Anything & Everything About Thailand

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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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.