Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monsay 13 March 2006 :-

POSTBag : Singaporeans not to blame

I really do not understand the need to boycott Singaporean companies and investors. What difference does it make if a company is owned by Chinese-Thais or Chinese-Singaporeans? Actually the Thai people might be better off with Singaporean management. I have lived and worked in Southeast Asia for several decades and when it comes to ethics and morals I have gained more respect for businessmen and politicians from Singapore than for those I have encountered in Thailand.

The boycott of Shin Corp should have taken place long before the sale. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is to blame for the situation getting out of control, not Temasek Holdings or any other Singaporean company. The current reactions are once again typical _ let's blame the foreigners for our own mistakes. In particular the People's Alliance for Democracy should know better than to do this.


JAN ABBINK
Chon Buri

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BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) – Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya on Monday expressed confidence there would be no clash between anti- and pro-Thaksin demonstrators in a planned mass rally in front of Government House on March 14, saying he is ready to take responsibility if the incident occurs.

Speaking after a one-hour meeting with senior officials of the National Security Council, he said main issues discussed include how to deal with traffic congestion in case the march by demonstrators obstruct traffic flow and how to prevent possible violence caused by a third party.

He said police had been instructed to prepare traffic management plan and to closely monitor the movement of the demonstrators.

The deputy premier said he believed the pro-Thaksin demonstrators, who are marching from provincial areas, would not move to Government House on March 14. They are likely to stop at the Chatuchak Park or the transport bus station in the Northern Bangkok.

Asked why the government did not prevent them from marching to the city, he said: I view everyone know well what they are doing. What the government wants to see most now is peace and order.”

Pol Gen Chidchai expressed confidence the violent confrontation would not occur tomorrow. But if it broke out, he was ready to take responsibility.

“I believe demonstrators won’t obstruct the traffic flow. The expression of opinions under the democratic system must not affect other persons.

“The cabinet meeting, which is scheduled to be held tomorrow, will proceed as normal. The absence of Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is not his effort to shun demonstrators. He needs to go upcountry for an election campaign as scheduled,’’ he said. (TNA) – E005

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BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) - The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Monday called for office workers to go on strike and join a protest tomorrow at Government House to oust Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and boycott Shin Corp products and services.

Led by Somsak Kosaisuk, Rosana Tositrakul and Saree Oongsomwang, members of the PAD alliance opened their campaign in front of CP Tower in Bangkok's Silom Road business district aimed at drawing office workers to join their demonstration on Tuesday.

They also campaigned for a boycott of products of Shin Corp, the telecom company, the Chareon Phokphan Group and Singaporean goods.

They asked passersby to throw into the trashbin their AIS 'SIM' cards as a protest. AIS, an affiliate of Shin Corp, is Thailand's flagship telecoms service. Ms. Saree claimed that some 878 people have already ditched Shin Corp's mobile phone SIM cards.

''We are protesting for the sake of the nation. Thailand has been victimized by capitalism," Ms. Saree claimed. "We spend money to buy everything but money cannot solve every problem. Look at the prime minister who is not happy despite being rich,'' she said.

Meanwhile, members of Rak Prachatipatai (We Love Democracy) Group campaigned nearby for voters to exercise their rights on April 2 polling.

Chaiyawut Aksornsithi, who led the group, said they were not with any political party and genuinely wanted to see the country at peace. He also gave passersby copies of Prime Minister's Thaksin Shinawatra's open letter in which he explained himself and policies to the public. (TNA)-E11

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UBON RATCHATHANI, March 13 (TNA) - Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has travelled to Thailand's northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani after calling a meeting of leading members of his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party in Bangkok Monday morning to assess the situation in the capital.

The caretaker premier arrived in Ubon Ratchathani Monday afternoon.

He first met local women groups and is scheduled to launch an election campaign in the province's central stadium Monday evening.

Before flying to the northeastern province, Mr. Thaksin with his wife, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, called a meeting with leading members of the TRT Party at Ban Pitsanulok, his official residence here.

Agenda of the meeting was not officially revealed, but it was expected that the caretaker prime minister had assessed the situation in Bangkok, as demonstrators, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), plans to march from Sanam Luang to the Government House Tuesday morning.

Mr. Thaksin was also expected to have discussed possible impacts from a recent resignation of a wellknown party-list TRT Party candidate, Dr. Premsak Piayura.

Dr. Premsak, the 93rd party-list candidate of the TRT Party in the April 2 snap election, has entered the monkhood after tendering his resignation last Saturday, saying briefly that he wants all three main conflicting parties--Mr. Thaksin, the three former oppostion parties and the PAD to hold a direct dialogue to settle the country's current political woes.

Dr. Premsak's resignation may reportedly cause a postponement of the early poll date, or make any
convention of the House of Representatives after the election impossible.

This is because newly-elected MPs after the April 2 general election are now certain to be mostly from the TRT Party as the three former opposition parties--the Democrat, the Chart Thai and the Mahachon Parties--have boycotted the election.

Election commissioners are discussing the issue.

Meanwhile, Mahidol University President Emeritus Prof. Pornchai Matangkasombat told journalists that he would continue trying to invite all the three conflicing parties for a tripartite negotiation to end the current political tension after previous attempts failed.

He said the Rectors' Conference of Thailand had offered to be a mediator for the tripartite talks.

An over 1,000-member caravan of Mr. Thaksin's supporters with ploughing machines, comprising mostly of local farmers from the country's northern and northeastern regions, have, however, agreed to back off its plan to move to Sanam Luang later this week to avoid confronting with the PAD-led anti-Thaksin demonstrators after the country's TV's Pool Sunday night repeatedly broadcast the royal advice made by much revered and beloved His Majesty the King, which ended the military-led bloody crackdown on the popular uprising on May 20, 1992 and restored national reconciliation.

Representatives of the group told journalists on Monday that they would, instead, stop and rally at the Mo Chit Bus Terminal when arriving in the capital.

Thailand's current political crisis was caused mainly by the public outcry over the Bt73.3 billion sale of controlling stake in Shin Corporation, the country's largest telecommunication firm by Mr. Thaksin's family to Temasek Holdings, Singapore's state-owned telecommunication company, in late January without any tax.

Mr. Thaksin has insisted that the sale was legally done in accordance with the Thai law.

Monday morning, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong appeared on Singapore's Channel News Asia saying that the island state would try every effort to foster good relations with the Thai kingdom in all areas.

He said Temasek Holdings clinched the business deal with Shin Corp by itself in accordance with the Thai law, reflecting the company's confidence in the Thai economy.

It was the Singapore premier's first comment on the Temasek Holdings-Shin Corp deal following two-time rallies in front of the Singapore Embassy to Thailand last week by PAD-led demonstrators, demanding that the island replubic cancel the deal.

The Singapore Embassy here earlier told the demonstrators that the Singapore authorities could not interfere in any business contact of the private sector. (TNA)--E002

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monsay 13 March 2006 :-

WEATHER TROUBLES : La Nina is headed this way

Climate phenomenon will extend the rainy season, leading to increased flooding and possible landslides, meteorologist says

La Nina will hit Thailand this year causing landslides and flooding nationwide, a climate change expert said last week.

The projection is based on two scientific signs: the Multivariate Enso Index (MEI) and sea temperature projections in the Pacific Ocean.

"The signs are so obvious that La Nina is forming and should start hitting Thailand and Asia in the next two months, the beginning of the rainy season," said Dr Anond Snidwongs, a scientist who works for the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research.

"There will be no major storm-induced rains, but the seasonal rains will continue a lot longer, which will be the main cause of landslides and flooding," he said.

Anond warned authorities to be prepared for such natural disasters.

"We cannot point exactly to where the affected areas will be due to the limitations of knowledge of La Nina. In the past we have paid more attention to El Nino than La Nina, due to our greater concerns about drought rather than flooding," he said.

Based on projections, La Nina will last from this May until at least May next year.

In Bangkok, heavy rains might lead to flooding due to the inefficiencies of the city's drainage system, he said. However, he said, the authorities should be able to cope.

Dr Michael Glantz, director of the Centre for Capacity Building of the American National Centre for Atmospheric Research, warned that global warming and climate change in all parts of the world would continue.

"About 96 per cent of the glaciers at the North and South Poles are melting at an increasing rate and the sea water level is rising. Climate fluctuation, including the patterns of drought and rainfall, is increasing," he said.

"Climate change is not the only scientific finding, the aspects include social impact, political policies, economic and social equity. Now more than half the world's population is suffering the impact of climate change," he said during an interview with The Nation while attending the workshop "Climate Change, Seasonality and Environmental Hazards" last week in Bangkok.

Anond and Glantz agreed that more study and monitoring of the impact of climate change were urgently needed. Greater efforts should be made to help people prepare for future natural disasters, Glantz said.

He also said that the study of climate change at the national level was small and insufficient for preparing most countries for global disasters.

Last Wednesday, the Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (OEPP) in Thailand held public seminars to discuss the national strategic master plan for climate change, aiming to prepare Thailand for negotiating the Kyoto Protocol.

The drafting process is expected to last three months, said OEPP's director-general Nisakorn Khositrat.

The strategic master plan will then be submitted for cabinet approval through the National Environment Board, she said.

Nisakorn added that Thailand would host an international meeting on climate change in 2007.


Kamol Sukin
The Nation

[KatoeyLover69]

Delete double postings ...........

[KatoeyLover69]

Delete double postings ...................

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BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) - Tens of thousands of protesters are gathering at Government House Tuesday morning for what is being billed as a final push to force caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down.

The demonstrators led by the People's Alliance for Democracy marched from the capital's historic Royal parade ground, Sanam Luang, to Government House repeatedly shouting "Thaksin, Get Out." They vowed to stay put until Mr. Thaksin quits.

Members of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect formed human chains to block traffic from side streets. But as the march swelled, traffic came to a standstill.

Hundreds of police with batons have been deployed, while security has also been stepped up around the official seat of government.

One of the core protest leaders, Thaksin's former political mentor Chamlong Srimuang, urged the demonstrators to remain peaceful and adhere to principles of non-violence.

Among the demonstrators are students, state enterprise workers' union members, and other people from all walks of life.

The demonstators rallied last night at Sanam Luang under tight security.

It is the fifth major rally in as many weeks aaimed at pressuring Mr. Thaksin to resign.

There was no violence at last night protest.

As tens of thousands of anti-Thaksin demonstrators gathered just outside the gates of Government House demanding his resignation, the caretaker premier is not at his desk but is away from the office, planning to hold this morning's cabinet meeting via interactive video conference mode from
the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchatani with other ministers attending at Government House.

The caretaker prime minister is visiting Ubon Ratchathani on his election campaign stops and will proceed to Buriram later in the day.

Meanwhile, supporters of Mr. Thaksin cancelled their earlier planned rival rally.(TNA)-E001

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BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) – Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra on Monday called on all conflicting parties to comply with the royal advice made His Majesty the King on May 20, 1992 that put an end to the bloody crackdown by the military on the popular uprising

He reiterated his support for a solution to political conflicts peacefully, saying representatives had been assigned to liaise with all parties to find a common approach to ending the conflicts.

“Upon hearing the royal advice, everybody will understand the conflicts are harmful. No one wins in the case. People and the country will eventually become losers. So, all sides should abide by the royal advice,” he said.

Asked whether the government coordinated with the TV Pool in broadcasting the then royal advice, he said it was the liaison from the Royal Household Bureau. The government has a duty to comply with.

Asked how to end the ongoing conflicts peacefully, he said many parties had talked with each other to find common solution to the problems.

For instance, former prime minister Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon proposed the setting-up of an arbitrator to solve the conflicts.

“Many parties are trying to talk with each other. My representatives have discussed with those of other groups on ways to cope with the conflicts and come to seek my view again. I always reaffirm my support for a peaceful solution to the problems,” he said.

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BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) – Combined dividends paid by 216 out of 431 listed firms to existing shareholders for 2005 totaled 161.68 billion baht, up 7.95 per cent from the previous year with Siam Cement Public Company Limited making the highest dividend payment, according to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.



SET’s Senior Executive Vice President Suthichai Chitvanich said an average dividend yield given by the listed companies excluding those in the REHABCO sector stays at 4 per cent.



Top five industry groups with the highest dividend payment including resource, property and construction, technology, financial business, and service.



In the resource group, combined dividends totaled 45.54 billion baht. PTT Public Company Limited paid the highest dividend of up 25.88 billion baht or 9.25 per per share with a dividend yield of 3.67 per cent.



In the property and construction group, combined dividends totaled 31.24 billion baht. Siam Cement made the most attractive dividend payment of 18 billion baht or 15 baht per share with a dividend yield of 6.15 per cent.



In the technology group, combined dividends amounted to 28.16 billion baht. Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited paid the highest dividend of 18.85 billion baht or 6.3 baht per share with a dividend yield of 6.49 per cent.



In the financial business sector, combined dividends totaled 19.19 billion baht. Siam Commercial Bank offered the highest dividend of 5.65 billion baht or 3 baht per share with a dividend yield of 4.62 per cent.



In the service sector, combined dividends totaled 17.79 billion baht. Thai Airways International paid the most attractive dividend of 2.55 billion baht or 1.50 baht with a dividend yield of 3.47 per cent. (TNA) – E005

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 14 March 2006 :-

[COLOR="Red"]Two girls gang-raped at Bangkok temple fair[/COLOR]: 14 and 15-year-old in hospital after attack by about 30 men

Two teenage girls were gang raped by about 30 men at a temple fair site in Thung Khru district, Bangkok early yesterday, police said.

At 7am, police went to Bang Pakok hospital where 14-year-old Mew and unconscious 15-year-old Gig (not their real names), were treated, said Police Lieutenant Krisada Kaensamrong, of Rat Burana police station.

Their friend Tuk (also not her real name), 15, told police she, her boyfriend and the two girls were at the bumper-car booth at Wat Bang Mod Sotararam in Soi Pracha-Utit 33 after the fair closed. At about 4am, roughly 30 young men, including one named Eung who had just got out of jail, approached and forced the girls at knife point to go with them.

"I was lucky because my boyfriend knew these guys and asked them not to take me away, but Mew and Gig were taken," Tuk said.

Mew and Gig were gang raped and beaten at a spot near the temple wall. The men went on to threaten others not to interfere or they too would be raped.

Police found a pair of jeans, some sandals, two used condoms, a used tampon and a knife at the scene.

A temple fair worker, who asked not to be named, said she and a co-worker were woken by a girl's cry for help.

"I saw a girl was being raped by a group of men near to my tent. I also heard another girl's cry nearby.

We dialled 191 five times, but the line was busy. An officer answered at about 4.30am," the witness said, adding that it was dark and she could not see the rapists' faces. She said she just heard someone calling out "Boy".

"We waited for a long time for the police. The men finished with the girls and grabbed 10 dolls from our booth. I shouted 'Thieves!', which prompted them to flee," she said, adding that her co-workers rushed the girls to hospital.

Yesterday, police were questioning 10 teenage suspects, from whom they took DNA samples to compare them with the rapists' semen in the condoms found at the scene.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 14 March 2006 :-

'Mini tsunami' likely in next 50 years in Thailand : geologist

Geologists have forecast that Thailand's Andaman coast could face a "mini tsunami" in the next 50 years, and warned that the area's "improper" land use could put local residences in real danger if a worse-case scenario occurs.

The magnitude of the wave would be 1.5-2.0 metres high - far less than the 5-12 metre tsunami on December 26, 2004, said Norwegian geologist Dr Kjeel Karlsrud, who conducted a risk study recently.

"The next tsunami should happen within the next 50 to 100 years in Thailand if a quake with a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter scale occurs underwater in the area of the Sumatra islands. The centre of the afflicted area would be similar to the first tsunami," Dr Karlsrud said.

The six provinces hit in 2004 and Koh Phrathong would still be the centre of the impact, he predicted.

"The most worrying issue is improper land use in those areas that might cause higher damage than it should," he said.

Worrawut Tantiwanich, director of the Department of Mineral Resources' Environmental Geology Division, said prevention measures were needed for the area even though the possibility of a second tsunami was a long way off.

"Warning systems and the improvement of land use in the areas potentially affected should start now," he said.

Among the suggested measures, he said, his authority had concluded that public parks should be built in particular areas as natural barriers to decrease the strength of a tsunami.

"Haad Patong should extend its emergency evacuation routes to 500 metres and add more such routes to the existing seven, while Baan Nam Khem should have 10 similar routes. Together with the efficient warning systems, these should be acceptable prevention measures," Worrawut said yesterday.

He spoke after a meeting with experts and officials from Asean countries on post tsunami measures.


Janjira Pongrai
The Nation

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 14 March 2006 :-

UK firm to open four new outlets : Bt440m budget includes facelift for existing gyms

UK-based Fitness First Thailand Co Ltd plans to spend Bt440 million to open four new branches and refurbish some of its existing gyms.

The company will pump Bt360 million into building the new outlets and the rest will be used to modernise and spiff up its current stock.

The first two new branches will open at Q House Lumpini and Seacon Square, occupying space of 2,362 and 3,004 square metres, respectively. The locations of the third and fourth branches remain under wraps for the time being and the fourth branch will open early next year, said Simon Flint, managing director.

Flint added that since Fitness First opened its first branch in Thailand four years ago the company has grown to 10 branches as of the end of last year. The company had 40,000 members at the end of last year and expects to add another 5,000 this year.

"All of our members are active members. They use the club's facilities on average 6.7 times per month," Flint said, adding that most members are working people, who hit the gym to relax and to maintain their health.

The company will also open between three to five new branches next year in provinces outside Bangkok.

"We cannot say where we will open our new branches now but we believe that our business will expand to upcountry next year," he said.

Worldwide, Fitness First operates 445 branches with more than one million members. The company plans to expand in Asia, especially India, and hopes to have 100 branches on the continent by 2010.

Flint said that many Thais are concerned about their health and fitness, resulting in fierce competition among fitness clubs and low membership rates. But Fitness First won't play the discount game.

"We will offer a quality service and a variety of exercises for our members and that makes Fitness First a good choice," Flint said.


Somluck Srimalee
The Nation

[KatoeyLover69]

Delete double postings ...........

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 15 March 2006 :-

Chamlong pleased with large turnout

Expressing satisfaction for the substantial turnout of the Tuesday march on Government House, Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, a key protest leader, said on Tuesday that the People's Alliance for Democracy has been pleased to see large numbers of people joining the demonstration.

"They came out to demand Mr. Thaksin's resignation despite the scorching sun," said Gen. Chamlong.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators Tuesday marched to Government House in a renewed drive to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and vowed to remain at the site for as long as it takes until the premier steps down.

''We will camp out here indefinitely and continue protesting until we succeed,'' Gen. Chamlong said, adding that the government has not sent any officials to negotiate with his Dharma Army.

Responding to a question regarding the cabinet approval of Pol Gen Chidchai Vanasatidya as first deputy prime minister replacing Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees national economic affairs, Gen. Chamlong said he saw no political implication related to the appointment of Gen. Chidchai as the first deputy prime minister.

''He is only a puppet for the prime minister,'' Gen.Chamlong said.

Meanwhile, Sonthi Limthongkul, another demonstration leader, said the protesters would not give in even if they would have to protest for months or years. He appealed for the demonstrators to exercise patience.