APRIL 2007

30th April 2007

A bill to give the information and communications technology (ICT) minister unrestricted power to shut down pornographic and anti-monarchy websites is expected to be tabled in the military appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) next month.
IT law expert Paiboon Amonpinyokeat told a seminar on internet censorship yesterday that the law would equip the ICT minister with the legal muscle to deal with wayward websites.
The government currently has to go through the Council for National Security and seek cooperation from internet service providers to block websites with offensive content.
However, the Cyber Crime Bill would clearly stipulate a procedure for the ICT Ministry to shut down or block websites deemed damaging to society and state security, said Mr Paiboon, a partner at Gilberte, Reed & Co law firm.
Under Article 17 of the bill, the ICT minister could seek court approval to shut down undesirable websites. It would be the first time that Thailand had a legal tool to deal with the problem, he said.
Mr Paiboon recommended, however, that self-regulation among "netizens" and "net operators" should be promoted along with the new law.
Jittat Fakcharoenphol, a lecturer at Kasetsart University's computer engineering department, suggested that there were ways to deal with issues disturbing to society.
"We should not think only about the law but about applicable technology when we want to block undesirable websites to prevent indecent content like pornography from reaching minors," he said.
Proactive measures through sensible technology could be a more effective tool in blocking websites, he said.
C.J. Hinke, from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (Fact), said 1,279 books were banned in Thailand from 1850 to 1998, most in an attempt to suppress communism.
Mr Hinke said the lese majeste law has become a powerful tool for authorities to enforce censorship, despite the fact that books and films with content critical of the monarchy do not change the truth about the good things His Majesty the King has done for the country.
"I think Thai authorities should stop treating people like children and allow discussion among ourselves so we can really debate and become an informed society," he said.
Thanapol Eawsakul, editor of Fah Diew Gan magazine, said Thai society would take a similar path to Singapore's if it was to use self-censorship as a principle

Representatives of 24 civic groups have threatened to reject the new draft constitution if their demands are not met.
The groups took their stance yesterday at a meeting to debate contentious issues under the draft charter, which was completed on April 25.
The forum organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was the last to be held in Bangkok after accepting input from other provinces over the past five months.
The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) was formed shortly after the Sept 19 coup last year.
The meeting criticised the draft for failing to promote people's participation and democracy. The new constitution would continue to empower state officials and politicians to play a greater role in all independent organisations, while making it difficult for people's representatives to sit on any of these bodies, the groups said. They called on the CDA to reduce the power of the lower house speaker, the opposition leader, and the presidents of the Supreme, Supreme Administrative and Constitution Courts, who would be responsible for selecting members of independent bodies under the draft.
The meeting also disagreed with the stipulation that members of the Senate be appointed to office through a selection process. The civic groups demanded that the upper house members be elected.
Pairoj Polpetch, secretary-general of the Civil Liberties Union, said people's representatives would probably not be recruited if the selection process was left to a panel made up of the lower house speaker, the opposition leader, and the presidents of the three courts.
"These people are likely to choose their men, who might be senior state officials, to sit on the independent bodies. We don't think they will pay much attention to the people's representatives who have dedicated themselves to working for the underprivileged," Mr Pairoj said.
He suggested that the CDA allow people's representatives to sit on a selection committee for the independent bodies to provide checks and balances.
"We will closely monitor whether the CDA considers and complies with our demands, and if not we will set out campaigns against it [the draft constitution]," he said.
Wilaiwan Sae-tia, chairwoman of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, warned that the CDA should respond positively to the people's demands and address issues relevant to the people in the new charter as soon as possible.
"The new charter belongs to the people. It should be written so that the people, not any particular group or person, will benefit from it," Ms Wilaiwan said.
She said she would ask her labour networks to "boycott" the draft if it failed to respect the people's rights and their demands.
Ratchadaporn Kaewsanit, coordinator of the Women's Movement for Thai Political Reform, said she agreed that the first draft should be amended by the CDA during the public hearing process in order to give more weight to people's issues.
Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Popular Campaign for Democracy, called on the CDA to take into consideration all demands of people in society to ensure that all people equally benefit from the new constitution.
Despite the strong criticism, some members of the representatives at the meeting said they felt satisfied with some issues in the draft charter.
They said they agreed with the scrapping of a requirement in the previous constitution that MPs must hold at least a bachelor degree.
Sunee Chairos, a NHRC member, said commission members would meet today to discuss the demands and would forward their views to the CDA for consideration as soon as possible.
The CDA wants members of the public and various sectors of society to offer their views about the constitution during the 30-day period from April 25, before putting it up for a public referendum.
The Council for National Security is empowered under the interim constitution to choose one of the previous constitutions for promulgation if the CDA's draft is rejected in the referendum.

29th April 2007

The country's political parties and other leading personalities are urging the public not to accept the charter draft unless extensive amendments are made.
Chaturon Chaisaeng, acting leader of the Thai Rak Thai party and one of the speakers, said the constitution draft could lead the country into another crisis.
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he did not see how the constitution draft would help accelerate political reform.
Political critics and veteran politicians yesterday denounced the new charter as being too aristocratic, and called on voters to vote it down if it is presented for public referendum unamended.
Offering their views at a panel discussion hosted by Thurakij Bundit University, the speakers demanded the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) amend the draft before putting it up for a public referendum. They also called on the Council for National Security (CNS) to state clearly which of the abrogated constitutions they wanted to revise and reinstate if voters turn down the CDC's draft in the plebiscite.
Mr Chaturon said if the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) endorses the draft without making changes to the controversial articles, voters should not vote for it.
The current draft fails to ensure equitable treatment for all. "It is only restoring and fostering aristocracy," he said, and cited the proposed formation of the National Crisis Council as an example.
The council will comprise judges, the prime minister and other key figures, but no one from the armed forces, to find a political solution when the country is facing a crisis.
Mr Chaturon said the draft has entrusted too much authority in the hands of only a small group of people to make the most important decisions, rather than giving that power to the parliamentarians who are the true representatives of the people.
The selection of senators and members of independent organisations without an election is also unacceptable, he said.
"Voters should not accept this draft if it is not amended. If the public votes against the draft it will frighten the CNS. They would then try to come up with a better draft," he said.
Echoing his call are former constitution drafter Khanin Bunsuwan and Worajate Pakhirat, a law lecturer at Thammasat University.
Mr Khanin said he would not accept the new constitution in its present form and the CNS threat to invoke a worse constitution draft if the present one was rejected in the referendum was also unacceptable. Mr Worajate said he believed those in power will offer the public a better draft if voters turn down this one.
According to Mr Abhisit, a key obstacle to the development of democracy in Thailand during the past decades was "money politics".
Each politician's monthly expenses on social activities are usually much higher than his or her salary, and the extra funds that flow into the pockets of politicians often come from corrupt activities.
If their spendings are not properly regulated, money politics and corruption would continue to prevail. "The charter draft did not address this problem. The public should not expect too much from this draft," he said, and urged all parties concerned to work towards the general election at the end of the year.
"A society with an elected government is exactly what we need to overcome our problems," Mr Abhisit said.
Respected social critic Prawase Wasi and Rosana Tositrakul of the Federation of Consumer Rights called for more involvement of people's representatives in the constitution drafting process.
Dr Prawase suggested that the government should involve political parties more in the constitution drafting process as all political parties are well connected to their constituents.
Local administrative bodies and community leaders should be invited to voice their visions as well, he said.
Somkiat Tangkitvanich, the TDRI research director, said he thought overall the draft was acceptable, but the part about senators' selection and the MP election should be amended.
"On people's rights and liberties, this draft is generally better than the 1997 constitution," he said.

28th April 2007

For the past several days, Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas had been on a secret mission that is related to problems in the South, and is reporting directly to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.
"Gen Boonrawd held a meeting with leaders of an insurgent group," a source said on Friday without giving further details.
"The meeting might be the outcome of cooperation between Gen Surayud and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," the source added.
Earlier, the Malaysian prime minister had agreed to help initiate negotiations with insurgent groups.
The source did not reveal where the meeting was held, saying only that the location was in Thailand, not in Malaysia's Kelantan state.
Council for National Security (CNS) chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said security in the strife-torn South is being stepped up in view of the third anniversary today of the Krue Se massacre in Pattani on April 28, 2004.
Gen Sonthi said the massacre should not be recognised as an important day by any insurgent group. Nonetheless, the army generally beefed up security whenever such days drew near.
More than 1,000 checkpoints have been set up from 4pm to 5am throughout the course of the anniversary.
Gen Sonthi said the authorities had exercised extra caution in pinpointing Muslim men dressed in veils and robes of Muslim women in order to mingle in all-female protests.
Asked about the high levels of young Muslims joining insurgent groups, he said the army would work harder to deal with the issue as young people were immature and easy to influence.
He was satisfied with the fact that insurgents had shifted attacks from civilians to rangers because it meant less innocent people would become victims.
Asked about plans to boost paramilitary forces, he said the fiscal budget should be taken into account first.
In Narathiwat, a bomb blast at a kanom krok stall severely wounded a grandmother who owned the stall selling the hot sweet meats, along with her teenage nephew in Tak Bai district yesterday.
More than 100 Muslim women and children blocked a road to a mosque in Yala's Yaha district yesterday to demand a curfew be lifted.
It was the third protest held this week to demand that the curfew imposed in their area and neighbouring Bannang Sata district be ended.
The first anti-curfew protest took place on Wednesday in Ban Ngo-gapo of Bannang Sata. The second was held by villagers at tambon Tanohputae-nai on Thursday.
In the same province, a special combat troop escaped unscathed from a roadside bomb attack in Raman district yesterday while in a pickup truck providing security in the area.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was upbeat yesterday about the backing the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has given the government for taking peaceful steps in trying to douse the flames of southern violence. Gen Surayud said his policies, focusing on peaceful measures to end the shootings, killings and bombings in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces had received the support of the Islamic grouping.
The premier's statement came after Sayed El-Masry, an adviser to the OIC chief, praised Thailand for implementing such a peaceful strategy in the deep South and said he was convinced it would pay off in the long run.
Mr El-Masry is in Bangkok to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming three-day visit to the country by OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.
Gen Surayud said the government was ready to arrange a tour of the volatile southern border region for the OIC chief if he requested for it.
"We are ready to supply him all the information about the situation in the South," he said.
Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said yesterday after holding religious rites to commemorate the 132nd year since the Foreign Ministry's inception that the ministry would work closer with other states and international agencies to solve the southern problems.
He said Thailand will seek cooperation from Malaysia and other Muslim countries so the international community will understand the government's position of truly striving for peace in the South.

Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday called for the new charter to enhance the monarchy's honour, power and status.
Addressing a seminar on the constitution and the nation's future, he said Thailand would remain under a constitutional monarchy, so the charter should uphold the institution better.
Gen Sonthi's remarks followed the emergence of video clips deemed insulting to the King on the YouTube website.
Several messages also deemed offensive to the King were posted on the Time website as the magazine's readers voted for candidates in the ''Time 100'' poll.
Gen Sonthi raised the issue regarding the monarchy after saying that certain charter improvements he had suggested had not been addressed by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
Article 8 of the draft, which was being released to the public, retains Article 8 of the 1997 constitution. It states that the King ''shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated and that no person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or action''.
Gen Sonthi noted that he understood the CDC was working against time and was under pressure.
He called on all parties involved to be open-minded and to exercise tolerance, noting there was room for people to initiate amendments to the new charter.
Gen Sonthi noted that the CNS could not say what kind of charter the country would have if the draft was rejected at the public referendum.
If the draft was shot down, the CNS was required by the interim constitution to select one of the previous charters for amendments and enforce it.
''I cannot say what kind of charter we would have if this draft is rejected. We do not know if it will be better than the one we are drafting,'' he said.
He also dismissed rumours that the CNS had been telling the charter drafters what to do. ''The CNS has never dominated the process. There is no blueprint _ not even a draft,'' he said.
On the controversial call for a clause to be included enshrining Buddhism as the official state religion, he insisted that he had no objection to this being included in the new charter.
At the same time, he noted that history has made it clear that Buddhism is the kingdom's religion.
According to Gen Sonthi, he was not worried that such an inclusion would make matters worse as religious differences were not the cause of social divides or of the southern unrest.
The CNS is one of 12 agencies required to study the draft charter and make suggestions to the CDC within 30 days after accepting the draft. The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) is scheduled to start debating the proposed amendments at the end of this month.
CDA chairman Noranit Sethabutr said yesterday the CDC could not afford to make drastic changes which would lead to more problems.
He called on the public to accept the draft charter at the referendum to allow for elections and formation of a government, and to launch a campaign to seek amendments later.
Somkid Lertpaitoon, secretary of the CDC, warned yesterday the country would head towards another political crisis if the draft was rejected.
Borwornsak Uwanno, a drafter of the 1997 constitution, said despite certain flaws in the election system, he found the draft acceptable.
According to Mr Borwornsak, a member of the National Legislative Assembly which is also required to make suggestions, the charter upheld core principles of rights and promoted transparency and accountability in the political system.
He echoed Mr Noranit's concerns, urging the public not to reject the charter simply because it had left out certain clauses.
''It is similar to [what judges do at] a pageant. They examine the contestants as a whole, not their fingers or moles.
''So, I do not think it is right when some people threaten to boycott the draft because it does not contain a particular clause,'' said Mr Borwornsak.

27th April 2007

A security adviser to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday expressed fear that enshrining Buddhism as the national religion would allow militants in the deep South to stir up violent opposition to it among local Muslims.
Nideh Waba, also chairman of the Islamic Religious Schools Association in the deep South, said he was afraid the militants would jump at the opportunity to mislead Muslim countries into believing that Thailand does not recognise people of other faiths, even though His Majesty the King is the defender of all faiths.
Concerns about an escalation of violence heightened following a mass demonstration by monks and Buddhist activists outside parliament to demand that the new constitution enshrines Buddhism as the official state religion.
The draft charter, which was yesterday accepted by 12 agencies for deliberation and possible amendments over the next 30 days, stops short of saying that Buddhism is the national religion.
Mr Nideh said that as far as he knew there were ''extreme'' Muslims who disagreed with the demand and might be persuaded by southern militants to join their movement.

The government has vowed to ''improve'' its performance during the remaining seven months of its term and it aims to maintain political stability, spur economic growth and bring back peace to the deep South, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.
Gen Surayud admits his government has been ''slow'' in administering the country during its first six months, ''but I and the government are ready to improve ourselves, taking advice from the public and media into account''.
During a lunch with a group of senior journalists at Baan Phitsanulok, the prime minister's official residence, Gen Surayud said the top priority of his government is to ensure a general election takes place.
He earlier set a tentative date for the election for Dec 16 or 23 this year.
''And before the election, the government will keep the situation under control. No bloodshed or violent events will be allowed,'' he said.
He said his government's situation has been unprecedented politically. In the past, deposed premiers would accept their fate. ''But this is not the case with Mr Thaksin [Shinawatra] as he is a man who will never give in easily, and he has a lot of money [to finance a counter-attack].''
But Gen Surayud believes Mr Thaksin only has a slim chance of returning to power, ''I myself told him not to come back until after the election.''
On the economy, Gen Surayud admitted that high exports are now the only thing driving growth. Normally, economic growth is driven by four factors _ international trade, domestic consumption, investment and government spending.
But Gen Surayud is confident the other three factors are starting to work in stimulating the economy.
''The 2007 budget bill was just approved by the National Legislative Assembly on Jan 9, and now we are hurrying to inject budget funds to 'foundation people','' he said, referring to people in rural areas who had also been referred to in the past as grassroots people.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemrat added that the government had launched the so-called ''happy living'', or yoo-dee-mee-suk scheme, in the Northeast and will expand this to other parts of the country later on.
The funds, totalling 10 billion baht for this fiscal year, will be given to people in rural areas _ similar to the village fund scheme under the Thaksin administration, ''but the major difference is that the new scheme would provide funds only to productive projects while the village fund was only aimed at boosting consumption without productivity,'' said Mr Kosit, who is also the industry minister.
Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn added that the Finance Ministry is also considering implementing ''tax measures'' to help stimulate the economy but he declined to elaborate.
With these measures along with record-high exports this year, Mr Kosit is confident economic growth this year will reach 4% despite a recent downward adjustment by the Bank of Thailand to a range of 3.8-4.8%, from 4-5% previously.
Gen Surayud said it is very likely that PTT Plc will invest in a mega project in Pattani province, which would not only help boost investment for economic benefit, but also help improve the situation in the deep South.
He also admitted the government had wasted about six months in tackling the southern unrest because it was short of funds.
The government had re-launched the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SPBAC) to be a centre to solve the problems. But the centre was not actually functional until it obtained its budget after the Budget Bill was enacted by the NLA in January.
''I just visited the South recently, and discovered the centre was not yet fully functional because of ineffective coordination among civil, police and military officers. But after adjustments, it will begin to function and will be fruitful.''
Besides the functional SBPAC centre, Gen Surayud said the government would also provide more public health facilities, improve the education system and create more job opportunities for people in the three southernmost provinces.
On the cabinet reshuffle, two new deputy ministers are expected to be appointed, but the prime minister said he had no plans to replace any minister in his administration ''as we have only seven months left. If some ministers were replaced, then the newcomers would take time to learn their jobs. We cannot afford such waste of time''.
However, he admitted that he had personally instructed some cabinet members to improve their performance.

26th April 2007

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday suggested that there could be an ulterior motive behind a mass rally to press for Buddhism to be recognised as the state religion in the new constitution. He said things could not be taken at face value when asked to comment on an observation that the demonstration had a hidden agenda.
The prime minister said the issue should be resolved through dialogue, adding that what appears on the outside is usually tied to backstage manoeuvring.
The rally outside parliament, which drew around 20,000 monks and lay people, raised tension and concerns about a violent confrontation. The rally will continue today when the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) is to present the first draft of the new charter to the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) for recommendations.
Gen Surayud urged the Buddhist activists to campaign under the rule of law.
A highly-placed police source also voiced scepticism about the demonstration. It was deemed to be calculated and well-planned amid reports that Wat Dhammakaya was behind the rally, said the source.
''We're investigating further whether politicians of the previous government are involved or not,'' the source said.
The claim outraged the Buddhist activists, who vowed to campaign for the rejection of the new charter if it fails to enshrine Buddhism as the official religion.
Gen Thongchai Kuasakul, chairman of the Buddhism Promotion Foundation, said the movement had nothing to do with any interest groups or the old political power clique.
''Every single baht which we are spending only came from the private pockets of our Buddhist followers. We have never received financial support from any particular group or person,'' said Gen Thongchai. He challenged the prime minister to substantiate his claim, otherwise it would mislead the public into believing that the rally was politically motivated.
Maj-Gen Thongkhao Puangrodphan, deputy secretary-general of the Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand, said the prime minister's claim was ''really not constructive'' and would create disunity in society. ''The gathering of Buddhists and monks to support Buddhism as the state religion is done in good faith. They have no any hidden agenda as suspected,'' Maj-Gen Thongkhao said.
He said the rally participants would spearhead a nationwide campaign against the new charter if it omits any mention of Buddhism as the state religion.
''We have a plan to send our representatives to convince Buddhists nationwide not to accept this new charter,'' he said. Monks are not allowed by law to vote in elections of a political nature, including the referendum on the new charter.
Phra Sanitwongs Wuthiwangso, deputy director of the Organisation Communication Office of Wat Dhammakaya, yesterday denied any involvement in the rally. He said if the temple's followers took part in it, they did it on their own and had the right to do so.
About 200 police were dispatched to provide security at the rally venue. Another 200 from the Border Patrol Police were deployed to facilitate traffic as hundreds of monks ignored the First Army's call to stay put and marched from Buddha Monthon in Nakhon Pathom to parliament. It was expected that the crowd would grow to 200,000 people today if their demand was not attended to.
CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri yesterday shrugged off the mass rally and called for as many suggestions to be made as possible. ''We only hope that they [suggestions] are for the good of society, not for particular groups,'' he said.
CDA president Noranit Setthabutr said he was not under pressure to include or exclude a state religion in the charter.

25th April 2007

CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who is Muslim, said that recognising Buddhism as the national religion would have no impact on southern violence. "Whether or not the stipulation is added to the constitution, these thugs will continue their attacks," he said.
The head of the Council for National Security (CNS) yesterday agreed with a demand by Buddhist activists that Buddhism should be declared the national religion in the new charter. "We give priority to peace in the country," said Gen Sonthi Boonyarataklin.
"If a stipulation in the charter to this effect leads to peace in the country, then it is better that it is included. Those who say there is no need for such a stipulation don't take the issue that seriously."
He suggested a clause also be added requiring the government to "take care of other religions, including Christianity and Islam".
"I believe the Constitution Drafting Committee [CDC] will review its decision on this issue," Gen Sonthi said.
CNS spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the eight CNS members agreed unanimously that they would offer no opposition if the CDC stipulated in the 2007 constitution that Buddhism is the national religion.
However, the CNS would not intervene in the work of the CDC, Col Sansern said.
Addressing concerns that such a stipulation might be exploited by southern insurgents to justify their militant activities, Gen Sonthi said he believed the violence had nothing to do with religious differences. Recognising Buddhism as the national religion would not have any impact on southern violence.
"Whether or not the stipulation is added to the constitution, these thugs will continue their attacks," he said.
Col Sansern said the CNS also discussed the plan by PTV executives to organise another rally against the CNS and the government on Friday. The military was well prepared to handle the situation under its Pathaphi 149 plan, a security plan for rallies, and if necessary the CNS could declare a state of emergency, he said. The CNS had been informed about the rally plan in detail and would not fall into any traps the organisers might set up.
Gen Thongchai Kuasakul of the Buddhism Promotion Foundation said about 200,000 Buddhist followers would hold a two-day gathering in front of parliament beginning today, when the CDC is to hand copies of its draft constitution to 12 organisations as required by the 2006 interim charter.
He was speaking at a meeting of 300 representatives from Buddhist organisations nationwide, who want the CDC to make Buddhism the national religion.
Gen Thongchai asked the government not to prohibit the rally as it would be peaceful and was by no means a demonstration against the CNS or government.
Gen Thongchai said his foundation is lobbying CDC members and members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA). To file a motion, it needs the support of at least 10 of the 35 CDC members and three-fifths of the 100 CDA members.
Poll Watch and the People's Network for Elections (PNet) are also demanding changes to the draft constitution.
Gen Saiyud Kerdphol, vice-chairman of Poll Watch and PNet chairman, said they want changes to four articles.
He said the stipulation on the appointment of a National Crisis Council should be removed, the method of selection of senators and MPs should be changed, and judges should not be entrusted with the political power to select members of independent bodies.

Thai Airways International's decision to move a large part of its domestic services to the old Don Muang airport has resulted in a loss of tens of thousands of passengers who require connecting flights.
The flag carrier could have lost as many as 70,000 foreign travellers, who were transferring from international flights to domestic destinations or travelling from domestic routes to overseas, since THAI started operating through the 93-year-old airport on March 25, according to insiders.
These travellers have turned to other carriers due to the hassle and long wait in connecting with international flights - all of which run through Suvarnabhumi Airport, a time-consuming 27 km away.
Many of these passengers who may travel on THAI flights from abroad have instead used the domestic services of Bangkok Airways and the budget carrier Thai AirAsia, which have continued to operate all flights through Suvarnabhumi.
THAI operates 31 domestic flights a day through Don Muang, offering more than 8,000 seats a day, while retaining 11 flights a day at the new airport.
THAI is one of the three local airlines that opted to offer domestic flights through the old airport after the government earlier this year decided, following several policy flip-flops, to reopen the old airport for non-connecting domestic services to reduce congestion at Suvarnabhumi.
The other two players at Don Muang are THAI's budget subsidiary Nok Airlines and the local no-frills airline One-Two-Go, both of which did not experience similar problems to THAI.The response from connecting passengers has caught the national carrier's management off-guard as they believed that domestic flights allocated at Suvarnabhumi should deal with the connection issue for foreign travellers.
The THAI domestic flights retained at Suvarnabhumi, which the airline anticipated to require connections to international destinations, are those from popular tourist spots such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Krabi.
The business loss prompted THAI's board to discuss the issue at its Monday meeting. No easy solution is seen though some executives said the airline may be compelled to cut some flights at Don Muang and return them to Suvarnabhumi.
THAI may be reluctant revert to Suvarnabhumi because it spearheaded the campaign to reopen the old airport.
THAI has spent about 20 million baht to re-establish its presence over at Don Muang.
Industry analysts said THAI's loss of connecting passengers reflects a major flaw in operating dual airports within close proximity.
The use of two airports has increased the flight transfer time in Bangkok from between two and three hours to between five and seven hours.
Critics said THAI may have underestimated the impact of passenger connectivity to its business as statistics show that there are always passengers on every THAI domestic flight who need to transfer to international flights.
THAI shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 46.50 baht, down 25 satang, in trade worth 51.36 million baht.

24thApril 2007

Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra, two grown-up children of deposed prime minister Thaksin, have been ordered to pay almost 21 billion baht more in outstanding taxes and fines relating to the sale of Shin Corp, the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) ruled yesterday.
The panel decided the two siblings must pay another 20.89 billion baht in corporate income tax on behalf of Ample Rich, of which they were directors, for reaping the profits in Thailand.
The ruling means the Shinawatra family will have to pay 27.42 billion baht in total. This sum includes personal income tax of 5.69 billion baht the siblings were already ordered by the military-appointed panel to pay for the Shin share deal they made via Ample Rich last year, along with other charges.
Citing Article 76 of the Revenue Code, Viroj Laohaphan, chief of the panel's tax probe team, said despite being registered in the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven, Ample Rich could not escape tax liability in the kingdom because its operations took place in Thailand.
As Mr Panthongtae and Miss Pinthongta were directors of Ample Rich, they had to pay the company's taxes, he said.
A large chunk of the corporate income tax stemmed from dividends the firm had earned over the past four years, plus fines for failing to submit its tax payments on time, and profits on selling Shin shares to the siblings on Jan 20 last year, said Mr Viroj. Other charges include distribution of profits outside the country, he added.
The biggest profits Ample Rich made were from its sale of Shin shares to the siblings, when they were its directors, at one baht apiece while the market value was 49.25 baht, the probe team said.
The team said taxation of the two on behalf of Ample Rich did not overlap with their personal income tax.
ASC secretary Kaewsan Atipho, citing Article 65 (bis) (4) of the Revenue Code, explained that the firm is still liable to pay tax on its part because the law imposes the liability as punishment for unreasonably selling the shares to individuals at a price much lower than their real value.
The ASC said the hefty tax amount was imposed as "punishment" for the tax evasion attempt.
"Ample Rich colluded with the buyers [the siblings] to sell the shares at a cheaper price to help them evade tax. So, the firm must be punished by imposition of tax to set a precedent for similar cases," the probe team said.
The share purchase by Mr Thaksin's two children took place days before the Shinawatra and Damapong families sold their stakes in Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings of Singapore _ a deal which sparked street protests against the then prime minister.
Had Ample Rich sold the shares directly to Temasek in the stock market, they would not have been forced to pay such hefty taxes, said Mr Kaewsan.
The panel will order the Revenue Department to proceed with collecting taxes on Ample Rich.
The ASC also decided to file a defamation lawsuit against acting Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisaeng for allegedly calling the agency "a semi-kangaroo court". It also set up a subcommittee headed by Udom Fuangfung to look into the digit lottery, a project launched when Mr Thaksin was in power.
"The ASC is legally authorised [to investigate]. It is not a kangaroo court. The ASC does not mind criticism of its members, but it will not endure criticism against the agency as an [established] authority," said ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang.

23rd April 2007

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont unexpectedly flew to the Northeast a day early to try to persuade farmers not to travel to Bangkok for planned political protests.
Gen Surayud arrived in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani on Sunday afternoon despite being earlier scheduled to go on Monday.
"My house is quite far from the airport. I don't want to get up too early. It is better to stay overnight in Ubon Ratchathani and begin to work very early," the PM said before leaving Don Muang International Airport.
He was accompanied by his secretary Gen Phongthep Thetpratheep on regular Thai Airways International Flight TG 1030.
However, Defence Minister Gen Boonrawd Somthat said that the premier changed plans in order to talk to Governor Suthee Makboon about the multiple problems faced by northeastern farmers including land shortage.
Earlier news reported that the Prime Minister needed to talk to farmers in order to discourage them from holding a rally in the capital.
He is scheduled to talk to farmer leaders Monday before proceeding to meet with village and sub-district headmen in the central province of Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok.
Finally, he is scheduled to go to the Government House late afternoon.

22nd April 2007

Critics yesterday bombarded the draft constitution and its drafting process, saying it lacks clarity and gives little significance to political reforms. Former charter writer Kanin Boonsuwan called the draft constitution a ''pasted-up thesis paper'' containing bits and pieces of the current interim charter, the 1997 charter and past revolutionary order.
Its objective lacked clarity and the contents placed excessive emphasis on the wording rather than fundamental spirit which should be accorded the country's highest law.
It served technocrats and authoritarianism with the military as the core power broker, he said. The first draft of the new charter will be debated next week.
Mr Kanin said the charter had thwarted pro-reform initiatives, which form the bedrock of the 1997 constitution, regarded as the most progressive in Thai political history.
The new charter threatened to set the country back by giving bureaucrats and the judiciary power over elected politicians, who hold the people's mandate, he said.
In his opinion, the charter was also riddled with contradictions. While the new charter bans Constitution Drafting Committee members from becoming MPs or senators in the two years following promulgation of the charter, to deter conflict of interest, it does not stop them from assuming other political posts.
No such prohibition applies to members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly, the National Legislative Assembly, the Council for National Security, cabinet or independent agencies.
National Human Rights commissioner Saneh Chamarik said charter drafters did not understand political reforms as they were concerned too much with the issues of morality.
''As for ethics and morality, [the drafters] fail to see that enforcement of ethics and morality does not rest with politicians and leaders. It lies with a strong civic society,'' he said.
In Phetchaburi's Cha-am district where the National Legislative Assembly members met to comment on the draft yesterday, the assembly's committee on political reform was critical of the norms of charter writing.
NLA member Visanu Kruangam said the draft failed to specify the philosophical basis for the draft.
He said the draft referred to certain concepts without giving explanations, including good governance, conflict of interest and jurisprudence.
Several NLA members criticised the section involving MPs, saying it could pose problems in the future.
The charter specified the number of MPs and division of constituencies, yet it failed to address related technical issues such as ballot-casting and vote-counting.
Somkid Lertpaitoon, secretary of the Constitution Drafting Committee, conceded the draft was far from perfect, but said there was more time to improve.
Drafters were not clear on the election system and left out some details for fine-tuning at a later stage.
CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri said drafters went to work mindful of the danger of politicians assuming a monopoly of power, and abuses of power by the state.
Increased rights and freedoms for people and the community, guaranteed independence of the media, and wider public participation in politics were the new charter's strong points.

21st April 2007

The government will never make peace with the insurgents, although it remains committed to a reconciliatory approach in rebuilding trust among the "good people," and would consider amnesty for outlaws who abandon the southern gangs.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, during his tour of the South yesterday, was adamant the solution to the southern insurgency was an emphasis on non-violent methods, which he said the government was adopting to regain the trust of the majority of law-abiding people in the region.
"But for the villains, the peaceful approach is out of the question," he said.
He stressed however, that the government will not resort to unlawful methods to suppress the insurgents.
"This is the stand that I've repeated and taken all along," he said.
Gen Surayud was speaking during a one-day trip to the restive provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani. He also visited Noppadol Pueksomon, the Narathiwat deputy police chief who was critically injured by a booby trap this week and is being treated in Songkhla. The prime minister returned to Bangkok yesterday evening.
He also welcomed the suggestion of an amnesty for sympathisers of the insurgent groups put forth by Fourth Army commander Viroj Buacharoon.
Lt-Gen Viroj earlier proposed the introduction of a law similar to the now-abolished Anti-Communist Act to grant amnesty to insurgent supporters.
But the commander said the amnesty would be passed only if the supporters showed sincerity in re-integrating themselves into society and gave full cooperation to the government.
Gen Surayud cautioned that any such law required careful consideration. If local authorities felt the urgent need for it, they could recommend legislation, he said.
He also promised money to procure more security equipment such as surveillance cameras to be supplied to the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and the Internal Security Operations Command.
He also pledged to visit the deep South more often to lift the spirits of local authorities and people.
Wiwat Harirakpaiboon, spokesperson of Yala's newly-established anti-terrorism network, called on the prime minister to provide residents in insurgent-prone areas with weapons so they could arm themselves in self-defence.
It was one of many proposals the network, founded by local administrators and made up of mostly Buddhist members in Yala, submitted to Gen Surayud.
Other proposals called for more serious law enforcement against separatist groups, more financial support for community security volunteers and fair legal protection of people of all faiths.
In other incidents yesterday, police retrieved rucksacks, radio transceivers, medicine and maps in a pre-dawn raid on a village in Yala's Kabang district.
Elsewhere, a second-hand clothes stall was set alight in Muang district on Thursday night. On the same night, three rangers were injured, one seriously, by a roadside bomb in the same district.
In Pattani, three military officers were critically injured in a roadside bomb attack in Mayo district yesterday.

20th April 2007

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday agreed to a proposed extension of the Assets Scrutiny Committee's term until the end of the current government. The agreement was reached at a meeting with the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), which is due to take over any remaining inquiries after the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) is dissolved.
The National Legislative Assembly yesterday also proposed a draft law allowing the ASC to operate until a new government is up and running. The draft, currently being vetted by the government, will be sent back to the NLA in 30 days.
NCCC chairman Panthep Klanarongran said it had been decided that the ASC's term would end as soon as the interim government's term expired.
''The ASC will not open new cases and will speed up its current investigations. If it cannot complete its task by the time the government's term ends, the NCCC will take over,'' he said.
He said legal amendments would be introduced to give the NCCC the powers it needs to proceed with the ASC's investigations.
The ASC, set up following the Sept 19 coup to look into alleged irregularities in state projects, is vested with the powers of anti-graft agencies. It was initially given until Sept 30 to complete its mission.
With a general election tentatively scheduled for December this year, the interim government is likely to be replaced by an elected government early next year.
NLA member Prapan Khoonmee said yesterday that the draft law detailing the extension of the working term of the ASC was necessary to enhance the committee's efficiency.
''Actually, the draft does not seek to extend the term for another one or two years, but it is aimed at allowing the ASC to work until we have a new cabinet,'' said Mr Prapan, referring to earlier suggestions that the committee might remain in place for a couple more years.
The draft law would allow the ASC to initiate a corruption investigation and demand a maximum three-year jail term and a fine of 60,000 baht, as well as disciplinary action against state officials who refuse to testify without due reason.
The punishment for unhelpful officials was one of the draft laws proposed by the NLA, which the government has accepted for a 30-day study.
ASC chairman Nam Yimyaem said yesterday that the agency would draft regulations involving the disbursement of funds to cover the agency's legal expenses.
He said the rules are deemed necessary in case the ASC is ever sued by people implicated in its corruption inquiries.
Meanwhile, social critic Prawase Wasi yesterday warned of possible bloodshed as he raised concerns over the likely proliferation of public rallies and demonstrations by different groups with diverse objectives.
His particular concern was directed at a campaign by an anti-coup group which has angered supporters of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda by petitioning His Majesty the King for his removal.
''That was considered a discourtesy to the monarchy and it is a move that would be unacceptable to the army. This could culminate in the use of violence to stop the dissidents,'' said Dr Prawase.
However, he said violence would not end the conflicts, and could even lead to even bloodier events similar to clashes in the October 1973 student uprising and Black May 1992.
''Once bloodshed erupts, the problems will no longer be solved,'' said the critic.
He urged people to be rational and figure out practical and peaceful means for settling their conflicts. The proposal by the Council for National Security (CNS) to issue an emergency decree in Bangkok should be the very last resort, he said.
Dr Prawase's concern came amid warnings of escalated political tensions following the Songkran holiday. CNS chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday acknowledged the warning, saying tensions could peak between April and May.
He said certain groups would intensify their activities to discredit the government and the CNS, as the ASC and the NCCC were concluding their corruption inquiries against figures of the previous government.

19th April 2007

A Buddhist group says it will gather a quarter of a million of the faithful at a mass rally on April 25 to pressure the Constitution Drafting Committee to declare Buddhism the official national religion in the new charter.
Phra Thepvisutthikavi of the Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand (BPCT), said 200,000-300,000 Buddhists were expected to join the rally to monitor the deliberations of changes to the first draft by the CDC, to begin on April 26.
The monk denounced CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri's remark that the charter writers would not include Buddhism as the state religion.
Maj-Gen Thongkhao Puangrodpan, deputy secretary-general of the BPCT, dismissed as groundless claims by the CDC chairman that political groups were behind his group's campaign, saying senior monks, not politicians, supported it.
Phra Mahachow Thassaneeyo, of Maha Chulalongkorn Buddhist University, said monks were not a political tool for any political parties. Buddhist groups and monks had the right to express their views.
He said the monks had tried to give reasons for the declaration of Buddhism as the national religion. They had no intention of creating divisions in society.
He defended the presence of Thai Rak Thai politician Suvit Khunkitti who made an appearance on the pro-declaration stage at the gathering on Tuesday.
The monk said the politician joined his group simply as a Buddhist follower. Phra Thamkittimethee, spokesman for the Sangha Council, said monks had the right to stage the planned rally.
National Buddhism Bureau director Chularat Boonyakorn said any such rally by monks did not reflect the Sangha Council's viewpoint.
The Constitution Drafting Assembly's (CDA) public hearing and referendum committee chairman Chirmsak Pinthong said Buddhism was considered the supreme institution and it would be inappropriate for the 35 charter writers to declare it as the national religion.
Justice permanent secretary Jarun Pukditanakul has warned all parties to think the issue through carefully.
He said that the CDC has yet to decide if the matter should be tackled and he personally wanted to hear what people made of it.

Former finance minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday testified in favour of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife when appearing before a sub-committee of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), looking into the 772-million-baht Ratchada land deal, a defence lawyer said. Pichit Chuenban, representing Mr Thaksin, said M.R. Pridiyathorn's testimony would be beneficial to Mr Thaksin and his wife if the public prosecution decided to indict them.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has confirmed that more cabinet members will be appointed, although current ministers will retain their jobs in the latest changes to his administration. He also stressed the need to improve the government's performance in order to achieve its goals by the end of this year

18th April 2007

The Constitution Drafting Committee will pay to publish the first draft of the new charter in six newspapers - a medium it says will reach many more people and was cheaper than printing handbooks of the draft.
CDC spokesman Thongthong Chantharangsu said the committee decided to publish the draft charter in six Thai-language dailies at a cost of around five million baht.
The six papers are Thai Rath, Daily News, Matichon, Krungthep Thurakij, Post Today and Naew Na. The newspapers will publish the content of the draft charter from April 20 to April 24. About two million people are expected to read it. Mr Thongthong said electronic media would also be used to publicise the draft constitution.
If the draft was published in all newspapers, it would cost about 15 million baht, said Mr Thongthong. And if the committee were to print one million copies of a handbook, the CDC would have to spend up to 50 million baht, he added.
After the draft is published, the CDC will explain it to people, agencies and organisations around the country. Feedback from the public will be used by the CDC to fine-tune the content. This process is set to take place between May 27-June 10. The finalised draft is then expected to go before the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) on June 11.
The draft sailed through yesterday after the CDC made minor changes to the wording in all 299 articles, CDC sub-panel spokesman Pakorn Preeyakorn said.
CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri has also proposed forking out 600,000 baht to organise a ceremony marking the completion of the first draft on April 26. The date was moved from April 19.
He said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin would be invited to the ceremony. Many charter writers, however, disagreed with arranging the event fearing criticism over the budget spending.
CDC member Vicha Mahakhun said organising the event must be carried out with transparency. If the hiring of the event organiser was done secretly, the CDC would find itself in hot water, just like the CNS did recently.
The CNS had earlier been criticised over a 12-million-baht budget for public relations it gave to a team led by Chianchuang Kalayanamitr, a younger brother of assistant army chief Gen Saprang, who is deputy secretary-general of the CNS.

17th April 2007

Political tension is expected to escalate after the Songkran holiday ends today, as a number of anti-government groups based in the provinces are reportedly preparing to stage mass protests in Bangkok. At Sanam Luang, a merit-making ceremony sponsored by the government, is to be held from today until Sunday.
Officers hope people in the provinces will refrain from travelling to Bangkok to join political protests.
Deputy national police chief Wichian Potphosri said mass demonstrations in the capital could lead to public disturbances which could get out of hand.
The Interior Ministry would be largely responsible for blocking protesters in the provinces from joining mass demonstrations in Bangkok, Pol Gen Wichian said.
Police would work with provincial governors and the Internal Security Operations Command to persuade those groups and their supporters to stay in their home provinces, said Pol Gen Wichian.
He said some protesters would likely try to enter Bangkok in the guise of holidaymakers returning to the capital from the provinces.
Security measures would be beefed up at Sanam Luang, he said.
Organisers of any public gathering must first seek permission from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to use the public ground at Sanam Luang, Pol Gen Wichian said.
Such requests would be considered on a case-by-case basis in view of the fact Sanam Luang has already been booked for the merit-making ceremony sponsored by the government, he said.
Rally organisers with good records of compliance with the BMA's regulations would likely be granted permission first, he added.
Deputy governor Vallop Suwandee said almost the entire area of Sanam Luang is reserved for the merit-making ceremony.

The end of a legend or a bid for equality? That's the question raised by the Corrections Department's decision to stop giving prisoners khao daeng, or unpolished rice, with their meals. The traditional attitude towards khao daeng, which is looked down on, stems from the public's identification of it with prison life. In recent years, this feeling lost some of its hold as health-conscious urban families brought the unpolished grain to their tables and a whole new range of khao daeng appeared on supermarket shelves _ but the stigma remains elsewhere.
The equality argument comes from department officials, who say the move to serve white rice to all will put Thai and foreign prisoners on a level playing field. For years, foreign prisoners have been given white rice while their Thai counterparts continued to be given khao daeng, or red rice. The change means all prisoners will be served five-percent white rice _ the term for rice with no more than 5% broken grain.
In addition, thanks to the increase in the food budget from 31 baht per head per day to 42 baht, there will also be more variety beyond rice.
On special days of the month, prisoners can have noodles, congee with a choice of meat, or khanom jeen (rice-based vermicelli) with fish curry.
Previously, plain rice porridge was the only other option _ available on special days of the month.
Supachai Deesamud, head of the food section at Klong Prem prison, said the way the rice is cooked is also changing, to prevent waste.
''Previously, the rice was cooked in big pans and the prisoner-cooks had to keep stirring it until it was cooked,'' he said. ''The problem was that a large portion of the rice would be burnt, while some would remain half-cooked,'' he said. About 40kg of rice was lost daily due to this. The prisons now use steam cookers which guarantee 100% success. This should increase the yield of cooked rice by more than 20% although the process takes two hours, he said.
The Corrections Department has designed and produced the cookers, to be distributed to prisons around the country. Klong Prem prison initially received four cookers but this was not enough to cater for more than 4,620 inmates. It received eight more last month.
A recent survey showed that at least 98% of the prisoners wanted to eat white rice, while the rest wanted to alternate with unpolished rice due to its nutritious value and its reputation as a preventive for beriberi.
But it would cost the department more to provide that choice, he said. Big lots of one variety were cheaper to buy. ''Serving white rice has helped raised the morale of prisoners,'' he said.
Verapong Kriangsinyot of the Thai Health Foundation said the khao daeng the prisons previously served to prisoners was poor quality unpolished rice.
''There is a good quality unpolished type, like unpolished jasmine rice which is very expensive. But inmates were served a poor quality type that is not meant for human consumption. It's the grain used for bird food,'' he said.
He hoped the white rice would be of an acceptable standard. ''Inmates have the right to quality rice,'' he said.
The change has pleased prisoners.
Yodchart, 30, serving six years on a drug conviction, said the switch had improved his appetite and he could save the 15 baht per meal he was previously paying to buy white rice from the welfare section.
''If the department had not changed its policy, those who have no relatives to visit them would have had no choice but to eat red rice throughout their time here,'' said Yodchart.
Amnuay, 35, who was jailed for robbery, said the Corrections Department had made a step in the right direction in taking better care of prisoners.
''Eating white rice makes me feel like other people on the outside. Because it is less filling than red rice, it makes the savoury dishes taste better,'' said Amnuay, who has worked as a prison cook for three years.
The new cookers were easier to use than the pans, he said. They also saved cooks from being splattered with boiling water when stirring the rice.
Monthol, 45, who has been in jail for eight years on a drug conviction, said using pans was more exhausting than using the new cookers. He had slipped and fallen while stirring the large quantities being cooked in pans.
The cookers also allow prison cooks more free time, which they spend playing sport, while waiting for the rice to boil, Monthol said.
For Klong Prem prison, the change to white rice for all ends 54 years of the khao daeng regime, Mr Supachai added.

16th April 2007

Poor disaster warnings were to blame for the holiday tragedy in which a mountain torrent killed 37 people at two waterfalls in Trang, local villagers said yesterday. ''Fewer people would have died in the flash flood if forestry workers had paid more attention to rainfall levels and signs of run-off arriving from the mountain. Then they could have warned people to stay away,'' said local leader Thongchai Saengchan.
Forestry officials should be held responsible for the tourists' safety, including issuing disaster warnings, because Sai Rung and Phrai Sawan waterfalls, where the tragedy occurred, are in the Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary under the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, he said.
The search and rescue operation at the waterfalls in Yan Ta Khao district ended yesterday. The Public Health Ministry's relief centre at Yan Ta Khao hospital said 37 people died, 23 were injured and one person was missing after Saturday's flash flood.
Mr Thongchai, chairman of the Rak Sai Rung conservation group, said survivors had told him they did not get any warning from forestry workers. The villagers formed the conservation group eight years ago. After a mountain torrent killed four tourists at the waterfall six years ago, the group had concentrated on issuing disaster warnings. This activity was suspended last year after conflicts with wildlife sanctuary officials over forest conservation and tourism management, he said.
Boon Saejung, of the Banthat mountain range community network, said the tragedy would not have happened if forestry officials worked more closely with local villagers.
''Local villagers have the wisdom to protect themselves from natural hazards. Such local knowledge can save tourists' lives, too,'' said Mr Boon.
Sanit Wongsala, chief of the Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary, defended his agency, saying forestry staff had run to alert tourists of a possible flash flood after they noticed heavy rainfall on the mountain-top and the murkiness of the water.
''Unfortunately, we had only four officials at each forestry station at Sai Rung and Phrai Sawan waterfalls, while there were as many as 500 people at each waterfall when the torrent struck,'' said Mr Sanit. ''My staff did their best to save lives.''
The two waterfalls are about 10km apart.
Mr Sanit said he would ask the department to install loudspeakers at the waterfall sites to ensure that tourists get warnings.
Trang governor Anond Manasvanich said 50 million baht would be set aside to cover medical treatment costs and compensate victims' families, who will get 25,000 baht each, he said.
A staff member at Yan Ta Khao hospital said 21 out of 23 injured people had been discharged. All the bodies of those who died had been identified and handed over to relatives, except for the body of a 18-year-old Lao woman, as staff could not find her relatives or employer. Most victims were Trang residents and tourists from neighbouring provinces.
Ratchai Kiartmetha, a survivor from Trang's Huai Yot district who lost his mother in the tragedy, said the flood arrived without any signs.
''We just felt the water get slightly cooler, then suddenly a huge mass of water came down and swept us away,'' said Mr Ratchai.

15th April 2007

Ministries in charge of economic and social affairs are the weakest links in the administration in need of management revamps, a cabinet source and critics said yesterday, as Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont strongly indicated that a cabinet reshuffle was unavoidable.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras, in charge of supervising economic policy, has not demonstrated the leadership qualities needed in guiding ministers in charge of economic affairs in the same direction, said the source.
All the economic ministries have underperformed, the source added.
Key agencies in charge of the economy are the Commerce and Finance ministries.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thira Sutabutra's orders are also not being executed by ministry officials and the situation is the same at the Education Ministry under Minister Wijit Srisa-arn, the source said.
Interior Minister Aree Wongarya and his deputy Banyat Chansena have been criticised for conservatively sticking to their ministry's management culture and making life difficult for other agencies as well. The prime minister should raise the number of deputies at the Foreign Ministry so that they can help coordinate work with other ministries more efficiently because Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram already had too much on his hands, noted the source.
Another deputy prime minister in charge of national security was also needed, said the source.
Nevertheless, reshuffling the cabinet and appointing more deputy prime ministers might still not bring the desired improvements if the prime minister does not hold regular consultations with his deputies, said the source.
During the past six months, Gen Surayud has never interfered in the work of his cabinet ministers, said the source.
"The prime minister has exercised too little leadership with his cabinet and let each cabinet member deal with civil servants under them in their own way," said the source.
Surin Pitsuwan, a National Legislative Assembly member, said all other cabinet members seemed to be inactive and have let the prime minister struggle alone.
"The prime minister knows well about the lack of progress in agencies implementing the government policy. But he probably has to respect his cabinet members," the former foreign minister noted.
But Sompop Manarangsan, a Chulalongkorn University economist, said the prime minister should at least give the next finance minister some time to adjust to his new post. However, other cabinet members should not remain so indolent.
Gen Surayud indicated on Wednesday that he might reshuffle his six-month-old cabinet but said he would only do it after consulting his cabinet.
The prime minister has come under criticism from several groups, including the People's Alliance for Democracy, for his indecisiveness in tackling problems associated with deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The government will distribute newly-formatted identity cards to 88,000 refugees from Burma this month, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said.
The identification cards, issued by the Department of Provincial Administration to all refugees over the age of 12, are the end product of a US$1 million computerised data project which began three years ago.
Distribution of the new government-issued ID cards began in two camps in Ban Tham Hin in Ratchaburi and Ban Don Yang in Kanchanaburi shortly before Songkran.
About 88,000 refugees should receive the crucial cards by the end of the month. Each ID card contains a photo and a magnetic strip identifying the name and age of the refugee, as well as the camp where he or she is registered, in both Thai and English, the UNHCR said.
Gay Htoo, a 38-year-old Karen refugee, said the card would hopefully prevent refugee families becoming separated, as has happened to some in his Christian congregation when they ventured out of their camps without permission and then vanished.
"The card indicates my refugee status and if I am arrested, I know I will be returned to the camp safely instead of being sent to the Burmese border," the Christian pastor said.
The ID cards were an important way of improving protection for refugees, because the most basic element of protection was being able to prove their identity, said UNHCR Representative in Thailand Hasim Utkan. The ID cards were only the first step in a series of measures that would open up the closed camps where some refugees have been living for almost two decades.

14th April 2007

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has dismissed three of its officers for allegedly collaborating with American suspects in the kidnap for ransom of a 47-year-old American oil trader.
Adisorn Nonsi, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the inquiry team found several suspects were involved in the abduction of Mark Hutchison on April 7.
Three of the suspects are metropolitan police officers. The bureau has taken disciplinary action against them by dismissing them from the police service as they have been charged with serious criminal offences, said Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn.
He said the three officers were alleged to have used firearms in the kidnapping of Mr Hutchison.
If found guilty, they could be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
The three officers are Pol Snr Sgt-Maj Adul Onsri, Pol Snr Sgt-Maj Surachat Muangkhunrong and Pol Sgt Sathit Praphanphaengsri.
In addition to the disciplinary action against the three, Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn also ordered the setting up of inquiry committees to investigate their immediate supervisors to find out whether they had neglected their responsibility to keep their subordinates in line.
Two other police officers suspected of involvement in the abduction are Pol Lt-Col Thanapol Bunnak, an inspector at the Immigration Police Bureau, and Pol L/C Prasertphan Phunarit.
Three other suspects are American siblings John and Jame McKelly, and Nicolas Phruksukan, a 26-year-old Thai-American.
According to Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn, the investigation team has already arrested four of the suspects _ Pol Snr Sgt-Maj Surachat, Pol Sgt Sathit, Pol L/C Prasertphan and Mr Nicolas. The rest are still at large. The arrested suspects have not been allowed bail.
Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn said the United States embassy has informed him that the two American siblings are part of a kidnap gang in the US and are also wanted by US authorities.
On April 7, Mr Hutchison's relatives alerted police that he had been kidnapped from his residence in the Lumpini area. The kidnappers also snatched US$400,000 in cash from his residence. They later demanded another US$800,000 in ransom.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau's Arintharat commandos on Thursday rescued Mr Hutchison from the gang's hideout at a house on Soi Lat Phrao 41.
The commando unit also arrested four suspects found at the house.

13th April 2007

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday did not rule out a cabinet reshuffle to boost the efficiency of his government, and stressed his determination to solve the problems plaguing the country.
Gen Surayud, who has been criticised for indecisiveness, said a cabinet change was a political option on his mind now. A reshuffle had already been discussed with some ministers who accompanied him to Japan from April 2 to 5, he added.
Ministers travelling with the prime minister to Tokyo to sign the Thai-Japanese free trade pact included Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet, Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thira Sutabutra.
Gen Surayud also confirmed the statement made by Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas on Wednesday.
Gen Boonrawd, the prime minister's close friend, told the Council for National Security (CNS) that if the situation reached crisis point, then Gen Surayud would be willing to step down to clear the way for a change at the top.
But now, he said, he was not discouraged by criticism from supporters, including the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
The prime minister has been accused of dragging his feet in tackling problems left by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Gen Surayud said he is keeping in mind the oath to help the country he made four times to His Majesty the King.
"I have no hidden agenda. The only intention I have is to help solve the country's problems in peaceful ways with no confrontations and clashes between the people," Gen Surayud said at a press conference at Government House.
The prime minister and his six-month-old government have been criticised by the PAD and other groups for reluctance to cooperate with the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) in tackling corruption cases involving Mr Thaksin and the previous government and its failure to put an end to rifts in the country. The PAD even suspected that Gen Surayud could have colluded with Mr Thaksin due to his unwillingness to work with the ASC and the decision to help out iTV television station, once controlled by Shin Corp which belonged to Mr Thaksin's family.
Gen Surayud yesterday denied the collusion accusation and reiterated the need for the rule of law in tackling the problems left by Mr Thaksin, although this could take time.
The prime minister affirmed his strong ties with the CNS, despite several disagreements including his opposition to declaring a state of emergency in Bangkok to block protesters from staging anti-government and anti-coup rallies.
His decision not to impose emergency rule, which was suggested by the CNS late last month, stirred speculation about a conflict between the prime minister and the coup makers.
But Gen Surayud received strong support from Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday.
Gen Prem praised the prime minister and the top generals of the CNS for their sacrifice and determination to improve the situation in the country. He urged them to be patient.
"The work we are undertaking is in progress and moving in the right direction," Gen Prem said, adding that most people understood the situation was getting better.
"But we have to be better at informing other people who are losing patience [with us]," he suggested.
The prime minister and CNS members went to Gen Prem's residence yesterday to receive Songkran blessings.
Surapol Nitikraipoj, an adviser to the prime minister, on Wednesday urged Gen Surayud not to hesitate in making changes to the cabinet to boost public confidence.
Ministers who underperform should be removed from the cabinet, said Mr Surapol, who is a member of the National Legislative Assembly and rector of Thammasat University.

His Majesty the King has pardoned a Swiss man jailed for 10 years for defacing posters containing the King's image, prison chief Chuchart Chailert said yesterday.
"His Majesty has granted him a pardon and we released him on Tuesday," said the head of the prison in Chiang Mai where 57-year-old Oliver Rudolf Jufer was sent after being sentenced last month.
"He now feels guilty about what he has done and is grateful for the royal pardon," Mr Chuchart said.Immigration police said Jufer was due to leave for Switzerland on Wednesday.
His pardon was not a surprise. The King has said forcefully in public he is not above criticism and he usually pardons people jailed for lese majeste.
Jufer, a longtime resident of Thailand, was arrested in Chiang Mai for spraying black paint on several portraits of the King and the Queen.
He was initially sentenced to 20 years in jail, but the judge reduced the term because Jufer, facing up to 75 years in prison, pleaded guilty.

12th April 2007

The exodus for the long April 13 to 17 Songkran holidays started yesterday, as authorities stepped up road and public safety measures and sniffer dogs roamed the bus station in search of bombs.
Bangkok's Mor Chit bus terminal in Chatuchak was crowded with people heading for destinations in the North and Northeast yesterday.
Wuthichart Kalayanamitr, acting president of the state-owned Transport Co, said 250,000 travellers were expected to pass through Mor Chit yesterday with the same amount today, up from over 100,000 on Tuesday. He said the bus terminal was secured by 36 security cameras, bomb experts, around 100 police including plainclothes ones and sniffer dogs.
Bus drivers are subject to regular physical checks and are required to rest for half an hour for every four hours of driving.
For trips longer than 500km, every bus must have a second driver.
Deputy Interior Minister Banyat Chansena yesterday called on motorists to strictly abide by traffic rules, and urged parents not to let underage children drive and cause road accidents.
He said that during past New Year holidays over 30% of the drivers violating traffic rules were teenagers.
Under the juvenile protection law, parents would also be punished if their children caused road accidents, he said.
Mr Banyat said there will be more than 3,000 checkpoints on roads nationwide to implement road safety measures during the Songkran festival.
Meanwhile, Chiang Mai authorities have banned double-decker vehicles from climbing to Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep and using the winding Mae Rim-Samoeng highway until April 17.
The ban is aimed at preventing accidents on narrow and winding roads on hilly terrain, because they are likely to be congested during the long holidays.
It was prompted by an accident involving a double-decker carrying teachers on a winding and narrow road near mount Doi Saket in Chiang Mai in January. The accident killed 21 and injured 36.
Despite the safety measures in place, an air-conditioned bus heading from Bangkok to Mukdahan province collided with a six-wheeled truck at Tarn Diao junction in Phutthaisong district of Buri Ram province yesterday.
A total of 26 people were injured. It was reported that traffic lights broke down at the junction.

11th April 2007

The Office of the Attorney-General on Tuesday dropped the last three lese majeste charges against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
It said there was no evidence to prove he had a grudge against the monarchy, even though his remarks were inappropriate and verged on lese majeste.
Director-General of the Criminal Litigation Department Sermkiat Woradit said the office found Mr Thaksin's comments to a gathering of taxi drivers at Hua Mark Stadium in December 2005 and a controversial reference to the King during a February 2006 radio speech to be impolite and inappropriate.
But his words could not be deemed as defamatory, insulting or as bearing a grudge against the King, he said.
The other case involved members of the Caravan of the Poor seen waving yellow flags at Mr Thaksin bearing the message "Long Live the King," while wearing "We Love Thaksin" headbands shortly after the House had been dissolved.
Mr Sermkiat said there was insufficient evidence to prove Mr Thaksin had engineered the display.
The cases were brought by Karoon Chaikaeo, a citizen, in May last year. Mr Karoon filed the complaints with then national police chief Pol Gen Kowit Wattana, alleging that Mr Thaksin on several occasions had acted in a way that emulated His Majesty the King.
"I urge everyone, especially national leaders and administrators, to refer to the royal family with politeness and respect," said Mr Sermkiat.
"Offensive remarks verging on lese majeste will deepen social divisions and lead to confrontation."

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday decided five key issues, including the prime ministership, the size of the House of Representatives and the make-up of the Senate. The decisions received mixed reactions from politicians and political observers.
The main thrust was the requirement that a prime minister come from the election process.
That killed off a push by conservative drafters for a provision to allow an outsider to become the government leader without a need to contest an election. Only seven drafters were in favour of the prime minister not having to be a member of parliament.
The drafters also agreed at their meeting to reduce the number of MPs from 500 to 400. The House will consist of 320 constituency MPs and 80 party-list MPs.
They also agreed that senators should be appointed, not elected.
These five key elements were the most controversial issues in the writing of the new constitution.
The committee must finish the drafting process no later than April 26, and will send its proposals for consideration by all 100 members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).
Earlier many politicians called on the drafters to maintain the number of MPs at 500, as in the 1997 constitution, arguing that a reduction in numbers could lead to political problems in the future.
The 1997 constitution was scrapped after the September coup last year.
CDC spokesman Pisit Lee-atham said the issues passed by vote yesterday were designed for the benefit of the public, not to please politicians.
''We based our decisions on public demands and did not take the politicians' concerns into our consideration,'' he said.
The CDC's recent opinion survey of more than 36,000 people across the country found strong support for a reduction in the number of MPs, the selection of the prime minister through elections and the appointment of senators.
The CDC agreed to lower the percentage of total votes a party will need to gain party-list MPs from 5% to 2%. This, Mr Pisit said, would allow small parties to have some MPs.
CDC spokesman Paitoon Varahapaitoon said a seven-member panel of respected experts will be formed to select 76 senators, one for each province. The remainder will be picked from representatives from a range of careers.
The panel will include the Constitution Court president, judges from the Supreme and Administrative courts, the head of the Auditor-General's Office, the Election Commission chief and representatives from independent agencies such as the National Human Rights Commission.
Many politicians and senators disagree with the cut in the number of MPs and all senators being appointed.
''The government is going to think on behalf of the people and act as Big Brother,'' said former Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul.
She was worried the appointment of senators could be influenced by some senior military officers and state officials who could find ways to put their supporters in the Senate.
Acting Chart Thai deputy leader Sonthaya Khunpluem was dissatisfied with the reduction in the number of MPs.
The former Chon Buri MP said this would complicate the party's selection of candidates for the general election.
However, he still pinned his hopes on the CDA, which could reconsider this controversial proposal.
Acting Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Phongthep Thepkanjana was concerned the way constituency and party-list MPs would be elected had still been not decided by the CDC. Voting should be on separate ballots to avoid vote buying, he said.
He also disagreed with the appointment of senators, which would hamper the progress of democracy.
However, Democrat party deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit said the reduction in the number of MPs was acceptable, even though his party disagreed with the party-list election.
He also questioned the appointment of senators. This should be adopted only the power of the Senate was limited to the consideration of bills, he said.
A CDC source said some drafters, including a legal expert from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Komsan Pokong, disagreed with the prime minister being an elected MP because they had a ''negative perception'' of politicians.

10th April 2007

The Council for National Security (CNS), which has been criticised over a 12-million-baht budget for public relations given to a younger brother of a key member, is trying to nail the source of the leak of the classified information to the public.
CNS vice-chairman and air force commander-in-chief ACM Chalit Pukpasuk said yesterday that anyone who had released the information would be considered to have violated the law, because it was highly confidential.
ACM Chalit denied any knowledge of the reported spending but said public relations campaigns were normal activities of any state agencies, and spending for this purpose was legitimate.
The CNS hired a team led by Chianchuang Kalayanamitr to take responsibility for the public relations campaign.
Mr Chianchuang is a younger brother of assistant army chief Gen Saprang, who is secretary-general to the CNS.
Supreme Commander and CNS member Gen Boonsang Niampradit said an investigation was under way to find out how the information had been leaked, and some officers were being watched.
He confirmed that the release was a violation of the law because the information was classified. However, he said the content was not a big issue.
Gen Somjet Boonthanom, the CNS's budget and secretariat chief, said the 12-million-baht budget was ''normal'' and was meant to enable the CNS to inform the public of what it was doing. ''The 12-million-baht budget is not much compared to the budgets for populist projects of the past government, which spent huge amounts on public relations,'' he said.
''The CNS is spending the budget cost-effectively and we must spend it to create understanding with the people,'' he added.
Maj-Gen Jirachai Detdamrong, head of the army's directorate of civil affairs who was recently transferred as deputy commander of the First Army Corps, denied he had leaked the information and the papers on the public relations strategies, saying he was not stupid enough to release a document that bore his own name.
Maj-Gen Jirachai was a classmate of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Class 10 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. However, he insisted the fact they were classmates did not necessarily mean he would always favour Mr Thaksin. He confirmed the PR strategy documents were genuine official papers.
Maj-Gen Jirachai said Mr Chianchuang was a professional in this field and thus he was a justified choice for the public relations job.
A source said Gen Saprang had already discussed the issue of the leaked papers with Maj-Gen Jirachai, who insisted on his innocence. Gen Saprang and CNS chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin were unavailable for comment yesterday.
Three documents have been leaked to the media and posted on some websites. One is a written approval, signed by the CNS chairman on Feb 4, for hiring an information analysis and in-depth public relations team to work for the CNS for 12 million baht.
The second is a ''highly confidential'' letter signed on Jan 24 by Maj-Gen Jirachai requesting approval for hiring the team led by Mr Chianchuang. The last one is a document dated Feb 26, which details the strategies of the public relations team.
Maj-Gen Jirachai's letter described the team's six-month plan to use third parties including local and international media networks, both publicly and secretly, to discredit the opposition to the CNS, including Mr Thaksin and his associates.
It said the team would engineer attacks focused on the adverse impacts of Mr Thaksin's economic policies, international condemnation of the Thaksin government for human rights violations, and a TV series on corruption by the Thaksin government. The internet is another tool mentioned. Staff of the team are posting texts critical of the Thaksin government on popular websites.

9th April 2007

The crowd held banners attacking the military-installed government headed by ex-general Surayud Chulanont, and called for the return of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The rally took place under a constant military threat that anti-coup rallies could provoke a state of emergency in the capital.
The protesters, led by allies of ex-premier Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup last September, organised the demonstration at Sanam Luang park outside Bangkok's municipal centre.
The official organiser was Peoples' TV (PTV), considered the unofficial voice of Thaksin supporters. It is against the law for all political parties to operate, a military declaration aimed mostly at Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, which supposedly is not behind PTV.
Pol Maj Gen Manit Wongsomboon said he had deployed about 1,000 police, both uniformed and plainclothes officers, around Sanam Luang area, where about 1,200 demonstrators gathered early Sunday evening.
Manit said the police presence was heavy because of a parallel gathering at Sanam Luang marking the start of celebrations for Buddhist New Year.
A similar rally last Friday attracted between 2,000 and 3,000. Junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin had urged the government to declare an emergency last month in the face of small but growing protests against the coup.
Surayud refused, but defence minister Boonrawd Somtas on Saturday warned that a state of emergency would be declared if the protests got out of control.
The protest movement is beginning to create an odd coalition of allies, with some pro-democracy groups, who last year protested against Thaksin, now joining forces with his allies in rallying against the junta.
Thai prosecutors will bring corruption charges against deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra within two months, his army-appointed successor said in remarks broadcast Sunday.
Prime Minister Surayud, in an interview taped during a visit to Tokyo last week, repeated that Thaksin had the right to return to the kingdom but would face charges.
"I think it should be done in one or two months from now, no later than that," Surayud tld 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, a self-made billionaire, as the main reason to oust him in September.
Investigators have charged Thaksin's wife and threatened his children but have yet to charge the former prime minister himself, who has been travelling around Asia since the coup.

Official statistics show that tourists from the region have begun turning away, prompting concern the neighbours are avoiding Thailand because of continuing insecurity and political woes.
The number of tourists arriving from East Asia dropped by 7.3 per cent in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period in 2006, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said.
"Sensitive Asian tourists, from Japan for example, have been scared away from Bangkok due to security concerns," said Pornthip Samerton, managing director of travel agent Destination Asia.
The TAT numbers showed a general drop-off in February among tourists from around the world, as overall arrivals fell six per cent from January. Arrivals were still slightly up from the year before.
Pornthip said that many tourists may have reconsidered their travel plans following the deadly New Year's Eve bomb blasts in Bangkok that killed three and injured dozens.
Since then, several foreign embassies have upgraded their travel warnings for Bangkok, citing the threat of more blasts.
Meanwhile, a separatist insurgency in southern Thailand has sharply escalated, and the military that took power in a coup last September has threatened to invoke a state of emergency in Bangkok over political protests.
"After the bombs, the political situation and the insurgency in the south have added to tourists' concerns. Meanwhile, changing regulations regarding foreign investments have had an impact on business arrivals," said TAT spokesman Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhya.
Foreign investment has dropped off since the Bangkok of Thailand imposed tough currency controls in December, and the government in January proposed tightening foreign business rules.
"Those factors led to a decline of arrivals, and those from Asia fell short of our targets," he told the AFP news agency.
Tourism is a key money spinner for Thailand, generating about six per cent of gross domestic product.
Las Vegas-based tourism consultant Globalyis said that Thailand could still expect to see an 8.0 per cent increase in overall arrivals this year to 14.9 million -- assuming there is no more political turmoil.
"Any further incident in the country's capital or another popular tourist destination could trigger panic and drive away many tourists who may be concerned for their safety," the consultancy said in a recent paper.
"Traditionally in the region, tourism revenues are directly correlated with political stability," Globalyis warned.
"Reduced foreign investment could see Thailand lose out on tourism development in the coming years in favor of its competitive neighbours in the region," it added.
Southeast Asia has seen increasing competition for tourist dollars, especially among Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Tourism groups have also warned that Thailand could see its annual expected tourism earnings of 800 billion baht ($22.85 billion) slashed by 10 per cent because of a proposal to tighten rules on alcohol sales.
The new bill, which is awaiting approval from the military-installed parliament, bans alcohol sales within 500 metres of schools, temples and government offices. That would prevent many bars and restaurants from selling alcohol, which means tourists might spend less money or just pack up for a neighbouring country, the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations said.

8th April 2007

Tougher penalties are being sought to deter drunk driving and are likely to go into force by year-end, said Probation Department director-general Wanchai Rujanawong.
He said the proposed amendments raise jail terms for drunk drivers to one year from three months and fines to 20,000 baht from 10,000 baht.
He said motorists take the drunk driving regulations for granted and many tend to repeat the offence because minor punishments are imposed.
The amendments to the Land Traffic Act call for other measures, including suspension of driving licences and up to 40 hours of community service.
He said the number of community service hours would depend on the alcohol level in an offender's blood.
He said juvenile offenders would face the same penalties, but they would be tried in Juvenile and Family Court.
Mr Wanchai said the draft bill has received the full backing of authorities concerned and is pending consideration in the Council of State.
He said the draft will see quick passage when it is forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly.
"The new rules will not be enforced by Songkran, but they will when the New Year arrives," Mr Wanchai said, referring to the time when drunk driving is blamed for high numbers of road deaths.
The stiffer penalties have been hailed by the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation.
Taejing Siripanich, the foundation's secretary-general, said the existing rules have failed to deter people from abusing alcohol and then driving.
He suggested "detention in prison" as a deterrent to drunk driving, saying that drunk driving would drop sharply if that measure was adopted.
"Drunk motorists should be put in jail if their blood-alcohol level exceeds the legal limit. This is to reduce the chance of accidents and give them time to get sober," he said.
Under existing regulations, a person is legally drunk if his or her blood contains 150 milligrammes or more of alcohol per 100 millilitres.
"A night in prison will teach them a lesson. I think it would reduce drunk driving by more than half," he said.
Dr Taejing also said authorities concerned may want to consider taking action against the passengers of impaired motorists. In certain countries, passengers are fined for taking a ride with a drunk driver.
He also called for corporate responsibility from alcohol producers, saying they should chip in and set up a fund for victims of drunk driving or help police by regulating drunk driving.
Pol Col Rithi Wisetkhamin, traffic inspector of Sutthisarn police station, welcomed the tougher penalties, but said the parties concerned should take the fight against drunk driving to another level. "I think we need to go beyond drunk driving. People who booze should never be allowed to get behind the wheel," he said.
He said the anti-drunk driving campaign was effective in cutting the number of road accidents, deaths and injuries since it was introduced years ago.
He cited as proof a sharp decrease in accidents along Ratchadapisek road, the city's night entertainment strip. Before the campaign, crashes were reported almost every night.
Meanwhile, FM 91 Traffic Pro, a traffic radio station, yesterday reported 82 accidents in and around the city in which four people were killed and 64 others injured.
Pre-Songkran casualties are likely to pressure authorities concerned into doubling efforts to curb road accidents when the long holiday starts later this week.

7th April 2007

Video-sharing website YouTube will help Thailand block access to pages that contain clips offensive to His Majesty the King, Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said yesterday.
The idea came in a phone call with a California-based liaison officer for Google Inc, which owns YouTube.
The website had refused to pull a clip insulting His Majesty the King, which led the government on Thursday to block access to YouTube entirely.
''He said pulling out those clips would not be an effective way to stop the damage, since users could re-post them again,'' said Mr Sitthichai, referring to Google officer Andrew McLaughlin.
''He said a more effective way would be to block certain pages, so they cannot be seen in Thailand,'' he said.
''It will be a few days before we lift the ban on the entire site.''
On Thursday, a 44-second video clip, which showed doctored, abhorrent and grainy pictures of the King, was removed from YouTube by its creator, ''paddidda'', after the government imposed the ban.
Before the clip was removed, Mr Sitthichai accused YouTube of being heartless and culturally insensitive.
Despite the removal of the clip, which has outraged the public and created a lively debate on freedom of speech versus respect for cultural sensitivity, two more clips mocking the monarch appeared on YouTube yesterday. One was posted by ''thaifreespeech''. Within a few hours, the clip had been viewed 13,660 times and attracted more than 200 comments.
Posters urged YouTube to withdraw it from the site, www.youtube.com.
Criticising or offending royalty is a serious crime. Last week, 57-year-old Swiss national Oliver Jufer was sentenced to 10 years in jail for spraying graffiti on pictures of His Majesty the King, a rare prison term for a foreigner.
But the generals who ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in last year's coup have also been accused of using the lese majeste laws to stifle criticism of themselves or their actions. Several websites calling into question the merits of the September 19 coup have been shut down by the government.

Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham yesterday flew to haze-hit Mae Hong Son province to defuse growing tension between highlanders and local authorities over the strict enforcement of a law on farmland burning.
Mr Paiboon, accompanied by senior officials from the Interior Ministry, met state officials and highland residents in seven districts.