Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Two rallies plus two fairs equals gridlock

If the anti-Thaksin rally in front of Siam Paragon didn't totally paralyse city roads, a few more events - a rally of farmers on Silom Road, the Red Cross Fair and the national Book Fair beginning yesterday - helped create traffic chaos.

The anti-Thaksin rally "arrived" at 4pm and entirely blocked traffic on Rama I Road from Pathum Wan Intersection to Rajprasong Intersec-tion.

Police told commuters to use Phetburi Road instead. But the blocked roads had a big effect on many routes in the heart of Bangkok including Sukhumvit, Phetburi, Victory Monument, Rama IV, Sathorn and other nearby roads.

Some 17 public-bus routes that run along Rama I had to divert to other roads. Meanwhile, protesters from a network of indebted farmers obstructed traffic on Silom Road in front of the Bangkok Bank headquarters, causing gridlock from Silom Intersection to Rajprasong.

Roads around the Royal Plaza were also closed because of the Red Cross Fair.

Traffic police tried to improve things via radio stations and electronic boards at several intersections, warning commuters to avoid certain areas or use public transport instead. However, their efforts seemed to help only a little.

Police commanders flew by helicopter to inspect traffic conditions. Traffic Police Commander Maj-General Panu Kerdlappol, however, said the traffic was not as severe as predicted because people had been warned and Siam Centre, Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon were all closed.

Some tutoring schools in Siam Square had also cancelled classes to avoid a traffic log-jam, he said. But things could be worse today if the schools open, he noted.

Several offices in Central World Plaza stopped work at 3pm yesterday so workers could avoid the traffic and get home early.

But the protesters had a deeper message for commuters. Mob leader Chamlong Srimuang said: "Two days of traffic jams is a minor matter, but the nation remaining jammed up was a big problem."

Jaitana Sriwangphol, an executive at FM91 traffic radio, said the station received 50,000 phone calls yesterday asking about closed roads and diversion routes. Most said they wanted all demonstrations to end.

Police spokesman Lt-General Ajiravid Subarnbesaj said about 15,000 officers were on duty in front of Siam Paragon shopping centre and coped with the situation easily. None carried weapons.

However, police reportedly took pictures and video footage of the mob and plan to charge protest leaders for violating traffic laws. Some people filed complaints at Pathum Wan police station, accusing the protesters of creating a public nuisance.

Siam Skytrain station was forced to close last night because of the huge crowds there. Passengers had to get off at National Stadium or Chit Lom instead.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Bangkok faced heavy rain for second day

Heavy showers and howling winds whipped Bangkok for the second day on Thursday, toppling trees and tents at the Red Cross Fair around the Royal Plaza and uprooting towering trees in the Government House compound.

A tree fell over and blocked the way between the Thai Khu Fa Building, where Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was working in his office, and the New Command Building in the Government House area.

A tree in front of the press office split in two.

Several trees outside the compound's wall were blown down, blocking traffic lanes, with one crashing down on an official's car. A recently rejuvenated park in the area was severely damaged.

The Santi Asoke religious movement protesting outside Government House for the prime minister's resignation saw their tents collapse.

The tropical storm hit the capital on Thursday night, and storm conditions are expected to last sporadically for another day.

Thaveewat Ninphetcharat, head forecaster at the Meteorological Department, said yesterday that the rough conditions were caused by easterly winds from the Andaman Sea colliding with southerly winds from the Gulf of Thailand.

The ridge will linger over the inner city for another day, deluging the Thon Buri side as well as Taling Chan, Bang Phlat, Chatuchak and Sanam Luang.

Provinces in the Central region would be also affected, such as Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya and Saraburi, he said.

The hot weather would return on the weekend, he added.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Storm blacks out Bangkok

A tropical storm hit Bangkok on Tuesday night causing road accidents and blackouts, and bringing down concrete pillars along the fence at Government House.

The heavy storm hit the city and its adjacent provinces at 10.30pm and lasted about 45 minutes. Trees were felled and motorcyclists pulled over until the storm passed.

FM91 traffic radio station reported 29 car accidents on Praditmanutham Road and Kaset Nawamin flyover but no serious injuries were reported.

There were blackouts in several areas around Din Daeng, Ratchadapisek and Nonthaburi's Muang district and the winds also caused the People's Alliance for Democracy rally at Government House to end early.

A police tent at Government House was blown onto the compound's fence, causing masonry to collapse from a support pillar. The incident frightened protesters near the scene, but no one was injured.

Meteorological Department weather forecaster Charoon Laohakertchai said the storm was caused by a high-pressure system clashing with a cold front from China. The strong winds first hit the Northeast and moved southward to the Central region and Bangkok, he said.

"It's a normal storm for this time of year. It might affect Bangkok for another two days," he said.

The northern meteorological office warned that rain, high winds and hail have been forecast to hit the North since yesterday and will last until the weekend. Areas likely to be affected are Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Multiplex owners unfazed by closures

The anti-government rally that has forced the closure of three major shopping malls in Bangkok's main shopping district will only shave a few million baht off cinema ticket sales, a Major Cineplex Group executive said yesterday.

Anavach Ongvasith, chief of the Major Cineplex Group's cinema operations, said such a loss was acceptable, because it represented less than 5 per cent of the group's total theatre revenues.

"The two-day closure of Siam Paragon and Siam Discovery Centre, where we have cineplex theatres, will not greatly affect our sales," he said.

Major Cineplex operates 11 screens with seating for around 2,000 at Siam Paragon and seven screens with seating for around 1,100 at its EGV Theatre in Siam Discovery Centre.

These two venues represent only 5 per cent of all cinema seats handled by the company, which operates 300 theatre screens throughout Bangkok and upcountry, said Anavach.

"We have a strong cinema network and are in a situation where we are beyond worrying about the distribution of theatre venues. We also believe that filmgoers will move to other theatre locations to enjoy their preferred films," he said.

Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery Centre and Siam Centre remain closed today, with the anti-Thaksin protesters expected to camp out in front of the shopping malls. These three main shopping venues were also closed yesterday.

Nearby MBK Centre was open as usual, it was reported that Siam Square's three cinemas - Lido, Siam and Scala - were closed yesterday, and a number of shops facing Rama I Road were also closed.

Bangkok Bank closed its branch there, which faces the road, as protesters approached the Siam Square area at 2pm.

The bank said its Siam Square and Siam Paragon branches would remain closed today.

Around 60 per cent of Siam Square shops reportedly remained open yesterday. Among those that closed were She@Mood and Cafe Inn, which belong to caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's son Panthongtae and his friend Chalermchai Mahagitsiri. On the glass door was a sign saying: "Shop Closed to Avoid Mob".

A number of shops at Centre Point in Siam Square, including 1-2-Call, which is the prepaid business unit of Advanced Info Service Plc, were also closed.


Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

The heat's on, and so's the air con

Now that a heat wave is hitting the capital, home-owners are turning on their air-conditioners. But given the higher electricity price, which was increased again last month, households are also trying hard to keep their consumption low to minimise power bills.

One survival strategy is to turn on air-conditioners only at night for a comfortable sleep. During daytime on weekdays, people do just fine since their offices are equipped with air-conditioners.

But what about daytime during the weekend? Their option is to visit shopping centres. Any number of shops and activities await in a refreshing cool temperature.

Shopping centres are huge power consumers. Just imagine that you need a 9,000BTU air-conditioner for a 20-square-metre room - how much power do you need for a 10,000sqm mall? While a household with one air-conditioner pays about Bt1,000 a month, just imagine how much a big mall must pay in monthly electricity bills.

Given that the unbearable heat has arrived sooner than usual, city people are inclined to turn on their air-conditioners more often. So do people in rural provinces where air-conditioners are more affordable these days.

No wonder the Energy Policy and Planning Office announced that national electricity consumption had set a new historical peak yesterday. On that day, we consumed 20,745 megawatts, surpassing the old record of 20,538MW set last year.

That is ominous given that April - when temperatures rise to the annual record high - is almost upon us. Indeed, power consumption has been on the rise since January. In that month, the peak was 18,879MW, before rising to 19,696MW in February, and 20,745MW in March.

The Energy Policy and Planning Office predicted that during this year a new peak could be set, probably at 21,657MW. The office said that for every degree increase in temperature, power consumption rises by 200-300MW.

Now, the office is campaigning for all households with air-conditioners to have their cooling units cleaned, in the belief that clean air-conditioners consume less electricity. That should save power consumption all over the country, where there are six million air-conditioners.

While many shoppers and commuters are grumbling about the anti-Thaksin protests which are forcing Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery Centre and Siam Centre to shut their doors for two days, the authorities must be smiling now. The closures mean a huge cut in power consumption, considering the size of these monolithic monsters.

If the protests continue into April and the malls once again shut their doors, the 20,745MW figure will probably remain this year's champ.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Major aims for big rise in movie-goers

The Major Cineplex Group is aiming to double the frequency of visits by movie-goers to its theatre complexes this year.

The country's largest theatre operator wants to increase its ticket sales by nearly 30 per cent this year and its key business strategy is to drive attendances by movie-goers up from one or two times a month to between two and four times, said Major Cineplex Group cinema business chief, Anavach Ongvasith.

He said the plan would be supported by many aggressive marketing activities and campaigns, including Major Cineplex's M-Cash cash-card package, attractive promotional campaigns and loyalty programmes, event marketing, and the group's new "standard price" campaign which is about to introduce a ticket price of Bt80 at certain cinemas at certain times.

Major Cineplex operates more than 300 theatre screens in 36 locations.

Anavach said the group had achieved 15 per cent growth in the first quarter of this year, driven mainly by the quality of its movies.

"Many good movies hit our theatre screens in the first quarter and will for the rest of the year. Our bowling business is doing a good job, and we have higher revenue from advertising," he said.

About 200 Thai and Hollywood "blockbusters" are expected to be shown at Major Cineplex's theatres this year, 5 per cent more than last year.

Among the big films that will hit the screens during the summer holidays are "Poseidon", "Superman", "X-Men III", "Mission Impossible III" and "Ice Age II".

Meanwhile, the Major Cineplex Group announced a joint marketing campaign yesterday with Payment Solution Co Ltd, an e-payment service provider and creator of the latest financial innovation, OK Cash Card.

Under the collaboration, new designs for the card - entitled "OK Cash Fifa World Cup Card" - have been launched to mark the World Cup and to attract football fans. Electronic readers have been provided so the cash cards can be used to complete any transactions at Major Cineplex theatres.

The new card is aimed at encouraging money-transfer functions and to introduce "PayPass" technology to the Thai market.

A feature of the launch is a first prize lucky draw offering two OK Cash Fifa World Cup Card users a package tour to Germany for the quarter-final World Cup match in Dortmund. Other prizes include portable DVD players and Adidas World Cup footballs.

Payment Solution general manager Thanin Angsuwarangsi said the company had developed OK Cash Card as a prepaid card which allows customers to refill without opening an account at a commercial banks and to experience a new style of using money, instead of carrying banknotes and coins.

"With the Fifa World Cup being held every four years, we have taken the opportunity for new customer recruitment and have leveraged this event especially for Thai football lovers," Thanin said.

The company has developed five World Cup card designs representing different teams and the Golden Trophy.

Anavach said that by collaborating with Payment Solution, Major Cineplex hoped to provide greater convenience to OK Cash cardholders when buying movie tickets from VIP concession lanes at the group's theatres.


Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Erawan in major hotel tie-up with Accor

The Erawan Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the France-based Accor Group to build a network of up to 10 economy hotels under the Ibis brand in Thailand's major tourist destinations, costing between Bt300 million and Bt400 million each.

The first six locations are Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Krabi.

The companies expect the first six hotels to be built by 2008, and up to a further four to be completed by 2010. Each property will have about 200-250 rooms, said Erawan Group chief executive Kasama Punyagupta.

Accor is one of the world's leading mid-range and economy hotel operators. It already has 23 hotels in Thailand, with 13 more scheduled to open in the next two years, excluding those being built in the new Erawan alliance.

The Ibis brand, owned by Accor, is the world's most popular economy hotel brand, with more than 720 hotels around the world.

The Ibis hotel investment will from part of a broader three-year, Bt6-billion expansion programme at the Erawan Group, including two projects already announced: a five-star deluxe Six Senses resort and a four-star Courtyard by Mariott Bangkok, both due for completion next year.

The expansion plan is also likely to include one further four-star resort, which is currently under negotiation. Details should be announced soon.

"Our objective is to diversify both geographically and in terms of market segment," Kasama said. "By 2008 we aim to be a true 'proxy' of the Thai hospitality sector with a portfolio of around 12 hotels across the spectrum, from economy to five-star deluxe, in all the key travel destinations in Thailand."

To begin with, operation cash flows and efficient use of project debt will fund the company's initial investment of Bt6 million, while keeping within a medium-term debt-to-equity target ratio of 2:1, or less.

A rights and warrants issue, approved by the Erawan Group's board on Tuesday, will also support the expansion. The right issue will offer one new share for every three existing shares, at a price of Bt1 per share. It will raise Bt484 million.

For each new share, subscribers will also receive one free warrant. Two warrants will be convertible into one Erawan common share, at an exercise price of Bt2.15, in December 2007. The warrant conversion is expected to raise an additional Bt520 million in equity capital.

To support its warrants, Erawan Group reported to the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday that it would decrease its registered capital by eliminating registered shares that have not been subscribed, reducing the number of shares from Bt1.52 billion to Bt1.45 billion. Then, the company will increase its registered capital from Bt1.45 billion to Bt2.28 billion by issuing up to 826.89 million new ordinary shares at a par value of Bt1 each to support its warrant.

Michael Issenberg, managing director of Accor Asia-Pacific, said that most hotels under construction in Thailand would cater to the top end of the market, but very few were poised to cater to the fastest-growing segment, the economy sector.

The announcement comes at a time when Ibis is experiencing its fastest-ever expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. The company launched Ibis in Bangkok earlier this year, the brand is expanding in South Korea and Indonesia, and in China and India there are plans for networks of more than 20 Ibis hotels in each country, Issenberg said.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Castro revolution embraces Kingdom

Peppo Fashions Group, the local distributor of Guess and MNG-branded apparel, expects the recent launch of the Israel-based Castro brand to contribute nearly Bt100 million or 12-13 per cent to its sales this year.

Emilie Isidoro Singhabhandhu, Peppo general manager, said the company had opened first four Castro outlets last year, at the Emporium and Siam Paragon shopping complexes. Two of the stores cater to women, the other two to men.

After its success in marketing Guess and MNG, she said, Peppo was confident about Castro, a top label from Israel targeting those in the 18-22 age group.

"Peppo will bank on international and local advertising campaigns," said Emilie, adding that Peppo expects to spend a Bt70-million marketing budget on Castro this year. The budget will be spent on magazine advertisements, two fashion shows - one each for the Sping-Summer and Fall-Winter collections - and sponsorship of TV shows.

The Castro label is ranked No 1 in Israel, with more than 70 stores around the country. Thailand is the first country in Asia to market the brand.

Peppo will later look for a suitable time to seek a licence to market the label elsewhere in East Asia. Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will be the first three countries considered.

Emilie said Peppo also planned to open more outlets for the Castro products, setting up flagship stores at Central World Plaza and Central Lat Phrao with retail space of 350 square metres at each.

Its four-year plan is to have eight shops in all - in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

For the moment, the company imports only clothing and accessories such as bags. It also plans to bring in Castro jewellery by the time it opens the two flagship stores in September.

Thais represent 60 per cent of Castro's current local customer base, international customers the rest.

By adding Castro to Peppo's portfolio, Emilie expects its brands will achieve US$26 million (Bt1 billion) in sales by year-end.

Castro has 70 branches globally, including in Germany, Switzerland, Eastern Europe and Russia.


Nitida Asawanipont
The Nation

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 30 March 2006 :-

Siam Square shuts down

Siam Square, typically one of Bangkok's busiest shopping areas, was strangely quiet yesterday afternoon as shoppers and students avoided the area for fear of huge traffic jams and possible violence from the anti-Thaksin rally.

The parking lot at Siam Square, normally filled with cars, was almost empty as shop owners rushed to close their doors before 3 pm, the time that thousands of people were due to march, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Three of the largest malls in the area _ Siam Paragon, Siam Centre and Siam Discovery _ shut for a two-day period for safety reasons.


Siam Square is oddly quiet yesterday afternoon as customers largely avoided the area on traffic concerns ahead of the massive anti-Thaksin protests. — SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

''We've just closed the shop as we are worried about the chaos,'' a shop owner said from his store on the ground floor of Siam Theatre.

He said he planned to watch the rally with other vendors, and expected that over 80% of the shops in the area would close.

But some could resume operations today, assuming that protests remained peaceful.

Banks in the area, including Bangkok Bank and the Bank of Ayudhaya, also closed their branches in the area for the protests.

Vendors by the Lido Theatre, two blocks away from Siam Theatre, and shops near Chulalongkorn University, were in a different mood. They stayed open but weren't trading.

''I have not sold even a single product, but I have no plans to close the shop. I am waiting for a decision from my boss,'' Daranee, an employee, said yesterday.

Many shops on Soi 2 of Siam Square were closed, including two stores owned by the son of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

One street vendor said that several shops along the soi had also closed, partly over fear of possible violence near Panthongtae Shinawatra's stores She

[U-Need]

CHIANG MAI, March 31 (TNA) – A rally of the former opposition Democrat Party staged with aim to explain to local people of this northern province a reason behind its boycott of the upcoming snap election turned virtually chaotic on Thursday night when the rally site was disrupted by hundreds of protestors.

A source said the protestors turned up on the Nimmanhaemint Road in Muang District and in adjacent areas of the convention hall of Chiang Mai University, the rally site of the Democrat Party.

The protestors raised banners attacking the Democrat Party and leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the coalition campaigning for anti-Thaksin movement.

They hanged puppets imaging media firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul and Maj. Gen Chamlong Srimuang, core members of PAD, and former opposition leaders Abhisit Vejjajiva on wooden poles and allowed participating bystanders to curse and hit them before setting afire on the road.

At the same time, another group of protestors marched to the Chiang Mai International Airport to protest against the arrival of Mr. Abhisit and the Democrat Party’s chief advisor Chuan Leekpai.

At 7.25 p.m. the protestors broke into the rally site and rushed to the stage where Mr. Abhisit was delivering a speech giving a reason why the party boycotted the election.

Some protestors always shouted with curses and booed in front of the stage to interrupt the speech, forcing the Democrat leader to cancel the address and abruptly get down from the stage along with the party’s executives. (TNA) – E005

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 31 March 2006 :-

Small losses for malls, big windfall for skytrain and food vendors

The rally at Siam Square on Wednesday caused only a slight amount of damage to big retailers in the form of lost sales, but generated record one-day revenue for the skytrain and a windfall for food shops along the route.

The 18-hour demonstration inflicted less-than-expected losses on the three giant retailers in the area - Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery.

Phaibul Kanokvatanawan, executive vice-president of the Mall Group, which operates Siam Paragon, said all three shopping complexes reported about 100 million baht in lost sales, during the peak spending period of a month.

But he was still worried that shoppers would maintain a negative sentiment on the situation.

''Apart from lost sales, no damage was done to our fresh products, which had been moved to the remaining retail outlets in our group,'' he said.

He hoped that the political standoff would ease soon so that people's shopping mood would improve.

To stimulate sales in the short term, the company will relaunch its Paragon Midnight Phenomenon campaign during April 5-9 and expected to rake in sales of about 200 million baht.

However, sales of Siam Paragon Department Store were projected to decline slightly in the first quarter from an earlier projection of 2.7 billion baht, mainly due to stricter controls on non-bank loans and higher interest rates.

But consolidated sales of The Mall Group, which in addition to Siam Paragon comprises The Mall and The Emporium, were estimated to increase year-on-year by 30% to around 12-14 billion baht in the first quarter of this year.

While the big stores suffered losses from the closure, small vendors and food-restaurant chains enjoyed a windfall during the rally.

A worker at Chester's Grill's Siam branch said sales surged by 50% to 150,000 baht on Wednesday. Other shops also quickly sold out their food.

Meanwhile, the rally drove skytrain riders to a record one-day high of 546,597, which translated into fare-box revenue of 11.5 million baht.

According to Anat Abhabirama, an adviser to the board of Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC), the skytrain operator, the number beat the latest record set on Dec 9 last year, the official opening day of Siam Paragon, when the number of passengers totalled 537,328, generating 11 million baht.

The skytrain currently carries about 430,000 passengers per day, with revenue of about eight to nine million baht. According to Mr Anat, the average number of skytrain users is expected to increase to 450,000 per day by the end of this year.

[U-Need]

BANGKOK, March 31 (TNA) - Most eligible voters are likely to exercise their right in the April 2 general election, according to a recent survey.

The survey, conducted by Rangsit University from March 28-29, found that 45.4 per cent of voters interviewed in Bangkok and 11 other provinces in all parts of Thailand said they would cast their ballots on the Sunday's election, but would abstain from voting for any candidate or party.

Nearly 20 per cent of the respondents revealed that they would still vote for the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, while 4.5 per cent wanted to vote for other parites and 10.9 per cent opted not to express any opinion.

Asked for the premiership of Mr. Thaksin, 57.5 per cent said the caretaker premier should not return to office, while 23.1 per cent supported him to continue to head the government.

Nearly 50 per cent said they agreed with an idea to seek His Majesty the King's intervention for a royally-appointed prime minister, while nearly 27 per cent disagreed with the idea.

When asked for their opinions on transparency of the election, most of the respondents anticipated that it would not be a clean and fair poll as desired, while only 6.5 per cent said it should be transparent.

The majority of the respondents, or nearly 70 per cent, believed the country's current political turmoil would not end after the snap election, while 14.1 per cent was optimistic that it would end and 17.6 per cent reserved not to give any comment.

The pollsters interviewed the voters in Bangkok, as well as those in Samut Prakan, Chonburi, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. (TNA)--E002

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 31 March 2006 :-

Protest to carry on this week, says PAD

The People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday denied saying it was taking a one-week break from its battle to oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and vowed to continue rallying near Government House until he quits. PAD protest leader Chamlong Srimuang said the alliance had never announced a halt to its anti-Thaksin demonstrations, but would hold rallies continually before and after the snap election on Sunday.

''The rallies by the PAD will continue but be downsized to a small stage for public addresses in front of Government House. Leaders will take turns to deliver speeches daily until the big rally on April 7. The demonstrators will never disband,'' the former Palang Dharma Party leader said.

He said the April 7 rally at the Makkawan bridge would draw a huge crowd as the Sunday poll was illegitimate and designed to whitewash Mr Thaksin. He predicted the election would lead to disaster.

Another PAD leader Somkiat Pongpaiboon said the rally-goers, especially those from other provinces, would stay on and their leaders would gather in front of the Election Commission headquarters until this morning.

Leading PAD member Pibhop Dhongchai confirmed that the anti-Thaksin protests would continue, but admitted it was impossible for the crowds to gather at Siam Square again in spite of a favourable response.

Adviser to the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc Anat Abhabirama said the number of BTS skytrain passengers on Wednesday during the rally at Siam Square reached 540,000, hitting a six-year high since its late-1999 opening and bringing in 11 million baht in revenue compared to about nine million baht a day normally.

Meanwhile, 80 people claiming to be vendors at the Red Cross Fair yesterday protested and urged PAD rally-goers to steer clear of roads outside Government House during the fair, but Maj-Gen Chamlong refused for safety reasons.

An argument followed and the vendors threatened to bring 10,000 more people there and alert the city police.

Academics and businessmen who attended a debate on ''Post-Thaksin: Thailand's Salvation'' were unanimous that political, social and economic chaos would follow the snap election.

Somboon Siriprachai, lecturer of Thammasat University's faculty of economics, said economists worried that the country would lack financial discipline and most state spending would be made without parliamentary approval if Mr Thaksin was re-elected.

The government had failed to improve the tax structure and ease income disparities between the rich and poor.

Yanyong Pongpanich of Phatra Securities Plc said deep-rooted conflicts in society would affect major policies badly. The anti-Thaksin movement would morph into anti-capitalism, anti-globalisation and anti-privatisation activism although Thailand still needed capital and technology from abroad.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 31 March 2006 :-

MILITARY CONSCRIPTION / TRANSEXUAL RIGHTS : Army scraps insensitive labelling

The army yesterday promised trans-gendered people that it will no longer label them as people with a ''mental disorder'' in this year's conscription process, which starts tomorrow.

Chalermpol Thammasunthorn, head of the Military Operation Division, Department of Reserve Command, said the army has told conscription committees nationwide of the change in terminology.

''We've told the committees to be aware of the sensitivity of the issue, and that they must be more careful when dealing with this group,'' Col Chalermpol told a forum organised by the National Human Rights Commission.

The rights agency said it received petitions from transgendered people who complained that such labelling, which was imposed to grant them exemption from military service, violated their human rights.

''The first case we heard was that of Nong Tum or Parinya Charoenpol, the boxer-cum-movie star,'' said human rights commissioner Naiyana Suphapueng.

Another case was Namwan, or Samart Meecharoen, 22, a university student who was called for army conscription last year.

Ms Namwan said her Sor-Dor 43 document said she had a ''permanent mental disorder''.

''At first I felt nothing, just relieved that I didn't have to join the army, only to realise later that such labelling causes problems,'' she said.

No employers wanted to hire her as a result.

''Now I worry about my career. Will it be difficult to get a job? What kind of work will I get?'' she said.

Chantalak Raksayoo, of the Network for Protection of the Rights of People with Sexual Variations, said the World Health Organisation defined homosexuality as a kind of sexual variation, not a mental disorder.

However, she admitted more work needs to be done to change public attitudes, and the law.

Col Chalermpol said the change was an immediate solution to the problem, adding the army would find other ways to give the group military exemption, such as citing their unusual chest size or abnormal chest structure before changing army regulations to ensure that the group's rights were protected.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 31 March 2006 :-

Firms vie for British Embassy land : LH or Gaysorn may pay up to B1m/sq wah

Two local-foreign partnerships have reached the final round of bidding for what could prove to be Thailand's most expensive piece of land, according to industry sources.

Land & Houses Plc, and its partner, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, will be competing with G.S. Property Management, the operator of the Gaysorn luxury mall, and its partner Hong Kong Land. Other heavyweights, including TCC Land, backed by liquor billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, failed to make the cut.

The nine-rai site in front of the British Embassy on Ploenchit Road could fetch as much as one million baht per square wah, say industry executives. That would far outstrip prices paid for prime land on Silom and Sathorn roads, which have been known to fetch between 200,000 and 400,000 baht per square wah.

Two years ago a plot of land on Sathorn Road belonging to the United States Information Services (USIS) fetched 260,000 baht per square wah at an auction.

It was purchased by Singapore's Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) and is being developed into a high-end condominium, The Met.

''Yes, we have bid for the project and I cannot disclose the details as I still want to abide by the confidentiality agreement that we have with the sellers,'' said Charn Srivikorn, chairman of G.S. Property Management.

Adisorn Thananan-narapool, senior executive vice president of LH, declined to reveal the price his company had offered but said the minimum price in the preliminary phase was around 700,000 baht per square wah.

But sources in the industry say the figure is likely rise to one million baht per square wah, putting the value of the land at a staggering 3.6 billion baht.

CB Richard Ellis is acting as the agent for the deal and Alan Mayland, a senior management officer at the British Embassy, is co-ordinating matters on behalf of the embassy.

Both parties declined to give any details about the auction except to say that a decision would be made soon.

LH is bidding under a company called Royal Excellency, which is 60% owned by the Thai developer and 40% by Singapore's GIC, which has various investments with LH in offices and residential buildings.

If it succeeds, LH has said that it plans to invest around 13.5 billion baht in the plot over four years to develop three kinds of property: a serviced apartment building, an office building and a hotel, on 150,000 square metres.

Developers had shown a keen interest in the plot due to its close proximity to the Central Chidlom shopping complex, the Ploenchit BTS Skytrain station and the expressway.

Earlier reports have suggested that the funds would be used by the British government to refurbish other embassies around the globe.

The British government bought the 27-rai plot in 1922 for 110,000, or 7.411 million baht in today's money, in what was then considered to be a remote part of Bangkok.

''There's no better location than this in the heart of the city and most of the buyers are willing to pay a premium for this plot,'' Mr Adisorn said.

''We plan to build a whole complex of things there, an office, serviced apartments and some retail.''

Although the results of the sale are to be announced next month, the winner won't be able to work on the project for at least two years because the embassy needs time to build a new complex and move its operations.

''We [along with HK Land] are taking a long-term view of this plot. We do not expect it to yield good returns in the first few years but in the long run it is going to offer good returns,'' Mr Charn said.