Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 29 2006 :-

The mammoth task of moving an airport

As the opening date for Bangkok's new airport nears, preparations are being finalised for one of the largest logistical operations in global aviation history _ moving millions of tonnes of aircraft and equipment from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi within roughly 12 hours.

There have been a number of recent airport moves in the Asia-Pacific _ Seoul, Hong Kong, Nagoya and Kuala Lumpur _ but none involved the volume of equipment in an airport the size of Don Muang, believed to be the largest in the Asia-Pacific in terms of aircraft movement.

As the major user of Bangkok airport, Thai Airways International has spent years carefully planning the logistics, according to Kobchai Srivilas, senior executive vice-president for corporate planning and information technology services.

Speaking at an aviation seminar organised by the Asian Business Forum last week, Mr Kobchai said the relocation involved a military-style logistical exercise that began with an inventory and analysis of the total volume of equipment, a plan to identify where it would be loaded and unloaded, as well as transport routes and potential bottlenecks.

Five business units, including catering and cargo, plus the operations centre, will have to transferred. At stake are thousands of tools, spare parts, engines, cargo containers, pallets, loading/unloading equipment, kitchenware, cranes, forklifts, cabin items, IT hardware, aircraft-moving vehicles, and more.

These have been classified into eight "packaging" units and will be transported via 2,928 trips between the two airports, mostly by 10-wheel trucks.

The majority of the equipment will have to be moved between the time Don Muang airport shuts down after the last commercial flight lands/takes off and six hours later when the new airport opens the following morning.

This operation will to be precisely timed and directed by a communication network (trunk radio, LAN, PBX, mobile phone, GPRS) to ensure smooth traffic flow.

The entire operation has been phased over 15 weeks, and the vast majority of the equipment _ mainly administrative related material not required for direct aircraft operations _ will begin to be moved 13 weeks before D-day.

A critical element of the move was determining the best day of the week. This involved analysing both the number of aircraft movements, plus the state of traffic along the routes to be used. It was decided that Thursday night would be the best, allowing the airport to open on a Friday.

Although Mr Kobchai said that Friday Sept 29 had been tentatively given the green light, this was denied by Dr Suwat Wanisubut, director of the Office of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Development Committee, who said that it was "impossible". He then projected a date in December.

The entire move will be televised. Mr Kobchai said there had been no serious threats or issues to the move, except a small fire in the catering department at Suvarnabhumi airport, which delayed the process slightly.

Even as the equipment is on the move overland, a total of 24 THAI aircraft will have to be flown from the two airports. The trip distance of 28 nautical miles will be covered in 13 minutes, with the aircraft flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet, at a cruising speed of 210 knots. The first "moving flight" will be at 3 pm on the day of the move and the last at 1.45 am.

The last THAI commercial flight taking off from Don Muang is expected to be TG 662 to Shanghai. The first departure from Suvarnabhumi is expected to be TG 008 at 0630 to Uthai Thani.

Asked if people should avoid those initial flights just to be on the safe side in case of airport equipment malfunctions and the delays that will result, as happened in both Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, Mr Kobchai indicated that exactly the opposite was happening as many wanted to be part of history by being on one of the first flights out of Suvarnabhumi.

While moving equipment and aircraft will be only a logistical issue, another key issue is the "software", the impact on airport staff, for many of whom a move of this magnitude will require finding new homes, schools and adjusting to an entirely new environment.

The airline fears a serious impact on service delivery and standards if key staff have to leave the company either by choice or circumstance.

THAI hired Abac to survey and analyse staff needs, concerns and expectations, involving 17,433 staff, including 6,747 in operations alone.

The survey indicated the following concerns, Mr Kobchai said: a changed way of life, increased transport costs, relocation of children's schools and resistance to change caused by inadequate internal communication.

The airline has had to help staff find alternative homes via long-term installment schemes and low down-payment/interest rates. For staff who chose to remain in their existing homes, staff buses will have to be provided by the airline to help them make the daily commute.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 29 2006 :-

Papa John's targets Bangkok debut

Papa John's, one of the world's largest pizza companies, is looking to debut in Bangkok as part of a global expansion plan to double its outlet total to 6,000 over the next five years.

The company considers Thailand a strategic location to help accelerate expansion in Asia, according to Mike Stout, director of international business development at Papa John's International Inc.

The company sees huge market potential for the pizza business in Thailand, he said, citing statistics from the United States Commercial Services in Bangkok showing that the franchised food business in Thailand was showing strong growth of about 30% per year.

Sales of Papa John's in Asia also grew by 30% when compared to its average growth of 13% in the international market, and only 6% in the United States.

During his second visit to Thailand last week, Mr Stout met with various restaurant chains and snack manufacturers to discuss the Papa John's master franchise.

Papa John's is also actively pursuing growth opportunities in other Asia-Pacific markets such as Taiwan, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.

Mr Stout expects to close a business deal with a Thai partner this year and aims to open the first Papa John's restaurant in Bangkok next year.

Papa John's will come in two formats: delivery kiosks and restaurants.

For investors interested in taking on the Papa John's master franchise, the company will charge US$300,000 for a partnership agreement.

The Thai pizza market is very competitive, with two major brands - Yum! restaurants' Pizza Hut, and Minor International Plc's The Pizza Company - dominating the market with a combined 230 outlets nationwide.

The world's second largest pizza chain, Domino's Pizza, withdrew its operations from Thailand several years ago.

Mr Stout believed that there was still market demand for premium-quality pizzas at competitive prices. The company has found that consumers are willing to spend a little more for a great pizza.

He commented that the reason why Domino's terminated its business in Thailand could have been because it could not find the right partner. Also, Domino's only offered delivery service, which did not fit with current consumer demand.

"We have proved in the US and other international markets that we can compete on quality, avoid major discounting and provide an alternative to the competition," he said.

Peerapong Kitiveshpokawat, president of the Franchise and Thai SMEs Business Association, said the pizza business was the fourth most popular fast-food choice for Thai consumers. But there was still potential because the market size was as big as four billion baht per year. Also, the number of franchised fast-food outlets in Thailand doubled to 20,000 last year.

"Apart from food taste and strong distribution channels, teamwork and strong investment are key factors in making a pizza brand stand out in the market in the long term," said Mr Peerapong.

Papa John's expanded its pizza business to Asia two years ago. It now has 39 Asian outlets in total. Of this figure, 30 are in China, eight in South Korea and one in New Deli. It plans to establish 10 new outlets in China, six in South Korea and four in India by the end of this year.

Within the next five years, the total number of Papa John's outlets will rise to 250 in China, 80 in South Korea, 300 in India, 50 in Malaysia, 20 in Singapore and 75 in Thailand.

Sales of Papa John's last year totalled US$2 billion. It expects to have 6,000 outlets worldwide within five years, up from 3,038 as of January this year.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 30 May 2006 :-

New alcohol control bill to be put for public hearing next month

A new bill to entirely ban alcohol advertising and all forms of sales-promotion activities, including pretty girls, will go to a nationwide public hearing next month.

There is now a final draft of the Alcohol Consumption Control Bill, which will cover all aspects of the national control of alcohol consumption, said Dr Narong Sahamethapat, deputy director-general of the Disease Control Department.

The Bill took the Public Health Ministry a year to draft, he said.

Narong said the next step was to conduct a series of public hearings next month in eight provinces, representing all regions of the country.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 30 May 2006 :-

Thais can't get much satisfaction

Singapore - Southeast Asian couples make love less frequently and are less satisfied with their sex lives than people in other parts of the world, a global survey showed on Tuesday.

French people have sex most frequently while Mexicans are the happiest couples at bed, according to the survey commissioned by drug giant Pfizer, maker of the anti-impotence drug Viagra.

The survey of almost 13,000 people across 27 countries revealed the global sex frequency average to be 6.5 times a month, with 50% of those surveyed saying they were very satisfied with their sex lives.

Southeast Asian couples fell below the benchmark levels, with Indonesia coming closest to the global sex frequency average at 5.75 times per month.

Singapore was at 4.55 times per month, Thailand at 4.30 and Hong Kong at 3.55. Thailand was also below the global satisfaction average at 32%.

There was no direct connection between frequency of sex and satisfaction.

Malaysians, who scored a low frequency average of 3.50 times per month, came out the happiest among the Southeast Asian countries surveyed with 42 percent saying they were very satisfied with their sex lives.

Indonesia tied with Hong Kong on the unhappiness front, with only 27% surveyed saying they were very satisfied.

South Korea fared much worst, with only eight percent saying they were very satisfied with their sex lives.

Increased stress levels caused by economic prosperity and modern Asian lifestyles, including unhealthy eating and drinking habits, contributed to poorer sex performance, said Peter Lim, a senior urologist.

"They (executives) are all stressed out and that contributes a lot to a poorer performance in the bedroom," said Lim, an erectile dysfunction expert with a local hospital who was invited by Pfizer to comment on the survey results.

"The second reason is the pace of life, the drinking, eating, smoking has caught on," Lim said.

Urbanized Hong Kong was similar to Singapore in terms of stress affecting bedroom performance, he said.

However, in developing nations like Thailand and more relaxed areas of Asia like Penang and Malacca, men's failure to have an erection was the main reason for poorer sex performance.

Globally, the French had the most sex at 7.7 times a month, followed by Germany at 6.45 and the United Kingdom at 6.40.

Mexicans scored the highest sex satisfaction levels with 74.5% declaring they were very satisfied, followed by Brazil at 64.5% and Spain at 56.6%.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 30 May 2006 :-

New property law stuns foreigners

Bangkok - Thailand's booming property sector has been thrown into confusion by a new regulation issued this month that requires all partly foreign-owned companies to prove the source of their funding before purchasing land, industry sources said Tuesday.

The new Interior Ministry regulation that went into effect on May 25 has already started to slow sales of housing estates in Thailand's popular seaside resorts, such as Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin and Samui Island, which have been specifically targeting well-to-do foreigners as vacation getaways or retirement homes.

"The property boom ended on May 25," said Ronachai Krisadaolarn, managing director of Bangkok International Associates, a Bangkok-based legal consultancy firm that caters to foreign clients.

Thailand has strict laws prohibiting foreigners from directly purchasing property themselves although loopholes in the law allow them to own land and their houses through long leases or a "nominee company," providing the company is majority Thai-owned.

It is common practice for such "shell companies" to include Thai nationals who have been paid to act as nominees to facilitate the deal and who have invested nothing in the purchase.

The new regulation, signed by Suraart Thoingniramol, deputy permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, is designed to halt the use of such companies for property purchases in the future.

"If it appears that an alien holds shares or is a director or it is reasonable to believe that a Thai holds shares as a representative of an alien, the officers shall investigate the income of Thais holding shares, delving into the number of years [they have spent] in the current profession and monthly salary," reads a translation of the law. "The provision of necessary evidence is required."

The new regulation is actually an enforcement of Thailand's existing laws, legal experts said.

"It's not a radical change. It's a radical implementation," Ronachai said.

The regulation has already started to stall home sales to foreigners, sources said.

"There's a lot of confusion," said Simon Landy, managing director of the Primo Co, a property-development firm. "Some land offices don't know what to do with it, and many have simply stopped transferring land."
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 1 June 2006 :-

Train track repairs in Northern Thailand may take a month : Storms on way pose new threat to rail link

Uttaradit - It could be a month before repairs to flood-damaged tracks in the North are finished and trains can resume normal services through Uttaradit. Until then, rail passengers and freight on the limited services still operating will have to continue using road transport between Uttaradit station and Den Chai station in Phrae, State Railway of Thailand governor Chitsanti Dhanasobhon said yesterday.

Part of the track would hopefully be reopened in about two weeks, but repairs were being made under threat of more heavy rain and more landslides predicted by the weather office and geologists, he said.

Flashfloods and mudslides last week claimed the lives of at least 67 people in the North, with 37 still missing.

Large stretches of rail tracks in Uttaradit province were washed out by fierce currents which also crashed into the bridge posts at Ban Kang in Muang district and pushed it out of position.

''At some points the tracks were swept away by the rushing waters into nearby paddy fields. The water current was very, very strong,'' said a railway engineer who inspected a flooded area yesterday.

Total damage, including destroyed tracks, damaged locomotives and carriage compartments, was put at 92 million baht. The SRT is also losing up to five million baht a day from shutdown services, Mr Chitsanti said.

Only two out of the usual seven trains are running to Chiang Mai with buses taking passengers between Uttaradit and Phrae. Fuel and cargo is being trucked at high cost because of the price of diesel.

Uttaradit and other northern and northeastern provinces face further heavy rainfall. The Meteorology Department yesterday warned of more torrential rains and flash floods in one or two days as a strong low pressure trough moves through the region, particularly in Tak, Sakon Nakhon, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Roi Et and Si Sa Ket provinces.

The Department of Mineral Resources said there was a likelihood of more landslides in the North and Northeast and advised villagers to set up teams of volunteers to keep a close watch and provide early warning.

In Lop Buri, water pouring down from the Chin Lae mountain range has inundated villages in tambons Nikom Sangtoneng, Kok Tum and Ta Sala in Muang district. The flood, as deep as two metres, swept away household items and cattle. The villagers said it was the most severe flood in 50 years.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 2 June 2006 :-

Developers shortlisted for Suan Lum : Retailers ordered to leave by next April

Three leading property developers have been shortlisted to develop the 127-rai Suan Lum Night Bazaar site, according to the Crown Property Bureau.

The three - Central Pattana Plc, Sansiri Plc and TCC Land - were among eight candidates reviewed in the first round.

Chirayu Israngkul na Ayutthaya, the director-general of the Crown Property Bureau (CPB), which owns the prime central Bangkok site, said it would choose one or two developers to transform the land.

''We will carefully consider the financial strength, design, project viability and foreign partnership of each candidate, as the whole development will require a huge investment budget of up to 100 billion baht,'' he said yesterday.

Dr Chirayu declined to say when the project would be finalised, but said development plans should include a mix of residential condominiums, a hotel, commercial plaza, entertainment and an art and cultural centre.

The CPB is confident that once the new development on the land, which formerly housed the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School, is finished, it will become a Bangkok landmark.

Dr Chirayu said the development project may be delayed as the bureau was preparing to file a legal case against P Con Development (Thai) Co, the operator of the Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

P Con's lease for the site, now used by 3,000 retail stores, expired on March 31. But it failed to transfer the property back to the CPB on April 1, while its plan to remove shops from the site is unclear.

''We don't want to pressure retail shop owners and we will allow them to gradually move out by April [of 2007]. But it doesn't mean that we will renew their leases,'' Dr Chirayu said.

The CPB is open for negotiations with P Con and hopes legal action will remain a last resort to settling the dispute with the company.

Apart from the Suan Lum site, the CPB is preparing to develop a 70-rai plot between Lang Suan sois three and five as a residential complex on its own. There are 240 tenants leasing the land at present.

The CPB has plans to increase its rents for commercial purposes, while the rents for residences would stay the same. Currently, the bureau has 2,400 lease contracts in Bangkok and 10,000 in the provinces.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 2 June 2006 :-

Japan revokes 'Rosie Dutton' trademark

Responding to Thai protests, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has revoked Japanese-issued trademarks on " Rusie Dutton" Thai traditional hermit yoga postures earlier granted to a Japanese businessman, according to Intellectual Property Department director-general Kanissorn Navanugraha.

JPO officially revoked the trademarks in late May and the Thai authorities are now approaching Japanese yoga business operator Masaki Furuya who was granted the trademarks by JPO to encourage him to cancel his efforts to register the Thai traditional exercise pattern as his business trademarks, according to Mr Kanissorn.

"Good news is expected soon," the Thai IPD director-general said.

The JPO had approved Mr Furiya's application for two trademarks on "Rusie Dutton" in February and March. The property rights allow him to use the word ''Rusie Dutton'' and its pattern for commercial purposes.

The "hermit" yoga gestures have long been practised in Thailand. People who practise these exercise patterns will not only improve their health but will also effectively prevent numerous diseases from developing.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 3 June 2006 :-

King's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations : Thousands watch Chao Phraya drill

Thousands of spectators lined the banks of the Chao Phraya river yesterday for the first dress rehearsal of the Grand Royal Barge Procession, which is to be held on June 12 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. The actual procession on June 12 will be viewed by Their Majesties the King and Queen and royal guests - the monarchs and heads of state from 26 nations - at the Royal Navy Institute (Ratchanavik Sapha), situated by the Chao Phraya.

The authorities concerned held a full rehearsal to make sure that the event will be on schedule and that no mistakes will be made. The procession started at about 4.30pm from the Wasukri Pier near the National Library to the Memorial Bridge.

A total of 2,082 oarsmen rowed the 52 traditional-style barges, four of them major royal barges - the Suphannahongsa or Golden Swan, the Narai Song Suban King Rama IX, the Anantanagaraj or Multiple-Headed Naga, and the Anekajatibhujonga or Innumerable Naga Figures. There are 12 barges with animal figureheads and 36 smaller ceremonial barges.

By 5.30 pm., the procession had arrived at the Royal Navy Institute as scheduled, with the 45-minute boat song describing His Majesty's contributions to the country, the beauty of the barge procession and the beauty of Thailand.

About 20,000 krathongs and 600 floating lanterns will be launched on the night of June 12 to give Their Majesties and the royal guests a splendid view before leaving.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 5 June 2006 :-

Foreign ownership of Thai property : Enforcement the only change, say experts

A recent outcry over curbs on foreign ownership of property in Thailand has been overblown, according to property consulting firms. All that has changed is that the existing law is being enforced more strictly, they say.

The industry was put on alert last week by a report of a new regulation issued by the Interior Ministry. It required foreign-owned companies that buy land to prove sources of funds and said Thai nominees would also have their finances investigated.

David Simister, the chairman of CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) said the property company was fully aware of the purported new regulation, which was only a reminder about the existing one.

CBRE said it always informed foreign customers of the correct procedures for buying land in Thailand, specifically that foreign investors were recommended to have joint ventures with Thai partners.

Thailand has strict laws prohibiting foreigners from directly purchasing land, although loopholes allow them to own land and houses through long leases or a nominee company, providing the company is majority Thai-owned.

Foreigners are allowed to have outright ownership of condominiums, up to a maximum of 49% of the space in a building.Ms Simister said CBRE believed that stricter enforcement of existing laws would not hurt the growth of the property market.

Many foreigners are buying resort properties in Thailand for investment, leisure and retirement. Phuket, Koh Samui, Hua Hin and Pattaya are top choices.

Mr Simister said the resort property market was a valuable earner of foreign revenue. If Thailand wished to have a vibrant resort economy, it should seek to make it well regulated and internationally competitive, he said.

He suggested property ownership laws in respect to individual foreign owners could be amended to considerably improve earnings and tax revenue.

"For example, increasing foreign ownership in condominiums if professionally managed by a Thai management company, allowing freehold ownership of single dwellings; allowing Thai banks to offer home loans or allowing 90-year leases."

Neil Simmons, a director of the real estate agency Soho Properties, said he had questions about the best legal ways for foreigners seeking to obtain retirement or holiday homes in Thailand.

"Is leasing the only solution, and will new regulations be brought in on this? The industry deserves answers and quickly before the collapse of the lucrative foreign housing boom," he said.

Patima Jeerapaet, managing director of the consultancy Pasupat Realty Co Ltd, said there should be a resolution, noting that other countries had been able to strike a balance on foreign land holdings.

He said he believed that foreign investors would help boost the local economy, especially in tourist destinations.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 5 June 2006 :-

Opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport : Airlines demand definite date - Fees at new airport also cause concern

International airlines are growing increasingly frustrated with the repeated delays to the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport and are calling for the government to set an achievable date, once and for all.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Board of Airline Representatives in Thailand (BAR) and the Star Alliance have also expressed their concerns over the fees that Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) intends to impose at the new airport, according to industry sources.

The BAR, which consists of 56 carriers operating in and out of Thailand, is reportedly seeking a meeting with Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, the caretaker transport minister, to ask for a clear position from the government about its concerns.

BAR members also want three months' advance notification of the airport opening so they can prepare for the move, which poses huge logistical challenges.

International airline heads in Bangkok still cannot secure their budgets for setting up shop at Suvarnabhumi from their respective head offices because the most crucial factor, the airport opening date, remains unknown.

The government has kept postponing the date for the inauguration of commercial operations at the 125-billion-baht airport - first it was September 2005, then June 2006, then August and now October.

The aviation industry remains highly sceptical about the opening date, given reports about delays and flaws in construction as well as AoT's failure to call bids for scores of outsourcing contracts, involving the provision of services related to the new airport's operations.

Airing a common view in the aviation industry, IATA, a coalition of 265 airlines, said it was unhappy with what it regards as excessive fees, including landing charges, at Suvarnabhumi.

AoT intends to raise the landing/parking fees by 15% from the current rates it charges at Don Muang.

Airlines are upset about other fees too, such as the rents for office space at Suvarnabhumi, and have asked AoT to reconsider the rates, which would become an additional cost pressure on top of burdens such as high oil prices.

Albert Tjoeng, IATA's Asia-Pacific spokesman, said the association was in consultations with AoT about the charges at Suvarnabhumi. He declined to elaborate.

However, AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya insisted the landing and parking fees at Suvarnabhumi were lower than those at the Singapore, Hong Kong and Narita (Japan) airports.

The proposed fee for a Boeing 747-400 jet at Suvarnabhumi is US$1,795, compared with $2,241 at Singapore, $3,445 at Hong Kong and $8,055 at Narita.

At the recent meeting with BAR representatives, the AoT president vowed to charge "reasonable" amounts for various services and was open to more dialogue with airlines, sources said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 June 2006 :-

Five-day Diamond Jubilee celebration declared

The cabinet has declared Friday 9 June 2006 as a holiday, in addition to next Monday and Tuesday, to mark the royal Diamond Jubilee.

The government had previously declared next Monday 12 June and Tuesday 13 June as official holidays to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. The new decision adds Friday, or June 9, the actual anniversary day.

Celebrations, public and private, are scheduled throughout the weekend. Foreign royalty is to begin arriving in Thailand tomorrow.

Thailand is now fully prepared for Royal and state ceremonies marking the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne this month, including security measures, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Monday.

All preparations for the country's grand celebrations for His Majesty the King's Diamond Jubilee are now fully complete, according to the prime minister.

Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited says it is fully prepared for welcome receptions of heads of 26 states who are due to arrive in Thailand to join the royal ceremony of His Majesty the King’s 60 years of accession to the throne.

Chotisak Arsathaviriya, President of AOT, said as a manager of the Bangkok International Airport, the company is fully ready for the preparation of the receptions on its two own parts of responsibility.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 June 2006 :-

Let the Diamond Jubilee begin

Preparations are completed for Royal and state ceremonies marking the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne, including security measures, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said here on Monday.

All preparations for the country's grand celebrations for His Majesty the King's Diamond Jubilee are now fully complete, according to the prime minister.

Speaking to journalists when he attended a rehearsal for Royal and state ceremonies at the Ananda Samakom Throne Hall, the prime minister invited members of the Thai public to gather and loyally welcome His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Thai Family at the Ananda Samakom Throne Hall on June 9 when the revered and beloved Thai monarch would preside Royal ceremonies marking His Majesty's 60 years on the throne and would deliver a Royal address before the public.

The prime minister said that the government had installed large projectors at Royal Plaza in front of the Ananda Samakom Throne Hall and along nearby Rajadamnoen Avernue for the public to view the Royal ceremonies with the Royal address.

Mr Thaksin also affirmed that preparations to welcome the world royalty and distinguished guests invited to attend the Royal and state ceremonies had been fully complete.

The world royalty will stay in Thailand between June tomorrow and June 21, when they will be welcomed with national uniqueness and tightened security measures, according to Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai,

"Kings and Queens from 25 countries worldwide have confirmed to join the Royal and state ceremonies in Bangkok marking the auspicious occasion," he said.

The world royalty will be honourably received and welcome at the Royal Thai Air Force Airport and the Don Muang International Airport by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Some of the world royalty will visit areas and tourist destinations outside Bangkok, including those in the northern province of Chiang Mai, the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, the eastern province of Chonburi, the central provinces of Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi and the southern province of Phuket, according to the deputy premier.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

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Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 June 2006 :-

Governors in 16 provinces on flood alert

The governors of Bangkok and 15 other provinces in the Central Region were warned yesterday to prepare for heavy floods which may be caused by northern monsoon run-off.

Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana called an urgent meeting of the governors of the 16 central provinces yesterday to discuss the possibility of the Chao Phraya river bursting its banks.

After the meeting, ACM Kongsak was upbeat about the situation, saying the provinces already had flood warning centres, evacuation plans and other measures in place.

Agencies had been told to issue two-hourly advisories if heavy rains were on the way, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration told to make sure no water drainage pipes and waterways were clogged up.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said the city had formed 70 rapid service units to drain floodwater from streets and communities.

The Irrigation Department gave assurances no rivers would overflow in the region because good water management systems were in place.

Dams and reservoirs in the North and Central Region were half full.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 June 2006 :-

SRT PROPERTY / LAT PHRAO LAND LEASE : Central asked to pay B10bn

Central Pattana Plc should pay the state railway at least 10 billion baht if it wants to extend the land lease for its lucrative department store and hotel complex in Lat Phrao, caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal reiterated yesterday.

The Central Lat Phrao Shopping Complex and adjoining Sofitel Central Hotel are both on railway land.

Mr Pongsak said if Central was not willing to pay a reasonable return, then the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) would look at other options.

The Council of State would, meanwhile, be asked to advise whether the SRT can terminate the lease and develop the 47 rai of land itself. The 30-year land lease expires on Dec 18, 2008.

"I have talked with many traders renting space in the Central shopping complex and my calculations suggest the SRT should get at least 10 billion baht," Mr Pongsak said.

"If this is not negotiable with the lessee, there can be a bidding contest to find a new contractor."

SRT governor Chitsanti Dhanasobhon said Central had already sought to negotiate an extension of the lease. But the SRT had yet to hire a consultant to appraise the land and assets to set a framework for the negotiations. The SRT was also planning the commercial development of its other land holdings, especially those in the Makkasan, Phahon Yothin and Chong Nonsi areas, to raise revenue to support and improve its train services.

The 400 rai in the Makkasan area would be developed to serve the new railway linking inner Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi airport. The Phahon Yothin area, more than 200 rai, would serve a new public transport centre in nearby Bang Sue.

Mr Chitsanti said Mr Pongsak had suggested the SRT find large property developers instead of leasing the land to small entrepreneurs.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork