who are supposed to work in partnership with the TAOs in tackling poverty.

Training for district chiefs would be modelled on the anti-poverty workshop which concluded last week in Roi Et's At Samat district.

Meanwhile, at a seminar on fighting poverty at Chulalongkorn University yesterday, Gen Chavalit said the At Samat reality workshop concentrated too much on the finer details of each troubled individual.

Instead, the government should set out long-term, sustainable development plans for the benefit of the whole community. It should also provide new technology while people should be encouraged to pool ideas and exchange knowledge and local wisdom.

He said success in overcoming poverty hinged on participation from grassroots people.

Local people should take centre stage in deciding their own poverty eradication plans. The state may also step in to support them financially.

Citing the merits of the Baan Mankong housing project, Gen Chavalit said he favoured the common use of land and sharing of resources over the "charity handouts" of land plots to each individual as witnessed in At Samat district.

However, he said he was eyeing the three southernmost provinces as the first location to try out his poverty-eradication campaign.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:40 PM

209 words
27 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

More than 3,600 policemen have taken a training course in counter-insurgency to enable them to operate in small teams against rebels in the troubled provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Lt-Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, Region 9 Police chief and commander of the Yala-based Forward Operation Centre of the Royal Thai Police Office, said that altogether 22 batches of police in the three province have undergone the training which is intended to make them able to protect the people and their operational bases more effectively as well as to launch counter-attacks when ambushed while on motorcycle patrols.

They have also been trained in laying siege to target areas prior to a search and giving chase on helicopters to capture fleeing targets.

Lt-Gen Adul said 58 police and soldiers were killed and 115 wounded in their operations against insurgents in the deep South in 2004. The casualties dropped to 45 killed and 92 wounded last year. About 90% of the casualties were caused by recklessness.

"The insurgents know the routines of government forces and their locations." In Yala, an engineer of the Provincial Electricity Authority was shot and seriously wounded in a gun attack yesterday.

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:42 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 27 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-01-27 / 16:12:40 (GMT+7:00)

Bank of Thailand (BOT)’s Governor M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula on Thursday expressed confidence that the Thai economy would grow up to 5 per cent, stimulated by many positive factors.

Delivering a special lecture to members of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC) on “Economic Outlook in 2006,” he said the overall Thai economy would continue to grow this year since private investment had still expanded.

In December, the private investment grew 74 per cent with a production capacity increasing 85-90 per cent as could be witnessed by investment promotion figures.

In particular, foreign investment through the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has continued to rise early this year.

So, he believed the consumption, export, and investment this year would outpace those of last year.

He said fuel prices would stay high, but not fluctuate like that of last year. So, it is necessary to continue to promote the energy conservation.

He conceded that the rising oil prices had fueled an inflation rates which had increased to 6 per cent on average in each month since October last year.

Although the rate had begun to decline late last year, he believed, it would increase by 3 per cent for the whole year and a core inflation rate would edge up slight to 3 per cent.

M.R. Pridiyathorn said what the BOT worries now is a gap of saving that needs to be closely supervised.

The central bank would not allow people to spend too high through credit cards because it would fuel burdens of household debts.

On interest rates, he said although the policy interest rate had increased to 4 per cent, it is still low when compared with the inflation rate, which stayed at around 5 per cent.

So, the BOT saw a need to increase deposit rates to encourage people to turn to save money.

But how much the interest rate will rise depends on the situation. (TNA)--E005

U-Need

27-01-2006, 05:45 PM

Poojadkuan

Bangkok: Lots of people are amazed and go to see the money mountain that higher than the Golden Mount by many times. After Shin Corp was sold to Singapore for seven billion baht , the money mountain appeared near Jaransanitwong 69. It is expected that this will be a new favorite tourism place in Thailand that will go down in history.

U-Need

28-01-2006, 01:42 PM

640 words
28 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

POST REPORTERS

His Majesty the King has rejected the Senate's nomination of nine new graftbusters, which was submitted last month by Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua.

The list of the nine nominees to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) was returned without royal endorsement, an unprecedented action which prompted calls for the senate speaker to take responsibility.

Mr Suchon admitted yesterday the list was returned by the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary on the grounds that the nominees had been picked from a group of 17 shortlisted candidates, instead of 18 as required by the constitution. The number of the candidates was reduced to 17 after former army commander-in-chief Gen Prawit Wongsuwan withdrew from the race, citing health reasons.

Mr Suchon said he would call a meeting on Feb 9 with his deputies, heads of all senate standing committees and the chair of the ad hoc committee on senate affairs to discuss the matter. He did not say how soon a new round of selection of NCCC nominees could take place. The upper house is now in recess.

The Senate's latest troubles come just weeks before its six-year term expires in March.

Earlier, the senate speaker submitted the nomination of Wisut Montriwat to replace Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka as auditor-general following a Constitution Court ruling that the selection process that led to her appointment was unlawful.

Khunying Jaruvan refused to step down. The nomination of Mr Wisut failed to get royal endorsement within 90 days, forcing him to withdraw his nomination.

Sen Chirmsak Pinthong yesterday called on Mr Suchon to show responsibility, saying the senate speaker had made repeated mistakes.

The Bangkok senator said he had opposed the submission of the list of NCCC nominees to His Majesty out of concern that it could be illegitimate.

He had suggested that the Senate pick 18 initial nominees from the 80 individuals who had originally applied to contest for the NCCC seats last year. Mr Suchon decided to go ahead with the final nomination process, however.

Mr Chirmsak said he then sought a Constitution Court ruling on the nominations via Parliament President Bhokin Balakula, but received no response.

He then sought intervention from the Parliament Ombudsman's Office, which refused to consider his petition.

"I almost gave up hope," he said.

According to Mr Chirmsak, five of the nominees did not meet the requirements. The constitution requires that the applicants hold a director-general post or an equivalent, but some were only C-10 officials without any experience in management.

"He [Mr Suchon] made a mistake in the case of Khunying Jaruvan. Won't he do something to show responsibility at all?," Mr Chirmsak said.

Sen Kaewsan Atipothi (Bangkok) said he considered the matter as an urgent one for which an extraordinary session should be called next month.

Sen Karun Sai-ngam (Buri Ram) said Mr Suchon should resign to show responsibility.

"We had warned that the selection process wasn't legitimate. But he never listened. This time he should quit," Mr Karun said.

Sen Maleerat Kaewkao (Maha Sarakham) said Mr Suchon should move up the planned meeting from Feb 9 to Feb 1 to show his sincere intention to resolve the problem.

Sen Niran Pitakwatchara (Ubon Ratchathani) called on the Senate to fix the problem while it could.

"This is its second chance. If the Senate doesn't take it, it will be condemned," he said.

Meanwhile, Surapol Ekyokha, designated chairman of the NCCC, yesterday thanked the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary for exercising discretion.

"After all, it's the Senate who faulted the selection process. I'd leave it to legal procedures," he said.

Mr Surapol was a Supreme Court judge before he resigned to become a corruption fighter.

U-Need

28-01-2006, 01:46 PM

94 words
30 January 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Thailand's Ministry of Defence has announced its plan to procure nearly 15 billion USD in foreign military hardware over a nine-year timeframe.

Thai Defence Ministry's Permanent Secretary Gen. Sirichai Tanyasiri said his ministry would open bids for the planned procurement of the military hardware, involving combat maneuver abilities, mobilisation of forces, firepower systems, communications and information technology.

The Defence Ministry's arms purchase plans would not be delayed by any budget constraints, Sirichai said.

U-Need

28-01-2006, 01:49 PM

491 words
28 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

UMESH PANDEY

Reuters, the world's leading information provider, plans to expand its operations in the Thai market and offer more variety to existing clients.

The information business in Thailand is improving as people can now make transactions and access news on their desktops, said Edward Haddad, managing director of the 10-member Asean arm of Reuters, adding that the company is increasing its market share in Thailand.

Reuters on Thursday announced plans to give customers using its top-end Reuters 3000 Xtra service access to the Thai-language news service provided by Reuters' local subsidiary BisNews.

"We have been looking to launch this product for some time now but due to the fact that the Thai fonts were not totally compatible, we had to wait," said Anurag Ruangrob, country manager for Reuters.

"Previously, people had to read the English news on one terminal and switch to another to see Thai news," said Mr Haddad.

He said the addition of the Thai news service would help investors analyse information and make decisions more efficiently, which would benefit the market.

Reuters, which currently employs 1,000 people in Thailand in various roles, such as news gathering and software development, said that it was looking to expand its Thai presence.

Having struggled against competitors, the company has made a remarkable turnaround and is looking to hire another 200 to 300 new staff in Thailand for its software-development business.

"Although India is more famous for software development, there's a problem of people jumping from one job to another, which is not the case in Thailand."

Reuters, he said, was looking to grow in the information market, which as of last year was worth around $10-12 billion.

"Today we are on a positive growth path and we hope to continue this in the future."

"Reuters is all about growth now, we are now a lot leaner, meaner and more competitive," he said.

As well as heavy investments to extend Thailand operations, Reuters planned to invest in growing markets such as China and India, he said. The information industry in these markets is expected to be worth more than $1 billion by 2015, from about $100 million currently.

As part of its efforts to further strengthen its presence in Thailand, the company was looking to offering greater access to electronic-trading platforms.

Electronic trading, which has become the key form of trading, rather than via face-to-face or phone, is one of Reuters' strengths. The company has an 18,000-strong trading community in inter-bank (dealer-to-dealer) foreign exchange, and plans to launch a multi-asset trading platform for markets including fixed income, derivatives, commodities and energy, Mr Haddad said.

Reuters has already started building its presence in these dealer-to-customer markets with the launch of four new systems this year, including Reuters Trading for Fixed Income.

KatoeyLover69

28-01-2006, 01:50 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 28 January 2006 :-

Delightful dragon :
Yaowarat Road will be decked in red and gold this Sunday as Bangkokians celebrate the Chinese New Year

Story by Karnjana Karnjanatawe

With Chinese New Year approaching, residents of Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, are scrubbing their houses clean to welcome the "Year of the Dog" that ushers in this coming Sunday when people will wear red, while all shops and buildings in the area will be decorated with paper and electric lanterns of matching colour themes.

But why red?

Preeda Parathachariya, who knows Yaowarat inside out and is a member of a cultural network group set up to preserve and promote traditional values of the largest Chinese community in Bangkok, said the colour is associated with good luck. He is reigning champion of the highly popular weekly Fan Phan Thae television quiz competition on Yaowarat.

Back in the old days, and that is going back several thousand years, it was believed that the red colour could ward off Nian, the mythical half fox half lion monster that descended from the hills every New Year's eve, the start of spring, and gorge innocent children in villages.

According to Chinese folklore, a wise man found that red-coloured symbols, noise and fire could scare the beast away. The villagers started pasting red emblems on their doors, beat drums and gongs, burned bamboo sticks and lit fireworks to frighten the ogre.

Since then Nian has become the Chinese word for new year and people celebrate its arrival by exploding firecrackers, pasting red inscriptions on their doors, and hanging bright red lanterns from their houses.

For the record, the Chinese community of Yaowarat dates back to the Rattanakosin period - to 1782 - during the reign of King Rama I. Then, Chinese people mostly lived in Sampheng area and by the bank of the Chao Phraya River.

By the time of King Rama V, the number of Chinese living in Yaowarat had grown substantially so he decided to build a road to improve access to the community and livelihood of residents there.

"The road that cuts through Yaowarat is not a straight one because the King didn't want to disturb the daily routine of its residents. The road was cut avoiding farms and houses," said Preeda who was born in Yaowarat.

As a result, the road we see today snakes past shops, houses and restaurants in a manner locals liken to the shape of a dragon whose head is at the red-and-gold plated Chalerm Phrakiat Gate built in 1999 to mark the sixth cycle of His Majesty the King's birthday, while the tail is at Chakkrawat junction.

The amazing thing is that the dragon's belly is where all restaurants and food shops are located .

High points

Yaowarat boasts of more than 100 gold shops along a 1.5-kilometre stretch. The oldest one is Tang To Kang on Wanit Road that's been operating for more than 130 years.

Land prices in Yaowarat are the second most expensive in Bangkok after Silom: one square wah costs 260,000-510,000 baht compared to Silom's 340,000-600,000 baht.

It holds within its embrace the oldest Chinese temple in Bangkok, Yong Hok Yhi, located in Trok Tao lane. Built more than 300 years ago, the temple's Thai name is Wat Bumphenjeenprot and it's regarded as one of the unseen attractions of Yaowarat.

It is still in good shape and according to Preeda, Sok Haeng, the famous Chinese monk-scholar visited the shrine in 1871. He renovated the place and began teaching Mahayana Buddhism. For his effort, he was held in high by the Chinese community. Later he started looking for a bigger site and built a second temple, Wat Mungkorn Kamalawas, on Mungkorn Road.

Unlike Wat Mungkorn Kamalawas, Yong Hok Yhi, meaning eternal happiness, is cute and neat, not covered in smoke from burning candles and incense sticks. Its main draw are of papier-mache images that visitors can easily mistake for bronze.

"Paper and cotton cloth were easy to get hold of in the old days," said Preeda, explaining that people who had strong faith in religion built a set of 18 images of enlightened monks and presented them to temples.

Sharing the same wall as Yong Hok Yhi is Wat Yuan, also called Wat Kusolsama, built by Vietnamese Buddhists.

Aungvinaithorn Pisit is a monk there. The temple offers classes in Buddhism. After the Chinese New Year, the temple will hold its traditional fair which now has become a model for seven other temples in the city built by Buddhists of Vietnamese ancestry. During the fair the temple donates sticky rice ordained by monks that's believed to bless recipients with children.

There is the Tien Fah Foundation which has provided free medical treatment to the poor since the days of King Rama V, and last but not the least, is the only rongtium in Bangkok, the traditional Chinese lodge, that will open next month under the name Hom Muen Lee.

The dragon's belly

Yaowarat is also famous for its countless hot and cold dishes available day and night. It has more than 50 ranking restaurants, not counting the roadside stalls.

One of the more popular dishes is the shark fin soup.

Preeda said Yaowarat's food culture began with two restaurants 50 years ago that made available cuisine straight out of the kitchens of former Chinese emperors to the ordinary people, which also explains the popularity of shark fin soup among local Chinese.

One of its other famous delicacies is the crispy sliced pork that has been accorded OTOP (one tambon, one product) rating by the government and is extremely popular among visiting Hong Kong and Taiwanese tourists, as are freshly roasted chestnut sold by the roadside.

Shopping paradise

Yaowarat is a one-stop shop for Chinese herbs and medicine like dried goat's tendon or dried slices of crocodile meat.

Fruit connoisseurs can enjoy shopping at Talad Mai, the new market on Itsaranuphap Road, while the old Talad Kao market on the same road that has been operating for more than 80 years offers a choice of recipes such as dried mushrooms, ingredients for making suki-yaki, dried fish maw, dried and raw holothuria, fish, chicken or roasted duck.

If thirsty, go for herbal drinks, or the milky almond and lotus root juices.

For home decoration there are a variety of items, as well as red dresses and T-shirts to go with the occasion.

Going to Yaowarat this Sunday wear the red T-shirt designed by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. It's printed with her greetings for the Year of the Dog, wishing those wearing it luck and prosperity.

TRAVEL TIPS

To explore Bangkok's Chinatown, the best way is to take the MRT subway and get off at Hua Lamphong railway junction. From there it's a short walk to Yaowarat. Your first stop can be Wat Trimit Wittayaram, just 200 metres from the junction, that has a statue of Lord Buddha cast from gold.

Cross the street to Chalerm Phrakiat Gate and appreciate the art objects and inscriptions on show there.

Further up is Tien Fah Foundation where a golden statue of goddess Aryavalokitesvara Bodhisattva is kept. From the foundation just walk freely taking in the sight and sound of Chinatown. Also, don't forget to explore the sub-roads and sois that offer visitors a true picture of life in the largest Chinese community in Bangkok.

KatoeyLover69

28-01-2006, 01:54 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 28 January 2006 :-

Chaturon okay with condom machine plan

By Sirikul Bunnag

The Education Ministry has no objection to the Public Health Ministry's plan to install condom-dispensing machines in schools, said Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng yesterday. The scheme had been proposed once before but a fierce outcry from conservatives forced the Public Health Ministry to back down.

The plan is being dusted off by health authorities who said it would help contain the spread of HIV/Aids and other sexually-transmitted diseases among youngsters.

Mr Chaturon yesterday said he has no objection to the plan, but suggested that, in light of public sensitivity, schools and universities should have the freedom to decide whether or not to allow condom-dispensing machines on their premises.

The institutions which agree to join the project must also work with the Public Health Ministry to organise sex education and HIV/Aids prevention programmes on their premises, he added.

Mr Chaturon said it is imperative that the two ministries work together to systematically promote the right value and perception about sex among the young.

''Young people must be made aware of the choice they have and of the proper path they should be taking,'' he stressed.

The education minister said the decision by academic institutions to join the scheme must not be profit-oriented. ''If that was the case, then the move would be no different from putting up condom dispensers in a hotel,'' Mr Chaturon said.

People who oppose the plan must try to see the gravity of the HIV/Aids situation in the country. Some of the measures launched to contain the HIV/Aids spread may be perceived as being unconventional and indiscreet on the surface, he said, ''but the question begging an answer is whether it is more acceptable to watch more and more young people get infected with Aids''.He said the issue was considered ''taboo'' in Thai society and thus always triggered a controversy whenever it was raised for public discussion

KatoeyLover69

28-01-2006, 02:00 PM

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 28 January 2006 :-

Beer gardens could soon be a thing of the past

Beer gardens may become a thing of the past if a proposal yesterday by the national subcommittee on alcohol consumption control is approved.

Besides a halt to issuing beer-garden licences, the panel set up by the Public Health Ministry proposed three other measures to control alcohol advertising in a resolution passed at its meeting.

Disease Control Department director Dr Thawat Suntrajarn, president of the subcommittee, said the measures comprised a 24-hour ban on alcohol advertisements in all media, except tie-in adverts in live broadcasts from overseas; a ban on the display of alcohol products, brands and manufacturers’ names in all media; a ban on advertising competitions organised by alcohol companies; and asking the Excise Department to stop issuing licences for beer gardens.

“We see many activities in beer gardens, such as using beer girls, that are kinds of advertisement, so if the Excise Department still allows beer gardens, those promotional activities should be forbidden,” he said.

Thawat said the resolution would be forwarded to the main committee on alcohol consumption control for approval, after which relevant parties such as Chamlong Srimuang, who is heading opposition to the stock-market listing of Thai Beverage Plc – the maker of Chang Beer – would be invited to give their opinions. If the proposal is approved, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board and the Public Relations Department will enforce the new rules, he added.

Jeff Kimble, commercial director of Thai Asia Pacific Brewery Co Ltd – the maker of Heineken beer – said it was difficult for the company to comment on the proposals now. He preferred to wait for details of the restrictions.

A source at a local brewery, who asked not to be named, lamented that the Public Health Ministry would be trying to block brewers from doing business through the new restrictions and was making it seem like alcohol firms were bad guys who are killing people.

“The aim of any controls and restrictions applied to alcoholic beverages is to reduce accidents and promote good health. But this restriction set to eliminate beer gardens is beyond that … It is going to be a campaign to score political points,” the source said.

“I would like to know the real reason why they want to place tough restrictions on our business like this. Anyway, all they have done is fail to address the cause of the problem. They would do better to keep close controls on irresponsible drinkers and revamp the taxation process,” the source said. “Why don’t they prohibit manufacturing entirely?” he said, sarcastically.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot,
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

28-01-2006, 04:12 PM

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 28 January 2006 :-

Chiang Mai meeting centre to open in Dec 2007

The Tourism Authority has set December 2007 as the opening of the Bt1.2-billion Chiang Mai Meeting Incentive Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The centre will open in time to possibly host the January 2008 Asean Tourism Forum and in time to mark His Majesty the King’s birthday on December 5, 2007, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan.

She said the groundbreaking for project should commence shortly after appointing a building contractor in June. It would take 15 months to complete construction.

According to the TAT, the project is still being designed and architects are currently adjusting blueprints.

A progress report and construction schedule for the centre were presented last week during the Lanna Cluster Seminar, to Pracha Maleenont, tourism and sports minister. The report will also be presented to the mobile Cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai on February 7.

Juthamas said that when the centre was completed the project would be handed over to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, which would assume the lead role in attracting events to the convention centre.

However, it is also possible that the TAT would appoint a professional and independent management team.

There have been reports that expatriate executives who have worked with exhibition centres in Bangkok and Pattaya have shown interest in the project.

The TAT expects that the new venue will be able to host the Asean Tourism Forum, which would attract 2,000 delegates from Asean countries.

However, there could be a strong lobby to instead propose Pattaya, which has a larger inventory of rooms and is just 70 kilometres from the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, slated to open later this year.

Pattaya will host the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) annual conference this April and it has hosted various trade events of a similar size and nature as the tourism forum.

Suchat Sritama
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

28-01-2006, 11:27 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 28 January 2006 :-

Grand exhibition to honor HM King planned

A major exhibition about Thailand's revered monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, activities, which have greatly helped improved the livelihood of the Thai people, will be held in May to commemorate His Majesty the King's 60th year on the throne, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said here Saturday.

The exhibition, to be held at the IMPACT Trade and Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok, would exhibit His Majesty the King's biography and his tireless efforts to help raise the standard of living of the people through various means such as his new agriculture theory and sufficiency economy concept, Mr. Thaksin said during his weekly radio address.

The Prime Minister said that so far kings, queens and sultans from 14 countries had confirmed to personally attend a royal function to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession on the throne to be held from June 12-13.

Invitations have been sent to heads-of-state of 28 countries and so far 22 countries have confirmed to participate in the grand function.

KatoeyLover69

29-01-2006, 11:52 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 29 January 2006 :-

THAI to offer spa, massage services

Jet-lagged passengers can now find relief as Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has come up with an innovative idea - offering spa and massage services to its passengers at Bangkok's Don Muang Airport and aboard its planes, the head of THAI announced Saturday.

Somchainuk Engtrakul, Acting President of the national carrier, said THAI would offer spa services to its passengers on the ground at the airport, while they await transit flights to other countries.

In addition, massage services will be given to airborne passengers, while travelling aboard its planes so that they would feel more comfortable.

Services to refresh jet-lagged travelors are expected to perk-up the low profits registered during the recent spate of rising fuel costs, depressing profitability.

The spa service is expected to be launched soon. He said he expected the service would also help publicize Thai spa and herb products.

Touching on THAI's service in 2006, he said the airline had planned to increase flight frequencies on routes which are popular among passengers.

For instance, flight frequencies from Bangkok to New York would be increased to five from four times a week, while Bangkok to Los Angeles flights would rise to four from three per week, he said.

Flight routes which are not making money - such as Bangkok to New Zealand - will have their service frequencies reduced.

He said he believed that rising oil prices on the world market would not affect THAI's earnings because the increases would be temporary and THAI would have more active services after the new Suvarnabhumi Airport is opened for service, which, he said, would boost profits.

KatoeyLover69

29-01-2006, 11:54 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 29 January 2006 :-

Taiwan to send 80 teachers to Thailand

Taiwan, after sending 22 Chinese-language teachers last year to Thailand, will send 80 more teachers to Thailand in 2006, a newspaper said Saturday.

"Thailand is satisfied with the performance of the 22 Taiwan teachers, so it has asked Taiwan to send 80 more teachers. The National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) will recruit and train these teachers next month," China Times daily said.

Thailand is importing Chinese-language teachers from Taiwan because Thai universities are teaching Chinese, and high schools in Thailand will start teaching Chinese in 2008.

Currently, Thailand recruits Chinese-language teachers from China, but many teachers have used the opportunity to seek permanent residence. A foreigner can apply to become a Thai permanent resident after having worked for five years in the country.

In July, Thailand signed an agreement with NTNU, commissioning NTNU to train Chinese-language teachers for Thailand.

Earlier this month, NTNU's acting director Huang Sheng visited Thailand to discuss cooperation in Chinese-language teaching, China Times said.

Thai senators and university directors told Huang that they are satisfied with the Taiwan teachers' quality and attitudes and want Taiwan to send 80 more teachers, the paper said.

During the Cold War, Taiwan was the centre for teaching Chinese, as China was closed to foreigners, but lost that status when China opened up to the outside world in the 1980s.

KatoeyLover69

29-01-2006, 11:57 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 29 January 2006 :-

Japan to donate planetarium to Thailand : Japan helps Thai young people 'see stars' with gift of planetarium

BANGKOK, Jan 28 (TNA) - The sciences of astronomy and physics, plus mathematics and the technology of satelleties and space travel are about to hit the Thai countryside in a big way.

Japan has informed the Thai government that it will donate a modern planetarium worth Bt15 million (US$375,000) to Thailand's Ministry of Education, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang said here Saturday.

To help more Thai students 'see stars,' Mr. Chaturon said he would soon travel to Japan to accept the gift of the planetarium.

Meanwhile, the ministry's science study center is planning to build a mobile planetarium that can travel around the country, aimed at exciting interest and providing knowledge about astronomy to upcountry youths, he said.

Mr. Chaturon said he had instructed the center to study the concept proposed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra regarding the development of knowledge to encourage young people interest in mathematicis and the sciences, he said.

redlord

29-01-2006, 12:07 PM

100 students escape as big fire burns down boarding house

Published on Jan 29 , 2006

boarding house for female university students in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district was burnt down in a big fire, sending some 100 tenants to flee for their life, police said.

Five students were injured from inhaling smokes and no one was killed in the big fire which engulfed the four-story building on Soi Ramkhamhaeng 57 at 9:30 pm Saturday night.

Some 20 fire engines took about four hours to control blaze from spreading to other buildings, but by that time the fire had apparently consumed the building.

Police said the fire started on the second floor and quickly spread to other floors as the owner of the buildings had modified the building as boarding house by installing wood walls to make many more rooms for tenants.

Most of the tenants are students of the Ramkhamhaeng University .

Several tenants said they fled by climbing to a nearby building from a rooftop before the fire reached the top.

redlord

29-01-2006, 12:16 PM

Thailand-Laos in talks over 26 Hmong children from refugee camp

Published on Jan 28 , 2006

Twenty-six Hmong children who were expelled from Thailand last month have been found in neighboring Laos, and the two governments are discussing ways to reunite them with their parents living in a refugee camp, the United Nations said Saturday.

"The children are in Laos," said Bhairaja Panday, deputy regional representative for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "The issue (over their reunion) has been raised by both governments," Panday said.

The children, boys and girls aged between 14 and 20, had been living in a refugee camp for the Hmong ethnic minority in northeastern Thailand's Phetchabun province bordering Laos. But last month Thailand expelled them as well as one adult, in secret and for unknown reasons. Several foreign sources said they were arrested under the pretext that they had strayed outside the camp precincts.

Panday declined to say how the Hmong children ended up in Laos but said Thailand and Laos were negotiating ways to help them reunite with their parents at the refugee camp.

"We have been urging both governments to find a way out of this. We would like that to happen as soon as possible because they are children," he said.

"We have heard that some kids need some kind of medical attention. We just have heard that some of them are maybe malnourished."

KatoeyLover69

29-01-2006, 06:22 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 29 January 2006 :-

Dressed for success :
Parents hope price of breaking Islamic rules is worth a brighter future for their children

Story by WASSANA NANUAM

Many Muslim children attend Pattani's oldest Chinese-language school, hoping to one day get a good job in Malaysia or Singapore, but there is a price to pay.

To meet the school's "international standard", the children must accept certain rules. Girls cannot wear hiyab head scarves and boys must remove kapiyoh hats during class.

The students and parents, however, willingly compromise their religious dress code.

Hundreds of Muslim students are content to learn how to read, write and speak Chinese at the 86-year-old Chong Hua school which teaches kindergarten and primary school pupils in downtown Pattani.

The head scarf ban, however, does not seem to bother parents. An increasing number of Muslim families are eager to see their children learn Chinese, which they hope will be a ticket to a brighter future in Malaysia or Singapore.

On a tour of the school, synchronised speaking drills emanated from a classroom where first graders practised counting in Mandarin.

Among the pupils was Wan Muhammad Dor-ae, 7, who looked happy with the lessons. He started learning Chinese when he was three.

"I like studying Chinese. It's fun," he said.

Anuwat Jehnoh, a 12-year-old sixth grader, said job prospects in Malaysia or Singapore, which have large Chinese populations, were the main reason he took up the language. However, he said, personal security was also a consideration.

"An important thing is that it's safer there than in the three southernmost provinces. Malaysia and Singapore are nice places to live and work, with better paying jobs," he added.

Another sixth grader, Hufsoh Ngoh, 12, said her grandmother, who owns a grocery store behind Chao Mae Lim Kor Niew shrine in Pattani's Muang district, wanted her to be proficient in Chinese since the shop had many Chinese customers.

School headmistress Angkhana Nookhong conceded job prospects in Malaysia and Singapore was the magnet causing a surge in enrolments.

The school, Pattani's only Chinese-language school fully funded by the state, has 967 students, she said. Of these, 175 are Muslim.

The students study mainstream subjects in addition to one hour a day of Chinese. Other foreign languages, like English, are taught three hours a week.

She said it was compulsory that students, whether Buddhist or Muslim, wear the same uniform. The school, however, serves separate meals for Buddhist and Muslim students in its canteen.

"It's not actually a ban. It's widely known that our school [dress code] has been like this since our first days and parents agree to it. No-one complains as it's a school rule," the headmistress said.

She said that in the past students had nowhere to study Chinese on leaving the school after Prathom 6.

However, now that the Prince of Songkla University Demonstration School offers the language classes in its Mathayom Suksa 1-6 classes, the problem is a thing of the past.

"When we study a language, it's good to begin at a younger age. Here our students start as young as three years old, so they have good basics. But it's necessary to keep practising when learning a language," she said.

Waedueramae Mamingji, chief of the Pattani Islamic Committee, said it's up to parents whether they want to send their kids to schools that compel them to compromise Islam's dress code.

Under Islamic rules, children aged seven and older are encouraged to follow the religious dress code. It becomes mandatory when girls reach age nine and boys reach age 12-15.

"Parents have to be responsible in raising their kids, to ensure they follow religious rules, including dress code, at a young age. But since this is a school rule, and the children are very young, we have no right to stop them," he said.

KatoeyLover69

29-01-2006, 10:34 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 29 January 2006 :-

Gold sales drop sharply during Chinese New Year

Sales of gold during the Chinese New Year this year have dropped drastically compared to last year's holiday sales, apparently due to its soaring price, according to the President of the Gold Traders Association.

Jitti Tangsitpakdi said high gold prices had depressed sales during the popular Chinese holiday this year as people's purchasing power declined. He predicted that sales of gold, which is a favorite present during the annual celebrations, would tumble between 20 to 30 per cent this year.

Owners of gold shops in the Yavaraj area, Bangkok's Chinatown, saw their businesses going on quite actively Saturday afternoon and the festival traffic was heavy as people living in the area scheduled many exciting activities to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Yesterday, gold bar was being purchased at Bt10,200 (US$255) and the sales price was Bt10,300 per baht weight (15.2 grammes). Ornamental gold was bought at Bt10,081.40 and sold at Bt10,600 per baht weight.

KatoeyLover69

29-01-2006, 10:39 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 29 January 2006 :-

Interior Minister denies stolen arms smuggled from Malaysia

Interior Minister Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana today dismissed as rumour reports that weapons stolen in a raid on an army barracks two years ago and hidden since then in Malaysia will be carried back into Thailand to provide arms for staging insurgent attacks.

There is no substantial evidence to support the report and it should be treated as rumour.

Thailand and Malaysia have cooperated closely to prevent arms smuggling across the neighbours shared border, he said, adding that he believed no violence would occur in the deep South - at least not in the near future.

However, he said that he had ordered security officials to be on alert for any possible insurgent acts in four southern provinces -- Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla - all of which have substantial Thai Muslim populations.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 11:37 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Big cinema complex opens in Yala

By Issara News Centre

Against the backdrop of ongoing violence, the trendiest and biggest entertainment complex in the three southernmost provinces opened for business in Yala on Jan 25.

Kom Akkadej, a veteran cinema operator and owner of Coliseum Intergroup Ltd, said construction began in 2003 but because of the escalating violence in early 2004 the project had stalled for a time.

"Despite the situation, I am still determined to soldier on. I am confident that the new cineplex will also attract people from Pattani and Narathiwat, not only Yala residents," Mr Kom said.

It was his ambition to transform stand-alone cinemas in the southern provinces into modern, multi-purpose cinema complexes, he said.

The 400-million-baht, four-storey Coliseum Cineplex Yala is on 18,000 square metres of land. Most of the space is dedicated to four cinemas, each with 800 seats. The rest is available for rent _ offices, food outlets, luxury goods shops and karaoke bars. New technology has also been brought in to make the complex more functional.

Mr Kom said the purchasing power of Yala people was evident. The KFC fastfood outlet was doing well, raking in 200,000 baht on the opening day of the cineplex.

Mr Kom, who is not a Yala native, said his business caters to pleasure seekers, people craving respite from the pressures of separatist unrest.

"My business has nothing to do with political or security issues. It is pure entertainment," he said.

Given the daily violence, security is a primary concern and there are guards on duty around the clock.

"Our customers are always willing to be frisked at the entrances. In fact, they say that without such strict security, they would be reluctant to come," he said.

Mr Kom has plans for another 300-million-baht complex in nearby Pattani, but lack of funding is delayjng construction. He said Krung Thai Bank was not happy with the situation in the province and would lend him only 100 million baht so only 600 foundation piles had been sunk so far.

"It is ironic that while the state is urging more investment in the region, the state bank is just looking the other way," he said.

Many businessmen were interested in getting a commercial foothold in the region, he said. But, ironically, most investors in Yala were from elsewhere, while the local investors were turning their backs on the province.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 11:42 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Faster 'triple play' service on the way

By Komsan Tortermvasana

"Triple play" Internet service at the fastest broadband speeds available to date locally will make its debut in selected areas of Bangkok later this month.

The provider, Fiber-to-the-Home Co (FTTH), will use the Metropolitan Electricity Authority's fibre-optic network and then provide its own cable to home and corporate users.

Managing director Korbsak Chinwongwatana said the Qua-Triple Play service would be available in the Sukhumvit, Rama IV, Phloen Chit, Surawong, Silom, North and South Sathorn, Ramkhamhaeng, Bang Khen, Ram Intra, Chaeng Watthana and Ratchadaphisek areas.

In the first phase of the service, FTTH will offer a three-month free trial to 5,000 home and corporate users.

Triple-play services offer fast broadband Internet, video-on-demand and Internet-protocol phone through one connection.

FTTH will offer two bandwidths, 50 and 100 Mbps, he said.

Content for video-on-demand will be supplied by Orbis Online which will provide movies from Warner Brothers, Universal Pictures, Fox and Sony. The company is in negotiations to include all free television channels and local cable television services.

FTTH is also seeking local content providers to feed the broadband service.

Mr Korbsak said that bandwidth for video-on-demand would be just six Mbps, while the free-to-air service will use 4.5 Mbps and VoIP about 100 Kbps.

A subscriber of 50 Mbps will still have 40 Mbps of bandwidth to browse the Internet to watch video-on-demand, TV and talk on an Internet phone.

Mr Korbsak said that FTTH had invested nearly 500 million baht in equipment and fibre-cable laying for the first 5,000 subscribers.

After three months, if subscribers are satisfied with the services and want to continue, FTTH will charge a 2,500-baht cabling fee, plus a monthly service fee.

Services will comprise the basic free TV channels, but video-on-demand will cost an extra amount yet to be confirmed.

The second phase will extend cover to Phuket and Ayutthaya in March, and countrywide by the end of this year.

FTTH expects to have its cable network covering all parts of Bangkok by midyear, relying on the main MEA network.

At present FTTH services are only available in selected countries such as the United States, Japan and Australia.

FTTH technology was developed by an Australian consortium, including Scion Photonics, Senko, Viva Photonics, CEOS, Redcentre, the Victoria Photonics Network and other telecom companies.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 11:59 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Isetan given a makeover : Japanese department store stresses style

By Pitsinee Jitpleecheep

Amid intensifying competition in the retail industry, Isetan Department Store at CentralWorld Plaza, has decided to update its image to target younger consumers.

The move is an effort to compete with the new 15-billion-baht Siam Paragon shopping centre and to bring Isetan into line with the new look of CentralWorld, which will be relaunched in May.

Attractions at the site, formerly known as the World Trade Center, include a 5,000-square-metre Tops Supermarket and the trendy Zen Department Store.

Ken Kobayashi, the newly appointed general manager of Isetan (Thailand) Co, said that as part of the CentralWorld development the store would receive a facelift for the first time in its 14-year history.

The full makeover is expected to take three years and will transform Isetan into a fashionable Japanese store for both Japanese and Thai customers who are willing to pay for quality, he said.

Renovations, set to begin in early February, will start with the first and fifth floors, with the three main areas set aside for fashion, quality products and Japanese brands.

Once the renovations are completed, Mr Kobayashi said the sales space of the cosmetics section would account for 50% of total commercial space, with the supermarket area making up 30-40%, and the home-decoration area would be scaled down.

"Fashion not only refers to clothing and accessories, but also food and other necessities for daily life. Everything available here is fashionable," he said.

Recently, the company opened a Jalux counter service at Isetan Supermarket, providing airport-delivery food services to Japan Airlines customers who make a purchase from the Jalux counter on their departure date.

"Isetan is a Japanese store. We will maintain our identity, and we will emphasise our Japanese uniqueness even more. We want to become a favourite department store with loyal customers, like Central Chidlom," said Mr Kobayashi.

He said that a key factor in running a successful department store amid Thailand's dynamic and complicated retail business was customer satisfaction.

Asked about the impact from the opening of Siam Paragon, Mr Kobayashi said Isetan's sales dropped by 10% after the new shopping mall opened on Dec 9.

However, he said the situation had gone back to normal since Christmas.

Last year, the company achieved a growth rate of 5%, thanks in particular to sales of Japanese food, which increased by 20% to 55 million baht.

Japanese food accounted for 20% of the total sales volume of food products in its supermarket.

This year, the company expects sales to grow on par with last year's performance, said Mr Kobayashi.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 02:47 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

By Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

Tawandang German Brewery Co is looking for a location to construct its third micro-brewery and restaurant, with a budget of more than 100 million baht.

No time frame has been set for construction because the company feels such a huge investment needs careful consideration at a time of economic uncertainty.

Rama V Road is one potential location for the new venue.

Supote Teerawatanachai, the company's managing director, said the site required at least two rai to construct a unique Tawandang hall, and at least three rai for parking.

Despite slowing economic growth, Mr Supote said, the concept of Tawandang remained popular because customers got more for their money, enjoying beer, food and entertainment in one package.

Most importantly, he said, Thai consumers liked to try something new, creating further business opportunity.

The new establishment will be different from the existing two sites, with a unique stage show as its selling point.

Ms Supote said he didn't need to worry about the food and drink side of the business as it had been consistently successful since the company was first launched.

The first brewery house was opened in 1999 on Rama III and broke even after two-and-a-half years. The six-rai site has an 1,800-seat capacity, with 1,200 litres of beer sold each day.

The show focuses on musical theatre, and 20 million baht was invested in stage construction, decoration and production.

The second branch was opened in September last year on a 10-rai plot on Ram Intra Road. It has more than 2,000 seats and the show focuses on performance art.

In just three months it became popular, not only with beer drinkers, but also families. Occupancy rate of seats is 60-70% during weekdays, while at weekends it is full. 1,000 litres of beer are sold per day.

The company is also considering maximising business potential at the second branch by turning it into a venue for functions during the day. Mr Supote said he thought it would be a popular choice as there was great demand in the market and it would be cheaper than a five-star hotel.

Asked about anti-alcohol campaigns and the proposed new law that would ban media advertising of alcohol products, he said the impact on the company was marginal as it had not generally promoted its brand through traditional media.

But he said people had tightened their belts amid inflation caused by rising oil prices.He also said the company was seeing a lower margin because the cost of ingredients had started to rise, while its menu prices remained unchanged.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 02:52 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Disqualified Chuwit returns MP's salary

Chuwit Kamolvisit, who has been disqualified as Chat Thai MP, Monday returned his December's salary worth Bt90,930 to the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.

Chuwit told officials of the secretariat that he wanted to set a precedence for other MPs t follow by returning his salary.

However, Chuwit returned only his December salary and did not mention the salary from February to November last year.

Last week, the Constitution Court ruled that Chuwit was disqualified as a Chat Thai party-list MP as he did not join the Chat Thai for at least 90 days before the election in February.

Chuwit also returned a notebook computer and his MP identification card to the officials.

But hours after he returned the money, Pithoon Poomhiran, the secretary-general of the House of Representatives, said he would ask return the December salary to Chuwit as he deserved it. Pithoon explained that only MPs, who were disqualified on corruption charges, would be required to return their salaries.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 02:57 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Britons avoid Surat Thani after killing

The brutal rape and murder of 21-year-old Welsh student Katherine Horton on Koh Samui has caused a 30 per cent drop in the number of British tourists visiting Surat Thani province this year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The TAT’s southern office director Pramote Sapyen said even though the crime was solved quickly and two fishermen convicted and sentenced to death, it was obvious the incident had affected tourism.

The case was heavily reported in the United Kingdom, and that had frightened tourists, with more than 30 per cent cancelling their trips to Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan during the high season.

“This will affect overall tourism for the year as normally 150,000 British tourists visit Thailand a year. A tourist stays on average one week and spends Bt4,000-Bt5,000 a day,” Pramote said.

On that basis, the two islands had lost between Bt100 million and Bt150 million in income.

Initially, the tragic incident had also affected tourists from other countries such as the Netherlands, but the situation had since improved. Asian tourists were still travelling to the region as usual.

Ruangnam Jaikwang, president of Surat Thani’s Tourism Association, said it would take some time for the situation to return to normal. It was important for tourism companies to cooperate with police officers for the safety of tourists, he said.

Surat Thani provincial police chief Maj-General Voravate Vinitnatyanon said police have been planning stricter safety measure to prevent crime and are assigning officers who speak English to warn tourists about going to risky places.

Anan Chusak, president of the province’s fisherman’s association, said the brutal crime had given fishing boat crews a bad image and the association had urged boat owners to be more careful about who they hire.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 03:02 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Pornprapas have designs on new hotel in Bangkok

The Pornprapa family, leading lights in the local automobile industry, are developing a new hotel in the heart of Bangkok at a cost of Bt650 million.

Scheduled to open in October, the Siam@siam Design Hotel and Spa will be located in the Siam Centre area, one of the most popular parts of the city for international tourists as well as containing the newly opened Siam Paragon shopping mall.

Siam Motor and Nissan Sales chairman Pornpinit Pornprapa said the hotel would have 25 floors and 203 rooms. It will differ from other leading hotels in the Siam Square and Rajaprasong area as there will be no meeting or conference facilities, with the hotel’s stated focus being on tourists who want privacy.

Room rates will be between Bt4,000 and Bt6,000.

Despite being in one of the most competitive Bangkok locations for hotel businesses, Pornpinit believes it will compete successfully by positioning itself as a “design hotel”.

“We are building this hotel to service repeat tourists, particularly those who come to Thailand wanting somewhere special to stay,” he said. The hotel is targeting both the Asian and Western markets.

Pornpinit said that both design and boutique hotels were now really taking off overseas, particularly in the West.

But with only a number of boutique hotels in Thailand, the Pornprapas are convinced there is room for design hotels – larger establishments than boutique hotels, although both cater to the fashionable traveller looking for something different from the norm.

The property will be the second hotel venture for the family following the Tropicana Pattaya, which it has operated for more than 30 years.

The Pornprapa family owns one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, with particular emphasis on the automobile industry. Its Siam Motor and Nissan Sales operates nationwide dealerships for Nissan cars and trucks and Suzuki and Yamaha motorcycles and imports and manufactures Suzuki cars, as well as producing auto parts.

Pornpinit also expressed optimism about the prospects for the local tourism industry. More tourists are expected to visit the Kingdom this year, a trend helped in his view by the upcoming opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Campaigns run by the Tourism Authority of Thailand will also bring more visitors to Bangkok, especially shoppers and young travellers, he said.

Suchat Sritama
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 03:12 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Chiang Mai longan-growers turn to harvesting tilapia

More than 600 net cages containing tilapia fish along the Ping River in Chiang Mai are owned by longan-growers who have been suffering from the problem of falling prices.

Oversupply and fluctuating prices of longans since 1997 prompted growers to look for a new source of income to offset their losses.

Agro-conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group introduced them to tilapia fish and the net-cage system.

Nongnuch Kanthiya, a longan-grower in Chiang Mai’s Baan Hua Kuong, started feeding tilapias in 1999 when her fruit dropped in price.

She said her income from longan production on five rai was unstable, so she had had to find a supplementary business to support her family.

Having started with only two cages, Nongnuch and her daughter Aporn now manage 80, raising 6,000 fish to maturity in four months, bringing in an average of Bt120,000-Bt150,000, of which Bt20,000 is profit.

“I enjoy the stable income, and I can raise two or three lots of fish a year. That, not the longans, is now my main career,” she said.

She sells her tilapias directly to the CP Group at a guaranteed price of Bt42-Bt45 per kilogram.

In the village, 30-40 longan-growers raise tilapias on the same system and are making an attractive profit.

However, the rising cost of feed meal is a major problem at Bt440 per 20kg bag, up from Bt350 in 1999.

The current and water quality of the Ping are also not as good as in the past, lowering yield.

CP has 100 such fish-farmers with a total of 500-600 cages in Chiang Mai producing altogether 70-90 tonnes per month.

The company plans to promote provincial consumption from eight to 10 tonnes a day.

Betagro Group, a leading agro-conglomerate, and Thai Lux, a local feed- distributor, are also promoting the fish, and the competition has kept prices low, said CP staff.

Tilapia farms flourish in Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Nan, Sukhothai, Angthong, Sing Buri, Ayutthaya, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai.

Achara Pongvutitham

The Nation
Chiang Mai

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 03:17 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Guffawing their way to a healthier life

Realising that she had not laughed for over a year, a woman executive decided to attend the weekly meetings of the country’s first and so far only laughter club at Srinakharinwirot University’s Prasanmitr campus. At first she had to force herself, she told the 20 or so other members during a “sharing moment” at last week’s meeting.

But as weeks passed, she eventually rediscovered her ability to laugh and became happier in her daily life despite stress at work and other problems. The laughing sessions are conducted by veteran physiologist and lecturer Wanlop Piyamanotham and held every Thursday from 2.30pm to 5.30pm at the University’s Centre for Counselling and Human Enrichment.

The room resounded with laughter last week as the members, aged from 19 to 74, literally guffawed their way to good health and a positive outlook on life.

The meeting started with a “body session” - warming up with some exercise movements to reduce inhibition and then getting into designated postures while going into gales of laughter in four rhythms.

Wanlop developed the techniques from those used in voice therapy and various psychological healing techniques. The different postures and laughing sounds are supposed to get every part of the body to laugh.

For example, laughing with an “O, O, O, O” sound while moving the hands up and down sideways is for stomach laughter, and using an “Ou, Ou, Ou, Ou” sound while rolling the hips is for hip laughter.

The members paused from time to time with eyes closed to observe their body’s response and focus the energy they feel to heal particular problem areas.

Next came the “mind session”, in which members pause for a minute, eyes shut, to think of something sad. Wanlop then tells them to cleanse their minds of such negative thoughts and get rid of them through the tops of their heads with a laugh similar to the Indian mantra “Om”, before the group goes back to laughing postures while hollering even louder.

Last was the “social session”, which applies the “reframing” technique of shifting negativity to positivity. The members got into groups of four and took turns telling sad stories to the others, who responded with roars of laughter. Telling a sad story and getting a good reaction - laughter - creates immunity in the members and lets them see other sides of the story, according to Wanlop.

The members then went into another round of laughter together before closing their eyes and instructing themselves to have a stronger body and a more positive view of life. The three-hour meeting ended with some warming-down exercises.

It may seem that the club is meant specifically for people who having difficulty laughing or smiling or have simply forgotten how to, like the woman executive, but many members said they had no such problem. They said they just wanted to give this new thing they had heard about on television a try to see what it could do to help them deal better with stressful, fast-paced, traffic-jam-plagued city life.

“It’s like using your body to stimulate your mind. You can’t feel bad while you are in a relaxed posture and having a hearty laugh,” said Adul Fongweera, 36, an entrepreneur and self-improvement enthusiast who was attending his fourth meeting.

Adul said he used Wanlop’s laughter techniques when he felt bad and found that he recovered from negative emotions quicker.

The project’s head, Jitra Dudsdeemaytha, said the club practised an active, self-initiated laugh that would give a person immunity to criticism and stressful situations, which was different from the usual passive laughter in response to a stimulus, such as a joke.

Laughing is like internal jogging that leads to a sound mind and stronger body, she said: a five-minute continuous laugh is equal to 30 minutes of exercise.

Jitra said scientific studies had proved that laughing enabled the body’s systems to function better while reducing depression, diabetes and even cancer growth.

The laughter club’s oldest and most regular member - she has missed just one session since it started last year - is 74-year-old Rungtiwa Nitanonthawat.

Afflicted by heart disease, high blood pressure and bladder inflammation, she said her breathing and heart rate had improved and that laughing often helped her better bear pain and maintain a cheerful view of life.

First-timer Nattapin Tangapiradee, 45, said her dry-eye condition, which requires her to use artificial teardrops from time to time, had improved after just one meeting and so she intended to come again.

The setting up of the laughter club, part of the university’s Bt2-million community-service project, follows a growing global trend already established in countries such as India, Korea, Malaysia and the United States.

The laughter club is free of charge and welcomes newcomers, Jitra said.

A laughing event at the university’s football field is planned for June to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 60th year on the throne. At least 1,000 people, including university students and the general public, are expected to take part, Wanlop said.

Premyuda Boonroj
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 07:31 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Bangkok subway gets pooch patrol

Bangkok's subway security will be boosted next month by a 12-member squad of bomb experts of the canine variety, officials said Monday.

The Mass Transit Rapid Authority, the state enterprise that oversees the Bangkok subway system, has teamed up with the Royal Thai Army to launch an 17-hour dog patrol for the underground to secure passengers' safety, the Thai News Agency said.

The authority's deputy governor, Ronnachit Yaemsaard, said the 12-member dog squad will begin its underground operations at an unspecified date in February.

The trained pooches will be divided into four groups each day to inspect suspicious objects and detect any explosives in Bangkok's subway stations and inside its underground trains, Ronnachit told the news agency.

"The canine bomb expert squad would be on service everyday from 06.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m., the daily service hours of the underground train," he said.

Ronnachit, however, was quick to add that to date there have been no bomb threats against the subway service although security officers have on occasion discovered "unattended briefcases" that later turned out to have been forgotten by passengers.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 07:37 PM

Report from The Nation dated Monday 30 January 2006 :-

Scholarships to be granted for linguistics study abroad

The Education Council is going to offer 22 scholarships for students interested to pursue degrees in linguistics overseas.

The grantees will be trained in the foreign languages before they continue their education in native lands: Russia, Portugal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma and Malaysia.

"Our country is in great need of linguists," the council's deputy secretary general Somkiat Chobphon said Monday.

According to him, the Education Council has developed the scholarship project in bachelor's degree level after it has received more than Bt100million financial support from the Government Savings Bank. The grants will be given on a condition that the recipients return to work in Thailand.

"They can work in either private or government sector. But if they come back to work as lecturers, that will be great," Somkiat said.

He said the project would select successful candidates from students who already completed secondary education or first-year or second-year students.

Somkiat said the project would be soon submitted before Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang and then the Cabinet for approval. He expected that the project would be able to select the grantees before the first semester of 2006 academic year begins.

KatoeyLover69

30-01-2006, 07:49 PM

Report from The STAR dated Sunday 22 January 2006 :-

Exclusively Thai! :
Thai Takes

By A. Asohan

IT’S the usual story for any of us living overseas – sooner, rather than later, you start missing Malaysian food.

Not just the food per se, but also the fact that you can walk down any small-town street back home and waver between a choice of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Western food – or the rich diversity of combinations therein.

Thai food is great, but having it every day? Sure, you do get a lot of “foreign” restaurants at which you can indulge in some variety, but they tend to be located downtown or at the bigger shopping malls.

So when a Thai colleague overheard a fellow Malaysian and me complaining about how the char siew pau here just doesn’t taste right, in true hospitable Thai fashion, he invited us to lunch at an authentic Chinese restaurant.

So we got our roasted duck and such, but they all had a distinct Thai flavour. Great food, but not quite what we were expecting.

And because we were all journalists at that table, diplomacy gave way to honesty and we just had to tell our host that the dishes didn’t quite taste authentic Chinese. (Yes, even as we said that we recognised the irony of Malaysians judging the authenticity of Chinese food.)

We went off on a tangent trying to explain why it was great to come from a country in which the source and flavours of “local” food can be so diverse – Chinese, Indian, Malay and what-have-you.

And because we were all journalists, the topic soon turned to socio-politics. “Malay? Chinese? Indian? You come from Malaysia – aren’t you all Malays?” he wondered.

“Nope, we’re all Malaysians, but she’s Chinese,” I said, pointing to my Malaysian colleague, “while I’m Indian – or Sri Lankan Tamil, if you want to be pedantic.”

“The Malays are yet another entirely different race. There is a difference between race and nationality, you know,” I added.

“Yes, I know, but it must be terrible to come from a country where everything’s so defined by race,” he said, correctly enough. “When are you all going to be truly integrated?”

Good question. Being Thai, he of course took great pride in Thailand’s reputation as one of those rare, multipolar Asian countries – as opposed to unipolar countries such as Korea and Japan – which hasn’t had any real racial strife.

To an outsider, the Thais all seem to come from one race, with just some variation in features and skin tone. That perception belies the rich diversity of ethnicities that actually make up today’s modern Thai, and the country’s long history in which many migrant communities – including Persians and Indians – have been absorbed.

Sure, the population looks fairly homogenous, especially when compared with a country like Malaysia, but the actual ethnic make-up has varied over the centuries.

The typical Thai today looks different from his ancestor of four centuries ago, when there was more movement and assimilation between South-East Asian peoples.

Up to 12% of Thai are of significant Chinese heritage, 2.3% are Malay, and other groups include the Khmer, the Mon and the Vietnamese. Smaller mountain-dwelling tribes, such as the Hmong and Mein, as well as the Karen, number less than a million of the 61 million population.

Just as with Malaysia, Thailand has an “Other” category as well, made up of the smaller South-East Asian tribes, plus the many migrant races which have been fully assimilated into Thai society.

They’re all Thai now. While some “Indians” may look as Thai as me, and even have Indian names, they only speak Thai ? and perhaps English as a second language. No sari-dressed aunts to hand down secret family curry recipes – not unless it’s green chicken curry, that is.

Indeed, the only ethnic race who have held on to their cultural identity are the Malays down south, and while it’s a complex situation involving hegemony, religion and history, one wonders whether the southern violence stems partly from marginalisation and the Malays holding on too strongly to their cultural roots.

But that’s the price Thailand has paid – integration at the cost of multiculturalism.

A. Asohan is editor of the Asia News Network (www.asianewsnet.net) in Bangkok

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:02 AM

251 words
31 January 2006
English

BANGKOK POST:

- Securities regulators yesterday ordered Panthongthae and Pinthongtha Shinawatra to clarify their share deals made with Ample Rich Investments, a suspected Shinawatra family offshore firm at the centre of a public storm over last week's sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

- Academics have set up a network to push for changes to Article 313 of the constitution to allow the general public greater say in drafting charter amendments.

- Thai Airways International will revamp its fuel surcharge structure for international flights to compete with those of rival carriers and reflect rising fuel costs.

- The Bank of Thailand yesterday raised its economic growth forecast for 2006 to between 4.75% and 5.75%, up from the previous estimate of 4.5-6%, with exports to be the main engine for growth.

THE NATION:

- Among questions being asked by market watchers regarding the recent Shin Corp share sale to Temasek Holdings is why the buyer was allowed a waiver from the chain principle rule, which requires them to make a tender offer for all of Shins units, like Shin Satellite and iTV.

- The Pornprapa family, leading lights in the local automobile industry, are developing a new hotel in the heart of Bangkok at a cost of Bt650 million.

- Asia Pacific Resources Ltd has appointed Praphant Asava-Aree as president and chief executive officer of its Thailand subsidiary, Asia Pacific Potash Corporation Limited (APPC).

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:04 AM

160 words
Thai News Service
31 January 2006
English

Section: General News - Defence Minister Thammarak Israngura Na Ayuttaya said the intelligence community was concerned that Singapore's takeover of Shin Corp could allow the city state to eavesdrop on Thailand with the company's satellites, The Nation reports.

"Nothing has happened yet, but in terms of intelligence, we already have security safeguards in place. Intelligence agents are closely monitoring" for any possible espionage, he told reporters.

"We have to watch anything that could affect national security," he said.

Singapore's state-owned investment company Temasek led a takeover of Shin Corp on Monday, in a Bt73.3 billion deal to buy the nearly 50 per cent stake in the company held by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family.

The deal included Shin Satellite Public Co, which operates three telecom satellites that cover Asia and Australia, providing telephone, Internet, television and other services.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:07 AM

369 words
31 January 2006
The Nation (Thailand)
English

Democrats claim Thailand's economic information in the hands of Singapore

Democrat Party spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon says Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has lost the right to run the country as he has "sold Thai sovereignty".

Through the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore-based Temasek Holdings, Thaksin allowed Singapore access to financial and economic information in Thailand, he said.

"Although the PM insisted he followed the law in selling Shin Corp, he should have political etiquette and a conscience,'' Ongart said.

By selling Shin, Thaksin also sold its subsidiary Shin Satellite - which has the right of relocating Thailand's satellite footprint - to foreigners. The sale also resulted in the transfer of the ownership of frequencies and equipment of AIS to foreigners. The government has also extended the company's concession period for 10 years, which benefits Temasek.

AIS subsidiary Advance Data Network Communication Co Ltd has a concession from the Telephone Organisation of Thailand Plc to provide online services connecting automatic teller machines of banks, oil depots, airlines, transport services and the business sector across the country. "Now this crucial information is under the management of Singapore,'' he said.

The fate of AIS's 18 million clients is now in the hands of Singapore companies.

Ongart said Thaksin had lost his mandate to run the country because of allegations of tax avoidance and asset concealment that are haunting him again.

He demanded that Thaksin and the Thai Rak Thai Party clarify the allegations against the PM.

Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai yesterday called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to give information about the Shin Corp deal for the sake of transparency.

Thai Rak Thai Party spokesman Sita Divari defended Thaksin by saying the premier sold his shares and did not pay tax in the same manner as 300,000 other investors in the stock market.

He said if the Democrat Party believed the PM had committed a wrong, they should file a complaint with police instead of making verbal accusations.

Chat Thai Party deputy leader Weerasak Kowsurat called on the Finance Ministry to change the regulations to require stock investors to pay tax on profits from the stock market.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:34 AM

292 words
30 January 2006
Xinhua News Agency
English

BANGKOK, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry plans to use criminal law as a tool to fight against improper websites, particularly pornographic webpages, ICT Minister Sora-at Klinpratoom said Monday.

Sora-at said that his Ministry would cooperate with Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Newin Chidchob to crack down on electronic media containing pornography and other unlawful activities. Newin was assigned by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra to oversee the vice websites particularly indecent webpages.

The ministry earlier asked internet service providers (ISPs) to cooperate with the campaign and help block unsuitable websites but the problem continues, Sora-at was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying.

Without voluntary cooperation, the minister said, the authorities will resort to applying criminal law to contain 'anti- social' activities on the internet, he said. At the same time he appeared to offer ways for ISPs to adjust their practices, as he said that the law would be gently implemented.

Sora-at said he would ask for more cooperation from the involved agencies, and that there would be no seizure of equipment for fear that it might interrupt service to the public, he said.

The state-run telecommunications firm, CAT Telecom Plc, and Kasetsart University have jointly installed software capable of screening 80-90 percent of improper websites, he said.

But it is an uphill battle, he noted and said that many internet users wanted to visit sex-oriented sites and other sites that offer activities, which are not considered to be in the public interest.

The Ministry will soon distribute screening software to schools and households in order to block improper websites in such places, he said.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:43 AM

292 words
31 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

CHEEWIN SATTHA

Chiang Mai -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will throw a free feast for 30,000 people in his hometown on Sunday when he pays homage to his late mother and ancestors, said a district official.

Surachai Chongrak, chief of San Kamphaeng, said the feast is a special treat for people expected to take part in a Sunday merit-making ceremony at Wat Rongthamsamakkhi. About 160 monks have been invited to perform the religious ceremony. Mr Thaksin will also make offerings to the local temple.

Mr Surachai said he has enlisted help from women in San Kamphaeng and neighbouring districts to cook the food.

He said the menu will include a variety of local favourites including namprik noom, khaeb moo, kaeng hungle and khanom jeen nam ngiew.

"The prime minister wants to meet the people. He also wants to eat with them," he said. Mr Thaksin, whose family just netted 73 billion baht from the sale of a stake in Shin Corp, will foot the bill.

The feast will be organised along a 500-metre stretch of Chiang Mai-San Kamphaeng road, from the district office to Wat Rongthamsamakkhi. Forty tents will be set up for the feast, with thousands of chairs reserved for guests. The prime minister himself will order catering services from well-known local eateries, he said

Local officials said about 2,000 people each from 22 districts and two sub-districts would be invited as representatives.

The feast is seen as the prime minister's continuing campaign to boost his popularity among rural people. Urban voters have increasingly expressed scepticism about efforts to woo them with populist policies and events.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:46 AM

293 words
31 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Tharn Settakij Editorial -- With the recent sale of Shin Corp shares to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, foreign telecom giants are now controlling more than 50% of the market share in Thailand.

The Shinawatra and Damapong family members last week sold their shares to Temasek, which now controls 49% of Shin Corp, a company founded by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Earlier, the Norwegian telecom giant Telanor acquired a controlling stake in DTAC, a telecom company founded by the Banjarongkul family.

These corporate takeovers were unexpected. And even more so for Shin Corp, which has long been the No.1 holding company in Thailand, earning big profits annually. Its flagship Advanced Info Service has provided a solid foundation for Mr Thaksin before he entered politics over a decade ago.

The sale of Shin Corp shares by the Shinawatra and Damapong families was reportedly done to end accusations of conflicts of interest. But the future liberalisation of the telecom business was also a major factor, as Shin will face a fierce competition from stronger foreign companies. There is a lesson from the liberalisation of the retail business, which is now dominated by foreign companies. Thai business operators are no match for these foreign competitors who have bigger capital, management skills and technology. These are weak points that we must try to correct.

In this era of globalisation, big companies from the US, Japan, China and Europe are extending their business power worldwide. Smaller countries are forced to accept the market system by these business giants. Free trade agreements are also used to gain easy access into new markets. Thai business operators must increase their competitiveness and seek new partners if they want to survive in this fast changing business environment.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:51 AM

Broadcast signal for Thaksin critic's talkshow cut off for allegedly not having a license

Bangkok Post
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Manager Group founder Sondhi Limthongkul will today submit a petition to the Administrative Court, asking it to lift CAT Telecom's suspension of the ASTV signal used to broadcast his talk show. Suwat Apaipak, the media firebrand's lawyer, said the petition accuses senior state officials of the Public Relations Department and CAT Telecom's management of abuse of authority for their alleged role in cutting the signal of the ASTV satellite-based TV network.

ThaiDay.com, operator of the signal, is a co-plaintiff.

Named in the lawsuit are the Public Relations Department director-general Suchat Suchatvejapoom, deputy director-general Pattareeya Sumano, CAT Telecom, its president Pisarn Jorpocha-udom, and its deputy managing director.

On Jan 24, CAT Telecom cut the signal of ASTV when Mr Sondhi took his campaign to Songkhla's Hat Yai district, claiming he did not have a licence.

Mr Suwat said he will also file suit against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for alleged negligence of duty in relation to Jan 20's ruckus at his talk show.

A similar lawsuit was filed against nine other people on Jan 26, including Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat for allegedly plotting the anti-Sondhi protest at Lumpini Park.

Meanwhile, in Surat Thani, unidentified groups yesterday circulated flyers urging locals to gather in force and throw their support at Mr Sondhi's talk show due to be held at a local hotel today.

Registration forms have reportedly been sent to communities in downtown Surat Thani to collect names of those who want to attend the Feb 4 rally at Royal Plaza.

Suriyon Suwannawong, secretary-general of the anti-transfer teacher networks representing the Central and Eastern regions, said 100,000 teachers from all regions plan to travel to Bangkok to join the planned rally.

He said the teachers will come separately to avoid being kept out by the authorities. They plan to submit a petition to His Majesty the King, asking him to prevent the planned school transfer.

In a related development, Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornwat said the public has the legal right to attend the rally and the government will not hold its own rally to counter Mr Sondhi's.

Metropolitan police commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Viroj Chantharangsi, meanwhile, said that more than 20,000 police officers will be deployed to handle the gathering and that security measures would be in place for any contingency.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:53 AM

By CAMILLE BAINS

VANCOUVER (CP) - Fugitive banker Rakesh Saxena could be killed or at least tossed in a prison cell and locked in leg irons if Canada surrenders him to Thailand to face allegations that he embezzled millions of dollars, a lawyer told the B.C. Appeal Court on Monday.

Russ Chamberlain argued that Saxena would be tortured in Thailand, a country where human rights abuses are so shocking that prisoners are routinely beaten, shocked with cattle prods and placed in metal cages. "To be electrocuted in the genital area would shock the conscience of any fair-minded person, in my respectful submission," Chamberlain told a panel of three judges.

He also said his client would be discriminated against in Thailand as an Indian foreigner.

"There is some evidence that Indians are on the lowest scale of people who live in Thailand," Chamberlain said.

But a lawyer for the Justice Department said outside court that there's no corroborative evidence that Saxena would be tortured if returned to Thailand.

Saxena, now in his early 50s, has been fighting to stay in Canada since 1996 when he was arrested at a luxury hotel in Whistler.

The Canadian government ordered him to surrender to Thailand three years ago after a B.C. Supreme Court judge decided there was enough evidence against him to go to trial in that country.

Saxena has been charged in Thailand with embezzling $88 million from the Bangkok Bank of Commerce, which led to a 1996 run on deposits, causing its collapse.

Chamberlain cited several reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to argue that despite Thailand's Constitution, torture is still prevalent.

He told the court that Saxena would have a difficult time if returned there because people believe the banker single-handedly brought down the country's economy.

"There is a risk that Saxena will be extraditionally killed," Chamberlain said.

Reading from an affidavit, he said people would rather see Saxena dead than testify against them in court.

Saxena has maintained that he is being made the fall guy by executives of the bank related to the Thai royal family and by financial regulators embarrassed by the scandal.

Chamberlain said he's not buying assurances the Canadian government has received from Thai officials that his client would be given preferential treatment because of his high profile.

In a letter to Ottawa, Thailand has assured that every reasonable effort would be made to ensure Saxena is allowed communication with lawyers and visits by officials at any time.

But Chamberlain said the letter isn't even signed.

"How can you accept assurances of a torturer?" he asked the judges.

"Put yourselves in the position of Mr. Saxena, locked in leg irons in a small cell in Thailand with this document to protect him.

"In my respectful submission it is of little comfort to have these assurances."

Saxena was charged under the Thai Penal Code, which has now been barred under a statute, although charges under the Securities and Exchange Act won't fall under a statute of limitations until 2010.

Outside court, Chamberlain said his client can no longer be prosecuted by the Thai government because of the statute of limitations that came into effect in June 2005.

He also said there are no facts to support allegations against Saxena under the Securities and Exchange Act, which can't be a basis of prosecution because his client wasn't a securities broker.

But Justice Department lawyer Deborah Strachan said outside court that the Canadian government is relying on assertions by Thailand that the charges under the Securities and Exchange Act are justified.

"The question for the courts here is whether the allegations amount to criminal conduct in Canada and the extradition judge found that they would amount to fraud and/or theft in Canada," Strachan said.

She also said the Canadian government has reviewed volumes of human rights reports submitted by Chamberlain.

"But the minister also reviewed a number of other things, including the new Constitution of Thailand and various other documents and came to the conclusion that while there have been human rights abuses that he was satisfied that Mr. Saxena himself would not be tortured."

Chamberlain said he'll take his case to the Supreme Court of Canada if the Appeal Court upholds the extradition judge's decision.

Amrit Sarup, Saxena's mother, said outside court that her son is holding up well.

"He just goes along with what's happening. What to do?" said Sarup, a former lecturer at the London School of Economics.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 11:55 AM

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Travellers on public buses will need to dig a little deeper into their pockets from next Monday now that the Transport Ministry has given the green light for increases in fares.

Fares for private buses and passenger vans joining the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will rise by one baht and for interprovincial buses by three satang per kilometre. Fares for BMTA-run buses, however, remain unchanged.

Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri cited the rise in the oil price, which has hit 24.70 baht a litre, as the main reason for the increments.

Private bus operators have demanded that the Transport Ministry honour its earlier pledge to nudge up fares after oil prices went past 24.50 baht a litre.

The fare hike proposal will be forwarded to a committee on land transportation for endorsement tomorrow , Gen Chainant said.

Bangkok bus fares are currently charged at a flat rate of seven baht per passenger. Fares for airconditioned buses start at 10 baht and the maximum is 20 baht. Minibuses charge a 5.50 baht flat rate.

Fares for interprovincial buses will rise by three satang per kilometre, well short of operators' demand of nine satang.

However, the BMTA has decided to freeze its bus fares for another one to two months, pending a firmer picture on oil prices, the deputy minister said.

The BMTA would cut management costs first to ease the burden on the public.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 01:06 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

Chuwit urges Banharn to quit as party chief

By SUPAWADEE INTAWONG MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

Former Chart Thai MP Chuwit Kamolvisit yesterday urged Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa to step down in favour of a younger man.

He made the call after returning a month's salary to the state over his disqualification as an MP.

The Constitution Court had stripped Mr Chuwit of his MP status for failure to meet the 90-day legal minimum requirement for a person to be member of a political party before he or she can stand in a general election.

The maverick MP told reporters that he had no future plans for himself but will not be resigning from Chart Thai.

He suggested that Mr Banharn "step up" to become the party's advisory chairman.

"He had said the party belonged to everyone. He is not its owner and I'm not his employee, but just a party member and that's why I'm speaking up. If the party wants to open up [to the wider public], a change of leadership should follow," Mr Chuwit said.

Mr Chuwit, stripped of the MP status on Jan 26, yesterday came to the parliament to return the 90,930 baht salary he was paid for the month of December and other state possessions including a notebook computer and the MP identity card he was carrying.

He said all the remaining possessions of the state still in his hands would be returned to the parliament in the next 30 days.

"By doing this, I wanted to act as a model for other politicians. What is happening to me is a case of whose side you are on.

"After my MP status was revoked, the Election Commission seemed very eager to keep me out of the Senate elections also," said the ex-massage parlour tycoon.

Election commissioner Prinya Nakchatree said yesterday that Mr Chuwit was unlikely to qualify for the April 19 Senate poll.

The Senate election law bars candidates from any political affiliation for at least one year prior to registering. Mr Chuwit's MP status was revoked on Jan 26.

The commissioner suggested that Mr Chuwit apply to run in the election first and lodge an appeal if his application was rejected.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 01:13 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

Bus fares to cost more from Monday

By AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Travellers on public buses will need to dig a little deeper into their pockets from next Monday now that the Transport Ministry has given the green light for increases in fares.

Fares for private buses and passenger vans joining the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will rise by one baht and for interprovincial buses by three satang per kilometre. Fares for BMTA-run buses, however, remain unchanged.

Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri cited the rise in the oil price, which has hit 24.70 baht a litre, as the main reason for the increments.

Private bus operators have demanded that the Transport Ministry honour its earlier pledge to nudge up fares after oil prices went past 24.50 baht a litre.

The fare hike proposal will be forwarded to a committee on land transportation for endorsement tomorrow , Gen Chainant said.

Bangkok bus fares are currently charged at a flat rate of seven baht per passenger. Fares for airconditioned buses start at 10 baht and the maximum is 20 baht. Minibuses charge a 5.50 baht flat rate.

Fares for interprovincial buses will rise by three satang per kilometre, well short of operators' demand of nine satang.

However, the BMTA has decided to freeze its bus fares for another one to two months, pending a firmer picture on oil prices, the deputy minister said.

The BMTA would cut management costs first to ease the burden on the public.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 01:18 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

Keppel Thai aims to acquire office building

By KANANA KATHARANGSIPORN

Singapore - After keeping a low profile for two years, Keppel Thai Properties Plc (KTP) plans to launch at least three residential projects and acquire an office building to sell to a property fund established in Singapore.

The office building would be sold to the K-REIT Asia fund, a subsidiary of KTP's parent, the Singapore-based developer Keppel Land Ltd (KLL).

Lawrence Peh, a KTP executive director, said the company would launch the first phase of the 78-rai Villa Arcadia in the Vacharapol area, with 100 detached houses worth more than one billion baht in total.

The second phase of Villa Arcadia is in the Srinakarin area, with 156 units on lots between 55 and 125 square wah of land. Unit prices will range from 5.5 million to 12 million baht. The company expects to close sales for both projects in early 2007.

The third project is a mid-priced condominium, located near Bangkok's central business district. KTP is holding talks with landlords to form a joint venture to develop the condo project.

"A local partner is crucial to help us carry out marketing in Thailand," Mr Peh said.

He said KTP was also considering acquiring an office building within this year. It is interested in either completed or unfinished buildings and non-performing assets for renovation, which it would then sell it to K-REIT Asia.

The office real estate investment trust (REIT) was established with an initial portfolio of four office buildings worth about S0 million or 15.75 billion baht. The buildings are Keppel Towers, GE Tower, Bugis Junction Towers and Prudential Tower. All are located in Singapore's central business district.

Mr Peh said K-REIT Asia would invest primarily in office buildings throughout Asia. It is interested in major cities including Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, with target yield of at least 6-7% per year. KLL also plans to set up more REITs for hotel and commercial property.

KLL is a subsidiary of Keppel Corporation whose major shareholder is Temasek Holdings. It develops and invests in 26 cities and 13 countries in Asia. It expects growing demand for quality homes and residential townships in China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.

KLL reported earnings of S5.7 million or 3.89 billion baht in 2005, up 17% from 2004. Its overseas earnings rose last year to 59% of total revenue, from 43% in 2004. KLL sold about 2,700 residential units in 2005, mostly in China and India. It also acquired additional shares to gain a 67% holding in Dragon Land, a middle-income housing developer in China.

KLL acquired a 45.45% stake in the Thai listed developer Five Star Property Plc in January 2000 for 300 million baht.

KTP shares closed yesterday on the SET at 2.24 baht, unchanged, in trade worth 62,000 baht.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 01:21 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

THAI to suspend direct flights from Australia to Phuket

Thai Airways International announced Tuesday it would suspend direct flights from Australia to Phuket due to sluggish demand in tourism after the December 2004 tsunami, effective this Wednesday.

Since the tsunami, demand has been very low. The number of passengers is not so high, the company spokeswoman said.

The company used to run three flights per week from Sydney and Melbourne to Phuket.

Tourism accounts for six per cent of Thailand's gross domestic product, and memories of the devastating tsunami which killed nearly 5,400 people in the
country still lingers.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 01:32 PM

Report from The Nation Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

Chuwit already has plans for comeback

The Chat Thai Party is likely to field former MP Chuwit Kamolvisit in a Bangkok by-election if any of the February election winners is disqualified or refused endorsement by the Election Commission, a senior party figure said yesterday.

Jongchai Thiengtham, a deputy Chat Thai leader, said he agreed to an idea of having Chuwit contest a by-election in the hope that he would make a comeback to the House of Representatives.

Chuwit yesterday returned a government-issued computer, his ID and voting card and Bt90,930 – his last month’s pay and allowances – in the wake of a court verdict disqualifying him last week.

“I returned my earnings derived from tax money to set an example for other officeholders,” he said.

Chuwit also pledged to reimburse his salary from last year to the House Secretariat within a month.

The Constitution Court ruled he was not eligible for his House seat, allocated under the quota of the Chat Thai party-list, as he had not met the 90-day rule for party membership before contesting the general election.

On his future, Chuwit said he was still a Chat Thai member.

“I have yet to decide whether to contest the Senate race,” he said. “At this moment, I am with Chat Thai and want to tell my party leader Banharn Silapa-archa to step down in order to pave the way for a younger successor.”

House Secretary-General Pitoon Phumhiran said Chuwit was not obliged to return his salary, because he was disqualified on a legal technicality, not for graft.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 01:39 PM

Report from The Nation Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

Direct flight foul up irks Phuket realtors

After a tough year surviving the aftermath of the monster tsunami, Phuket’s hotel and property developers now face a fresh battering from the government’s decision to route Thai Airways International’s direct flights through Suvarnabhumi when Bangkok’s new international airport opens.

Leading developers like James Batt, who heads Laguna Resorts & Hotels and Gulu Lalvani – builder of the Bt6-billion Royal Phuket Marina – warn of “dire consequences” befalling the overall economy as billions of baht could be lost from resort home sales.

Their main concern is over THAI’s direct flights to Phuket being re-routed, but they are also worried that other direct regional and long-distance flights – in particular, those involving Singapore and Hong Kong – will be similarly affected.

Batt said cutting direct flights to Phuket to inflate future arrival figures at Suvarnabhumi Airport was a misguided attempt to boost statistics at the expense of losing capital that comes with high-end tourism and sales of holiday homes, which are selling in the region of Bt10 million to Bt150 million.

“What the government needs to recognise is that high-end visitors contribute the most to the island’s economy and these visitors don’t fly on budget airlines. They always fly direct and not on economy class,” he said.

These high spenders have been the backbone of the hotel and housing industries as they are the ones buying luxury homes. “In 2004, we sold Bt500 million in properties to mostly foreign buyers,” he added.

“This year, Laguna plans to sell more than that amount. But flights are directed through Suvarna-bhumi, and this will deter many customers from coming frequently,” Batt warned.

The obsession by state authorities to use arrival figures as a quantitative mark of success will hurt Phuket as mass tourism doesn’t bring as much profit or “quality visitors”, he warned. Lalvani, who is starting his second phase of marina hosing at his east coast project, agrees. In fact, he is far more disappointed, being a “number-one fan of Thaksin Shinawatra”.

“I am a big supporter of Prime Minister Thaksin and I was one of the first subscribers of the Elite Card,” said the British entrepreneur, referring to the membership programme for the global rich to vacation in Thailand.

“But the government is wrong in the direct-flight issue to go through Suvarnabhumi,” he said. “It will hurt the very visitors who support Thailand the most.”

Lalvani said business leaders were always short of time and hated wasting time being shuttled from the domestic terminal to the international airport, let alone being party to wasting expensive fuel when oil is at US$68 a barrel.

Hong Kong-based developer Alan Zeman, who is best known for his Lan Kwai Fong entertainment complex, is less critical but agrees the move is negative.

Zeman, who is building homes from US1.6 million (Bt65 million) to $4 million, says visitors who like Phuket will still come, but for them “it will be inconvenient”.

He agreed that direct flights would certainly be regarded as a step forward.

The current plan cannot be said to enhance quality service at all, said another developer, Bill Barnett, who is offering apartments at Crowne Plaza Residence from about Bt12 million.

The direct-flight curb could not come at a worse time. The developers said that year-end sales had been very strong, all agreeing that the recent outflow from US dollar-linked assets to Asian markets has helped the Phuket housing business.

Lalvani said the government should realise rivals for foreign investment like Malaysia, Dubai and Singapore are battling for a lion’s share of this cash.

Malaysia’s Langkawi island, located near Phuket, is backed by Malaysian Airlines’ direct flights from London and Dubai and is offering automatic residency to foreign home-buyers.

Itthi C Tan
The Nation
PHUKET

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 01:43 PM

Report from The Nation Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT: Keppel plans city condo block : Is in talks to either buy land or form JV for project in central Bangkok

Keppel Thai Pro-perties Plc, an indirect subsidiary of Singapore-based Temasek Holdings’ Thai property arm, hopes to construct a condominium building in central Bangkok.

If all goes as planned, the company will start pre-selling units in the project at Bt5 million to Bt10 million each this year. The company hopes to tap into the growing demand for condominiums in prime city centre locations.

But first it needs land.

“We are in talks with a few landowners to either buy their land plots or join with them to develop the condominium project,” said Piya Treruangrachada, Keppel’s financial controller.

Keppel Thai Properties was renamed from Five Star Property Plc after Keppel Land Limited, a property arm of the Keppel Group, one of Singapore’s largest multinationals, bought a 45 per cent stake from the Krisdathanont family, in 2000.

After entering the local property market, it seems Keppel Group appetite for residential projects had waned.

Only two new single detached-house projects were unveiled over the past few years: the Bt2.5-billion Villa Arcadia project on Srinakarin Road and the Bt1.9-billion Villa Arcadia project on Watcharapong Road.

Keppel Thai Property hopes to boost sales at its projects by co-sponsoring a sales event with the Bank of Ayudhya on March 18. There will be a wide range of special promotions homebuyers, said Piya.

Villa Arcadia at Srinakarin will consist of 367 homes on 99 rai with prices ranging from Bt5 million to Bt10 million a house. Piya declined to reveal the number of houses sold to date, but he said that there would be 50 finished homes available at the sales event.

Meanwhile, Villa Arcadia at Watcharapong, which boasts 270 units on 78 rai, will be officially launched this year with prices ranging from Bt5 million to Bt10 million per unit.

The Thai projects are one part of Keppel group’s expansion from 2006 to 2008. Others projects will be launched in Vietnam, India, and Indonesia.

Dominic Ng, general manager of Keppel Land International for Malaysia, said that overseas ventures accounted for 50 per cent of Keppel group’s revenue last year.

Keppel Land’s overseas profits grew to 43 per cent of the group’s net profit in 2004 from 3 per cent in 2002.

The group last year sold about 2,700 residential units, mostly in China and India. In China the company has already sold 98 per cent of 456 units in the Eight Park Venue in Shanghai, 88 per cent of 1,250 units in the Seasons project in Beijing, 81 per cent of The Waterfront’s 1,023 units in Chengdu, and 970 units in the first phase of The Botanica, also in Chengdu.

In India, it has already sold 76 per cent of the 410-unit Elita Promenade.

Ng said that the company would either acquire land or enter into joint ventures with any partners to develop a condominium project in Thailand.

Keppel Thai Properties posted a Bt7.7-million net loss in the first nine months of last year, following a Bt52.1-million net loss in 2004.

Keppel Land, the third-largest listed property company in Singapore, also constructs office buildings. Projects in Singapore currently under development are Urbana, The Belvedere, and Park Infinia.

Its portfolio of finished projects includes the Chatsworth and Cluny Park bungalows, condominiums in Keppel Bay, Pebble Bay and Casuarine Cove, and other condominiums such as the Linc, Freesia Woods, Butterworth 8, Amaranda Gardens, The Mayfair and Palm Gardens.

Sasithorn Ongdee
The Nation
Singapore

U-Need

31-01-2006, 03:42 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 31 (TNA) -Last Update : 2006-01-31 / 14:25:11 (GMT+7:00)

Thai government agencies denied they order the closure of a high-visibility anti-corruption website on the Internet, Government Spokesperson Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday.

Dr. Surapong said after checking the information with the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry, CAT Telecom Plc, and the Public Relations Department (PRD), all said they did not order the closure of the 'corruptionwatch.net' website.

According to the government spokesman the shut-down was the responsibility of Thaidreamhost, the company that hosted the website, and that he tried to contact the company but nobody answered his telephone calls.

"As a result, we don't know what's happened," Dr. Surapong said.

However, according to the government spokesman, the government has talked to the ISSP (Internet Solution and Service Provider) company, which provides hosting services for Thaidreamhost, and ISSP is ready to host the anti-corruption website.

Dr. Surapong said that he contacted Mr. Veera Somkwamkid, one of the founders of corruptionwatch.net to reopen his website. Now, ISSP is waiting for Mr. Veera's decision to go ahead.

Corruptionwatch.net director Veera is also secretary-general of the Peoples Network against Corruption.

The truth will become known, said Dr. Surapong, who claimed the government also wants to know who threatened the company to force it to close the website.

The government reaction to find a web hosting company for the anti-corruption website showed the government's honesty (in supporting it), he said.

The site was blocked on Jan 21. Theeraphat Serirangsan, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, and a website founder, said Monday that he and his colleagues would petition the ICT minister to investigate the case.

If the ICT minister fails to help them, Dr. Theeraphat said, they'll change the base of their website to an overseas location. (TNA)-E004

U-Need

31-01-2006, 03:43 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 31 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-31 / 13:36:43 (GMT+7:00)

Media baron Sondhi Limthongkul vowed Tuesday to go ahead with an anti-government mass rally at Sanam Luang on Feb 4, insisiting that he would fight for society in a peaceful manner.

Mr. Sondhi said that the main objective of the rally is to submit a petition to His Majesty the King through Privy Council president Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda detailing alleged political grievances inflicted by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The media tycoon reiterated that he would execise his constitutional rights in line with democratic principles regarding the freedom of expression.

When asked if his demonstrators might be instigated and that the rally might lead to violence, Mr. Sondhi stressed that he would not resort to violence against anyone, but the gathering would be held in a peaceful manner.

"It's not me who stirs the problem," Mr. Sondhi said. "Just ask the government who pitted mobs against mobs recently."

"There is a taped conversation among some forestry officials that they felt obliged to join the mob just to express gratitude to the minister," he explained.

"I want to ask whom this people serve -- the government or the public?," he asked rhetorically.

The firebrand orator referred to the disturbance created at his "Thailand Weekly" show at Lumpini Park in early January. Mr. Sondhi accused Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyut Tiyapairat of being behind a move to disrupt his show.

His co-host said the disrupters were each paid Bt750 each to come to Bangkok to spoil the show.

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry spokesman Apiwat Settarak denied allegations that his minister incited the crowd that attempted to disrupt Mr. Sondhi's weekly talk show.

The media tycoon dismissed suggestions that the opposition Democrat Party was allegedly behind the anti-government rally, saying that those who joined his campaign were all well-educated people who have never been bribed or hired to rally.

Mr. Sondhi vowed to "right the wrongs" for Thailand's coming generations to be able to live in a society based on corruption-free practices. (TNA)-E001

U-Need

31-01-2006, 03:45 PM

CHIANG MAI, Jan 30 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-30 / 22:03:46 (GMT+7:00)

Thailand's four northern provinces--Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Tak--which may be affected by earthquakes in neighbouring countries will soon conduct rehearsals to deal with the possible tremors, according to Director of the National Disaster Warning Centre Plodprasop Suraswadi.

The move was ordered by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra following earthquakes in neighbouring countries, particularly Myanmar, over the past three months which were felt by local residents in the four northern provinces, said Mr. Plodprasop in Chiang Mai on Monday.

"Due to the recent earthquakes, particularly the latest one in Myanmar the past days measuring over 5 on the richter scale, the premier has instructed that all the four provinces urgently conduct the rehearsals to prepare their people to properly deal with possible tremors in the future," he told local journalists.

The rehearsals would be organized by provincial governors of each of the provinces and local disaster prevention and mitigation officials, he noted.

The prime minister also suggested that local residents and business firms check conditions of their houses and commercial buildings and improve them, if necessary, to meet the safety standard suggested by local authorities, said Mr. Plodprasop. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

31-01-2006, 03:47 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 30 (TNA) - Bangkok's underground train service is reinforcing its security measures at all stations and even inside its coaches, thanks to a newly-established canine bomb expert squad.

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which oversees the Bangkok's subway service, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Army, has set up the new canine bomb expert unit to boost and ensure the safety of subway passengers, according to MRTA's Deputy Governor Ronnachit Yaemsa-ard.

The 12-member squad of well-trained dogs will begin their operations in Febuary.

They would be divided into four groups each day to separately inspect suspicious objects and detect any bomb at all subway stations and inside the underground train, Mr. Ronnachit told journalists here on Monday.

The canine bomb expert squad would be on service everyday from 06:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., the daily service hours of the underground train, he said.

Assistant Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jariya Tabthong presided over a ceremony here Monday morning to hand over the 12 canine bomb experts to MRTA.

Mr. Ronnachit said, however, that there had been no bomb threats against the subway service so far although subway security officers used to discover unattended briefcases which later turned to be forgetfully left by some passengers. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

31-01-2006, 03:52 PM

300 words
31 January 2006
15:20
Dow Jones International News
English

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thailand's Minister of Finance Thanong Bidaya said Tuesday he doesn't see any irregularity in the transaction concerning Temasek Holdings Ltd.'s (TEMAH.YY) purchase of the 49.6% stake in Shin Corp. PCL (SHIN.TH) from the family of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I have discussed the issue with the Securities & Exchange Commission. But there is nothing irregular in the transaction," Thanong told reporters.

Thanong said a representative of Thaksin's family will hold a press conference to detail the transaction Wednesday and the SEC will also give a briefing on the deal in the coming days.

Relatives of Thaksin sold last week their 49.6% stake in Shin Corp. to two holding companies controlled by Temasek, Singapore's government investment holding company, for THB73.3 billion in the biggest acquisition deal in Thailand's history.

The deal has met with strong criticism about transparency in the share transfer of Shin Corp. shares to the two adult children of Thaksin from Ample Rich Investments Ltd. ahead of the deal with Temasek.

The SEC has said Ample Rich sold 164.6 million shares, equivalent to a stake of 5.49% in Shin Corp., to each of Thaksin's two children.

It said Thaksin's son Phantongtae and daughter Pintongta acknowledged Monday that the shares were bought from Ample Rich at THB1 each, in preparation for the sale to Temasek at THB49.25 each.

The Nation newspaper said Saturday that Ample Rich was set up by Thaksin in in the British tax haven of the Virgin Islands, and that it has its headquarters in Singapore.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 03:55 PM

136 words
31 January 2006
11:20
Dow Jones International News
English

BANGKOK (Dow Jones)--Thai Airways International PCL (THAI.TH) will change its fuel surcharge structure for international flights to make the ticket prices more competitive with those of other airlines, reports the Bangkok Post quoting Vasing Kittikul, the company's executive vice-president of commercial affairs.

According to the paper, the national carrier charges flat rates on fuel costs - $25 for short-haul flights and $50 for international flights. The rates will be replaced with a new variable structure depending on the route and the country of destination.

The new surcharge structure will be put in place on Apr. 1, the paper said.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 04:01 PM

Melinda Wong
620 words
30 January 2006
Vancouver Sun
English

BANGKOK, Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand - Bangkok is not Las Vegas but like the Sin City, sometimes business is based on being lucky. We have ways to even the odds to ensure prosperity comes our way.

Imagine my surprise when I read in the local newspaper that a Thai celebrity never makes decisions without consulting her fortune-teller, or that a CEO of a Fortune 500 company attributed his past year's success to the feng shui in his office space as predicted by his personal geomancer. Just by putting his office furniture in a certain lucky arrangement he ensured his new ventures would be fruitful. Maybe I should relocate the wastebasket in my office.

As a foreigner, I may not believe in these superstitions, but many Thai locals heed these beliefs as a necessary part of every-day life and business.

A number of my clients have had to postpone meetings until they have met with their "advisers" -- a.k.a. their fortune-tellers -- before signing any businesses contracts.

While we may laugh at the thought of late-night astrologers on TV in North America, the powers of fortune-telling and blessings are taken seriously in Bangkok.

At Khaosan, there is a famous fortune-teller whose clients as far away as Singapore fly in just for a consultation. I suppose if he is someone who can save you millions on your next deal, the price of a prediction is cheap by comparison.

From the street hawkers to large companies, the idea of luck crosses all boundaries.

On the way home, my taxi driver buys a jasmine wreath from street children -- who weave in and out of arrested traffic to sell them -- to hang on his rearview mirror and ensure the safety of the car's occupants. Figurines of Buddha litter the dashboard for blessing, and there also sits a "money cat" mini statue whose paws are waving to the winds of fortunes to bring in more fares.

Passing the night vendors at Patpong, I see them brushing their merchandise with their first customer's money to guarantee a prosperous evening of sales. This is the best time to buy and bargain if you want to get great deals as the first customer.

Recently, the media company I work for had "make merit" day, where monks arrived in the morning to pray and chant with the whole office. The blessing, which was bestowed on the company for this day, translates into good business if it motivates the staff.

After the ceremony, Buddhist lucky charms were distributed, a blessed "lucky string" was hung in the office to ward of evil spirits, and protection symbols were drawn on the doors of the offices, and elevators. These protection symbols are usually applied to new offices, cars, and even airplanes.

As I walked to work the next day, I observed the Thais praying at corner shrines. These beautiful shrines are at almost every corner, amid tall modern skyscrapers in downtown Bangkok. Offerings on the shrines tell me that the devotees are numerous at this one location around my office tower.

Anything can be offered: a sip of soda, a candy bar, or a bowl of rice.

It is this juxtaposition of modernity with the traditional that makes life in Bangkok fascinating.

U-Need

31-01-2006, 04:04 PM

176 words
30 January 2006
fnWeb Daily News
English
fnWEB - Bangkok - January 30, 2006 -

Sales of gold during the Chinese New Year this year have dropped drastically compared to last year's holiday sales, apparently due to its soaring price, according to the president of the Gold Traders Association.

Jitti Tangsitpakdi said high gold prices had depressed sales during the popular Chinese holiday this year as people's purchasing power declined. He predicted that sales of gold, which is a favorite present during the annual celebrations, would tumble between 20 to 30 per cent this year.

Owners of gold shops in the Yavaraj area, Bangkok's Chinatown, saw their businesses going on quite actively Saturday afternoon and the festival traffic was heavy as people living in the area scheduled many exciting activities to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Yesterday, gold bar was being purchased at Bt10,200 (US$255) and the sales price was Bt10,300 per baht weight (15.2 grammes). Ornamental gold was bought at Bt10,081.40 and sold at Bt10,600 per baht weight.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 07:37 PM

Report from The Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

Year of the Dog business forecast for Thailand

Kasikorn Bank released its findings titled, “50 Businesses in the Year of the Dog: A Challenging Year for Business".

The local bank’s research centre looked at the direction of 50 local business types based on three groupings: those with promising growth, those with stable direction and those that should be monitored carefully.

Four key criteria used for the predictions included production, marketing (sales), development and obstacles facing business.

Businesses with promising growth include: rubber, auto and auto parts, animal feed, herbs and spices, dairy products, petrochemical, cement, private hospitals, construction, luxury spa, canned and processed seafood, soy milk, fruit/vegetable juice, Internet.

Businesses with stable platforms include: shrimp and related products, tapioca, rice, jewellery, paper pulp, instant noodle, upper-end hotel, computer and electronic parts, garment, kitchenware’s, home decoration, home building, retail trade, steel and related products, mobile phones, plastic products, condominiums, housing estates, advertising, petrol stations, rubber products, furniture, ceramics, golf courses, alcohol and electric appliances.

Businesses that should be monitored carefully include: sugar and sugarcane, leather products, processed chicken and toys.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 07:43 PM

Report from The Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

PM's kids ordered to clarify Shin deal : Must explain relations with Ample Rich

By Bangkok Post Reporters

Securities regulators yesterday ordered Panthongthae and Pinthongtha Shinawatra to clarify their share deals made with Ample Rich Investments, a suspected Shinawatra family offshore firm at the centre of a public storm over last week's sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Mr Panthongthae and Ms Pinthongtha reported on Jan 23 that they had purchased 164.6 million Shin Corp shares each from Ample Rich on Jan 20.

But regulators said they found no record the transactions had been made through the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).

Mr Panthongthae and Ms Pinthongtha yesterday told the SEC that the Shin shares had been purchased from Ample Rich outside of the market.

The additional disclosures also showed that both Mr Panthongthae and Ms Pinthongtha had held Shin shares through Ample Rich before the Jan 20 sale.

The SEC afterwards directed the two Shinawatra siblings to clarify within seven days their relationship with Ample Rich, the date of the transactions and previous share trades.

In 1999, Ample Rich, a holding company established in the British Virgin Islands and headquartered in Singapore, purchased 11.87% of Shin Corp for 10 baht a share from Mr Thaksin. The transaction later attracted scrutiny from the National Counter Corruption Commission as part of asset transfers made by Mr Thaksin in the run-up to the 2000 general election.

Ample Rich is suspected of being set up as an offshore holding company to minimise tax liabilities for the Shinawatra family, the founders of Shin Corp, mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) and satellite operator Shin Satellite.

On Jan 23, Shin Corp announced that the Shinawatra and Damapong families had sold their combined 49.595% stake in Shin to Temasek Holdings for 73.3 billion baht in a series of SET transactions. Ms Pinthongtha sold 604.6 million shares, or 20.15% of Shin, while Mr Panthongthae sold 458.55 million shares, or 15.29%.

SEC senior assistant secretary-general Chalee Chantanayingyong said Ms Pinthongtha and Mr Panthongthae would have to clarify how and when they purchased the Shin shares from Ample Rich.

He said authorities also wanted to see whether the transactions broke tender offer and disclosure rules regarding shareholding changes in listed companies.

Under the SEC Act, shareholding changes of more than 5% must be reported to authorities, with a tender offer required once shareholdings reach more than 25%.

According to the SEC, Mr Panthongthae had held 9.8% of Shin before purchasing another 5.49% from Ample Rich to raise his stake to 15.29% at the time of the Temasek deal. Ms Pinthongtha's Shin holdings also increased by 5.49% to 20.15%, with both share purchases from Ample Rich made at one baht per share.

Failure to abide by reporting regulations is punishable by prison sentences up to two years and fines up to 500,000 baht.

The Shin deal, the largest corporate buyout in Thai history, has spurred public calls for an overhaul of the tax laws and widespread criticism over whether securities regulators allowed the company to violate disclosure regulations due to its political connections.

Authorities have also launched an investigation into whether connected persons benefitted from insider information to profit from news about the Temasek deal, which was widely rumoured in the market in late 2005.

Shares of Shin Corp outperformed the overall stock market in the weeks leading up to the formal deal announcement, as investors speculated about a new foreign partner, despite steady denials by both Mr Thaksin and Shin Corp executives.

Shin director Siripen Sitasuwan, in a statement to the SET yesterday, insisted that the company complied with disclosure regulations and had no prior knowledge of the transaction.

Shin had inquired with the major shareholders about reports regarding a share sale to Temasek, but "there was no confirmation from the major shareholders".

Mr Thaksin yesterday said he would clarify the Shin Corp sale "later".

"I'll talk when it's time. I promise nothing will be withheld. Be patient. If you inquire about parts of [the deal], there will only be problems," he said.

Executives of the Shin Group also defended their own personal share transactions in the weeks before the deal.

Senior executives of AIS, the Shin Corp flagship, had reported significant share sales during the past two months, raising questions about possible insider trading.

The Temasek deal included a voluntary tender offer for AIS at just 72.31 baht per share, or 30% lower than last Monday's market price.

AIS executives who sold shares included Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr Thaksin's youngest sister and the AIS president; Somprasong Boonyachai, the AIS chairman, Suvimon Kaewkoon, the AIS chief marketing officer, and Vikrom Sripratak, the AIS chief technical officer.

Mr Somprasong, who sold some 20,000 AIS shares over the past two months, denied any use of insider information.

He said the shares had been granted through an employee stock option programme and had been sold after a one-year silent period had expired.

Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya, meanwhile, said yesterday he had directed the SEC and the Revenue Department to clarify any questions over the share sale.

He declined to say whether the tax laws should be amended to close the long-standing tax exemption on capital gains from SET transactions.

"If there is a loophole used for tax evasion, then the Revenue Department should close it. There is no law in the world that is perfect," Mr Thanong said.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 07:46 PM

Report from The Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

PM's children to clarify share trading

Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee on Tuesday revealed that children of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would make a clarification on a trading of Shin Corporation Public Company Limited’s shares with Ample Rich Investment Limited with the Securities Exchange and Commission (SEC) within this week.

“Should they have to be fined on the matter, it is considered usual. No one, even family members of the premier, is above the law,” he said.

The revelation came after SEC asked Pantongtae and Pinthongta, son and daughter of the premier to clarify the trading of Shin Corp’s shares with Ample Rich located in British Virgin Island outside the market.

Dr. Surapong said it is a normal practice that share traders must clarify to SEC when there are doubts about trading so that the regulator could examine whether it proceeded in accordance with rules and regulations.

“As far as I know, persons concerned will definitely clarify within this week. The matter is not related with the premier or the government because it is not done under the government’s jurisdiction. It is a duty of the share traders to explain and SEC to see whether they comply with the rules,” he said.

Asked whether the news would affect the government’s status because it is linked to the premier and his family, he said the reports stemmed from share trading on SET with which people might not be familiar.

To give people proper understanding, he thought, persons, who had experienced in similar deals, and the regulator must make thorough explanation on the matter.

"Should the clarification be clear and in line with the rules, it won’t affect the government. But if not, it will have more or less impact on the government. It is a duty of the premier’s children to clarify to SEC. If they do it in accordance with the rules, they must confirm it. But if not, they may be fined," said the spokesman.

“Everyone is under the same law no matter whether he or she is a member of the premier’s family. If fined, they, even family members of the premier cannot avoid it. No one is above the law,” he added.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 07:49 PM

Report from The Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

PM gets a warning from Chamlong

Chamlong Srimuang [/COLOR[COLOR="Red"]]- the controvertial Thai politician who toppled an unpopular military government in 1992 - on Tuesday told Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to beware of the power of street politics in Thailand.

"I have told the prime minister not to be too confident just because he has 375 seats in parliament, because in the past government changes (in Thailand) haven't come from the parliament but from the streets," said Chamlong, recalling the mass demonstrations he led on Rajdamnoen Avenue in Bangkok that toppled General Suchinda Kraprayoon from the premiership in May, 1992.

"This is still recent history," said Chamlong, a maverick former Bangkok governor who, ironically, helped Thaksin on his road to the premiership.

The former leader of the Phalang Dharma (Dharma Power) Party, which launched Thaksin's political career, has fallen out with the billionaire prime minister.

Chamlong on Tuesday joined a growing chorus of Thais expressing disappointment with the last week's 73.3 billion baht (1.9 billion dollar) sale by Thaksin's family of its 49 per cent stake in the family empire - Shin Corp - to Singapore's public investment arm Temasek.

The massive sale has drawn criticism because it was carried out in such a way that Thaksin's family avoided paying any taxes on the spectacular 1.9 billion dollar transaction.

"Politicians are supposed to work for the people, not just for their own families," said Chamlong, before reading out a public letter to the prime minister at Rajdamnoen Avenue.

Chamlong faulted Thaksin's family for not selling Shin Corp to Thai investors and also called on the prime minister to donate 26 billion baht (666 million dollars) to charity to compensate for the lost taxes on the Shin Corp stock sale.

Thaksin, a billionaire businessman who made his fortune off lucrative state concessions in Thailand's telecommunications sector, has promised to explain all details behind his family's share sale at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Security Exchange Commission (SEC) has also requested that Thaksin's son and daughter, Pantongtae and Pinthongta, clarify details behind the sale, such as the ownership of Ample Rich Investment Company, an offshore vehicle that sold them a 10 per cent stake in Shin Corp three days prior to their resale to Temasek.

KatoeyLover69

31-01-2006, 07:56 PM

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 31 January 2006 :-

HARD TALK: Shin sale: the straw that broke the camel’s back?

There could not have been a bigger contrast. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in At Samat district of Roi Et trying to offer villagers lessons on how to deal with poverty. A week later, he was back in Bangkok relishing the fortune his family reaped from the biggest business deal in Thai history.

The two events were anything but a coincidence. Thaksin knew long before anybody else that the Shin Corp deal with Temasak Holdings of Singapore was on the horizon, and he was shrewd enough to foresee the publicity it would generate.

It’s notable that the sale of Shin was sandwiched between his much-publicised anti-poverty drive in At Samat and his hastily called Cabinet meeting on Sunday to discuss strategies for a nationwide campaign to reach out to people on the lowest rungs of the social ladder.

And in between was his pledge to donate a portion of the billions of baht of revenue from the sale of the country’s biggest telecommunications company to charity, including to foundations conducting poverty research.

So what we have here is a political leader holding the country’s largest cash reserve but wanting to be seen as a champion of the poor.

But in the realm of political reality, having the best of both worlds is, at best, wishful thinking. That the Shinawatra family is one of the richest in Thailand is indisputable. But using the plight of the poor as a smokescreen to cushion criticism of impropriety and conflict of interest arising from the mega-billion-baht stock sale just doesn’t work.

The overly self-confident Thaksin certainly underestimated the backlash from the Shin deal. His attempt to distance himself from it by claiming it was done at his children’s initiative held little water and bordered on being a lie.

The circumstances surrounding the sale also put Thaksin directly on the spot. And instead of clarifying matters, he made it worse for himself by hitting back at his critics, calling them “half-witted” and “envious”.

Now we have a prime minister who pretends to know nothing about a business deal that has far-reaching ramifications for the future of Thailand’s telecommunications sector and beyond. Thaksin will definitely go down in history as the first Thai political leader who offered what was considered a national asset to foreigners on a golden platter.

Worse still, Thaksin seems to be at a loss as to how to explain the role of Ample Rich, an investment firm registered in the British Virgin Islands and headquartered in Singapore, in the deal. Thaksin might have forgotten that shortly before he became prime minister, Ample Rich, cited as his investment arm, took transfer of a considerable part of his shares in Shin Corp.

One of the greatest riddles of all is that the same Ample Rich sold 164.6 million Shin shares to each of Thaksin’s two children at Bt1 apiece only a few days before they were resold to Temasek for Bt49.25 apiece.

Adding insult to injury, Thaksin and family reacted nonchalantly to allegations that they exploited legal loopholes to avoid paying tax on the Bt73.3-billion deal. They were not just “playing by the rules” as Thaksin claimed, but rather the rules were bent to let them escape a heavy tax burden.

The tax-evasion charge flies in the face of the Revenue Department’s current expensive campaign to encourage citizens to pay their taxes.

If Thaksin’s reason for offloading the Shin shares was to reduce political pressure over the allegations of conflict of interest that have hounded him for the past five years, the deal with Temasek has obviously backfired.

An Abac opinion poll made it rather clear that the majority of the public believe the Shin deal has raised questions about the prime minister’s integrity. Most respondents gave it a thumbs-down and said it did not help Thaksin’s image.

Academics and the media are of one voice in criticising the deal, which they rightly point out is the most tangible example thus far of a conflict of interest. For the first time, a conflict of interest has manifested itself in figures – the money the first family and its associates made in selling the stocks and the amount of tax they dodged.

Thaksin may continue with his charm offensive to appease the rural poor and pretend that the fall-out from the controversial deal will fade away like many of his previous political troubles.

But this time, the magnitude of the disenchantment is unprecedented. Not only has the deal exposed Thaksin’s hidden agenda in defending his family’s business interests, but it has also driven home how the family has been profiting from conflicts of interest in the most concrete terms.

When the country’s top political leader is caught using his political office to help peddle his family business and endorsing what is believed to be the single-biggest tax evasion in history, his political trustworthiness has come to an end.

And Thaksin will soon learn that another dozen “At Samat publicity stunts” cannot repair the damage done to his leadership.

Thepchai Yong

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:33 AM

414 words
1 February 2006
The Nation (Thailand)
English

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said his family's decision to sell their stake in Shin Corp Plc was an act of patriotic self-sacrifice. They hope their deal with a consortium led by Temasek Holdings will put an end to the constant criticism about Thaksin's conflicts of interest and allow him to concentrate on running the country.

The deal was supposed to end the complaints, but instead it has only sparked more criticism, even stronger and louder than before.

The deal has drawn attention from people from every corner of the country. First, the public were amazed at the value of the transaction: Bt73.3 billion. This is the biggest deal in Thai history. It also represents 55 per cent of Temasek's foreign portfolio, which reaches to many countries outside Singapore.

Then they were caught by surprise that in selling the shares, the Shinawatra and Damapong families were not subject to taxation. Later, they learnt of secret transactions of shares on January 20, which could link the persons involved - Thaksin's children Pinthongta and Panthongtae - in a possible insider-trading case.

Newspapers dug up information about all the entities and persons involved in the deal, particularly Ample Rich Investment Ltd - a company registered in the tax-haven of the British Virgin Islands but with a correspondent office in Singapore.

Criticism has intensified as the days have passed. And adding weight to this sentiment is the emergence of prominent public organisations accusing Thaksin of shady and immoral practices.

First, it was newspapers. Then members of the Democrat Party joined the chorus. Then, on Friday, it was the Law Society of Thailand, whose voice carries moral weight since all lawyers belong to this organisation. And who should know the legal issues - whether this transaction should be taxable or not - better than lawyers?

Then, on Sunday, a consumer-protection group joined in the battle against the prime minister.

Never before have Thais representing so many different interest groups united for a single purpose. This episode reminded many of Thaksin's quote that it's time for Thais to exercise both sides of their brains.

Now, everybody is using both sides of their brains, not to understand the transaction the way the prime minister wants them to, but to ferret out what the Shinawatra and Damapong families would really gain from this deal. That is, besides the mind-boggling sum of Bt73.3 billion.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:34 AM

398 words
1 February 2006
The Nation (Thailand)
English

After a report broke that a major owner of Bangkok Bank, the country's largest bank, might sell shares to an offshore outfit, the bank's senior executive vice president came out yesterday to deny the story.

Deja Tulananda, said that the bank doesn't need a foreign partner because it already has a strong financial position. His comment was in reaction to a local newspaper report on Monday that the Sophonpanich family, the major shareholder of in the bank, is in talks with an Arab bank about selling the bank's shares.

"Our capital-adequacy ratio is very strong. The bank does not need to increase capital or to look for a foreign partner. We will maintain Bangkok Bank as a Thai bank," he said.

He said the bank's capital base is more than sufficient to cover the requirements of the international banking standard (Basel II), which will be implemented in 2008.

The bank must also have enough funds to cope with more competition in the banking sector due to an industry-wide financial liberalisation.

Deja said he had not heard about any sale of shares to an Arab bank. That said, Bangkok Bank conducts general banking with Arab banks in addition to other overseas banks.

The bank has many foreign shareholders, but they only hold small stakes.

This is reflected in the bank's board of directors, on which no foreigners sit, he added.

He said that if foreign banks wanted to buy shares in Thai banks they could do so in the stock market.

However, if they want to buy large amounts, which could be interpreted as a hostile takeover, it would be difficult because of regulations and a requirement that they would need the Bank of Thailand's blessing.

If there is a merger between a local bank and large foreign bank, Bangkok Bank could loose its number-one ranking in terms of asset value.

Another recent report had it that GE Money Retail Bank and Bank of Ayudhya, the country's sixth biggest bank, would merge.

In addition, Deja predicted that lending and deposit interest rates would increase by 200

basis points this year in line with global trends and that the US Federal Reserve would raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.5 per cent at its January 31 meeting.

Somruedi Banchongduang

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:39 AM

494 words
1 February 2006
English

BANGKOK POST:

- Norahuch Ployyai, an executive vice-president at Thai Airways International (THAI), is tipped as the front-runner among the four candidates shortlisted to seek the president's post at the national carrier.

- Thai Beverage Plc is unlikely to be able to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand if it goes forward with a Singapore listing, said Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanij.

- Economic growth for 2005 is estimated at 4.5 per cent, well down from 6.2 per cent the previous year, according to the Bank of Thailand.

- Yingluck Shinawatra, the prime minister's youngest sister, yesterday brushed aside mounting criticism of possible insider trading of shares in Advanced Info Service.

- BT Asset Management, a subsidiary of BankThai, aims to raise assets under its management to 47 billion baht by the end of this year from 30 billion baht now.

- Japanese businesses in Thailand expect to increase the amount of capital investment in the country by 15.7 per cent this year, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro).

- PTT Exploration and Production Plc has decided to split the par value of its stock to one baht from five baht, resulting in a sharp increase of its share price on the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday.

- After keeping a low profile for two years, Keppel Thai Properties Plc (KTP) plans to launch at least three residential projects and acquire an office building to sell to a property fund established in Singapore.

THE NATION:

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not ask for the Bank of Thailands permission to take money to the British Virgin Islands when he set up Ample Rich Investment Co Ltd in the tax haven, the central bank chief said yesterday.

- The Bt1 hike in public bus fares approved for next week will add 0.3 percentage points to inflation, the Bank of Thailand said yesterday.

- Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) will not help finance Temasek Holdings tender offer for the remaining outstanding shares in Shin Corp Plc and Advance Info Service Plc, bank president Jada Wattanasiritham said yesterday.

- Fried-chicken fast-food chain KFC yesterday said it would spend Bt500 million this year on new restaurant formats in its expansion upcountry, while simultaneously enlarging its Bangkok market.

- Former commerce minister Narongchai Akarasnee is on the governments short list for a new head for the Thai-US free-trade negotiations and it looks like he will be tapped before the seventh round of talks start in the US start later this month.

- Brokerage houses net profits fell significantly last year, due mainly to a sharp decline in the stock markets overall trading volume. Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) saw its net profits drop 31.43 per cent year on year, from Bt1.04 billion in 2004 to Bt715 million last year, the company reported in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) yesterday.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:41 AM

379 words
1 February 2006
09:35

English

TOP STORIES

- Lawyer Suvarn Valaisathien will try to dispel public concerns about the Shinawatra and Damrong families' sell-off of Shin Corp by explaining the timing of the stock transactions, the role of Ample Rich Investments, the movement of Shin Corp shares and the tax implications (THE NATION)

- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is blaming his son Panthongthae, who is likely to be fined about 20 million baht ($515,000), for the Ample Rich controversy, a government source said (BANGKOK POST)

- The Democrat Party will launch impeachment proceedings against Thaksin if he is found to be the actual owner of Ample Rich Investments, which held shares in Shin Corp (THE NATION)

- Bank of Thailand Governor Pridiyathorn Devakul suggested lawmakers amend Finance Ministry rules which waive capital gains tax on stock trades in the wake of the Shin Corp sell-off (BANGKOK POST)

- Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang called on Thaksin to donate 26 million baht to the country's poor in lieu of the capital gains exempted in the sale of Shin Corp shares by the Shinawatra family (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Economic growth in 2005 is estimated at 4.5 percent, well down from 6.2 percent the previous year, according to the Bank of Thailand (BANGKOK POST).

- Thai Beverage is unlikely to be able to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand if it goes forward with a Singapore listing, Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanij said (BANGKOK POST)

- Former Commerce Minister Narongchai Akarasnee is on the government short list for a new head of the Thai-US free-trade negotiations and it looks like he will be tapped before the 7th round of talks starts in the US later this month (THE NATION)

- Siam Commercial Bank will not help finance Temasek Holdings' tender offer for the remaining outstanding shares in Shin Corp and Advance Info Service Plc, bank president Jada Wattanasiritham said (THE NATION)

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:43 AM

724 words
1 February 2006
Business Times Singapore
English

(BANGKOK) Amid mounting criticism about the way Shin Corp Plc was sold to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand on Monday gave the children of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, one week to clarify the share sale and transfer issue.

The Thaksin family is under some pressure to clear the air before a planned Bangkok rally this Saturday called by the prime minister's staunchest critic, media tycoon and former supporter Sondhi Limthongkul, who has pledged to topple him.

The SEC ordered Ms Pinthongta and Mr Panthongtae to clarify within seven days their relationship with Ample Rich Investments Ltd through which they admitted to having held stocks of Shin Corp before the takeover deal.

'The SEC has found that Panthongtae and Pinthongta held stocks of Shin Corp through Ample Rich (before the takeover deal). This fact has aroused suspicion as to when the two established financial relationships with Ample Rich, and whether they had ever made proper disclosures about their holdings or their tender of (Shin stocks),' the SEC said in a statement.

Ample Rich, which until Jan 20 had held the same number of shares (accounting for 10.98 per cent in Shin Corp), is a nominal company registered in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands.

It was set up by Mr Thaksin on April 12, 2000, but he later stated that he had divested his holding in the firm.

Acting on behalf of both Ample Rich as seller and Ms Pinthongta and Mr Panthongtae as buyers, Karnjanapha Honghern, a secretary of Mr Thaksin's wife, Pojamarn Shinawatra, informed the SEC on Jan 23 that Ample Rich had sold 164.6 million shares of Shin Corp to each of the two children at a nominal price of one baht (four Singapore cents) a share, and the deal was done through the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) on Jan 20.

When queried, the SET said that it did not have a record of any such deal between the two parties.

The transaction, therefore, provoked speculation as to whether Mr Thaksin's children had resorted to insider trading to buy the shares ahead of the sale or whether Ample Rich belonged to the prime minister and his family, and that he had not disclosed fully his assets upon taking up the top job, as required by the Thai Constitution.

Under the Constitution, ministers at all levels have to reveal their assets upon taking up their posts and within 90 days after leaving their positions.

Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya said yesterday that in his enquiry, he has not found any irregularity in the transaction concerning Temasek Holdings' buyout of Shin Corp. 'I have discussed the issue with the Securities & Exchange Commission, and there is nothing irregular about that transaction,' he told reporters.

To calm matters, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee on Monday said that the prime minister's children would make a clarification on trading of Shin Corp's shares with Ample Rich Investment Limited with the SEC within this week. 'Should they have to be fined on the matter, it is considered usual. No one, even family members of the premier, is above the law,' he said.

'As far as I know, persons concerned will definitely clarify within this week. It is a duty of the share traders to explain and SEC to see whether they comply with the rules,' he said.

'I think that all this will be solved within this week before the rally on Feb 4,' Mr Surapong said, referring to the Bangkok rally called by Mr Sondhi.

Mr Thaksin, whose family members sold the 49.60 per cent stake at 49.25 baht a share to Temasek just last week, has been under intense political pressure to reveal the details of the deal that transferred the control of Thailand's largest telecommunications conglomerate to a foreign partner.

Mr Thaksin told reporters ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday that he would 'probably' clarify the family's US$2 billion sellout to the general public today.

This also follows a similar announcement by Suvarn Valaisathien, a spokesman for the Shinawatra/Damapong family, who said that he, too, would hold a press conference today to clarify the tax issues regarding the share sale.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:45 AM

207 words
1 February 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Chiang Mai Night Safari will open officially on February 6 during the mobile cabinet meeting in the province, preparing to show the rare white tigers received from China.

Director of the Chiang Mai Night Safari, Pisan Wasuwanich said that the mobile cabinet meeting will be held in the province on February 6-7. He said that the zoo believes it is a good opportunity to open the safari officially on the evening of February 6. He said the event will be presided by the Prime Minister.

Mr. Pisan said that the cabinet will be shown rare white tigers given by Pan Yu Night Safari in China to Chiang Mai Night Safari. The animals are considered the world's rare animals, as there are only 200 white tigers around the world. The cabinet will also ride electric cable cars to view the beautiful sceneries around the Chiang Mai Night Safari, before a dinner and performances organized by the zoo.

The mobile cabinet meeting will be held at Wareekunchorn room in Chiang Mai Night Safari. The zoo will close to the public on February 7 for one day to accommodate the cabinet meeting.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:51 AM

270 words
1 February 2006
The Nation (Thailand)
English

Media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul will file a lawsuit against the prime minister, the Natural Resources and Environment Minister and others in the Criminal Court today over the disturbance created at his "Thailand Weekly" show at Lumpini Park earlier this month, his lawyer said yesterday.

Suwat Apaipak said minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat, plus the head of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department would be among nine people in the lawsuit.

The suit accuses the defendants, including a Regional Border Patrol Police commander, of mobilising 30 police volunteers from Chiang Rai to disturb and create chaos at the "Thailand Weekly" programme at Lumpini Park on January 20, Suwat said.

Moreover, Sondhi would also file a lawsuit in the Administrative Court today against the Public Relations Department and its executives for blocking ASTV's satellite television signal, the lawyer said.

CAT Plc and its executives at the state telecom agency would be among six co-defendants named in the suit.

He also plans to file a lawsuit over government officials' "malfeasance against Sondhi", and will ask the court for an emergency hearing - to issue temporary protection measures for the plaintiff, he said.

The government admitted last week that it blocked transmission of ASTV's signal from a show Sondhi put on in Hat Yai on Wednesday. PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva said ASTV did not have authorisation to operate as a TV station or to provide live coverage.

ASTV is a service of Thai Day Dot Com Company, a part of Sondhi's Manager Group.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 10:57 AM

414 words
1 February 2006
South China Morning Post
English

Beneath the golden pillars of a Thai temple, nine monks chant the final funeral verse as family members light incense sticks and place the urn of ashes next to the murder victim's photo.

Across the courtyard, Malai stops to buy lottery tickets from a street vendor and chooses a set of numbers matching the time and day of her boyfriend's death.

In Thailand, important dates are good luck, no matter what the circumstances - even if the deceased was a hired killer.

A Thai proverb says: "Do good, get good. Do bad, get bad." Tim, a hit man who killed the son of a prominent politician, fulfilled this Buddhist prophecy when he was gunned down at a shopping mall in central Thailand. The revenge killing was payback for murdering the boy four years ago, carried out by Tim and an accomplice.

Tim, the 25-year-old son of a police sergeant, was a gunman for a political heavyweight in northern Thailand who went by the name, "the Colonel". With at least two alleged murders under his belt, Tim's days were already numbered.

He was generous with his money. It was the Buddhist way of making amends for his misdeeds, Malai said. "He gave money to beggars. He would release fish to the water and birds to the skies."

The former beauty queen had met Tim in a Chiang Mai nightspot known to be frequented by gangsters, and the two had moved in together.

His blood money bought her gold jewellery, an expensive wardrobe and surgically enhanced breasts to further her career as a model. The slim 22-year-old said Tim originally told her that he was a bodyguard for the Colonel, but later the truth came out.

She feared for their lives after gunmen sprayed their house with bullets one night. Malai said she pleaded with Tim to quit, but he remained loyal to his crime boss until a pair of assassins, working for a rival jao pho, or godfather, shot him dead from the back of a car.

Tim had sold his latest 9mm handgun on the day of the slaying and had gone to the local mall to buy his girlfriend a gold bracelet.

"Tim had told me many times he was not afraid to die. He was only afraid not to have a gun to shoot back if someone tried to kill him," Malai said.Steve Sandford

U-Need

01-02-2006, 11:06 AM

594 words
1 February 2006
Bangkok Post
English

Onsiri Pravattiyagul

If you haven't heard of Anna Issaraporn Chantarasopak from Jamp by now, you're probably one of many people who couldn't care less about short-lived popstars.

But, truthfully, even if you don't follow the trials and tribulations of has-been celebrities, it would be hard not to notice Anna as she's been the subject of water-cooler conversations all around town and even more so on the Internet.

The reason for all this attention? - The widespread distribution of a very "private" home movie that has been circulating the city. The female participant resembles Anna, which has prompted the entire nation to dive into a heated "is it or isn't it?" debate.

For the record, Anna maintains that the girl in the video is a look-a-like.

The film's male "co-star" apparently stored the explicit movie on his computer, which he took to a repair shop. Can you imagine the glee, shock or utter disgust of the computer technician when he stumbled upon such clips? A daily newspaper has reported that the unwitting actor has fled to Malaysia in order to avoid further questioning and the wrath of his family.

The technician had no right to distribute what he found on the computer entrusted to his care. But then we have a choice not to watch it "out of curiosity".

Still, I must own up that I did take a peak, just to understand what the fuss was all about. I have no justification for my peeking.

I've also engaged in the "is it or isn't it" discussion, but reached no conclusion. I knew I could have chosen not to watch, to stand my moral high ground that social voyeurism should be kept under self-control. What is entertainment to us could be a living hell for the two featured in the private home video. It's just that we don't really stop and think about it when watching their recording, reducing two very real people to mere pieces of meat.

The reactions found on the Internet fall roughly into three categories: 1. The usual debate over "is it or isn't it", 2. What a lucky dude and what a vamp the girl was, and, lastly, 3. Goodness gracious: Moral corruption!

There is resentment toward Anna's denials. Everyone seems to be certain that the girl in question is her. What do you expect Anna to say or do under such pressure? Surely, the most foolproof way is to stay aloof, but in this gossiping culture, "no comment" often means "yes, but I'm ashamed to admit it".

The sexist, cultural overtones tend to shift the shame/blame on to the woman who "allowed" herself to be put into such a lewd position. To me, the incident is pure accident, and it has nothing to do with moral standards or cultural norms being disrespected or dismantled. The fault doesn't lie in bed between the two participants because it's not wrong to tape your ... er ... activities, or even your bowel movements, as your heart desires. Sex shouldn't be a taboo subject in the first place. If people want to videotape themselves getting "busy", they should be free to do so. The computer technician should be condemned instead of the two caught on tape. People have different sexual itches, and they should be able to scratch them without having their wrists slapped, if they're not troubling anyone.

And on that note, claw away!

U-Need

01-02-2006, 11:17 AM

Astrologer predicts Thailand PM’s fall
- By AP

Bangkok, Jan. 31: Forget the corruption scandals. The "God of Darkness" could be the downfall of Thailand’s beleaguered Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a respected astrologer said on Tuesday.

Boonlert Pairintra, a senator and noted fortune teller, said Mercury used to favour Mr Thaksin but has been eclipsed by Rahu — the God of Darkness — and Mr Thaksin’s words will now bring him more enemies than friends. Jupiter, which once made Mr Thaksin a millionaire, will also bring him trouble, he said.

"Rahu is overshadowing Mr Thaksin’s stars, which will bring all bad luck to him ... Thaksin will face his downfall anytime during the first half of this year," Mr Boonlert said. Mr Boonlert further added that the premier’s good luck will return after June.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 12:19 PM

BANGKOK, Jan 31 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-01-31 / 19:29:09 (GMT+7:00)

Passengers taking state-run city buses will have more money lying in their pockets, thanks to Tuesday's decision of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to remain its fares unchanged.

The BMTA has confirmed that it will keep its fares unchanged amid a new fare rise by all private bus operators early next month.

BMTA's Acting Director O-bhas Petchmunee told journalists that BMTA had decided to continue to cap its fare rates until the diesel price on the domestic market rises to Bt26 per litre.

"We've thoroughly examined our operational costs and found that our fuel costs still stand at Bt0.10-0.13 per ticket on average. So, we've decided to keep our fares unchanged to help ease passengers' burden until our fuel costs jump to Bt0.50 per ticket or the domestic diesel price shoots up to Bt26 per litre, or ," he said.

The Ministry of Transport on Monday gave the green light for private operators of both city and inter-province passenger buses to raise their fares due to continued rising fuel costs.

Deputy Transport Minister Gen.Chainant Charoensiri told journalists that the ministry approved the new fare rise following the diesel price on the domestic market having surged to exceed Bt24.50 per litre.

The Ministry of Transport asked the private bus operators to remain their fares unchanged for the past six months and promised them that once the domestic diesel price surges to Bt24.50 per litre, they will be allowed for a new fare rise. Now the local diesel price has risen to Bt24.69 per litre.

Forcing the private bus operators to keep their fares unchange amid continuing fuel cost hikes may result in undesirable sub-standard services adversely affecting the passengers, he cautioned.

Given the approval, private city bus operators--both air conditionered and non air conditionered ones--are allowed to raise their fares by Bt1.0; while inter-province buses are allowed a fare rise of Bt0.03 per kilometre.

The new fare rise is expected to be effective from February 6 following a meeting of the Central Land Transport Committee here on February 1, in which the approved new fare rise is believed to be endorsed.

In anticipating of the increasing number of passengers turning to use BMTA's service due to the fare disparity, Mr. O-bhas said BMTA would provide sufficient buses to serve the passengers.

Asked whether the fare disparity would affect BMTA's revenues, Mr. O-bhas said BMTA had introduced special one-day tour programmes to tourist destinations in provincial areas--not far from Bangkok--on holidays for family members or groups of friends, namely those in Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Ratchaburi and Chonburi Provinces, which had earned the agency additional revenues sufficient to compansate the capped fare rates for a certain period of time and had also help boosted BMTA's image and good relations with the public. (TNA)--E002

U-Need

01-02-2006, 12:21 PM

BANGKOK, Feb 1 (TNA) - Last Update : 2006-02-01 / 10:16:59 (GMT+7:00)

No violence or untoward incident is expected to occur during a gathering of demonstrators protesting against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the Royal Plaza Saturday, because Thais are known to be a peace-loving and smart people, Deputy Prime Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya said Wednesday.

The authorities earlier changed the protest venue from Sanam Luang to the Royal Plaza at the other end of Rajdamnoen Avenue, surrounding the statue of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, on horseback, where many Thais go to express reverence for the monarchy.

The demonstrators are expected to be led by media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, Gen. Chidchai said.

He advised Mr. Sondhi and the protestors to remain peaceful and abide by the laws so that no untoward incident would take place -- as some officials fear.

The authorities learned a lesson from last month's unruly aftermath of such a demonstration (Jan 13) which escalated into a gate-crashing and intrusion into the Government House compound, he said.

"Peace and order will be maintained Saturday," vowed Gen Chidchai, who is concurrently justice minister.

"Peace-loving demonstrators must be able to tell right from wrong and not be misled by third parties sowing unrest and misgiving between the protesters and the authorities," the police general commented.

The deputy prime minister, who had consulted with the National Intelligence Agency about the matter, believes the situation at Royal Plaza -- around the equestrian stutues of King Chulalongkorn, King Rama V, in front of Thailand's Old Parliament -- and nearby could be conducted without the authorities losing control.

At the same time, he said, anti-riot police officers standing by will be able to cope with anything arising during the anti-Thaksin gathering.

Police will also stand guard at Government House and other government premises to prevent possible vandalism.

Gen. Chidchai called on groups of provincial teachers who had planned to join the Royal Plaza gathering to remain as respectable as ever and refrain from breaking the law. (TNA)-E008

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 01:27 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

B20m fine looms over PM's son : Democrats looking to impeach Thaksin

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is blaming his son Panthongthae, who is likely to be fined about 20 million baht, for the Ample Rich controversy, but the Democrats want the Thai Rak Thai leader impeached.

A government source said Mr Thaksin told the cabinet meeting yesterday that Ample Rich Investments Ltd had belonged to Mr Panthongthae since Dec 1, 2000, and the Stock Exchange of Thailand had been aware of this.

''There should not be any problem,'' he told cabinet members, the source said.

Mr Thaksin was referring to the company that reportedly sold 392 million shares of Shin Corp to Mr Panthongthae and his sister Pinthongta at one baht a share on Jan 20.

The two then sold all their holdings in the telecom giant to Singapore's Temasek Holdings on Jan 23 at 49.25 baht a share.

''Everybody can rest happy because your prime minister never ever breaks the law,'' he was quoted as saying during the meeting.

He told cabinet ministers that he had set up Ample Rich in the British Virgin Islands only because he wanted to invest in the US stock market and that the subsequent transfer of Ample Rich to his son did not violate any law.

Suvarn Valaisathien, the spokesman for the Shinawatra and Damapong families, would explain the matter to the press today, Mr Thaksin said.

He refused to say more, remaining tightlipped no matter how hard reporters pushed him for elaboration yesterday.

The Democrats refuse to believe the prime minister's story.

Korn Chatikavanij, deputy secretary-general of the opposition party, said that laying the blame on Mr Panthongthae was Mr Thaksin's last resort. It meant the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would fine the son for failing to immediately inform the agency of his holding in Ample Rich.

Chalee Chantonyingyong, assistant senior secretary-general to the SEC, said Mr Panthongthae never reported the Shin shareholding through Ample Rich and was liable to a daily fine of 10,000 baht.

From the end of November 2000, when Mr Thaksin ended his holding in Ample Rich, until yesterday was a total of 1,946 days and the fine totalled 19.46 million baht, he said.

Media firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul said Mr Thaksin laid the blame on his son to prevent impeachment and the actual legal liability was a two-year jail term.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called for a straightforward investigation by the SEC of the share acquisition and sale by Mr Panthongthae and Miss Pinthongta.

He said the transactions were complicated and they possibly involved taking advantage of insider information, which could make them liable to two years in jail and/or a 200% fine.

Thavorn Senniam, deputy secretary-general of the Democrat party, said Mr Thaksin's past action violated article 209 of the constitution that prohibited a cabinet minister from having a stake in a company or acting as if he was managing a company.

The violation automatically disqualified him from cabinet under article 216 of the constitution. The Democrats would ask the Constitution Court to rule on the issue.

Democrat executive Kobsak Sabhavasu said Mr Thaksin and his son must explain who Mr Panthongthae bought Ample Rich Investments from, how much he paid for it, where the money had come from and where the acquisition happened.

If the acquisition happened offshore, how had he taken the money out of the country and had the Bank of Thailand been aware of the movement.

''It is a convincing thought that actually the company never changed hands. It always belonged to Mr Thaksin and that was concealed,'' Mr Kobsak said. The explanation from the prime minister's side was delayed, possibly pending the fabrication of evidence, he said.

He challenged experts to prove when a written document was actually signed.

''All Mr Thaksin's actions have for a long time deprived him of legitimacy as prime minister.

''It's a shame the Thai people had to have a prime minister who has behaved like this,'' Mr Kobsak said

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 01:31 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

Chamlong urges PM to give B26bn to the poor

By Ampa Santtmatanedol

Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang yesterday called on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to donate 26 billion baht to the country's poor, in lieu of the capital gains tax exempted for last week's sale of Shin Corp shares by the Shinawatra family.

The former adviser to the prime minister also warned cabinet ministers not to be overly confident of the government's 375-strong majority in the House, saying major political changes in the past always began outside parliament.

''The changes took place on Rajdamnoen avenue and at Sanam Luang. Don't be reckless,'' Maj-Gen Chamlong said at a press conference held at the Oct 14 uprising monument on Rajdamnoen avenue, where he presented his open letter calling on Mr Thaksin to donate 26 billion baht to the country's poor.

He said the suggested amount was based on a tax rate of 37% which Mr Thaksin should have paid for the 73.3 billion baht his family earned from the sale of Shin shares to Singapore's Temasek Holdings on Jan 23.

''Donate the 26 billion baht in waived tax to the state, especially to help the poor, and more than 46 billion baht will still be left _ enough for spending even if one lived through 100 reincarnations,'' said Maj-Gen Chamlong.

A cabinet source said Mr Thaksin made known his intention during yesterday's cabinet meeting that he would donate one billion baht from his huge fortune to the Thaicom Foundation for national development research.

Another 55 million baht would go to a fund earmarked for the one-district-one-doctor project, the source said.

Maj-Gen Chamlong said it would be ''rational'' of Mr Thaksin to donate the suggested amount of 26 billion baht since he had pledged to help the country's poor and to donate some of his earnings from the Shin share sale.

The donation would give the prime minister ''another good chance''. Also, it would be tantamount to an act of self-sacrifice, which was one of the essential qualities of a good national leader, Maj-Gen Chamlong said.

He added that he had discussed this moral quality with Mr Thaksin when they were still together in the Palang Dharma party.

Palang Dharma was founded by Maj-Gen Chamlong and became a vehicle for Mr Thaksin to enter politics.

Maj-Gen Chamlong said he disagreed with the Shin share sell-off because it would do more harm than good to the nation.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 01:34 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

BoT chief calls for change to capital gains tax rules

Bank of Thailand Governor Pridiyathorn Devakul yesterday suggested lawmakers amend Finance Ministry rules which waive the capital gains tax on stock trades, in the wake of the historic 73.3-billion-baht tax-free sell-off by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family members of Shin Corp shares.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, M.R. Pridiyathorn advised the legislators to review and amend government directives under which all stocks changing hands on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) are exempted from the capital gains tax.

A SET official confirmed during testimony that no profits from stock trading are subject to the tax under Finance Ministry regulations set down a decade ago.

Committee chairman Kraisak Choonhavan called the sale in which the prime minister's son, Panthongthae, and daughter, Pinthongtha, sold 73.3 billion baht worth of Shin Corp shares to Singapore's Temasek Holdings in a tax-free deal an unbelievable twist which had greatly bewildered the Thai public.

M.R. Pridiyathorn said such mega-deals had been beyond anyone's imagination until last week's sale of Shin shares by the prime minister's family members to the Singaporean firm, plus little-known Kularb Kaew Co, jointly represented on the SET by Cedar Holdings.

M.R. Pridiyathorn added that he disagreed with the waiver of the capital gains tax in the first place but had been unable to do anything about it.

Senator Jon Ungpakorn said he had found the legal loopholes apparently taken by the prime minister's relatives a practice which may have compromised the premier's ethics, although they may not have broken the letter of the law.

It obviously offended the senses of those who might earn only about 20,000 or 30,000 baht a month and yet had to pay personal income tax, said the Bangkok senator.

The Senate committee discussed allegations the premier concealed billions of baht worth of Shin shares which were part of the sell-off by leaving them with Ample Rich Investments, an alleged front firm set up in the British Virgin Islands.

The central bank governor said no large amounts of money were found to have been transferred between the premier, who has supposedly owned Ample Rich for the last several years.

Nevertheless, transfers of holdings of a firm's stocks could in practice be done simply in a normal bookkeeping fashion whereby no cash needed to change hands, unless each transaction was worth US million or more.

Mr Panthongthae and Ms Pinthongtha must prove to the Securities and Exchange Commission in seven days' time that they bought 329 million shares of the giant telecom firm from Ample Rich for a period of time well before they were included in the Jan 23 sell-off.

The premier's children reportedly received the Shin Corp shares for one baht each from Ample Rich and sold them to Cedar Holdings for 49 baht apiece, reaping roughly 15 billion baht in profit.

Senator Niran Pithakwatchara said the premier might end up like Mahachon party leader Maj-Gen Sanan Kachornprasart, who was found guilty of asset concealment and banned from holding political posts for five years.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 01:40 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

PM's sister adamant share sale was routine

By Srisamorn Phoosuphanusorn

Yingluck Shinawatra, the Prime Minister's youngest sister, yesterday brushed aside mounting criticism of possible insider trading of shares in Advanced Info Service. She said the shares were partially sold off under the Employee Stock Option Plan (Esop) of the parent Shin Corporation, which grants share allocations to staff each year on top of their salaries.

She also denied any knowledge of the movements and shareholder structure of Ample Rich Investments, the British Virgin Islands-registered dummy company that sold Shin shares at one baht par to the prime minister's children.

Ms Yingluck, who is stepping down as the president of AIS in line with the shareholding change in Shin, was responding to reports about sales of her shares from December to early January.

She sold 278,000 AIS shares at prices ranging from 101 and 113 baht during a period of intense speculation about a foreign takeover of Shin Corp.

''I needed to sell the shares, which are a tiny amount when compared with my entire AIS shareholding, since the amount I gained in last three years under the Esop programme was due to expire this year,'' she explained.

At present Ms Yingluck holds an undisclosed number of AIS shares, awarded through the Esop.

''For my current shareholding, I would need at least three years to sell all of them out,'' she said.

Shin offers warrants to directors and employees once a year under the Esop, for five consecutive years.

The warrants are only valid for five years from the date they are issued, and must be approved by shareholders and a board of directors. They can be exercised within three years in varying amounts.

Last year, AIS gave executives and staff the opportunity to purchase ordinary shares, priced at 89.90 baht each.

''Normally, I gradually sell my shareholding every year, and inform the Stock Exchange of Thailand every time, when I sell in compliance with Shin's management principles,'' Ms Yingluck said.

''I'm not concerned about the criticism because I always know what I'm doing,'' she said, adding that she was used to the Shinawatra surname sparking criticism.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 01:47 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

KFC shifts focus away from big-store spaces

By Pitsinee Jitpleecheep

With space at a premium in large retail stores, the operator of local KFC restaurants is shifting its outlet expansion strategy to untapped markets this year.

The company plans to invest 500 million baht to open 35-40 new branches nationwide this year, bringing its total to 340-345, according to Waewkanee Assoratgoon, marketing director of KFC for Yum! Restaurants International Thailand.

Previously, the expansion of KFC outlets had followed the growth of large discount stores such as Tesco Lotus and Big C. But as a result of tighter zoning regulations, sites for new outlets are in short supply.

''Therefore, this year, we will open new outlets by finding locations that have market opportunity, in both shophouses and local department stores,'' she said.

KFC is especially interested in provinces where fast-food competition is limited, such as Kalasin, Phichit, Pattani, Phayao and Chiang Rai.

A market research firm ACNielsen survey of visits to fast-food restaurants, showed KFC first with a 49% share, then McDonald's at 26%, Pizza Hut 10%, The Pizza Company 6% and others 9%.

Sales of KFC last year grew by 10% because of outlet expansion, same-store growth and greater menu varieties. Figures were not disclosed.

Mrs Waewkanee said the addition of non-chicken menu items had been well-received by consumers. The company plans more non-chicken offerings this year and will make shrimp puffs a permanent menu choice. The new products are expected to account for 20% of its total sales this year.

Currently, an average of 6,000 customers a week visit each KFC shop with average spending of 200 baht per visit.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 01:57 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

Anti-Aids campaign to focus on gay men

Thailand will this month see its first mass campaign to prevent HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM), amid an alarming surge in gay infection rates.

The five-month campaign – [COLOR="DarkRed"]Sex Alert – will be run by the US non-government organisation (NGO) Family Health International, in conjunction with local NGOs and government agencies, including the Public Health Ministry.

A public relations firm has been hired to distribute safe-sex information through various media.

The category MSM includes gay and bisexual men, male sex workers (some of whom are not gay) and transgender individuals, explained Dr Frits van Griensven, associate director for science at HIV/Aids Collaboration, a joint activity of the Health Ministry and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Van Griensven said the nature of the epidemic in the country had changed.

“Previously Thailand faced a heterosexual epidemic of enormous size that required all its resources and attention,” Van Griensven said. “As that epidemic has been controlled…[it] diversified to other groups.”

USAID regional mission director Tim Beans said the problem of detection and outreach had been complicated by a tendency for men who have sex with men to be “stigmatised” and “neglected” by society.

“Up until now, men having sex with men has not been included in the national strategy plan,” he said.

Surveys carried out last year in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket found an alarming incidence of HIV infection among MSM. The rate of infection among MSM surveyed in Bangkok surged from 17 per cent in 2003 to 28 per cent last year, van Griensven said. The studies in Chiang Mai and Phuket were the first of their kind in those cities.

The campaign will disseminate safe-sex information through magazine and radio adverts, mobile phone text messages, the Internet and posters on “moving media” such as tuk tuks, said Dr Somchai Srip-lienchan, Family Health Inter-national’s director for Thailand.

Somchai said that besides stressing the importance of safe sex, the campaign would direct MSM to call centres and websites that provide information about preventing HIV or living with it. The call centres and websites will also provide information on other health issues for MSM and counselling.

Somchai said Sex Alert would target men who were openly gay as well as those who are secretly gay, while male sex workers would receive information from local NGOs.

During the five-month Sex Alert, flyers, postcards and packets of condoms with lubricant will be handed out at gay venues.

The PR firm hired to disseminate the information decided what media would be used based on its own study. The firm felt tuk tuk adverts would work best in Chiang Mai because the northern city is smaller than Bangkok, Somchai said.

Major factors behind the surge in HIV infection rates among MSM include a lack of prevention programmes, and limited access to condoms and lubricants, he said.

MSM need to use lubricants with condoms to have anal sex. Oil-based lubricants, however, can cause a condom to break or tear. Many MSM are unaware that they should only use water-based lubricants, said the owner of a gay entertainment venue, Kittinun Dharamadaj,

The rate of HIV infection among gay men under 21 has risen rapidly. Van Griensven said the rate among MSM in this bracket in the Bangkok studies tripled from 2003 to 2005.

Kittinun said the proliferation of gay venues and websites had created more opportunity for young MSM to have casual sex.

The director of the Disease Control Department’s Aids division pointed to other factors in the surge in infection rates. Dr Sombat Taenprasertsuk said the young men had “less bargaining power in sex and limited access to condoms due to the amount of money they earn”.

About a third of the 16,000 Thais expected to get HIV this year would be MSM, Sombat said.

Arthit Khwankhom,
Chris Vedelago
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 02:07 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

Bus fares not going up yet

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will maintain its current bus fare rate until the price of diesel reaches Bt26 per litre, BMTA acting director Opas Petchmunee announced yesterday.

While the Transport Ministry was preparing to approve a fare hike for private buses after the diesel price rose to Bt24.69 per litre, Opas said the BMTA could maintain its current bus fare as bus operators’ costs had only increased Bt0.13 per ticket due to higher oil prices.

The BMTA would maintain its fares until the oil price went to Bt26 per litre, or the extra bus operating costs reached Bt0.50 per ticket, he said.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 02:12 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

Anti-porn show starts

The Cyber Cop radio show will kick off operations today aimed at cracking down on websites promoting pornography.

PM’s Office Minister Newin Chidchob announced yesterday he would participate in the first episode today. To be aired on FM105 between 3-5pm on weekdays, the show will serve as a channel for people to inform authorities of obscene websites, as well as offline vendors peddling sex movies.

Information on porn sites and obscene material in other media will be passed to police, who will then take legal action. The campaign will extend to offline promoters and sellers.

Newin warned operators of shopping malls to monitor their tenants because operators would be held responsible if police, following tip-offs, catch tenants distributing pornography on their premises.

Newin said he planned to ask the courts to hand down the harshest penalties to people convicted of selling obscene materials, a crime that carries a fine up to Bt3,000 and up to three years jail. He believed the culprits should receive prison sentences without suspension because pornography often led to other social problems.

In a related development, police yesterday searched a house in Don Muang of the operator of www.pamvcd.com, who is accused of peddling VCD copies of a pornographic movie starring a lookalike of a popular female singer.

Webmaster Harirak Phewngam, 27, was taken into custody when police discovered 1,000 pornographic VCDs at the house. Eleven computers were seized as evidence .

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 02:16 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

TAT plans retiree card

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is planning to launch a “Golden Travel Card” programme, targeting retired people aged 55 and over.

The TAT expects to sign up 15,000 members in the first year of operation, according to a source at the agency.

The source said a working group planned to propose the project to the TAT’s deputy governor for marketing within the next two weeks, and wanted to start the programme by the end of next month.

The Golden Travel Card project aims to encourage retirees to travel more on weekdays.

“Almost all retired people have free time and money for travel compared to a working person. As a result, the TAT plans to launch the card to promote travel in Thailand on working days,” he said.

Membership will be Bt500 a year and includes special travel packages, and discounts at hotels, restaurants and hospitals.

The source said that the 20-per-cent discount was attractive for members because most restaurants and hotels only offer reductions of 5-15 per cent for other membership cards.

“We want the Golden Travel Card to provide good prices when travelling compared to other cards,” he added.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 02:20 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

AIS issues Dee Dee card for those who don’t make calls

Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) has introduced a SIM card for its subscribers who want only to receive calls. By using the Dee Dee (“Very Good”) SIM card at a cost of Bt150 apiece, subscribers do not have to buy refill cards to keep extending the validity of the service period.

However, they can receive calls only from those within the same AIS network and the network of AIS subsidiary Digital Phone Co.

AIS vice president for marketing Titipong Khiewpaisal said the programme would last for one year, but AIS would continue to extend it annually.

A Dee Dee user can place an outgoing call by dialling a code number, followed by the desired number, and the call will be charged to the receiver.

Titipong said that initially, they could call only prepaid users in the AIS network, but in the near future AIS would also allow them to connect to post-paid users in both the AIS and the DPC networks.

He said the programme would target 500,000 users within three months and that AIS would spend Bt60 million on a two-month-campaign.

He added that AIS did not have to share the money from this sort of programme with its concession owner, TOT Plc, because it did not earn revenues from Dee Dee SIM-card users.

AIS president Yingluck Shinawatra said that this year, AIS would target an additional 1.2 million customers.

Currently, AIS has more than 16 million subscribers.

Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 02:29 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

HOTEL ASSOCIATION: Alcohol bill ‘harmful’

Puritanical move to restrict sales could wreck tourism, warn hoteliers. The Thai Hotel Association (THA) yesterday said it disagreed with a new Public Health Ministry draft bill restricting sales of alcoholic beverages in hotels and restaurants.

The draft bill forbids shops, restaurants and hotel outlets from selling alcoholic beverages to customers under the age of 21.

Sales will also be limited to lunch and dinner hours, from 11am to 2pm and 5-11pm, respectively.

The THA warned that while the measure sought to protect consumers, it would actually harm them, because of its affect on tourism, which provides jobs and brings in revenues for a huge portion of the local economy.

The draft bill also seeks to restrict alcohol sales in venues that are within 200 metres of a school or temple.

THA vice president Prakit Chinamourpong said shops and restaurants, including those located outside hotels, would be adversely affected.

Hotel figures show about 50 per cent of total revenues comes from food and beverages, with the rest from rooms and other services.

Prakit warned the move ran counter to the government’s policy of attracting more tourists and promoting the Kingdom as a tourist hub.

He said that if enforced, the measures could wreck those ambitions.

“We don’t agree with the new law. We don’t know how we can become the tourism capital of Asia if it is adopted,” Prakit added.

The THA has sent lawyers to work with the ministry on adjusting the draft bill’s conditions.

Some years ago, the government enforced a non-smoking law, banning smoking in covered areas of restaurants and public places that were air conditioned.

Prakit said the alcohol plan would have a far greater impact than the smoking ban did, because it covers all types of restaurants, pubs and bars.

Thailand’s Green Leaf Foundation announced its new non-smoking hotel plan last week, but it covered just 17 hotels.

THA said the average occupancy rate for Bangkok hotels last year fell to 74.3 per cent, from 75.2 per cent in 2004.

The occupancy rate for Phuket hotels fell to 40 per cent, from 60 per cent the year before.

Some hotels in Khao Lak, in Phang Nga province, are now operating at less than 10-per-cent occupancy in the aftermath of the tsunami.

Hua Hin and Cha-am hotels are enjoying 80-per-cent occupancy, up from 60-65 per cent in 2004.

In the North, Chiang Mai hotels’ occupancy has risen to 65 per cent, up from 60 per cent in 2004.

In the Central region, occupancy rates last year climbed to 70 per cent, from 67 per cent the previous year.

Suchat Sritama
The Nation

tirak69

01-02-2006, 02:29 PM

well using AIS is like using singtel now... since its majority owned by temasek. :D

wonder if singtel customers get a discount for using 1-2 call cards... kekeke...

U-Need

01-02-2006, 03:13 PM

BANGKOK, Feb 1 (TNA) – Last Update : 2006-02-01 / 14:00:47 (GMT+7:00)

The transfer of Shin Corporation Public Company Limited’s shares to Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra, son and daughter of Prime Minister Thaksin by Ample Rich Investments Limited has met all legal proceedings with all relevant evidences available for justification by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Revenue Department, according to a spokesman of the Shinwatra and Damapong families.

Dr. Suwan Walaisathien, acting a representative of the two families, said in a press conference that Mr. Panthongtae and Ms Pinthongta had already submitted a letter dated January 31 to SEC, clarifying events related to trading of all shares held in Shin Corp in order.

He said there was a delay in the clarification because it needed a lot of time to find and gather relevant documents to substantiate the justification as the transactions had existed since six years ago.

He conceded Ample Rich Investments was set up on March 12, 1999 by Mr. Thaksin to take the transfer of 32.93 million shares of Shin Corp at a par of 10 baht as part of a plan to list the shares on Nasdag Stock Market in the United States.

The share par value was later split to 1 baht, resulting in the number of shares transferred increasing ten times to 329.2 million.

However, since the Nasdag index slumped in 2000, Shin Corp gave up its plan to list the shares on the market. So, the number of the shares remains with Ample Rich at present.

He said on December 1, 2000, Mr. Thaksin decided to sell all shares held in Ample Rich to his son Panthongtae before the general election was held in January 2001.

The SEC sough a clarification on the matter from Ample Rich on July 11, 2001 and received the confirmation on July 25.

On May 15, 2005, the company informed the SEC of a shareholding structure change with Mr. Panthongtae holding 80 per cent and Ms. Pinthongta 20 per cent.

On Jan 20, Ample Rich sold 329.2 million shares to both persons equally or 164.6 million each, outside the market since it had no intention to keep cash from the sale of Shin Corp shares in a foreign country.

Since the purchasers and sellers are the same persons, the transaction of the share sale to new shareholders on January 23 should not be considered the insider trading.

Dr. Suwan said both persons admitted they mistakenly marked at Form No. 246-2 on January 20 that the shares were sold through the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The correction was made on January 30.

On the tax issue, he said, Mr. Panthongtae and Ms. Pinthongta made an enquiries with the Revenue Department and received a written confirmation that the sale of Shin Corp shares by Ample Rich to both persons at a par value of 1 baht is not subject to taxation because it was done without any profits.

Mr. Panthongtae and Ms. Pinthongta had informed SEC of all transactions on Ample Rich and believed SEC had all relevant documents on the matter.

In the past 22 years, he said, the Shin Corp group had paid around 50 billion baht of taxes to the state and the Shinawatra and Damanpong families around 3 billion baht.

Dr. Suwan said Mr. Panthongtae and Ms. Pinthongta needed not make a tender offer of Shin Corp shares before selling them to Temasek Holdings of Singapore because both held the shares in an amount of not exceeding 25 per cent although they took the transfer of 329.2 million shares at a par value of 1 bt from Ample Rich

Upon receiving the shares from Ample Rich, Mr. Panthongtae holds a 15.49 per cent and Ms Pinthongta 20.15 per cent in Shin Corp.

During the press conference, Dr Suwan had apparently stepped aside to answer reporters’ questions about a morality of the deal, saying only that he had a duty to clarify the deal and affirmed it was done in accordance with all legal proceedings.

Asked why did Ample Rich not sell shares to Temasek Holdings directly, he said the Shinawatra family wanted the funds to flow in Thailand for the benefit of the economy.

It should be seen that the baht had strengthened to 39 to the US dollar from 41, which could result in the improvement in the trade and current account balances, he said. (TNA) – E005

U-Need

01-02-2006, 03:24 PM

By Chawadee Nualkhair
693 words
1 February 2006
14:47
Reuters News
English

BANGKOK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Controversy over the 73 billion baht ($1.87 billion) sale of the telecoms empire founded by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the country's biggest foreign buyout, threatens to derail what could be a bumper year for merger deals in Thailand.

While some experts say the sale of 49.6 percent of Shin Corp. to Singapore's state investment arm Temasek [TEM.UL] could lure more foreign money to develop industries and create more jobs, others warn that calls for tighter scrutiny in the wake of some aspects of the sale could deter foreign investors.

Media and regulatory attention has focused on the transfer of 329 million Shin shares by Ample Rich Investments Ltd., an offshore company founded by Thaksin, to two of his children at 1 baht each just one working day before the Shin deal was announced.

The sale of those shares helped net Thaksin's son and daughter a profit of more than 15 billion baht ($384 million) from the overall Shin deal.

"That big fortune could soon turn into critical political and legal misfortune for Thaksin and his family," the Nation newspaper said in an editorial on Monday.

The Shin sale has angered many Thais and put regulators under scrutiny after they waived rules such as mandatory tender offers to shareholders of all Shin Corp. units.

"This is not fair to small shareholders," said opposition Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanij, a former head of JP Morgan in Thailand.

Some bankers say the fuss could put off foreign investors.

"No buyer wants to see their deal splashed across the front pages the next day and be criticised by technocrats at who-knows-what university," said one banker at a foreign firm who declined to be named.

There is a precedent for public discontent with a takeover triggering tighter restrictions.

In Japan, a public uproar after U.S. buyout firm Ripplewood Holdings paid $1.09 billion for what would eventually become Shinsei Bank led to a 20 percent withholding tax on capital gains by investment partnerships, executives have said.

"This place needs foreign investment," said Mark Greenwood, assistant managing director of institutional sales at Finansa.

"If Thailand wants to start doing this, bye bye foreigners," he warned.

CONSOLIDATION

While the political implications for Thaksin are an unwelcome distraction, some experts say the Shin deal could actually spur foreign investment as Thai firms look to expand amid increased liberalisation and an improving economy.

"Consolidation is a process through which companies are strengthened, especially in facing imminent threats such as competition or technological change," said Kasikorn Research Center economist Charl Kengchon.

"The earlier they prepare for them and embrace the changes, the better chance they will have to survive and prosper."

Bank of Ayudhya , Thailand's sixth-biggest lender by assets, is at the centre of market speculation about the sale of a stake to a local unit of General Electric and HSBC in an increasingly competitive domestic banking sector.

True Corp PCL , which has an 83 percent interest in TA Orange, is seen as a target in a crowded telecoms sector, with Japan's NTT DoCoMo and China Telecom cited by local media as likely suitors.

Other firms said to be seeking strategic partners include provincial fixed-line operator TT&T PCL and Golden Land Property Development PCL , bankers say.

Shin's price tag dwarfs the value of cross-border mergers and acquisitions in Thailand last year, which saw nine deals worth a little more than $1 billion after 11 deals worth around $1.4 billion in 2004, according to stock exchange data.

One newspaper said civic groups were preparing to petition a Thai court against the Shin deal -- a sale Thaksin said was urged by his children so he could concentrate on politics.

Thaksin has defended the legality of the sale, saying on Monday he would explain everything when the time was right.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 03:33 PM

208 words
1 February 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Police have questioned 50 people at the Software Park building in their investigation into the bomb that went off at the Ministry of Justice, and have increased security measures to prevent any further incidents.

A C-4 bomb exploded last week at the Software Park building, which housed the Ministry of Justice and more than 80 private companies. Police are suspecting that the bomb hay have arisen from conflicts related to a private company, creation of turmoil by ill-intentioned people, the work of the Special Investigation Department in the 3 southern border provinces, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's project auctioning scandal, or political conflicts as motives for the attack.

In the meantime security has been increased at Software Park, in order to prevent further incidents from recurring.

Defense Minister Thammarak Issarangkoon Na Ayutthaya said he has not yet been told of any involvement of military officials in the explosion at the premise. Army commander Sonthi Bunyaratkalin also echoed the minister's words, as he affirmed that Army personnel found to be involved with the bomb at the Justice Ministry and that on a passenger van in the Rangsit area would be punished.

U-Need

01-02-2006, 03:36 PM

225 words
1 February 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - The Transport Ministry prepares to approve increases in fares of inter-provincial coaches and city buses, effective on February 6.

Deputy Transport Minister General Chainan Charoensiri revealed after discussing the matter with president of the Bus Operator Association, Suchinda Cherdchai, that due to the rise in diesel fuel prices, the Transport Ministry may consider increasing fares for the bus operators. The increase for the inter-provincial bus fare is expected to be at 3 satang per kilometer.

Meanwhile, the fares of private buses joining the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will rise by 1 baht. This fare hike will cover both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses. However, the Transport Ministry will have to review the performance reports of the buses operated by the BMTA first before making decisions on fare hike. Mr. Chainan said that the ministry wants to maintain the prices of the BMTA buses if possible. He said that a central committee on land transport assigned to deliberate fare increases has been instructed to carry out the plan.

Director-general of the Land Transport Department, Piyapan Jampasut revealed that the central committee will hold a meeting on fare increase tomorrow and expected that the new fare rates will be announced and become effective on February 6.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 04:36 PM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

Practice Dhamma instead of Valentine's Day

Thailand’s Department of Religious Affairs is asking schools nationwide to lead students to practice Dhamma at temples on Makha Bucha Day to divert their attention from mainstream culture's celebration of Valentine's Day, Department Director-General Preecha Kanthiya said Wednesday.

The department has asked all provincial culture offices to co-ordinate with local schools in organising religious activities for students, including Dhamma teaching by monks, either in schools or nearby temples Feb 13-15.

In addition, the department will co-operate with the World Buddhist University to organise a grand Buddhist sermon and celebration at Sanam Luang during the same period.

Makha Bucha Day takes place on the full moon of the third lunar month, commemorating the day Lord Buddha recited the "Ovadha Patimakkha" (Fundamental Teaching) to his disciples. This year Makha Bucha Day falls on Feb 13, one day before Valentine's Day.

According to the Department of Religious Affairs Director-General, Buddhist- related activities to be attended by students nationwide would help reduce the younger generation's enthusiasm for Valentine's Day, considered as a western materialist cultural intrusion.

"Instead of letting our young people become obsessed with the day of love," Mr. Preecha said, "we should enrich their minds and souls with Dhamma teaching that will keep their lives healthy, both morally and spiritually," he said.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 04:37 PM

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 04:45 PM

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

BT 73-BILLION SHIN TAKEOVER: Suvarn vows to clear up concerns

Tax expert promises to explain role of Ample Rich, timing of controversial stock transactions.

Lawyer Suvarn Valaisathien will today try to dispel public concerns about the Shinawatra and Damapong families’ sell-off of Shin Corp by explaining the timing of the stock transactions, the role of Ample Rich Investments Ltd, the movements of Shin Group stocks and the tax implications.

Suvarn said yesterday that he was asked by the two related families to help explain all the issues surrounding Temasek Holdings’ Bt73.2-billion takeover of Shin. He has scheduled a press conference for 11am at the Plaza Athenee Hotel in downtown Bangkok.

“I am preparing transparencies to help me do the presentation on the routes of the transactions, what was the logic behind the deal,” said Suvarn, a deputy commerce minister in the first term of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration.

Thaksin has come under intense pressure to clear up the share sale that netted his and his brother-in-law’s families a cool Bt73.2 billion completely tax-free. Since the deal was finally announced on January 23, Thaksin has come under a storm of criticism because the transfer of Shin Group’s ownership amounted to a hand-over of state concessions for mobile phone, satellite and a television operation to Singapore.

Questions have also been raised over Thaksin’s relationship with Ample Rich, which he set up in 1999 and disowned before assuming the premiership in 2001. But this offshore company, incorporated in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands, resurfaced as part of the Shinawatra and Damapong families’ holdings and sold its 10.98-per-cent stake in Shin to Thaksin’s children Pinthongta and Panthongtae for Bt1 a share. The two children re-sold the shares the following trading day to nominees of Temasek for a capital gain of more than Bt15 billion.

The Securities and Exchange Commission had earlier asked Pinthongta and Panthongtae to report their relationships with Ample Rich, which they did yesterday, filing separate statements of two pages each. The contents of their filings are due to be disclosed by the SEC today.

Suvarn said he expected to get tough questions during his presentation but would stick to the facts and all the rules and regulations governing the Shin sale. He would concentrate on four key areas - major Shin stock transactions, Ample Rich, Shin Group stocks and tax matters.

“We have documents to support all the transactions,” he said.

On January 23, when the takeover was announced, Suvarn also took to the podium to speak on behalf of the two families. He is considered the country’s top tax expert and has a long relationship with the Shinawatras. In 2001, he was on the defence’s legal team when Thaksin was tried for asset concealment in the Constitution Court.

Accompanied by MPs Korn Chatikavanij and Kiat Sittheeamorn, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva went to the SEC’s office to submit a letter calling for the SEC to maintain its independence and transparency in its investigation of the Shin deal.

Abhisit said the SEC must probe why Ample Rich sold Shin shares to Pinthongta and Panthongtae for Bt1 apiece before the two sold the shares for Bt49.25, and if the two had profited from inside information.

Thaksin maintained his silence towards the pressure building on him to detail his family’s involvement with Ample Rich. Before entering the weekly Cabinet meeting, he said only that there would be a press conference today.

Reporters noticed that when Thaksin arrived at Government House in the early morning, he looked anxious during a five-minute cellphone conversation.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said Thaksin had told his two children to discuss unclear points with the SEC as soon as possible. The premier would not get involved in the matter, Surapong said.

All the parties in the Shin deal would hold a press conference, addressing all the suspicions about the deal, sometime this week, he said.

If some of them were found guilty of violating stock-market rules, they would be punished, even if they were the prime minister’s children, he said.

The government has urged stock-exchange authorities to clarify all the questions to the public before Saturday, when media maverick Sondhi Limthongkul plans to hold a mass rally as part of his drive to oust the government.

Thaksin was reported to have told the Cabinet meeting that the sell-off was transparent and legal.

“You all can rely on me that I have never done anything wrong,” he was quoted as saying.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 04:50 PM

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

Ample Rich belongs to PM's children : Suvarn

Ample Rich Investment Ltd that is at the heart of controversy over sell-off of Shin Corp belongs to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's children, said lawyer Suvarn Valaisathien.

Speaking at a press conference, Suvarn said Thaksin had founded Ample Rich
Investment Ltd in 1999 and hold 100 per cent of shares.

A total of 32.9 million stocks of Shin Corp were transferred to Ample Rich as Thaksin wished to trade the stocks in US' Nasdaq stock market. However the plan was suspended because the Nasdaq suffered low point. Therefore the stocks remained in the Ample Rich which is registered in the British Virgin Islands.

In 2000, Thaksin sold the entire stocks in the Ample Rich to his son, Panthongtae and last year, Pinthongtha, a Thaksin's daughter became a 20 per cent share holder of the Ample Rich.

Suvarn who acts as a spokesman for the sell-off of Shin Corp to Temasak said Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has been informed of all business between Thaksin and Ample Rich.

However Suvarn declined to answer some reporters' queries about Thaksin's children have to conduct tender offering for owning more than 25 per cent of stocks in Shin Corp. He said he would forward the questions to Shinawatra family and SET.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 10:50 PM

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

19 Thammasat lecturers call on Thaksin to resign

A group of 19 Thammasat University lecturers Wednesday called on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to resign, saying he has lost legitimacy to govern.

The lecturers said the people earlier gave Thaksin mandate to run the country with expectation that he would respect the Constitution and use political stability to solve the country's problems.

However, they said, it turned out that Thaksin had had abused the mandate to key principles of the Constitution and used power and interference to dominate the Senate as well as controlling independent organisations, rendering them unable to become check-and-balance mechanism against the administration.

The lecturers said in the open letter that Thaksin also tried to destroy press freedom and try to prevent the people from using their constitutional right to demonstate peacefully.

They said Thaksin had also been tolerating corruption, letting relatives and closed associates to reap interest from public projects and abused national policies and negotiations with foreign countries to reap vested interest.

KatoeyLover69

01-02-2006, 10:55 PM

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 1 February 2006 :-

SEC's credibility questioned: survey

Almost half of the finance professionals questioned the credibility of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in light of its supervision for the Shin Corp sale by Shinawatra and Damapong families, Abac Poll said Wednesday.

About 55 per cent said the SEC had not been neutral in rendering its opinions on the transaction.

And 66 per cent said they did not believe the SEC was freed from political interference when it dispensed its supervisory duty for the Shin sell-off.

The opinion survey was conducted on 336 respondents working in financial institutions.

Even though the majority of 85 per cent viewed the SEC as having capable staff, about 48 per cent said this did not translate into efficiency.

About 81 per cent believed the SEC would open an investigation into the sell-off in order to alley the public concern.

The majority of 82 per cent voiced suspicion on insider trading violations.

About 56 per cent said they still wanted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to remain in office, citing his past achievements, such as the populist policies, the anti-drug campaign and the fight for poverty eradication.

KatoeyLover69

02-02-2006, 11:22 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 2 February 2006 :-

Sale explanation seen as 'vague, confusing' : Businessmen, ordinary people left in the dark

Many people, not to mention businessmen, did not buy the story of the Shin share transaction as explained yesterday by Suvarn Valaisathien, the spokesman for the Shinawatra and Damapong families, feeling the explanation was vague and confusing.

Banjong Nasae, director of the natural resources management project for southern coastal provinces, said Mr Suvarn's statement was clear as mud when he attempted to justify the 73-billion-baht share sale by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family to Temasek Holdings, the local and foreign investment arm of the Singapore government.

He called on Mr Thaksin to resign as the tax-free sell-off had made him no longer fit to run the country.

Chit Bunluesin, chairman of the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, remarked that Mr Thaksin had been particularly adept in entrusting Mr Suvarn, a tax law -expert, with the job of defending his name.

Veera Somkhwamkid, secretary-general of the Peoples' Network against Corruption, said Mr Suvarn's words about the Shin deal contained nothing new. The Shinawatra spokesman had failed to clear up public doubts over alleged irregularities in the share sale.

Mr Suvarn also failed to answer whether the deal was ethical. Theeraphat Serirangsan, a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said the controversial sell-off must be settled in a tax court or the Administrative Court.

Thaweesak Thonanurak, chairman of the Nakhon Ratchasima chamber of commerce, said Mr Suvarn's claim that the sell-off was legal was unlikely to convince most people.

The law expert should have used simple and clear words when explaining such a complex issue, he said. Mr Thaksin should have been the one making the statement, particularly on matters regarding the establishment of a firm in the British Virgin Islands to sell shares to Mr Thaksin's children at only one baht per share instead of 40 baht apiece.

Many people were confused, he said.

Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Mr Suvarn lacked credibility.

The law expert failed to produce documents to back up his explanation. More light needed to be shed on the sale of shares by Ample Rich to Mr Thaksin's two children, he said.

He urged the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to ask the firm and the Shinawatra family to produce evidence pertaining to the share sale.

A party working group would meet today to ''filter'' Mr Suvarn's side of the Shin share story.

Sirichote Sopha, a Democrat executive, said the claim that Ample Rich was set up to transfer Shin shares so it could be listed on the Nasdaq stock market in the US was dubious. The firm was only a nominee company of Shin Corp.

The latest Abac poll found 49.4% of people thought the Securities and Exchange Commission was less credible following the Shin deal. The Jan 30-31 survey of 336 people included stock investors and non-investors in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

KatoeyLover69

02-02-2006, 11:26 AM

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 2 February 2006 :-

DSI accepts petition to look into Shin deal

By Bhanravee Tansubhapol & Anucha Charoenpo

Three activist groups yesterday petitioned the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to examine the sale of Shin Corp shares by the families of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his brother-in-law Bhanapot Damapong.

Weng Tochirakarn of the Democracy Confederation, Danai Anandtiyo of the People's Network Against Corruption and Sirichai Mai-ngarm, secretary-general of the State Enterprise Labour Relations Confederation, submitted their petition to DSI spokesman Piyawat Kingket.

''The sale of Shin Corp shares through [Ample Rich Investments Ltd] is a sophisticated crime. It is in violation of the -Money Exchange Act, Securities Exchange Commission Act and Revenue Code - all of them laws used to identify offences under the DSI's authority. This agency should examine and press charges against the prime minister and his son,'' he said.

He was collecting evidence for the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) on whether the possession of Ample Rich shares by Mr Thaksin's daughter Pinthongta violated the rules.

If she did not report her holding to the Securities and Exchange Commission it could be grounds to disqualify Mr Thaksin from political office for five years for not notifying the NCCC when he took office.

DSI director-general Pol Gen Sombat Amornwiwat said the DSI would examine the case now a petition had been accepted -and prosecute if evidence warranted it.

Parinya Thevanaruemitkul, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, said the many unanswered questions about the mega-deal had led to widespread scepticism and displeasure.

Mr Thaksin could again be forced to defend himself in the Constitution Court against asset concealment charges, as he was five years ago. If so, Mr Thaksin could expect a much smaller crowd of supporters. ''[Most] have now realised they voted for the wrong person,'' he said.

Angkrai Leekijwattana, a former official at the Auditor-General's Office, said Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya should not have rushed in to defend Mr Thaksin.

He should have told the Revenue Department to investigate.

KatoeyLover69

02-02-2006, 11:27 AM

U-Need

02-02-2006, 12:50 PM

535 words
3 February 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - Former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej has admitted to ordering 176 fire trucks from Austria for use by City Hall and accused his successor Apirak Kosayodhin of failing to cancel the contract upon detecting irregularities in the deal, the Bangkok Post reports.

The procurement hit the headlines after the Thai-language Daily News newspaper reported on Monday that the price of the trucks, at 6.8 million baht, including import tariffs, was three-times that of the locally-produced model. It was also found the trucks were made in Thailand, exported to Britain, acquired by the Australian firm and then shipped back to Thailand.

Mr Apirak, a Democrat deputy leader, said on Monday that the fire trucks, now stranded at Laem Chabang port with import duty of 1.2 billion baht due, were purchased during Mr Samak's tenure.

Mr Samak on January 31 admitted having initiated the purchase and continued with it until the contract signing with Austrian supplier Steyr Co. But he claimed Mr Apirak completed the purchase by ordering a letter of credit for the firm.

He asked why Mr Apirak did not call off the transaction and instead buy fire trucks from a Spanish firm when he learned the price quoted by Steyr Co was higher. The contract could have been cancelled at any time prior to the letter of credit being issued.

''I want the Department of Special Investigation to investigate Mr Apirak over this because the Democrats are trying to pass the responsibility to the government by citing barter trade,'' he said.

Former senator Dusit Siriwan alleged during on January 31's Samak-Dusit Kid Tam Wan television talk show that Mr Apirak negotiated with Steyr Co three times before the letter of credit was issued and that it was possible he had demanded something from the firm.

Mr Apirak declined to explain, saying he was tired of defending himself against the allegations on a daily basis.

Deputy city clerk Anant Siripassaraporn confirmed a contract for the 6.7-billion-baht purchase of 315 fire engines and 30 fire fighting boats was signed by Mr Samak with Steyr Co on Aug 27, 2004 and required a letter of credit within 30 days.

Mr Apirak tried to review the contract after complaints about its transparency, but the Interior Ministry told him the purchase could not be cancelled for fear of hurting Thai-Austrian bilateral ties.

The purchase was part of a Thai-Austrian agreement of understanding on disaster prevention cooperation, involving the barter trade of Austrian fire trucks for Thai boiled chicken.

Thai Rak Thai spokesman Sita Divari and deputy Democrat spokesman Yutthapong Charassathien took reporters to examine the fire trucks at Laem Chabang port on January 31.

Mr Sita said the trucks were made by Mitsubishi Motors Thailand and cost about 700,000 baht each here. They were equipped and sold by Steyr to the city for 5.8 million each. Similar locally made fire trucks cost less than two million baht.

Importation of the fire trucks contravened a cabinet resolution that locally made products be purchased, he said.

U-Need

02-02-2006, 12:51 PM

543 words
3 February 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: General News - The Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Press Council of Thailand will jointly launch a book with complete details of the irregularities and impact of the tax-free 73-billion baht sell-off of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, the Bangkok Post reports.

The councils on January 31 issued a joint statement saying that Prime Minister Thaksin should not be exempt from paying tax because the transaction generated a huge amount of income and profits. Thus the premier must be taxed as stipulated in the Excise Tax Act.

''Apart from disclosing the malpractice [in the share sell-off], we also want the 'white book', which will be distributed nationwide, to be a reminder that people must monitor the government's performance more closely,'' said Dej-udom Krairit, the Lawyers Council president.

Legal experts, he added, suspected that besides the 49% Shin Corp stake owned by the Singaporean firm, foreigners might be holding the remaining 51% shares using Thai firms as their proxies.

If an investigation found that more than 49% of Shin Corp shares were owned by foreigners, the people involved in the stock transaction would have to face legal action, said Mr Dej-udom.

He also demanded relevant agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Revenue Department and the Anti-Money Laundering Office, check the backgrounds of all foreign investors who plan to invest in Thailand as part of measures to protect national assets from falling into foreigners' hands.

Pongsak Phayakkawichien, president of the Press Council of Thailand blasted the agencies involved for failing to investigate what he said was the dubious tax exemption in the Shin share transaction.

Meanwhile, academics and legal experts attending a forum on the Shin Corp sale scandal at Thammasat University, on January 31 questioned the political legitimacy of the premier, who they believed was the mastermind of the tax-free deal. They called on Temasek to clarify the procedure of the Shin Corp take-over.

The Shinawatra family's telecom company and its subsidiaries, including Advanced Info Service, Shin Satellite, and iTV, were now owned and controlled by Temasek; thus the firm should provide clarification of the transaction process and its plan for the frequency and satellite businesses, which were strictly preserved for Thai nationals, said Somkiat Tangkitvanich, a Thailand Research and Development Institute researcher.

''It is also questionable as to whether there was any other under-the-table deal between Temasek and the Shinawatra family to seal such a high-value transaction,'' Mr Somkiat said.

The long-term impact of the Shin-Temasek deal was that it set a bad precedent for foreign firms to ignore Thai laws, or find ways to evade regulations to reap the utmost business benefits, while Thai firms' morale in terms of paying taxes would be depleted, he said.

By clinching the Jan 23 deal, he said the premier sent the wrong signal to the Thai people that it was acceptable to be rich no matter what means were employed. The public and small-scale investors would lose faith in the ability of the SET and SEC to protect the public interest.

U-Need

02-02-2006, 12:53 PM

358 words
3 February 2006
Thai News Service
English

Section: Government and Politics - The secretary-general of the House of Representatives disclosed on Tuesday that 22 former MPs have yet to return their salaries worth totally Bt26.88 million after they were disqualified by the Election Commission on alleged vote buying or election frauds, The Nation reports.

Pithoon Pumhiran, the secretary-general, said his office had filed lawsuits with the Civil Court demanding the former MPs to return their salaries. The court is scheduled to consider the cases in October this year, he said.

Pithoon said Article 97 of the Constitution required those who are removed from office because of election cheating to return their salaries to the state.

He said former Chat Thai MP Chuwit Kamolvisit, who was disqualified on lacking 90-day membership before election day, did not have to return his salary because he had not cheated in the election. "But if Chuwit insists to return his salary, I will willingly accept it," Pithoon said.

According to Pithoon the former 22 MPs are:

1 Kannikar Thammakesorn (Bangkok-Thai Rak Thai)

2 Wicharn Minchaiyanan (Bangkok-Thai Rak Thai)

3 Oradee Sutthasri (Kalasin-Chat Thai)

4 Thawatchai Anapong (Chathaburi-Chat Pattana)

5 Mongkol Bupsiri (Nakhon Phanom-New Aspiration)

6 Pimpha Chanthaprasong (Nonthaburi-Thai Rak Thai)

7 Narongkorn Chawalsanti (Phetchabun-Thai Rak Thai)

8 Chaiwat Tinarat (Mahasarakham-Thai Rak Thai)

9 Lawal Tantikulapong (Mukdahan-Thai Rak Thai)

10 Kamol Jiraphanwanit (Lop Buri-Chat Thai)

11 Danairit Watcharaporn (Si Sa Ket-Thai Rak Thai)

12 Phayup Punket (Sing Buri-Thai Rak Thai)

13 Theeraphan Weerayuthwattana (Uthai Thani-Chat Thai)

14 Pracha Phothipipit (Kanchanaburi-Democrat)

15 Sirichai Chatchaipolrat (Khon Kaen-New Aspiration)

16 Wuthichai Kittithanesuan (Nakhon Nayok-Thai Rak Thai)

17 Punnawat Liangpongphan (Buri Ram-Democrat)

18 Prapas Weerasathian (Surin-New Aspiration)

19 Kriang Kaltinan (Ubol Ratchathani-New Aspiration)

20 Sakchai Jintavej (Ubol Ratchathani-Chat Thai)

21 Withaya Nanthupa (Ubol Ratchathani-Rassadorn)

22 Boonchong Veesommai (Si Sa Ket-Thai Rak Thai)

The secretary-general said since Boonchong had died, his office was demanding Boonchong's wife, Krongkan Veesommai, to return the salary on part of him.