Anything & Everything about Thailand (Part 2)

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 24 February 2007 :-

Violence affects tourism in Southern Thailand

Earnings from tourism for the three troubled southern border provinces – Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat -- are projected to decline further in the second quarter of 2007 if violence related to the southern insurgency continues, according to a leading think tank's report.

Renewed violence in the three provinces has become more fierce since its beginning in 2004, forcing tourism, both by locals and foreigners, to decline 18 per cent to 1.15 million visitors in 2004 and
deteriorating further to about 800,000 persons in the following year, according to a report issued by Kasikorn Research Centre.

Last year, tourism business in the area picked up slightly with the number of tourists visiting the three provinces remained almost unchanged with revenue earnings up marginally to about Bt1.86 billion, it said.

More than 800,000 tourists are expected to visit the three provinces this year while earnings was projected to increase to about Bt2 billion if there is no major violence in the trouble-plagued area.

The latest (and one of the most severe) onslaughts to shake the three provinces and nearby Songkhla province ocurred on February 18 – the Chinese New Year – when eight persons were killed and more than 60 persons were wounded in a series of bombings, arsons, and shootings thought to have been the doing of militants operating in the region.

The Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC) report noted that Songkhla's Hat Yai district, known as paradise for nighttime entertainment and shoppers, would see its tourism business this year grow in comparison to 2006.

KRC said some 2.7 million tourists are anticipated to visit Hat Yai in 2007, up 8 per cent from 2006, while tourism earnings are to grow 12 per cent to around Bt14.5 billion from last year.

However, it said if the violence in Songkhla improves in the first quarter of 2007, Hat Yai would lose about Bt800 million in tourism earnings. If the situation does not improve until the second quarter, it would suffer loss from tourism earnings around Bt1.9 billion.

There are signs that impact from the violence could continue into the second quarter of 2007 and tourism in Hat Yai would decline 13 per cent from an earlier projection of 2.7 million tourists, while earnings would tumble to Bt12.6 billion from Bt14.5 billion.

The earlier projection was made by the Centre before the Chinese New Year.

The report urged security officials to plan more comprehemsive protective measures for tourists during the upcoming Songkran festival, or Thailand's traditional New Year, in order to boost tourist confidence.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 24 February 2007 :-

Police alert in Bangkok continues for 2nd day

Police in Bangkok remain on alert on Saturday after three western nations and Japan warned of possible terrorist attacks in the Thai capital. But officials said there was no new alert.

"The Metropolitan Police are on full alert. We have maintained our security measures at the maximum level since the bombs on Dec 31," said Pol Maj Gen Kamol Kaewsuwan, deputy chief of Bangkok Metropolitan police.

Since a wave of bombs on New Year's Eve in downtown Bangkok killed three and injured dozens, including foreign tourists, police have beefed up security at department stores, train stations and Bangkok's new international airport.

The Thai capital was again on renewed alert after Australia, Canada, Britain and Japan warned of possible terror attacks in Bangkok and urged their citizens to stay away from crowded places such as shopping malls and stations.

The foreign warnings came after Thai Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said that Thursday Islamic separatists from the country's restive Muslim-majority south could slip into the capital and mount attacks here.

But Thai officials said Saturday no new security alert was issued, while the US Embassy in Bangkok left its travel advice on the website unchanged, urging travellers to monitor events and to avoid large public gatherings.

Kamol said police have increased security at more than 1,000 locations including embassies, government buildings, shopping malls, train stations and popular tourist hangouts since the deadly New Year's Eve bombs.

Thailand has also been hit by an insurgency in the Muslim-majority south bordering Malaysia. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in the unrest since 2004, but the violence has largely been contained in the region.

The government earlier denied any link between the Bangkok blasts and the southern unrest, insisting the New Year's Eve bombings were the work of factions in the military or police linked to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September coup.

But Thai investigators said earlier this month that a suspect in the deadly Bangkok bombings might have links to the southern insurgency.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 25 February 2007 :-

Beware of thieves at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Up to 415 theft cases were reported to a tourist-service centre in the past several months.

"Thieves targeted notebook computers and cameras," Pol Lt Col Thammawat Hirunyalekha, an inspector at the centre, said Sunday.

According to him, of teh total thefts reported, 152 cases were about items missing in the airport, 152 about items missing while on board, and 101 about items missing outside the airport's compound.

The number of theft reports at the unit has climbed from just nine in September, to 54 in October, 72 in November, 101 in December and 114 in January2007.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 28 February 2007 :-

Boonrawd warns of possible violence in Bangkok

Thai Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas has confirmed intelligence warnings of disruption in Bangkok during the next two months, saying he is concerned about high-level violence caused by both insurgent acts and other political movements.

Gen. Boonrawd commented Tuesday regarding warnings of possible violence in March and April. He said the warnings were issued to alert, not alarm, the public as the capital had recently encountered such incidents.

Three persons were killed and some 40 others were wounded in bombings at nine locations in Bangkok and Nonthaburi on December 31, 2006 when New Year's Eve celebration's were set to begin.

"The authorities warned (of possible further attacks) as a precaution. The public should be on alert," he said, "but not panic."

Gen. Boonrawd said such violence could be initiated by insurgents or those with political agendas, which the authorities are now closely monitoring.

Citing intelligence, the defence minister said that simultaneous political actions, demonstrations and protests, by different groups can be more disruptive than before.

"If there are political demonstrations, and we can't control them, there will surely be violence," he said. "We are worried about the level of violence. We can see it is worse without naming groups, Gen. Boonrawd said, and repeat violence can be more violent than in the past."

Realising the threat, he said, the authorities are trying to stop any recurrence.

The Council for National Security (CNS) and the government are trying to reconcile dissident factions to prevent incidents countrywide, particularly in the South, the defence minister said.

"We are watching a spectrum of issues," Gen. Boonrawd said. "Violence has already occurred in both the South and in Bangkok," and can happen again, anywhere.

National Security Council secretary-general Prakit Prachonpachanuk reaffirmed that security measures in Bangkok are at maximum level following intelligence warnings of possible violence, especially in mid-March.

Noting that some inconvenience could be encountered by security checks in crowded public venues, Mr. Prakit urged the public to kindly cooperate with the authorities.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by LOBANGKING

hi bros,

Any bros out there can confirm wether 030307 is a holy holiday ---macha day?....

i heard from my thai tirak that 030307 is macha day...all bar will be closed,...

heard that 050307(mon) will b subsitute holiday..im worried that bar closed from 030307-050307..

any bros can confirmed???
tks

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 3 March 2007 :-

Thais tense as religious holiday begins

Rumours of insurgent attacks in Bangkok cannot stop Buddhists from joining religious activities on Maka Bucha Day at Sanam Luang on Saturday.

The venue was crowded with Buddhist followers who began arriving before dawn to offer food to 581 monks. After the morning ceremony, there were other religious activities scheduled to last until the evening, when a candle-lit ceremony was to be held.

At 6 p.m., Phra Phrom Wachirayan and the Prime Minister's Office Minister Dhipawadee Meksawan, were to lead the general public to walk with lighted candles in hand around the venue.

Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin expressed his confidence in the security measures of the day. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has worked with police and soldiers to guarantee safety for the participants.

On the closed-circuit televisions that were found to be out of order in several locations throughout Bangkok, Mr Apirak said they are being fixed and should be ready for re-installation in April.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 4 March 2007 :-

Tiger flies for 44 baht S'pore-Bangkok

Singapore - Tiger Airways has launched 1.99 Singapore dollar (43.84 baht, $1.30) seat sales to three Thai cities in a promotion lasting until January 31, 2008, the low-cost carrier said on Sunday.

The 1.5 million seats available for "early bird saver" fares to selected destinations are one-way and exclude taxes.

The fares apply "even for festive year-end holidays" if passengers book months in advance of their flight departure dates, said chief marketing officer Rosalynn Tay in a statement.

A 5.99-Singapore-dollar (132 baht, $3.94) fare is available to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, 8.99 Singapore dollars (198 baht, $5.91) to Darwin, Australia and 9.99 Singapore dollars (220 baht, $6.57) to the Indonesian city of Padang.

Singapore Airlines-backed Tiger currently flies to six cities in Thailand, two in Vietnam, four in China, one in Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and Singapore. The carrier is scheduled to start its Perth route on March 23, 2007.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 34 March 2007 :-

Security fears lock down airport

Security measures at Thailand's showcase Suvarnabhumi Airport were tightened Saturday -- Makha Bucha Day, an important Buddhist religious occasion -- following earlier warnings by security officials that an unprecedented bombing could take place.

Suvarnabhumi Airport director Serirat Prasutanont said some airport exits were closed and added security personnel are patrolling the area. In addition, some passengers were being searched more thoroughly on a random basis before they entered the airport building.

Mr Serirat said he was aware that the random searches might have caused inconveniences to passengers but he said such security measures were needed to prevent an untoward incident during the Makha Bucha Day, celebrated by Buddhists all over the country.

Despite today's stricter security measures, the airport is still very busy with many people were seen leaving for upcountry and overseas.

Vut Kiendee, a native of the central province of Suphan Buri, said he was not worried about the bomb threats during the festival as he had full confidence in the security officials.

Mr. Vut was boarding an aircraft bound for the Hat Yai in Songkhla province. Security officials earlier warned the public that a similar bombing to the New Year's Eve could take place at key places on Makha Bucha Day and during Songkran – Thailand's traditional New Year and water festival April 13-15.

Three persons were killed and 42 wounded on New Year's Eve in a series of explosions in Bangkok and its neighbouring province of Nonthaburi.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 6 March 2007 :-

Chiang Mai residents told to stay home and avoid dust

Chiang Mai residents, especially the elderly, children and people with respiratory problems, have been advised to avoid outdoor activities as the city's air pollution has reached a dangerous level. The Pollution Control Department yesterday issued an air pollution warning after its air quality gauging stations in downtown Chiang Mai detected a harmful level of small dust particles.

The level of dust particles smaller than 10 microns was measured at 197.7 microgrammes per cubic metre (ug/cu m) in the city yesterday, against an acceptable level of 120 ug/cu m.

''Chiang Mai's air quality has reached a critical level since last Thursday. We recommend that residents stay home to avoid exposing themselves to small dust particles. All burning activities are also prohibited to reduce the volume of dust released into the air,'' said the warning.

Residents of Lampang province should also protect themselves from the air pollution as the province also has a very high level of small dust particles, which was measured at 207.7 ug/cu m yesterday.

Other provinces with high dust levels include Chon Buri (159) and Samut Prakan (121), according to the department.

Dust particles smaller than 10 microns could enter sensitive internal breathing organs and cause respiratory ailments.

''The increasing dust level is a result of widespread forest fires in the northern provinces and in neighbouring countries including Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia,'' said Duangchai Duangthip, a specialist at the Chiang Mai-based northern environmental office.

Ms Duangchai said Thailand is currently in the peak period for forest fires, resulting in rising levels of small dust particles across the country, but Chiang Mai is worst hit because it is surrounded by mountain ranges.

The situation has been aggravated by farming activities as many farmers still use the slash-and-burn technique to prepare their land for new crops, said Ms Duangchai.

The air pollution crisis in the northern city of 1.66 million people is predicted to continue for at least three months.

In response to the problem, the environmental office opened a call centre to update local air quality reports for residents and concerned agencies. Tambon-level emergency response units have also been set up to crack down on burning activities, which could worsen Chiang Mai's air pollution.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[thaiboy]

bro u never report ITV own by temasek singapore was ask to closed down ( take over my the thai goverment) for not paying up the fine?? hahahah temasek holding kana play out liao i think this pc of news never report in singapore

[~Angel_Dome~]

Bro, cheers to u for bringing in so much thai news!

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by thaiboy

bro u never report ITV own by temasek singapore was ask to closed down ( take over my the thai goverment) for not paying up the fine??

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednessay 7 March 2007 :-

iTV stays on the air as court considers fate

Thailand's first independent TV station remained on the air on Wednesday morning, even after the government ordered it shut down and all 1,010 staff terminated.

On-air news and commentary presenters said the station would likely go dark "tonight" (Wednesday evening Thailand time). They said the staff kept the station on the air themselves, and defy the government order, after filing a petition with the Central Administrative Court.

The petition asks the court to order the government to keep the station on the air. A ruling could come today, although that is up to the judges.

The cabinet had agreed to "temporarily" halt broadcasts by iTV effective at midnight on Tuesday, until a further ruling from the Council of State, expected to be on Friday at the earliest.

Early on Wednesday, iTV continued broadcasting, including what appeared to be scheduled commercials. The overnight broadcasts were mostly old footage of the iTV history, which had also been broadcast on Tuesday.

The regular 6:30 a.m. newscast went on air live as usual - except that newscasters were dressed in black. Regular programming continued after 8 a.m.

The only two news stories being reported were the 10-year history of the station and the current government campaign to get iTV off the air and take it over.

xxxx
Earlier report:

"iTV will be shut down from March 7, when its concession is revoked, until there is clarity on legal issues from the Council of State," Prime Minister's Office Minister Dhipawadee Meksawan told reporters.

She said iTV would need to terminate all its operations on Wednesday and hand over all its equipment and assets to the government after the company failed to meet Tuesday's deadline to repay fees amounting to 2.2 billion baht (61 million dollars) and fines of 100 billion baht (2.8 billion).

The Prime Minister's Office has assigned the Public Relations Department to manage the station once the contract is revoked.

"After reconsidering this issue, we think the Public Relations Department will be the right agency to manage ITV until we find a new operator," said Khunying Dhipawadee.

ITV's 1,010 employees will be granted three months salary as compensation for losing their jobs, she said.

The Council of State will meet on Friday to discuss the issue.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he wished to see the continuity of iTV broadcasts but it could not happen "because of legal restrictions so the government had to abide by laws."

Gen Surayud also apologised to iTV staff, all of whom will have to resign until further ruling. He said the decision was based on the rule of law.

iTV, the station sold by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, had admitted it could not pay 100 billion baht in fines and fees by Tuesday's deadline.

iTV shares have been suspended from trading since last Tuesday, when the government set the deadline.

The cabinet decision appears to bring an end to the tempestuous history of iTV, which started out as an effort to introduce an independent slant on the news to Thailand's state-controlled television, then became the alleged mouthpiece of a populist prime minister and ended up the property of a Singapore investment firm.

ITV, which was first managed by The Nation Multimedia Group, ran into financial difficulties in 1999 when it was taken over by Shin Corp, the telecomunications conglomerate of Thaksin Shinawatra who went on to become prime minister between 2001 to 2006.

Shortly before the January 6, 2001 general election, which Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party won, a handful of iTV staff were fired for providing too much coverage of the opposing parties, sending a signal for what iTV was to become during the Thaksin years.

While Thaksin was prime minister, the government altered the iTV concession contract to make the fees more manageable and permit more entertainment shows.

But the decision was ruled illegal shortly after Thaksin's family sold their 49 per cent stake in Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings in January 2006.

Temasek is now the main stake holder in Shin Corp, which is the majority shareholder of iTV.


UPDATE: iTV staffs petition Admin Court

iITV staff late Tuesday petitioned to the Central Administrative Court seeking an injunction against the Cabinet resolution to take the channel off air immediately after midnight.

The petition said such move could affect people's interests.

The injunction should remain in place until conclusions on the issue are reached. The court set 9.30 am Wednesday to consider this matter.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Friday 9 March 2007 :-

Three Thais are on Forbes billionaires list

The wealth of three Thai billionaires has earned them places in the 2007 Forbes Billionaires List which is released in New York on Friday.

Of 946 billionairs around the world, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi ranked 264th, with reported net assets worth 3.4 billion dollars. Chaleo Yoovidhya ranked 279th, with net assets worth 3.1 billion dollars. Dhanin Chearavanont and family ranked 390th, with net assets worth 2.4 billion dollars.

Mr Charoen, 62, owns Thai Beverage company, the producer of Chang Beer. He also owns Plaza Athenees in New York City and Bangkok.

Mr Chaleo, 75, has grown from beverages industry. He and his Austrian colleague are creators of Red Bull. The Yoovidhya family also owns 170 million dollars sales of TC Pharmaceuticals, a producer of energy drinks, and part of a private hospital chain. His son Chalerm owns a leading wine producer in Asia, the Siam Winery.

Mr Dhanin, 67, and family are one of the world's largest suppliers of animal feed. They also do retail, telecom and other businesses.

The wealthiest person on earth, again, is William Gates who has net assets of 56 billion dollars. This is the 13th straight year that Gates ranks the top of the list. The second richest person is Warren Buffet, with net assets of 52 billion dollars. Carlos Slim Helu from Mexico is the third richest person in the world, with net assets of 49 billion dollars.

In Asia, the richest person is Lakshmi Mittal from India, with net assets worth 32 billion dollars, who ranks the 5th on the list. Li Ka-shing from Hong Kong, who ranks the 9th in the world's list, ranks the second in Asia, with net assets worth 23 billion dollars. The third richest person in Asia, who ranks the 14th on the word's list, is Mulesh Ambani from India, with net assets worth 20.1 billion dollars.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[proprimate]

Bros,
SOri to sound naive, wat happened to Teevee aka thaivisitor? Can someone PM me his latest number or bros stationed in Hadyai so that I can meet up as me still raw around there and dun wan to be cheated. Cheers!

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 14 March 2007 :-

Northern province a hazy disaster zone

Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai province has been declared a disaster area as embattled provincial and other agencies confronted out-of-control brush and forest fires that have left smog and smoke hanging over northern Thailand.

Traditionally, before the rains and at the end of the hot, dry season, local farmers in the mountains burn off the preceding season's accumulation of vegetation to provide nutrients for the soil.

This year, however, the region has been especially dry, and vulnerable, to having such fires spread out of control.

Together with burn-off fires moving east and south from neighbouring Myanmar's Shan State, Thailand is besieged with conflagrations and smoke accumulation over a wide area of the region, and is on the edge of declaring an emergency zone in the northern provinces due to spreading clouds of choking smoke, clogged with dust and micro-particles of partially-burned wood, leaves and other vegetation fed by raging brushfires and forest fires.

Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp announced Tuesday that the National Environment Preservation Act of 1992 might be implemented to cope with current widespread air pollution from brushfires and the burning of seasonal groundcover in the forests to the extent that part or all of the 17 northern provinces may be declared an emergency or hazardous zone.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is recruiting personnel to promptly extinguish forest blazes in those northern areas, and that special clinics may be set up on location to care for persons having illnesses related to the acrid forest smoke, the government spokesman said.

The authorities, including officials of the Public Health Ministry, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, were prohibiting local villagers in the region - especially poachers - from attempting to clear weeds and undergrowth, as well as forests, by setting them on fire.

Mr Yongyuth said some officials had suggested forest smoke should be cleared by artificial rain but technical experts at the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry commented that they would have difficulties making artificial rain under the current dry weather conditions in the North.

The cabinet instructed local authorities to remain alert and to contain forest fires from March until June, during which an El Nino phenomenon is expected to bring drought to arid places.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 14 March 2007 :-

Bangkok, deep South on security alert

A security alert is in effect for Bangkok and the South today, when the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Pattani (BRN) separatist movement marks the anniversary of its formation in 1963.

Pol Maj-Gen Adisorn Nonsi, acting chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the city was fully prepared to counter any attack.

A strategy codenamed "Jan 50" was in force, combining the operations of the police and the military. Areas vulnerable to a strike were designated by three classifications - general alert, high alert and extra-high alert.

Locations on general alert are communities, bus stops and shopping areas. Those on high alert are government buildings and embassies. Residences of important figures are on extra-high alert.

Pol Maj-Gen Adisorn said road checkpoints would also be set up in specific locations to ensure normality.

Pol Col Utasin Litruengdet, chief of Chana Songkhram police station, said vending stalls were banned on the tourist-haunts of Khao San road and Rambutri road. Bags carried by people visiting these areas may also be searched.

An intelligence source said BRN leader Masae Useng had ordered 300 young men who had received insurgent training to launch attacks in the deep South.

Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, chairman of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hoteliers Association, said more security guards were deployed and additional surveillance cameras installed at hotels in the province.

Security at Hat Yai railway station was also beefed up.

Army spokesman Col Akkara Tipparoj urged southern residents to carry identification cards as they may be asked to produce them on the spot.

In Narathiwat, a combined force of police, military and administrative officers set up road checkpoints downtown. Uniformed and plainclothes police are also patrolling the major business district, shopping venues and hotels.

Phatthalung governor Suthep Komolpamorn told a meeting with local administration officials to tighten security after leaflets were distributed warning of bloodshed and sabotage aimed at government buildings in the next day or two.

In Yala, forensic police said at least 10 people had colluded in the arson at Ban Rueneng school in Yaha district on Monday night.

Also in Yala, a pickup truck carrying 10 people, mostly Buddhists, was ambushed by gunmen in Bannang Sata district yesterday. One person was killed and six others injured as they were returning from a funeral rite in Pattani.

The 5th Infantry Division begins joint border patrols with Malaysian forces today, continuing until June 26.

Council for National Security spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said an extra 20 companies of rangers were sent to the deep South to help maintain peace and order.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork