Anything & Everything About Thailand

[U-Need]

325 words
13 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English
(c) 2006

Thai Post Editorial - A group of senators and elected representatives has called for amendments to the 1997 Constitution. Although their calls were motivated by self-interest, many people agree that certain sections of the charter should be changed.

In this respect, we urge the government to allow people from all walks of life to voice their opinions. Any changes should be based on the voice of the majority.

A rebellious faction in the ruling Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) is against Section 107 of the Constitution, which states that an election candidate must be a political party member for at least 90 days.

The TRT rebels say they want to leave the party, but are afraid that their departure might prompt Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a snap election. The rebels will not have time to join a new party and, therefore, cannot run in the election. This is an unlikely scenario. We don't think the prime minister will dissolve the House simply to punish a small group of defectors. In fact, Section 107 was written to prevent MPs from switching parties so easily. In the past, rebellious MPs were paid to move to new parties, causing coalition governments to collapse. A strong government is good. But an effective checks-and-balance system must be in place to prevent the prime minister from abusing his authority. Right now, two-fifths of all elected representatives are needed to submit a censure motion against the prime minister. If the number is reduced to one-fifth, the elected representatives will have more clout to keep the prime minister in check.

Critics also want to change the selection procedure for members of independent organisations, which they claim are under political influence. To address these concerns, Prime Minister Thaksin may set up a committee comprising neutral and respected persons to consider amending the Constitution.

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Jan 12 2006
By Sonia Sharma, The Evening Chronicle

Promoters fined for illegal fly-posting

Double trouble lay in store for a firm promoting gender-bender dance troupe the Lady Boys of Bangkok.

The Lady Boys were in the North East in September, wowing crowds in Times Square, Newcastle.

But in the run-up to their performance, posters were slapped on railings and walls in Newcastle and Gateshead to advertise the shows.

The promotion for the tour was carried out by Urban Circus Ltd, a subsidiary of Cheshire-based parent company, The Gandey Organisation Ltd.
And at Gateshead Magistrates' Court yesterday, the Gandey Organisation admitted 19 offences of displaying unauthorised adverts.

The firm was fined £100 for each offence and ordered to pay £600 costs - a total of £2,500. One of the company's directors, Phillip Briggs, 49, of Cheshire, appeared in court.

Then just hours later, JPs in Gosforth, Newcastle, hit the firm with a second court bill of £1,200 after Briggs pleaded guilty to six further offences.

Prosecutor Susan Scott said: "A total of 82 advertising posters were removed from sites within the borough. In most cases, once removed by officers, fresh advertising material was put in place in some locations overnight."

In mitigation, Vince Ward told the court that Urban Circus Ltd was in charge of organising the promotion of the tour but responsibilities of distributing posters were delegated to a local company.

He added: "That's not to seek to distance the company from the offences because the Gandey Organisation and ultimately the directors are responsible for that.

"Mr Briggs takes full responsibility that these posters were put up. He apologises for it."

Billed as "spectacular and flamboyant", the Lady Boys show has been packing them in at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival since 1999.

The 16-strong troupe has played to sell-out audiences in Brighton, Dublin, Glasgow and Manchester. Earlier last year the cast gave their first shows in Australia.

Briggs told the court the show is set to return to Tyneside in September after rave reviews last time round.

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416 words
13 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English
(c) 2006

SRIWIPA SIRIPUNYAWIT

Ten Thai businesswomen who have reached the pinnacles of their careers have been shortlisted as potential candidates for the upcoming 2006 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World (LWEW) awards, according to the event organiser.

The LWEW awards from March 19-23 will be the first to be staged in Thailand and in Asia.

The candidates from Thailand will be decided by the Star Group, a panel of judges responsible for organising the 10th LWEW in Bangkok.

Most of the candidates are from the retail business, real estate development and direct sales. They include scions of well-known business families such as Chadatip Chutrakul of Siam Paragon Development, Nalinee Paiboon of Giffarine Skyline Unity, and Patama Leeswadtrakul of G Steel Plc. Other nominees are Pannin Kitiparaporn of Ratchada Niramit, Patra Sila-on of S&P Syndicate Plc, Yuwadee Bhicharnchitr of Central Development Store Ltd, and Khunying Sasima Srivikorn of Golden Land.

Completing the list are Sirina Chokwatana Pavarolarvidya of Boutique Newcity Plc, Supaluck Umpujh of Siam Paragon Development and Araya Arunanondchai of Ratchaburi Sugar Company.

The criteria of the candidates include ownership or at least a 50% stake in a business, or as head of a non-profit organisation. Sales of the business should exceed US$20-25 million for candidates from developed countries and $5 million for candidates from developing ones. The candidates should be well recognised and have social responsibilities as well.

Last year the LWEW awards had 20 global winners, of whom two were from Thailand: Pranee Pha-oenchoke of Thai Rung Union Car Plc and Supaphan Pichai-ronarongsongkram of Chao Phraya Ferry.

"I am proud to be included among this talented group of businesswomen. I'm confident that every candidate was chosen due to their hard work and devotion," Ms Supaluck said.

An elated Mrs Sirina said that she had never anticipated such an honour because she was raised amid strict Chinese values where women were not given an important role in family businesses. "This success comes from the teachings of my father originally meant for my brothers which I took to heart since I was a child. I developed my own management and accounting systems which were honed from years of experience."

S&P Syndicate's Mrs Patra revealed her success tips for a successful business, "No matter what business it is, you must have integrity and honesty in order to succeed."

[U-Need]

UDN news 13 Jan 2006

The Police are looking for the mother of a buried baby's body in Phuket

1具初生男嬰屍被掩埋在普吉府石橋尾觀景亭附近，嬰屍被野狗自土坑中拖出來才被發現。

屍體已有部份被啃咬掉，推測可能已被掩埋了兩天，因已開始發出臭味。警推測可能因產後夭折或被狠心母親墮胎 。警正尋找死者的母親，以查明真相。

普吉府直轄縣警署前天上午8.45時接報，在直轄縣石橋尾觀景亭附近，發現1具初生男嬰屍，據報即率員前往 調查。

肇事地點距國家報災警報台約100米處。嬰屍是被野狗自土坑中拖出來，腦袋與身體有些部份已被啃咬掉。推測 可能已被掩埋了兩天，因已開始發出臭味，而且渾身發青。推測可能於出生時便告夭折，被其父母掩埋掉，或者是 狠毒母親墮胎。



警已保留嬰屍的衣物，以便尋找死者的母親，以查明真相。

[U-Need]

CNA Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 13 January 2006 1522 hrs

BANGKOK : Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Friday a missing Muslim human rights lawyer had been killed by government officials, in a case that has drawn international concern.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said at least four officials were involved in the murder of Somchai Neelapaijit, who went missing in Bangkok in March 2004. He said prosecutors would file a new case, possibly next month.

"I know that Somchai is dead, and more than four government officials were involved, but witnesses and evidence are still being collected," Thaksin told reporters.

He said Thailand's Department of Special Investigations was working on the case and that murder charges were being considered.

"Circumstantial evidence confirmed that he's dead. But this case is not easy at all, and because it involves government officials, it's very difficult to find evidence and witnesses," he said.

Thaksin's comments, the first time he has publicly accepted Somchai was murdered, come one day after a police officer was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison over the lawyer's disappearance.

Four others were cleared of all charges by a criminal court.

Thaksin did not say if new charges would be filed against the same group or against other government officials.

But he said murder charges had not been filed against the five because investigators have yet to find Somchai's body.

Somchai had publicly accused police of torturing four of his clients while in custody.

The clients, all Muslim men, were accused of belonging to regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah but were acquitted in June 2005.

His disappearance, and the failure of police to explain the case, is frequently cited as one of the grievances against the Bangkok government in southern Thailand, where more than 1,000 people have been killed in two years of unrest blamed on Islamic separatists, organised crime and corruption.

Major Ngern Thongsuk was convicted of coercion for forcing Somchai into a car the night he disappeared, but his light sentence drew quick condemnation from Somchai's family as well as rights groups.

"Instead of resolving the 'disappearance' of Somchai, the trial of five police officers has ended with his fate and whereabouts unclarified," said Catherine Baber, deputy Asia director at Amnesty International.

"The authorities must act to clarify these questions and ensure all suspected perpetrators of his 'disappearance' are brought to justice." - AFP/de

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 14 January 2006 :-

Thai teens still fall short of healthy height

Sixteen-year-old Thais are still several centimetres shorter than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended height for that age.

Deputy Prime Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul, chairman of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, said yesterday that according to the WHO a healthy height for a 16-year-old boy was 1.735 metres, while a girl of the same age should be 1.625m tall.

“But on average Thai boys are between 7.5cm and 11cm shorter than that, and Thai girls are about 5.5cm and 6.5cm shorter,” he said.

He said one reason for this height discrepancy was a lack of calcium consumption. A survey by the Public Health Ministry showed that Thais on average consumed only about half of the calcium that their bodies required. Calcium, which is available in milk, encourages bone growth.

A survey by the Livestock Development Department showed that Thais consumed only 12.03 litres of milk a year on average.

“A lack of calcium can lead to bone degeneration or osteoporosis,” Suchai said.

Thai consumption of milk is a far cry from that of Americans, who drink about 92 litres a year, and Australians, who consume about 202 litres. In Asia, Japanese drink 39 litres per year on average.

Suchai said the information had prompted Thai Health, the Agriculture Department and the Public Health Department to launch a campaign to promote milk consumption, called “Nurturing True Love with 100 per cent Pure Milk”.

“We hope to boost milk consumption among Thais to 34 litres a year,” he said.

Suchai also called on organisers of Children’s Day activities to serve milk instead of carbonated beverages.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 14 January 2006 :-

Rape, murder verdict due on Wednesday

A Surat Thani Court will on Wednesday pronounce its verdict on two fishermen charged with the brutal rape and murder of a British tourist on Koh Samui, the judge said yesterday.

The accused, Bualoy Phothisith, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, pleaded guilty on Thursday to raping and killing 21-year-old Katherine Horton, a student from Wales, who was vacationing in Samui with a girlfriend over the New Year.

After hearing from eight prosecution witnesses, who included a policeman, two of the accused’s co-workers, forensic experts from Bangkok and a doctor, Judge Chamnong Sutchaimai said he would announce the verdict on Wednesday.

The defence did not call witnesses.

Prosecutors had initially planned to field 11 witnesses to testify but later decided that eight would suffice.

Maj-General Santan Chayanont, who headed the investigation, was the first witness to take the stand.

His testimony lasted four hours as he gave details of how police had found Horton’s body in Lamai Bay on January 2 and traced and arrested the fishermen on January 8.

Bualoy and Wichai were arrested after sailors told police that the duo had gone ashore on the day of he crime and later told them they had raped a foreigner and dumped her body in the sea, police said.

The suspects told police earlier this week they had been drinking and watching pornographic films on their boat before swimming to shore and attacking Horton.

Santan said Horton had been walking alone on the beach and speaking with her mother on her cellphone when her attackers struck.

Wichai admitted he had beaten Horton several times with an umbrella before they raped her and threw her body in the sea.

Test results confirmed the DNA samples found on Horton linked Bualoy and Wichai to the rape and murder, police said.

Police cancelled the re-enactment of the crime out of fear the fishermen would be attacked by the crowd.

Many foreign and Thai reporters observed the trial hearing yesterday, but the court did not allow them to record the testimony, saying it had not yet made its ruling.

The two defendants, wearing prison uniforms and shackles, appeared calm and showed no fear or remorse during the hearing.

The Nation
Surat Thani

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by thaivisitor

Thought this might be interesting news to all.

PM SHUTS DOWN MORE THAN 800,000 OBSCENE WEBSITES

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said that more than 800,000 websites deemed "inappropriate," will be shut down. He has warned website hosts not to allow any inappropriate messages or pictures to show on theirs websites.

The premier said that the bottom line is to eradicate obscene media which may mislead youths. He said that those who post inappropriate pictures or messages on the website will be seriosly punished.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 January 2006

Uncle TV,

Make sure that your Hatyai After Dark website does not contravene any of the guidelines laid down by PM Thaksin.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 15 January 2006 :-

Koh Samui tourist police reinforced

Surat Thani (TNA)
Police are adding another police station on Koh Samui off this southern province, aimed at providing better security, especially tourists, following the New Year's Day rape and murder of a Welsh student holidaying on the island, a senior police officer says.

Pol Maj Gen Sunthan Chayanond, Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, said Koh Samui still has insufficient numbers of police for the number of local residents and tourists on the island.

Because of the circumstances of the recent crime, police will coordinate with other agencies in logging details of all fishing trawlers and crew that frequent at prominent tourist islands, including Koh Samui, Koh Pangan and Koh Tao.

The plan to boost the number of police personnel comes after the corpse of 21-year-old Welsh student Katherine Horton was found on Jan 2 floating offshore near a Koh Samui tourist beach.

Police last Monday arrested two fishing trawler crewmen, Bualoi Phothisit, 23, of Ubon Ratchathani, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, of nearby Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, both of whom confessed to the rape and murder.

According to investigators, DNA tests confirmed that both men had raped her. The verdict from their one-day trial are to be announced on Wednesday by the Surat Thani court.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 15 January 2006 :-

Stateless children beg for citizenship : Little 'faces without a state' seek a nationality

For children who belong to no country, being able to get Thai citizenship as a Children's Day present has been their ultimate dream.
Reading from a letter she wrote to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to state her Children's Day wish, Natthakan, a Mathayom Suksa 2 student at Sop Moei Vitayakom school in Mae Hong Son's Sop Moei district, summed up the emotion shared by countless other stateless children in the country.

"I'm one of the faces without a nationality. Mine is a body without a soul. I don't have a clue what my future holds," she said. "The gift I ask on this Children's Day only you have the power to give. It's in your hands and I'm at your mercy," the girl said, sobbing.

The gift is none other than the change of status from a stateless person to a Thai. The message, taken from her letter which was sent to Mr Thaksin, was read out loud at the start of a Children's Day celebration for stateless children at the centre for children and community networks development in Sop Moei district last week.

Natthakan continued in her letter: "I was deprived of opportunities, oppressed, threatened and taken advantage of. I have seen my rights violated and faced so many problems words fail me. Only those who have experienced the same hardships know how I really feel."

Natthakan'a parents hold a green hilltribe ID card issued in 1999 which entitles them to only a temporary stay in the country, and not Thai citizenship. The card must be renewed annually with the cabinet's approval.

Natthakan was born in Thailand but it does not make her a Thai by birth.

There are about 150,000 stateless people in Mae Hong Son alone, Deputy Governor Sitthichai Prasertsri said.

Emerging from a three-hour cruise up the Salween river from the Samlab village next to where Miss Natthakan lives is a tiny village called Ban Mae Di. She said the village is home to 19 households and 86 Karen people in Mae Sariang district.

Ban Mae Di means "village off the map" because the settlement on the Thai side of the Salween river does not exist anywhere in the state database.

The areas along both sides of the Salween river have long been home to the Karen, said village chief Ta-gla, 55.

For the past 18 years, no population survey has ever been conducted there. The village is not even listed on the domicile registration system.

No villager holds any citizenship document, let alone a household registration.

There is no school either as the location is too remote. Locals have to send their children to a nearby refugee camp for their education.

"I wanted to study here at Ban Mae Di so I could be with my family," said Naw Brutu, 15, Ta-gla's daughter, a Mathayom Suksa 1 student. "I wanted to learn Thai. Only English, Karen and Burmese are taught at the camp," she said.

In Meeda Nawanat's case, luck was on her side. After finishing high school, the girl from Sop Moei district got a scholarship from Payap University to pursue undergraduate studies in law.

But her statelessness will prevent her from qualifying as a judge or serving as a public prosecutor. But with a law degree she feels she will at least be able to help other stateless people in legal matters.

"Though stateless, we should not lose hope. There are always people looking over our shoulders to lend us a helping hand," she said.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 16 January 2006 :-

Traditional Chinese-language schools bracing for tough times : Old-style schools gird for competition against trendy mall outlets, overseas courses

Story by Sirikul Bunnag

Traditional Chinese-language schools well known for grooming Thailand's top businessmen are bracing for tough times ahead.

These days, many parents prefer to send their children to more "modern" language schools in shopping malls, or to take language courses during the summer holidays in China.

Nongluck Dejdamkerngchai, head teacher of Peiing School, a 91-year-old Chinese-language school in Chinatown, said the school's popularity has paled in comparison with trendy Chinese-language centres in department stores, or multi-language international schools.

Chinese classes are also more widespread, taught at many primary and secondary schools.

Mrs Nongluck said in the past 30 years, the school has enrolled as many as 1,000 students a year, from kindergarten to Pathom 6. Often, the numbers of students at kindergarten and Pathom 1 levels exceeded the school's quota, and lots had to be drawn.

These days, the school teaches 500 students a year while kindergarten and primary students no longer compete for limited seats.

Mrs Nongluck said most students come from average Chinese business families living in Chinatown.

"However, many parents don't choose our school. Sometimes, they just call to ask for some tips on Chinese studies or come over just to buy Chinese textbooks. They seem to favour the conventional school system while language centres offering crash courses in Chinese are also popular.

"Traditional Chinese schools are now considered old-fashioned and outdated," she said.

Mrs Nongluck looks on the bright side.

"We are more concerned here about the quality of education.

"We look for news to improve on quality. We import Chinese textbooks direct from China, and have introduced computer courses. We have put on a Chinese cultural exhibition. Each year, teachers get the chance to improve Chinese language skills with native speakers," she said.

Nam Aromsook, head teacher of Kwang Chao Chinese School, said students now have more options for study, so numbers at traditional Chinese schools are dropping.

"We have to adjust to survive. Apart from the conventional curriculum with an emphasis on Chinese language, we have also set up a language centre to provide the public with a 30-hour course on basic Chinese language skills," he said.

Natthanant Chutimajirattikorn, 12, a Pathom 6 student at Peiing School, said she studies there because it is close to home. She has learned Chinese at the school since she was young.

"Now I think I am more knowledgeable than students from other schools," she said.

Viriya Ngam-rangsima, 12, a Pathom 3 student from the same school, said Chinese speakers are in growing demand in the job market as several major Thai companies have invested in China. Some are joint ventures with Chinese investors in Thailand.

Thaniya Liangchaichoke, 9, a student at Peiing School, said Chinese families prefer to send their offspring to study in Chinese schools so their children will master the tongue and use that knowledge to do business. But children in Chinatown are more inclined towards conventional schools which offer a wider range of courses.

Vanida Cheewaphantusi, 45, said the children of well-off families go to China to study during the summer holidays.

She said the multi-language schools are organised better, and have more modern equipment.

"Students at multi-language schools have proven to be more fluent in many fields of study. They can also express themselves in both Chinese and English with greater confidence," Mrs Vanida said.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 16 January 2006 :-

Education Ministry pushes Chinese language

Story by Sirikul Bunnag

The Education Ministry has signed an agreement with China to promote the study of the Chinese language, which is expected to be fully integrated into the education system by 2011.

Potjana Wongtrakul, inspector-general of the Education Ministry, said the ministry had developed a five-year plan beginning this year to promote the study of Chinese. It is hoped about 500,000 high school students, 170,000 students from vocational institutes and 400,000 university undergraduates will achieve an acceptable standard of proficiency. This represents about 20%of students, respectively, from each group.

The plan also aims to encourage members of the workforce to learn the language as it could prove a useful communication medium and boost career prospects.

Local businessmen, however, say Thailand is years behind other Asian countries in promoting Chinese language learning.

Mrs Potjana was speaking at a seminar on Friday on the promotion of Chinese studies. She said a national panel would implement the plan, which would include people from the public and private sectors and Chinese language experts.

Centres promoting the study of Chinese would open in Bangkok and other parts of the country. Study and assessments would be strictly controlled.

Research would be carried out in collaboration with educational institutions in China, which would include a curriculum developed with the latest learning formats, educational media and technology.

The abilities of lecturers would be evaluated in line with China's standard appraisal of language proficiency. An online curriculum database and language centre would also be made available to the teachers.

An agreement was signed at the seminar between the Education Ministry and Hanban, China's national language institute, to develop the teaching of Chinese. Zhang Xinsheng, China's deputy education minister, witnessed the signing ceremony.

Under the agreement, Hanban will help set the criteria in selecting schools to experiment with its newly-developed textbooks. The copyright on its Thai-language textbook, Happy Chinese, would be transferred to the Education Ministry for use in schools.

Hanban and the Education Ministry would hold an intensive three-month training course, which would reach 1,000 local teachers of Chinese. Participants would spend two months in China, with the remainder of the course being carried out locally.

The institute would also provide 100 scholarships a year to help young teachers further their studies up to bachelor degree level in China. A group of 500 volunteer teachers from China would be dispatched to help teach the language, beginning this year.

Mr Zhang said the country had introduced formal Chinese language learning rather late compared with Japan, South Korea and other countries.

There are about 20,000 Chinese language schools in Japan, 40,000 in South Korea and 10,000 in the United States.

"Although Thailand is relatively late in joining the scene, I'm confident the country has the vision required for developing Chinese language learning, which will help it catch up with other countries or even leapfrog them before long ," he said.

Kosak Chairasmisak, president of 7-Eleven Co, said language proficiency itself was not enough. Emphasis should also be placed on other aspects such as culture, beliefs and the value system of the Chinese people, he said.

"There are very few people with a deep understanding of the Chinese language. A lack of in-depth and all-round knowledge could hinder investment and competitiveness.

"Chinese language study here is lagging behind neighbouring countries in the region." he said.

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Prachachart Thurakij, January 12-15, 2006

There are internal conflicts between Mr. Khiri Kanchanaphak (the owner of BTS) and Mr. Kasem jatikawanit (the Head of BTS Board) on many issues such as

1) The ways to run the company
2) The selling of BTS stock to the government - Mr. Khiri is willing to sell BTS stock at 5 baht/share - well below the par price of 10 baht/share as the way to get a long term deal with the connection for other routes. This is instead of 15 baht/share according Mr. Kasem's plan to extract the most from the government's coffer. This plan is due to the fact that Mr. Kasem is a staunch supporter of the Democrats, so animosity toward the TRT government is not a surprise at all.
3) The debt restructure plans. The old plan proposed by Mr. Khiri has folded since the creditors refuse to approve the debt restructure deal despite the approval from both shareholders and the BTS Board. Therefore, creditors have sold debts of BTS to the following companies as the sign of disapproval of the BTS debt restructure plan:
3.1) SCB sold 6 billion baht of BTS debts to a subsidiary of ADB
3.2) KfW sold 34 billion baht of BTS debts to Deutsche Bank
3.3) IFCT has sold 2.68 billion baht of BTS debts to contractors from the U.S.
This effectively forces BTS to go back to square one for debt restructure.
Mr. Khiri is satisfied with the new creditors who purchase BTS debt, but Mr. Kasem is urging Mr. Khiri to come up with a new debt restructure plan so as to offer an IPO for the Samrong extension which needs a 5-6 billion baht investment.
The current debts of BTS are 39 billion baht--33 billion baht in principle and 6.3 billion baht in outstanding interest.
30% of BTS debt is in baht denomination while the other 70% is in US dollar denomination.
The new plan is to:
1) Write off the debt by 8.5 billion baht - 6.3 billion baht in outstanding interest and 2.2 billion baht in principle.
2) Convert 4.3 billion baht debts into equity.
3) Convert 12 billion baht debt into bonds redeemable in 18 years.
4) The rest of the debts (14 billion baht) will be paid all in 18 years instead of 12 years.
This would compel BTS to cut down the par price of the share from 10 baht/share to 5 baht/share and the allocation of stocks will be as follows:
1) BTS would own 42.1% instead of 58% of shares
2) The creditors with insured equity would own 29.8% of shares
3) The creditor without insured equity would own 2.8% of shares
4) The rest would be an IPO
Mr. Khiree said he is going to handle the new debt restructure plan by himself. It would take 8 months to finish the new debt restructure plan since BTS gets 8-9 million baht revenue per day.
Note: TRT could exploit the conflicts between Mr. Khiree and Mr. Kasem (Super K), but the government has not done so since the plan to obstruct the Taksin extension backfired on the government.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 16 January 2006 :-

Ancient Muslim sites in Ayutthaya falling into disrepair

By Anchalee Kongrut

Ayutthaya - A Muslim cultural expert has called on the government to pay more attention to historic sites of ancient Muslim communities in Ayutthaya that are falling into disrepair.

Teeranand Chuangpinit, director of Thon Buri Historical Information Centre, was referring to Chao Kun Takia Cemetery and Chao Kun Ku Cham Cemetery, the final resting place of noble Muslims of the Ayutthaya era, including a nephew of the powerful Sheikh Ahmad Qomi, the first lineage of the Bunnag family and the country's first Chularatchamontri who lived in the reign of King Narai.

Traditional buildings on the premises of Chao Kun Takia Mosque, more than 300 years old, are in disrepair. People can modify the buildings at will. Old and new architectural styles become confused.

Mr Teeranand said sites with great historic importance deserve better care from the Fine Arts Department.

"Just a few kilometres from a designated World Heritage site, these two historic places have never received money or expertise from the state conservation agency," he said.

"As a result, we lack important historic evidence belonging to local people with a different religious faith," said Mr Teeranand.

The Takia Mosque community is an early settlement of Muslim migrants who came from Persia during the reign of King Songtham of Ayutthaya. Some believe the Chao Kun Takia Cemetery was the burial ground of a respected Muslim Indian believed to have possessed supernatural power.

The Takia Mosque has become a popular destination for local and foreign Muslims. Buddhist Thais also visit the mosque to make a wish and, if the wish is granted, make merit such as releasing goats and chickens.

Chao Kun Ku Cham Cemetery is also in poor condition.

The burial ground of the fifth Chularatchamontri, the state counsellor on treasury and international trade, is set in an unadorned concrete house. "This looks much better compared to the past," said Mr Teeranand.

The burial ground was covered by a tin roof when he visited the area a decade ago.

The Cham canal, once a busy trade channel which local people used as a short cut to the Chao Phraya river, is clogged. The area around the Cham canal was originally a settlement of Cham, ethnic Muslims from Indochina based in Kampong Cham in Cambodia, who entered Thailand over four centuries ago.

Mr Teeranand said local history would soon disappear unless historians and the Fine Arts Department came to the rescue.

Pradit Kanjan, 67, member of Aliyinnuroy Mosque in Ayutthaya province, said local people wanted to preserve the sites but lacked expertise and money.

[U-Need]

892 words
16 January 2006
Bangkok Post
English

PRADIT RUANGDIT PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

The anti-poverty reality show featuring Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Roi Et has received poor reviews even before it goes on air today, with academics decrying it as a political TV drama which could split the country.

Renowned sociologist Thirayuth Boonmee said it was ironic that Mr Thaksin had lost touch with reality through his own reality programme, "Backstage Show: Prime Minister", which begins on UBC cable network today.

"The prime minister is making a personal soap opera out of politics, which is slipping into a serious crisis on so many fronts," Mr Thirayuth said.

Mr Thaksin will be on camera for many hours a day as he remains in At Samat district of Roi Et from today till Friday for workshops on eradication of poverty.

He likened the show to a traditional lakhon kae bon -- a form of merit-making in which a troupe of dancers or folk artists give a performance in front of a deity _ aimed at reversing the bad omens which have beset him.

The best setting for it would be in the confines of his own home with his cronies as cast, Mr Thirayuth said, slamming the live show as a waste of taxpayer money.

The prime minister should wake up to the myriad problems facing the country. The economy must be put right, and poverty still troubled most of the population. The bird flu scare had not gone away and the southern violence posed such grave concerns that Privy Council chairman Gen Prem Tinsulanonda and former prime minister Anand Panyarachun had to step into the peace-building process.

The Thammasat University academic predicted a crisis for the government this year.

"Solving the country's problems is not something to toy with. It certainly isn't a political fantasia," Mr Thirayuth said, comparing the At Samat show to the popular Academy Fantasia TV programme which searches for new stars.

The At Samat show, criticised as image dressing for Mr Thaksin, would preoccupy government officials and cabinet ministers with trivial tasks such as writing scripts and frying rice. They would not have time to attend to more urgent national issues.

Mr Thirayuth said his worry was that Mr Thaksin was using the show as an instrument to enlist political support from people upcountry to counter public discontent with him in Bangkok.

City folks were disenchanted by the numerous corruption allegations against Mr Thaksin's relatives and cronies and his trampling on the free press, Mr Thirayuth said. The prime minister needed a political cushion to fall back on and he was likely to visit the provinces more often this year.

He drew a parallel with some Latin American countries where the leaders' supporters in the provinces clash with city residents unhappy with a corrupt government.

The people would be divided, he said, pointing to the Friday night scuffles between supporters of media firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul, who is the prime minister's most vocal critic, and the anti-Sondhi group from the North, Mr Thaksin's home turf. "Mr Thaksin seems to have hit a dead end staying in Bangkok where he is hounded by critics. So he heads to the provinces to get people there to come to his side," Mr Thirayuth said.

The only "plus" he could think of about the At Samat show was that it may help raise local people's political awareness.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee insisted the show was neither a TV drama nor a tool to polarise the country. The government intended it to be a lesson for state officials nationwide to learn first-hand from the prime minister how to eradicate poverty.

The show's target groups were officials, not viewers at home, and so there would no broadcast of Mr Thaksin sleeping or taking a bath.

Mr Surapong said Mr Thaksin did not set out to divide the people. He wanted to lead by example through a demonstration of people-centred development.

Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said Mr Thaksin would listen to At Samat residents and local leaders and analyse their problems, particularly those relating to low farm prices.

"There will be no showering of gifts or waving of the magic wand," she said.

The latest Abac Poll found the majority of Bangkok residents had little interest in the show. While 29% of the respondents thought the show was not a good idea, 20% approved of it -- but 51% declined to comment at all.

The Northeastern Civic Coalition said the show was a publicity machine for Mr Thaksin and disregarded local wisdom.

Spokesman Vivatchai Timhin said local people knew best what was needed to improve their lives.

The government's populist policies were ruining local farmers' ability to be self-sufficient. The prime minister lacked any insight into the roots of poverty.

Suntree Sengking, chairman of the network of NGOs in the Northeast, said the populist policies forced poor people to rely more on the Thai Rak Thai party and only aggravated people's debt burdens.

The show would undermine the bureaucratic system, particularly agencies such as the Centre Against Poverty chaired by Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

If Mr Thaksin was sincere about tackling poverty, he should be brave enough to meet poor people from other districts.