Thailand Readies Itself To Host The 14th ASEAN Summit

[Jai Dee]

Government expresses readiness for 14th ASEAN Summit

The government has affirmed its readiness to hold the 14th ASEAN Summit in Chiang Mai this December while asking citizens to be a good host to help create confidence amongst the international communities.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat stated after attending a meeting in preparation for the 14th ASEAN Summit that Thailand is ready to host the event with all relevant agencies, including police and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, completely prepared. The summit, taking place on December 13th to the 18th, will be organized at the Shangri-La Hotel in Chiang Mai province. All relevant agencies will attend a preliminary meeting in the province ahead of the official event.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted requests to the Bureau of the Royal Household for the various ASEAN leaders to be allowed audience with His Majesty the King expectedly on December 17th.

Prime Minister Somchai commented that as ongoing national turmoil is a cause for concern for many groups, all Thai people should be aware of their responsibility to uphold the nation's image and build confidence amongst the international community.

Chiang Mai will be granted public holidays from December 15th to 18th to aid in traffic and security for the summit.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 05 November 2008

[Scott]

That's unfair. That holiday belongs to us in Bangkok! We should be getting it off. Now I am really angry with the PAD.

[Seneque]

Are golf clubs and shopping centers going to be open or restricted to VIPs... everyone knows that's what they only come to do : golf for guys and their buddies and shopping for the wifes and their buddies .... I am afraid they might be a lot of shortcomings ... as Chiangmai is nowhere close to Bkk in terms of fashion !!!

[grandpops]

Check list

1. bars closed

2. poor people re-located or hidden behind advertising hordings

3. market stalls removed.

4. destroy soul of city.

5. soi dogs re-located (shot). Anybody remember the "we took them to a farm for holiday" quote?

6. beggars and hawkers... "what beggers and hawkers? this is the hub of everything"

7. clean streets

Last one they did in Bangkok when GW came, I turned up on a flight back from the US and I didn't recognise Sukhumvit Road.

Bangkok looked like a sterile boring drab city. Surprising what you miss when its not there. Can they destroy Chiang Mai in 5 weeks!

Edited November 5, 2008 by grandpops

[Los78]

Chang Mai will be sprused up but I am sure all the regular things will be available during the event. ASEAN will only be on a few days so Im sure any inconveniences will be tollerable. A great place to hold the event also since there are many places to visit in the nearby areas.

[Sathip2008]

Schools closed ?

[AlKing]

Why Chiang Mai. Phuket would be a better choice withe the Sun, Sea and Patong bg.

[Jai Dee]

Asean Global Dialogue attracts Asean leaders

Asean leaders will have the opportunity to hear from leaders of key international financial and tradition institution concerning their visions and strategies to overcome common challenges facing the the world, especially the ongoing financial tsunami, Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said yesterday.

He said that Asean now has a charter and it has a vision of building one community that will uplift the living standards of 570 people of in the grouping. "We have to turn crisis into opportunities, " he said.

He said that the Asean Secretariat and Thai government have jointly organized Asean Global Dialogue on 18 December right after the summit. These leaders who have confirmed their participation including Robert Zoellick of the World Bank, Supachai Panitchpakdi of Unctad, Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization, Haruhito Kuroda of the Asian Development Bank, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and Ban Ki Moon of the United Nations.

"This will be the first time of such a gathering. Great people get together, there will be great results," Surin added.

He said the challenges confronting the region including the unfolding global financial crisis and its destructive consequences, unprecedented natural disasters, the implications of Asia's rise and ability to provide leadership, the call for greater participation in the evolving international order, the human development nightmare, communicable diseases, redefining standards of global governance are among the serious challenges confronting humanity.

Thailand will host the 14th Asean Summit in Chiangmai on 15-18 December 2008 which in Surin's words provide a historic opportunity for ASEAN to reaffirm the growing importance of the region in the international arena.

Now in its 41st year of existence Asean is making its presence felt in different ways. Surin said that amidst the current unprecedented financial turmoil in the west, Aseanand East Asia are expected to be the new growth centre that will stabilize the international system.

He added that the Asean policies have promoted the peace and stability of Asia and contributed to East Asian regional community building through various regional architectures such as the Asia.

Surin also welcomes the new US administration's plan to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and interest to join the East Asian Summit (EAS). "We welcome the US with open arms in signing the TAC," he said adding that the decision for the US on EAS would depend on the EAS members which include the 10-member Asean countries, Japan, China, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: The Nation - 06 November 2008

[Mapguy]

Everyone is no doubt familiar with conflicting reports about whether or not the ASEAN summit is to be held in Chiang Mai.

The following article was on the Bangkok Post web site today, 6 November.

ASEAN

Chiang Mai to shut down for summit THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

spac_writeAd( "/SITE=BANGKOKPOST/AREA=NEWS/AAMSZ=300X250PIXELS/POSITION=RIGHT5/METHOD=JSCRIPT" );

All schools and government offices in Chiang Mai's Muang district will close for four days from Dec 15 to ensure clear roads for leaders attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said this will prevent traffic jams and ensure the smooth movement of the delegations between hotels and venues.

The summit will be attended by the leaders of all 10 Asean nations and six affiliated countries.

Mr Somchai told them during the Asia-Europe Summit in Beijing last month that although Thailand was facing internal political problems, it was ready to host the Asean summit.

"Many countries asked for the summit to be held in Chiang Mai because we launched the Chiang Mai Initiative there in response to the Asian economic crisis," Mr Somchai said after chairing a preparatory meeting at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

The Chiang Mai Initiative was launched by then-finance minister Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda and nine other ministers in 1997 to foster cooperation between Asian countries during the financial crisis.

He said the decision to switch the venue from Bangkok to Chiang Mai was made because the northern city was smaller and security was easier to arrange.

Ministry officials admitted earlier the change was made due to concerns the summit might be disrupted by protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The prime minister was speaking on the eve of his visit to Hanoi to attend the Ayeyawaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy meeting today and tomorrow with the leaders of Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Vietnam.

The leaders will discuss efforts to boost trade and investment between the five countries.

Director-general of International Economic Affairs Krit Kraichitti said Thailand wants governors and chambers of commerce in the border provinces to play greater roles in boosting trade ties with neighbouring countries.

"Businesspeople at local levels in the five countries should get more in touch with one another, while the governments should help with policy coordination," said Mr Krit.

The meeting would also discuss the development of transport and tourism facilities, plus the acceleration of contract farming cooperation and human resource development.

Mr Krit believed the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia would not affect regional cooperation.

Edited November 6, 2008 by Mapguy

[Los78]

Why Chiang Mai. Phuket would be a better choice withe the Sun, Sea and Patong bg.

I think the risk of getting the Phuket airport blocked again by PAD mob members and stranding hundreds of delagetes is the reason why Phuket was not considered. It would be a embaressment to Thailand to see PAD trying to sabotage the tourism industry even further with their actions. Chang Mai is a great city for the even and I am sure it will be a big success.

[sriracha john]

Will the television station there be free of those those red-shirts that laid siege to it?

[brahmburgers]

Last time there was an ASEAN meeting in northern Thailand, it was in Chiang Rai.

A bunch of added cops were sent up there for the occasion. I was in Chiang Rai at the time. One of the days, I was riding my bicycle in the afternoon, in shorts and a t-shirt. A large man grabbed me from behind and tried to wrestle me off the bike. I resisted. In a minute I was surrounded by nine threatening guys in suits. I soon found out they were plainclothes cops from out of town. They yelled at me to show them my passport. I told them it was at my home. They forced me in to one of three late model SUV's to go get it. All 3 SUV's were escorting me. I took them to the Tourist Police station instead. They were livid. The plainclothes cops tried to force me in to a back room. I resisted. After awhile, they had to desist. They never saw my passport. Only one apologized.

Moral of the story: If ASEAN meets in your town, stay far away. There could be plainclothes thugs roaming around looking for trouble. BTW, they're the same types that took the Muslim lawyer away in southern Thailand. The lawyer was never heard of again, and the special cops never got reprimanded. Thaksin was in power at the time, so not surprisingly, he made sure there was never a proper investigation.

[grandpops]

Will the television station there be free of those those red-shirts that laid siege to it?

Yes. It could have been held in the capital and all those millions of baht could have poured into the Capital.

Government house would be ideal.... Is it free of muppets per chance?

[coreyp2]

Chang Mai will be sprused up but I am sure all the regular things will be available during the event. ASEAN will only be on a few days so Im sure any inconveniences will be tollerable. A great place to hold the event also since there are many places to visit in the nearby areas.

I have noticed a lot of activity for some time, trimming the street gardens and generally tidying the city. It was said originally to be for Loy Krathong. I guess Chiang Mai had been Plan B for some time!?

Looks like I'll get an extra weeks holiday! Can't complain too much.

[sriracha john]

Will the television station there be free of those those red-shirts that laid siege to it?

Yes. It could have been held in the capital and all those millions of baht could have poured into the Capital.

As per Thaksin's long-standing policy, it's far better for all those millions to go to the city that voted for him rather than a city that didn't.

[LaoPo]

POLITICS

Thailand to 'lose face' if pacts unsigned

Asean agreements vital for trade, say officials

POST REPORTERS

Tuesday November 25, 2008

Thailand may "lose face" and investor confidence if it fails to sign international agreements at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Chiang Mai next month, a senior trade official warned.

Deputy director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department Noppadon Sarawasi warned of the damage if Thailand fails to sign about 30 agreements at the summit.

"Thailand as the host and chairman of the summit would lose face as it would be the only Asean member unable to sign the agreements. This would affect the confidence in its leadership in the Asean region," Mr Noppadon said.

Somchai Preechasilpakul, the dean of Chiang Mai University's law faculty, agreed, saying the postponement of the joint session would do more harm than good to the country and Thailand would only observe other members sign the pacts.

Coalition parties agreed yesterday to postpone the joint session between MPs and senators to Dec 8-9 after yesterday's protest by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said the target for the Asean community set for 2015 might not be achieved if parliament is unable to pass the agreements affecting the country, as required by Article 190 of the constitution.

"If the Thai parliament cannot deliberate these agreements before the summit, the 2015 target will also be delayed," he said.

"If Thailand does not sign it can do so after the other members, but because Thailand is this year's chair it doesn't look so good."

Key agreements requiring parliamentary approval include separate free trade pacts between Asean and India and South Korea.

Continues here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/251108_News/25Nov2008_news03.php

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

Asean summit will go forward, says foreign minister

Tuesday November 25, 2008 01:25

Thailand is ready to host a December summit of Southeast Asian nations despite ongoing anti-government demonstrations, officials said on Monday.

The House and Senate were to hold a joint session to consider legislation related to the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Chiang Mai beginning on Dec 13.

But instead of reaching agreement on pacts likely to be signed at the meeting, House Speaker Chai Chidchob postponed the session as up to 18,000 protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy surrounded parliament and sealed off all the entrances.

The session has been rescheduled for Dec 8 and 9.

"Thailand is ready to host the summit which will begin from mid Dec," Foreign Minister Tharit Charungvat said. "Every country is confident that Thailand can host the meeting."

Article continues here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=132271

LaoPo

Edited November 24, 2008 by LaoPo

[Jai Dee]

Thailand questioned on summit

Indonesia said Wednesday it was confident Thailand would be able to host a regional summit scheduled for next month despite the currently deepening political crisis in Bangkok, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said.

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have questioned Thailand's ability to host the ASEAN Summit, and have formally asked the 10-member regional grouping whether the meeting should be postponed, Reuters reported.

The Dec. 14-17 summit had been scheduled to take place in Bangkok, but was later switched to Chiang Mai because of trouble in the capital.

"They are convinced that holding the summit in Chiang Mai is logistically feasible, so there's been no discussion (about postponing it) from our side," said Faizasyah.

He added that Jakarta believed the real situation in Thailand was not so grim, and that the situation was expected to return to normal in the coming days.

"The airport siege was only aimed at keeping the prime minister from landing after his foreign trip," he said.

Laos Foreign Ministry spokesperson Koy Kuong was quoted by Reuters as saying that the prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam had sent an official letter to the ASEAN Secretariat to "talk with Thailand about whether they should suspend the summit".

The summit, is set to applaud the full ratification of the ASEAN Charter by its members, with leaders from Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea also planning to attend.

ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Source: The Jakarta Post - 27 November 2008

[Jai Dee]

Asean Members Suggest Postponing Dec Summit Amid Thai Crisis

Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have suggested postponing a Southeast Asian summit scheduled for December in Thailand due to the worsening political crisis there.

Prime ministers of the three countries, in the Laos capital Vientiane Wednesday, asked the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, general secretary "to consult the Thai government to see if the summit should go ahead as scheduled or if it should be postponed", Laos foreign ministry spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy said.

The three leaders want "the ASEAN summit and other meetings be held successfully," said Cambodia's foreign ministry spokesman, Koy Kuong.

Thai anti-government protesters have blockaded and shut down a second Bangkok airport, after they forced the closure of the country's main international hub Tuesday.

Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy started massing late Wednesday at the old Don Mueang airport, where the Thai government had been holding cabinet meetings in a disused terminal after protesters occupied Government House in central Bangkok in late August.

Monday, PAD supporters besieged Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's temporary office as well, as they upped their bid to topple the government, which they accuse of running the country on behalf of ousted and exiled premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Despite the crisis, Thailand has up to now said it was ready to host the December summit.

Source: AFP - 27 November 2008

[grandpops]

Its just the main three haters of Thailand up to no good. They are still in the vietnam war mentallity in Vietnam, Cambodia is a basket case if ever there was one and Laos is a Communist throw back land that time forgot kind of a place.

Anybody think Thailand more dangerous than Cambodia. Give me a break.

All this big money is lost anyway for Bangkok so thats a plus. All those empty hotel suites that could have been full of rich leaders, rich deputies, rich secretaries, the world press out binging every night etc. etc.

Billions Sondhi, billions and all your own work.... Well done

For it to re-locate to the beautiful city of Chaing Mai would be the icing on the cake.

[sriracha john]

Thailand questioned on summit

Indonesia said Wednesday it was confident Thailand would be able to host a regional summit scheduled for next month despite the currently deepening political crisis in Bangkok, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said.

Asean Members Suggest Postponing Dec Summit Amid Thai Crisis

Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have suggested postponing a Southeast Asian summit scheduled for December in Thailand due to the worsening political crisis there.

That's positive thinking on the part of Indonesia...but their neighbors certainly don't share it... and the glaring omission is what the HOST is saying....

Edited November 27, 2008 by sriracha john

[Jai Dee]

Thailand is considering delaying Asean Summit

Thailand is considering delaying Asean Summit scheduled for next month following the political turmoil which saw anti-government protesters seized Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports, Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said Thursday.

Leaders of ten Asean countries plus those of China, Japan and South Korea, are scheduled to meet in Chiang Mai between December 15 to 17.

Sompong who is stranded in Germany after Bangkok's airports was stormed by protesters said he was considering whether to postpone the summit.

The summit was initially planned to held in Bangkok but the government decided to move to Chiang Mai because of the protesters.

In a telephone interview with the Nation, Sompong said he is taking into consideration other Asean countries' concerns on the political turmoil in Thailand.

Sompong said he had been inundated with queries from other foreign ministers asking about the turmoil, but that the summit will go ahead.

"Several countries are seriously concerned with the incidents happening in our country now," the foreign minister said.

Laos foreign ministry spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy told AFP that prime ministers of Laos, Cambodia and Thailand have asked Asean chief Surin Pitsuwan to consider postponing the meeting,

Surin should "consult the Thai government to see if the summit should go ahead as scheduled or if it should be postponed", Chanthalangsy said of the summit to be held in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

The three leaders want "the Asean summit and other meetings be held successfully," said Cambodia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong.

Source: The Nation - 27 November 2008

[samuibeachcomber]

so now the summit is going to the PPP capital instead of the PAD capital,why not divide the country in half,have 2 countries,southern thailand and northern thailand,like the 2 korea's,then everyone could be happy.

[Jai Dee]

Asean head to assess situation

The secretary general of Southeast Asian bloc Asean will travel to Thailand to assess whether the kingdom can still host a summit as protests shutter the main airports, the group secretariat said.

In a statement late Thursday out of Singapore, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) secretariat said Dr Surin Pitsuwan - a former Thai foreign minister - would 'clarify this matter with Thailand'.

A Thai foreign ministry official said Friday that Surin had not yet arrived in the kingdom, and said he was not aware that the secretary-general had any plans to look into the situation in the kingdom.

Current Asean chair Thailand has insisted it will go ahead with the December summit in the northern city of Chiang Mai, even as anti-government protesters stepped up a six-month campaign to topple the prime minister.

They swarmed the main Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday and shut it down, and on Thursday, the smaller Don Mueang was also forced to shut its doors when protesters surrounded it, cutting almost all air travel in and out of Bangkok.

Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam had raised the possibility of postponing the Asean summit due to the worsening political crisis in the country.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat declared emergency rule at the two airports on Thursday to try to rein in the protests, after holding a special cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai to discuss the escalating turmoil.

He has rejected calls by the army chief to hold new elections.

Thailand announced in late October that the Asean summit would be moved from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, a government stronghold.

The government said it was because of northern Thailand's cooler climate, but the anti-government protests are believed to be a key factor.

Source: AFP - 28 November 2008

[Jai Dee]

PM Somchai to go ahead with ASEAN Summit

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the government would host the 14th ASEAN Summit in December though several countries proposed the summit should be put off.

Somchai said the postponement would ruin the country’s reputation. He and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat would meet to further estimate the situation again.

The summit is scheduled to take place on December 15-18 in Chiang Mai.

Mr. Vitthavas Srivihok, director general of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, admitted that the closure of the Suvarnabhumi Airport was a major setback in terms of travel and safety of the leaders who would attend the summit.

It was previously reported that Thailand would still host the ASEAN Summit or postpone the summit for at least one month.

AFP reported that ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan would travel to Thailand to assess whether it could host the summit.

Surin has not arrived in Thailand yet and it is not known if he has any plans to investigate the situation, according to foreign ministry.

Thailand is at the political crossroad as the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has called for Somchai government’s resignation whereas PM Somchai rejected the army’s proposal to dissolve parliament.

Source: The Manager - 29 November 2008

[Chang_paarp]

Anyone want to take a bet the airport is functioning by then?

[Ricardo]

Perhaps the briefing-notes, for the ASEAN delegations attending, should include a strong reminder not to wear yellow shirts, so as to avoid misunderstandings by red-shirted meet-and-greet volunteers ?

[sriracha john]

Thailand Readies Itself To Host The 14th ASEAN Summit

and *POOF*, and now it's gone for at least 4 months.....according to Foreign Minister Sompong announcing a delay today until March 2009.

[ovenman]

Thailand Readies Itself To Host The 14th ASEAN Summit

and *POOF*, and now it's gone for at least 4 months.....according to Foreign Minister Sompong announcing a delay today until March 2009.

Still held in Chiang Mai, returned to Bangkok, moved to Nakhon Phanom...?

[h90]

Perhaps the briefing-notes, for the ASEAN delegations attending, should include a strong reminder not to wear yellow shirts, so as to avoid misunderstandings by red-shirted meet-and-greet volunteers ?

Would not look so good in the international media if they beat the foreign minister from Malaysia, police is looking and not doing anything, because everyone thinks he is a southern PAD protester