sriracha john

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is confident that he can return to Thailand in six months, Kwanchai Praiphana, chairman of the Udon Thani Loving Club, said Saturday.

How he seems himself....

Poster for Kwanchai Praipana

Reality...

It would seem that Kwanchai (seated right) has added a few pounds since his poster was published...

PAD urges PM to sack Police Chief

An embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva came under mounting pressure yesterday as the powerful People's Alliance for Democracy continued to press for him to remove the National Police Chief while the opposition threatened to seek his impeachment.

PAD spokesman Panthep Pua-pongpan said the PM had the power to prevent Police Chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan from wielding influence by citing irregularities in the Bt18-million public-relation fund or the October 7 incident to transfer Patcharwat to an inactive post.

"The PM must realise that the government's stability depends on the people's support not three or four people who try to wield influence over him,'' he said.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul warned the ruling Democrats they could be in for political trouble if the prime minister "remains idle" regarding the post of national police chief.

Panthep also urged the PM to make a bold and decisive decision as to who would replace Patcharawat as caretaker national police chief. He said if the PM did not intervene and let Police General Priewpan Damapong, who is most senior, take the top post the Sondhi shooting case would be even more entangled because Priewpan was part of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's family.

Priewpan is the brother of Pojaman Damapong, Thaksin's former wife.

Patcharawat countered Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's public announcement that the national police chief had taken 30 days leave by saying he would return from his official overseas trip and come back to work on Monday.

He said the national police chief was fighting back because he did not want to allow any interference in the annual police reshuffle.

Abhisit has been trying to remove stumbling blocks faced by police in the investigation into the assassination attempt on Sondhi by proposing that Patcharawat, who is believed to have stood in the way of police investigation, take leave if he did not want to be transferred.

Panthep said there had been a behind-the-scenes deal before Abhisit announced that Patcharawat would take a long leave and the national police chief fought back by countering Abhisit's statement.

Abhisit appeared moody when reporters pressed him to account for the conflicting stories, insisted that he had talked to all top officials in charge of security including Patcharat, Defence Ministry Prawit Wongsuwan and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban before Friday and there had not been any problem.

"Everything is all right. Only some people with something to lose are trying to blow up the affair out of proportion, but that is normal,'' he said.

Asked to comment on reports about political interference in the police reshuffle, Abhisit refused to answer and walked away.

The premier said he had no conflict with the top police officer and believed that some groups wanted to manipulate the issue for their own political gain.

Abhisit declined to say who would be appointed acting chief while Patcharawat was absent.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the opposition party was planning to seek the impeachment of Abhisit for interfering in the annual police reshuffle. He said the PM might have violated the Constitution by suspending the reshuffle. "It is possible that the delay in the reshuffle is because politicians want to be in control of the police when the next general election is held,'' he said.

He said the party would gather the signatures of one-fourth of MPs to submit to Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet next week to launch impeachment proceeding against the PM.

The prime minister said yesterday that he was not concerned by the impeachment plan, the Thai News Agency reported.

Stressing that he had violated neither the law nor the Constitution, Abhisit said he had done nothing wrong, despite charges to the contrary from Pheu Thai members.

-- The Nation 2009-08-02

Thailand may hold referendum on amnesty for banned politicians

THAILAND’S government is considering holding a referendum on an amnesty for banned politicians before elections next year, in an effort to appease opposition groups and restore Thailand’s battered image as a stable democracy.

Thai deputy prime minister Korbsak Sabhavasu said the amnesty would focus on overturning a five-year ban on 220 deputies, many of whom are loyal to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a 2006 coup.

The efforts to restore political credibility come as the southeast Asian country tries to fight its way out of recession. However, any amnesty would not include Thaksin himself as he is charged with a crime.

The popular former leader fled Thailand last year before a court sentenced him to two years in prison on corruption charges. He claimed the trial was unfair.

Establishing the legitimacy of elections is crucial if there is to be political stability in Thailand. The country has had five prime ministers in the past three years as rival groups failed to agree on how elections should be run.

Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva set up a multiparty reconciliation panel to draft constitutional changes after the protests, which saw Thaksin supporters clash with police and soldiers, resulting in a number of deaths.

“The big major issues that could not be agreed would go for a referendum,” Mr Korbsak told Bloomberg TV. “Once that’s done, we start the process of changing the constitution.”

A poll in the Bangkok Post newspaper showed that voters in the northeast supported an amnesty for corrupt politicians while those in the south were markedly against one.

Among the politicians banned are former prime ministers Samak Sundaravej, Somchai Wongsawat, and Banharn Silpa-Archa, as well as many former ministers and parliamentarians.

- Irish Times / 2009-07-29

Supporters of Thaksin should not go beyond rally: Thai top brasses

BANGKOK (Xinhua) -- Supporters of ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra have the basic right to rally in order to show their love to Thaksin, however, they should not create any other movement beyond a mass rally, including of seeking a Royal Pardon for Thaksin, Thai top brasses said here on Friday night.

The Thai government at 9.00 p.m., local time, hosted a special program, entitled "Truth about the Royal Pardon" on a state-owned television NBT, in a move to provide knowledge to the Thai people concerning the country's royal pardon law, amid the mass rally in the center of capital Bangkok by the red-shirted supporters of Thaksin.

Several thousands of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) people started their mass rally from Friday afternoon at Sanam Luang, or the royal field square, as the last day of a signature campaign to support the Royal Pardon to be sought for Thaksin.

They plan to submit the pardon petition with names of Thais for Thaksin to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, probably on Aug. 7.

By 22.20 p.m., local time, at the rally site the UDD group claimed that they have gathered 5.3 million names of the Thai people, which will be used to support seeking the Royal Pardon for Thaksin.

Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September, 2006, in accusation of corruption, and kept in exile since then. Thaksin returned to Thailand in February, 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.

Under the law, criminals can only petition for the royal amnesty after they have served time for a certain period and expressed repentance, Thai Justice Minister Peerapan Saleerathawipak, who took part in the special program, said.

Also, the fact is that Thaksin has not served any time in prison, or admitted to any wrongdoing, and according to the law, only his family members can petition for the Royal Pardon.

Dr. Jaras Suwanmala, Dean of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, another participant of the special program, said under democratic principle the Royal Pardon's petition is not the provision for a personal interest.

Hence, it is not appropriate for Thaksin, who is using his political influence as the former prime minister, to seek the Royal Pardon, said Dr. Jaras.

The organization, which will receive the UDD group's petition letter to seek the Royal Pardon for Thaksin, will need to carefully consider what they should do after receiving the petition letter, Dr. Jaras said.

His comment has echoed a latest move by rectors of all 26 state universities, who have signed their names to express opposition to the red-shirted people's plan to petition His Majesty for the pardon for Thaksin.

The rector stance has been announced on Friday by the rectors as they would submit a letter to the Office of His Majesty Principal Private Secretary, asking it not to forward the petition letter of the red-shirted people to His Majesty.

All of the participants of the TV special program have agreed that the petition will affect the country's revered monarchy institution.

Meanwhile, the business sector here in Thailand is worried that the country's political uncertainty outlook will prolong the domestic economic downturn. The re-gathering by Thaksin's supporters is jittering since the country's recent political chaos, which was caused by the red-shirted people, resulted in the collapse of the ASEAN Summit and its related meetings in Thailand in mid-April.

In a latest survey among 1,291 members by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce (JCC) in Bangkok, during May 26 and June 26, it was discovered that among potential factors, which would affect the Thai economy over the next one to two years, include the domestic long-term political turmoil. Some Japanese companies have already deferred new investment, or deferred investment for expansion, Munenori Yamada, president of the JCC Economic Survey Team and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, said. Therefore, Yamada has warned any prolonged political turmoil might eventually affect Japanese investments in Thailand.

Meanwhile, former Thai Finance Minister Virabongsa Ramangkura has echoed the JCC view as he has doubted over the Thai economic recovery.

Other foreign economies might recover quicker than that of Thailand since the Thai political problem might prolong the country's economic downturn, Virabongsa said.

- Xinhua / 2009-08-01

1. Corrupt is corrupt. There's no "but". There's no justification. There's no excuse.

2. He abused his power so he should face the consequences.

1. I think most western eyes, reading this, will agree. However, this is Thailand, a tiny spot in Asia where corruption belongs to the day-in-day-out survival of the fittest.

Most TV members criticizing corruption are from the west where corruption, although still existing, is minor instead major in Asia.

It will take a long time before corruption will diminish.

Putting Thaksin, his wife, his oldest daughter, and his son away for 26 years in prison would be a dynamic start...

Thaksin Shinawatra

Thailand Outlook

Thaksin Faces 26 Years Imprisonment for Graft Charges

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) announced yesterday to press four criminal charges against deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in two weeks for his charges of abusing power during his tenure as Prime Minister, where he could be subjected to a 26 years imprisonment term if found guilty of the alleged charges.

In addition, an AEC’s sub-committee also found other irregularities in administrative decisions made by the Thaksin administration which had caused massive damages to the state, including the

Regarding Thaksin’s illegal concealment of Shin Corp. shareholdings charges, AEC Secretary-General Kaewsan Atibodhi said yesterday that his children and relatives actually owned shares of the company on his behalf, when he was still in office.

His wife Potjaman on the other hand also held shares in Shin Corp. which Thaksin knew all along, but declined acknowledgment of her stakes in the company.

2. I would agree if the rest of the bunch would face justice as well.

That's fair.

Who are they?

Poll: Majority satisfied with 15-year free education

BANGKOK, 31 July 2009 (NNT) - The majority of respondents in the recent poll of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University agreed that the 15-year free education program was the most satisfactory while the government's financial management was the worst.

The Suan Dusit Poll was conducted among people nationwide on the Democrat-led government's performance during its first 6 months in office. The poll showed that out of the total score of 10, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was given a score of 7.38 for his efforts and 6.37 for his accomplishments. The cabinet received a score of 6.30 for its commitment and 5.94 for overall performance. Meanwhile, the entire government was given a score of 6.26 for its intention to work for the country, 6.18 for providing freedom to public servants, 5.82 for its honesty and 5.66 for its unity.

As for overall performance by ministry, the Education Ministry ranked first with a score of 6.69, followed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security with 6.64 points and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports with 6.38 points. The ministries receiving the least confidence from the respondents were the Transport Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Commerce Ministry.

The survey also indicated that the majority was most satisfied with the 15-year free education, followed by the state welfare for the elderly and underprivileged people, the 2,000-baht check handout for low-income earners, the 5 relief measures to aid the poor and the government’s devotion to its duties. On the other hand, the government’s poorest performances included the handling of the country's financial and economic problems as well as the high cost of living, the assistance for the agricultural sector and the preventative measures against the A (H1N1) flu outbreak.

-- NNT 2009-07-31

Royal Pardon Campaign for Thaksin Stalled in Provinces

Many provinces have delayed the collection of signatures from people who wish to withdraw their names from red shirt's petition seeking a Royal Pardon for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra due to the uncertain requirements from the Interior Ministry.

Khon Kaen Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation decided to cancel the drive to collect signatures from people who want to withdraw their names from the red-shirt's petition seeking Royal Pardon for fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The decision came after some people visited the office to give their signatures, but the officials could not allow them to do so as they did not sign the red-shirt's petition.

Kon Kaen Governor Pramote Sajjaruk, therefore, ordered the collection to be put on hold until a statement and clear requirements regarding the matter have been issued.

In Buri Ram Province, there still has been no collection of names in the city hall and its district offices.

The provincial office said district chiefs in the area are still tied up with the meeting to discuss the related order from the Interior Ministry. A report said that no group of people has come out to protest the government's campaign which kicked off today.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Chaowarat Charnweerakul assigned provincial governors and district chiefs to arrange for their offices to be venues to solicit locals in their areas who intend to withdraw their names from the red-shirt's petition.

-- Tan Network 2009-07-31

i think this incident once again serves to show that thickskins followers are little more than a paid for gang of hoodlums

Warrants Sought for Red-shirt Local Leaders in Chiang Mai

Police in Chiang Mai Province are seeking arrest warrants for five local leaders of the anti-government Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, for their alleged involvement in disturbances during the Finance Minister's visit earlier this month.

Police Lieutenant-General Somkid Boonthanom, the Provincial Police Region 5 Chief, said regarding red-shirt supporters surrounding Phuping Rajanives police station to disrupt Finance Minister Korn Jatikawanich's visit, that warrants for five local red-shirt leaders are expected to be issued within the next few days.

Five Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship or DAAD leaders will be charged with illegal assembly of more than 10 people, inciting chaos, and obstructing police operations.

Eighteen police personnel were injured during the clashes with the red-shirt protesters.

Somkid said charges against the red-shirt group would be based on evidence, adding that he is not worried that police might be pressured by the DAAD group.

He noted that the report on the case was submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and added that the deputy PM has expressed concern and given some money to the injured officials for medical treatment fees.

-- Tan Network 2009-07-31

Police boss 'to take leave'

Would take heat off govt in Sondhi case

National police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon's proposal to take leave will take a lot of heat off the government in the Sondhi shooting case. It will also give the government a chance to reorganise the police force in the annual reshuffle.

Police General Patcharawat's offer yesterday to take 10 days' leave to go on a mission overseas and put on hold the police reshuffle has apparently come as a relief to the Abhisit government. His proposal came amid rumours he would be sacked to allow a probe into the attempted assassination of core People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul to proceed.

The government was under pressure to take action after police investigators led by deputy police chief Thanee Somboonsap complained that the investigation had run into difficulties.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2126...s-to-take-leave

-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-01

Mr T is guilty

I agree.

btw,

Forum Rules

15) You also agree not to post negative comments criticizing the legal proceedings or judgments of any Thai court of law.

Attorney-General orders trial for all 15 red shirts leaders

The Attorney-General has overturned an earlier prosecution decision by ordering trial for all 15 red-shirt rally-organisers involved in a disturbance in front of the house of chief royal adviser General Prem Tinsulanonda in July 2007.

"The public prosecutors are preparing for trial, summoning all suspects to acknowledge the charges," chief prosecutor Suwit Dithapae said yesterday.

The list of defendants includes Veera Musigapong, Jatuporn Promphan, Natthawut Saikua, Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphum-thai, Weng Tojirakarn, Apiwan Wiriyachai, Jaran Ditha-apichai and Manit Jitchanklab.

They will face charges of inciting violence and resisting and obstructing the police in the performance of its duty. They each face a combined penalty on both charges of jail for eight years.

The initial prosecution review dropped Jatuporn, Veera and Natthawut from the list of suspects.

National police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan rejected this and forwarded the case for a final review by the Attorney-General.

-- The Nation 2009-08-01

PETITION FOR ROYAL PARDON

Red shirts claim 4 million signatures

Thaksin phones in to rally to thank supporters; vows to return the favour

The campaign for a royal pardon for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has collected more than 4 million signatures, it was announced during a rally by his supporters late yesterday. Thaksin also made a phone-in address last night. He thanked his supporters for backing the signature campaign and said he felt highly grateful to them.

"I want to return your favour by working for you, which I can't do now. If I can work to return your favour, I will be able to die peacefully," he said.

Veera Musigapong, an organiser of the red shirts' rally at Sanam Luang, said 4.19 million signatures had been collected from all over the country. His announcement led to loud cheers.

The red shirts also plan to hold a protest at the Interior Ministry on Monday against Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, whose Bhum Jai Thai Party is campaigning against the signature drive.

The rally in Sanam Luang took place despite warnings from the government that a pardon could only be sought by Thaksin himself or his relatives. The Metropolitan Police Bureau deployed about 1,800 anti-riot police to keep the peace at the rally site, said commissioner Lt-General Worapong Chewpreecha. About 600 policemen were on the ground, while the remainder were held back as potential |reinforcements. Some 150 traffic policemen were responsible for ensuring a smooth traffic flow around the rally site.

Thaksin fled Thailand last August to escape a two-year jail term for conflict of interest. His supporters aim to gather the signatures for forwarding to His Majesty the King in search of a Royal Pardon.

The red-shirted protesters launched the campaign last month following months of sometimes-violent street protests and political conflict between supporters and foes of the ex-premier, who was ousted from office nearly three years ago.

The government has launched a campaign to inform the public that the petition has no legal grounds and is inappropriate.

State-owned television ran a segment with a legal expert yesterday to remind the public it was improper to involve the monarchy in politics.

-- The Nation 2009-08-01

SMOOTHENING SONDHI PROBE

Police Chief goes on month's leave

Police Chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan has taken leave of about 30 days from his office, giving Police General Thanee Somboonsap a free hand in his investigation into the assassination attempt on media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul.

Patcharawat's leave is a result of a compromise between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban, the deputy prime minister, who has been keen to protect the police chief. Abhisit has been under pressure to sack Patcharawat, who is understood to have stood in the way of Thanee's investigation.

Abhisit took an unusual step by holding an impromptu news conference at The Emporium department store in Bangkok and announcing Patcharawat's leave. He was supposed to hold the news conference earlier in the morning, but it had to be delayed due to further behind-the-scenes negotiations for the best face-saving way out.

Abhisit said that starting next week, Patcharawat would take leave for 10 days, after which period he would be allowed to rest further so that the police chief would be out of his office for about a month. This move was initiated by Patcharawat himself, who also recommended that the annual reshuffle of police officers be suspended for the time being.

Abhisit did not spell out the person who would succeed or replace Patcharawat during his absence, but it is understood that Thanee's role will expand as he is ready to issue arrest warrants for more suspects allegedly involved in the attempted murder of Sondhi.

"The police chief should not take leave until his mandatory retirement [in October]. I believe that during this time there should be enough time to complete the investigation into the Sondhi case," Abhisit said.

Panthep Wongphuaphand, a spokesman of the People's Alliance for Democracy, told ASTV that Patcharawat's leave would be a good way out. "I hope that the investigation of the Sondhi case will be able to carry on without anybody's losing face."

The case has reached a climax. Thanee and his team have issued arrest warrants for two suspects, one a junior military officer and the other a police officer attached to the Department of Special Investigation. Sondhi has accused the military in power, including some key elements of the red shirts, of being masterminds behind the attempt to kill him in April this year. If successful, the killing would have created political turmoil to the extent that a military intervention would have been justified.

More specifically, Sondhi has charged that 13 military officers and one police officer were involved in the attempted assassination. If Thanee could issue a second round of arrest warrants for the middle-level suspects, he would then be one step away from the masterminds in the Sondhi case.

Abhisit is under pressure from the Democrat Party to proceed with the Sondhi case and to remove anybody standing in the way. Sondhi and his yellow-shirted supporters are ready to come onto the streets to rally against Abhisit if the prime minister were to let the murder case lie dead in the water.

At the same time, the police and military in power, as well as the Bhum Jai Thai coalition partner, have threatened to withdraw their support of the government if Abhisit were to sack Patcharawat. Suthep, who has been giving full backing to Patcharawat, is reported to have flown off to Hong Kong to avoid the growing political turbulence at home.

-- The Nation 2009-08-01

FIRE TRUCK SCANDAL

New report on BMA fire engines rejected

Attorney-General Chaikasem Nitisiri has rejected an updated report on the scandal plagued fire vehicle purchase project, calling it incomplete.

According to Chaikasem, the report prepared by the National Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) fails to mention the opinions of a joint panel of the NACC and the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) as to who should be prosecuted and on what charges.

The joint panel was established to tighten the report on the controversial contract to buy fire vehicles from an Austrian supplier for Bt6.68 billion. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) entered into the contract based on an agreement of understanding signed by Bhokin Bhalakula, then Interior Minister, and the then Austrian ambassador.

Several investigations have found that the project is mired in corruption.

"The NACC will have to improve on its latest report before it can put the case before the Attorney-General again," Deputy Attorney-General Waiyawuth Lohtrakul said. He heads a panel in charge of cases that damage the state. Waiyawuth said the OAG would bring the case to courts only if the Attorney-General shared the joint panel's opinion.

Deputy Attorney-General Sima Wannakowit says the OAG has not yet sought a court injunction to prevent payment of the next installment to the Austrian supplier. "We have to go through piles of documents before we can reach any conclusion," Sima said.

-- The Nation 2009-08-01

Thaksin TV plan 'within law'

Plans for a global TV satellite network with many channels, unveiled by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his video-link address on Sunday, have drawn a mixed response. Thaksin spoke of the idea to a gathering of supporters who were celebrating his 60th birthday at a restaurant on Bang Na-Trat Road.

The former prime minister said he would allot three channels for use by the country. One channel would be dedicated to promoting and selling One Tambon, One Product (Otop) products, the other to presenting a reality show featuring the plight of the poor and ways to tackle poverty, and the last would be dedicated to educational programmes providing tutorial classes for students.

Puea Thai Party MP for Samut Prakan Pracha Prasopdee said Thaksin had developed the idea for the TV project over three months and it would take about a billion baht to get it going. The TV network was expected to begin broadcasting early next month, Pracha said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2104...plan-within-law

-- Bangkok Post 2009-09-28

Police pursue three more in Sondhi case

Police are seeking arrest warrants for three more suspects in the attempted assassination of Sondhi Limthongkul, a key leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy movement. Assistant police chief Assawin Kwanmuang yesterday said court approval would be sought this week for the arrest of three more suspects.

Pol Lt Gen Assawin, a member of the police team investigating the case, refused to name the suspects but nodded when asked if they included soldiers. A police source said the three suspects were attached to the Special Warfare Command based in Lop Buri province.

One was a sub-lieutenant and the other two sergeant majors. The move came after new evidence found by investigators linked the three to the April 17 attack on Sondhi on a Bangkok street on his way to work in his van.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2104...-in-sondhi-case

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-28

Stalemate derails SRT plans

Committee to decide railway restructuring

The future of the State Railway of Thailand rests with Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart after the final round of negotiations with its powerful union failed to make any headway. The main stumbling block between SRT executives and union leaders is the management model for the Airport Rail Link project connecting the city to Suvarnabhumi airport.

The link, due to start on Dec 5, is seen as the most promising aspect of the SRT's future. The cabinet last month agreed to the restructuring of the SRT but only if the plan was backed by the union.

It would see the SRT separated into two subsidiary firms handling asset management and services. The airport link would be under the service firm.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2103...rails-srt-plans

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-28

Thaksin to launch 'Voice TV' network

Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has decided to spend more than 1 Billion Baht in setting up a global television network called "Voice TV", which will start airing from next month, a Pheu Thai Party Samut Prakan MP said yesterday.

During his phone-in on Sunday night, the birthday boy said he would launch television channels devoted to education, the poor, and selling Otop products.

Pracha Prasopdee said the network will be linked to People's Station and MTV and can be viewed on the already existing www.voicetv.co.th website. Though the MP refused to reveal which satellite will be used to broadcast Voice TV, he did say that the government would not be able to block its signal.

After having travelled to several countries to gather information, do feasibility studies, and to talk to businessmen, diplomats, and academics over the past three months, Thaksin will be putting his plans in action next month, he said.

In fact, Pracha said, Thaksin might even host his own television programmes.

The Voice TV website, run under the motto "Voice of New Generation", broadcasts Thai and foreign news shows including latest updates on Thaksin and links to his speeches like his phone-in on Sunday to mark his 60th birthday.

Pracha said the website would focus on inspiring the new generation to express themselves and share their opinions, which would offer society new opportunities.

Pheu Thai Party's Deputy Leader Panpree Pahittanukorn said the Party would be happy if the government helped materialise Thaksin's idea of launching three TV channels for Thai citizens because it would not require huge sums.

"We have proposed the idea, and if this government does not want it, it doesn't matter because when we take over we will make it part of the national agenda," he said.

The "big surprise" that Thaksin had promised was revealed on Sunday when he said he was planning to launch 100 TV stations that could be watched across the globe. He said these TV stations would prove that his support for Thai citizens was still strong, and that three types of shows ready for kick off were related to selling Otop products, tutoring students, and soliciting funds for the poor.

-- The Nation 2009-07-28

Here we go again. As I said before, what a dour miserable place Thailand is becoming

Indeed, the TRT/PPP/PTP's would never dream of doing anything similar....

Oops..

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/University-I...86.html&hl=

Ban On Student's Short Skirts & Tight Blouses

plus at least a dozen other threads in the helpful archive searching...

catmac....

PM's Office Minister Affirms PM Had Never Wished Thaksin a 'Happy Birthday'

The Prime Minister's Office Minister affirms that the premier has never sent a birthday wish to fugitive former premier on Twitter, while former army commander supports the attempt to bestow a royal pardon decree, as it is the only way Thaksin could return to Thailand.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongthoey said he is in the middle of investigating Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Twitter account, which appear to have sent a birthday wish to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Twitter web page.

Initially, Sathit was aware that the premier's Twitter was set up in around two to three forms; meaning that Twitter can be set up by anyone, through anyone's name. He also admits that performing an investigation in the cyber world is difficult, which will require more time. However, Satit believes that the birthday message on Thakin's Twitter did not come from the premier's official Twitter account.

Regarding to the fugitive ex-premier's boasting that, he will produce about a hundred TV channels; to introduce the OTOP products of Thailand through a global broadcast, produce a reality show about lives of the poor people in Thailand, and open a tutoring center, Satit said he was not informed about the fact, as it is the responsibility of the National Telecommunications Commission not the PM's Office.

Meanwhile, former Army Commander General Chaisit Shinawatra revealed that he agrees to the attempt in asking for a royal pardon, as he believes it is the only way that Thaksin could return to Thailand. He was uncertain whether Thaksin will issue the petition on his own or not, but was more certain that it is likely to be drafted by the red-shirt group members.

General Chaisit added that Thaksin should not come back if he will not receive justice. Nevertheless, from inquiring his personal astrologer, who forecasted that Thaksin will be able to travel back to the country during the beginning of next year.

-- Tan Network 2009-07-27

PM declines knowledge of birthday wish to Thaksin via Twitter

BANGKOK, 26 July 2009 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has confirmed no knowledge of a birthday wish posted under his user-name on the Twitter account of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The faked message:

"if you're enlightened and understand dharma, you'll be much happier."

The Nation

Three new suspects in Sondhi attack

Police will this week seek arrest warrants for at least three more suspects in the shooting of People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul, assistant police chief Pol Lt-Gen Assawin Kwanmuang said on Monday.

Pol Lt-Gen Assawin said there was firm evidence that the three suspects were part of the team of gunmen who attacked the van in which Mr Sondhi was travelling on April 17 at the Bang Khun Phrom intersection in Bangkok. He declined to reveal if they were civilians or men in uniform.

He said he had assured the prime minister that the case had not reached an impasse when he briefed him at Government House on Sunday. Whether the masterminds would ever be brought to justice depended on the evidence and witness testimony.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/15...-in-sondhi-case

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-27

Govt told: Scrub Preah Vihear accord

About 30 members of a network of people following up the Preah Vihear dispute on Monday morning rallied in front of Government House and called on the government to withdraw from the joint Thai-Cambodian statement of June 18 last year which supports Cambodia's unilateral listing of the temple as a world heritage site.

The joint statement was signed by then foreign minister Noppadon Pattama without prior consent of parliament.

The group, led by ML Walwipa Jaroonroj, an academic at the Institute of Thai Studies at Thammasat University, said the Democrat-led government should revoke the joint statement and formally inform the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and the world community.

Thailand should also step up its opposition to Cambodia's unilateral registration of Preah Vihear as a world heritage site, otherwise it could lose its

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/15...joint-statement

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-27

Suthep denies Democrat against charter amendments

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban Monday denied that the Democrat Party is against amending the Constitution.

Suthep, the Democrat Secretary-General, said his Party has not yet officially discussed the issue.

"But from my personal stand, I think the public should be allowed to take part in decision making over all points of charter amendments," Suthep said.

-- The Nation 2009-07-27

Ousted premier Thaksin will set up satellite TV stations

BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) - Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra celebrated his 60th birthday on Sunday with what he earlier branded “a big surprise," announcing that he planned to set up a satellite television business with at least three channels dedicated to the Thai people.

The announcement, via video link at about 9pm Sunday evening, was aired at a birthday dinner party at the Mangkorn Luang (Royal Dragon) Restaurant in Bangkok and two other sites holding parties to celebrate his birthday -- Wat Uthaitaram in suburban Bangkok and in At Samat district of Roi-Et.

A number of Puea Thai Party members of parliament and members of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) joined the event at the restaurant.

Dressed in a red shirt, Thaksin said he planned to establish satellite television networks with 100 channels, with at least three channels to serve the Thai people.

One channel was expected to be used to promote Thailand’s ‘One Tambom One Product’ (OTOP) output, another to broadcast ‘reality shows’ about Thai poverty and how the wealthy will help them, and the third channel will concentrate on providing education programmes for Thai students.

Earlier in the day, thousands of admirers of the ex-premier gathered at temples across the country to perform merit making ceremonies in their celebration of Thaksin’s 60th birthday Sunday morning and to ward off his bad luck.

Thaksin’s younger sister Yaowapa Wongsawat and her husband Somchai Wongsawat, a former prime minister, led opposition politicians and members of the UDD in performing Buddhist religious rites at Kaewfah temple in suburban Nonthaburi.

The ex-premier telephoned the temple to speak to his supporters, thanking them, and to present a tape of himself singing a song “I Will Come Back” that was composed especially for him. The ousted premier said he hopes to be able to return home in the future.

At Bangkok’s Wat Uthaitharam, taxi drivers gathered to conduct their own birthday event for Thaksin despite an afternoon rain. The group’s leaders took turns aiming birthday wishes for Thaksin and attacking the government’s performance on the stage.

In Chiang Mai, his hometown, a birthday party was held at the Varorot Grand Palace Hotel. Among the evening’s activities were collecting 2,492 cakes and presenting 2,492 birthday cards for Thaksin in special significance of the year 2,492 of the Buddhist Era (B.E.), Thaksin’s birth year.

In the northeastern province of Udon Thani, political revellers made birthday cards for him and the local group’s leaders said they planned to fly to Dubai to present them to Thaksin.

In the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Red Shirt groups gathered at Suan Khan temple. It was the only province in the south, stronghold of the ruling Democrat party of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, which held a birthday celebration for Thaksin.

The world-travelling former premier was ousted in a 2006 coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. He remains popular, especially among people in the rural areas. It is believed that the self-exiled former premier is now staying in Dubai.

-- TNA 2009-07-27