Thai Press Reports articles from April 2006

Thai Press Reports archives from April 2006

Thailand: Fire at Siam City Bank branch injures security officer.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - A fire broke out at the Siam City Bank Chidlom branch, injuring a security officer and trapping some 30 bank employees, The Nation reports. Fire fighters managed to evacuate the...

Thailand: Thai Airways to increase flights to Europe and the United States.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - National carrier Thai Airways (THAI) announced its plan on Wednesday that it will boost the number of its flights to Europe and the U.S. The airline also said that will have to raise...

Thailand: Central bank reduces GDP growth forecast.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Economy - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) revised down its economic growth forecast for 2006 by a half-point Wednesday, to reflect adverse impact of high oil prices, inflation, rising interest rates and...

Thailand: central bank says short-term capital inflows causes baht to rise.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Recent strength in the baht is due mainly to capital inflows, Bank of Thailand (BOT)'s Deputy Governor Bandid Nijathaworn said Wednesday, adding that the central bank hasn't detected...

Thailand: Administrative Court receives petition to nullify general election.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Former Bangkok senator Seri Suwanphanon said he and other former senators would file a complaint with the Administrative Court seeking to an order to nullify the national...

Thailand: Thaksin to meet with Japanese prime minister in Tokyo.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Japan Wednesday to meet with Japanese Prime Minister JunichiroKoizumi, an official said, The Nation reports. Thaksin arrived Wednesday...

Thailand: Anti Thaksin movement to hold rally.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The People's Alliance for Democracy said Wednesday that it would go ahead with its rally at Sanam Luang next Tuesday, The Nation reports. Somsak Kosaisuk, a decision maker...

Thailand: Democrats say if courts order new election, they would field candidates.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva announced Wednesday that the party would provide full cooperation to a decision to be made by courts to end political impasse by joining...

Thailand: Chart Thai Party to refrain from all political activities until courts decide on election issues.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The Chart Thai Party announced Wednesday that it would suspend all political moves pending a decision by courts regarding the April 2 election, The Nation reports. The...

Thailand: Top courts to meet over election issues following advise by the King.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Supreme Court has called an unprecedented meeting of the kingdom's top three courts to consider nullifying the snap polls held earlier this month, a court spokesman said...

Thailand: Top Thai Rak Thai executives to meet following statement on political impasse by the King.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Acting caretakers Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said Wednesday that he would call a meeting of Thai Rak Thai Party executives on His Majesty's speech, The Nation reports....

Thailand: King says Article 7 of Constitution does not empower him to intervene to appoint prime minister.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - His Majesty the King Tuesday said Article 7 of the Constitution did not empower him to make any decision, The Nation reports. In his speech to newly-appointed Administrative Court...

Thailand: Cabinet approves Royal Decree to convene House of Representatives.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The Cabinet Tuesday decided to issue a Royal decree to convene a new House of Representatives and ask the Constitution Court to rule whether the Lower House can be convened...

Thailand: Gen Chavalit calls press conference.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh would hold a press conference on Thursday on national problems, his aide said Tuesday, The Nation reports. Lt Gen Chawengsak Thongsaluay,...

Thailand: Thailand Bond Index Fund begins trading.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The ABF Thailand Bond Index Fund (ABFTH) will begin trading on the Bond Electronic Exchange this Thursday, the Stock Exchange of Thailand said in a statement Tuesday, The Nation reports....

Thailand: Tsunami warning towers installed.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The construction of 51 of 55 tsunami warning towers by the Public Works Department in six southern provinces on the Andaman coast have been completed, a deputy government spokesman said...

Thailand: NESDB makes GDP growth forecast for 2006.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Economy - The Cabinet Tuesday approved five measures to cope with the economic risk factors in the next eight months of this year after the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB)...

Thailand: Criminal court rejects suit against Matichon newspaper.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Criminal Court Tuesday threw out a Bt30 million libel lawsuit on grounds that columnist Wanit Charungkitanan had no cause to litigate against his Matichon newspaper, The Nation...

Thailand: Students complain against new system for screening university applicants.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Nearly 70 per cent of students preparing to enter university say the new admissions system has caused them stress, and almost 2 per cent would consider suicide if they were not accepted...

Thailand: King makes comment on political crisis.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Nation - The following is an uofficial translation of a comment by His Majesty the King of Thailand on the political crisis. His Majesty addressed the Administrative and Supreme...

Thailand: Blacklist of southern militants criticised.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Southern Border Provinces Peace Building Command (SBPPBC) on Wednesday demanded the concerned intelligence agencies review the "blacklist" of suspected militants after a rare public...

Thailand: Election Commission members pressured to resign if election is nullified.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The Election Commission (EC) came under pressure on Wednesday to quit if the consortium of courts decides to nullify the April 2 election following His Majesty the King's...

Thailand: His Majesty the King tells top judges to solve political impasse.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - His Majesty the King speaks to Administrative Court judges on April 25 at Klai Kangwol Palace in Hua Hin. He rejected calls for royal intervention in the political crisis, The Nation...

Thailand: Army maintains blacklist of suspected southern militants.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Thailand: General News - Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin on April 25 admitted the existence of "blacklists" used by authorities to catch suspected insurgents in the Malay-speaking South, The Nation reports. ...

Thailand: Opposing political sides bring their battles to courtroom.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - While the caretaker government moves to open the new Parliament without confirmation that the required 500 MPs will be present, the People's Alliance for Democracy is seeking...

Thailand: Top courts to work to resolve political crisis.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Acting on this week's royal advice that the judiciary put an end to the political turmoil, the country's three top courts will on April 27 meet to map out a solution, The Nation...

Thailand: Interior Ministry wants officials to ride bicycles to work.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Interior Ministry has urged its 8,000 officials to ride bicycles to work as part of an energy-conservation campaign, The Nation reports. Caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak...

Thailand: University entrance exam scoring still a big mess.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Education bosses have admitted that 111,509 O-Net and A-Net answer sheets are still sitting unmatched with the students that filled them in, The Nation reports. Caretaker Education...

Thailand: Regional security conference discusses transnational pandemic.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Devising ways to prevent a transnational pandemic dominated a conference on global security held by the world's largest regional security organisation in Bangkok on April 25, The Nation...

Thailand: Concerns over job losses as oil prices rise.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Crewmembers of fishing trawlers and petrol-station attendants will likely take the brunt of a wave of layoffs coming soon, as high oil prices slam fuel-sensitive sectors, a seminar was...

Thailand: Money from road projects to be diverted to skytrain route extension.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Money will be taken from 16 controversial road projects worth about Bt20 billion to help fund the Bt24-billion extension of the Skytrain routes, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said on...

Thailand: Some see Thaksin visits with foreign heads of state as an embarrassment.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Diplomats, academics and international relations experts may spend the week cringing as outgoing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tours Europe and Asia. Many of them consider the tour,...

Thailand: Legal expert says Election Commission as tool of government.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Legal expert Meechai Ruchuphan has launched an attack on the Election Commission, accusing it of trying to please the government rather than sticking to its responsibility to...

Thailand: Sondhi does not show up to answer police questions on lese majeste charges.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Government critic Sondhi Limthongkul on April 25 postponed meeting with police to respond to lese majeste charges brought against him because he had to join a People's...

Thailand: Chavalit to urge end of political conflict.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will hold a press conference on April 27 to call on Thais to end their conflict and quarrelling before the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the...

Thailand: Three new Thai Rak Thai candidates to run in third round of voting in the South.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Thai Rak Thai has replaced several "tired and discouraged" candidates for the third round of voting in the South, party deputy spokesman Jatuporn Promphant said on April 25,...

Thailand: Cabinet issues Royal Decree to convene House of Representatives.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The Cabinet on April 25 decided to issue a Royal decree to convene a new House of Representatives, Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said, The Nation reports. ...

Thailand: Leading Democrat asks Election Commission to nullify results of by-election.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban on April 25 called on the Election Commission to nullify results from Sunday's by-elections, claiming some were fraudulent,...

Thailand: Thaksin's sister threatens to sue Democrat Party executive over accusations of improper business dealings.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Yaowapha Wongsawat on April 25 threatened to sue Democrat Party executive Alongkorn Pollabutr for linking her to a controversial real estate...

Thailand: Government meets over impact of high oil prices.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Thailand: General News - Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya will preside over a meeting of concerned agencies on April 26 to finalise measures aimed at easing the impact of rising oil prices,...

Thailand: Baht hits another high against US dollar.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - In line with other Asian currencies, the baht rose on April 25 to a fresh, six-year high of Bt37.50 against the dollar, due mainly to a weakening greenback as well as pressure from the...

Thailand: Rise in truck transport fees to cause inflation.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Economy - Consumer product prices are likely to increase following the rise in cargo truck freight fees by 15-20 per cent on Monday, The Nation reports. Tanasak Sakariganon, marketing division...

Thailand: Vinythai to increase production capacity for polyvinyl chloride.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Vinythai's board of directors approved spending Bt840 million to increase the company's annual production capacity for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by 70,000 tonnes, The Nation reports. ...

Thailand: Buyer to acquire 75% stake in Diana Department Store.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - The major shareholders in Diana Department Store Plc will sell a combined 9.8 million shares, or 75.38 per cent of the company, to Jrarat Pingclasai, who currently has no relationship...

Thailand: Experts urge regulations for medical tourism industry.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - With the growth in medical tourism in the region, experts have suggested the industry set up an international regulatory body and an advertising code of conduct, The Nation reports. ...

Thailand: Court approves reorganisation for Tanayong Plc.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Tanayong Plc, a property developer and the operator of Bangkok's BTS Skytrain, has received approval from the Central Bankruptcy Court for its amended reorganisation plan, says a...

Thailand: Cabinet approves expansion of palm oil planting areas.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Cabinet on April 25 approved a seven-year plan to support alternative energy by expanding the country's oil-palm plantation areas by 11 million rai, The Nation reports. Deputy...

Thailand: Event organisers see tough times ahead on account of rising oil prices.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - The third and fourth quarters of the year will be a tough period for the trade exhibition business due to rising oil prices, according to NCC Exhibition Organiser Co Ltd (NEO), the event...

Thailand: Shin Satellite Plc to launch broadband service in China.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - As expected, Shin Satellite Plc (ShinSat) announced on April 25 that in May, it would launch iPSTAR broadband services in China through an agreement with China Satellite Communications...

Thailand: European competition to hurt Thai pickup truck export.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Thailand's Office of Commercial Affairs (OCA) in Brussels, Belgium, reported the Kingdom's 3-litre pickup exports would lose European markets, due to the generalised system of preferences...

Thailand: Don Muang Tollway increases toll rate.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Don Muang Tollway has raised its toll by Bt10, effective on April 25. Four-wheeled cars are now charged Bt30 each, up from Bt20. Trucks of six wheels or more are now charged Bt70....

Thailand: Company Reports.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - The Nation - Patum Rice Mill & Granary announced an interim dividend of Bt1.25 per share for its operations during the six months ended December 31, 2005, payable on May 23 to...

Thailand: TOT Plc's president to get paid for quitting company early.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - TOT Plc's president, Teerawit Charuwat, will receive Bt3.6 million in compensation for the premature termination of his service at the state telecommunications agency, The Nation...

Thailand: National telecoms commission to complete drafting 3G guidelines in May.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The national telecom regulator will finish the draft guidelines for awarding licences to operate third-generation (3G) broadband cellular services next month, The Nation reports. ...

Thailand: Samart to use proceeds from share sales to pay part of loan from Krung Thai Bank.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - Samart Corp Plc (Samart) plans to pay off part of its loan from Krung Thai Bank (KTB) this year with proceeds from the sale of shares in its Samart I-Mobile Plc (SIM) subsidiary, The...

Thailand: SEC identifies brokers authorised to trade on futures exchange.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Business News - The Securities and Exchange Commission said on April 25 that 19 brokerages were qualified to operate on the Thailand Futures Exchange, which opens on Friday. One outfit, Thanachart...

Thailand: SET falls sharply on April 25.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Stocks - Local stocks tumbled almost 1 per cent on April 25, with blue-chip energy shares coming under selling pressure after PTT Plc and its refinery group were reported to be studying a possible cut...

Thailand: Rise in mortgage and car loan delinquencies expected.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - More mortgage and auto loans are likely to turn into distressed assets due to rising interest rates and oil prices, according to a debt-collecting agency, The Nation reports. "The...

Thailand: Government Housing Bank raises MLR, introduces floating rate mortgage.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - A sharp drop in its first-quarter profit has prompted the Government Housing Bank (GHB) to raise its minimum lending rate (MLR) 100 basis points in one go, to 8 per cent, The Nation...

Thailand: Cabinet offers broad guidelines for improving economic and business performance.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Cabinet has approved a set of measures to cope with economic risk factors over the next eight months, following a report from the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB)...

Thailand: Asean eases pressure on Myanmar (Burma) to reform.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Regional News - The Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean) on April 25 stepped back from putting more pressure on Myanmar (Burma) and gave the ruling junta space to achieve national...

Thailand: Commentary - All should heed His Majesty the King's advise on how to end political crisis.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Commentary - The Nation - There is an end in sight to the political impasses that Thailand has been ensnared in over the past few months - if clear-minded people look hard enough for a peaceful solution...

Thailand: Tsunami warning towers project almost done.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Construction of tsunami warning towers in the southern Andaman Sea region, ravaged by the late 2004 tsunami, is mostly complete, the Bangkok Post reports. The Prime Minister's Office...

Thailand: Anti-Thaksin movement pledges to heed advise of His Majesty the King on how to end political crisis.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The Thai nation heard the clearly-expressed wishes of His Majesty the King, and both activist groups and political opposition parties are trying to respond to help the kingdom...

Thailand: All sides of political confrontation say they will heed advise of His Majesty the King on how to bring crisis to an end.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Three of Thailand's top courts will meet this week in an effort to resolve the country's political crisis after His Majesty the King said he had no mandate to interfere in the...

Thailand: opposition parties pledge to heed advise of His Majesty the King on rending political crisis.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The major opposition parties have promised to follow the advice of His Majesty the King to help put the kingdom's parliamentary crisis to an end, the Bangkok Post reports. ...

Thailand: His Majesty the King tells top courts to solve political crisis.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - His Majesty the King has refused requests to invoke Article 7 of the constitution to end the political gridlock, saying it would be inconsistent with democracy. Instead, he asked the...

Thailand: security officer injured when fire broke out at branch of Siam City Bank.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Corporate News - A fire broke out at the Siam City Bank Chidlom branch, injuring a security officer and trapping some 30 bank employees, the Bangkok Post reports. Fire fighters managed to evacuate...

Thailand: Cabinet approves Royal Decree for convening House of Representatives despite some vacant seats.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Cabinet has submitted a draft royal decree to convene the new House of Representatives to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, but with the House opening...

Thailand: Thaksin's sister tells accuser to stop making baseless charges that she is unusually rich.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Yaowapa Wongsawat, a sister of Thai Rak Thai party leader Thaksin Shinawatra, on April 25 demanded that the Democrat party refrain from making further ''groundless''...

Thailand: Anti-Thaksin movement forced to change venue of rally in Nakhon Rachasima.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - emocracy (PAD) has been forced to change the venue for its anti-Thaksin forum in Nakhon Ratchasima. The group had planned to hold a mobile Thailand Weekly talk show at the...

Thailand: Cabinet sets guidelines for dealing with impact of higher oil prices.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The cabinet on April 25 approved new economic guidelines in a fresh attempt to lessen the impact of surging oil prices, which are threatening to cripple the economy. The Employment...

Thailand: Public Health Ministry stockpiles anti-viral bird flu vaccine.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The public health ministry is preparing for a new bird flu outbreak by stockpiling anti-viral drugs and sending aid to its neighbouring countries to curb spreading of bird flu, the Bangkok...

Thailand: Conduct civil disobedience action again of Thai Rak Thai tightens grip on political power, former senators say.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - Former senators on April 25 called for another campaign of civil disobedience if the Thai Rak Thai party keeps on pushing for the ''prime minister's nominee'' to replace...

Thailand: Bangkok Provincial Election Committee accepts complainst against 3 senators-elect.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Government and Politics - The Bangkok Provincial Election Committee decided at its meeting on April 25 to accept complaints against three senators-elect and a failed senatorial candidate for further...

Thailand: Human Rights Commission to propose bill to protect rights of HIV/Aids sufferers.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The National Human Rights Commission will propose a bill to provide basic human rights protection to more than 500,000 people living with HIV/Aids. It is hoped the law will ensure fairer...

Thailand: FTA Watch continues campaign against free trade talks.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Local trade watchdog on April 25 called for constitutional changes to bilateral trade dealings when political reform is carried out to allow public participation and to prevent potential...

Thailand: Polls criticised for saying some students would consider suicide if not admitted to university of their choice.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - A poll suggesting two out of every hundred students would consider suicide if they did not win a place at their preferred higher-education institution has been slammed as unethical by...

Thailand: BMA to defray cost of skytrain route extension.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration plans to use its own money to extend three skytrain routes to suburban areas, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said on April 25. The governor...

Thailand: Thailand wants to be on UN's Human Rights Council.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Thailand is being challenged by 18 other Asian contenders for a seat on the newly-created United Nations Human Rights Council. Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon kicked off the...

Thailand: Army chief warns of suicide bombing in the South.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - Army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin has warned of possible suicide bombers terrorising the strife-torn deep South. He said that suicide bombers may infiltrate the South if the separatist...

Thailand: Court throws out ex-columnist's suit against Matichon newspaper.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: General News - The Criminal Court on April 25 rejected a libel suit filed by former Matichon columnist Wanich Jarungidanan against the paper's parent firm and others in connection with the failed...

Thailand: Commentary - Voters send Thai Rak Thai clear warnings.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Commentary - Bangkok Post - The April 23 by-elections in 40 constituencies in 17 provinces have, once again, sent a deafening and clear message to the Thai Rak Thai party - that there are still many...

Thailand: Commentary - Thailand needs to work harder to attract conventions.
April 28, 2006... (From Thai Press Reports) Section: Commentary - Bangkok Post - A look at the International Congress & Convention Association's statistics, which put Thailand well behind Singapore and Hong Kong in terms of the number of conventions they...