"what Thaksin Had Done Wrong"

[blaze]

There's no point in continuing this discussion because the very young husband informed this forum sometime ago it was impossible that Thaksin would ever be prosecuted for lese majeste as it would drag in people beyond reproach and become very messy. He was adamant on this.

What do you think Siripon? How would the junta expect this to play in the international arena- or would they care? And just where IS Younghusband? Disappeared?

This is a domestic issue, there has to be clear evidence of disrespect otherwise it's a non-starter.

Personally I think there was a lot of insolence, totally unsuitable for a PM, on those grounds alone Thaksin knows he should hang his head in shame.

Regarding the disappearance of the young husband- he was seen to be bundled into a car on Phetburi Dtad Mai road by 4 burly farangs who claimed to be upset by his patronising and condescending tone. The car sped in the Sri Racha direction heading for the home of the notorious godfather Kamnan John.

A Por Tek Teung ambulance driven by the noted socialist Colonel Pyattaya tried to intervene but was stopped by traffic police for being politically incorrect in the present political climate.

He was fined 5,000 baht for persistent abuse of the English language, (spelling mistakes was his main offence).

The car they bundled him into wasn't a Ford Falcon was it? What color shirts were the abductors wearing? (PLEASE don't say brown).

[JacknDanny]

There's no point in continuing this discussion because the very young husband informed this forum sometime ago it was impossible that Thaksin would ever be prosecuted for lese majeste as it would drag in people beyond reproach and become very messy. He was adamant on this.

What do you think Siripon? How would the junta expect this to play in the international arena- or would they care? And just where IS Younghusband? Disappeared?

This is a domestic issue, there has to be clear evidence of disrespect otherwise it's a non-starter.

Personally I think there was a lot of insolence, totally unsuitable for a PM, on those grounds alone Thaksin knows he should hang his head in shame.

Regarding the disappearance of the young husband- he was seen to be bundled into a car on Phetburi Dtad Mai road by 4 burly farangs who claimed to be upset by his patronising and condescending tone. The car sped in the Sri Racha direction heading for the home of the notorious godfather Kamnan John.

A Por Tek Teung ambulance driven by the noted socialist Colonel Pyattaya tried to intervene but was stopped by traffic police for being politically incorrect in the present political climate.

He was fined 5,000 baht for persistent abuse of the English language, (spelling mistakes was his main offence).

That is very funny.

Made my morning!!!

[sriracha john]

AEC finds 'fishy deal' in housing project

The Assets Examination Committee has discovered dubious money transfers by the National Housing Authority regarding the controversial Ua Arthorn housing project, an AEC member said yesterday.

It was found that a private contractor hired to build houses for the NHA had paid the agency Bt600 million for its land just five minutes after the same amount of money was transferred by the NHA into the contractor's bank account.

Kaewsan Atibodhi, who heads the AEC subcommittee investigating the Ua Arthorn project, said the practice was dubious as the agency was supposed to receive payment for its land before it would pay for the construction cost.

"The money out [of the NHA] was faster than the money in," he said, adding that the land was found to be worth Bt410 million.

"They used the NHA's money to buy its land, even though they had only Bt10,000 left in the account. This has caused us [the AEC] to suspect this purchase could be fishy," said Kaewsan.

He said the probe so far had found no involvement of policy-makers in the suspected irregularity.

The transfers involved 200 rai of land in the Romklao-Bang Phli phase of the Ua Arthorn project.

The project has already been hit by a bribery scandal involving Watana Muangsook, who was the social development and human security minister in the previous government.

Chuanpit Chaimuanwong, former governor of the NHA, showed up at the Auditor-General's Office, which houses the AEC office.

She left shortly before 8pm, 10 hours after the questioning began. Chuanpit brushed off questions from reporters by saying, "Not now please. I already have a headache."

The Nation

[sriracha john]

ASC closes in on former NHA chief

Ua-arthorn project bonuses 'unjustified'

A former National Housing Authority (NHA) governor is facing further investigations after a probe team of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) agreed that her decision to give a bonus to NHA officials involved in the problem-plagued Ua-arthorn housing project was unjustified. Former governor Chuanpis Chaimuenvong yesterday spent more than eight hours with the Ua-arthorn probe team led by ASC secretary Kaewsan Atipho, providing information on the project, which included a 52-million-baht bonus allocated to NHA officials. The Ua-arthorn scheme was introduced by the Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2003 to provide 601,727 housing units for low-income people in cities nationwide. Apart from the kickback and the bonus cases, the ASC reported that there are other 45 irregularities under the scheme which it is still investigating.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Mar2007_news13.php

[Tony Clifton]

[sriracha john]

Thaksin, former EC accused plundering Bt4.1 billion

A former senator candidate Tuesday lodged a complaint with the Assets Examination Committee accusing deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his Cabinet and former election officials, for causing the state to lose Bt4.1 billion from organising elections that were later nullified.

Somkid Homnet said Thaksin dissolved the House "without solid grounds" and organised a general election in April 2 and senatorial elections on April 19 last year.

He also accused three former election commission officials, Pol General Vasana Puemlarp, Prinya Nakchudtree and Virachai Naewboonnien for their role in causing the same damage to the state.

The Nation

[Siripon]

Why did Thaksin choose Chaturon to run the ship in his absence?

I think apart from his compliant and submissive nature it was the fact he was an 'October man', making Thaksin and TRT look politically correct, men of the people as it were, fighting the evil dictators; right on brothers....

[Mid]

how many zero's are 4.1 billion ??

[Plus]

That's about right - two billion for each election. Why pin Senate elections on Thaksin though? He didn't dissolve the Senate, elections were scheduled according to the Constitution. In fact "former senator candidate" might try to sue the CNS for that.

In Thai billion there are nine zeroes.

[sriracha john]

Progress reported in case of illegal-lottery corruption

Three graft probes involving the Thaksin Shinawatra government are making headway, particularly the case on illegal lotteries

After a two-week delay, the Finance Ministry yesterday filed an official complaint as the injured party in the ousted government's unlawful decision to sell two- and three-digit lotteries.

Under corruption law, the complaint paves the way for the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) to proceed to the indictment stage - as part of the preparations for prosecution.

In the complaint, the ministry named its permanent secretary, Suparut Kawatkul, as the culprit responsible for the lotteries debacle.

In his concurrent position as chairman of the Government Lottery Office (GLO) board, Suparut was the prime mover to push for the Cabinet's endorsement of the new lottery, which was later found to be on the market and classified as "charity for tax exemption" without legal basis.

Suparut resigned as GLO board chairman right after his deputy Sathit Limpongpan, acting on Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn's behalf, lodged the complaint yesterday.

Chalongphob appointed Comptroller General Piyapan Nimmanahaeminda as the new GLO board chairman.

While waiting for the complaint to be filed, the AEC decided to charge 32 ex-ministers, including Thaksin, and 17 senior lottery officials over the new lotteries.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

PM: Thaksin probe to be over by April

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told Japanese media on Tuesday that investigation over charges against ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra might be wrapped up by the end of April.

"I can say that we are quite closing in on the final chapter of Mr Thaksin's future," Gen Surayud told reporters at a press conference in Tokyo.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=117851

[sriracha john]

Thai PM says Thaksin probe may be over by April

TOKYO - Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Tuesday that the probe into charges against his predecessor may be over by the end of April.

He also sought to reassure key trading partner Japan that democracy will be restored in his country.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been living in exile since a coup last year, has been accused by coup leaders of corruption during his five years in office, and Surayud reiterated that Thaksin's actions led to the decision to launch the coup.

He told a news conference in Tokyo, where he is on a four-day visit, that he was not directly involved in the investigation, but believed that the probe was nearing its end.

"I can say that we are quite closing in on the final chapter of Mr. Thaksin's future," he said.

Criminal tax evasion charges were brought against Thaksin's wife and her brother last week, and Surayud said investigators were looking into charges linked to Thaksin's first election as prime minister, among others.

Surayud will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later on Tuesday, and the two are set to sign a free trade pact that was delayed by last year's political turmoil, which culminated in the coup. Thailand is Japan's seventh-largest trading partner and the value of trade between the two nations rose 14.9 percent in 2005 from a year earlier to $41.13 billion (21 billion pounds), according to the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Seeking to reassure Japanese investors, Surayud vowed that the restoration of democracy will be carried out on schedule, with a referendum on a new constitution to be held September 3 and a general vote on December 16 or 23.

"I believe that by the end of this year, following free and fair elections, Thailand will again emerge with enhanced democratic credentials," he said.

Analysts have said pressure on Surayud's unpopular interim government appears to have eased since his setting last week of an election date and his refusal of military pleas to use emergency powers in Bangkok.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the coup leader who pushed for an emergency decree, last week denied any rift with Surayud.

But Surayud, a former army chief, appeared eager to draw a line between himself and the military, emphasising that he could ignore pressure to make decisions on his own.

"I'm the one who calls the shots," he said. "I am not a military government."

Surayud also said that Thaksin was free to come back to Thailand but that his return might prove difficult.

"Yes, as a Thai citizen he can come back to Thailand, but again as one who caused big trouble in Thailand, I think it is not easy for him to come back," he added.

Surayud last month said Thaksin could return home to fight legal cases if summoned by the courts but that in the absence of a court summons to testify, he should stay out of the country until elections promised by the coup leaders at the end of the year.

- Reuters

[John K]

ASSET DECLARATION

Thaksin could be banned till 2010

AEC looking at submissions related to Shin Corp, Ample Rich share deals

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shina-watra may be ban-ned from politics until 2010 if the Assets Examination Committee finds he submitted false declarations over Shin Corp share sales to Ample Rich.

AEC Shin Corp probe panel chairman Viroj Laohapan said his committee suspected Shin Corp shares were indirectly sold to Ample Rich with intent to avoid tax.

Ample Rich was established in the British Virgin Islands on March 12, 1999 with only $US1 (Bt34.98). Thaksin extended a Bt329.2 million loan to the company to purchase 32.92 million Shin Corp shares at Bt10 each.

Thaksin is said to have borrowed the money from his wife, Khunying Pojaman.

The AEC has asked the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to check if Thaksin submitted correct asset declarations for this transaction.

NCCC member Klanarong Chantik said Thaksin became prime minister in 2001 and should have submitted details of this Ample Rich transaction. If he was found to have not done this he could be banned from politics for five years.

The agency is now considering when a ban on involvement in politics would start if Thaksin was convicted.

The Constitution Court earlier found Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Prayudh Mahagitsiri guilty of a false asset declaration. He was banned for five years from the day he resigned as a senator.

If the NCCC applies the Prayudh ban as a precedent Thaksin would be banned until 2010.

Meanwhile, an AEC source said a letter to the Revenue Department seeking a tax-liability ruling on Shin Corp share sales could not be used as evidence they attempted to follow the law.

Pranee Wetchapruekpitak, a Shinawatra family accountant, wrote the letter.

The source said the letter did not specifically name Pinthongta and Panthongtae.

An AEC subcommittee on Mon-day concluded that the two Shina-watra siblings owed more than Bt10 billion in tax in connection with the Shin Corp deal. The Revenue Department will issue a demand for the tax. If they refuse to pay, they will be prosecuted in the Criminal Court.

Both have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court but must deposit a surety first.

Revenue Department director-general Sanit Rangnoi said after Monday's deadline for the submission of income-tax returns neither showed income from their Bt5.6 billion Shin Corp share transactions.

The department would invite both to have their income appraised again. If they were unhappy with this they could appeal to a panel made up of representatives from the Revenue Department, Interior Ministry and the Attorney General.

If, after this, they remain dissatisfied, they could take the matter to the Supreme Court.

Bancha Khaengkhan,

Opas Boonlom

The Nation

[John K]

Some how being banned from politics was never a problem if your goal is being a dictator.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin will be pinned down, Surayud claims

'Closing in on the final chapter' of ex-PM's career

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday a graft probe into ousted predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra could be wrapped up by the end of this month and he was confident it would "pin him down".

Several days ago prosecutors charged Thaksin's wife Pojaman and her brother Bhanapot Damapong with tax evasion, and on Tuesday a sub-panel of the Assets Examination Committee ordered his two children, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, to pay tax of Bt10 billion in connection with the sale of Shin Corp.

Beside charges of tax evasion, a number of allegations - including a scandal over the purchase of land on Ratchadapisek Road, loans from the Krung Thai Bank and irregularities behind baggage scanners for the new airport - have been raised against the ousted premier since the September 19 coup.

"I can say that we are closing in on the final chapter of Mr Thaksin's future," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told a news conference in Tokyo. "We have all the evidence and I think the investigation ... will be able to pin him down this time," Surayud said.

He said he told a senior Justice ministry official he needed the investigation to be finished "maybe by the end of April" but that he would not "violate the rule of law" in rushing the case.

"We move maybe a little slowly," he said. "I don't want to rush because we will be blamed by other people that we didn't take a close look at the investigation process."

Surayud insisted the government was not preventing Thaksin from returning but added that now may not be the "appropriate time" for the former premier to do so.

He said Thaksin's decision to remain abroad was related to the refusal of the Thai people to forgive him for the damage he had done to the country.

Surayud, who was in Tokyo to sign a free-trade agreement, acknowledged that last year's coup caused concern in Japan - Thailand's top investor - but said the "peaceful military intervention" had been necessary.

The coup's "triggers" were "the unprecedented consolidation of political and financial power by Thaksin during his five years as prime minister, his alleged abuse of state power, widespread corruption, curtailment of media freedom and a disastrous human rights record," Surayud said.

In his speech to the Japan National Press Club yesterday, Surayud said: "By the end of this year, following free and fair elections, Thailand will again emerge with enhanced democratic credentials and with stronger institutional foundations capable of delivering a better, more sustainable future for the majority of its citizens."

Surayud said the promulgation of the 1997 "Peoples' Constitution" coincided with "one of the most traumatic events in Thailand's modern history, the financial crisis of 1997, which cost our country nearly a decade of socio-economic development.

"Together, these two coincidental events set the stage for nine years of political and economic developments, which culminated in last September's peaceful military intervention," he said.

Surayud defended the military's decision to launch the coup, which he referred to as "time out" because for the first nine months of last year, the country was without an effective government.

"A general election was boycotted by the opposition, and later ruled invalid by the courts. Bangkok witnessed almost daily demonstrations against Mr Thaksin. The system of checks and balances had been subverted and we seemed to have exhausted all constitutional means to end the political impasse," he said.

"I believe this intervention was in the public interest and it certainly met with widespread public approval, as indicated by public opinion polls undertaken shortly after the event," he said.

Surayud said the interim constitution had set a very tough timeline for the restoration of democracy, and that the draft constitution was nearing completion and preparations were underway for a national referendum on it, due to be held in September.

The interim government and the Council for National Security were "absolutely committed to a general election, either on December 16 or 23."

Surayud also touched on the violence in the deep South, saying it was "deeply troubling to all Thais". He said he was "under no illusions" this crisis could be resolved quickly.

"If we consider this area's long history of neglect and coercion, exacerbated by today's global geo-political realities, which have nurtured a resurgence of fundamentalist religious thinking as a defence against perceived threats against religious beliefs, one begins to understand the difficulties we face.

"However, following on from my earlier apology to the citizens of this area, I intend to continue pursuing a policy of reconciliation, of increasing economic opportunities and of building ever closer relations with our neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia."

Surayud also brushed off allegations his government had been slow in cracking down on Thaksin and his cronies.

"Some people have urged the use of executive power to short circuit the judicial process. But if we adopt that approach, how will the rule of law ever be strengthened?" Surayud asked.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Yet ANOTHER example of "What Thaksin Had Done Wrong":

'Evidence against Shinawatras found in KTB loans case'

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) is believed to have found evidence to incriminate deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family over irregularities in loans given by Krung Thai Bank (KTB) to Krisadamahanakorn Group, a source said yesterday.

An AEC subcommittee looking into Krung Thai Bank's loans would be able to use the complaint lodged by the Bank of Thailand with the police last year against KTB executives.

The BoT had incriminated Thaksin, his wife Khunying Pojaman and son Panthongtae in the loans to the property developer. It had lodged a complaint with the police who then passed it on to the National Counter Corruption Commission which later transfer it to the AEC.

KTB was accused of lending Bt9.9 billion to Golden Technology Industry Park Co, an affiliate of Krisadamahanakorn and accepting highly inflated collateral.

AEC's subcommittee, the source said, had found the loans were credited to politicians in the previous government and it will send a letter to those incriminated seeking any objections they may have to the appointment of members of an investigative panel.

KTB last week lodged a formal complaint with AEC over the loans case, as requested, but it was incomplete because it incriminated only Thaksin, not its own executives and officials.

The AEC subcommittee last month incriminated seven politicians, eight KTB officials, four executives and five companies and their managements for alleged involvement in the loan scandal, which is believed to have cost the state up to Bt4.5 billion.

- The Nation

[Jai Dee]

AEC has never obstructed ex-PM Thaksin from re-entering politics

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) says it has never obstructed deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from re-entering politics as he has accused.

Mr. Udom Fuangfung, the AEC member, says his panel is working sincerely and openly and has never been involved with politics. He also says the AEC is concerned for what is right and wrong and does not take political sides.

Mr. Udom says it is normal for the AEC to be criticized since it is responsible for scrutinizing assets of politicians, and he does not mind if others want to link politics with its operation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 April 2007

[John K]

AEC has never obstructed ex-PM Thaksin from re-entering politics

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) says it has never obstructed deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from re-entering politics as he has accused.

Mr. Udom Fuangfung, the AEC member, says his panel is working sincerely and openly and has never been involved with politics. He also says the AEC is concerned for what is right and wrong and does not take political sides.

Mr. Udom says it is normal for the AEC to be criticized since it is responsible for scrutinizing assets of politicians, and he does not mind if others want to link politics with its operation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 April 2007

Isn’t this a moot point? There is a whole threads that says he has quit politics... you mean to say Thaksin does not say what he means...!!!

[sriracha john]

Thaksin to be indicted within 2 months

TOKYO - Thai prosecutors will bring corruption charges against deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra within two months, his successor said in remarks broadcast today.

Prime minister Surayud Chulanont, in an interview taped during a visit to Tokyo last week, repeated that Thaksin has the right to return to the kingdom but will have to face charges.

'I think it should be done in one or two months from now, no later than that,' Surayud told Japanese public broadcaster NHK on being asked when the indictment would be finished.

Surayud said last week during a press conference here that Thaksin may be charged by the end of April and voiced confidence that prosecutors would 'pin him down.'

Thailand's army cited alleged corruption by Thaksin as the main reason to oust him in September.

Investigators have already charged Thaksin's wife and his children but have yet to charge the former prime minister himself, who has been traveling around Asia since the coup.

- Forbes

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's card

Former Information and Communications Technology Minister Surapong Suebwonglee (centre) presides over the signing ceremony for a Smart Card purchase contract worth 888 million baht.

Wrinkles remain in Smart Cards

The first order of Smart ID Cards delivered to the ICT Ministry should have been sent back. Instead, the ministry collaborated in glossing over major defects and accepted substandard solutions

In June 2005, the project to issue Smart ID Cards made headlines after Nectec, an agency under the National Science and Technology Development Agency, Ministry of Science and Technology, was called in to conduct a fact-finding study into the project, which lay in tatters at the time. The ICT Ministry, charged with procuring the cards, and the Ministry of Interior (MoI), who were issuing and using them, were blaming each other for technical problems that had resulted in serious delays in the IT mega project. The Nectec report found the cards sub-standard and non-compliant with the ToR on at least four key points. However, the ICT Ministry's own ten-person committee ignored the Nectec report and pronounced the cards compliant in a 5-3 vote. The four points identified by Nectec were; that the 12 million cards were not Java compliant; did not have any working PKI (public key infrastructure) encryption; did not have the required 32KB of available memory; and could not safely add or remove applets without affecting other applets. In January 2006, the MoI ran into problems issuing the card, as the card management system was indicating that some cards had already been issued. Investigation showed that the reason was that the card's unique chip ID number was being issued in pairs - meaning that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of cards had an exact clone. The idea for a Smart ID Card was very much a part of the Thaksin government's style of big-buck mega projects coupled with a tangible token of popularism.

- Bangkok Post

[Johpa]

. The idea for a Smart ID Card was very much a part of the Thaksin government's style of big-buck mega projects coupled with a tangible token of popularism.

- Bangkok Post

I am curious as to how the smart card project has been merged into the vilified concept of populism. Was the card expected to bring some sort of financial benefit to the rural poor?

[Tony Clifton]

. The idea for a Smart ID Card was very much a part of the Thaksin government's style of big-buck mega projects coupled with a tangible token of popularism.

- Bangkok Post

I am curious as to how the smart card project has been merged into the vilified concept of populism. Was the card expected to bring some sort of financial benefit to the rural poor?

Only to those handling the project.

[sriracha john]

AEC promises early end to investigations

Corruption investigations into the central food laboratory, the excise duty on telecommunications and the Ua Athorn housing scheme will be wrapped up before September, Assets Examination Committee (AEC) chairman Nam Yimyaem said yesterday.

Reacting to concerns voiced by AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengreung that many of the graft investigations would not be completed in time, Nam said he was confident these three cases would be forwarded to public prosecutors before the AEC's term ends in September.

The first success in the 13 cases the AEC is looking into came last month with the filing of charges in court against Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra and others for allegedly dodging tax on transactions of Shinawatra Computer and Telecommunications shares.

Nam said the main reason for the slowness of the AEC investigation was the reluctance of state agencies to lodge complaints against politicians for fear they too would be affected as they were also involved.

In cases such as the central lab project, there were hundreds of cheques issued to different people and investigators had to trace them and their involvement with the project, he said.

The AEC will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to accept additional cases for investigation, including one lodged by National Legislative Assembly transport committee chairman Admiral Banawit Kengrien, who revealed in February that he had uncovered fresh evidence of irregularities relating to air-conditioning and power-transmission contracts for Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Nam said Banawit's case had only background information and the AEC would have to "start from scratch'' to get evidence.

The central lab project, conceived to control the quality of food exports, was launched by then agriculture and cooperatives minister Newin Chidchob in 2003. The drafting of the contract terms has been found to favour certain bidders.

The excise duty on telecom businesses, imposed after a Cabinet resolution in 2003, is said to have caused financial damage to TOT and CAT Telecom. Critics say the policy deprived the two state telecom agencies of huge revenues and weakened their competitiveness.

In the Ua Athorn case, the AEC is investigating Thai-Malaysian joint venture Pastina Thai, which is accused of benefiting from bid rigging. The company is believed to be linked to former social development and human security minister Watana Muangsook.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Yep, ANOTHER Thaksin gaff:

End the project

Fishermen in 13 provinces in the South have demanded the government immediately scrap the Seafood Bank Project, which has issued ownership deeds to some marine areas.

Launched during the previous Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2004, the project caused the following problems:

1. Big investors have managed to occupy more marine areas than locals.

2. Many commercial banks have refused to accept ownership deeds for marine areas as collateral except when given other pledges like land deeds.

3. Large fishing trawlers have intruded into community areas.

4. As part of the Seafood Bank Project, contract-farming was introduced with an advance pricing system.But fishermen felt they were disadvantaged by this. When their reared fish did not meet required standards, they got a very low price.

5. Local people were left out of decision-making process. When they had enquiries the authorities failed to provide answers.

6. Local fishermen were encouraged to buy feed and medicine for their fish farms. But these expensive products raised production costs without any guarantee the fish would meet the required standards.

7. Divisions have developed in local communities as local people have fought over marine areas.

8. When using commercial feed and recomended farming techniques, there was no guarantee that the fish farms would not be contaminated.

9. The Seafood Bank Project failed to conduct environmental impact assessments. With the high concentration of fish farms along some sections of the coast, the local marine life and ecology could suffer.

- The Nation

[Tony Clifton]

Coming soon, one more Thaksin program, OTOP.

[sriracha john]

Surayud says Thaksin will face charges

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Thursday that chances of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra returning to Thailand after elections are slim, because charges facing him were in process. Although pro-Thaksin groups have tried to set up an atmosphere supporting the return of Mr Thaksin, coming back would be difficult because of political conditions.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=118357

[sriracha john]

slightly different wording from the Chinese press...

Thai PM: Thaksin better not come back

BANGKOK -- Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Thursday that chances of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra returning to Thailand after elections are slim, because charges facing him were in process.

"I would say please don't ever come back," Surayud said, when media reporters ask him what he would say to Thaksin if could meet him in person.

Surayud also dismissed widespread rumors that he had a secret gentleman agreement with Thaksin that he would be permitted to the country, local media reported.

In the past when confronted with the same question, Surayud would say Thaksin should wait until after the election. It was not clear if the statement meant a change in his position, local news network The Nation commented.

The premier also admitted that one of the problems facing the government was slow action. He denied that part of the problem came from cabinet ministers, saying they have no hidden agenda in serving the country.

He added that he had told his ministers to have medical check-ups and to meet the people to listen to their problems.

Surayud also confirmed that the government would stay until the elections, and there was no way that any groups could cause a rift between the government and the Council for National Security (CNS)which led by Sonthi Boonyaratkalin.

- Xinhua

[sriracha john]

I want to tell Thaksin "don't ever come back," : PM

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said if he could would tell his ousted predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra not to ever return to Thailand.

"I would say please don't ever come back," said Surayud, when asked said when ask a group of senior editors as to what he would say to Thaksin if could meet him in person.

In the past when confronted with the same question, Surayud would say Thaksin should wait until after the election.

It was not clear if the statement meant a change in his position.

Surayud also dismissed widespread rumours that he had a secret gentleman agreement with Thaksin that he would be permitted to the country.

"The rumour is not true. I just want to tell him is, 'please, don't come back'," he said.

Surayud has been criticised for being too soft in dealing with Thaksin and previous government's alleged corruption.

He repeatedly suggested that Thaksin, who has been abroad since being toppled over in September last year, could return home after the national election scheduled by the end of this year.

He admitted that Thaksin is still a powerful figure but domestic supports for him were growing weaker.

The prime minister was speaking during a meeting with senior editors of several newspapers at his Baan Phitsanulok official residence.

He also dismissed rumour that he has had conflicts with Council of National Security that ousted Thaksin and that CNS wanted him to resign.

"No one or CNS asks me to resign," Surayud said.

He said when he was granted an audience with HM the King on his appointment as the prime minister, HM the King told him to be patient and work for the country.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

'Strong evidence of Thaksin's abuse of power'

Compelling evidence had been found to implicate former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in allegations of abuse of power over Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Admiral Bannawit Kengrien, chairman of the National Legislative Assembly's special committee tackling the airport's problems, said the evidence showed Thaksin illegally endorsed a contract to allow Italian-Thai Development Plc to construct the airport even though it had been ordered by a court to undergo rehabilitation.

Bannawit and Prapan Koonmee, chairman of a subcommittee probing the contract to build Suvarnabhumi's passenger terminals, yesterday lodged a complaint with the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

Prapan said the subcommittee found the Thaksin government had begun to do wrong things right from the start of the bidding process by appointing a committee to alter the construction design, bypassing the airport's board.

Thaksin also instructed the board to sign a contract without having the power to do so in order to favour the company that won the bidding.

They accused Thaksin and others of abusing their power and of collusion by violating the Bidding for State Projects Act 1999, causing Bt10 billion in damage to the state.

Prapan said that on the day the contract with Italian-Thai Development was signed, a court ordered the company to undergo rehabilitation. The law bans the government from signing contracts with companies that are in that position.

"I have documents which show that Thaksin signed his name ordering the board to hire this company," he said.

Prapan accused former transport permanent secretary Srisook Chandrangsu of illegally altering the contract that was checked by public prosecutors to favour contractors such as insurance firms, thus preventing the state from being able to claim compensation from the firms.

Apart from Thaksin and Srisook, former transport minister Wan Muhammad Noor Matha was also accused of being involved in the alleged illegal activities at the airport.

Bannawit said the AEC would investigate accusations involving the government's contract with King Power for the right to operate duty-free shops in the airport.

He said AEC secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi had suggested Airports of Thailand should recommend to the Transport Ministry that it cancel the contract with King Power and demand compensation.

In related news, Theerapat Srichaiya, one of Thaksin's legal representatives, turned up at the AEC yesterday to submit a letter to object to the appointment of members for an investigative committee to probe Krung Thai Bank's loan extension to the Krisada Mahanakorn group.

- The Nation

[John K]

Well and I thought it was going to be a bit of a slow news day, what a wonderful pick me up. So what does this translate to in possible jail time and or fines or whatever?