After a twohour debate, the Senate has this afternoon passed its first reading of the referendum bill by a majority vote of 119tofive. Two abstained.
A 29-member panel has been appointed to scrutinise draft provisions for the final two readings. The bill is on a fasttrack for passage as the government is pinning its hopes that the referendum outcome might help to overcome the political deadlock
here the source
BANGKOK: — Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej as the government faces mounting pressure to resign enmasse amid street protests, a reliable source disclosed on Wednesday.
His departure came a day after the premier declared emergency rule on Tuesday after clashes between his supporters and anti-government protesters killed one man and injured 43.
Citing his ailing wife to tend to for the reason to call it quits, Mr. Tej had tendered his resignation letter to the premier who has yet to officially approve it, the source said.
However, Mr. Tej is not expected to continue work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Thursday, according to the source.
Mr. Tej, a former permanent secretary for foreign affairs, replaced Noppadon Pattama as foreign minister who had been pressed to resign in the wake of the listing of the disputed Preah Vihear temple as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.
Mr. Tej held talks with his Cambodian counterpart over the Preah Vihear temple dispute in Siem Reap, Cambodia, one day after he had assumed the ministerial post on July 27.
– MCOT/TNA 2008-09-03
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Foreign Minister Tej quits
BANGKOK: — Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag has tendered his resignation from Samak government, just 40 days after taking the office.
His reported resignation came a few days after his secretary, Poksak Nilubon, former ambassador to Sweden, resigned, saying he could not serve Samak Government.
The sources said Tej, former permanent secretary for foreign affairs, reasoned his resignation that his wife, Pensri, is sick.
Tej has been appointed to the position on July 27 particularly to handle the Thai-Cambodia dispute on Preah Vihear Temple.
It is still unclear why he wished to resign.
Tej is scheduled to visit Vietnam on September 10 and Indonesia from September 16 - 18.
Tej, 65, was the second foreign minister, under Samak Government.
– The Nation 2008-09-03
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Thai Foreign Minister resigns
BANGKOK: — qaThai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag Wednesday handed his resignation to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, The Nation news website reported, quoting a foreign ministry source.
The yet to be confirmed resignation came one day after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, embattled with a civil movement led by People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to topple his administration, declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, following violent clashes broke out between pro- and anti-government protesters.
The Nation report quoted “a senior ranking foreign ministry official, as well as sources in the Government House” as saying that Prime Minister Samak was trying desperately to get Tej to change his mind. He asked Tej to wait at least until the current political crisis passes by.
There was no official confirmation from the government or Foreign Ministry spokesman yet.
– Xinhua 2008-09-03
here the source
Rumours had it throughout the day that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was granted an audience with His Majesty the King to inform His Majesty of his intention to resign.
The rumours said Samak had booked time slot of Radio Thailand at 7:30 am to announce his resignation.
State of emergency announced in Bangkok
PM to have absolute control; PAD to go on protesting despite state of emergency; more people join protest at Government House, pro-goverment protesters dispersse
BANGKOK: — Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Tuesday announced the state of emergency in Bangkok following a clash between the pro and anti-government supporters early in the morning.
Reasoning that some groups of people caused disturbances in Bangkok that affect the peace and security, Samak announced the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations in Bangkok.
The prime minister’s order also appointed the army chief to be in charge of enforcing the emergency decree in Bangkok.
Thai PBS said the PM’s order would exempt the enforcement paragraph 1 of Article 9 which prohibit people from leaving their houses, meaning peole can still go t work.
The station said the announcement would prohibit gathering of more than five people.
But the state of emerency authorises the authorities to evict people from any place or prohibit them from enteirng a place.
The state of emergency also prohibits news publicity in a way that terrifies the public.
The state of emergency also allows the authorities to detain suspects for seven days and would prohibit people from making illegal entries into government offices.
Pro-government protesters dispersesd soon after learning about the the emerency situation announcement.
But the leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy said the protest would continue at Government House.
Thai PBS reporter reported from the scene that more people came out to join the rally Tuesday morning.
Democrat Party MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said the state of emergency would allow the prime minister to have absolute control.
Sathit said it seemed that the government foresaw the violence and state of emergency. He said the prime minster and People Power MPs indicated the violence would take place when they spoke during a debate on the political crisis Sunday night.
– The Nation 2008-08-02
September 02, 2008 10:24am (8:24am Thailand)
THAILAND’S Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej declared a state of emergency in Bangkok today, state radio announced, hours after clashes between opponents and supporters of his government left one dead.
Embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who has faced mounting calls for his resignation, appointed the powerful army commander General Anupong Paojinda as chief of a special team tasked with enforcing the emergency decree.
Bangkok’s police chief and the capital’s regional army commander have been appointed his deputies.
Under the emergency decree, gatherings of more than five people in Bangkok are banned.
“By invoking this emergency decree, (General) Anupong can ban people from entering any specific place and can evacuate people from any specific place,” the announcement said.
Thai police called in army reinforcements early Tuesday as thousands of pro-and anti-government protesters clashed in the capital, leaving one dead and dozens injured, officials and local media said.
Thai television showed protesters wearing helmets and carrying batons running though the streets, fighting with each other and throwing rocks, as people lay bleeding on the street.
The violence took place not far from the site where about 15,000 demonstrators have been besieging the main government compound for a week, demanding that Mr Samak step down.
here the source
PAD protesters block road to Phuket Airport
PHUKET: — Protesters led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy blocked the road to the Phuket International Airport Friday afternoon.
Prayuth Tiraksa, a PAD leader in Phuket, said the protester started blocking the road at 2 pm.
– The Nation 2008-08-29
PAD protesters block access to Hat Yai, Krabi airports
Supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy started gathering outside the Hat Yai and Krabi airports Friday afternoon.
The protesters took action in retaliation against police’s crackdown on protesters in Bangkok, their leaders said.
here the source
Many of Thailand’s beaches are literarily paradise on earth. You will be awed by the palm-fringed, delightfully powdery white sandy beaches surrounded by crystal clear sea abound in delicate colourful coral. As for beach accommodation, the services offered are world-class at the fraction of the cost you would pay back home. And believe it or not, if you book from here, the prices get even cheaper!
take a look!
Low-cost carrier One-Two-Go will suspend its operations from July 22 to September 15, making it the first airline victim of record oil prices.
Founder and CEO Udom Tatiprosongchai said the unrelenting rise in oil prices had forced the airline to shut down temporarily.
During this period there will be a reorganisation to prepare for a return to business.
“The company has been losing money for months, and we cannot continue like this,” said Udom, adding that One-Two-Go would resume operations when the situation improved.
Two of its rival, Thai AirAsia and Nok Ai, are still in service but facing the same cost pressure.
Both have revised their business strategies and rescheduled some routes.
Udom said One Two Go had been operating based on actual costs while other players had different strategies. In a statement, One Two Go said high oil prices were hurting the global airline industry.
Airlines world-wide have cut 30 per cent of their flights and raised surcharges to stay in business.
One Two Go was the country’s first low-cost airline, starting its service in December 2003 with a Bangkok-Chiang Mai flight.
It ran into trouble when one of its planes crashed in Phuket, killing 90 passengers. Rumours abounded that it could face regulatory problems due to its safety record.
Udom declined to comment on this issue.
Relatives of the victims in the Phuket crash have started a web-site, www.investigateudom.com, to campaign for an investigation into Udom’s business conduct.
It was alleged that Udom had misled pilots into flying unsafe planes and paid bonuses for those who worked beyond the legal maximum of flying hours.
Chaisak Angkasuwan, director-general of the Civil Aviation Department, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
here the source
Thai Muslim insurgents on Army TV5 announce surpise halt to southern violence
BANGKOK: — Groups conducting the four-year-old Muslim separatist insurgency in Thailand’s deep South have pledged to stop the violence in the region from noon Thursday, according to a pre-recorded tape broadcast on Bangkok’s Army Channel 5 television station at noon Thursday.
The so-called Thailand United Southern Underground group announced on Thai national television that it would stop violence in Thai southern provinces and support peace.
Retired Army Gen. Chetta Thanajaro, leader of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana political party announced earlier that he will give a press conference at 2pm Thursday afternoon giving further details.
Gen. Chetta, a former defense minister, said the plan by insurgent groups to cease the violence which has occurred on an almost on a daily basis since January 2004 came after several rounds of “unofficial negotiations” aimed at ending the unrest, mainly in the three troubled southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Whether the situation in the region would improve after a pledge by the insurgent groups must be seen in what actually happens, he said, adding that no conditions were given for the stop to the violence.
“There’s no political hidden agenda behind the plan,” Gen. Chetta said. “I will take the responsibility. This is considered a good sign and I’m confident the situation would improve compared to before.”
However, he said he would not guarantee that no bloodshed would erupt in future.
Over 3,500 persons have died in the ongoing violence since January 2004.
– MCOT/TNA 2008-07-17
Southern insurgents announce ceasefire
A group of southern insurgents who called themselves the underground movement for the southern border provinces announced ceasefire in the deep South Thursday.
The so-called All Underground Movement of the deep South went on Cahnnel 7 to make announcement.
Its spokesman spoke in the Malay dialect and another spokesman translated in Thai.
The group said the it saw that it was about time for the group to stop the insurgency as the group wanted to remain with Thailand instead of fighting for an independence.
– The Nation 2008-07-17
Chetta claims insurgents will end operations
Former defence minister Chetta Thanacharo said southern insurgents will stop their operations starting from noon Thursday in order to restore peace in the southern region.
He claimed he has engaged in a talk with their leaders, who vowed to stop their operations.
He said the statement was recorded on tape.
He also said he will hold a press conference on the matter again at 2pm.
– Bangkok Post 2008-07-17
here the source
Gold prices in Bangkok have surged to a record high upon concerns over renewed Middle East tensions and the weakening of the
US dollar, according to an industry executive.
Gold Trading Association president Jitti Tangsitthipakdee said the price of gold ornaments soared to a new high of 15,600 baht per one
baht weight of gold since an undetermined number of investors moved their investments to the gold market in response to concerns over the confrontation between Iran and Israel.
The investors were also worried about the declining US dollar and economic troubles in the United States after the US Federal Reserve had decided to bail out Indy Mac, one of the country’s mortgage lender giants.
In addition, he said, the baht’s weakening had fueled the value of gold in Bangkok although the price of gold abroad stayed unchanged at around US$960 per ounce.
Mr. Jitti said the local price of gold ornaments is likely to continue to rise and surpass the level of 16,000 baht per one baht weight of gold this year if the baht continues to weaken.
At present, gold ornaments are traded at 14,935.60 baht for the purchase price and 15,650 baht for the selling price, and gold bars at 15,150 baht for the purchase price and 15,250 baht for the selling price.
– TNA 2008-07-14
here the source
Several major airlines including Thai Airways International are cutting long-haul flights into Thailand next year in line with a forecast 12-per-cent drop in the number of inbound tourists, said the Association of Thai Travel Agents.
ATTA president Apichart Sankary said that although the Tourism Authority of Thailand targets 17 million visitors next year, only 15 million may arrive.
Starting from today, THAI will suspend its New York-Bangkok service. The company has also reduced flight frequencies, re-routed flights with particular impact on its US operations and introduced other cost-cutting measures.
“Other airlines such as Lufthansa are also considering reducing long-haul flights between Thailand and Europe,” said Apichart.
Thailand is expected to miss this year’s visitor target of 15.7 million. ATTA, which encompasses inbound travel agencies, expects the number to reach only 15 million.
While domestic tourism will be more sluggish than last year due to political conflict, Apichart attributed the lower number of foreign visitors to efforts in Europe and the United States to lure tourists from the Middle East.
Maitree Narukhatpichai, president of Phuket Tourism Association, admitted that foreign tourists’ bookings for the island this month had dropped 15-20 per cent from last year’s level due to political tensions, which were driving away visitors from major markets.
Seni Phuwasethavorn, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Business Association, said the high season would not be as active as last year due to the higher cost of travelling.
For instance, the ferry fare from Surat Thani to the island will soon be increased by 20 per cent. Currently, Samui’s hotel occupancy rate is at 60 per cent, down from 70-80 per cent in the same period last year.
– The Nation 2008-06-30
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