JUNE 2007

30th June 2007

The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) yesterday rejected a proposal to enshrine Buddhism as the state religion in the draft charter, drawing an angry response from demonstrating monks and laymen outside parliament. After putting off deliberating the contentious issue, CDA members finally got to the clause and voted 66:19 against declaring Buddhism as the official religion after a four-hour debate.

The CDA also voted 76:11 in favour of a clause saying Buddhism is a religion which has been respected by most Thais for a long time.

Sqn-Ldr Prasong Soonsiri, head of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) who opposed the motion to declare Buddhism the state religion, said the CDA's decision was based on two reasons _ national administration under a democratic system, and the Lord Buddha's teachings.

According to Sqn-Ldr Prasong, the state should not exploit religion and religious beliefs to regulate administration of the country.

''Democracy does not force people to have or follow the same culture. People are free to choose their [religious] beliefs equally.

''The state has the task of running the country and it should not use religious beliefs, but laws, as the tool to do so. In Thailand, we do not adopt Buddhism as a law, so making it a state religion is not in line with democracy,'' he said before the debate kicked off.

Sqn-Ldr Prasong said making Buddhism the state religion did not give assurances Buddhism would prosper.

''Lord Buddha did not leave Buddhism in the care of this kingdom or any particular power, but his disciples. He asked them to observe and study his teachings.

''According to the Lord Buddha, whether Buddhism thrives or deteriorates depends on how the disciples behave,'' he said.

The CDC chairman also took to task protesting monks and laymen who had gone on hunger strike outside parliament to pressure the CDA to accept Buddhism as the national religion.

CDA member Thongtong Chandrangsu argued against making Buddhism the national religion, saying Buddhism was the de facto state religion already. There was no need to spell it out in the constitution.

He said the fact that the abrogated 1997 charter which stipulated the King is a Buddhist is an acknowledgement that Buddhism is the state religion.

''And do not worry that Buddhism will not be properly protected by the state. Under this year's fiscal budget, three billion baht has been set aside to support Buddhism,'' he said.

Demonstrators who were camping outside parliament booed and jeered when they heard the result of the vote, and vowed to fight on.

Phra Maha Boonthueng Chutinathraro, a demonstrator, described the decision as ''wrong, and marred with wrong thinking''.

According to the monk, the vote indicated that the CDA did not recognise the value of Buddhism.

He said that the public might reject the draft constitution when they cast their votes at the referendum.

Gen Thongchai Kua-sakul, leader of the Buddhism Network of Thailand, said the network would fight on using democratic means.

''We may push for constitutional amendments. In the 1997 charter drafting, only seven people backed the provision. There are 19 of them now. We have to exert more effort,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the CDA yesterday also agreed to give gay, lesbian, transgender and transvestite groups official status to end discrimination.

The CDA members voted unanimously to include a reference to ''those of other sexual identities''. Gay rights activists welcomed the decision, saying it would pave the way for better treatment.

''The clause will guarantee our basic rights that have been ignored for such a long time,'' said gay rights activist Nathee Theerarochanapong.

Meanwhile, the draft charter says a general election must be organised within 90 days, and a Senate election within 150 days, of three key laws _ on elections, political parties and Election Commission _ being published in the Royal Gazette.

Charter drafter and EC member Prapan Naiyakowit expects the laws to be published by Oct 5, meaning the next general election must be held no later than Jan 3 and the Senate poll by March 4. The charter writers do not want the two polls held too close together to avoid confusing voters.

Thailand's foreign minister and his Malaysian counterpart signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Bangkok to boost cooperation between the two countries in ending the unrest in Thailand's three southern border provinces.

Thai foreign minister Nitya Pibulsonggram and Malaysia's Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar co-chaired the 10th meeting of the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Commission (JCM) to promote future bilateral cooperation and to follow up several existing projects.

The meeting on Friday focuses on confidence-building measures to solve the unrest in Thailand's three southern border provinces through education, employment and entrepreneurship in a bid to develop society and the economy in the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat as well as to bring justice to the troubled region as an effective way to address the problem at its root causes.

The foreign ministers of the two countries on Friday also presented certificates to 34 Thai young people, who underwent occupational training in Malaysia.

The project is the first time of its kind under the framework of the Joint Development Strategy for Border Areas (JDS).

The border areas cooperation covers Thai five southern border provinces and Malaysia's five northern states of Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, and Terengganu to raise the standard of living of local residents and increase potential in economy and employment.

The second group of 16 Thai youngsters will travel to the occupational training institute (GIATMARA) in Malaysia from July 1 to December 30.

Thailand is hosting the JCM in Bangkok from June 27-29. (TNA)

29thJune 2007

A Ramkhamhaeng University poll shows the public at large remains vague, at best, regarding the purpose of a constitutional referendum and how it works.

The poll shows the public remains largely unaware despite months of preparation regarding the new Constitution and the forthcoming elections.

It concluded the Thai public throughout different regions of the country does not fully understand the meaning of - or the necessity for - a referendum on the draft charter, currently scheduled for August or September.

The survey was conducted on "Public Hearings, Referendum and the Understanding of People in Different Regions" with a random sample of 2,280 people in provincial areas aged 18 years or up with the secondary education level during June 23-27 to give the government useful information for organising the referendum on the constitution draft.

It showed that 51.3 per cent understood the true meaning of the public hearing while 48.7 per cent did not, or misunderstood.

People in the southern and eastern regions had greater understanding than those in the central, northern and northeastern regions. Men have better understanding than women.

However, the poll found only 38.2 per cent understood the true meaning of the referendum while 61.8 per cent misunderstood.

Of those who misunderstood, nearly three out of four -- 73.7 per cent -- are in the central region, 69.8 per cent in the Northeast, 66.2 per cent in the North, 52.5 per cent in the South, and 40 per cent in the East. Women misunderstood more than men.

In addition, 65.8 per cent of people surveyed did not understand how the public hearing and referendum process is related to the current political reforms.

Of this, three out of four -- 74.6 per cent -- are in the Northeast, while 73.7 per cent in the Central, 67.7 per cent in the North, 55.7 per cent in the South, and 55 per cent in the East.

The poll indicated overall that most people in different regions failed to understand the necessity and importance of the public hearing and referendum towards political reform.

So, according to the pollmakers, it is worrying that the majority of the public would be dictated by local influential people to vote in the referendum unless they read and understand the new constitution draft thoroughly.

28th June 2997

British authorities have asked the Anti-Money Laundering Office what it plans to do about the money held overseas by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a senior Amlo officer said yesterday. Apichart Thanomsap, director of the office of examination and cases, said British authorities did not give any details about Mr Thaksin's assets in Britain.

Following the British inquiry, Amlo sent a letter to the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) asking what action it should take, Mr Apichart said.

As soon as it received a reply it would cooperate fully and pass the information to London.

ASC chairman Nam Yimyaem said Amlo, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) and the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) should begin tracing Mr Thaksin's overseas assets once the deal to acquire a majority stake in Manchester City Football Club was completed.

Mr Nam said the three agencies were legally authorised to trace the foreign assets of any individual suspected of a legal violation. They need not wait for an instruction from the ASC.

The ASC had not issued any such instruction and was focusing on examining 21 local bank accounts held by Mr Thaksin and his family, as deposits in those accounts were part of the 73 billion baht received from their sale of Shin Corp shares.

Mr Thaksin last Thursday made a formal offer of 81.6 million (about 5.3 billion baht) for a 55.6% stake in Manchester City.

Mr Nam said Mr Thaksin should explain the source of the money he was spending on the acquisition.

If the 81.6 million were not included in the assets Mr Thaksin declared to the NCCC when he took up the prime ministership, he would be suspected of concealing his assets, Mr Nam said.

27th june 2007

The Council for National Security (CNS) has upped the international pressure on deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ordering the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ensure the world is well informed of the corruption cases against the former leader. CNS chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said he had told the ministry to keep the international community, especially Britain, posted about the charges laid against Mr Thaksin for his actions during his years in office.

Mr Thaksin has been in exile, for much of the time in London, since he was removed from power by the Sept 19 coup last year. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) wants him and his wife, Khunying Potjaman, to show up and answer to charges of assets concealment by Friday.

However, his legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said Mr Thaksin would not return to Thailand to face criminal charges against him before the general election and would fight any extradition attempt. His legal team believed Mr Thaksin and his family would not get a fair trial as long as the CNS remains in power, Mr Noppadon added.

He also said Mr Thaksin was unlikely to bother seeking a postponement of the meeting with DSI investigators. Mr Thaksin can seek three postponements. After that he faces an arrest warrant and possible extradition proceedings.

Mr Thaksin has hired lawyers in Thailand and Britain to defend his interests.

''The legal teams have studied every word in every set of laws from every aspect,'' Mr Noppadon said. ''We believe we can fight through legal means so that Mr Thaksin won't have to surrender to a justice process being manipulated by the military.''

The couple also face other criminal charges over a 772-million-baht land deal with a state agency.

Supreme Court vice-president Thonglor Chomng-arm has been selected to head a nine-judge panel and decide whether to try the couple. A decision is due on July 10.

However, if they fail to appear in court for the first witness hearing, the case must be temporarily released from the judicial process.

Meanwhile, the DSI has allowed executives of SC Asset to postpone the hearing of charges against them for another month after they submitted that they have business abroad to attend to.

DSI chief Sunai Manomai-udom said Yingluck Shinawatra and Pensom Damapong, the executives of SC Asset, had sought a postponement until July 26 and the DSI agreed.

Bussaba Damapong, Mr Thaksin's sister-in-law and a former SC Asset executive, was supposed to hear the charges today.

Mr Sunai said he believed Mr Thaksin and his wife knew they have been summoned to hear charges, but have not yet received the warrant officially.

Assets Scrutiny Committee spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said the ASC will today consider whether or not to extend the deadline for Khunying Potjaman to clarify the sale of Shin Corp shares.

Her lawyer submitted a medical statement saying she was not physically fit enough to appear before the ASC.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, out of work since the World Cup, agreed Tuesday to take over as manager of Thaksin Shinawatra's Manchester City Football Club for a salary of 3 million pounds a year - 205 million baht.

Sky Sports News reported that the former England manager, who has been out of football since the 2006 World Cup in Germany, will sign a three-year deal for the equivalent of $6 million- depending only on Mr Thaksin's successful takeover of the club.

The former Thai prime minister owns 55.9 per cent of the club's shares, but needs to take his holding to more than 75 per cent if he is to take the club off the stock exchange.

"The board notes the media speculation concerning the managerial position at the club," said chief executive Alistair Mackinstosh.

"Discussions are on-going with managerial candidates and once the [takeover] offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects, the club expects to announce the appointment of a new manager."

It is believed Eriksson has already begun planning for City's future, submitting a list of transfer targets to Thaksin.

He has asked Roland Andersson, assistant manager of the Sweden national side, to be his assistant.

"We have been in touch over the last few days and Sven-Goran has said he's considering an offer to join Manchester City as a manager," Andersson said in a statement on the Sweden FA's website.

"It is correct that we have discussed a possible job for me in the club ... but as far as I know, Sven-Goran has not signed a deal with Manchester City and therefore there is no specific offer for me to take a stand on."

26th June 2007

Noppadon Pattama, the lead legal adviser of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said Tuesday his boss will not return to Thailand to hear police charges or fight court cases - until after the general election.

Mr Noppadon cited four reasons behind the decision.

First, Thailand is still under the rule of the military junta and there is no democracy. The junta has set up a plan to convict Mr Thaksin and put him behind bars, he claimed.

Second: The justice system has been compromised, starting from the Assets Scrutiny Committee members, all of whom were Mr Thaksin's enemies, he said.

Thirdly, there is no safety for him in the country, even though Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin have told the media they will guarantee Mr Thaksin's safety.

"Even with tight security, Mr Thaksin had almost been attacked by a car bomb," he said, referring to an incident when Mr Thaksin was premier. "Now there cannot be a guarantee that he will be safe."

Lastly, Mr Noppadon cited reconciliation for the decision to put off returning.

Human rights defenders are threatening to stir up a nationwide protest against the controversial national security bill if the government fails to dump it.

Rights advocates, academics and civic representatives said yesterday the bill would undermine basic human rights if it is passed into law.

The bill was approved in principle by the cabinet last week and is being scrutinised by the Council of State before going to the National Legislative Assembly.

It has come under a barrage of criticism for the wide-ranging powers it gives to the director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), a position held by the army commander-in-chief.

The director is empowered to put all state authorities under Isoc's authority if he deems there is a major security threat which needs to be brought under control as fast as possible.

The Isoc chief could also order the arrest of security suspects, put them in detention, question them and have their houses searched and their assets seized without court approval.

In an emergency situation, he would also be empowered to prohibit people from leaving their homes, using roads and vehicles and from assembling in public places.

Somchai Hom-laor, of the Human Rights for Development Foundation, urged the government to pull the bill back from the Council of State before it is sent to the NLA for consideration.

Mr Somchai said the bill is worse than the existing martial law and the executive decree on emergency situations, since it gives the army great power to deal with security matters throughout the country

"If the government insists on pushing this draft bill, we will persuade many more human rights defenders, academics, pro-democracy activists and people's representatives to protest against it," Mr Somchai said.

Parinya Thevanaruemitkul, deputy rector of Thammasat University, said the draft bill should not have been proposed and passed by this administration, which is not an elected government.

The government cannot solve problems, he said, and his supporters do not want Mr Thaksin to become a victim or be blamed if the government fails to solve these problems.

Chiang Mai _ Duentemduang na Chiang Mai won the Chiang Mai mayoral election by a landslide with 24,204 votes, unofficial results showed yesterday.

Her arch-rival and former mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn, No.1 on the ballot paper, came second with 17,570 votes, while Pornchai Jittanavasathien, a former aide of Mr Boonlert and No.3 on the ballot paper, came third with 9,577 votes. A total of 65,213 people _ 59.66% of the 109,311 eligible voters _ made it to the polling booths on Sunday.

There were reports Mr Boonlert was preparing to protest against the result.

Local scholar Thanes Charoenmuang said Mrs Duentemduang's victory showed that local people wanted change in local politics, which had long been dominated by the Buranupakorn family.

However, the mayor-elect may have problems with the present municipal council, which had close ties to Mr Boonlert. The council has another eight months of its term to run.

Mrs Duentemduang expressed confidence that her registration as a candidate was valid and that she would be able to work with the present council for the benefit of residents.

entemduang earlier filed a 10 million baht defamation suit with the provincial administrative court against the provincial and municipality election committees.

25th June 2007

The idea was agreed upon at a forum held by King Prajadhipok's Institute, the Thai Journalists Association, the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association and the Press Council.

It is mainly aimed at providing a platform for those weary of political conflicts between pro- and anti-Thaksin groups to air their views.

Borwornsak Uwanno, secretary-general of the institute, said certain communities affected by the pre- and post-Sept 19 coup conflicts had not been given a say.

''We have to give a voice to the voiceless. These people are the majority who have born the brunt of nationwide political conflicts,'' Mr Borwornsak told the forum.

Hearing the voices of these people, who include members of some business communities, will remind conflicting parties to think twice about their actions and realise that the majority does not agree with what they are doing, said Mr Borwornsak, who is a member of the National Legislative Assembly.

The current political turmoil is rooted in the fears of groups from opposite sides, he said.

On one side are the coup makers and activists who rallied against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last year, he said.

On the other side are those who fear losing power and benefits, including the ousted prime minister and the pro-Thaksin protesters.

''It's impossible to resolve the political conflicts by stopping the two sides from attacking one another,'' he said. Allowing them to speak would help them eliminate their fears, he added.

A forum to bring together all parties in conflict for talks should be initiated, said Mr Borwornsak, because political conflicts can be solved through dialogue, not violence.

The network will not only find ways to make such a forum possible but will also discuss plans for the government before and after the general election, he said.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and social thinker Prawase Wasi agreed with the plan.

Gen Surayud said once all parties agreed to talk, they could reach a better understanding.

Mr Prawase said the conflict could be controlled if a public forum was organised nationwide to discuss different opinions. This will also help control the behaviour of politicians, he said.

Backers of the ousted prime minister such as Veera Musikapong, Jakrapob Penkair and Chatuporn Promphan should also be allowed to talk in this forum, he added.

Thanit Sorit of the Federation of Thai Industries told the forum that the nation's economic development had come to a halt for almost two years.

Debts in the business section have grown, while the export sector had suffered from the strength of the baht, he added.

Having an interim government had also worsened the situation because it had brought about a vacuum in economic policies.

Political uncertainties and violence in the three southernmost provinces had caused foreign investors to lose confidence in the business climate here, Mr Thanit said.

As a representative of the business sector, he wished to see an end to political conflict, and the enactment of a constitution.

Kasemsan Veerakul, secretary-general of the Thammasat Association, said people were still not certain whether the conflict would actually end after the general election later this year.

Gothom Arya, chairman of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, said that during the political turmoil of recent years, some groups had remained neutral because they did not know which side they should believe.

His assessment was in line with an Abac poll released by Assumption University yesterday.

The pollsters interviewed 4,135 people outside municipal areas nationwide and found that more than 70% of respondents in every region did not want to express a political view, and 59% said the political conflict and rallies had tired them the most. About 72% said they were disappointed and felt nothing had improved since the coup.

24th June 2007

The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship protests seem to be losing momentum as they have failed to prove they are fighting for democracy and not to maintain the political power of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, democracy campaigner Suriyasai Katasila said yesterday. Mr Suriyasai, one of the core leaders of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), made the comments after the DAAD rally failed to meet its own expectations last night as heavy rain again dampened its demonstration. It was the second time in two weeks that mass gatherings organised by the group and led by the Thai Rak Thai-backed PTV station fizzled out without any outcome.

The number of people attending last night's rally was also lower than expected, with an estimated 6,000 people braving heavy downpours to march to army headquarters to call for the Council for National Security (CNS) to step down. The compound also serves as the headquarters of the coup leaders. Numbers were down on the 15,000 or so protesters who turned out on June 9, the first time they marched on army headquarters.

''The size of the demonstration is the most important element of a powerful rally. Without the people who have the same ideology and strong faith in what they are fighting for, the rally will become frail,'' Mr Suriyasai said.

To stage a potent demonstration with a certain level of negotiation power, rally organisers must have at least 20,000 people, who are ready to stay with them whatever happens, said the veteran demonstration leader.

During the anti-Thaksin gatherings last year, at least 20,000-30,000 people would stay with the PAD leaders, adding momentum to the rally, he said.

The decreasing number of demonstrators joining the DAAD rally probably stemmed from a series of legal actions and probe results implicating the Thai Rak Thai party, Mr Thaksin, and the Shinawatra family with several wrongdoings, he said. ''Even the true fans of Mr Thaksin must be hesitant to join the DAAD rally now that evidence of his alleged misconduct has become more solid,'' he said.

Mr Suriyasai added that more people might take part in the anti-coup gathering if the rally organisers could prove that they were not fighting for the old power clique.

''Although democracy activists inside the DAAD try to distance themselves from the pro-Thaksin clan, the public still perceives the rally as a pro-Thaksin campaign,'' he said.

However, in the eyes of the protest leaders, the early ending of the rally in front of the army headquarters yesterday and last week _ when they abruptly cancelled a plan to lay siege to the compound _ was not a sign of failure or weakness.

''We've achieved our goal,'' PTV executive Chatuporn Phromphan told rain-soaked demonstrators who moved from their base at Sanam Luang to the army headquarters around 3pm. ''We successfully staged a protest at the CNS office.

''We made the public hear about the bad things the CNS did to our country. This is enough for today,'' he said.

Mr Chatuporn said the anti-coup demonstrators would come back again ''when the time is right,''and that the Sanam Luang rally would continue.

The coup protesters staged a roadblock in front of the headquarters at 3pm, while PTV executives and alliance leaders, such as Veera Musikapong, Jakrapob Penkair, Weng Tochirakarn and ex-senator Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, took turns to scold the coup makers and called for their removal.

The rally was dissolved around 6pm, about five hours before the deadline set by security forces, who had reportedly told the DAAD leaders that they must end the rally in front of the army headquarters before 11pm.

Chantawit Ramasutr, a supervisor of the police crowd control unit, said he was surprised by the early dispersal.

''We thought that the rally would be prolonged until the morning, so we prepared to work through the night. We must thank the DAAD for cooperation in avoiding instigating any unrest,'' he said.

Metropolitan Police chief Adisorn Nonsi said 2,850 policemen, border patrol police and thetsakit city inspectors were deployed yesterday at the army headquarters.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont urged his ousted predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra to come back to Thailand to fight charges in court.

Gen Surayud, in a nationwide broadcast on Saturday morning, repeated his assurance that Mr Thaksin could return safely.

"What I can do is provide personal safety for Thaksin if he returns. I have fully given an assurance that I will do my best on this," Gen Surayud said on his weekly TV programme.

"There is no problem for him to come back late this month."

Anti-corruption investigators last Tuesday ordered Mr Thaksin to return from exile in London by Friday to face charges of concealing assets, or an arrest warrant might be issued for him later.

Mr Thaksin and his lawyer Noppadol Pattama both have said the ex-premier has no immediate plan to return to his homeland to try to clear his name and also sue to recover some $1.8 billion of funds frozen in Thai bank accounts by the Assets Security Committee set up by the military after they seized power last Sept 19.

Ironically, Gen Surayud appealed to citizens to let Mr Thaksin return, and cautioned against any actions that might prejudice the case against him.

Army chief and coup leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin said last week Thaksin's life could in danger if he came back.

Mr Thaksin said he was not worried about his personal safety but was concerned about the potential for clashes between the military and the public were he to return.

But the premier denied his government had treated Thaksin unfairly.

"I have not bullied him in any way. What is happening now stems from what he has done in the past. That should be left to run its course," he said.

Surayud urged Thaksin's supporters to let him fight charges in court. "His contention should be conducted through the judicial process in court which, I believe, gives him a good opportunity to prove he is not guilty as alleged," the prime minister said.

"The court is the most best place for him to clarify himself instead of resorting to instigating street rallies where charges are made without any supporting evidence."

23rd June 2007

Election Commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham has expressed concern that the general election, which was tentatively moved up to Nov 25 this week, may not take place as planned.

Mr Watchara proposed that members of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) be prohibited from running for seats in the House of Representatives, the Senate and from being members of independent agencies.

Mrs Sodsri said if Mr Watchara manages to gather enough support from other CDA members to amend the article, and if the constitution is approved in the upcoming referendum, she and Praphan Naikowit will cease to be election commissioners.

Mrs Sodsri and Mr Praphan are both election commissioners but they also sit on the CDC.

Without her and Mr Praphan, the five-member EC would be reduced to three, which would fall short of the number of commissioners required to hold elections. The general election was this week rescheduled for Nov 25 by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

Another problem is that if Mrs Sodsri and Mr Praphan were removed from the EC, the commission would not be able to find replacements before the election. Election commissioners must be appointed by the Senate, which does not currently exist. The National Legislative Assembly is also not authorised to appoint election commissioners.

Draft organic laws, particularly the election law, must be completed by the middle of next month before being forwarded to the Council of State and the NLA, she said.

The NLA will spend 45 days deliberating on the laws, she said, which would make things extremely tight if the election was still to be held on Nov 25 as planned.

Meanwhile, the CDA yesterday voted 50 to 27 to approve a combined elected and appointed Senate under the draft constitution.

The new structure of the Senate will be made up of 150 members. Of this, 76 senators will be elected from 76 provinces and the other 74 will be appointed by a selection committee.

Proposed by the CDC, the new structure is a change to the original plan to have 160 senators, all of whom would be elected.

CDC secretary-general Somkid Lertpaithoon said that with appointed and elected members, the Senate will be balanced and will be able to maintain neutrality without being meddled with by politicians.Under the planned changes, a seven-member selection committee will be set up to screen and appoint 74 of the 160 senators.

On the committee will be the Supreme Court president, the Election Commission chairman, the Ombudsman, the National Counter Corruption Commission president and the chairman of the State Audit Commission.

The other two members will be appointed to the committee by the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court.

The committee will select and appoint candidates from five sectors _ the academic sector, non-governmental sector, professional sector, state sector (retired civil servants) and others as stipulated by relevant laws.

Mr Somkid said the Senate will be empowered to scrutinise legislation, to monitor the government's performance, to appoint independent public agencies and to remove political-office holders from power.

CDC member Jarun Pukditanakul stressed the importance of the Senate's neutrality, which would enable independent bodies to work unhindered by political interference.

The CDA also approved Article 110 of the draft charter stipulating the requirements for senators.

CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri, however, criticised the CDA's majority vote in favour of a House of Representatives with 480 members comprising 400 constituency MPs and 80 party-list MPs.

The CDC originally proposed the number be limited to 400, with 320 constituency MPs and another 80 party-list MPs.

22nd June 2007

The board of Manchester City Football club has accepted an offer by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to buy the team for 81.6 million pounds - 5.59 billion baht. Mr Thaksin confirmed he has spoken to former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson about the vacant manager's job.

The offer is to be financed with 21.6 million pounds in cash and 60 million pounds in debt, the club said.

Mr Thaksin's Bangkok lawyer Noppadol Pattama had said last week that the ex-premier still had enough money to buy Manchester City, even after authorities froze some 58 billion baht (about $1.5 billion dollars) of his assets over corruption claims.

Before authorities froze his assets, Thaksin had set aside about seven billion baht ($210.6 million) to finance the purchase of Manchester City, according to Noppadol.

"I am delighted that the board of Manchester City has recommended my bid for the club and I look forward to continuing the excellent work of John Wardle and his team," Mr Thaksin said in an official statement.

"We share a determination to take the club back to its rightful place at the highest level of competition in both the Premier League and European football."

Eriksson's agent, Athole Still, had denied there had been any contact between his client and Mr Thaksin about the Swede, who stepped down as England coach after last summer's World Cup, moving to City.

But later on Thursday, Mr Thaksin said he had spoken to the Swede and that he was a contender to replace Stuart Pearce, who was sacked last month after a disappointing season.

"I have my advisers working on it (the manager's job)," Mr Thaksin said. "Sven is one of the names they have given me.

"Sven has a very good reputation, he is a very capable coach. He has good connections, especially with the main players in the UK and Europe and that would help the club in getting new players to join in the future.

"I met him once, last week maybe. I had my adviser talk to him and just say hello and touch base. I didn't talk to him that long because my adviser did that interview."

The formal bid for the English Premiership club, worth the equivalent of 121.5 million euros or $162.6 million, was made by Mr Thaksin's UK Sports Investments company and was backed by management at Manchester City, the boards said in a joint statement.

The takover offer came as prosecutors in Bangkok laid formal criminal corruption charges against Mr Thaksin and his wife at the Supreme Court. The Court is to decide on July 10 whether to accept the case, involving the Ratchadaphisek land scandal.

Manchester City, which finished a disappointing 14th place last season in the Premiership, has become the latest English football team to attract takeover interest from abroad.

"This offer provides an exciting opportunity to take Manchester City to the next stage of our development and deliver the on-field success we have been striving for," Man City chairman John Wardle said in the statement.

If Mr Thaksin takes control at Man City, Mr Wardle will remain on the board, while Alistair Mackintosh will stay as chief executive.

His Man City bid, pitched at 40.0 pence per share, represented a premium of 77.8 per cent to the closing share price on December 6, 2006, one day before Man City revealed it had received a takeover approach.

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Potjaman were yesterday indicted on corruption and malfeasance charges over the 772-million-baht Ratchadaphisek land purchase. The indictment handed to Supreme Court's Political Crime Section is 19 pages long and lists alleged violations of the National Counter Corruption Act and the Criminal Procedures Code, which could keep the couple in prison for up to 13 years if they are convicted.

Mr Thaksin was named as first defendant and his wife the second defendant. The charges centred on alleged corruption and abuse of power by Mr Thaksin and his wife over the Ratchadapisek land purchase.

The 33-rai plot was sold to Khunying Potjaman in 2003 by the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF), set up to rehabilitate financial institutions affected by the 1997 financial crisis.

The FIDF bought the land plot from Erawan Trust and put it up for auction. Khunying Potjaman tendered the highest bid of 772 million baht, on a valuation of 870 million baht.

Mr Thaksin gave consent to the land purchase and submitted a photocopy of his identification card as prime minister to endorse the deal.

According to the indictment, as prime minister Mr Thaksin was in charge of overseeing the fund and its finances, which made the purchase a conflict of interest.

The anti-corruption law bars state officials and their spouses from doing business with a state agency.

The prosecution also said Mr Thaksin influenced the deal to allow his wife to buy the land at a bargain price.

The auction was not conducted in a transparent and competitive manner. No median price was quoted, but potential tenders were required to put up a guarantee of 100 million baht. A regulation on building height control was lifted after the purchase, making the price soar.

The prosecution also asked the court to order the seizure of the land and transfer the ownership to the state.

A special panel of nine judges will be appointed today to study the indictment and decide whether to try the couple.

A decision is expected on July 10.

It is the first corruption case brought against Mr Thaksin since he was ousted from power in the Sept 19 coup, and the third case concerning members of his government to have gone before the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section.

In the two earlier cases which involved the drug and medical equipment procurement scandal, the court found former public health minister Rakkiat Sukthana and Jirayu Charatsathian, a former adviser to former deputy public health minister Theerawat Siriwannasarn, guilty and sent them to prison.

The prosecution led by Criminal Litigation Department director-general Seksan Bangsombon yesterday handed over a large box of documents to the court including reports from the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) and a list of more than 100 witnesses.

Meanwhile, Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka, head of the ASC's panel tracing missing assets from the Shin Corp sale, said the ASC has found a Thanachart Bank cheque for 986 million baht transferred to an account at its Ratchadaphisek branch, linked to a company called SC Assets.

The money was ordered frozen. This has brought the total amount of money frozen by the ASC at the bank to 999 million baht.

The cheque and the account, both linked to SC Assets, were frozen on Wednesday. SC Assets is said to have been used to conceal assets.

A source said the ASC may be asked to freeze more assets on Monday as the panel is making progress tracing the missing money.

It is believed the 73 billion baht gained from the Shin Corp sale went to four people _ 29.6 billion baht to Mr Thaksin's daughter Pinthongta, 22.5 to his son Panthongtae, 19.8 billion to his brother-in-law Bannapot Damapong and 982 million to his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra.

21st June 2007

The general election is likely to be brought forward to November if a new constitution passes a referendum currently set for August, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday. He said the government, the Election Commission (EC) and the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) had all agreed on an early election.

A possible new date for the polls is Nov 25, depending on the outcome of the referendum on the new constitution. If the charter is rejected by the public, observers say it will probably have a knock-on effect on the poll date, pushing it back by weeks or even months.

The general election was originally scheduled for either Dec 16 or Dec 23.

''It is our plan to speed up the general election. We want to see fair and transparent polls. I believe the EC and the CDA agree on this. There is no hidden agenda,'' the prime minister said after a meeting with EC members and CDA representatives.

However, following yesterday's announcement, there was speculation that an early poll was part of a plan to keep the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party from re-registering as a party and contesting the general election.

Analysts said the decision could also be an attempt to undermine anti-coup demonstrations in the capital that have been continuing over the past few weeks.

Core Thai Rak Thai members have threatened to rally their supporters to reject the new charter and have complained about the government's failure to lift a ban on political activities, preventing the former members from regrouping and registering a new party.

Gen Surayud said he could not guarantee that the early polls would take place as scheduled, but said a speedy election was what the people wanted.

''The most important party concerned is the people, whom we have not asked. Their participation will make the election happen,'' he said.

CDA president Noranit Sethabutr said the referendum on the constitution had been tentatively scheduled for Aug 16, which is within 45 days of when the constitution is set to be accepted for consideration by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on July 6.

He said an early election date is unlikely to affect the drafting of organic laws which are required to be completed within 45 days of the draft being accepted by the NLA.

He said the CDA agreed with the proposal for an early election to avoid legal complications concerning the end of its authority.

Currently, there are differing opinions about the length of the CDA's mandate. Some believe it should cease to exist on Aug 30, while many think it should function for longer than that.

The NLA yesterday voted against a government proposal for the quick passage of an amendment to lift the ban on political activities, including the registration of new political parties. The move dealt a heavy blow to former Thai Rak Thai party members.

The majority of legislators who opposed rushing the passage of the bill said it would destroy the credibility of the Constitution Tribunal's ruling which disbanded Thai Rak Thai and two smaller parties for electoral fraud.

The NLA has set up a panel to study the draft amendment that would lift part of the coup-makers' announcement No. 15, instead of passing the bill directly through in three straight readings as proposed by the government.

Section 2 of the announcement that was enacted shortly after the Sept 19 coup last year suspends activities of political parties as well as the registration of new parties.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likitjitta submitted the bill for NLA consideration.

Sqn-Ldr Prasong Soonsiri, an NLA member and the lead charter drafter, said he had no problem with political parties resuming political activities, but stressed that the amendment needed to be carefully studied.

NLA member Paisarn Peutmongkol said the bill would make the tribunal's ruling meaningless, an opinion mirrored by fellow member Prapan Khoonmee.

''I wouldn't mind if they were to regroup under a new name. But if they are able to do so under the old name, won't that reduce the tribunal to a laughing stock?'' Mr Prapan said.

However, legislator Viriya Namsiripongpan backed the proposed quick passage of the bill, saying it would help restore peace and reconciliation.

Former members of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party have cried foul over the delay in the lifting of the ban. About 20 core members met yesterday to discuss their political future.

Former agriculture minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said the NLA's move spoke volumes for the desire of those in power to keep Thai Rak Thai out of the political arena in the coming polls.

Sita Divari, former spokesman of the disbanded party, said the chances of regrouping are slim, especially if the draft charter is rejected at the referendum.

''If the 1997 charter is revived, a 90-day party membership rule is likely to be kept intact and it will diminish the party's chances,'' he said.

20th June 2007

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has ordered deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his wife Potjaman, Bussaba Damapong and a representative of SC Asset to appear to face charges of concealing assets by June 29.

The DSI set June 26 to 29 as the period for the four to hear the charges in person after the summons was issued last Friday.

"Those who have been accused can defend themselves. And if they have sufficient reasons to counter the charges, the DSI will not indict them," said DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom yesterday while explaining the case.

Mrs Bussaba is Mr Thaksin's sister-in-law and a former executive of SC Asset. She is the wife of Bannapot, who is Khunying Potjaman's step-brother.

Noppadon Pattama, Mr Thaksin's legal adviser, said the former prime minister and his wife, who is now in Singapore, may ask the DSI to allow them to appoint representatives to act on their behalf in the event they are busy or ill.

But the DSI chief said they cannot assign other people to appear.

The accused have the right to postpone a summons three times but if they are found to be trying not to meet the investigators, they will be served with arrest warrants, Mr Sunai said.

If they are abroad, they will have to return to Thailand, he added.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont guaranteed Mr Thaksin's safety if he comes back to fight the DSI's charges in Thailand. The government will take special care of him but will not detain him because the charges against him are not finalised, he added.

The assets concealment case involving Mr Thaksin and his kin has been under investigation by the DSI since March of this year at the request of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

DSI investigators, with help from the SEC, traced shares through several firms and found that the Shinawatra family reported its shareholding in SC Asset at 60.82% in its listing filing to the SEC and also in its prospectus when the shares were floated to the public.

But the family did not include its hidden shares held by Overseas Growth Fund and Offshore Dynamic Fund, which were its nominees.

If the stakes held by the two funds were included, the Shinawatra family would own up to 79.87% of SC Asset.

Holding a 79.87% stake means that the family could control the board and the shareholders' meeting even in the case of important issues where up to three-quarters of shareholders' votes who attend the meeting are required.

Mr Thaksin himself should be found guilty of wrongly declaring assets when he was prime minister, Mr Sunai said.

Mr Sunai said the DSI will forward the case to the National Counter Corruption Commission later as Mr Thaksin did not report his hidden assets when he was prime minister.

If convicted, Mr Thaksin and his wife could face jail of up to two years or a fine of up to 500,000 baht and a fine of another 10,000 baht a day since committing the offences, or both.

SC Asset and Mrs Bussaba could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to two times the sale price of the assets.

Prasong Vinaiphat, the SEC's deputy secretary-general, said that after the DSI sent the case on to the prosecutors, the SEC would get involved by providing additional information.

"We are now asking for information from the DSI if any management executives of SC Asset had roles in this case. If anyone is accused of wrongdoing, the company will be prohibited from carrying out financial transactions such as a recapitalisation," he said. Accused executives would be required to resign from the listed company as well.

Patareeya Benjapolchai, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), said market regulators would not suspend or halt trading of SC Asset shares.

SC Asset told the SET that it disclosed its information legally in regard to the sale of its shares in its prospectus and that it proceeded under the law.

In another case, the ousted premier and his kin will submit a request within this week to the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), asking for a partial unfreezing of the assets that they acquired before Mr Thaksin's first tenure as prime minister in 2001, said Mr Noppadon.

The ASC recently ordered local banks to freeze the bank accounts of Mr Thaksin, Khunying Potjaman, his two grown-up children Panthongtae and Pinthongta, his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra and those of Mr Bannapot, holding over 52 billion baht.

But Mr Noppadon said Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman had already made about 46 billion baht in total prior to Mr Thaksin's first term in office, which included Shin Corp shares valued at around 31 billion baht.

The proposed total advertising ban on alcohol products has hit a major snag, with the National Legislative Assembly's sub-panel overseeing the issue opposing the round-the-clock ban pushed by the Public Health Ministry and civic groups. A majority of the sub-panel members yesterday resolved that controlling the content of the advertising seemed to be a better solution than a total ban, said chairman Prapan Koonme.

Set up under the NLA's committee scrutinising the bill on alcohol control, Mr Prapan's sub-panel is tasked with considering details of articles 31 to 34.

These deal with a round-the-clock ban on commercials for alcohol products in the various forms of media, including television.

Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla has made a strong push for a total ban.

He says this would rein in the number of young drinkers who were easily persuaded by the marketing and promotion strategies used by producers of alcoholic drinks.

Mr Prapan said his panel had considered the appropriateness of a total ban on alcohol commercials based on the experience of countries in North and South America and Europe.

The legislators found that very few countries had adopted the idea, so they believed the commercials should be ''partly controlled'' since this would gain much more support from society.

''The panel has thoroughly considered the pros and cons of the alcohol bill and would like the public to use their own discretion on whether the advertising of alcohol products through the mass media is acceptable,'' he said.

''It would be more efficient if we tighten enforcement of existing rules and regulations to reduce the number of alcohol consumers, especially teenagers and young adults.''

Mr Prapan said members of the sub-panel also discussed limiting alcohol advertising in printed media and the sizes of advertisements on billboards and signboards.

The panel did not finalise details of commercials in the broadcast media. However, they initially agreed that messages and presenters of commercials should not intentionally encourage audiences to drink.

Dr Mongkol, who also chairs the NLA's committee scrutinising the draft alcohol control bill, said the sub-panel's proposal to turn down the total ban on alcohol advertisements was not the final decision, but would be discussed further among the committee members.

He vowed to work with civic groups to campaign against alcohol products in an effort to obtain similar results to the successful tobacco controls.

19th June 2007

The prosecution has decided to indict deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Potjaman over the controversial Ratchadaphisek land purchase.
Attorney-General Pachara Yutidhammadamrong said the director-general of the Department of Special Litigation will be ordered to file the indictment with the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section on Thursday.
In the indictment, the prosecution will ask the court to order the seizure of the 772 million baht block of land and transfer ownership to the state.
Since neither Mr Thaksin nor his wife were in Thailand, the prosecution would not put them before the court on Thursday, he said.
This was compliant with the criminal procedure code for political office holders.
When the court accepts the indictment, it will set a date for the couple to appear before the bench to acknowledge the charges against them, Mr Pachara said.
"Considering the evidence presented by the Assets Scrutiny Committee it is obvious that the land deal was tainted with corruption," Mr Pachara said.
The original value of the Ratchadapisek land before the financial crisis and before it was put up for sale was estimated at 2.1 billion baht.
The evaluation after the crisis came to 870 million baht. The 33-rai plot was eventually auctioned off by the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) to Khunying Potjaman in 2003 for 772 million baht, he said.
The purchase was made when Mr Thaksin was head of the government.
Mr Pachara said state power was abused to benefit someone involed in the purchase.
On May 24, the ASC's inquiry team presented its findings and evidence to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) after it had found Mr Thaksin and his wife, Khunying Potjaman, in the wrong over the land deal.
The inquiry team recommended that the 772 million baht be seized from the couple.
The FIDF is a juristic entity separated from the Bank of Thailand set up to rehabilitate financial institutions affected by the 1997 financial crisis.
The prosecution set up a 10-member committee to consider the ASC's investigation report.
The members spent about three weeks studying it before deciding to indict Mr Thaksin and his wife yesterday.
The couple are accused of breaching Article 100 of the National Counter Corruption Act, which bars state officials and their spouses from doing business with a state agency.
If convicted, they face imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to 60,000 baht.
Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman were also charged with malfeasance under the Criminal Procedures Code.
If found guilty, they face imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine of between 2,000 and 20,000 baht.
Praphan Sapsaeng, chief justice of the Supreme Court's Political Crime Section, said that Mr Thaksin and his wife must show up in court on the first day of the hearing of the case, which will be fixed later on. Arrest warrants would be issued for them if they failed to show up, Mr Praphan said.
The Criminal Court yesterday started the first witness hearings in a case in which the attorney-general accuses Khunying Potjaman, her stepbrother Bannapot Damapong and her secretary Kanchana Honghern of tax evasion.
Khunying Potjaman is alleged to have made a tax-free transfer of 4.5 million shares in Shinawatra Computer and Communications Co worth 738 million baht to Mr Bannapot as a "gift".
The Criminal Court rejected Khunying Potjaman's lawsuits accusing 11 members of the ASC, the director-general of the Legal Execution Department, and OAG officials of malfeasance in their inquiry into the Ratchadaphisek land case. Khunying Potjaman filed the lawsuits last Wednesday .
The court rejected the suit against ASC chairman Nam Yimyaem as constituting double jeopardy. It said it had tried a similar case lodged against Mr Nam on a separate occasion by Khunying Potjaman on May 11.

The National Legislative Assembly has suddenly proposed a total ban on drinking alcohol at temples, hospitals, places of medical services, drug stores, public offices and educational institutions - to be expanded later.
Spokesman Tuang Anthacha of the ad-hoc NLA committee which passed the proposal said the selective ban could be expanded at any time by "relevant ministers" or by a new Alcohol Control Policy Committee ordered by the new law.
Under the draft bill, the alcohol consumption ban would not extend to private residences, clubs or parties.
A 31-member panel was formed to deliberate the cabinet-sponsored bill after the NLA on March 29 approved it in principle.
The designation of alcohol-free zones is the first aspect of the controversial bill to pass deliberation by the NLA.
The committee yesterday concluded Section 28 which bars all marketing activities of alcohol products, ranging from free samples, price cuts, free gifts and lucky draws to the redemption of product packagings.
The committee also added a ban on tie-in sales to Section 28.
The panel agreed to Section 25 whereby alcohol manufacturers and importers must put health warnings on product packaging. The current health warnings only indicate that alcohol consumption hinders driving ability.
Any violators of Section 25 would face a one-year jail term or a maximum of a 100,000 baht fine or both. The fine has been raised from 20,000 baht in the government-approved draft.
Mr Tuang said there are three issues left in the draft bill's deliberation - the make-up and authority of the liquor product-related policy committee, an alcohol control committee, and a total ban on alcohol advertising, which is the most controversial aspect of the bill.
The bill, passed by the cabinet in March, aims to reduce alcoholic beverage consumption. It also raises the minimum age for buying alcohol from 18 to 20.

18th June 2007

17th June 2007

Prominent members of the National Legislative Assembly will push for an amnesty bill to return electoral rights to some executives of the Thai Rak Thai party and other small parties convicted of breaching election laws. Surapol Nittikraipoj, who is also Thammasat University rector, said the amnesty proposal, which will exclude party leaders and other key party members who were directly involved in electoral fraud, is meant to cool down political tensions and bring about reconciliation among the public.
Mr Surapol said the proposed amnesty aims to exonerate banned party executives who were obviously not involved in electoral fraud.
Thai Rak Thai and three lesser-known parties were convicted of electoral fraud during the April 2 polls in 2006 and were ordered dissolved by the Constitution Tribunal on May 30.
All executives of the disbanded parties were also banned from voting and seeking re-election for five years.
Mr Surapol argued that if an amnesty can be granted to military leaders who stage a coup and illegally seize control of government power, this principle should be applicable to parties dissolved for breaking election laws by the Constitution Tribunal.
''I propose the idea [of amnesty], so I am ready to receive a scolding for it. I believe it could be a way out of the crisis,'' he said.
Mr Surapol said he was talking to other NLA members about the most appropriate time to propose the amnesty bill to the NLA.
He needs to collect the signatures of at least 25 NLA members to support the motion to table the bill to the law-making body.
He noted, however, it would not be appropriate for the government and the Council for National Security to float the amnesty idea.
The amnesty bill should be proposed and given a good airing by the NLA members, who would decide by majority vote whether to enact it into law, he said.
Mr Surapol believed the amnesty could provide a way out of the ongoing political crisis and he was ready to take any criticism.
Voicing support for Mr Surapol's idea are civic leaders Jon Ungphakorn and Somchai Homla-or.
Mr Jon said many people have sympathised with the banned politicians and that may set conditions for the return of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a hero.
He said he did not agree with the freezing of Mr Thaksin's assets as well as the attempt to censor information as that would heighten pity for the ousted leader.
Mr Jon, who was former Bangkok senator, said early elections may heal the rifts in society while certain political conditions must be met, including lifting the electoral ban which he said must be made for all Thai Rak Thai members. This is to allow people to ''judge'' those politicians when they cast their vote, he said.
Mr Somchai, however, said lifting the ban must be limited to those who are deemed innocent.
A group of former Thai Rak Thai MPs in the northern provinces plans to file a petition to His Majesty the King over the dissolution of the party and the five-year ban on its 111 executive members.
The group, led by Surapong Towijakchaikul and Julaphan Amornwiwat, will launch a campaign in Chiang Mai to gather signatures in support of the petition.
The move is seen as an attempt to resurrect the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party and clear the names of the banned executives.
Mr Surapong is a leader of the Network of People Power for Thailand and a member of the Thai Rak Thai group. Mr Julaphan was former Thai Rak Thai MP for Chiang Mai.
In their petition, they cite a difference of opinion among the Constitution Tribunal judges who were divided over the coup makers' announcement No. 27. They said a minority of three judges disagreed with the retroactive effect of the announcement which imposes the five-year ban on the 111 executives of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai.
Surichai Wungaeo, lecturer of Chulalongkorn University and an NLA member, said the current political situation had divided people into camps and if this trend continues, they might miss an opportunity to help create good governance.
''We will be in trouble if we can think only of who will be our next leader. This should be the time for us all to help one another lay good political foundations,'' he said.
Mr Surichai joined Mr Jon and veteran lawyer Mr Somchai at a seminar on Violence in Thai Politics and the Best Way Out, organised by the Thai Journalists Association yesterday.

16th June 2007

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night vowed to fight to restore his dignity and a system he said had been ''jeopardised'', in a video address to thousands of his supporters rallying at Sanam Luang. Speaking from his residence in London, he insisted he was not guilty of the charges laid against him by the generals that ousted him in a coup last year. He slammed as political bullying the disbanding of his Thai Rak Thai party and the freezing of his assets.
''I will fight to win back my dignity otherwise the country will lose its credibility. The country cannot move backwards.
''I have announced that I gave up politics. If they want to deal with me, they should do it within the scope of law, instead of using elements that are not recognised by the law, just to get rid of me,'' he said.
Mr Thaksin said the freezing of his assets was a ploy to isolate the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party and send a signal that he was broke.
He also urged the military to quickly return democracy to the people by pushing ahead with plans to hold a general election. The longer the current political situation persisted, the worse the country would suffer, he warned.
''I am ready to make sacrifices. I have given up. Please let me."
''I was hurt but I endure. Can we move on without distortion, blocking information and intimidation?'' he said.
It was the second time the ousted leader has spoken to his supporters since the coup that toppled his government on Sept 19 last year.
Last month he called pro-Thaksin community radio stations and gave a brief interview.
Last night's address, which lasted about 27 minutes, had been pre-recorded in London.
Rally organisers had told participants since Thursday night that the deposed prime minister would speak to them live from London. Five vehicles mounted with amplifiers were dispatched around town urging people to join the rally. The government and the Council for National Security (CNS) promised not to block the broadcast.
Between 10,000-15,000 people gathered at Sanam Luang to hear him speak. Some were curious onlookers. Several were seen leaving the venue as soon as Mr Thaksin finished the speech, although the rally still continued.
Natthawut Saikua, a protest leader, said rally organisers received a VCD of Mr Thaksin's address yesterday. They planned to make between 30,000-50,000 copies for distribution.
The demonstrators were expected to return today for a mass rally, which the government fears could get out of hand if protest leaders whip up sentiment against the Constitution Tribunal verdict disbanding Thai Rak Thai.
Security forces braced for yesterday's rally. Thousands of police and city officials were dispatched to beef up security at the rally site. Four fire-trucks were on stand-by.
Early in the day, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont called a high-level security meeting with the CNS and police to discuss contingency plans. He said declaring a state of emergency would be the last resort and he hoped the situation would not warrant it.
The premier said people's judgement was an important factor which would determine whether or not the situation would escalate and turn violent.
The CNS led by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin met acting national police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej later in the day to prepare for the rally.
Gen Sonthi said he stressed the importance of close cooperation between military, police and civilians to steer the country clear of violence.
Pol Gen Seripisuth said yesterday protest leaders would be held responsible if the rally turned violent.
He also threatened to ''wipe out'' taxi-motorcycle operators from the city if unrest broke out and they were found to have a hand in it.
Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit yesterday briefed military attaches from 21 countries about the anti-coup rally and security preparations.
Speaking after the briefing, Gen Boonsang said he assured them that the situation was under control and the state would not use force against protesters.
According to immigration sources, former key members of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai left the country yesterday.
Khunying Potjaman and the Shinawatra children _ Panthongtae, and Paethongtarn _ left for Singapore. Newin Chidchob and Prommin Lertsuridej reportedly left for Hong Kong.
Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan was initially reported to also be going to Singapore but she later denied this.

15th June 2007

The ex-PM's lawyer says the so-called "missing" 23 billion baht portion of the 73-billion-baht Shin Corp sale proceeds from Temasek is still in Thailand, earmarked in part for purchase of the Manchester City Football Club - and the ASC knew all along.
The lead legal adviser to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Noppadon Pattama, was responding to remarks by the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) which claimed that the money was missing.
Rather, he said the money remained in local firms and banks.
"The money has been prepared for investment in England's Manchester City football club and other property developments," he said.
A large chunk of 16.4 billion baht has been invested in seven companies by Mr Thaksin's two adult children and his wife's stepbrother, he said.
Mr Thaksin's children, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, spent six billion baht from this amount to invest in four local companies: PT Corporation Co, Worth Supply Co, Pramaisuree Property Co, and SC Office Plaza Co, he said.
Bannapot Damapong, Khunying Potjaman's stepbrother, spent 10.4 billion baht investing in three companies: OAI Management Co, BBD Development Co, and BBD Property Co.
However, Mr Noppadon said he did not have any information on whether the money had been transferred in the form of shares or deposits in these firms.
In addition, Mr Panthongtae has also deposited two billion baht of the Shin share sale profits in two Krung Thai bank accounts, while his sister has five billion baht from the profits in two Siam City Bank accounts and one Thanachart account, he said.
These sums, totalling seven billion baht, have been prepared for investment in the football club which has now reached the due diligence process, he said.
The deal will be finalised this Sunday and this money, which was not subject to ASC's order to freeze Mr Thaksin's assets, will be used in the purchase, he added.
If the panel manages to order the freezing of this chunk and makes it impossible for Mr Thaksin's London-based legal team to close the deal, the investigators will have to take responsibility for damages, he added.
He claimed the families had already informed the ASC of these bank accounts but the panel did not include them in its list of 21 accounts ordered frozen.
Sak Korsaengruang, ASC spokesman, declined to comment on Mr Noppadon's remarks, saying Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka would handle the matter.
The 11-member panel on Monday ordered local banks to freeze the 21 accounts, holding about 52 billion baht in total, held by Mr Thaksin's children and relatives, which comprise deposits from the Shin Corp sale.
It said the freeze was needed because it found that 20 billion baht of the profits could not be traced, and it wanted to prevent other assets under its probes from going missing.
On Wednesday, the Bank of Thailand told the panel that around eight billion baht from the 52-billion-baht amount had been withdrawn over a one-week period.
While the ASC said the missing amount totalled 28 billion baht, Mr Noppadon insisted the 23.4-billion-baht amount he had clarified was what the panel was looking for.
Asked who would be the real bidder for the football club if the money was coming from the children's accounts, not their father's, Mr Noppadon said the former premier would buy the club on behalf of his children.
"It is okay. The children own the money while their father administers it. I believe the shareholding and the management can be separated," he said.
His legal team will file criminal lawsuits against the ASC, requesting temporary protection of the frozen assets as well as revocation of its freeze order.
Mr Noppadon said the ousted prime minister did not buy a house in Hong Kong as reported by the media.
Mr Thaksin has decided not to return to Thailand soon, he said, citing remarks by the Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin about his safety as the main reason for the decision.

The Council for National Security (CNS) yesterday insisted that it has the political situation under control as anti-coup demonstrators gear up for a mass rally tomorrow.
CNS chairman Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said authorities had learned lessons from the May 1992 uprising, and are now better prepared for acts of provocation. Close surveillance has been ordered for groups including operators of motorcycle taxis and public vans who might be manipulated into stirring up trouble, he said.
''I am not worried. People across the country apparently understand what is going on. I do not think there will be a turning point that leads to violence,'' Gen Sonthi said.
He said rumours about a counter-coup which swept the city on Wednesday night and about a military crackdown on protesters are nothing unusual.
The rumours spread following the Assets Scrutiny Committee's order to freeze the assets of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family on Monday. Anti-coup groups have been rallying daily at Sanam Luang, and have called for a big turn-out tomorrow for a march on army headquarters.
Gen Sonthi admitted he has made contact with protest leaders through mediators.
CNS deputy secretary-general Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr said rumours were circulated to give the impression of a country grinding to a dead end.
Rumours also spread of a group of military officers disloyal to the CNS plotting a counter-coup and that the CNS would impose a curfew to crack down on the demonstrators.
Gen Saprang was also a target. Over the past two months, rumours have circulated claiming he had been assassinated.
''This is normal. It is aimed at triggering panic and appealing to opportunists. But it doesn't work with the military,'' said Gen Saprang.
Meanwhile, security authorities are getting set for tomorrow's rally, in which demonstrators plan to make their way to army headquarters.
CNS members will today meet acting national police chief Pol Gen Seripisuth Temiyavej to assess security and work out how to handle the crowds, said a police source.
The CNS wants the police to take legal action against demonstrators who break the law.
Yesterday's planned meeting between Pol Gen Seripisuth and core members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship to discuss security was a flop as no anti-coup figures turned up.
Police yesterday issued a warning urging the public to stay away from the protest site.
The city police will dispatch 15 companies of officers to beef up security at Sanam Luang and around the capital.
Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin has cancelled an overseas trip from June 16 to 24 and asked eight district chiefs who were to accompany him to postpone their travel.
All 50 district directors will meet today to come up with measures to cope with any untoward incidents.
Extra-tight security is evident around the army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen avenue, with barbed wire erected around the premises.
Journalists have been asked to leave the compound at 7pm tomorrow and have been barred from entering the compound this weekend.
Chupong Teetuan, a protest leader, said the demonstrators will stay put at Sanam Luang.
''There is a rumour that we will send out motorcycles to vandalise state property. We insist that we will remain at Sanam Luang and hold a peaceful rally,'' Mr Chupong said.
Former Thai Rak Thai member Jakrapob Penkair said Mr Thaksin will address his supporters at Sanam Luang through a video conference call from London tonight, at 9pm local time.
Scholar Prawase Wasi said yesterday that the best defence against bloodshed is to keep Mr Thaksin in exile. The former prime minister's return would act as catalyst for violence, said Dr Prawase.
''People who love Mr Thaksin love him intensely and those who hate him, hate him strongly. This might lead to a violent clash.
''[If the situation ever comes to that,] the military would see Mr Thaksin as a cause of violence and would not 'keep' him. And if they want to kill anyone, they will,'' he said.
Dr Prawase suggested that police video-tape every stage of the pro-Thaksin rallies as evidence to prove who is responsible in case violence erupts.

14th June 2007

Article 32(3) of the draft constitution was supposed to protect civil liberties. Instead, it expands police powers to search people without a warrant.
Human rights activists have expressed grave concerns over the contentious reversal of the draft constitutional clause. Instead of providing stronger laws to protect civil liberties, it seems to give even more extensive powers to police.
Angkhana Neelaphaijit, charter drafter and a member of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA), said she was disappointed that the final draft of the article was the opposite of what it was designed to be due to heavy lobbying. The article narrowly passed the assembly's vote, winning by 42 to 39, with two abstentions.
"I don't know who ordered the trade-off of the vote, but it's obvious bargaining and lobbying which should not have happened," said Ms Angkhana.
Article 32 (3) was supposed to protect the rights of the people, especially the poor who are often abused and mistreated by the authorities.
But now that chance has gone since police officers argued that a court warrant before a personal search was an obstacle to their work, she said.
"In fact, even without the warrant, officers can arrest a suspect in certain circumstances such as when they are caught red-handed," Ms Angkhana said.
She referred to the case of a Chulalongkorn University student who was framed by police, who planted amphetamines on him, and was taken into custody for nearly a week and refused access to his family.
The student was almost expelled from the university, she said.
Phairoj Pholphet, secretary general of the Union for Civil Liberties, said he was stunned that the draft constitution turned out to be worse than the 1997 version, which stipulated the limits of police power by balancing it with judicial powers.
The result of Tuesday's vote has aroused public scepticism that the draft charter will endorse stronger powers for uniformed officers at the expense of promoting civil rights.
"Indeed, it reflects a more powerful force of the technocrats in the aristocracy," said Mr Phairoj.
He said there had been a victory for the people, however, in that capital punishment had been omitted from the supreme law.However, Dejudom Krairit, president of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, said that it was not a real victory as the death penalty was still recognised in the criminal code.
"It is up to society whether it still regards the death penalty as a deserved revenge mechanism for culprits. Some states in the US still have capital punishment while Scandinavian countries and Israel do not," said Mr Dejudom.
He agreed with Mr Phairoj that the authorisation of searches without a warrant was against the good standards set by the 1997 charter.
"It's a disappointment and a retreat from the international norms of civil rights and liberties. Even with the good charter, we still had such cases as [Muslim lawyer] Somchai Neelaphaijit's abduction. The individual rights will be tested and challenged even further with police having full power," he said.
Sarawut Benjakul, spokesman for the Office of the Judiciary, yesterday opposed the CDA's decision to amend the draft charter, allowing authorities to arrest and conduct searches without securing prior court warrants.
He said it was a violation of people's rights and freedoms.
It is the court's duty to find a balance between the use of state power and adequate protection of the public, he said.

Around eight billion baht was withdrawn from the bank accounts of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family shortly before the Assets Scrutiny Committee ordered the assets frozen.
ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said the amount was withdrawn in tranches over the period of a week, from June 4 to 11, one day before the assets freeze was announced.
The Bank of Thailand had just informed the ASC of this new "missing amount", he said. The ASC said on June 12, when it ordered the assets freeze, that it could not trace 21 billion baht from the Shin Corp sale to Temasek Holdings of Singapore.
At the time, the committee did not appear to be aware that another eight billion baht of Mr Thaksin's money had already been withdrawn.
The deposed leader's family and the Damapongs sold their 49% stake to Temasek for 73.3 billion baht in January last year.
The freeze was ordered on the grounds that Mr Thaksin and his wife, Khunying Potjaman, had made gains via abuse of power and corruption while he was in office. Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka has been appointed to direct a panel to check the existence of the assets ordered frozen and to go after the money that has been withdrawn.
Another committee, chaired by Amnuay Thanthara, has been set up to examine the Shinawatras' petitions to reclaim their assets.
According to Mr Sak, the Shinawatra family has not lodged any petition to defend its assets yet. It has 60 days, starting last Tuesday, to appeal.
He said the ASC will issue a booklet to clarify its decision to freeze the assets. Known as the "yellow book", it should be ready for distribution in two weeks, according to the spokesman.
A source close to the ASC said the ASC is also monitoring transactions of bank accounts held by other Shinawatra family members and of the Damapong family, especially those of Yaowapa Wongsawat, Mr Thaksin's sister.
It is believed the ex-premier's assets are hidden in several ghost accounts.
Tarisa Watanagase, the central bank governor, said the missing amount is still thought to be in the country.
She said the last withdrawal record reported to the central bank was for 400 million baht by Khunying Potjaman to buy a house in England last year.
She noted the central bank cannot examine Mr Thaksin's assets in Singapore but suggested that authorities access the information through the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo).
Khunying Potjaman yesterday sued the ASC for abuse of authority over the Ratchadaphisek road land case.
The ASC found her and Mr Thaksin guilty of breaking the anti-graft law which bars cabinet members and their spouses from doing business with a state agency.
Khunying Potjaman bought the land in an auction for 772 million baht from the Financial Institutions Development Fund, an agency under the central bank, in 2003 while Mr Thaksin was prime minister. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug 27.
Chaturon Chaisaeng, leader of the Thai Rak Thai group, yesterday criticised the ASC's assets freeze, saying it was against the rule of law as it was based on the coup-makers' announcement.
"The assets freeze is based on the law laid down to target certain groups of individuals," he said.
He accused Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont of discriminating against the Thai Rak Thai party.
He was referring to Gen Surayud's speech broadcast on Sunday night in which the prime minister urged supporters of the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai to "find candidates to support from whichever political party".
He said the remark reflected the prime minister's lack of political impartiality as it was made when Thai Rak Thai no longer existed.
Meanwhile, the government and the Foreign Ministry yesterday shrugged off criticism of the freeze by a lobbyist firm.
Michael S Goldberg, of Baker Botts's International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Department, issued a statement dated June 12 denouncing the ASC's freeze order.
He said the "assets seizure" was a political vendetta against the former leader and showed that the CNS had little regard for "norms of due process and rule of law".
Gen Surayud said the government has been working to explain the political situation to the world community that seemed to have a proper understanding.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said the government did not have to counter the criticism by the Thaksin-hired law firm as it was a comment made on behalf of its client.

13th June 2007

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is free to make ''an early return'' to Thailand to defend his assets now frozen by order of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.
He was responding to Mr Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama, who said the decision will force Mr Thaksin to come back quickly to fight the charges.
The assets freeze took effect yesterday. It is the first time the prime minister has given Mr Thaksin the green light to return to the country.
Gen Surayud has previously maintained it would be best if the ousted Thai Rak Thai founder just stayed away.
''He does not need to ask for permission from the government or the CNS (Council for National Security).
''He is a Thai and is free to enter and leave the country,'' Gen Surayud said.
Mr Thaksin has 60 days to counter the asset freeze, in person or through his representatives.
The prime minister said the government does not need to make any specific preparations for Mr Thaksin's return which many believe could stir up chaos.
''It is the job of the police. Our laws give equal rights and protection,'' Gen Surayud said.
However, the prime minister said that Mr Thaksin should inform the ASC of his tentative schedule to allow proper coordination.
Gen Surayud emphasised that the government's responsibility was not to judge Mr Thaksin, but to steer the country clear of troubles and towards a new general election.
CNS chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin gave an assurance Mr Thaksin would not be detained or barred from engaging in political activities when he returns home.
Gen Sonthi tried to allay fears that Mr Thaksin's homecoming would trigger violence, while noting that his return would call for security preparations.
Mr Noppadon said Mr Thaksin was reviewing his political future and considering a political comeback.
The ASC's assets freeze order could have been the deciding factor.
''Mr Thaksin wants to ask the CNS and the government if they want to see him return to fight for justice,'' he said.
Even though he was barred from politics by the Constitution Tribunal, Mr Thaksin could provide support to a political party and help it with its election campaign.
''After being bullied this much, I don't think he will stay calm and do nothing about it,'' said Mr Noppadon.
According to Mr Noppadon, the assets freeze prompted Mr Thaksin to consider his return to Thailand sooner than previously planned.
His decision would be known within the next few days.
Mr Thaksin's legal team will file civil and criminal lawsuits against the ASC by early next week, he added.
A source on the 11-member ASC revealed yesterday that Monday's ruling was not unanimous with four members disagreeing with the amount of money that should be frozen.
The minority ASC members were Amnuay Tantara, Viroj Laohaphan, Jiraniti Havanont and Sak Korsaengruang.
They argued that the order should focus on the profit increment generated from Shin Corp shares during Mr Thaksin's two terms in office, which came to about 50 billion baht.
The freeze on Mr Thaksin's assets was pushed by certain members in April this year, said the source. In May, ASC member Klanarong Chantik, who also sits on a Shin Corp share investigation team, pushed for the freeze but it was rejected by fellow team members Mr Viroj and Mr Sak.
The majority ASC members who backed the freeze order were Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka, ASC secretary Kaewsan Atipho, Thammasat University lecturer Banjerd Singkhaneti, ASC chief Nam Yimyaem, Udom Phuengphung, Saowanee Assawaroj and Mr Klanarong.
The source said the Shinawatra family had already submitted a bank guarantee for the 5.6 billion baht in income tax which two of his grown-up children were ordered to pay by the Revenue Department for their Shin share sale profits.
This means that this tax liability should have been exempted from the assets freeze. As a consequence, it could provide grounds for the Shinawatras to sue the ASC, the source added.
The ASC decision was backed by a majority of respondents to a Dusit Poll released yesterday.
According to the poll conducted by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University, 51% of respondents agreed with the ASC's freeze order, while 29% disagreed.
The poll showed 64% of respondents believed the order would ratchet up political tensions further while 10% said it would create further social divisions.

Steps are being taken to ensure the safety of members of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) following their decision on Monday to freeze the assets of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family. Security has been tightened amid fears that the 11 members could be in danger of assault by furious supporters of Mr Thaksin.
Pol Lt Wutthikrai Jaturongseri, of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, was ordered by city police chief Adisorn Nonsi to ask for the home addresses of the ASC members, so that guards could be assigned to them. The security shield will comprise police provided by acting national police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej, the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Bang Sue police station. The ASC office is within the jurisdiction of Bang Sue police.
ASC member Kaewsan Atipho remained steadfast yesterday in the face of the perceived threat to his safety. He said he had done his duty properly and nothing would ever make him cringe in fear.

12th June 2007

The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) yesterday ordered the freezing of more than 52 billion baht held in bank accounts belonging to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his wife, two grown-up children and two other relatives.
The order, effective today, was based on alleged acts of dishonesty and abuse of power to accumulate unusual wealth.
Any bank which allows transactions in the frozen accounts would face legal action, said Kaewsan Atipho, the ASC secretary.
The ASC has frozen all the bank accounts of Mr Thaksin and his wife. In addition, it froze 21 accounts with deposits related to the sale of Shin Corp shares to Temasek Holdings.
These accounts belong to Mr Thaksin's two grown-up children, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, Mr Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra and Khunying Potjaman's stepbrother Bannapot Damapong, Mr Kaewsan told a press conference.
The ASC will unfreeze those assets if Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman can verify within 60 days that they earned those assets through legal means.
Mr Kaewsan said the ASC is authorised to order the freeze by announcement No. 30 of the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), the Sept 19 coup makers _ now the Council for National Security.
CDR announcement No.30 authorises the ASC to freeze assets of state officials suspected of malfeasance or corruption and to unfreeze them if the suspected state officials can prove all the assets were not obtained by such means within the timeframe set by the ASC.
Mr Kaewsan said the Shinawatra and Damapong families netted 73 billion baht when they sold Shin Corp shares to Singapore-based Temasek Holdings. But the ASC found the money in the frozen bank accounts came to only 52 billion baht as of June 4. The panel would trace the other 20 billion baht that has disappeared from the accounts.
The ASC has no access to the Shinawatra family's bank accounts at UBS Bank in Singapore, he added.
Mr Thaksin and the five others must submit to the ASC documents on their Shin share transactions and UBS Bank accounts within 60 days as well, he said.
''This [the assets freeze] is a measure to retain the assets involved. It is not a punishment. It is not the final judgement,'' said Mr Kaewsan.
''The ASC insists we are not prejudiced and that we were not given an order [to freeze the assets]. We do so as we are authorised by the CDR's announcement No. 30 to ensure justice,'' said ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng.
''I am not worried. If they want to come, I cannot stop them,'' ASC chairman Nam Yimyaem said, when asked about the possibility of a pro-Thaksin rally at the ASC's headquarters.
Mr Kaewsan said the ASC ordered the freeze after it found enough evidence to allege Mr Thaksin was involved in five malfeasance cases and six of abuse of power to obtain unusual wealth.
Of the five malfeasance cases, the ASC had already forwarded the 772-million-baht land deal to the public prosecutor and the prosecutor had made indictments. Another four cases are under ASC investigation, Mr Kaewsan said.
Noppadon Pattama, Mr Thaksin's close aide, said yesterday his boss was bewildered by the ASC's orders and would seek justice through the courts of law.
''I will set up a legal team to file criminal and civil lawsuits against the ASC,'' Mr Noppadon said.
Mr Thaksin's aide said that the deposed leader saw the move as unjust and nothing but political intimidation.
Mr Thaksin never attempted to bring the assets out of the country and he was presumed innocent, said Mr Noppadon.
He said the ASC's alleged evidence of wrongdoings by Mr Thaksin would be thrown out by the courts.
''The ASC seeks to discredit Mr Thaksin and its course of action does not follow the rule of law. We will work to get every member of the ASC to court,'' he said.

Veteran democracy fighters joining anti-coup rallies are trying to distance themselves from misconceptions that they are supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
They are pressing People's Television (PTV) executives and members of Mr Thaksin's now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party to make a major "facelif