Prime Minister Thaksin Flies To Chiang Rai This Afternoon For A 2-day Inspection Visit

[Jai Dee]

Prime Minister Thaksin flies to Chiang Rai this afternoon for a 2-day inspection visit

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra still has no opportunity to pop in to Government House today due to important engagements in Chiang Rai.

Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Prommin Lertsuridej said the Prime Minister is scheduled to fly to Chiang Rai Province this afternoon for a 2-day inspection visit. The Prime Minister will chair the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning through video tele-conferencing while he is in Mae Fa Luang District. He is scheduled to fly back to Bangkok on Tuesday evening in order to follow up progress in preparation for the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the Throne.

This morning, the Prime Minister has been invited by the Secretary General of the Royal Household Bureau to inspect the restoration of the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall for the royal celebrations.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Yongyut inspects the readiness of the venue for cabinet meeting tomorrow via video conference

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Yongyut Tiyapairat (ยงยุทธ ติยะไพรัช), has inspected the preparation for the Cabinet meeting via a video conference system, which will take place tomorrow at the City Hall in Chiang Rai (เชียงราย) Province. He has also urged the members of political parties to promote the general election and encourage people to exercise their voting rights.

Mr. Yongyut talked about Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Chiang Rai Province today. During the afternoon today, the premier will follow up with the narcotic issues along the northern border areas.

He revealed that Prime Minister Thaksin will also inspect the matters related to tourism and trades at Chiang Saen (เชียงแสน) and Mae Sai (แม่สาย) Districts.

In the evening, the Prime Minister Thaksin will deliver his speech to inform the performances of the government at the central sports stadium of Chiang Rai Province.

Minister Yongyut has urged the members of every political party to encourage people to exercise their voting rights even though the leaders of opposition parties have made their decisions not to send their candidates to run in the upcoming general election.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[sriracha john]

He is scheduled to fly back to Bangkok on Tuesday evening in order to follow up progress in preparation for the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the Throne.

He can save himself a trip:

60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Thaksin loses royal duty

Privy Council said to have replaced PM with Prem as organising committee head due to political concerns

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is no longer tasked with the chairmanship of the organising committee to commemorate HM the King's 60th year on the throne, The Nation has learned.

A source said the unpublicised decision by the 19-member Privy Council on March 8 was reached after extensive debate on the political situation. The council voted 15-4 to make its president, General Prem Tinsulanonda, the new chairman. He will be responsible for welcoming kings and queens and their representatives for the celebration of the anniversary of the world's longest-serving monarch.

With Prem in charge it can be expected that whatever political circumstances prevail there will be a respectable leader to represent Thailand and His Majesty.

The source said that both Thaksin and Dr Surakiart Sathirathai knew of the council's decision but they continued their preparatory meetings. The latest round, chaired by Thaksin, was carried out on Thursday at the Foreign Ministry.

Thaksin, on his return from an election campaign swing upcountry, decided not to enter Government House, which was besieged by tens of thousands of protesters, and instead met top officials in charge of the royal event at the Foreign Ministry.

In fact, Thaksin has not entered Government House since the peaceful siege began last Tuesday morning. Official excuses have failed to prevent the building-up of a lame-duck image, which many analysts believe will linger beyond the planned snap election on April 2 if he remains head of the government.

The royal celebration is scheduled to begin in June. Observers don't expect political stability to have returned by then, especially if Thaksin uses the results of the April election, which is being boycotted by the entire opposition bloc, to justify his return to power.

In a recent interview on Channel 9, Thaksin defended the need for an early date for the election by saying the next government had to prepare for the royal celebration, one of the biggest the Kingdom has ever planned. But while the Thaksin camp may use the event to boost his chances of surviving the political crisis, some analysts see the upcoming royal schedule as a factor that adds to his troubles.

"Before Songran Day everything should return to normal so that the country can look forward to celebrating this world important event," a European ambassador said.

"You will have monarchs from all over the world coming to Thailand. The international media will also be here. So the crisis cannot be allowed to go on until then."

Government supporters yesterday used the royal programme to pressure the anti-Thaksin alliance, which is staging a sit-down protest outside Government House with tens of thousands of demonstrators.

"I beg for the public to put pressure on the mobs so they will accept the snap election and its outcome so our country can enter into the celebration of His Majesty's 60th year on the throne," said deputy Thai Rak Thai leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan.

Prem himself has been drawn into the political turmoil. A bomb exploded in front of his Si Sao residence on March 9, slightly injuring two foreigners but drastically heightening national tension. Then last Wednesday, he issued what looked like an impatient plea to those involved in the confrontation to put the country before themselves and quickly defuse the crisis.

According to Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee, monarchs and their spouses from 14 countries will attend the commemoration of the world's longest reigning monarch.

He said the royal rulers of Brunei, Swaziland, Monaco, Lesotho, Nepal, Japan, Sweden, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Luxembourg, Malaysia and Cambodia would attend the celebrations on June 9.

But what he did not say was that only the first six countries have confirmed in writing. The rest have yet to do so.

Oman, Samoa and Tonga have not yet responded.

- TN

[Plus]

4 councillors still voted against. Maybe Taksin still has some supportens in the Council.

Is it possible that he has a parallel preparations going on? After all he held a meeting last week even he was not in charge already.

[Limbo]

My part is already in the middle. I am prepared (Baden Powell).

Don't worry. I will be your representative.

Limbo.

[Chris Lawrence]

Were peopel paid to attend rally. I was told 600baht petrol money for full car and 100baht per person, If so very expensive rally. I saw a lot of people going to the stadium.

Off the subject what do u think of the new format for replys????

[Joel Barlow]

Were peopel paid to attend rally. I was told 600baht petrol money for full car and 100baht per person, If so very expensive rally. I saw a lot of people going to the stadium.

A Thai friend told me B500 per... a news-reporter said 10,000, 20,000 in attendance and got fired. It was changed to 100,000!!! Sure.

But hey, I'd have gone for B500.

[Thaising]

Were peopel paid to attend rally. I was told 600baht petrol money for full car and 100baht per person, If so very expensive rally. I saw a lot of people going to the stadium.

Off the subject what do u think of the new format for replys????

You are right, The village folks was paid 100 baht to attend the TRT rally at the stadium, which I happened to find out from one of the ( pooyai ban ) village head. The folks was escorted all way to the stadium at 2.30pm on that day and was instructed not leave until 7.00pm. if you will in town on that day, you were see how heavy the traffic is.

[zzap]

The irony is that should he stay in power, all the "travel expenses" given to supporters will prove to have been a good investment yielding many-fold returns.

[Joel Barlow]

The irony is that should he stay in power, all the "travel expenses" given to supporters will prove to have been a good investment yielding many-fold returns.

Irony? for whom? Investment? For whom?

some people what things they just don't need, and in truth, can't have.