Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 June 2006 :-

Cabinet declares Friday June 9 a national holiday

The cabinet yesterday declared Friday June 9 a national holiday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said the cabinet agreed that Friday should be a public holiday nationwide. Earlier, June 12-13 were declared public holidays in the Bangkok area.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said people should join the royal celebrations to express their loyalty to the King.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 June 2006 :-

Yellow shirt fever across the nation : People scramble to wear royal colour

An old lady collapsed, people screamed and officials argued amid the pandemonium as royal patriots scrambled for yellow T-shirts going for 195 baht each at Government House yesterday.

On the last day of official sales, government officials and merchants alike flocked to get hold of the moderately priced T-shirts bearing the royal insignia.

The price of the shirts has catapulted to 500-600 baht at many stores and stalls during this celebration month.

Anticipating strong demand, a sign was earlier posted outside the permanent secretary's office limiting each buyer to two shirts and announcing that 200 queue tickets would be handed out at 1pm on the third floor.

By 9am about a thousand bargain hunters had already packed the second floor, panting for air in the constricted space. But shoppers parted like the Red Sea to give room to an old lady who turned pale and became dizzy, falling to her knees.

As people behind kept on pushing and shoving the waiting crowd started shouting and screaming for queue tickets, but officials steadfastly denied their demands.

One person suggested: ''Guess we need to smash the [meeting room] door open, grab a T and flee.''

Another calmer person argued: ''I am willing to wait as long as it takes and I won't sell this T-shirt even if someone offers me 500 baht.''

Emotions were high. Security guards were called up to the floor and ordered people to line up properly.

Sales officials began a war of words, debating whether to bow to the crowd's demands or stick to the timetable.

Fearing chaos, officials eventually gave in and handed out the queue tickets around 11am.

The yellow shirts went in a flash, leaving new arrivals frustrated and furious.

Yellow was also the dress code of the cabinet meeting yesterday.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, also in yellow, asked merchants not to jack up the price beyond 300 or 400 baht and advised T-shirt hunters that any yellow shirts would do.

Eslewhere, the craze was no different.

Chiang Mai residents thronged to a market near the old city gate only to find they must place an advance order and pay 500 baht for a T-shirt with the royal insignia. Other yellow Ts were marked up to 300 or 400 baht apiece.

In the South, shops in Satun ran out of ''We Love the King'' and royal-insignia-bearing Ts so people bought plain yellow T-shirts and hired tailors to stitch ''We Love the King'' on them.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 June 2006 :-

Royal Jubliee : Exhibits will go on show permanently

The cabinet has agreed that an exhibition honouring His Majesty the King should become a permanent fixture, and that parts of it should be taken abroad, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said yesterday. The huge public turn-out at Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre in Muang Thong Thani had prompted the government to look for space to permanently house the exhibits, he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives had recommended the commemorative museum in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district, which has more than 100 rai of unused land. With facilities already there, another building might be needed to accommodate the 40,000 square metres of exhibits.

Asked about taking the exhibition abroad, as suggested by the Prime Minister, Mr Surapong said Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the US, where the King was born, was a possibility.

The King's father, HRH Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla, also studied there. The King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square had been built there as a tribute to the King, he said.

Mr Surapong said Los Angeles, home to a large number of Thai expatriates, was another possibility.

Authorities were also considering taking the exhibition to other cities in Thailand, he said.

A commemorative film would likely also be shot to spread the message of the King's virtue far and wide.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 8 June 2006 :-

Thailand remakes... well, the wheel

When Germany kicks off the World Cup against Costa Rica on Friday in Munich, the soccer ball being kicked will be rounder than any of its predecessors, reports the New York Times. It also will be, as Carabao once famously trumpeted, Made in Thailand.

Made in Thailand by Adidas, which designed and engineered it, the ball was tested in Britain and Germany. It has the Teutonic but sporty-sounding name, +Teamgeist, and will sell at least 15 million of them this year. In fact, 15 million of them already are sold.

"The ball is rounder because the panels are premolded into the right shape," said Hans-Peter Nürnberg, a senior development engineer who worked on the project at Adidas. "The panels aren't cut out of flat piece of plastic and then forced into a spherical shape."

At its headquarters in Germany, Adidas displays the balls that will be used in all 64 matches, stamped with the names of the teams and cities.

The Telstar, used in the World Cup in Mexico, introduced the familiar pattern of 32 alternating black and white pentagons and hexagons, designed to make it easier to see on television (the former ones were brown). The Azteca Mexico, introduced in 1986, was the first to have a plastic rather than leather surface.

The Fevernova, developed for the 2002 Cup, had an inner layer of syntactic foam and thousands of gas-filled micro-balloons, which Adidas said made the ball faster, more accurate and better for rebounding.

If the Fevernova was all about what is inside, the +Teamgeist - which translates as "team spirit" - is all about what is outside.

The 32 pentagonal and hexagonal panels are gone, replaced by a free-flowing set of 14 panels, dubbed propellers and turbines. Unlike in earlier balls, which were hand-stitched, these panels are glued - or rather, thermally bonded, to use the space-age-like term favored by Adidas.

By reducing the number of places where panels touch each other, Adidas says, the ball reacts more accurately when kicked; three times more accurately, according to Adidas, which tested the ball by having a robotic kicking machine whack it against a wall a few thousand times

For Adidas, soccer balls are big business. It sold 6.5 million of the 2002 model and had set a target of 10 million for this one, which is made in Thailand. Before the first kickoff, Adidas has already sold 15 million.

In one respect, the +Teamgeist is a return to tradition, the New York Times report says. After experimenting with funky colours in previous World Cups, Adidas has painted this ball black and white, the colors of the German national team. It added a few gold racing stripes as a nod to the World Cup trophy.

Early feedback on the ball suggests, perhaps predictably, that goalkeepers like it less than strikers. "There's a lot of difference. It's very goalkeeper-unfriendly," England's goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, said at a news conference. "It's more like a water polo ball or volleyball. It's very light and moves a lot in the air."

Adidas put the ball through its paces at Loughborough University in Britain, which specializes in sports research and education, and at its own soccer laboratory in Scheinfeld, Germany.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 8 June 2006 :-

Royal Jubilee Celebrations : Royal liaison officers at the ready

After many late-night practice sessions for nearly a month now, a group of liaison and security officers for royal visitors during the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne say they are ready for action. The key to the job, taking care of monarchs and royal guests during their stay in Thailand, is a once in a lifetime opportunity and they will be doing their best to ensure there are no mistakes.

Performing as liaison officers are C-8 officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Police, meanwhile, will be responsible for security-related tasks which officially kicked off with the arrival of the first royal guest, Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom, yesterday.

Each liaison officer has one assistant, or two if a royal guest is accompanied by a spouse, said Pasan Teparak, consul-general in Dubai, who returned to Thailand especially for the task.

A number of C-9 and C-10 officials will be stationed at designated hotels to coordinate with security and hotel staff.

The royal guests will stay at 13 different hotels and will arrive at the royal ceremonies one by one.

Arrival will be arranged in accordance with royal seniority. Those who have reigned longer will be the first to arrive and vice-versa. Therefore, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei will be the most senior visiting monarch.

Apart from the royal functions, the royal guests also have their own programmes in the city and in the provinces.

Several of the liaison officers are already familiar with this kind of assignment.

Dusit Manapan, director of the Department of International Organisations' Social Division, said he was experienced in escorting members of the Royal Family during their visits overseas.

He will be the liaison officer for the Sultan of Brunei.

Pornpop Uampidhaya, director of Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs' International Law Development Division, said practice runs have built up confidence.

''But we need to stay alert all the time for any problems. The most important thing is to be familiar with the plan, the routes and the people involved,'' he said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 8 June 2006 :-

Royal Jubilee Celebration : 500,000 more yellow shirts to go on sale - Huge demand, but profiteering persists


The Commerce Ministry will arrange the manufacture of an extra 500,000 yellow shirts bearing the royal insignia, to be sold at 200-250 baht each, by next week to cater to the huge demand and stamp out profiteering.

The official shirts commemorating the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne are in short supply.

The Internal Trade Department has sought permission from the office of His Majesty's principal private secretary to distribute more of the shirts featuring the commemorative insignia.

Manufacturers contracted to make the shirts will increase production, director-general Siripol Yodmuangcharoen said. Another 500,000 will be available through Blue Flag discount outlets nationwide by next Thursday .

The new production run will include round-necked T-shirts, polo shirts and jackets, to be sold at 200-250 baht each.

People unable to get hold of the shirts have complained about unscrupulous vendors jacking up prices despite threats of punishment.

Mr Siripol said another problem was that the fabric used for the shirts was in short supply.

Somsak Jarumpornsakul, owner of Araya Garment, said the cost of special yellow fabric had soared from 125,000-130,000 baht a tonne to 180,000-200,000 baht.

Mr Siripol said he would try to find a less costly material for the manufacturer to use.

The ministry would also keep a close watch on sales of the shirts and other commemorative items and collectibles, including yellow flags and badges.

If people found the overpriced products they should file a complaint via the 1569 hotline.

Legal action would be taken against people who reproduce the shirts for sale in violation of intellectual property law.

Yongnum Sittipongporn, project director of Innotech Textile Co, the sole authorised manufacturer of T-shirts produced using nano technology said the demand for the commemorative apparel was phenomenal.

The yellow T-shirt rush was partly the result of mass orders after the government announced civil servants must wear the shirts to work during the celebration period, which ends on June 15.

They are also required to wear them every Monday following the celebration, until the end of the year.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 8 June 2006 :-

Public invited to big celebration Friday 9 June 2006

The government has invited civil servants, state enterprise employees and the general public to a ceremony paying tribute to His Majesty the King at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall Friday, spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said Wednesday.

From 6 am to 1 pm, traffic police will bar vehicles from the following places: U-Thong Nai Road from U-Thong Nai intersection to the Throne Hall's Tuay Thep Samoson Gate; the Royal Plaza; Sri Ayutthaya Road from Wat Benjamabopit intersection to the offices of the 1st Infantry Division (King's Guards); Rajdamnoen Nok Road from the Royal Plaza to Makkawan Bridge; and Phitsanulok Road up to Wang Daeng intersection.

Members of the public who attend the event are asked to wear yellow shirts. If the crowd is very large, police may close more roads, Surapong said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 8 June 2006 :-

THAI warns passengers

Thai Airways International (THAI) yesterday urged passengers on flights from tomorrow until June 15 to make a careful assessment of how celebrations of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne will affect traffic on routes to Bangkok International Airport.

In a statement yesterday, THAI recommended that passengers leave their residences approximately four hours prior to flight departure. As some roads will be closed during the national holidays celebrating His Majesty's anniversary, passengers are advised to plan accordingly, especially from June 11-14, the airline said.

Passengers who need more information on traffic conditions can call (02) 545 3181-9, THAI said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 8 June 2006 :-

Top brands too pricey - survey

Nine out of 10 Thais think designer brands are overpriced. When they do buy them, they favour DKNY, Christian Dior and Chanel; though were money no object, Louis Vuitton would be their brand of choice.

So claims a global online survey of 23,500 consumers in 42 countries conducted by ACNielsen in November 2005. It found that 77 per cent of consumers worldwide perceive designer brands as being overpriced, with 90 per cent of Thais feeling the same.

Almost half the Thais surveyed said designer brands were of significantly higher quality than standard brands, while 70 per cent said people wore designer labels in an effort to project their social status.

When asked what brands they purchased, 16 per cent of global respondents chose Ralph Lauren. Gucci (14 per cent), Christian Dior (12 per cent) and DKNY (12 per cent) followed. In Asia Pacific, the rankings were similar, with the exception that Louis Vuitton also made the top 5, with at least one in 10 consumers claiming to have bought the French brand.

In Thailand, 18 per cent of people said they purchased designer brands. DKNY, with 17 per cent, ranked first, followed by Christian Dior (15 per cent), Chanel (12 per cent), Giorgio Armani (11 per cent) and Louis Vuitton (9 per cent).

However, if money were no object, Thai consumers said they would go for Louis Vuitton (32 per cent), Gucci (30 per cent) and Giorgio Armani (22 per cent). Chantira Luesakul, managing director of ACNielsen Thailand said: "A brand cannot be built overnight and it is even more difficult to sustain."

To be successful in diverse international markets, designer brands have to ensure that the values they want to be known for transcend cultures and age groups. And that's not easy in the fickle fashion industry where trends and fads are the order of the day, Chantira said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 9 June 2006 :-

CentralWorld on course to claim crown as largest mall in Thailand

CentralWorld will become the largest mixed-used shopping centre in Bangkok when it opens on July 21, 2006. About 85% of the lifestyle retail complex will be ready on that day, while the remaining areas, including Zen Department Store and a nearby zone, will be completed in December.

A celebration will be held in August, according to Sudthidej Chirathivat, senior executive vice-president for business development and project construction at Central Pattana Plc.

''The size of the shopping complex at CentralWorld will be 30% bigger than Siam Paragon, which is widely known as the largest in the heart of the city at the moment,'' Mr Sudthidej said.

CentralWorld has a total project space of 830,000 square metres, which comprises the Shopping Complex (550,000 sq m), a five-star hotel with 500 rooms, a Convention Centre over 17,000 sq m, a 45-storey office building covering 80,000 sq m and an indoor parking space for more than 7,000 vehicles.

The office tower has been completed while the convention centre is due for completion in 2006 and the hotel in 2008.

Currently, the 15-billion-baht Siam Paragon, which is located next to Siam Discovery and Siam Centre in the Pathumwan area, has total space of 500,000 sq m.

Mr Sudthidej said CPN had been spending 26 billion baht to develop and renovate CentralWorld, which occupies the site formerly known as the World Trade Center on a 64-rai leasehold plot at the Ratchaprasong intersection.

Wallaya Chirathivat, the executive vice-president for business development at CPN, said the seven-floor shopping complex consisted of two department stores (Zen and Isetan), 500 shops including 35 flagship stores and 36 that are the first of their kind in Thailand, six specialised mega-stores, 50 restaurants, 18 cinemas, a bowling hall, children's zone and learning centre and an outdoor square.

The complex has six zones, each designed to offer shoppers a different ambience within a single over-riding theme. About 400 of the shops will be open for shoppers in July.

''We hope to attract 150,000 shoppers per day, of whom 50,000 will be tourists,'' Mrs Wallaya said.

''They can have real shopping experiences because we will have a wide range of brands and products that one can afford,'' she added.

The exterior of CentralWorld features a state-of-the-art 300-metre long glass facade and two LED screens placed on the facade, while the main features inside are a waterfall, a translucent mobile art installation and several ''magical chairs'' that can change from opaque to clear when sat upon.

The glass facade is intended to give the whole centre a sense of transparency and create a light and joyful mood.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 9 June 2006 :-

Suvarnabhumi Airport : Construction scramble to meet Sept 28 opening target

Construction at Suvarnabhumi Airport is being accelerated again - to meet the government's goal of opening it for commercial flights on Sept 28. Deputy transport ministers Phumtham Wechayachai and Chainant Charoensiri met executives of Thai Airways International (THAI) yesterday to discuss the progress of the work at the new airport.

They were also updated on the preparations for the transfer of all systems from Don Muang airport to Suvarnabhumi.

The Suvarnabhumi airport development committee has set Sept 28 as the opening date of the airport for commercial operations.

Mr Phumtham said the meeting agreed that a panel should be set up to supervise the transfer of all equipment and coordinate work with relevant agencies.

The panel, chaired by Gen Chainant, will also serve as a forum for solving problems and obstacles at the new airport. It will come up with a report on construction progress by June 17, before caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra holds another meeting to discuss headway.

Gen Chainant said work needs to proceed faster in the passenger terminal and at a concourse building. Leaking terminal roofs must be fixed and the concourse building and duty-free zone need to be decorated.

Repairs to the roofs and cracks at the passenger terminal were expected to be finished this month.

The chairman of the THAI board, transport permanent secretary Wanchai Salthoonthat, said the national airline was ready to move to the new airport.

The transfer of all systems and equipment at Don Muang airport to Suvarnabhumi would take about a month, the permanent secretary said.

There were over a million pieces of equipment to be shifted, he said.

The board has approved a budget of 500 million baht to repair THAI's flight catering building, which was damaged by a fire in January, Mr Wanchai said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 9 June 2006 :-

Test flights for new airport set on July 29, 2006

Thailand's domestic and budget carriers will conduct test flights in and out of the new Suvarnabhumi airport on July 29,2006. Airlines, including Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, One-Two-Go, PB Air and Thai AirAsia, yesterday agreed to take part in the drill as politicians and authorities set their sights on opening the airport on Sept 28 after numerous delays.

Unlike the first two high-profile test flights on Sept 29 last year, which involved two Thai Airways International wide-bodied jets and caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, July 29 will involve real passengers and actual flights.

The Bangkok-based airlines will each divert one flight from the provinces to land at the 125-billion-baht airport, with another taking off from the airport, according to Chaisak Angkasuwan, the director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

The agreement was reached yesterday at a meeting between the DCA, Airports of Thailand Plc and the airlines.

It will be a one-off test for the airlines before the airport opening, as authorities want to familiarise personnel, carriers and passengers with the new operations.

AoT will waive fees for landing, parking and aircraft fuelling for the participating airlines, said Mr Chaisak.

The agreement came as the airlines, with the exception of Bangkok Airways, remained unclear as to whether they would continue to operate in and out of the existing Bangkok International Airport (Don Muang) or the new facility.

Authorities indicated earlier that Don Muang would remain open for domestic, low-cost and charter flights.

Mr Thaksin will chair a meeting on the development of Suvarnabhumi airport on June 20, after which he is scheduled to announce its official opening date.

Chainant Charoensiri, the acting deputy transport minister, was quoted by the state-run Thai News Agency as saying on Wednesday: ''Only some minor works are to be settled over the next four months, so, I can say we're now ready for the opening of the new airport on Sept 28.''

On Sept 29 last year Mr Thaksin presided over a ''symbolic'' airport opening and promised that it would be ready for commercial use by July of this year.

The proposal to build the new airport was first made in 1961.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 9 June 2006 :-

Index taps Chiang Mai property boom : Home-furnisher focuses on cash-rich

Index Living Mall Co plans to spend 800 million baht to open Southeast Asia's largest home-furnishings store in Chiang Mai next month. Index managing director Kijja Pattamasathayasonthi said Chiang Mai had high purchasing power from tourists and residents.

The housing industry in the North has expanded significantly, benefiting the home-furnishing segment.

According to the Real Estate Information Center, 21,954 housing units were launched in Chiang Mai and Lamphun during the first quarter of this year. In the same period, 94 condominium buildings were launched in Chiang Mai and one in Lamphun, with a total of 454 units.

''The growth of the condominium market in Chiang Mai is expected to continue. So we hope to build our new outlet to be the main home-furnishing centre for that area,'' said Mr Kijja.

He said that the new Lanna-style Index store, located between Carrefour and Tesco Lotus on the superhighway, would occupy 20,000 square metres, compared to the existing outlets, sized between 5,000 and 15,000 sq m. The additional outlet will bring its total number to 13 by the end of this year.

Mr Kijja added that the company also planned to build a new outlet on Bangkok's Rama II Road, costing 700 million baht, next year.

Last week, Index opened its 12th outlet in Bang Yai district in Nonthaburi, which covers 15,000 sq m and cost around 700 million baht. To stimulate sales, the company has installed 100 sample rooms to inspire consumer imagination.

Besides the investment for opening new outlets, he said Index had also invested about 50 million baht to improve logistic management to cut operating costs which stemmed largely from rising oil prices.

Factory and warehouse logistics systems have already been linked, and the company plans to connect these with its supplier database in the approaching month.

Mr Kijja said his business was doing fine to date. The company expected its sales this year to grow by 5-10% from 5.5 billion baht last year. Of the total, about 55% was local sales and the remainder from export.

''I'm only worried about the foreign-exchange fluctuation, which could mean losses,'' said Mr Kijja.

Pong Skuntanaga, vice-president of CRC Power Retail Co, the hardware and home-improvement unit of Central Retail Corporation, said his company would spend 20 million baht to spur demand for home products in the second half.

CRC recently launched the HomeWorks Super Mid-Year Sale, offering discounts of up to 70% discount, and a HomeWorks loyalty scheme which runs until August.

The company expects sales of 400 million baht from the promotional campaign.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 9 June 2006 :-

Royal guests' security ready : Roads around Throne Hall closed to traffic

After months of preparation, the military and police say they are fully prepared to provide security protection for the royal guests attending the Royal Jubilee for His Majesty the King. Supreme Commander Ruengroj Mahasaranont said yesterday the security forces were ''more than 100% ready'' to serve and protect.

The police are assigned to escort royal visitors from 25 countries during their visit and stand guard at their residences in 13 different hotels.

All security officers have undergone months of counter-terrorism training.

Gen Ruengroj said intelligence units have kept an eye out for terrorist movements, although no reports have suggested any cause for alarm.

Many of the security officers previously guarded high-level participants at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2003.

Gen Ruengroj said the soldiers take an oath of allegiance before the King every year and are duty-bound to do their best in his honour.

Huge crowds expected Roads and areas surrounding the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall have been closed to traffic since midnight, six hours earlier than planned, to cope with the crowds of people expected to view today's historical events close-up.

Closed are Uthong Nai road, the entire Royal Plaza of Dusit Palace and both lanes of Si Ayutthaya road from the Royal Plaza intersection to the 1st Division of the King's Guard intersection.

Two lanes of Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue, from Royal Plaza intersection to Makawanrangsan bridge, were also closed.

Cars are also barred from entering Phitsanulok road from Suan Misakawan intersection to Wang Daeng intersection.

Traffic police commander Panu Kerdlarppol said throngs of people travelled to the Royal Plaza last night to see the King who is scheduled to appear on the balcony of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall during the royal ceremony this morning.

From June 11-14, trucks with 10 or more wheels, those fitted with trailers and those carrying fuel will not be allowed on the roads in inner Bangkok, added Pol Maj-Gen Panu.

Pol Capt Phinit Maneerat, spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said security will be ensured for those camping out overnight at the Royal Plaza to catch the celebrations.

Police operation centres will be set up at Wat Benchamabophit, Makawanrangsan bridge and Phan Fa intersection.

The BMA will deploy 10 mobile toilets from the Misakawan intersection to Phan Fa intersection.

Eight giant LED screens will be set up along the Royal Plaza-Makawanrangsan bridge route so the crowds can watch the live broadcast of the King greeting the people.

At least 2,000 foreign journalists have arrived in Thailand to report on the royal celebrations, according to caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

The foreign reporters will be allowed to cover events in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and on Monday and Tuesday.

They will also be taken on a tour to visit royal projects in Chiang Mai.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Friday 9 June 2006 :-

Royal Jubilee Celebrations : Heavy transport forced off capital's roads for 3 days

Heavy trucks and vehicles transporting fuel will temporarily be banned from inner Bangkok streets until the end of the celebrations for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th year anniversary.

Restrictions will also apply on the vehicles using outer city roads throughout the celebrations from Sunday until June 14.

Traffic Police who announced the regulations on Wednesday said roads would have to be cleared for security reasons.

The ban will apply around the clock ban on 10-wheeled trucks and trailer trucks on all roads in inner Bangkok, covering an area of 113 square kilometres. The vehicles will be allowed to use outer roads between 10am and 3pm. The outer roads include part of Vibhavadi Road from Ratchavibha intersection to the entrance of Lad Prao Road, Rama VI Road from the Phaholyothin toll exit to Kamphaeng Phet Road intersection, and Kamphaeng Phet II Road.

There is also a temporary ban on six-wheeled or larger trucks carrying fuel gas and petrol. These are prohibited from almost all major roads like Sukhumvit, Phisanulok, Phyathai, and Rajdamnoen in the capital from 5am to 1am each day.

For more details on the limitations, drivers can call the Traffic Police hotline number 1197. The complete version of the announcement in Thai can be obtained from www.trafficpolice.go.th.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork