Thaksin ready to pour more cash into Man City
London (Agencies) - Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson confirmed his club are ready to make a splash in the transfer market after seeing his side lose 1-0 at Everton.
Eriksson was critical of a sub-par showing from his team on Saturday and confirmed that supporters can expect him to invest more of Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra's millions before the end of the month.
"I really don't want to comment but we are working to try and bring in some other players, yes," said Eriksson.
City's toothless display demonstrated why the former England manager believes fresh talent is necessary to challenge for a Champions League place.
"In the first half, Joe Hart kicked long balls 17 or 18 times and we're not good at that," complained Eriksson. In training that is forbidden yet we played different on a Saturday than we do in the week.
"Credit Everton, they were very aggressive. Our opponents know we want to try to play football and they want to prevent it.
"We want to play football as we can play football but kicking long balls and chasing second balls, we're not good at that.
"If that's how we want to play, we'll have to sell half our team and we're not going to do that."
Everton manager David Moyes admitted that the competition to finish fourth and reach the Champions League will be intense, especially with Yakubu, Steven Pienaar and Joseph Yobo away from Goodison Park for up to six weeks at the African Nations Cup.
07:45 Jan 14, 2008
Bjork repeats Bangkok assault in Auckland
Wellington (dpa) - Iceland singer-songwriter Bjork attacked a photographer, ripping his shirt in half, after he snapped her early- morning arrival at Auckland International Airport, a newspaper reported Monday.
Glenn Jeffrey, a 25-year veteran news cameraman, said that Bjork fell to the ground after attacking him when she flew in Sunday morning for an Auckland music festival, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The Herald said it was the second time the singer had attacked a journalist - the last time in 1996 after a long flight to Thailand. Bjork later apologized for the attack, which is now posted on the YouTube website.
Jeffrey said that Bjork was accompanied by a man who asked him not take photographs.
"I took a couple of pictures, and I got about three or four frames of her, ... and as I turned and walked away she came up behind me, grabbed the back of my black skivvy and tore it down the back," Jeffrey said.
"As she did this she fell over. She fell to the ground. At no stage did I touch her or speak with her."
Jeffrey said Bjork said nothing, but the man with her was saying: "B, don't do this, B, don't do this."
The paper said that Jeffrey spoke to New Zealand police about the incident, saying, "I don't see being assaulted as I'm working as a press photographer as an acceptable thing. If anybody assaults anybody, you have the right to a legal recourse, whoever they are."
05:42 Jan 14, 2008
Lee Kuan Yew defends fellow autocrat Suharto
Singapore (dpa) - Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said on Sunday that former Indonesian President Suharto is not getting the recognition he deserves.
Lee, Singapore's first prime minister, visited his "old friend" at a hospital in Jakarta. Suharto is in very critical condition after suffering multiple organ failure.
Speaking to Singapore media, Lee praised the former president for bringing progress and development to Indonesia, and stability to the region.
Suharto, 86, has been widely criticised for corruption and human rights abuses during his 32-year rule.
"I feel sad to see a very old friend with whom I had worked closely over the last 30 years, not really getting the honours that he deserves," Channel NewsAsia quoted Lee as saying. "He deserves recognition for what he did."
"The younger generations, both in Indonesia and in the world, do not remember where Indonesia started," Lee said.
Suharto gave Indonesia "progress and development. He educated the population. He built roads and infrastructure," Lee noted.
He also cited Suharto's cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). "And today, we have a stable Southeast Asia."
"Yes, there was corruption. Yes, he gave favours to his family and his friends. But there was real growth and real progress," Lee said.
Suharto was thrown out in 1998 by a violent popular uprising, triggered in part by resentment at the recession caused by the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
04:23 Jan 14, 2008
Showing posts with label Breaking News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breaking News. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Prison fugitives still hiding in Thailand
Prison fugitives still hiding in Thailand
(BangkokPost.com) – Narathiwat governor Karan Supakitwilekakarn believes the six fugitives who escaped from a prison in Narathiwat Province did not manage to slip out of the country and are still in hiding.
Mr Karan said authorities are now inspecting the homes of relatives and friends of all the suspects.
“We don’t think they’ve been able to get far. But to be on the safe side, I have already urged co-operation from Malaysian authorities in case they re-surface there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Bureau in Narathiwat Province clarified the incident, saying the fugitives did not break out from their prison cell as reported. In fact, they had been held inside a makeshift cell behind a building used to interrogate suspects.
An investigation is being carried out to determine whether prison officials had been cautious or whether they had played a part in facilitating the escape.
11:00 Jan 14, 2008
Arrest warrants to be issued for NLA protesters
(BangkokPost.com) – Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Jate Mongkolhattee is confident that arrest warrants will be issued for at least six rally-goers who stormed parliament on December 12, 2007 by the end of today.
A meeting has been scheduled Monday morning to discuss the case in which more than 400 people, led by leading activist and former senator Jon Ungphakorn, forced an abrupt adjournment of a National Legislative assembly session debating human rights legislation.
The group insisted the NLA was issuing too many laws which threatened to violate human rights and harm democracy. The bills were related to internal security, community forests, water resources management, alcohol advertising controls, broadcasting, privatization of state enterprises and autonomy of universities.
09:59 Jan 14, 2008
Yala bomb hoax causes panic
(BangkokPost.com) – Fake bombs were discovered by patrol officials on roads in Yala province’s Muang and Raman districts.
Bomb experts, who were immediately called to the scene, fired on the suspected bomb devices with M-16 rifles, only to discover later that the bombs were not genuine and were part of an ongoing operation to create a disturbance.
In a separate incident, authorities in Yala province reported arson attacks on public phone booths in Yaha district and Raman districts early this morning.
The attacks have affected several local phone lines.
09:30 Jan 14, 2008
PPP set for victory in by-elections
(BangkokPost.com) – Despite a low voter turnout of just 40 percent at the by-elections in Nakhon Ratchasima province, People Power party (PPP) members managed to sweep all three contested seats in constituency 3 of the northeastern province on Sunday.
According to unofficial results, Boonlert Krutkoontod received the highest number of votes followed by Prasert Chantarawongthong who came in third place. In at third place was Linda Chertchai. All three ran under the PPP banner.
08:47 Jan 14, 2008
(BangkokPost.com) – Narathiwat governor Karan Supakitwilekakarn believes the six fugitives who escaped from a prison in Narathiwat Province did not manage to slip out of the country and are still in hiding.
Mr Karan said authorities are now inspecting the homes of relatives and friends of all the suspects.
“We don’t think they’ve been able to get far. But to be on the safe side, I have already urged co-operation from Malaysian authorities in case they re-surface there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Bureau in Narathiwat Province clarified the incident, saying the fugitives did not break out from their prison cell as reported. In fact, they had been held inside a makeshift cell behind a building used to interrogate suspects.
An investigation is being carried out to determine whether prison officials had been cautious or whether they had played a part in facilitating the escape.
11:00 Jan 14, 2008
Arrest warrants to be issued for NLA protesters
(BangkokPost.com) – Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Jate Mongkolhattee is confident that arrest warrants will be issued for at least six rally-goers who stormed parliament on December 12, 2007 by the end of today.
A meeting has been scheduled Monday morning to discuss the case in which more than 400 people, led by leading activist and former senator Jon Ungphakorn, forced an abrupt adjournment of a National Legislative assembly session debating human rights legislation.
The group insisted the NLA was issuing too many laws which threatened to violate human rights and harm democracy. The bills were related to internal security, community forests, water resources management, alcohol advertising controls, broadcasting, privatization of state enterprises and autonomy of universities.
09:59 Jan 14, 2008
Yala bomb hoax causes panic
(BangkokPost.com) – Fake bombs were discovered by patrol officials on roads in Yala province’s Muang and Raman districts.
Bomb experts, who were immediately called to the scene, fired on the suspected bomb devices with M-16 rifles, only to discover later that the bombs were not genuine and were part of an ongoing operation to create a disturbance.
In a separate incident, authorities in Yala province reported arson attacks on public phone booths in Yaha district and Raman districts early this morning.
The attacks have affected several local phone lines.
09:30 Jan 14, 2008
PPP set for victory in by-elections
(BangkokPost.com) – Despite a low voter turnout of just 40 percent at the by-elections in Nakhon Ratchasima province, People Power party (PPP) members managed to sweep all three contested seats in constituency 3 of the northeastern province on Sunday.
According to unofficial results, Boonlert Krutkoontod received the highest number of votes followed by Prasert Chantarawongthong who came in third place. In at third place was Linda Chertchai. All three ran under the PPP banner.
08:47 Jan 14, 2008
PPP repeat win in Korat by-election
PPP repeat win in Korat by-election
People Power Party (PPP) candidates won the Sunday by-election in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, unofficial ballot counts showed.
After winning the December 23rd general election, Prasert Chanruangthong, Boonlert Khrutkhunthot and Linda Cherchai had been given yellow cards by the Election Commission on charges of electoral wrongdoing.
Voter turnout in the by-election was lower than that of the general election, which was as high as 72 percent.
The low number was attributed to the fact some factories in the constituencies did not close and many eligible voters employed in Bangkok were not able to travel home to vote.
ABAC exit polls showed Prasert winning 23.82 per cent of the vote, Boonlert 21.27 per cent and Linda 18.67 per cent.
Official poll results were yet to be announced. (TNA)
01:22 Jan 14, 2008
EC confident parliament to meet on time
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) was optimistic the first meeting of the House of Representatives would be held as stipulated by the Constitution, said EC secretary-general Suthipol Thaweechaikarn.
After EC meeting on Sunday, Mr. Suthipol told journalists the EC planned to discuss Monday the endorsing of additional four or five winning candidates in the December 23 general election.
He also expressed confidence the EC would be able to endorse at least 95 per cent of the total 480 members of parliament, which would be sufficient for the first session of the House of Representatives or the Lower House to take place.
According to the Constitution, the first meeting of the House of Representatives must be held within 30 days after a general election, with a minimum of 95 per cent of elected MPs attending the first session.
Mr. Suthipol’s assurance was made following Sunday’s issuance of a yellow card to a winning elected MP in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum who was a member of the People Power Party, on charges of handing out VCDs containing a speech by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as well as money to eligible voters.
A by-election in Chaiyaphum’s Constituency 2 would be held on January 17, said Mr. Suthipol.
The EC also agreed to issue yellow cards to two winning candidates of the Puea Pandin Party in Nakhon Ratchasima province’s Constituency 6, on charges of giving promises of money to eligible voters during the run-up to the December 23 general election, said Mr. Suthipol.
He added a date for the by-election in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Constituency 6 was yet to be decided on. (TNA)
00:57 Jan 14, 2008
Four injured children remain in hospital
Four out of the 28 children who suffered injuries after a theme park ride collapsed at Siam Park on Children’s Day remained in hospital for treatment, doctors said on Sunday.
Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin this morning visited all four injured children at hospital and ordered a 15- day closure of the Super Spiral waterslide at Siam Park so thorough checks could be made on it as well as other rides.
The accident occurred when a joint on the park's premier ride, the Super Spiral waterslide, came loose and sent the children plunging from the ride onto the ground.
Doctors at Nopparat Hospital, near Siam Park, said they expected three of the four boys now receiving treatment at the hospital would be discharged within the next one or two days. The fourth boy, aged 13, was still in critical condition with a head injury and vomiting.
Most of the 28 children suffered head injuries. Some also had broken limbs and bruises.
Chantra Purnariksha, secretary-general of the Office of Insurance Regulatory and Supervision Commission, said Siam Park was insured with a local insurance firm and children who had suffered serious injuries would be entitled to receive 500,000 baht each as compensation.
A similar accident occurred at Siam Park last October. The amusement park hit headlines when the Indiana Log ride malfunctioned, killing a 35 year old woman died and seriously injuring five others. (TNA)
19:35 Jan 13, 2008
People Power Party (PPP) candidates won the Sunday by-election in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, unofficial ballot counts showed.
After winning the December 23rd general election, Prasert Chanruangthong, Boonlert Khrutkhunthot and Linda Cherchai had been given yellow cards by the Election Commission on charges of electoral wrongdoing.
Voter turnout in the by-election was lower than that of the general election, which was as high as 72 percent.
The low number was attributed to the fact some factories in the constituencies did not close and many eligible voters employed in Bangkok were not able to travel home to vote.
ABAC exit polls showed Prasert winning 23.82 per cent of the vote, Boonlert 21.27 per cent and Linda 18.67 per cent.
Official poll results were yet to be announced. (TNA)
01:22 Jan 14, 2008
EC confident parliament to meet on time
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) was optimistic the first meeting of the House of Representatives would be held as stipulated by the Constitution, said EC secretary-general Suthipol Thaweechaikarn.
After EC meeting on Sunday, Mr. Suthipol told journalists the EC planned to discuss Monday the endorsing of additional four or five winning candidates in the December 23 general election.
He also expressed confidence the EC would be able to endorse at least 95 per cent of the total 480 members of parliament, which would be sufficient for the first session of the House of Representatives or the Lower House to take place.
According to the Constitution, the first meeting of the House of Representatives must be held within 30 days after a general election, with a minimum of 95 per cent of elected MPs attending the first session.
Mr. Suthipol’s assurance was made following Sunday’s issuance of a yellow card to a winning elected MP in the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum who was a member of the People Power Party, on charges of handing out VCDs containing a speech by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as well as money to eligible voters.
A by-election in Chaiyaphum’s Constituency 2 would be held on January 17, said Mr. Suthipol.
The EC also agreed to issue yellow cards to two winning candidates of the Puea Pandin Party in Nakhon Ratchasima province’s Constituency 6, on charges of giving promises of money to eligible voters during the run-up to the December 23 general election, said Mr. Suthipol.
He added a date for the by-election in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Constituency 6 was yet to be decided on. (TNA)
00:57 Jan 14, 2008
Four injured children remain in hospital
Four out of the 28 children who suffered injuries after a theme park ride collapsed at Siam Park on Children’s Day remained in hospital for treatment, doctors said on Sunday.
Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin this morning visited all four injured children at hospital and ordered a 15- day closure of the Super Spiral waterslide at Siam Park so thorough checks could be made on it as well as other rides.
The accident occurred when a joint on the park's premier ride, the Super Spiral waterslide, came loose and sent the children plunging from the ride onto the ground.
Doctors at Nopparat Hospital, near Siam Park, said they expected three of the four boys now receiving treatment at the hospital would be discharged within the next one or two days. The fourth boy, aged 13, was still in critical condition with a head injury and vomiting.
Most of the 28 children suffered head injuries. Some also had broken limbs and bruises.
Chantra Purnariksha, secretary-general of the Office of Insurance Regulatory and Supervision Commission, said Siam Park was insured with a local insurance firm and children who had suffered serious injuries would be entitled to receive 500,000 baht each as compensation.
A similar accident occurred at Siam Park last October. The amusement park hit headlines when the Indiana Log ride malfunctioned, killing a 35 year old woman died and seriously injuring five others. (TNA)
19:35 Jan 13, 2008
Korat by-election smooth and legal
Korat by-election smooth and legal
No electoral fraud had been found so far in a by-election being held Sunday in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima - also known as Korat - said Gen Viravudh Songsai, chief of the province’s Election Commission (EC) office.
Gen Viravudh added unofficial results were expected to be known at around 9 pm.
Speaking to journalists while inspecting an election booth in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Constituency 3, Gen Viravudh said he was satisfied with overall operation of Sunday by-election although the voter turn out was expected to be lower than that of Dec 23 general election.
Only a few people were seen drinking alcohol and police would take action against them, said Gen Viravudh.
He said he was optimistic winners in the general election who were disqualified by the EC would not commit the same mistake again, because more severe punishment would be imposed if they were caught again.
The by-election was being held after the EC handed yellow cards to three People Power Party winners in Nakhon Ratchasima, after they were charged of paying people to attend a political rally in a district of the province during the run-up to the Dec 23 general election. (TNA)
17:18 Jan 13, 2008
New cold front will see frost on mountain tops
A new cold spell from China is expected to hit Thailand on Monday, causing temperatures to drop while downpours are also anticipated in the Northeast.
While temperature in the northeastern region is expected to decline, the Central region including Bangkok and eastern region are forecast to experience heavy fog in some areas. Motorists have been warned to take extra caution.
In the North, the temperature atop mountains is expected to drop to 2 degrees Celsius and frost is likely on the higher slopes in the region.
Heavy fog will be seen early in the morning in Central and Eastern parts while isolated thundershowers are expected in provinces along the Andaman coast. Waves in the Andaman Sea are projected to be as high as one metre.
In Bangkok and surrounding areas, heavy fog is expected in some areas with minimum temperature forecast at 22 degrees Celsius and maximum 34 degrees Celsius. (TNA)
16:24 Jan 13, 2008
Surapong denies negotiating PM seat with CNS
(BangkokPost.com) – The secretary-general of the People Power party (PPP) has rejected claims that he is in negotiations with the Council for National Security (CNS) for the prime ministerial seat.
Dr Surapong Suebwonglee dismissed rumours that he is in talks to replace PPP leader Samak Sundaravej as the new prime minister.
“No matter what, the leader of any party that is heading the new government should be the prime minister,” he insisted.
He also stressed that the PPP has, for the time being, halted all political activity to mourn the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.
“We will be ready to resume discussion on the formation of a new government by next week,” he said.
14:58 Jan 13, 2008
No electoral fraud had been found so far in a by-election being held Sunday in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima - also known as Korat - said Gen Viravudh Songsai, chief of the province’s Election Commission (EC) office.
Gen Viravudh added unofficial results were expected to be known at around 9 pm.
Speaking to journalists while inspecting an election booth in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Constituency 3, Gen Viravudh said he was satisfied with overall operation of Sunday by-election although the voter turn out was expected to be lower than that of Dec 23 general election.
Only a few people were seen drinking alcohol and police would take action against them, said Gen Viravudh.
He said he was optimistic winners in the general election who were disqualified by the EC would not commit the same mistake again, because more severe punishment would be imposed if they were caught again.
The by-election was being held after the EC handed yellow cards to three People Power Party winners in Nakhon Ratchasima, after they were charged of paying people to attend a political rally in a district of the province during the run-up to the Dec 23 general election. (TNA)
17:18 Jan 13, 2008
New cold front will see frost on mountain tops
A new cold spell from China is expected to hit Thailand on Monday, causing temperatures to drop while downpours are also anticipated in the Northeast.
While temperature in the northeastern region is expected to decline, the Central region including Bangkok and eastern region are forecast to experience heavy fog in some areas. Motorists have been warned to take extra caution.
In the North, the temperature atop mountains is expected to drop to 2 degrees Celsius and frost is likely on the higher slopes in the region.
Heavy fog will be seen early in the morning in Central and Eastern parts while isolated thundershowers are expected in provinces along the Andaman coast. Waves in the Andaman Sea are projected to be as high as one metre.
In Bangkok and surrounding areas, heavy fog is expected in some areas with minimum temperature forecast at 22 degrees Celsius and maximum 34 degrees Celsius. (TNA)
16:24 Jan 13, 2008
Surapong denies negotiating PM seat with CNS
(BangkokPost.com) – The secretary-general of the People Power party (PPP) has rejected claims that he is in negotiations with the Council for National Security (CNS) for the prime ministerial seat.
Dr Surapong Suebwonglee dismissed rumours that he is in talks to replace PPP leader Samak Sundaravej as the new prime minister.
“No matter what, the leader of any party that is heading the new government should be the prime minister,” he insisted.
He also stressed that the PPP has, for the time being, halted all political activity to mourn the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.
“We will be ready to resume discussion on the formation of a new government by next week,” he said.
14:58 Jan 13, 2008
Man United pound Newcastle, go to top
Man United pound Newcastle, go to top
NOTE : For full Premier League coverage, be sure to read our SportsPLUS section near the bottom of the front page of BangkokPost.com.Click here for Premiership Roundup.
London (dpa) - Christiano Roanldo's first hat-trick for Manchester Utd football club saw the champions overtake Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League Saturday with an imperious 6-0 win over managerless Newcastle Utd at Old Trafford.
The champions took advantage of Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Birmingham and they now lead their rivals on goal difference with both sides on 51 points. Chelsea closed the gap on the leaders to four points points with a 2-0 win at home to Tottenham while Liverpool head the following pack with Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City all equal on 39 points.
Newcastle started the match at Old Trafford promisingly, playing noticeably more attractive football than under former manager Sam Allardyce. After an even first half, the visitors felt themselves unlucky not to be leading after a Michael Owen goal was wrongly ruled out for offside.
But Manchester Utd started the second half in an altogether different mood. They pounded Newcastle with incessant attacks and took the lead within 5 minutes after Ronaldo's free kick was struck low and hard under the defensive wall. Carlos Tevez doubled the lead after an horrendous mix-up in the Newcastle defence as goalkeeper Shay Given's clearance was struck directly at the Brazilian defender Cacapa.
03:53 Jan 13, 2008
Japan offers to Mekong neighbours
Tokyo (Agencies) - Japan will provide a combined six billion yen (about 2 billion baht) in aid to four nations in the Mekong River region to fund various projects, including highway construction, Kyodo News reported on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will pledge the financial assistance to Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam at a meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday, Kyodo said.
The Tokyo meeting, the first of its kind, brings together Komura's counterparts from those nations plus Thailand, it said.
Among the aid-covered items will be a project to build two highways linking Vietnam, Thailand and Burma that are termed the 'Indochina East-West Economic Corridors,' Kyodo said.
Japan wants to place emphasis on funneling its foreign aid resources into the Mekong region, whose economic development has lagged behind other Southeast Asian regions, it said.
Komura will hold bilateral talks with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on Wednesday and with Burma and Thailand on Thursday, it added.
18:58 Jan 12, 2008
PM urges unity among youth
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has urged children and youth to practice his motto of "Unity, discipline, be eager to learn and promote virtue" given on Children's Day (Saturday January 12) in their daily lives.
Gen Surayud said while presiding over the opening of Children's Day at the Education Ministry that his motto, if practiced, would bring happiness and success to children.
He also urged parents and guardians of children to look after them so that they could become a strong assets of the country in the future.
A variety of learning activities were held at the Ministry of Education, including events to honour the late princess Galyani Vadhana, elder sister of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and allowing children to visit the education minister's office. (TNA)
16:43 Jan 12, 2008
NOTE : For full Premier League coverage, be sure to read our SportsPLUS section near the bottom of the front page of BangkokPost.com.Click here for Premiership Roundup.
London (dpa) - Christiano Roanldo's first hat-trick for Manchester Utd football club saw the champions overtake Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League Saturday with an imperious 6-0 win over managerless Newcastle Utd at Old Trafford.
The champions took advantage of Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Birmingham and they now lead their rivals on goal difference with both sides on 51 points. Chelsea closed the gap on the leaders to four points points with a 2-0 win at home to Tottenham while Liverpool head the following pack with Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City all equal on 39 points.
Newcastle started the match at Old Trafford promisingly, playing noticeably more attractive football than under former manager Sam Allardyce. After an even first half, the visitors felt themselves unlucky not to be leading after a Michael Owen goal was wrongly ruled out for offside.
But Manchester Utd started the second half in an altogether different mood. They pounded Newcastle with incessant attacks and took the lead within 5 minutes after Ronaldo's free kick was struck low and hard under the defensive wall. Carlos Tevez doubled the lead after an horrendous mix-up in the Newcastle defence as goalkeeper Shay Given's clearance was struck directly at the Brazilian defender Cacapa.
03:53 Jan 13, 2008
Japan offers to Mekong neighbours
Tokyo (Agencies) - Japan will provide a combined six billion yen (about 2 billion baht) in aid to four nations in the Mekong River region to fund various projects, including highway construction, Kyodo News reported on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will pledge the financial assistance to Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam at a meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday, Kyodo said.
The Tokyo meeting, the first of its kind, brings together Komura's counterparts from those nations plus Thailand, it said.
Among the aid-covered items will be a project to build two highways linking Vietnam, Thailand and Burma that are termed the 'Indochina East-West Economic Corridors,' Kyodo said.
Japan wants to place emphasis on funneling its foreign aid resources into the Mekong region, whose economic development has lagged behind other Southeast Asian regions, it said.
Komura will hold bilateral talks with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on Wednesday and with Burma and Thailand on Thursday, it added.
18:58 Jan 12, 2008
PM urges unity among youth
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has urged children and youth to practice his motto of "Unity, discipline, be eager to learn and promote virtue" given on Children's Day (Saturday January 12) in their daily lives.
Gen Surayud said while presiding over the opening of Children's Day at the Education Ministry that his motto, if practiced, would bring happiness and success to children.
He also urged parents and guardians of children to look after them so that they could become a strong assets of the country in the future.
A variety of learning activities were held at the Ministry of Education, including events to honour the late princess Galyani Vadhana, elder sister of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and allowing children to visit the education minister's office. (TNA)
16:43 Jan 12, 2008
Faulty Siam Park ride closed indefinitely
Faulty Siam Park ride closed indefinitely
(BangkokPost.com) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered the closure of the Super Spiral water slide until further notice.
The Siam Park slide which broke loose on Saturday resulted in several children being tossed off the ride.
Deputy Bangkok governor Wallop Suwandee said the BMA’s engineering team are now tasked with inspecting the Super Spiral as well as the safety of the 29 other rides at the amusement park.
It is preparing to press charges against owners of Siam Park for failing to ensure the safety of patrons.
This is the second time in less than four months that the theme park had experienced significant safety failures. In October, staff error led to the death of a woman on one of the rides.
Latest reports stated that the number of injuries from Saturday’s accident stood at 24, the most serious of the injuries being head injuries.
09:16 Jan 13, 2008
KMT win may improve Taiwan-China ties
Taipei (dpa) - Taiwan press on Sunday hailed the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party's win in parliamentary elections as the dawn of strong Taiwan-China ties.
In its editorial, the United Daily News said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must punish President Chen Shui-bian, hinting that Chen's poor performance in his two four-year terms as Taiwan's president had caused the party's election setback.
Two business dailies - the Commercial Times and Economic Daily News - said a rally is expected when trading starts on Monday, and China-related shares are expected to surge in anticipation of Taiwan's opening direct sea and air links with China.
In the parliament elections on Saturday, Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), swept 81 seats in the 113-seat parliament, while the ruling party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) got only 27, dashing President Chen's wish for 50 seats.
Chen resigned as DPP party chairman Saturday night, shouldering responsibility for a defeat he admitted was the party's biggest since its founding in 1986.
The KMT was the ruling party in China from 1912 until 1949, when it lost the Civil War in China and fled to Taiwan to set up a government-in-exile.
It ruled Taiwan with an iron fist until 2000 when the Taiwan native DPP won the presidential election and Chen became president.
Chen's rejection of Beijing's "one China" policy and his campaign to erase China's legacy in Taiwan has raised tension in the Taiwan Strait.
The KMT has adopted a softer stance towards China, saying Taipei and Beijing should put aside hostility and focus on economic integration and people-to-people exchanges.
Now that KMT has regained power, it must go all out to win the March 22 presidential polls. Public opinion polls have shown that KMT's presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou leads his DPP rival Frank Hsien by about 10 per cent.
08:17 Jan 13, 2008
Body of slain man returned to Canada
The body of a Canadian man shot and killed in Thailand has been returned to his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, and the Canadian media reports that the family is still looking for answers.
Leo John Del Pinto, 24, died after being shot in the face and chest on Jan 6, and his female friend was wounded in Pai district town of Mai Hong Son province. Carly Reisig, 24, was recovering from a gunshot wound near her heart at the Pai hospital.
Family lawyer Adriano Iovinelli is worried that Del Pinto will become "just another Canadian killed abroad," according to a story by The Canadian Press news agency.
He says the Department of Foreign Affairs has done little to find out what happened.
But Iovinelli says he understands there is a Canadian representative on the ground in Thailand looking into the matter.
An autopsy on Del Pinto will be conducted Monday, and the family is hoping for a funeral late next week.
The shooter has been identified as an off-duty police officer, Pol Sgt Uthai Dechawiwat. He was not in uniform, and has told detectives the shooting was an accident.
He was subsequently charged with premeditated murder and released on bail, said police Col Sombat Panya.
Reisig told reporters she and Del Pinto had left a bar in Pai when a Thai man approached them and "hit me for no reason." Del Pinto pushed the man away, and he went to his nearby motorbike and returned with a gun.
Del Pinto tried to gain control of the handgun, but the Thai man shot him in the face and again in the body after the Canadian fell to the ground. The man then turned to Reisig and fired a shot at her chest.
05:29 Jan 13, 2008
(BangkokPost.com) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered the closure of the Super Spiral water slide until further notice.
The Siam Park slide which broke loose on Saturday resulted in several children being tossed off the ride.
Deputy Bangkok governor Wallop Suwandee said the BMA’s engineering team are now tasked with inspecting the Super Spiral as well as the safety of the 29 other rides at the amusement park.
It is preparing to press charges against owners of Siam Park for failing to ensure the safety of patrons.
This is the second time in less than four months that the theme park had experienced significant safety failures. In October, staff error led to the death of a woman on one of the rides.
Latest reports stated that the number of injuries from Saturday’s accident stood at 24, the most serious of the injuries being head injuries.
09:16 Jan 13, 2008
KMT win may improve Taiwan-China ties
Taipei (dpa) - Taiwan press on Sunday hailed the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party's win in parliamentary elections as the dawn of strong Taiwan-China ties.
In its editorial, the United Daily News said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must punish President Chen Shui-bian, hinting that Chen's poor performance in his two four-year terms as Taiwan's president had caused the party's election setback.
Two business dailies - the Commercial Times and Economic Daily News - said a rally is expected when trading starts on Monday, and China-related shares are expected to surge in anticipation of Taiwan's opening direct sea and air links with China.
In the parliament elections on Saturday, Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), swept 81 seats in the 113-seat parliament, while the ruling party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) got only 27, dashing President Chen's wish for 50 seats.
Chen resigned as DPP party chairman Saturday night, shouldering responsibility for a defeat he admitted was the party's biggest since its founding in 1986.
The KMT was the ruling party in China from 1912 until 1949, when it lost the Civil War in China and fled to Taiwan to set up a government-in-exile.
It ruled Taiwan with an iron fist until 2000 when the Taiwan native DPP won the presidential election and Chen became president.
Chen's rejection of Beijing's "one China" policy and his campaign to erase China's legacy in Taiwan has raised tension in the Taiwan Strait.
The KMT has adopted a softer stance towards China, saying Taipei and Beijing should put aside hostility and focus on economic integration and people-to-people exchanges.
Now that KMT has regained power, it must go all out to win the March 22 presidential polls. Public opinion polls have shown that KMT's presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou leads his DPP rival Frank Hsien by about 10 per cent.
08:17 Jan 13, 2008
Body of slain man returned to Canada
The body of a Canadian man shot and killed in Thailand has been returned to his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, and the Canadian media reports that the family is still looking for answers.
Leo John Del Pinto, 24, died after being shot in the face and chest on Jan 6, and his female friend was wounded in Pai district town of Mai Hong Son province. Carly Reisig, 24, was recovering from a gunshot wound near her heart at the Pai hospital.
Family lawyer Adriano Iovinelli is worried that Del Pinto will become "just another Canadian killed abroad," according to a story by The Canadian Press news agency.
He says the Department of Foreign Affairs has done little to find out what happened.
But Iovinelli says he understands there is a Canadian representative on the ground in Thailand looking into the matter.
An autopsy on Del Pinto will be conducted Monday, and the family is hoping for a funeral late next week.
The shooter has been identified as an off-duty police officer, Pol Sgt Uthai Dechawiwat. He was not in uniform, and has told detectives the shooting was an accident.
He was subsequently charged with premeditated murder and released on bail, said police Col Sombat Panya.
Reisig told reporters she and Del Pinto had left a bar in Pai when a Thai man approached them and "hit me for no reason." Del Pinto pushed the man away, and he went to his nearby motorbike and returned with a gun.
Del Pinto tried to gain control of the handgun, but the Thai man shot him in the face and again in the body after the Canadian fell to the ground. The man then turned to Reisig and fired a shot at her chest.
05:29 Jan 13, 2008
EC yellow-cards three PPP winners in Prae
EC yellow-cards three PPP winners in Prae
(BangkokPost.com) – The Election Commission has raised the ire of the People’s Network for Elections (P-Net) by yellow-carding three more People Power party (PPP) winners.
The latest yellow cards were given to PPP candidates who contested in constituency 1 of Prae province. They include Worawat Ua-apinyakul, Niyom Wiwatjitkul and Panhathai Serirak.
P-Net official Somchai Srisutthiyakorn urged the EC to think carefully before issuing red and yellow cards in the future and hinted that favouritism played a large part in the EC’s decision-making.
“Several times we have seen that yellow and red cards were intentionally given to a group of people or individuals, therefore, prejudice is still a major problem within the EC. Another problem is the internal bickering amongst Election Commissioners which could result in people losing respect in the agency altogether,” he warned.
13:33 Jan 14, 2008
Bus operators to request fare hike
(BangkokPost.com) – The Bus Operators Association of Thailand will request permission from the Transport Ministry to raise bus fares again due to the impact of rising global oil prices.
The association’s President, Suchinda Cherdchai is preparing to lead fellow members to meet with Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um this morning. The Land Transport Department had already granted a fare hike of 3 satang per kilometre in October 2007 but bus operators say this is not enough.
“There is a strong chance that the price of diesel will further increase and could push past the 30 baht per litre mark,” he said.
“We would like authorities involved to consider granting bus operators another fare hike. This time, we will most probably propose a hike of more than 3 satang per kilometer.”
12:30 Jan 14, 2008
Respect often outranks pay as motivator in Asia
Singapore (dpa) - Respect from the boss outranks basic pay as a motivator for getting employees in major Asian economies to do their best, a poll said on Monday.
Carried out by consulting firm Mercer, the findings showed employees in China and India viewed respect over pay.
The type of work emerged as the top factor in India, with employees putting opportunities for personal growth, promotion prospects and long-term career potential before reimbursement.
Base pay was only marginally ahead of respect in Singapore and South Korea, the poll said, but found it paramount among the Japanese.
"Generally speaking, Asian employees want respect in the workplace," said Rajan Srikanth, Mercer Asia-Pacific's head of human capital.
If employers "become better listeners, showing employees that they are valued and that their role in the success of the business is crucial, they could be offering the employee a value proposition that cannot be easily refused," Srikanth said.
12:22 Jan 14, 2008
(BangkokPost.com) – The Election Commission has raised the ire of the People’s Network for Elections (P-Net) by yellow-carding three more People Power party (PPP) winners.
The latest yellow cards were given to PPP candidates who contested in constituency 1 of Prae province. They include Worawat Ua-apinyakul, Niyom Wiwatjitkul and Panhathai Serirak.
P-Net official Somchai Srisutthiyakorn urged the EC to think carefully before issuing red and yellow cards in the future and hinted that favouritism played a large part in the EC’s decision-making.
“Several times we have seen that yellow and red cards were intentionally given to a group of people or individuals, therefore, prejudice is still a major problem within the EC. Another problem is the internal bickering amongst Election Commissioners which could result in people losing respect in the agency altogether,” he warned.
13:33 Jan 14, 2008
Bus operators to request fare hike
(BangkokPost.com) – The Bus Operators Association of Thailand will request permission from the Transport Ministry to raise bus fares again due to the impact of rising global oil prices.
The association’s President, Suchinda Cherdchai is preparing to lead fellow members to meet with Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um this morning. The Land Transport Department had already granted a fare hike of 3 satang per kilometre in October 2007 but bus operators say this is not enough.
“There is a strong chance that the price of diesel will further increase and could push past the 30 baht per litre mark,” he said.
“We would like authorities involved to consider granting bus operators another fare hike. This time, we will most probably propose a hike of more than 3 satang per kilometer.”
12:30 Jan 14, 2008
Respect often outranks pay as motivator in Asia
Singapore (dpa) - Respect from the boss outranks basic pay as a motivator for getting employees in major Asian economies to do their best, a poll said on Monday.
Carried out by consulting firm Mercer, the findings showed employees in China and India viewed respect over pay.
The type of work emerged as the top factor in India, with employees putting opportunities for personal growth, promotion prospects and long-term career potential before reimbursement.
Base pay was only marginally ahead of respect in Singapore and South Korea, the poll said, but found it paramount among the Japanese.
"Generally speaking, Asian employees want respect in the workplace," said Rajan Srikanth, Mercer Asia-Pacific's head of human capital.
If employers "become better listeners, showing employees that they are valued and that their role in the success of the business is crucial, they could be offering the employee a value proposition that cannot be easily refused," Srikanth said.
12:22 Jan 14, 2008
Tammy in, Danai out of Australian Open
Tammy in, Danai out of Australian Open
Melbourne - One familiar Thai player has qualified for the Australian Open beginning on Monday, but the country's top men's player failed to get through.
Tamarine Tanasugarn, who has participated in many Grand Slams including in Melbourne, defeated Shuai Zhang of China in a lengthy match.
Tammy dropped the first set 3-6, then won the next two in a row by the same score, 6-3, 6-3.
Tammy will face No 19 seed Sybille Bammer of Austria in her first match, probably on Tuesday.
Danai Udomchoke lost his bid to Rajeev Ram of the US.
Danai took the first match in a tie-breaker, by 7-1. But Ram stepped it up and beat Danai in the next two sets, 7-5, 6-2 and left the Thai without an Open entry.
14:03 Jan 13, 2008
EC hands out more yellow cards
(BangkokPost.com) – The Election Commission (EC) has handed out three more yellow cards on Sunday, according to Election Commissioner Sumet Upanisakorn.
Speaking after an EC session held to deliberate on red and yellow card issues, the EC confirmed the distribution of three more yellow cards today.
The first was given to Surawit Konsomboon, winner in constituency 2 of Chaiyuphum province for the People Power party.
Two other yellow cards were given to Puea Pandin party winners Polpee Suwanchewee and Meechai Chitpipat in constituency 6 of Nakhon Ratchasima province.
By-elections are set to be held in these constituencies.
13:45 Jan 13, 2008
Police on alert after Narathiwat jailbreak
(BangkokPost.com) – Six prison inmates from a prison in Nawarathiwat province have broken free from their cell in Muang district, according to local officials.
More than 200 police officers are now desperately trying to hunt them down. The fugitives were placed behind bars for their involvement in setting off bomb explosions in Joh Airong district.
Narathiwat police have corresponded with border patrol police and warned them to beef up security along border areas to prevent them from escaping to a neighbouring country.
11:34 Jan 13, 2008
Nakhon Ratchasima by-election in full swing
(BangkokPost.com) – New elections in Nakhon Ratchasima province in constituency 3 got off on a high note on Sunday morning with many voters packing polling stations.
The Election Commission (EC) ordered another round of polls in the northeastern province after three People Power party (PPP) candidates were given yellow cards for electoral fraud in the Dec 23 general election.
Prior to the polls, Nakhon Ratchasima’s EC chairman Gen Weerawut Songsai, who oversaw the setting up of ballot boxes and ballot cards, expressed optimism that voter turnout will be high.
“I expect voter turnout to fall just short of the 70 per cent target,” he said.
10:35 Jan 13, 2008
Melbourne - One familiar Thai player has qualified for the Australian Open beginning on Monday, but the country's top men's player failed to get through.
Tamarine Tanasugarn, who has participated in many Grand Slams including in Melbourne, defeated Shuai Zhang of China in a lengthy match.
Tammy dropped the first set 3-6, then won the next two in a row by the same score, 6-3, 6-3.
Tammy will face No 19 seed Sybille Bammer of Austria in her first match, probably on Tuesday.
Danai Udomchoke lost his bid to Rajeev Ram of the US.
Danai took the first match in a tie-breaker, by 7-1. But Ram stepped it up and beat Danai in the next two sets, 7-5, 6-2 and left the Thai without an Open entry.
14:03 Jan 13, 2008
EC hands out more yellow cards
(BangkokPost.com) – The Election Commission (EC) has handed out three more yellow cards on Sunday, according to Election Commissioner Sumet Upanisakorn.
Speaking after an EC session held to deliberate on red and yellow card issues, the EC confirmed the distribution of three more yellow cards today.
The first was given to Surawit Konsomboon, winner in constituency 2 of Chaiyuphum province for the People Power party.
Two other yellow cards were given to Puea Pandin party winners Polpee Suwanchewee and Meechai Chitpipat in constituency 6 of Nakhon Ratchasima province.
By-elections are set to be held in these constituencies.
13:45 Jan 13, 2008
Police on alert after Narathiwat jailbreak
(BangkokPost.com) – Six prison inmates from a prison in Nawarathiwat province have broken free from their cell in Muang district, according to local officials.
More than 200 police officers are now desperately trying to hunt them down. The fugitives were placed behind bars for their involvement in setting off bomb explosions in Joh Airong district.
Narathiwat police have corresponded with border patrol police and warned them to beef up security along border areas to prevent them from escaping to a neighbouring country.
11:34 Jan 13, 2008
Nakhon Ratchasima by-election in full swing
(BangkokPost.com) – New elections in Nakhon Ratchasima province in constituency 3 got off on a high note on Sunday morning with many voters packing polling stations.
The Election Commission (EC) ordered another round of polls in the northeastern province after three People Power party (PPP) candidates were given yellow cards for electoral fraud in the Dec 23 general election.
Prior to the polls, Nakhon Ratchasima’s EC chairman Gen Weerawut Songsai, who oversaw the setting up of ballot boxes and ballot cards, expressed optimism that voter turnout will be high.
“I expect voter turnout to fall just short of the 70 per cent target,” he said.
10:35 Jan 13, 2008
Bomb kills policeman at ex-MP's home
Bomb kills policeman at ex-MP's home
Nakhon Ratchasima (TNA) - Police on Monday said they were considering possible personal conflicts as a motive behind an explosion Sunday explosion near a rented home of former Thai Rak Thai Party MP Suporn Atthawong.
Police also included political conflict as a possible motive of the incident in Soeng Sang District on Sunday night killing a victim who was later identified as Pol Sgt Maj Damnern Maesoong, 48. He was attached to Soong-nern police station in this northeastern province.
Police also found a 9mm pistol, belonging to the victim, at the scene of the explosion.
Nakhon Ratchasima deputy police commander, Pol Col Pongdej Prommijit, said Mr Suporn rented the house near the bombing site for his subordinates. He himself has never stayed at the house.
Mr Suporn narrowly escaped a shooting against him at his resdience in Kornburi District on July 1 last year, Pol Col Pongdej said, adding that police were finding out the objectives of Mr Suporn's presence in Soeng Sang District. Mr Suporn was a member of the banned TRT Party and did not run the Dec 23 general election.
Officials who conducted a preliminary investigation at the site of the explosion speculated that Pol Sgt Maj Damnern might have accidently triggered the bomb which he was carrying, said Pol Col Pongdej,
Pol Col Pongdej and another senior police officer on Monday interrogated Mr Suporn, his family members and subordinates at the latter's residence in Kornburi District.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, in his capacity as interior minister, said he has received an initial report of possible political violences in light of upcoming by-elections in several provinces but he would not pinpoint if the violences, if any, would be politically-related.
He said he had instructed the national police chief to be more alert for possible violence.
19:03 Jan 14, 2008
Baht hits new 10-year high against dollar
The baht currency appreciated to 33.13 to the US dollar on Monday, its strongest showing in 10 years against a continuously weakening greenback.
Currency dealers at Bank of Ayudhya predicted that the baht would further strengthen to 33 to the dollar soon. The US dollar is weaker because of concerns about a US economic slowdown.
The latest US trade figures showed that in November the country experienced a trade deficit of US$6.3 billion, the highest in 14 months, since imports, particularly of fuel, had increased.
At the same time, the country's exports edged up by 0.4 per cent, hitting a record one-month high boosted by the weaker US dollar.
Meanwhile, the Stock Exchange of Thailand's composite index continued to drop in the morning trading
session in the same direction with other regional markets.
It opened lower and fell below a support level of 790 points, but recouped its loss and closed at 791.30, down 5.17 or 0.65 per cent, with a thin trading volume of 4.95 billion baht. (TNA)
15:14 Jan 14, 2008
Army Chief denies hand in political issues
(BangkokPost.com) – Gen Anupong Paochinda has distanced himself from politics, affirming that he has no intention of interfering with matters at the Defence Ministry.
The Army Commander was responding to reports that he would soon be responsible for naming a new Defence Minister and that he was already backing former Army Commander Gen Prawit Wongsuwan as the front-runner to win the Defence portfolio.
“Politicians should be responsible for these issues. It wouldn’t be in my place to interfere. Before any new appointments are made, however, I really think there should first be political stability in the country. Having said that, Gen Prawit is a very capable soldier and he is a well-respected military figure.”
He also denied claims about his alleged role as mediator between Mrs Potjamarn Shinawatra, wife of ousted premier Thaksin and the government.
“I never met with Mrs Potjaman nor have I volunteered to act as mediator between her and the government,” Gen Anupong insisted.
15:13 Jan 14, 2008
Nakhon Ratchasima (TNA) - Police on Monday said they were considering possible personal conflicts as a motive behind an explosion Sunday explosion near a rented home of former Thai Rak Thai Party MP Suporn Atthawong.
Police also included political conflict as a possible motive of the incident in Soeng Sang District on Sunday night killing a victim who was later identified as Pol Sgt Maj Damnern Maesoong, 48. He was attached to Soong-nern police station in this northeastern province.
Police also found a 9mm pistol, belonging to the victim, at the scene of the explosion.
Nakhon Ratchasima deputy police commander, Pol Col Pongdej Prommijit, said Mr Suporn rented the house near the bombing site for his subordinates. He himself has never stayed at the house.
Mr Suporn narrowly escaped a shooting against him at his resdience in Kornburi District on July 1 last year, Pol Col Pongdej said, adding that police were finding out the objectives of Mr Suporn's presence in Soeng Sang District. Mr Suporn was a member of the banned TRT Party and did not run the Dec 23 general election.
Officials who conducted a preliminary investigation at the site of the explosion speculated that Pol Sgt Maj Damnern might have accidently triggered the bomb which he was carrying, said Pol Col Pongdej,
Pol Col Pongdej and another senior police officer on Monday interrogated Mr Suporn, his family members and subordinates at the latter's residence in Kornburi District.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, in his capacity as interior minister, said he has received an initial report of possible political violences in light of upcoming by-elections in several provinces but he would not pinpoint if the violences, if any, would be politically-related.
He said he had instructed the national police chief to be more alert for possible violence.
19:03 Jan 14, 2008
Baht hits new 10-year high against dollar
The baht currency appreciated to 33.13 to the US dollar on Monday, its strongest showing in 10 years against a continuously weakening greenback.
Currency dealers at Bank of Ayudhya predicted that the baht would further strengthen to 33 to the dollar soon. The US dollar is weaker because of concerns about a US economic slowdown.
The latest US trade figures showed that in November the country experienced a trade deficit of US$6.3 billion, the highest in 14 months, since imports, particularly of fuel, had increased.
At the same time, the country's exports edged up by 0.4 per cent, hitting a record one-month high boosted by the weaker US dollar.
Meanwhile, the Stock Exchange of Thailand's composite index continued to drop in the morning trading
session in the same direction with other regional markets.
It opened lower and fell below a support level of 790 points, but recouped its loss and closed at 791.30, down 5.17 or 0.65 per cent, with a thin trading volume of 4.95 billion baht. (TNA)
15:14 Jan 14, 2008
Army Chief denies hand in political issues
(BangkokPost.com) – Gen Anupong Paochinda has distanced himself from politics, affirming that he has no intention of interfering with matters at the Defence Ministry.
The Army Commander was responding to reports that he would soon be responsible for naming a new Defence Minister and that he was already backing former Army Commander Gen Prawit Wongsuwan as the front-runner to win the Defence portfolio.
“Politicians should be responsible for these issues. It wouldn’t be in my place to interfere. Before any new appointments are made, however, I really think there should first be political stability in the country. Having said that, Gen Prawit is a very capable soldier and he is a well-respected military figure.”
He also denied claims about his alleged role as mediator between Mrs Potjamarn Shinawatra, wife of ousted premier Thaksin and the government.
“I never met with Mrs Potjaman nor have I volunteered to act as mediator between her and the government,” Gen Anupong insisted.
15:13 Jan 14, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Army chief ready to talk to Potjaman
Army chief ready to talk to Potjaman
(BangkokPost.com) - Army chief Anupong Paochinda said he is ready to speak with Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of deposed premier Thaksin, for the purpose of social reconciliation.
But she will have to follow court procedure on charges against her, he quipped.
Gen Anupong also supports the idea that Mr Thaksin returns to Thailand ahead of his plan, which is scheduled for April, to clear problems involving him and his family.
However, he said he has not received any contact from the ousted premier on his planned return.
11:33 Jan 12, 2008
PM takes part in Children's Day
(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont presided over the opening ceremony of Children's Day at the Education Ministry on Saturday morning.
He is scheduled to join the Children's Day event at the Government House later this morning.
Meanwhile, some parents brought their children to join the event there even before 8am . Highlights of the event are the opportunities for the children to visit the premier's office, the cabinet's conference room and the press room there.
Most of the visitors dressed in black and white to mourn the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana who passed away on Jan 2.
Entertainment activities are withheld from this year's celebration because this is still the mourning period for the late Princess.
10:21 Jan 12, 2008
(BangkokPost.com) - Army chief Anupong Paochinda said he is ready to speak with Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of deposed premier Thaksin, for the purpose of social reconciliation.
But she will have to follow court procedure on charges against her, he quipped.
Gen Anupong also supports the idea that Mr Thaksin returns to Thailand ahead of his plan, which is scheduled for April, to clear problems involving him and his family.
However, he said he has not received any contact from the ousted premier on his planned return.
11:33 Jan 12, 2008
PM takes part in Children's Day
(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont presided over the opening ceremony of Children's Day at the Education Ministry on Saturday morning.
He is scheduled to join the Children's Day event at the Government House later this morning.
Meanwhile, some parents brought their children to join the event there even before 8am . Highlights of the event are the opportunities for the children to visit the premier's office, the cabinet's conference room and the press room there.
Most of the visitors dressed in black and white to mourn the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana who passed away on Jan 2.
Entertainment activities are withheld from this year's celebration because this is still the mourning period for the late Princess.
10:21 Jan 12, 2008
US stocks slammed by bad credit fears
US stocks slammed by bad credit fears
New York (dpa) - US stocks fell Friday as investors feared declining profits at a credit card firm and slower sales at a luxury jeweller signaled weakening spending among high-end consumers.
Recession fears also pushed the price of gold above $900 per fine ounce for the first time.
"There was this perception that the upper-end consumer was resistant to the economy, and that may be starting to roll over," Matthew Kaufler of Clover Capital Management told Bloomberg financial news. "Housing has been in recession, the financial institutions are also feeling it, and now you have signs that the consumer is starting to buckle. We seem to be in a rolling recession."
The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 19.31 points, or 1.4 per cent, to 1,401.02. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 246.79, or 1.9 per cent, to 12,606.30. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index lost 48.58, or 2 per cent, to 2,439.94.
American Express the third-largest US credit card firm fell 10 per cent to 44 dollars per share after saying its earnings would be less than expected and that it would take a charge on higher customer defaults.
High end jeweller Tiffany & Co dipped 11 per cent to 35.80 dollars after holiday sales fell 2 per cent from the previous year.
Recession fears have been spurred largely by a credit crunch and higher defaults on home mortgages.
Bank of America on Friday said it will buy the largest US mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp for 4 billion dollars after the lender suffered heavy losses in the subprime mortgage crisis.
Countrywide stock fell 1.42 dollars to 6.33 dollars per share because the offer was less than the company's market value after it had surged more than 50 per cent on rumours of the deal Thursday, Bloomberg said. Bank of America also slipped on the market, down 80 cents to 38.50 dollars.
The US dollar rose to 67.68 euro cents from 67.56 on Thursday in New York. The dollar fell to 108.94 Japanese yen from 109.36.
Gold rose 4.10 dollars to 897.70 dollars per fine ounce in New York. Earlier in the day it had hit a high of 900.10 before retreating.
06:37 Jan 12, 2008
New York (dpa) - US stocks fell Friday as investors feared declining profits at a credit card firm and slower sales at a luxury jeweller signaled weakening spending among high-end consumers.
Recession fears also pushed the price of gold above $900 per fine ounce for the first time.
"There was this perception that the upper-end consumer was resistant to the economy, and that may be starting to roll over," Matthew Kaufler of Clover Capital Management told Bloomberg financial news. "Housing has been in recession, the financial institutions are also feeling it, and now you have signs that the consumer is starting to buckle. We seem to be in a rolling recession."
The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 19.31 points, or 1.4 per cent, to 1,401.02. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 246.79, or 1.9 per cent, to 12,606.30. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index lost 48.58, or 2 per cent, to 2,439.94.
American Express the third-largest US credit card firm fell 10 per cent to 44 dollars per share after saying its earnings would be less than expected and that it would take a charge on higher customer defaults.
High end jeweller Tiffany & Co dipped 11 per cent to 35.80 dollars after holiday sales fell 2 per cent from the previous year.
Recession fears have been spurred largely by a credit crunch and higher defaults on home mortgages.
Bank of America on Friday said it will buy the largest US mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp for 4 billion dollars after the lender suffered heavy losses in the subprime mortgage crisis.
Countrywide stock fell 1.42 dollars to 6.33 dollars per share because the offer was less than the company's market value after it had surged more than 50 per cent on rumours of the deal Thursday, Bloomberg said. Bank of America also slipped on the market, down 80 cents to 38.50 dollars.
The US dollar rose to 67.68 euro cents from 67.56 on Thursday in New York. The dollar fell to 108.94 Japanese yen from 109.36.
Gold rose 4.10 dollars to 897.70 dollars per fine ounce in New York. Earlier in the day it had hit a high of 900.10 before retreating.
06:37 Jan 12, 2008
Suu Kyi meets with Burmese official
Suu Kyi meets with Burmese official
Rangoon (Agencies) Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi met for one hour Friday with a junta official, in what her party described as a positive sign nearly two months after her last contact with the regime.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was taken from her rambling lakeside home in Rangoon, where she has been held under house arrest for a total of 12 years, to meet Labour Minister Aung Kyi at a nearby military facility, Burmese officials said.
The minister was appointed by the junta to handle contacts with Aung San Suu Kyi in the wake of the regime's deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September.
Security was tight around the facility, and government officials declined to say what was discussed.
It was the fourth meeting between the pair since the military opened fire on peaceful protesters in the streets of Rangoon, leaving at least 31 dead and 74 missing, according to a UN report.
The two last met on November 19 and have had no known contacts since, despite intense international pressure on the regime, including a raft of new US and European sanctions on the military leadership.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) said it had received no information about the meeting, but spokesman Nyan Win said he hoped she would also be allowed to meet her supporters.
"It's a positive sign if they really met," he told AFP. "They have to talk."
Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet four NLD officials on November 9, but the party has had no direct contact with her since then.
She has been confined to her home for 12 of the past 18 years. She led the NLD to a landslide victory in 1990, but the result has never been recognised by the junta, which has instead tried to silence her.
Analysts based in neighbouring Thailand also questioned if the talks were making any progress.
"It is good at least the military government is talking to Aung San Suu Kyi," said Aung Naing Oo, a Thailand-based Burma analyst.
"But the question is how long will they continue talking? So far we have not seen any progress, and the military can continue talking to Aung San Suu Kyi for two or three years without making any commitment and progress," he told AFP.
"The military government is keeping the dialogue just to show the international community that they are talking to Aung San Suu Kyi."
Since the crackdown on the protesters, Burma has faced mounting international pressure to reform.
In December, US President George W Bush threatened to spearhead a global campaign to step up sanctions against the country if it continued to ignore calls for a democratic transition.
The regime has allowed a UN special envoy and a UN rights investigator to visit the country since the crackdown, but has made few tangible concessions.
The junta in December expelled the top UN diplomat in Burma after he made a scathing statement on its dire humanitarian state.
04:22 Jan 12, 2008
Rangoon (Agencies) Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi met for one hour Friday with a junta official, in what her party described as a positive sign nearly two months after her last contact with the regime.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was taken from her rambling lakeside home in Rangoon, where she has been held under house arrest for a total of 12 years, to meet Labour Minister Aung Kyi at a nearby military facility, Burmese officials said.
The minister was appointed by the junta to handle contacts with Aung San Suu Kyi in the wake of the regime's deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September.
Security was tight around the facility, and government officials declined to say what was discussed.
It was the fourth meeting between the pair since the military opened fire on peaceful protesters in the streets of Rangoon, leaving at least 31 dead and 74 missing, according to a UN report.
The two last met on November 19 and have had no known contacts since, despite intense international pressure on the regime, including a raft of new US and European sanctions on the military leadership.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) said it had received no information about the meeting, but spokesman Nyan Win said he hoped she would also be allowed to meet her supporters.
"It's a positive sign if they really met," he told AFP. "They have to talk."
Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet four NLD officials on November 9, but the party has had no direct contact with her since then.
She has been confined to her home for 12 of the past 18 years. She led the NLD to a landslide victory in 1990, but the result has never been recognised by the junta, which has instead tried to silence her.
Analysts based in neighbouring Thailand also questioned if the talks were making any progress.
"It is good at least the military government is talking to Aung San Suu Kyi," said Aung Naing Oo, a Thailand-based Burma analyst.
"But the question is how long will they continue talking? So far we have not seen any progress, and the military can continue talking to Aung San Suu Kyi for two or three years without making any commitment and progress," he told AFP.
"The military government is keeping the dialogue just to show the international community that they are talking to Aung San Suu Kyi."
Since the crackdown on the protesters, Burma has faced mounting international pressure to reform.
In December, US President George W Bush threatened to spearhead a global campaign to step up sanctions against the country if it continued to ignore calls for a democratic transition.
The regime has allowed a UN special envoy and a UN rights investigator to visit the country since the crackdown, but has made few tangible concessions.
The junta in December expelled the top UN diplomat in Burma after he made a scathing statement on its dire humanitarian state.
04:22 Jan 12, 2008
Marion Jones gets six-month prison sentence
Marion Jones gets six-month prison sentence
NOTE : A more inclusive story is available in our SportsPLUS section. Click here to see it.
Washington (dpa) - Olympic three-time gold medalist Marion Jones Friday received a six-month prison sentence for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam, media reports said.
Jones, the first woman to claim five medals in an Olympics, could have faced up to 10 years in jail for the offences, and even under a plea deal faced up to 37 months.
"People learn by their mistakes," she said in remarks broadcast after her sentencing.
The 32-year-old sprinter had asked for mercy from the court because of her two young children, one of whom she was still nursing.
The running great pleaded guilty in October to to lying to federal agents about using performance-enhancing drugs. The other offence involved making false statementa about her role in a multi-million- dollar check-fraud scheme involving former boyfriend and fellow sprinter Tim Montgomery.
Her lawyers begged for a probationary, or suspended sentence, saying she had "already lost everything - the only livelihood she has ever known, her professional accomplishments, her financial security and her reputation."
In a letter filed Wednesday, Jones' lawyers said it would be unjust to put Jones in jail and noted other athletes who have received home confinement sentences for similar offences.
The admission of guilt by Jones, whose powerful athletic performances dazzled fans and won her worldwide acclaim, came after years of denials that she had taken performance-enhancing drugs. She took the drugs before the 2000 Olympics in Australia.
She won 100m and 200m golds plus a long jump bronze at the event as well as 4x400m gold and 4x100m bronze.
The International Olympic Committee has stripped her of the five medals, scratched her from the results list and banned her from participating at least in the Beijing Olympics. The results have also been erased by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which banned her for two years and asked her to return all the prize money she had received since October 2000.
02:37 Jan 12, 2008
NOTE : A more inclusive story is available in our SportsPLUS section. Click here to see it.
Washington (dpa) - Olympic three-time gold medalist Marion Jones Friday received a six-month prison sentence for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam, media reports said.
Jones, the first woman to claim five medals in an Olympics, could have faced up to 10 years in jail for the offences, and even under a plea deal faced up to 37 months.
"People learn by their mistakes," she said in remarks broadcast after her sentencing.
The 32-year-old sprinter had asked for mercy from the court because of her two young children, one of whom she was still nursing.
The running great pleaded guilty in October to to lying to federal agents about using performance-enhancing drugs. The other offence involved making false statementa about her role in a multi-million- dollar check-fraud scheme involving former boyfriend and fellow sprinter Tim Montgomery.
Her lawyers begged for a probationary, or suspended sentence, saying she had "already lost everything - the only livelihood she has ever known, her professional accomplishments, her financial security and her reputation."
In a letter filed Wednesday, Jones' lawyers said it would be unjust to put Jones in jail and noted other athletes who have received home confinement sentences for similar offences.
The admission of guilt by Jones, whose powerful athletic performances dazzled fans and won her worldwide acclaim, came after years of denials that she had taken performance-enhancing drugs. She took the drugs before the 2000 Olympics in Australia.
She won 100m and 200m golds plus a long jump bronze at the event as well as 4x400m gold and 4x100m bronze.
The International Olympic Committee has stripped her of the five medals, scratched her from the results list and banned her from participating at least in the Beijing Olympics. The results have also been erased by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which banned her for two years and asked her to return all the prize money she had received since October 2000.
02:37 Jan 12, 2008
Yongyuth wants EC to re-investigate his case
Yongyuth wants EC to re-investigate his case
(BangkokPost.com) - Deputy Leader of People Power party (PPP) Yongyuth Tiyaphairat called on Election Commission (EC)'s sub-panel taking care of his alleged vote-buying case to re-investigate it.
Mr Yongyuth said he believes evidence handed to the EC by the Special Branch Police that are used against him are set-up in order to frame him.
He also said he has his own evidence to fight the case, adding that he believes PPP will not be dissolved if he is found guilty of vote-buying.
15:51 Jan 12, 2008
Insurgents kill man, wound another
(BangkokPost.com) - Insurgents shot dead a government official in Narathiwat province on Saturday morning.
Abdullah Taloh, Samakhee tambon administration organisation chief, was gunned down on a motorcycle in Rueso district when he was returning from sending his daughter off to a Children's Day event in the district.
The killing came after an ambush of a man early today.
The victim, identified as Jaeyor Dum, was attacked while he was riding a motorcycle from a rubber plantation in Yala's Raman district.
14:18 Jan 12, 2008
Bourse expected to be volatile next week
Worries over poor earnings results of American major firms along with local political problem are expected to force the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to move in volatility while the baht is to remain strong against the US dollar next week, according to reports issued by Kasikorn Research Center.
Stock investors are expected to invest cautiously next week on worries about local by-elections along with the Bank of Thailand's rate-setting meeting, scheduled to be held on Wednesday, according to Kasikorn Research Center.
Analysts have forecast that the central bank would keep its key interest rate unchanged at 3.25 per cent.
External factors including expected poor earnings results of American major companies, due to be released next week, and key US economic indicators, especially in the property sector, are expected to depress the SET next week, it said.
On Friday, the SET composite index closed at 796.47 points, down 3.07 per cent from a week ago.
Kasikorn Research Center forecasts that support level for the SET index next week would be around 783-794 points while resistance at between 821-840 points.
On the Thai baht, it predicts that the Thai currency would move between Bt33.05-33.30 against the US dollar next week.
Factors which will lead the baht to appreciate further against the greenback include the selling of the US currency by exporters, movements of foreign capital inflows, possible intervention by the Thai central bank in the money market in an attempt to keep the baht from strengthening sharply and progress in formation of the Thai coalition government following the December 23 general election, it said.
On Friday, the baht strengthened to Bt33.14 against the dollar on the onshore market compared to Bt33.43 a week ago. (TNA)
13:34 Jan 12, 2008
Military accuses protesters of receiving bribes
(BangkokPost.com) - Acting Council for National Security (CNS) chief Chalit Phukphasuk accused people who rallied against Election Commission (EC) on their decisions to yellow- or red-card winning candidates from the Dec 23 general election of receiving bribes.
Gen Chalit said he is not worried about the rallies, saying it is normal that EC is pressured by those going against their decision.
He also said he knows the masterminds behind the protests, but denied to give detail.
Gen Chalit also denied reports that he has tried to lobby for the Defence Ministry's top post.
"If the a CNS member wants to be a minister, we would have taken the job since a long time ago," he told reporters.
12:39 Jan 12, 2008
(BangkokPost.com) - Deputy Leader of People Power party (PPP) Yongyuth Tiyaphairat called on Election Commission (EC)'s sub-panel taking care of his alleged vote-buying case to re-investigate it.
Mr Yongyuth said he believes evidence handed to the EC by the Special Branch Police that are used against him are set-up in order to frame him.
He also said he has his own evidence to fight the case, adding that he believes PPP will not be dissolved if he is found guilty of vote-buying.
15:51 Jan 12, 2008
Insurgents kill man, wound another
(BangkokPost.com) - Insurgents shot dead a government official in Narathiwat province on Saturday morning.
Abdullah Taloh, Samakhee tambon administration organisation chief, was gunned down on a motorcycle in Rueso district when he was returning from sending his daughter off to a Children's Day event in the district.
The killing came after an ambush of a man early today.
The victim, identified as Jaeyor Dum, was attacked while he was riding a motorcycle from a rubber plantation in Yala's Raman district.
14:18 Jan 12, 2008
Bourse expected to be volatile next week
Worries over poor earnings results of American major firms along with local political problem are expected to force the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to move in volatility while the baht is to remain strong against the US dollar next week, according to reports issued by Kasikorn Research Center.
Stock investors are expected to invest cautiously next week on worries about local by-elections along with the Bank of Thailand's rate-setting meeting, scheduled to be held on Wednesday, according to Kasikorn Research Center.
Analysts have forecast that the central bank would keep its key interest rate unchanged at 3.25 per cent.
External factors including expected poor earnings results of American major companies, due to be released next week, and key US economic indicators, especially in the property sector, are expected to depress the SET next week, it said.
On Friday, the SET composite index closed at 796.47 points, down 3.07 per cent from a week ago.
Kasikorn Research Center forecasts that support level for the SET index next week would be around 783-794 points while resistance at between 821-840 points.
On the Thai baht, it predicts that the Thai currency would move between Bt33.05-33.30 against the US dollar next week.
Factors which will lead the baht to appreciate further against the greenback include the selling of the US currency by exporters, movements of foreign capital inflows, possible intervention by the Thai central bank in the money market in an attempt to keep the baht from strengthening sharply and progress in formation of the Thai coalition government following the December 23 general election, it said.
On Friday, the baht strengthened to Bt33.14 against the dollar on the onshore market compared to Bt33.43 a week ago. (TNA)
13:34 Jan 12, 2008
Military accuses protesters of receiving bribes
(BangkokPost.com) - Acting Council for National Security (CNS) chief Chalit Phukphasuk accused people who rallied against Election Commission (EC) on their decisions to yellow- or red-card winning candidates from the Dec 23 general election of receiving bribes.
Gen Chalit said he is not worried about the rallies, saying it is normal that EC is pressured by those going against their decision.
He also said he knows the masterminds behind the protests, but denied to give detail.
Gen Chalit also denied reports that he has tried to lobby for the Defence Ministry's top post.
"If the a CNS member wants to be a minister, we would have taken the job since a long time ago," he told reporters.
12:39 Jan 12, 2008
Opposition Kuomintang leads in Taiwan polls
Opposition Kuomintang leads in Taiwan polls
Taipei (dpa) - Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) was leading Saturday in the island's parliamentary elections seen as a crucial indicator ahead of the March presidential race.
Two hours into the vote count at 6 pm (1000 GMT) with about 40 per cent of the votes counted, initial results showed the KMT was leading in various of the 75 constituencies across the island. There are 79 district seats and 34 party seats in the 113-seat parliament.
Twenty-eight KMT candidates, including Wu Den-yih, the party's secretary general and an incumbent parliamentarian, declared victory in their constituencies.
Only one candidate from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) declared victory in the southern county of Tainan.
Two other independent candidates also claimed victory.
The fierce campaign saw the KMT and its major rival DPP fighting for the 79 district seats in the new parliament, which was cut from 225 seats to 113 under a revision of the election system.
The remaining 34 at-large seats allotted to political parties according to their winning percentage would be known after all the votes were counted. So far, the KMT was leading at 844,091 votes.
Some 17 million Taiwanese were eligible to vote in the election using the new system that permits a vote both for individual candidates and the political parties. In the past, voters were given only one choice of candidate.
Voting passed smoothly at the 14,377 polling stations, despite reports of attempted vote-buying by certain candidates.
The final outcome was expected at 10:30 pm (1430 GMT), the Central Election Commission said.
But the final results could be delayed by two referendums - one on recovering the opposition's illegally obtained assets and one on condemning the ruling party's corruption - held alongside the parliamentary one.
President Chen Shui-bian cast his vote at a Taipei primary school. He called on the Taiwan people to participate in and to treasure Taiwan's democracy.
"China will not allow Hong Kong to hold elections until 2017. That is 20 years after China took back Hong Kong (from colonial power Britain). Taiwan people should treasure their democracy and safeguard Taiwan's democracy," Chen said.
Chen of the independence-leaning DPP has come under pressure to step down over a string of graft scandals linking him, his family and government, but he has managed to survive.
In 2004, the DPP captured 89 of the then 225-seat parliament, 10 seats more than the KMT. But the KMT forged an alliance with the People First Party (PFP) to obtain a slim majority in the chamber.
A total of 12 parties have fielded 427 candidates.
17:46 Jan 12, 2008
Taipei (dpa) - Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) was leading Saturday in the island's parliamentary elections seen as a crucial indicator ahead of the March presidential race.
Two hours into the vote count at 6 pm (1000 GMT) with about 40 per cent of the votes counted, initial results showed the KMT was leading in various of the 75 constituencies across the island. There are 79 district seats and 34 party seats in the 113-seat parliament.
Twenty-eight KMT candidates, including Wu Den-yih, the party's secretary general and an incumbent parliamentarian, declared victory in their constituencies.
Only one candidate from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) declared victory in the southern county of Tainan.
Two other independent candidates also claimed victory.
The fierce campaign saw the KMT and its major rival DPP fighting for the 79 district seats in the new parliament, which was cut from 225 seats to 113 under a revision of the election system.
The remaining 34 at-large seats allotted to political parties according to their winning percentage would be known after all the votes were counted. So far, the KMT was leading at 844,091 votes.
Some 17 million Taiwanese were eligible to vote in the election using the new system that permits a vote both for individual candidates and the political parties. In the past, voters were given only one choice of candidate.
Voting passed smoothly at the 14,377 polling stations, despite reports of attempted vote-buying by certain candidates.
The final outcome was expected at 10:30 pm (1430 GMT), the Central Election Commission said.
But the final results could be delayed by two referendums - one on recovering the opposition's illegally obtained assets and one on condemning the ruling party's corruption - held alongside the parliamentary one.
President Chen Shui-bian cast his vote at a Taipei primary school. He called on the Taiwan people to participate in and to treasure Taiwan's democracy.
"China will not allow Hong Kong to hold elections until 2017. That is 20 years after China took back Hong Kong (from colonial power Britain). Taiwan people should treasure their democracy and safeguard Taiwan's democracy," Chen said.
Chen of the independence-leaning DPP has come under pressure to step down over a string of graft scandals linking him, his family and government, but he has managed to survive.
In 2004, the DPP captured 89 of the then 225-seat parliament, 10 seats more than the KMT. But the KMT forged an alliance with the People First Party (PFP) to obtain a slim majority in the chamber.
A total of 12 parties have fielded 427 candidates.
17:46 Jan 12, 2008
Junta blames foreigners for Burma bomb
Junta blames foreigners for Burma bomb
Rangoon (dpa) - Burma's state-run press on Sunday blamed two deadly blasts on insurgents with backing from a "foreign organization" bent of "practicing hegemony over Myanmar."
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper, a government mouthpiece, blamed two separate bomb attacks on Friday on saboteurs who died trying to detonate their "US-made powerful explosives."
On Friday morning a bomb went off in a public toilet in Naypyitaw, Burma's new military-run capital, killing one woman who was originally described by the state press as an innocent victim.
On the same day another bomb was detonated near a football field in Nyaungbintha Village, Bago Division, killing the man who was suspected of planting the bomb and wounding four people.
State media identified the Bago bomber as an insurgent from the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic minority rebel group that has been waging a war against the Burmese military for the autonomy of the Karen State since 1948.
A second suspect, Saw Ra Makee, was arrested.
"According to his confession, the man who was killed in the incident was Saw Di Thaw Mu with the rank of corporal in charge of collecting extortion money of battalion 8, brigade 3 of KNU," said The New Light of Myanmar.
"A major group from abroad that is desirous of practicing hegemony over (Burma) provided terrorist insurgent saboteurs with cash and related equipment with the intention of harming the public, causing panic among the people and undermining peace and stability," said the English-langauge daily.
The paper's Sunday edition also claimed that an investigation had revealed that Naw Gay Lar, the woman killed in the toilet blast, had died trying to plant the device.
"It can be assessed that the same major organisation masterminded these atrocities, for explosives used in both incidents are the US-made powerful explosives and they are identical," the paper said.
13:26 Jan 13, 2008
Rangoon (dpa) - Burma's state-run press on Sunday blamed two deadly blasts on insurgents with backing from a "foreign organization" bent of "practicing hegemony over Myanmar."
The New Light of Myanmar newspaper, a government mouthpiece, blamed two separate bomb attacks on Friday on saboteurs who died trying to detonate their "US-made powerful explosives."
On Friday morning a bomb went off in a public toilet in Naypyitaw, Burma's new military-run capital, killing one woman who was originally described by the state press as an innocent victim.
On the same day another bomb was detonated near a football field in Nyaungbintha Village, Bago Division, killing the man who was suspected of planting the bomb and wounding four people.
State media identified the Bago bomber as an insurgent from the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic minority rebel group that has been waging a war against the Burmese military for the autonomy of the Karen State since 1948.
A second suspect, Saw Ra Makee, was arrested.
"According to his confession, the man who was killed in the incident was Saw Di Thaw Mu with the rank of corporal in charge of collecting extortion money of battalion 8, brigade 3 of KNU," said The New Light of Myanmar.
"A major group from abroad that is desirous of practicing hegemony over (Burma) provided terrorist insurgent saboteurs with cash and related equipment with the intention of harming the public, causing panic among the people and undermining peace and stability," said the English-langauge daily.
The paper's Sunday edition also claimed that an investigation had revealed that Naw Gay Lar, the woman killed in the toilet blast, had died trying to plant the device.
"It can be assessed that the same major organisation masterminded these atrocities, for explosives used in both incidents are the US-made powerful explosives and they are identical," the paper said.
13:26 Jan 13, 2008
New York gold bugs see $1,000 price
New York gold bugs see $1,000 price
By Roland Freund
New York (dpa) - After the rapid run-up in the price of gold, leaving shattered records in its wake, investors are trying to figure out where the precious metal is headed next.
Gold leapt past 900 dollars for the first time last week, and there is speculation in the commodity pits about the price of a fine ounce (31.1 grams) soaring to 1,000 dollars.
Beyond rational reasons, there are two base human motives heating up the rush for gold: fear and greed.
Investors have taken refuge in gold amid economic jitters, particularly concerns that the United States is slipping into recession.
Meanwhile, the volatility of share prices see-sawing with every tidbit of good or bad news has made gold look like a relatively stable investment. When real-estate prices slide - as they have been with the deflating US housing market - the precious metal ultimately becomes the commodity to where money runs for cover.
"We are in the middle of a gold rush," said Jochen Hitzfeld, an analyst at UniCredit.
Herd instincts bring out speculation.
The faster the price of gold has climbed, the more investors want to be in on the trend, fueling an age-old cycle that has revived the ancient notion that gold equals wealth.
Investors who bought gold three years ago have now more than doubled their money. Hitzfeld remains bullish about gold over the long term. He projects that the price will climb to 1,400 dollars per fine ounce by 2010.
However, nearly all analysts warn against hopes of getting rich quick. Gold's rapid rise has increased the risk of a steep drop in price.
A correction could push the price down to 825 dollars, said Nikolaus Keis, also a UniCredit analyst. Financial advisers say that gold should represent only a small portion of an individual portfolio and should be considered a long-term investment.
Investing in gold is much easier today, which is another factor driving up the price.
Neither gold bars nor treasure chests are needed. It's all done on paper these days - as investors buy shares in gold funds that are traded on stock markets, while the funds hold the gold on behalf of individual shareholders.
Banks long ago joined the gold rush by offering special certificates and other financial products tied to gold. Shares in mining operations have proved to be money-makers, and many have risen enormously.
The weak dollar is another factor behind gold's rise. The precious metal is quoted in the US currency, and in 2007 alone the dollar lost 10 per cent of its value against the euro. Gold went up to compensate for the dollar's loss.
Extracting gold ore has become more arduous, and new supply has become short. Worldwide production is limited, but the global demand should remain high, Hitzfeld said.
Taken together, all these factors are accelerating the rise in the price of gold.
The 1980 record of 850 dollars per fine ounce stood for nearly 28 years. Since topping that price in the first week of January new highs have been reached regularly.
The situation looks a little differently, however, when taking inflation over the last few years into account, said Commerzbank expert Eugen Weinberg. The record price set January 21, 1980, would be 2,384 dollars with inflation factored in. That's a high mark that gold, even in its current upward moving state, will have a tough time reaching.
10:40 Jan 14, 2008
By Roland Freund
New York (dpa) - After the rapid run-up in the price of gold, leaving shattered records in its wake, investors are trying to figure out where the precious metal is headed next.
Gold leapt past 900 dollars for the first time last week, and there is speculation in the commodity pits about the price of a fine ounce (31.1 grams) soaring to 1,000 dollars.
Beyond rational reasons, there are two base human motives heating up the rush for gold: fear and greed.
Investors have taken refuge in gold amid economic jitters, particularly concerns that the United States is slipping into recession.
Meanwhile, the volatility of share prices see-sawing with every tidbit of good or bad news has made gold look like a relatively stable investment. When real-estate prices slide - as they have been with the deflating US housing market - the precious metal ultimately becomes the commodity to where money runs for cover.
"We are in the middle of a gold rush," said Jochen Hitzfeld, an analyst at UniCredit.
Herd instincts bring out speculation.
The faster the price of gold has climbed, the more investors want to be in on the trend, fueling an age-old cycle that has revived the ancient notion that gold equals wealth.
Investors who bought gold three years ago have now more than doubled their money. Hitzfeld remains bullish about gold over the long term. He projects that the price will climb to 1,400 dollars per fine ounce by 2010.
However, nearly all analysts warn against hopes of getting rich quick. Gold's rapid rise has increased the risk of a steep drop in price.
A correction could push the price down to 825 dollars, said Nikolaus Keis, also a UniCredit analyst. Financial advisers say that gold should represent only a small portion of an individual portfolio and should be considered a long-term investment.
Investing in gold is much easier today, which is another factor driving up the price.
Neither gold bars nor treasure chests are needed. It's all done on paper these days - as investors buy shares in gold funds that are traded on stock markets, while the funds hold the gold on behalf of individual shareholders.
Banks long ago joined the gold rush by offering special certificates and other financial products tied to gold. Shares in mining operations have proved to be money-makers, and many have risen enormously.
The weak dollar is another factor behind gold's rise. The precious metal is quoted in the US currency, and in 2007 alone the dollar lost 10 per cent of its value against the euro. Gold went up to compensate for the dollar's loss.
Extracting gold ore has become more arduous, and new supply has become short. Worldwide production is limited, but the global demand should remain high, Hitzfeld said.
Taken together, all these factors are accelerating the rise in the price of gold.
The 1980 record of 850 dollars per fine ounce stood for nearly 28 years. Since topping that price in the first week of January new highs have been reached regularly.
The situation looks a little differently, however, when taking inflation over the last few years into account, said Commerzbank expert Eugen Weinberg. The record price set January 21, 1980, would be 2,384 dollars with inflation factored in. That's a high mark that gold, even in its current upward moving state, will have a tough time reaching.
10:40 Jan 14, 2008
GM to make 16 hybrids, Chrysler sees growth
GM to make 16 hybrids, Chrysler sees growth
Detroit (dpa)- The biggest US car manufacturer General Motors (GM) is to launch 16 new hybrid vehicles onto the market over the next four years, the Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said at the Detroit Motor Show Sunday.
Chrysler set a goal of doubling international sales in less than five years, while Ford expects to be profitable again by next year. (See below)
GM will also join a US company that wants to use ethanol as a fuel or gain it from the remains of plants and even from tyres.
However, this technology is still in the early stages and such fuel could be expected on the market in 2012 at the earliest, the Wall Street Journal reported. So far, ethanol has been gained from sugar cane and corn.
Wagoner also said the available of ethanol should be increased swiftly. Only then could the huge consumption of crude oil be reduced.
"Ethanol has huge potential to reduce the consumption of crude oil," he said and stressed that GM would continue to develop electronic drive.
Wagoner did not say how high GM's share in the Illinois-based ethanol company Coskata was.
Ford expects to return to profit zone by 2009
Detroit (dpa)- The US car manufacturer, Ford, which is battling billion-dollar losses, expects to make a profit again in 2009, said Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally Sunday at the Detroit Motor Show.
Europe, Asia and Latin America were already profitable markets for Ford with growth potential, he added.
The second-largest US car manufacturer had incurred losses of more than 2 billion dollars in 2006 and also sustained an additional loss of 380 million dollars in the third quarter of 2007.
Chrysler aims to accelerate international growth
Detroit (dpa) - The loss-making US automotive concern Chrysler announced Sunday at the annual Detroit motor show that it was setting itself the goal of doubling international sales in less than five years.
Speaking at the event, Chrysler head Robert Nardelli said there was still room for global growth in the car manufacturing industry.
In 2007, Chrysler - the third largest US auto producer - had a 15 per cent increase of sales outside North America to around 238,000 cars. In doing so, the company sold less than 10 per cent of its cars outside its home market.
Chrysler President Tom LaSorda said the company wanted as quickly as possible to partner with other producers to offer small cars in Europe. He specified a timeline of a "couple of years."
He added that an extension of the current cooperation with Asian partners such a Chery in China and Nissan in Japan was also possible.
The company would not provide any concrete prognosis for sales and results for the current year, saying only that sales to private customers were expected at least to remain stable or increase lightly in 2008, while sales of fleets was expected to drop.
In 2007, Chrysler sold 2.68 million cars worldwide - around one per cent fewer than in 2006.
According to earlier reports, Nardelli was assuming a loss for 2007 of at lest 1.6 billion dollars.
As a private company, Chrysler is no longer required to present financial figures.
A majority stake in Chrysler was sold last summer to the US financial investor Cerberus by the German concern Daimler. Since then, decisions at Chrysler have been made a markedly quicker pace, said LaSorda, who was Chrysler chief executive during the Daimler era.
03:29 Jan 14, 2008
Detroit (dpa)- The biggest US car manufacturer General Motors (GM) is to launch 16 new hybrid vehicles onto the market over the next four years, the Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said at the Detroit Motor Show Sunday.
Chrysler set a goal of doubling international sales in less than five years, while Ford expects to be profitable again by next year. (See below)
GM will also join a US company that wants to use ethanol as a fuel or gain it from the remains of plants and even from tyres.
However, this technology is still in the early stages and such fuel could be expected on the market in 2012 at the earliest, the Wall Street Journal reported. So far, ethanol has been gained from sugar cane and corn.
Wagoner also said the available of ethanol should be increased swiftly. Only then could the huge consumption of crude oil be reduced.
"Ethanol has huge potential to reduce the consumption of crude oil," he said and stressed that GM would continue to develop electronic drive.
Wagoner did not say how high GM's share in the Illinois-based ethanol company Coskata was.
Ford expects to return to profit zone by 2009
Detroit (dpa)- The US car manufacturer, Ford, which is battling billion-dollar losses, expects to make a profit again in 2009, said Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally Sunday at the Detroit Motor Show.
Europe, Asia and Latin America were already profitable markets for Ford with growth potential, he added.
The second-largest US car manufacturer had incurred losses of more than 2 billion dollars in 2006 and also sustained an additional loss of 380 million dollars in the third quarter of 2007.
Chrysler aims to accelerate international growth
Detroit (dpa) - The loss-making US automotive concern Chrysler announced Sunday at the annual Detroit motor show that it was setting itself the goal of doubling international sales in less than five years.
Speaking at the event, Chrysler head Robert Nardelli said there was still room for global growth in the car manufacturing industry.
In 2007, Chrysler - the third largest US auto producer - had a 15 per cent increase of sales outside North America to around 238,000 cars. In doing so, the company sold less than 10 per cent of its cars outside its home market.
Chrysler President Tom LaSorda said the company wanted as quickly as possible to partner with other producers to offer small cars in Europe. He specified a timeline of a "couple of years."
He added that an extension of the current cooperation with Asian partners such a Chery in China and Nissan in Japan was also possible.
The company would not provide any concrete prognosis for sales and results for the current year, saying only that sales to private customers were expected at least to remain stable or increase lightly in 2008, while sales of fleets was expected to drop.
In 2007, Chrysler sold 2.68 million cars worldwide - around one per cent fewer than in 2006.
According to earlier reports, Nardelli was assuming a loss for 2007 of at lest 1.6 billion dollars.
As a private company, Chrysler is no longer required to present financial figures.
A majority stake in Chrysler was sold last summer to the US financial investor Cerberus by the German concern Daimler. Since then, decisions at Chrysler have been made a markedly quicker pace, said LaSorda, who was Chrysler chief executive during the Daimler era.
03:29 Jan 14, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Change for the better
BRIDGING THE GAP
Change for the better
KRIENGSAK NIRATPATTANASAI
A New Year's resolution is a commitment an individual makes that will help improve his lifestyle. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled.
The website usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/NewYearsResolutions.shtml recently listed Americans' most popular New Year's Resolutions:
- lose weight;
- pay off debt;
- save money;
- get a better job;
- get fit;
- eat right;
- get a better education;
- drink less alcohol;
- quit smoking now;
- reduce stress overall;
- reduce stress at work;
- take a trip;
- volunteer to help others.
Stephen Shapiro, a former consultant at Accenture and author of Goal Free Living: How to Have the Life You Want Now! said: "According to our study, only 8% of Americans say they always achieve their New Year's resolutions."
I witnessed a case in point last week on Larry King Live on CNN, when he interviewed some of the winners from The Biggest Loser. It's a reality series in which overweight contestants are challenged and encouraged to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for the grand prize of $250,000.
Larry asked Jillian Michaels, a trainer, "What is the secret of The Biggest Loser? What does it do to create these [results]?"
Jillian replied. "There is no secret."
Larry: "No secret?"
Jillian: "You know what? The secret is this - quite honestly, it's Bob (another trainer) and myself in that gym with these contestants from the crack of dawn, literally, until midnight every night. It's pure hard work and discipline. That's the secret."
After talking with the weight-loss contestants, Larry asked the trainer, "Why does this show work, Jillian?"
Jillian: "I think it works because the contestants are ready. And when they come to that place where they have the epiphany that they need to change no matter what, they're open to the information that the trainers can give them and able to utilise it, put it to work and then the magic happens. But if somebody's not ready to change, then no matter what trainer you have, no matter who you're working with, then nothing will happen."
Larry: "You can't make them ready?"
Jillian: "I cannot make them ready. I can't make them lose weight. They do it all on their own - with information that I provide them. But they're the ones that put it to work."
What are the lessons learned?
- Most people want to change themselves for the better.
- Only a few can.
- "I wish" and "I can" are not the same.
- We cannot change people if they are not ready.
How can we apply these lessons at work?
- Readiness is a state of mind.
- We cannot say to our staff, "You are ready to change."
- Staff have to believe, "I am ready to change now - tell me how."
- When that happens, it's time for managers to coach, motivate or encourage employees to change.
Most managers tell people to change when people are not "ready". The trick is to coach people to be ready first. Then, coach them how to change with new skills or new knowledge. But many people have learned to believe that they cannot change anything. The American psychologist Martin Seligman calls this condition "learned helplessness" (LH).
LH is a psychological condition in which a human being has learned to believe that he or she is helpless in a particular situation, has no control over a situation and that whatever he or she does is futile. As a result, the person will stay passive in the face of an unpleasant, harmful or damaging situation, even when he or she actually has the power to change its circumstances. Depression results from a perceived lack of control over events in one's life.
The good news is that not all people are susceptible to LH. Some realise they can do some things about their lives. If people have the LH, managers must re-educate them. We can do this by:
- educating them about LH;
- showing them they can unlearn it;
- building their self-confidence step-by-step from small day-by-day things. This is the most difficult part because you need at least three weeks to rebuild self-esteem with close coaching and encouragement.
Kriengsak Niratpattanasai provides executive coaching in leadership and diversity management under the brand TheCoach. He can be reached at coachkriengsak@yahoo.com. Copies of previous columns are available at http://www.thaicoach.com
Change for the better
KRIENGSAK NIRATPATTANASAI
A New Year's resolution is a commitment an individual makes that will help improve his lifestyle. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled.
The website usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/NewYearsResolutions.shtml recently listed Americans' most popular New Year's Resolutions:
- lose weight;
- pay off debt;
- save money;
- get a better job;
- get fit;
- eat right;
- get a better education;
- drink less alcohol;
- quit smoking now;
- reduce stress overall;
- reduce stress at work;
- take a trip;
- volunteer to help others.
Stephen Shapiro, a former consultant at Accenture and author of Goal Free Living: How to Have the Life You Want Now! said: "According to our study, only 8% of Americans say they always achieve their New Year's resolutions."
I witnessed a case in point last week on Larry King Live on CNN, when he interviewed some of the winners from The Biggest Loser. It's a reality series in which overweight contestants are challenged and encouraged to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for the grand prize of $250,000.
Larry asked Jillian Michaels, a trainer, "What is the secret of The Biggest Loser? What does it do to create these [results]?"
Jillian replied. "There is no secret."
Larry: "No secret?"
Jillian: "You know what? The secret is this - quite honestly, it's Bob (another trainer) and myself in that gym with these contestants from the crack of dawn, literally, until midnight every night. It's pure hard work and discipline. That's the secret."
After talking with the weight-loss contestants, Larry asked the trainer, "Why does this show work, Jillian?"
Jillian: "I think it works because the contestants are ready. And when they come to that place where they have the epiphany that they need to change no matter what, they're open to the information that the trainers can give them and able to utilise it, put it to work and then the magic happens. But if somebody's not ready to change, then no matter what trainer you have, no matter who you're working with, then nothing will happen."
Larry: "You can't make them ready?"
Jillian: "I cannot make them ready. I can't make them lose weight. They do it all on their own - with information that I provide them. But they're the ones that put it to work."
What are the lessons learned?
- Most people want to change themselves for the better.
- Only a few can.
- "I wish" and "I can" are not the same.
- We cannot change people if they are not ready.
How can we apply these lessons at work?
- Readiness is a state of mind.
- We cannot say to our staff, "You are ready to change."
- Staff have to believe, "I am ready to change now - tell me how."
- When that happens, it's time for managers to coach, motivate or encourage employees to change.
Most managers tell people to change when people are not "ready". The trick is to coach people to be ready first. Then, coach them how to change with new skills or new knowledge. But many people have learned to believe that they cannot change anything. The American psychologist Martin Seligman calls this condition "learned helplessness" (LH).
LH is a psychological condition in which a human being has learned to believe that he or she is helpless in a particular situation, has no control over a situation and that whatever he or she does is futile. As a result, the person will stay passive in the face of an unpleasant, harmful or damaging situation, even when he or she actually has the power to change its circumstances. Depression results from a perceived lack of control over events in one's life.
The good news is that not all people are susceptible to LH. Some realise they can do some things about their lives. If people have the LH, managers must re-educate them. We can do this by:
- educating them about LH;
- showing them they can unlearn it;
- building their self-confidence step-by-step from small day-by-day things. This is the most difficult part because you need at least three weeks to rebuild self-esteem with close coaching and encouragement.
Kriengsak Niratpattanasai provides executive coaching in leadership and diversity management under the brand TheCoach. He can be reached at coachkriengsak@yahoo.com. Copies of previous columns are available at http://www.thaicoach.com
Vets fight to save injured gaur
Vets fight to save injured gaur
By Jerdsak Saengthongcharoen and Kultida Samabuddhi
Veterinarians are fighting to save the life of an eight-year-old male gaur which suffered serious injuries when it spent at least a week trapped by a poacher's snare in Khao Ang Rue Nai wildlife sanctuary.
Forest rangers found the protected animal last Thursday in the western part of the wildlife sanctuary in Chachoengsao province.
The gaur, weighing about 900 kilogrammes, was starving and had a festering wound on its right hind leg, which was held by the snare.
Veterinarians believe the animal had been stuck in the noose for over a week.
Wildlife officials sent the injured gaur to the animal hospital at Khao Khieo open zoo in Chon Buri province.
Veterinarian Jessada Taewngern said the gaur's wound was festering and inflamed to the point the animal could no longer stand by itself. The gaur's hip bone was also hurt, probably from attempts to free itself from the snare.
"We can't tell at the moment if the gaur will walk again because its injuries are very serious," he said.
The animal's condition had improved slightly over the past two days and it was eating more each day, he said. But it could take months to recover from its injuries.
The animal will be reintroduced to the wild if it can walk. If not, it will be kept at the zoo, the vet said.
Gaur, or krating, are the largest and most powerful of all wild cattle and are found in South and Southeast Asia.
It is a protected species under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act. About 80 wild oxen, including gaur and banteng, are thought to be living in Khao Ang Rue Nai wildlife sanctuary.
Yu Senatham, chief of the wildlife sanctuary, conceded that wild animal poaching at the sanctuary was still rampant.
"However, large animals like gaur, banteng and elephants are not the poachers' prime targets.
"They are trying to catch smaller animals like wild pig, barking deer, and lesser mouse deer," he said.
"But poachers' traps can also cause fatal injuries to larger animals."
Late last year, a rare banteng died after it was caught in an illegal snare.
Mr Yu said wildlife poaching in Khao Ang Rue Nai had increased in recent years due to a rapidly increasing wildlife population which had led to more and more animals leaving the sanctuary insearch of food and raiding local farmers' crops.
There have been several reports of confrontations between wild animals and villagers living around the wildlife sanctuary.
"The locals hunt wild animals not only for food now, but also for revenge," said the wildlife sanctuary chief.
Officials have been trying to solve the problem by creating buffer zones between the protected forest and communities.
A 10km long canal has been built along the northern edge of the sanctuary to prevent wild elephants from pillaging villagers' sugarcane plantations, said Mr Yu.
Residents of 94 villages around the wildlife sanctuary, meanwhile, have been encouraged to stop expanding their farming area closer to the forest and refrain from hurting the animals, many of which are protected.
The 643,750-rai sanctuary spills over into five provinces - Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo and Prachin Buri.
04:21 Jan 07, 2008
By Jerdsak Saengthongcharoen and Kultida Samabuddhi
Veterinarians are fighting to save the life of an eight-year-old male gaur which suffered serious injuries when it spent at least a week trapped by a poacher's snare in Khao Ang Rue Nai wildlife sanctuary.
Forest rangers found the protected animal last Thursday in the western part of the wildlife sanctuary in Chachoengsao province.
The gaur, weighing about 900 kilogrammes, was starving and had a festering wound on its right hind leg, which was held by the snare.
Veterinarians believe the animal had been stuck in the noose for over a week.
Wildlife officials sent the injured gaur to the animal hospital at Khao Khieo open zoo in Chon Buri province.
Veterinarian Jessada Taewngern said the gaur's wound was festering and inflamed to the point the animal could no longer stand by itself. The gaur's hip bone was also hurt, probably from attempts to free itself from the snare.
"We can't tell at the moment if the gaur will walk again because its injuries are very serious," he said.
The animal's condition had improved slightly over the past two days and it was eating more each day, he said. But it could take months to recover from its injuries.
The animal will be reintroduced to the wild if it can walk. If not, it will be kept at the zoo, the vet said.
Gaur, or krating, are the largest and most powerful of all wild cattle and are found in South and Southeast Asia.
It is a protected species under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act. About 80 wild oxen, including gaur and banteng, are thought to be living in Khao Ang Rue Nai wildlife sanctuary.
Yu Senatham, chief of the wildlife sanctuary, conceded that wild animal poaching at the sanctuary was still rampant.
"However, large animals like gaur, banteng and elephants are not the poachers' prime targets.
"They are trying to catch smaller animals like wild pig, barking deer, and lesser mouse deer," he said.
"But poachers' traps can also cause fatal injuries to larger animals."
Late last year, a rare banteng died after it was caught in an illegal snare.
Mr Yu said wildlife poaching in Khao Ang Rue Nai had increased in recent years due to a rapidly increasing wildlife population which had led to more and more animals leaving the sanctuary insearch of food and raiding local farmers' crops.
There have been several reports of confrontations between wild animals and villagers living around the wildlife sanctuary.
"The locals hunt wild animals not only for food now, but also for revenge," said the wildlife sanctuary chief.
Officials have been trying to solve the problem by creating buffer zones between the protected forest and communities.
A 10km long canal has been built along the northern edge of the sanctuary to prevent wild elephants from pillaging villagers' sugarcane plantations, said Mr Yu.
Residents of 94 villages around the wildlife sanctuary, meanwhile, have been encouraged to stop expanding their farming area closer to the forest and refrain from hurting the animals, many of which are protected.
The 643,750-rai sanctuary spills over into five provinces - Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo and Prachin Buri.
04:21 Jan 07, 2008
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