Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 27 April 2006 :-

TWZ heads new firm with Haier : Makaranan, TIGA other partners

After a shaky start setting up in Thailand, the world's fourth largest electrical appliance manufacturer, Haier, is trying to penetrate the market through joint ventures with Thai partners. Haier, which recorded US$12.8 billion in sales worldwide last year, expected these enterprises to help the Chinese company boost its market presence in the kingdom.

James L.N. Chau, managing director of Haier Group (Asia), said a similar joint venture strategy was recently carried out in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore to make its products easier for customers to reach.

The strategy is expected to help boost the proportion of Haier sales in Asia to 30% of total sales in 2007, up from 10% last year. Similar joint ventures would be formed in Indonesia, the Philippines and Dubai.

Haier Business (Thailand) Co, the new Thai-Chinese joint-venture firm, was set up last week with registered capital of 20 million baht.

TWZ, a leading telecommunication device distributor, holds a 51% stake in the company, with the Haier Group (Asia) 20%, Makaranan 19% and TIGA, the famous cartoon-character copyright holder, 10%.

Haier will not only distribute home appliance products through Haier Business (Thailand), but also IT and telecommunication products.

The firm will start to distribute Haier products next month through its 332 modern retail outlets, IT store chains and electrical-appliance dealers nationwide.

Haier established itself in Thailand in 2002 through another joint venture with SET-listed Distar Electric Corp Plc. It set up Haier Electrical Appliance (Thailand) to market home appliances and audio-visual products.

Mr Chau did not reveal a clear role for the two companies, but it was understood that both companies would support each other.

Haier Business (Thailand) would likely focus on distribution, with the other firm in charge of marketing and brand building.

A clear business policy was set to be announced soon.

Puttachart Rangkasiri, managing director of TWZ Corporation Plc, said the company had joined hands with Haier because it saw a good opportunity in the Thai electrical appliance market.

The combined market size of mobile phones, IT and electrical appliances in Thailand was estimated to be worth about 100 billion baht a year.

''Thai consumers accept Asian brands. Haier is now recognised in the international market, with its strength in research and development,'' Mr Puttachart said.

Moreover, TIGA would help the company add value to its products and leverage business with the use of its cartoon characters in the content bundle, product design and marketing.

Makaranan meanwhile would help provide support with investment.

Mr Chau said he was certain that the new firm would be a success because its partners had experience in Thailand's electrical market.

''Our formula for success in other countries can also be shared and modified to help ensure success here,'' Mr Chau said.

Taweesak Kriengkraikiat, managing director of Haier Electrical Appliances (Thailand) Co, which also distributes Haier appliances in Thailand, said its parent firm in China would spend millions of dollars worldwide building its brand image among the younger generation.

It aims to sponsor the upcoming MTV Asia Awards 2006, at Siam Paragon Shopping Centre on May 6.

The campaign will feature the company's flagship LCD line.

''With the MTV campaign, Haier products will be well accepted in Thailand similar to how they are in the United States, where it has its own factory and competes against famous local names,'' Mr Taweesak said.

Haier products sold in the Thai market include TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, wine chillers and air-conditioners. Sales this year are expected to double to over one billion baht.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 28 April 2006 :-

Judges feel poll not legitimate : Joint courts to decide on jurisdiction today
The Supreme Court judges think the April 2 elections were not legitimate, but believe it is up to the Supreme Administrative Court to decide whether to nullify the results at a much-anticipated meeting today, a source said yesterday.

The findings, the result of yesterday's meeting of the 234 judges, will be put forth at today's meeting of top judges to end the political crisis, said the source.

The elections were deemed to lack legitimacy from the beginning with the House of Representatives being dissolved for political reasons, the source said. The polls were organised in haste and the electoral process was flawed with ballot booths rearranged in a way that cost the voters their privacy.

The judges agreed the election results should be voided and believed the Administrative Court should have the honour of making the ruling because it is stipulated in the act governing the court that disputes stemming from a royal decree should be settled by the Administrative Court.

''The Supreme Court can support the court. It will look into legal matters to help the Administrative Court make a correct ruling,'' said the source.

However, Supreme Court secretary Virat Chinvinitkul said the Supreme Court was ready to act to quickly end the impasse.

''The Supreme Court is ready to rule if the Constitution Court and the Administrative Court decide they have no authority to make decisions,'' he said.

Declining to discuss the matter in detail, he said the unprecedented meeting of the judges from the three courts was likely to provide answers to legal questions, including which agency was authorised to rule on the elections.

The majority of judges in the Constitution Court are, however, against invalidation of the April 2 general election, feeling it will only prolong the political uncertainty.

A source in the court said most judges at yesterday's meeting thought revocation presented no solution to the political stalemate. Dwelling on the past by claiming the royal decrees governing the House dissolution and the April 2 general election were problematic would only add to the confusion. The judges also thought MPs-elect would probably object to the polls being cancelled.

A court injunction alone would not break the deadlock because the problem was too complex to be tackled purely on the basis of law, the judges said.

A long-term solution rested with meaningful political reform via constitutional amendments, they said.

The judges recommended the Constitution, Supreme and Administrative courts form a panel to iron out reform issues to pave the way for a new general election in six months.

The new poll would still be supervised by the Election Commission although an election court should be created to balance the commission's power in adjudicating poll disputes.

The special court would help recover the loss of public trust in the EC's handling of polls.

The judges added that while the charter was being rewritten, the opposition and the government must sign a joint declaration agreeing to the post-reform election rules.

They must also allow the present batch of MPs to do their work for six months.

A Constitution Court judge, who declined to be named, said the suggestion should satisfy all parties.

The court panel should present a better alternative than the reform proposal floated by the Thai Rak Thai party which would take longer to materialise.

Constitution Court judge Pan Chantarapan, who chaired yesterday's meeting, said the judges looked at the options available for easing the effects of the election fall-out, election flaws and the EC's authority.

The judges' proposals would be put forward at a joint of meeting of the presidents of the Administrative Court and the Supreme Court.

Mr Pan said that no complaints had been lodged with the Constitution Court seeking to revoke the April 2 polls. His court's recommendations to ease the crisis were non-confrontational and would hopefully comply with people's wishes, he added.

Akarathon Chularat, president of the Supreme Administrative Court, said today's meeting would discuss each court's scope of power and responsibility. ''It doesn't mean that we will issue a resolution forcing people to comply. The bottom line is each court must do its job.''

Mr Akarathon said the court is authorised to consider the cases that are under its responsibility.

At today's meeting will be 12 Supreme Court judges, two Administrative Court judges and four Constitution Court judges.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 28 April 2006 :-

PAD vows to accept judges' proposals : Tuesday rally set to be last mass gathering

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday said that it would accept proposed solutions to the political turmoil emerging from the meeting of top judges today. ''I will await the judiciary's solution. Since they have responded to His Majesty the King's advice, I believe the judges will seek ways to solve the crisis,'' said PAD co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul.

''We will respect any recommendations given by them.''

The PAD's Tuesday rally will be its last mass gathering, but Mr Sondhi vowed that more large protests would be held if the Thai Rak Thai party and the Election Commission (EC) managed to avoid the courts' proposals, he said.

PAD leaders said the Tuesday rally at Sanam Luang was being held to urge the public to heed His Majesty's advice and to show their trust in and support for the judiciary.

It was previously intended that the rally would address the caretaker government's inability to convene the House of Representatives.

Last Tuesday, the King spoke to judges of the Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court at Klai Kangwon Palace, urging them to uphold democracy and end the crisis.

The country has been in political deadlock over efforts to fill the 500-seat lower house since the April 2 snap election.

''This is to acknowledge and pay heed to the King's remarks. It also expresses our intention to the courts that the PAD supports them in resolving the political turmoil,'' said Mr Sondhi.

He slammed the caretaker government's recent attempt to convene the House as an effort to ''play tricks once again'', adding that it should do nothing and wait for the courts' direction.

''The Thai Rak Thai party and the Election Commission are moving against the three courts by pushing for the elections to be done and the House to convene,'' he said.

PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said all parties, including the caretaker government and the EC, should await the courts' direction.

He said it was wrong for the EC to stand firm on its decision to go ahead with holding the by-elections on April 29. ''They cannot be conducted any more because the structure of the problem still exists,'' he said.

He said the courts' involvement was a good sign because the judiciary is a power respected by society and an institution which people rely on.

He said the courts' move would probably help escalate the political reform process in a more constructive way.

''We still have to wait and see if the courts will come up with a decision to nullify the elections or if there will be mention of political reform,'' he said.

However, the PAD's core leaders said their work to educate the public on political reform would be carried out continuously through their networks.

Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, another PAD leader, said the PAD would not be dismantled because the foundations of the crisis _ Mr Thaksin's lack of morality _ still exist.

Somkiat Pongpaiboon, another core member, said that after learning the courts' decision civic movements for political reform, using new mechanisms and rules, would be pushed further to reach into rural areas.

''We believe that the Election Commission, as the old mechanism, cannot solve national crises,'' he said

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 28 April 2006 :-

Thieves prey on Ayutthaya landmark temples

Ayutthaya - Ancient artifacts have been looted from many landmark temples in Ayutthaya, but police appear to have made little headway in finding the thieves. Items stolen recently include an ancient Buddha statue and the heads of two other Buddha images.

Gangs of thieves have ransacked centuries-old stupas and temples and made off with antiquities, some of them priceless, in the ancient Thai capital.

Police have been criticised for their failure to catch the thieves.

Phra Poy Kijrakkho, 83, of Wat Kruttharam in tambon Klongsabua in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, said a gang of thieves broke into the temple's main chapel yesterday and stole a bronze Buddha statue measuring nine inches wide, and two heads of stone Buddha statues.

The stolen items date back to the period when Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam, and are more than 400 years old.

Phra Poy said the thieves also took an ornate bronze bowl, measuring 36cm in height and 61cm in diameter.

The bowl was embellished with a traditional Siamese floral motif. It was fitted with ears in the shape of the singha - a mythical animal in Thai folklore.

It was one of twin bowls made by a former abbot of the temple in 1820, during the early Rattanakosin era. The other bowl is now kept at the Chao Sam Phraya national museum in Ayutthaya.

Phra Poy believed the thieves belonged to a gang which had earlier invaded his living quarters and taken away his ancient Buddha image.

Early in February, the gang also stole many treasured Buddha images from the quarters of the former abbot, who died recently, said the monk.

The monk said the temple had been raided by various gangs at least three times but so far police had failed to track down and arrest the thieves.

Pranom Yaemyim, 72, along with other villagers, went to pray in the chapel in the hope that the stolen objects would be retrieved and returned to the temple.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 28 April 2006 :-

Central wins bid for most valuable land

Central Retail Corporation (CRC), the country's largest retail chain, has won the bid for the British Embassy land, which has been touted as the most valuable plot in Thailand. An industry source said CRC beat Land & Houses Plc in the final round of bidding with an offer of more than 900,000 baht per square wah, or three billion baht, for the prime nine-rai plot on the corner of Wireless and Phloen Chit roads, while the latter proposed 880,000 baht.

In the first round, LH offered more than CRC at 830,000 baht per square wah with a proposal to build accommodation for embassy staff and compensate for its relocation over the next two years.

Executives at CRC declined to disclose details, saying the embassy would officially announce the outcome.

However, an informed source at the Central Group of Companies said there were plans to turn the plot into a first-class commercial project, with a shopping area, serviced apartments or hotel and an entertainment anchor.

''With the tough retail competition, Central Chidlom needs to expand and if it can do this, it will be able to satisfy growing consumer requirements. Central Chidlom and the new development will become a one-stop shopping destination in Phloen Chit,'' he said.

At present, Central Chidlom has limited space to stage marketing events and a long list of retail tenants who want to open outlets there.

Central Chidlom leases a one-rai plot from the Kamol Sukosol Group for parking space, which would be in jeopardy if the lease cannot be renewed.

The source said Central Chidlom had a variety of customers, and must have various brand names to serve everyone.

The new shopping development on embassy land would include a number of international brand names for fashion apparel to food and leather products.

In another development, Kobchai Chirathivat, the president of Central Pattana Plc, the group's property development arm, confirmed that CentralWorld would open on June 30, on schedule.

The company was confident that CentralWorld would be a success despite the economic slowdown and the impact of soaring oil prices and interest rates.

During the 1997-98 crisis, Mr Kobchai said, consumers still chose to shop at leading retail sites. Sales of CPN dropped only 5% during the 1997 recession.

He added that CentralWorld, which offered a variety of products and services, would remain attractive even if it opened in a weak economic environment.

He said CentralWorld was about 90% complete and 92% of the space was already booked by retailers. Overall construction was set to be be completed by the end of this year and in the next two years for its 55-storey hotel.

When all outlets are completed, its total space will amount to 550,000 square metres. Of the total, about 20% has been reserved by retail outlets under the Central Group.Wallaya Chirathivat, executive vice-president for business development at CPN, said the company would spend 300 million baht in the first year of operations to promote the project. A similar budget would also be spent the following year.

She expected there would be about 150,000 shoppers per day, earning the company 140 billion baht each year.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 28 April 2006 :-

The Scenic Bridge: ‘Fuzi’s just rambling...’

KUALA LUMPUR: No one is being spared Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s venom these days — not even Tan Sri Fuzi Abdul Razak, the seasoned, mild-mannered and respected diplomat.

In the latest instalment of his attack on the Government for scrapping the plan to build the bridge to replace the Causeway, the former prime minister took issue with Fuzi’s comprehensive defence of that decision on April 25.

He called the explanation rambling and unconvincing. convincing at all.

“Tan Sri Fuzi’s rambling explanation about the bridge serves only to convince that the Government’s priority and intention is to sell sand to Singapore. If it is not allowed to do so, then Malaysia will not get its bridge,” said Dr Mahathir in a 16-point statement.

The ambassador-at-large had said that scrapping the bridge was the best option given the strong opposition to Malaysia selling sand to the republic and allowing the use of Malaysian airspace by Singapore’s air force.

The first option was to proceed with negotiations to reach a deal with mutual benefits.

Based on Singapore’s immediate needs, Fuzi said, Malaysia would have had to lift the ban on the export of sand and reinstate the use of Malaysian airspace.

But public opinion in Malaysia indicated these concessions were seen as giving away too much in exchange for a new bridge.

The second option was to proceed with a scenic half-bridge within Malaysia, that would join the Singapore’s half part of the 80-year-old Causeway. But this required getting consulting Singapore’s to get its approval to relocate water pipelines, which could lead to a request for a balance of benefits.

Option three was to unilaterally build a half-bridge that could eventually be linked to become a full scenic bridge with Singapore. But this would have resulted in endless political bickering and legal wrangle.

The fourth option — not to proceed with a new bridge — was the Government’s best choice after much deliberation.

Tun Dr Mahathir said that his reading of the Wayleave Agreement signed between both countries showed that there was no specific provision for Singapore’s approval before relocating the Public Utilities Board water pipelines.

He noted that there had been many alterations to the Causeway and pipelines in the past without any objection from Singapore or Malaysia.

Tun He also Dr Mahathir called attention to a letter he received from former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong stating that he had no objections if Malaysia intended to replace its side of the Causeway with a bridge.

“Thus a unilateral decision became bilateral when Singapore acceded and accepted. Any change must similarly be agreed to by both sides,” he said.

In his statement, Fuzi had put Goh’s statement in its proper context. He noted that Goh had written a subsequent letter to withdraw that concession after Dr Mahathir signalled intention to call off talks on the package of issues and concentrate on settling the niggling question of water supply.

Goh wrote: “With the termination of the package negotiations, the underlying basis for the statements in the letter of 11 April 11, 2002 no longer exists.”

Dr Mahathir said that when Singapore stated that it wanted sand and airspace, it was adding conditions to what had been decided by him and Goh.

Malaysia should have rejected the new conditions. He argued that by aborting the plan to build a bridge plan, Malaysia had tacitly agreed to Singapore unilaterally changing what had been decided.

between him and Goh.

If Malaysia was uncertain of its right, the proper thing would have been to refer the matter to arbitration or take the issue to court.

“It gave in supposedly because the Malaysian legal authorities believe Singapore is in the right. It would be interesting to read the grounds for the Attorney-General to conclude that Singapore has what amounts to extra-territorial rights and Malaysia has no sovereign right within its own territorial waters.” he said.

Dr Mahathir said that he did not believe that Singapore would refuse to allow the half- bridge to connect with its Singapore’s side of the Causeway. “That would certainly constitute an unfriendly act. It would be tantamount to Singapore cutting its nose to spite its face.” he said.

************************************************** ************************************************** ***

'Main points of contention:'

* Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says that he informed the then Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong that Malaysia intended to build a half bridge to replace the Causeway.

Goh said that he would accept that decision, though he did not think that it was ideal.

Mahathir took this to mean that he had Singapore’s agreement to build a bridge, since the exchange between both of them was in writing.

* Tan Sri Fuzi put Goh’s letter in context. He noted that following Goh’s letter, Dr Mahathir wrote to the Singapore PM and said: "I think we have now come to a point where it would be important for us to prioritise our discussions.

"The approach that both sides have adopted so far in dealing with the outstanding issues in a package has not yielded any meaningful results.

"In view of this, Malaysia has now decided to discontinue the package approach and to give the highest priority to first resolving the long-delayed water issue, particularly the price of raw water.

"Once this issue is satisfactorily and amicably resolved, I am confident that Malaysia and Singapore would be able to move forward much faster in finding solutions to the other outstanding issues that stand in the way of our bilateral relations."

After receiving this letter from Dr Mahathir, Goh replied that he had decided to withdraw the concession Singapore was prepared to make as part of trade-offs involving the bridge and related issues.

In a diplomatic note, Singapore explained that the agreement given by Goh was "made in the context of the then ongoing negotiations between the two Governments as an overall package of bilateral issues.

"With the termination of the package negotiations, the underlying basis for the statements in the letter of 11 April 2002 no longer exists.

[KatoeyLover69]

[QUOTE=KatoeyLover69]Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 28 April 2006 :-

The Scenic Bridge: ‘Fuzi’s just rambling...’

KUALA LUMPUR: No one is being spared Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s venom these days — not even Tan Sri Fuzi Abdul Razak, the seasoned, mild-mannered and respected diplomat.

Sorry, posted in the WRONG thread .....................

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 28 April 2006 :-

Bangkokians spend more carefully

City residents have begun to change their spending behavior in light of a continued hike in fuel prices, according to a survey by the Kasikorn Research Center.

The survey conducted with a spending behavior of a random sample of 505 people during April 10-23 found more opted to save spending on unnecessary goods.

They viewed surging oil prices had pressed production costs to increase, which made it necessary for producers to raise product prices.

Most people surveyed said they turned to spend more carefully since they felt uncertain about the economic conditions and the safety of lives and properties.

The survey showed the fresh and instant food businesses had benefited from the spending behavior change as more city residents turned to have instant and semi-instant foods.

They paid more attention to competitive prices than brand name when they decided to buy products. Some opted to count on public buses rather than private cars and turned to install natural gas for vehicle (NGV) equipment.

The herbal business also had benefited as more city residents preferred using herbs.

The survey found the food and beverage and restaurant businesses had been affected as more city residents reduced or stopped eating outside or having a party with friends.

They also reduced consuming luxuries and expensive products, and spending on tour, entertainment and services businesses.

To ease impacts of surging oil prices, they wanted the government to help control the product price and service increase, improve and enhance efficiency of public buses, reduce income taxes, and reduce production costs of producers, according to the survey.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 29 April 2006 :-

Little India of Bangkok
: A Sikh temple and a market in a corner of Bangkok evoke memories of everything that travellers associate with the Indian subcontinent

Story and photos by Yvonne Bohwongprasert

The aromatic smell of spices and freshly cooked breads told me I was heading in the right direction, towards the Indian district of Pahurat, better known as Bangkok's Little India.

A short walk from Chinatown, it is home to a thriving Indian community made up largely of Hindus and Sikh who have been living there for generations, actually since Pahurat Road was constructed in 1898 and named after Somdet Chaofah Pahurat Maneemai, the son of King Rama V.

Pahurat is where tailors come to buy raw materials - cloth, buttons, zips and so forth. And not only them, if you suddenly have the urge to print one thousand invitation cards this is the place to be.

Walking the lanes and by-lanes of this enchanting community, I discovered that Pahurat's residents are predominantly Sikh. I heard them speak Punjabi, Thai and other Indian dialects. In the back lanes, the strains of Indian music and the savoury aroma of Indian food filled the afternoon air.

It is a well known fact that the best and most affordable Indian cuisine, sweets, clothes, jewellery and accessories can be found here. The Pahurat market on Chakraphet Road attracts both Thai and overseas visitors.

Besides the mouth-watering samosas (curry puff) sold at the corner of Soi Pratu Lek Yai near the old ATM department store, you can purchase textiles, statues and pictures of Indian deities, CDs, VCDs, bracelets, trinkets and sandals. What's more fascinating is that the area behind Pahurat Road, measuring about 200m by 100m, is packed with stalls selling more of what's displayed on the main streets.

The atmosphere invokes curiosity. So I set out to discover how Little India came about and the role religion played in shaping the lifestyle of its residents.

Since most of the residents are Sikh, I started at the Sri Guru Singh Sabha, a six-storey Sikh temple in the heart of the community.

The temple- a white building trimmed in golden yellow and topped off with a glittering golden dome - dates back to 1932. The top floor houses religious scriptures and a reading hall. It has since undergone several renovations and is reputed to be one of the largest Sikh temples outside India. Gutted by fire, the ATM department store next to it is undergoing a major overhaul so the lane leading to the temple is in a rather messy state.

At the temple, I was introduced to Surin Gulati- a long time parishioner and second generation Thai-Indian. He said, "Very much like the Little Indias in other countries, the one in Bangkok took form because Indians generally like to live with their own kind of people. People from other backgrounds will not understand their culture and traditions."

Living near a place of worship is also key to the way Indians conduct themselves, he said. At first there were a large number of Thai-Indians residing around the temple. As their number grew, they began relocating to other areas of the city.

Pahurat is popular for its merchandise that is imported from India. Both Sikhs and Hindus go there to buy goodies and other essential items. Surin said the Sikhs migrated here from the Indian states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Pakistan-occupied Punjab in search of greener pastures. Today many of them are in the textile business in Sampheng and Pahurat districts, but the younger generation are branching out to pursue their own interests and talents.

Asked why Indians have a reputation for being in the textile business, Surin explained that in the past owning a cloth shop in Sampheng was considered prestigious. Since then it has become a trend.

Housewife Rani Bedi, who lives within a stone's throw from the temple, said that religion is an integral part of an Indian's day to day life. What's more, the temple serves as a venue for both prayers and fellowship. The place of worship is open to everyone.

Sikhs are also big on charity work. Two hundred boxes of vegetarian food from a communal kitchen (langar) in the temple compound is given out to people every day at the Old Siam Plaza, a spacious shopping centre with old colonial design that's in stark contrast to the congestion just across the street.

Being a first-time visitor, I found it interesting observing the congregation of Sikh men with long beards and turbans, and women in traditional costume, their head draped in shawl, listening to the holy scriptures read by a priest.

A second-generation Thai-Indian, Rani has lived in the Pratu Lek area for three decades. Like many Sikhs born in Thailand, she speaks fluent Thai and Punjabi. But I was curious to know if she felt more Thai or Indian. Breaking into a smile, she said that a good part of her felt Thai, largely because she grew up here and had formed close friendships with Thai people. However, her Sikh faith and traditions, which have to an extent become more flexible over the years, made her feel connected to India.

She has observed some major changes in the lifestyle of people living in her community. One of them is the frequency with which women are allowed to refuse marriage proposals, and the liberty to work outside their home.

It is also getting more acceptable for Indian men to marry Thai women, although the same can't be said of women, who are still expected to marry a man from their own race. What has not changed is the fervour with which Thais of Indian origin follow their traditions in their daily life. Most people prefer to live together - the uncles, aunts and grandparents live under the same roof. Still a constant fixture are the ritual evening tea with the elders, and dropping by to a neighbour's house for a quick chat before retiring for the day.

Watching Indian DVD movies and listening to music is also a favourite pastime. That is why the Indian market is an integral part of their daily lives. Incense sticks, myrrh, and other items that Indians offer to appease their gods and goddesses can be found here.

The walking tour of Little India was an eventful experience for it gave me an insight into the Indian way of life in Thailand and appreciate the differences found in our society. I must say Pahurat truly offers the tastes, smells and sights of enchanting India on Thai soil.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 29 April 2006 :-

Suvarnabhumi Airport 'unlikely to open in July 2006' : Deputy minister finds 'very serious' flaws

Suvarnabhumi airport is unlikely to open in July, as Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal earlier said it would, due to time-consuming work and repairs that need to be carried out, according to his deputy Gen Chainant Charoensiri. Gen Chainant guided civil engineers from the Air Force and the Supreme Command at the new Bangkok airport yesterday and he said he could see ''very serious'' problems in the construction thanks to the surprise visit.

He found that 95 out of 102 sheets of roofing fabric on concourse buildings had to be corrected and only two of them had been finished. Of the 95 sheets, 14 must be replaced and the rest repaired.

Staff of ITO Joint Venture, the contractor, reported that the roofing would need at least six months to finish because the fabric would take about three weeks for replacement and a month for repairs, Gen Chainant said.

His delegation also found a number of cracks on the floors of concourse buildings. Water oozed up from them due to the leaking pipes of air-conditioning facilities.

Even after the airport construction is finished, it must still undergo integrated tests to ensure smooth operations.

At present, facilities can only be tested separately. Any immediate operation after only separate tests could lead to problems, he said.

Although airlines need to know the exact opening schedule of the airport, Gen Chainant declined to comment on that yesterday.

At present, all parties are aware that they must finish their work in July to keep their contracts but the government committee supervising the airport project will discuss real construction progress next Tuesday, he said.

Gen Chainant also declined to comment on a report that ITO is seeking the extension of its deadlines for the completion of the new airport by three months.

According to a source at the Transport Ministry, the consortium is seeking the extension to avoid a combined fine of 10 million baht a day in the event it cannot complete the passenger terminal and the concourse buildings at Suvarnabhumi airport in time.

ITO representative Jumpote Kanchanapanyakom said the joint venture would increase its workforce and equipment to finish the construction within June, which its deadline.

However, a source in ITO revealed that many parts of the construction had yet to be done and they were time-consuming.

Airlines are aware of the problem and have not yet entered the airport to establish their facilities. Normally airlines would enter a new airport three months before its opening, the source said

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 29 April 2006 :-

BMA set on starting skytrain link this year

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is determined to begin the BTS skytrain extension from Onnuj to Sukhumvit Soi 107 this year. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said during an inspection trip to the designated construction site that the BMA will absorb the entire cost of nine billion baht for the 5.2-km extension route.

He said the administration would seek the budget from the City Council, which would meet a few times before the election in June. The money will be diverted from 16 flyover and underpass projects, now under investigation for alleged graft.

''People need electric train services and it is odd for anyone to oppose the project,'' Mr Apirak said, apparently criticising councillors from the Thai Rak Thai party who are complaining about the budget diversion.

The Onnuj-Sukhumvit 107 extension is one of three extension routes of the BTS train system. The other two are Taksin-Phetkasem (4.5km) and Mor Chit-Kasetsart (5.1km).

Mr Apirak is choosing to start with the Onnuj-Sukhumvit 107 extension because an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study has already been done.

The administration earlier selected Italian-Thai Development Plc to build the elevated structure of the extension route, including stations and tracks but it will try to convince the contractor to reduce its quoted price.

Mr Apirak said he would divide the construction into two phases so commuters would not have to wait three years for the whole route to be completed.

There will be four stations on the route, at Sukhumvit 62, Sukhumvit 101, Sukhumvit 103 and the head office of the Meteorological Department. The extension is expected to serve 80,000 passengers a day.

Mr Apirak pushed for another extension section (2.2km) from Taksin bridge to Taksin road late last year.

As the Thai Rak Thai government had been reluctant to support the extension, the governor, who is also a Democrat deputy leader, managed to push for funding of the BTS extension with the BMA's own budget.

The BMA is selecting a signalling system supplier for the 2.2km section, Apirat Sivapornpitak, director of the BMA's traffic and transport office, said, adding the agency will ask Siemens Co to cut its quote from 1.8 billion baht to meet the BMA's budget of 1.2 billion baht.

If Siemens refuses to lower its price, the BMA will turn to other firms, he said.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 29 April 2006 :-

S&P sets up pizza-delivery service with Italian restaurant partner

Local restaurant chain operator S&P Syndicate Plc yesterday announced that it had joined with Italian restaurant operator Zanotti (Thailand) to set up a pizza-delivery company.

Called S&PizZanotti (Thailand) Ltd, the 50-50 joint venture hopes to generate annual sales of Bt90 million within three years.

The Italian pizza market currently accounts for only a bite-sized portion of the Bt3-billion total pizza market, which the two partners see as a good opportunity, said Pravesvudhi Raiva, S&P's president.

S&PizZanotti has already opened six outlets around Bangkok.

S&P brings 30 years of marketing experience, a marketing network and distributing network to the table, while Zanotti spices things up with its expertise in Italian food and will be responsible for the kitchen.

The company's menu boasts 10 pizzas. Prices are about the same as those at Pizza Hut and The Pizza Company: Bt220-Bt380 a pie. And like the big boys, they promise delivery within 30 minutes.

Consumers generally perceive pizza as unhealthy food. But PizZanotti's project manager, Kessiri Kukeatnun, said its Italian pizzas were different from mainstream pizzas.

They are lighter and contain less yeast.

The company plans to allocate 3 per cent of its expected sales this year for marketing, said Kessiri.

It targets sales of Bt25 million in the first year of operations and Bt70 million sales in the second year. It expects that 70 per cent of its sales will come from foreign customers.

The company will open up to 30 outlets nationwide in areas where a lot of foreigners live. Each branch requires Bt300,000 investment.

It hopes to receive 3,000-4,000 orders a month.

If the pizza-delivery business succeeds, the company may open an Italian restaurant chain.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 30 April 2006 :-

Cyclone hits Burma, heavy rain in Thailand

Thailand's Meteorological Department warned local residents in eight northern and western provinces to brace for heavy downpours and possible flash floods due to tropical cyclone Mala, as it moves into Thailand from Burma.

The storm made landfall in Burma, then quickly lost intensity, the Burmese meteoroligical department said. There was heavy rain today in Rangoon, where clogged drains failed to cope with the downpour, causing 30cm floods on some downtown streets, residents told Reuters.

Mala's power abated as it crossed the coast of southern Rakhine state near Gwa township, Meteorology and Hydrology Department Director-General Tun Lwin told Reuters.

The Meteorology Department of Thailand said flash floods are forecast in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Tak, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Udon Thani, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi.

Two to three-metre high waves are expected in the Andaman sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Meteorological Department director general Suparerk Tansriratanawong warned that some districts in Chiang Mai will be hardest hit with heavy rainfall.

However, residents in mountainous areas should be alert to heavy rain and the possibility of flash floods.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 30 April 2006 :-

KL denies 'preposterous' report : Deputy PM says there is no evidence of training camp for female Thai insurgents in Malaysia

The Malaysian government yesterday denied the Bangkok Post's report that a group of Thai women are training in Malaysia to replace male insurgents caught by security forces in southern Thailand. The report on Thursday quoted an unnamed Thai military intelligence source as saying that about 50 women are training at a camp in Malaysia's Kelantan state.
The report said the women are mostly ringleaders, wives of separatist sympathisers and hardline students, and that they were sent to the camp for a one-month course on offensive strategies, intelligence gathering and bomb-making.

Najib Razak, Malaysia's deputy prime minister and defence minister, said there is no evidence of any such training camp in Malaysia.

''Please back up with the necessary facts,'' Mr Najib was quoted as saying by the news agency Bernama. ''Otherwise, stop making such preposterous accusations or statements in the press.''

A once-dormant Islamic separatist movement resurfaced in the three restive southernmost provinces of predominantly Buddhist Thailand in January, 2004 and the ensuing insurgency has left more than 1,300 people dead.

Most people in the provinces _ Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani _ share a common language, religion and culture with Muslim Malays across the border in Malaysia.

Some Thai politicians have accused Malaysia of providing funding and training to the separatists, but Malaysia denies the charge.

The military ties between the two countries remain strong, despite violence in the southernmost provinces.

Their military top brass will attend a high-level meeting on the southern unrest to be held in Bangkok in the middle of next month.

Gen Lertrat Rattanawanich, chief of staff attached to the Supreme Command, said Supreme Commander Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranon and chief of Malaysia's armed forces Adm Momammad Anwar bin Haji Mohammad Nor will join the high level committee meeting on May 18 and 19.

The meeting will promote bilateral cooperation to tackle trans-border security issues and help ease the on-going unrest. The agenda is expected to include joint military exercises and an increase in border patrols.

''We will touch on every issue concerning the unrest and problem-solving measures to help turn the situation around. The efforts will be based on collaboration with our neighbouring country,'' Gen Lertrat said.

Gen Lertrat said the success of anti-insurgent operations hinged largely on cooperation from Malaysia. He said bilateral ties have remained cordial.

The chief of staff described the latest meeting with Mr Rajib early last week as useful, as Kuala Lumpur vowed to help Thailand restore peace in the region.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 30 April 2006 :-

Chidchai warns press, Malaysia sees conspiracy

Acting Prime Minister Chidchai Wannasathit warned the press today that the media should present only facts, and should be more careful in presenting news about the South.

Pol Gen Chidchai spoke after Malaysian Defence Minister and deputy premier Najib Razak labelled as "preposterous" a report in the Bangkok Post last Thursday. The story said 50 Thai women were being trained in Malaysia to replace male insurgents detained by security forces in Thailand's southernmost provinces, where a Muslim insurgency has been raging for over two years.

In Malaysia, Foreign Ministaer Syed Hamid Albar said the Thai media was trying to create a rift between Malaysia and Thailand with reports that women fighters are training in Malaysia to fight in southern Thailand.

"It is a baseless allegation meant only to create a rift and misunderstanding," the official news agency Bernama quoted him as saying. "We have always given our cooperation to the Thai government to maintain security in Thai territory,"

He said Malaysia respected the sovereignty of Thailand and had never supported any militant groups in the southern provinces, Bernama reported.

Mr Najib on Saturday denied the existence of the camps and repeated the Kuala Lumpur story that Malaysia was uninvolved in the southern insurgency.

Pol Gen Chidchai also said there was no progress in government attempts to convince 130 Thai Muslims who crossed into Malaysia last August to return home.

Gen Chidchai said working committees of the neighbouring countries were cooperating closely to solve the issue but certain problems needed time to solve.