Chiang Mai International Art & Culture Festival 2008

The Tourism Authority of Thailand to be held the Chiang Mai International Art and

Culture Festival 2008 at the Three Kings Monument and the Chiang Mai City Arts

and Cultural Centre from April 2 to 6, the festival will turn the northern capital into a

colourful playground with Thai and international performances. The festival will also

celebrate the birthday of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, on April 2, which is

also Thai Heritage Conservation Day.



Date : April 2-6 , 2008 18.00 – 22.00 pm.



Venue : At Three Kings Monument



Activity :


April 2 :

- Registration / Opening ceremony

- The great Chanting honor HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

- The great dances honor HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

- Opening Show “The heavenly Lanna Kingdom” Lanna Drum Festivity

- The beating of prosper Lanna drum

- The beating of Chai Ya Mong Kon drum

- The honorary beating of greatest Lanna drum

April 3 :

- The Unity of Thai Shows;

- Cultural Contemporary Performances

- Tribal Cultural Performances

- 4 Regions (Northern – Central – North Eastern – Southern Region) Cultural Performances

April 4 :

- Lannas mourns the passing of HRH Princess

- Galyani Vadhana

- Orchestra

- ballet




April 5 :

Chiang Mai the colorful of Multi Culture and International Music

International Cultural Contemporary Show

“World’s Famous Music” performed by Viol instruments


April 6 :

Lanna Artists Performance “Lanna folk to the international”

- The preservation of Northern fiddles and flutes show

- The contemporary of folk music festivity



For further information : TAT. Northern Office : Region 1,

Tel. 0 5324 8604, 0 5324 8607

Webside : www. tatchiangmai.org / http://www.tourismthailand.org/

Education in Thailand

Education in Thailand is provided mainly by the Thai government through the Ministry of Education. A free basic education of twelve years is guaranteed by the constitution, and a minimum of nine years' school attendance is mandatory.

Formal education consists of at least twelve years of basic education, and higher education. Basic education is divided into six years of primary education (Prathom Suksa) and six years of secondary education (Mathayom Suksa), the latter being further divided into three years of lower- and upper-secondary levels. Kindergarten levels of pre-primary education, also part of the basic education level, spans 2-3 years depending on the locale, and is variably provided. Non-formal education is also supported by the state.

English Language Education in Thailand
The use of English in Thailand while far from being as developed as in the Netherlands, Germany, the Scandinavian countries or the Philippines, is nevertheless rapidly increasing through the influence of the media and the Internet and is far greater, for example, than in France, the United Kingdom’s nearest neighbour.

The government has long realised the importance of the English language as a major core subject in schools, and it has been a compulsory subject at varying levels for several decades. Since 2005 schools are being encouraged to establish bilingual departments where the core subjects are taught in English, and to offer intensive English language programmes. Notwithstanding the extensive use of, and exposure to English in everyday life in Thailand, the standard of correct English in the schools is now the lowest in Southeast Asia. In 1997 Thailand was still in the forefront, but by 2001 Laos and Vietnam had caught up, and by mid 2004 were clearly in the lead. (SAMEO Conference, Singapore, April 2006).

Following the announcement of the University of Cambridge to launch a new course and qualification for non-native speaker teachers, a survey was carried out in February 2006, with the collaboration of the University of Cambridge as part of a field trial, by the country’s largest group of independent schools of its 400 or so teachers of English. The project reported that in over 60 percent of the teachers, the knowledge of the language and teaching methodology was well below that of the syllabus level which they were being expected to teach. Some teachers with a Grade 6 level - or lower - in the language were actually attempting to teach Grades 10, 11, and even 12. Of the remaining top 40 per cent, only 3 percent had a reasonable level of fluency and only 20 per cent were teaching grades for which they were correctly qualified and competent. For the most part, the level of spoken and written English was often incomprehensible to the native speaker designers and administrators of the project. Within the group of over 40 schools representing nearly 80,000 students in primary and secondary education, random parallel test groups of primary school pupils often scored higher in some tests than many of the teachers in other schools of the same group. The schools resisted the initiative of the central governing body to provide intensive upgrading programmes for the teachers. In spite of the evidence, the schools doubted the results, and to save face, argued that their teachers had qualified through their various universities and colleges and either had nothing more to learn or could not afford the time. In the government schools the situation is no better and many primary teachers freely admit that they are forced to teach English although they have little or no knowledge of the language whatsoever. A debate began in several circles as to whether teaching English badly during the most influential years is in fact better than not teaching it at all at primary level. The situation is further exacerbated by the ever-changing curriculum, which is frequently misinterpreted into syllabuses by the teachers themselves at levels often far too advanced for the cognitive development of the students.

Thousands of native English speakers are employed in public and private schools throughout the country, their existence being encouraged by the need to develop students’ oral expression and knowledge of foreign culture; much of their time however, is taken up with remedial teaching: putting right any grammar, orthography, pronunciation and cultural background that has been wrongly taught and which leads to great misunderstanding - they see this as a greater priority. The official version of English, although not always practical in its dispensation, is British. Qualified native teachers with a background in linguistics will ensure that students are exposed to both major variations of the language and understand them and their differences, whichever version the students choose to speak.

Language classes, sponsored by the governments of English speaking countries such as those provided by the British Council, enjoy an excellent reputation for quality, both for general English, and for the preparation for international exams such as the American English TOEFL and the British English IELTS, which are prerequisites for the entry into many professions, particularly aircrew and tourism. There is also no shortage of cramming schools, usually franchise chains, in the capital and larger cities, but although they are staffed mainly by highly motivated, qualified native speakers, and have excellent resources, they are often branded by cynics as ‘the McDonalds of English language’.

There has been a dramatic increase since 2000 in the number of Thailand based TEFL/TESOL (Teaching of English as a Foreign Language / Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher training institutions. Some dispense internationally recognised teaching certificates and diplomas which follow the courses of established universities, and some provide courses and certification franchised from other organisations and universities, still others dispense their own courses and certification. Whatever their claims, there is no single, internationally recognised accrediting body for the certificates. Currently, to teach English in established schools, public or private, the minimum academic qualification for native speakers to obtain the required government teacher licence is a bachelor degree - in any subject. However, the government is in the process of exercising greater control, particularly to combat the use of bogus certificates and degrees issued by diploma mills, and to prevent access to schools by persons with doubtful motives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Thailand

Thailand Beach

WELCOME TO THAILAND

"LAND OF SMILE'

Pattaya

Ko Lanta

Ko Samui

Ko Samet

Krabi

Phuket

Thailand Airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport, New Bangkok Airport, Thailand
Suvarnabhumi (pronounced “Su-Wana-Poom”) means “The Golden Land”.

Developing Thailand as the aviation and air transport hub of Southeast Asia is among the priorities set by the Royal Thai Government.

One of the ways this can be achieved is to develop Suvarnabhumi Airport to achieve the highest international standards, to ensure its support for the rapidly increasing air traffic demand corresponding to the need of aviation business worldwide. His Majesty the King has graciously conferred the name of �Suvarnabhumi Airport� which means the �Golden Land� and is located in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan province, covering an area of approximately 3,200 hectares.

The Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is due to replace the overloaded and unexpandable Bangkok International Airport (Don Muang), is scheduled to open in June 2006. However, this date may be delayed until September 2006 for testing and validation by ICAO.

The ‘New Bangkok International Airport’ company was formed in 1996 but due to political and economic chaos it took six years for construction to start. The new airport has also been delayed countless times due to cost overruns and construction problems.

The new airport is located on a boggy, 3,100ha site in the Samut Prakarn province of Thailand at Nong Ngu Hao (translated as Cobra Swamp), 30km east of Bangkok. Construction of Suvarnabhumi Airport began in January 2002.

Don Muang will be relegated to domestic-only status when the new airport opens. Don Muang is currently the world’s 22nd busiest airport and the busiest in Southeast Asia, but it has already reached its full capacity at over 37 million passengers per year.

Suvarnabhumi will be able to cope with 30 million passengers per year when it first opens, a figure which will be increased to 45 million within a short space of time. Following further expansion phases, including two additional runways, it will cater for over 100 million passengers per year.

Suvarnabhumi Airport Background

The plot of land occupied by the airport with an approximate area of 8,000 acres (324 km�) was purchased back in 1973, but the Thammasat student uprising on October 6 of the same year succeeded in overthrowing the military government of dictator Thanom Kittikachorn and the project was shelved.

After a series of ups and downs, the “New Bangkok International Airport” company (NBIA) was formed in 1996. Due to political and economic instabilities, notably the Asian financial crisis of 1997, the civil construction began only six years later in January 2002.

The airport is located in a once low-lying marsh, formerly known as (”Cobra Swamp”), which took about 5 years (1997 - 2001) to clear through land reclamation. In 2005, the construction supervision and management was transferred to the Airports of Thailand PLC, while the NBIA company was dissolved.

The airport was due to open in late 2005, but a series of budget overruns, construction flaws, political interference and allegations of corruption continues to plague the project, and after much speculation the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced that the airport would be open by September 2006 at the latest. Symbolic first test flights involving two Thai Airways aircraft were held on September 29, 2005, a previously announced deadline for opening.

The construction of the City Airport Terminal in Makkasan and a 28.6 km high-speed rail link to the new airport started in July 2005 and are planned for completion in November 2007, although this deadline, too, seems unlikely to be met.

The airport express, informally known as the Pink Line and operated jointly with SRT’s planned Red Line commuter service, will connect with the BTS Sukhumvit Line and MRT Blue Line at Phaya Thai and Phetchaburi stations respectively, offering airport-bound passengers a fast 15-minute limited stop journey from the city.

http://www.airportsuvarnabhumi.com/

Thailand Hotels

Chiang Mai is not only a large and ancient city of northern Thailand, but also a famous tourist destination. Historical places from the Lanna era as well as natural beauty, which allows for climbing, elephant riding, trekking an bicycling await tourists.
Chedi Chiang Mai : Amata Lanna : Yaang Come : Sofitel Riverside : Tea Vana : Holiday Inn : Ban Sabai : Bann Tazala : Amari Rincome : Tri Yaan Na Ros : Ayatana : Rachamankha : Baan Saen Doi : D2 Hotel : Puripunn : Mandarin Oriental : Sukantara : Huen Come : At Niman : Novotel Chiangmai : Muang Gudi : Tamarind Village : Belle Villa : Chiangmai Hills : Baan Namping : Imperial Chiang Mai : Baan Gong Kham : Pornping Tower : Lanna Mantra


Pattaya is 147 km. southeast of Bangkok. Pattaya features a wonderful natural bay and to the south a long, sandy beach known as Jomtien, offshore are more than a dozen islands which have amusement park, offbeat museums and lush botanical gardens offer numerous forms of leisure activities and cultural entertainment for all family members. And after dark, Pattaya offers all the allure and magic of a truly vibrant nightlife with a spectacular variety of restaurants, night clubs, bars, discotheques, cocktail lounges and cabarets.
Dusit Resort : Amari Orchid : Mantra Pura : Royal Cliff Beach : Hard Rock : Horseshoe Point : Siam Bayshore : Siam Bayview : Pattaya Marriott : The Montien : Rabbit Resort : Nirvana Boutique : Pinnacle Jomtien : Ambassador : Jomtien Garden : Jomtien Palm Beach : Eravana : Tropicana : Thai Garden : Cholchan : Woodlands : The Zign : Aisawan : Tim Boutique : Nirvana Place : Mike Garden : Royal Orchid : Sugar Hut : Momchailai : LK Royal Suite


Koh Samui is an island of natural beauty and charm, a place where you can have a wonderful holiday. Blue-sky days and a nice ocean breeze are the norm. Today tourist from the whole world go to this paradise. It's located in the Gulf of Siam and surrounded by over sixty other Islands, including Koh PhaNgan and Koh Tao.
Sila Evason : Samui Escape : Punnpreeda : Saboey : Lawana : Sunrise Villas : Villa Tanamera : Samui Palm Beach : Bandara : Anantara : Bo Phut Resort : Chaweng Resort : Samui Paradise : Cabana Grand View : Chaweng Bayview : Samui Natien : Baan Chaweng : Baan Samui : Chaweng Buri : Muang Kulaypan : Iyara : Kandaburi : Baan Haad Ngam : Buri Rasa : Villa Nalinnadda : Le Paradise : Samui Honey Tara : Pavilion Samui


Hua Hin is located about 200km south of Bangkok on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Hua Hin is the oldest beach resort in the Kingdom of Thailand. Hua Hin has many attractions for the tourist: Chinese new year, Songkran Festival, Loy Kratong, Hua Hin Jazz Festival, Hua Hin & Cha Am Golf Festival and the world famous Hua Hin Kings Cup Elephant Polo Tournament.
Dusit Resort : Springfield Village : Veranda Resort : Hua Hin Marriott : Wora Bura : Putahracsa Hua Hin : Hyatt Regency Hua Hin : Hilton Hua Hin : Sofitel Central Hua-Hin : Let`s Sea : Anantara : The Villas : Brassiere : Purimuntra : Aleenta : Evason Hideaway : Evason Hua Hin : Praseban : Privacy Beach : The Rock Hua Hin : Supatra Hua Hin : Pattawia : Casuarina : Ocean Breeze : Casa Papaya : Baan Talay Samran : Casa del Mare : Kaban Tamor


Bangkok is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities, known as "Krungthep" which means the City of Angels. Major tourism attractions include glittering Buddhist temples, palaces, timeless 'Venice of the East' canal and river scenes, classical dance extravaganzas, an almost legendary nightlife, and numerous air-conditioned shopping centers.
Novotel Suvarnabhumi : Royal Orchid Sheraton : Oriental : Bangkok Marriott : Amari Atrium : Shangri-La : Millenium Hilton : Peninsula : Baiyoke Sky : Pathumwan Princess : Sofitel Central Plaza : Amari Watergate : Four Seasons : Grand Hyatt Erawan : Banyan Tree : The Sukhothai : Novotel Bangkok : Grand Diamond : Intercontinental : Fraser Place : Landmark : Dusit Thani : JW Marriott : Sofitel Silom : The Eugenia : Rama Gardens : Centre Point Silom

Thailand Holidays

Holidays to Thailand launch an all-out assault on the senses. Whether you're being dazzled by the bright lights of Bangkok or wading through turquoise shallows in sun-kissed Phuket, this is one of those places that'll capture your imagination and steal your heart.

First things first, travel to Thailand and one of the first things you'll probably want to do is smooth on the suncream and sink into those sparkling sands. There's just one word to sum up Thai beaches – wow. Think ivory shores. Swaying palms. Bath-warm waters. You'll feel as though you've been dropped into a giant postcard.

If beach-lounging is your priority, take a look at Phuket, the pearl of Thailand's southern shores. It's beautiful beyond words, with milky-white sands melting into crystal waters. When it comes to somewhere to stay, Cape Panwa is a great choice. You'll find it on the southeast tip of the island, gazing out on glittering sands. And if you need further proof of its popularity, just take a look at its guest list. Pierce Brosnan, Leonardo di Caprio and Catherine Zeta Jones have all stayed here. Impressive credentials we think you'll agree. Patong Merlin is another star choice. It's just across the road from one of Phuket's biggest and most popular beaches so it's ideal if sunbathing tops your holiday wish list.

Away from Phuket, holidays in Thailand shine the spotlight on Krabi, a beach-rich slice that's got what it takes to wow you. Then there's Khao Lak, whose great sweep of sand gives way to a sea teeming with tropical fish.

But, of course, there's more to Thailand holidays than beaches. Like Bangkok, the country's sizzling capital for instance. Tick off a list of famous temples. Take a dizzying tuk tuk ride. And haggle your heart out in some of the most exciting markets in South East Asia.

Whether you're eyeing up sun-drenched summer holidays or pick-me-up winter breaks, we've got a great range of holidays to Thailand. And check out our late deals, too – we've got some bargain holidays to Thailand you'll love.

A word of warning though – one trip to this exotic pocket of southeast Asia is just never enough…

Find the cheapest late deals to Thailand leaving in the next six weeks.

http://www.thomson.co.uk

2008 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament

The event organiser Anantara Resorts announcced that the 2008 Thailand's highly popular King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament would take place from 31 March - 6 April in the northern-most region of the country popularly known as the Golden Triangle.

This annual event, ranked as the 6th largest event on theThai tourism calendar has, for the past five years, taken place in the royal saeside town of Hua Hin, situated 220km south of the Thai capital Bangkok. The tournament was introducted to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Vice-President, Chistopher Stafford and is a charitable event that raises money for the country's National Elephant Institute in Lampang , northern Thailand.

In just six years the King's Cup elephant Polo Tournament has gine from a small 2-day event with 6 teams into a week-long extravaganza, which in 2007 featured 12 teams encompassing 36 players from 15 countries. The Tourism Authority of Thailand supports the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament and spector entrance is free of change. The 2008 event will take place at the Anatara Resort Golden Triangle, driving less than an hour from Chaing Rai Internation Airport.

To date the tournament has raised over US$140,000 for the National Elephant Insitute, which provides medical care, sustenance, employment, welfare and mahout training to Thailand's elephant population. It is estimated that Thailand has around 2500 domesticated elephants and 1500 wild elephants. This is down from an elephant population of around 50,000 in 1950 and 100,000 in 1900.

The modern game of elephant polo was founded in Nepal in 1982 by Englishman Jim Edwords, ownedr of Tiger Tops Lodge in Nepal and James Manclark, a former British Olmpic bobsleigh competitor. The King's Cup elephant Polo Tournament is part of the World Elephant Polo Association World Series. The World Championships take place in Chitwan National Park, Nepal every Deceember and the Ceylon Elephant Polo tournament takes place each February in Sri Lanka's fort town of Galle.

2008 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Official Program

31st March 2008 – 6th April 2008

At Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, Chiang Rai

Poll: nearly half reject party dissolutions

BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) - Nearly half the respondents in a new Suan Dusit Poll disagree with dissolution of the three government-coalition parties for alleged involvement in electoral fraud cases.

The poll, conducted among 2,056 people nationwide March 20-22, found that some 45.5 per cent opposed dissolution of the three parties – People Power Party (PPP), Chart Thai and Matchimathipataya – of their alleged vote-buying in the last December general election.

They reasoned that such a dissolution would lead to further political turmoil, a worsening economy in Thailand and that the government would also need to invest a significant budget for new elections.

Over one in four persons interviewed -- 27.44 per cent -- said however that they believed the dissolution would foster more political transparency, while a slightly lower number, 27.11 per cen,t believed no gains would be realised because the accused politicians of dissolved parties would switch to other parties.

Over 41 per cent said punishment should be give the individual wrongdoers rather than on the entire political party, while 32 per cent said that parties should be dissolved if their executives were found guilty as stipulated by the Constitution.

Near two-thuirds -- 60 per cent -- of respondents said dissolution of the three parties in the coalition government, formed by PPP, could create trouble for the country as people opposing the ruling by the Supreme Court could protest the decision by marching in the streets.

The Election Commission is scheduled to decide early April whether the poll fraud alleged to have been conducted executives of Chart Thai and Matchimathipataya parties will lead to the parties' dissolution or not. (TNA)-E111

www.enew.mcot.net

Bangkok hosts india's OSCAR Awards

BANGKOK, March 22 (Bernama) -- The Thai capital will host the prestigious ninth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, the Bollywood equivalent of the Oscars, from June 6 to 8.

More than 500 Hindi film stars, directors and leading industry players from the world's top film producer will converge here for the three-day extragavanza.

Shefali Munshi, associate vice-president of Wizcraft International Entertainment, which is the rights holder and promoter of the event, said details of the films in the running for the top awards and the stars attending would be announced at press conferences in Mumbai on April 15 and here on April 30.

"This will be the first time that Bangkok is hosting the event. We can revisit the country but not the host city," said Shefali, who is here to finalise venues and other preparations for the event.

According to IIFA, the event has brought immense benefits to the host country in terms of tourism and the film industry.

It said the number of Indian visitors to Malaysia rose by 35 per cent and Indian occupancy at Genting Highlands went up by 190 per cent in the year after the staging of the event, which showcases the cream of Indian cinema and provides a platform for the country's film fraternity to globalise their products.

Thailand, which is one of the favourite shooting locations for Indian films, attracted 510,000 Indian tourists last year and is aiming for more than 600,000 this year.

Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador of the IIFA.

Besides the awards ceremony, the IIFA also incorporates a global business forum and workshop. (Bernama)

www.enews.mcot.net

Thai Queen set to leave hospital today

BANGKOK, March 23 (TNA) -- Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was expected to leave hospital later Sunday following a good recovery from a cold and bronchitis, according to the latest announcement issued on Sunday by the Royal Household Bureau.

The statement said the Queen would be discharged from the state-run Chulalongkorn Hospital after her condition had improved significantly.

However, doctors at the hospital advised her to temporarily refrain from daily activities until she was fully recovered, the statement said.

The 75-year-old Queen was admitted to the hospital on March 9.

The announcement – which will be the last one – said the Queen also thanked those who had signed condolence books while she was receiving treatment at the hospital. (TNA) – E111

www.enews.mcot.net

Thai advertising business to grow 7-8% in 2008

BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) - Thailand's advertising business, languishing during the past two years due to the country's ongoing political uncertainty, is expected to enjoy growth of around 7-8 per cent in 2008, a senior official in the industry said.

Witawat Jayapani, president of the Advertising Association of Thailand, said that the confidence of manufacturers had improved since the country now has an elected government.

Goods producers are now able to lay out business plans several months in advance while they could only map out short-term plans when the country encountered political problems, Mr. Witawat said.

Advertising business growth during the first quarter this year retreated some 7 per cent as the new government was being formed but it is hoped that the business would rebound during the current summer and during the Songkran festival, Thailand's traditional New Year which falls in mid-April, and would become bullish later this year, he said.

It is projected that advertising business would grow between 7-8 per cent with earnings estimated at Bt92 billion this year, surpassing growth of between 3-4 per cent in 2007, he said. Normally, advertising business usually grows not less than 10 per cent annually but it fell in the past two years.

Skin care product advertisements topped the advertising users chart during the first quarter of 2008 followed by cell phone and automobile advertisements, he said. (TNA)-E111

www.enews.mcot.net

Thai PM holds talks with Singapore leaders

SINGAPORE, March 19 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Wednesday met his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong and President S.R. Nathan during his three-day official visit to the island state.

Mr. Samak said the Thai government had thanked Singapore for hiring 47,000 Thai labourers to work in Singapore, which was enhancing Thai labour force skills.

He said Singapore understood the political situation in Thailand, including an ongoing probe by the Election Commission into the People Power Party (PPP), for allegedly acting as a nominee of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party.

Mr. Samak is the PPP leader while the TRT, dissolved after the September 2006 coup, was headed by then premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Singapore is confident to invest in Thailand. Our tourism potential will also draw Singaporeans to Thailand," he added.

The premier's visit to Singapore is the fourth leg of his tour of Southeast Asian countries to introduce himself and to strengthen relations with the neighbouring countries after he took the post as Prime Minister following the December 2007 general election.

He visited Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar earlier this month. (TNA) -E004

www.enews.mcot.net

Mekong River International Multi-sport Championship

Mekong River International Multi-sport Championship

Date : 28-30 March 2008

Venue : Chiang Rai

Take in the triathlon races on the longest river in Southeast Asia. Partake in the organized trip “Gateway to Indochina”. Enjoy the food festival and beautiful cultural shows.

Contact : TAT Northern

Office : Region 2 Tel : 0 5371 7433, 0 5374 4674-5

Website : www.thaitriathlon.org

Tibet protest at Chinese embassy seeks Beijing Olympics boycott

BANGKOK, March 19 (TNA) - About a dozen demonstrators staged a protest at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, calling for the Thai government to condemn China's Tibet crackdown and boycott this year's Olympic Games in Beijing.

A force of about 30 Thai police officers reinforced security at the Chinese embassy and erected barricades in response to the protest by the Free Tibet Network and the Federation of Students for Democracy led by Giles Ungphakorn, a social activist.

The demonstrators called for the Chinese government to cease its alleged violations of human rights and to refrain from using violence on the Tibetan demonstrators.

They asked the Thai government to issue a statement condemning the Chinese government and to boycott the Beijing Olympics in August by not sending Thai athletes to compete in the games.

Worldwide protests over China's crackdown in Tibet are spreading, putting pressure on Beijing's Communist leaders just months ahead of their showpiece Olympic Games in August.

China has denied any wrongdoing and has blamed Tibetans for the unrest. The protests began on 10 March, on the anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, and gradually escalated.

Tibetan exiles say at least 99 protesters have died in clashes - in Lhasa and beyond - with authorities. China says 13 people were killed by rioters in Lhasa. (TNA)-E004

www.enews.mcot.net

Government OKs budget deficit of Bt294.5 billion for fiscal 2009

BANGKOK, March 19 (TNA) – The Thai government has approved its Finance Ministry's proposed budget of Bt1.84 trillion for fiscal 2009, including a deficit of Bt294.5 billion.

Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said the cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved in principle a budget of Bt 1.84 trillion, up Bt175 billion from that of Fiscal 2008.

It represents a budget deficit of Bt249.5 billion or 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which meets the ceiling of fiscal sustainability.

He projected the country's economy would grow 5.5 per cent in GDP of Bt10.65 trillion and an inflation rate of 3.5 per cent.

Mr Surapong said the budget deficit was set to meet the fiscal sustainability ceiling because it is the first year the government must earmark up to Bt31.9 billion of the budget to offset a shortfall in the country's fiscal coffers as required under the 2007 constitution.

He viewed the economy would continue to grow since the government had come up with various economic stimulus measures.

Mr Surapong said the first set of the economic stimulus package was aimed at jumpstarting purchasing power and boosting confidence in investment and spending.

The second package will focus on human resources development and training to increase competence for production of value-added products and boost incomes for communities. (TNA)-E005

www.enews.mcot.net

Bangkok governor steps aside from work during corruption probe

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) – Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin has suspended his role amid a corruption probe regarding a controversial fire truck and boat procurement.

The charge was pressed against him, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, and four other persons by the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

Mr. Apirak said he will submit a letter to the AEC for more details about the charge on Thursday, he said adding that he was ready to clarify himself as he had worked with prudence and transparency since he took the post in September 2004.

Speaking about the controversial fire truck and boat procurement, he said he had referred the case to the Interior Ministry in its role as endorser of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and set up a committee to consider whether or not to honour the contract.

The suspension will allow him to acknowledge the charges and ensure to the public that there will be no intervention in the scrutinising processes.

"It's (both) my personal standpoint and (that of) the Democrat Party. I talked to Abhisit (opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva). That's the sign of an ethically guided politician, one who is ready to step back from his role until the final verdict is reached without waiting for any request from the public," he said.

Mr. Abhisit said that the Democrat Party has followed up this matter and he confirmed that Mr. Apirak is concerned about the benefit to the public.

Mr. Apirak had raised questions regarding the firetruck and boat procurement contracts.

He talked to many officials and had received confirmation from all agencies that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) needed to proceed with the contract, or otherwise the BMA would be sued.

The case involves the purchase of 315 firefighting trucks and 30 boats at what is alleged to have been an inflated price of Bt6.7 billion. Mr. Samak was governor at the time of the purchase and Mr. Apirak later signed a letter of credit. (TNA)-E004

http://www.enews.mcot.net/

Oil price surge can deter economic recovery, says BoT

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) – Surging oil prices could deter the country's economic recovery and fuel rising inflation, according to the Bank of Thailand.

Siripan Nakornthap, head of the economic analysis team of BoT's Local Economy Department, said in an article on Thailand's "Energy Policy in Time of Major Oil Price Rises"' that the price of crude oil price had surged to US$109 per barrel at present and is likely to further rise to $120 per barrel within this year.

Many have begun to worry that the continued increase in the crude price will affect Thailand's economic recovery, particularly local consumption which is seen as picking up in the fourth quarter of last year and the first month of this year.

It might have a domino effect on production and employment, leading to a less-than-expected degree of recovery in the economy.

In addition, it could worsen inflationary pressure if the crude price continued its surge.

She said her team saw a need for the government to implement an alternative energy policy.

However, the government must realise the policy implementation would fuel rising energy plant prices, which could then have an impact on food prices.

She said her team supported the oil price subsidy because it could help ease impacts of the fuel price surge.

Such a price support subsidy should not last long because it requires a substantial budget, and additionally, it would not encourage the production sector to adjust to the realities of a changing environment.

Finally, it would undermine the country's econoimic and export competitiveness.

To address the problem in the long term, the team suggested that the government set aside a budget to invest in construction of the mass transit system, encourage the private sector to reduce energy consumption in the production process, and promote energy-saving campaigns. (TNA)-E005

www.enews.mcot.net

Thailand to import generic drug from India

BANGKOK, March 11 (TNA) - Thailand's Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) will import the generic version of breast cancer drug Docetaxel from India under Thailand's compulsory licensing (CL) as it was 100-times cheaper than the original version, a senior GPO official said on Tuesday.

In response to the Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap's Monday announcement of a go ahead with the CL policy on four cancer drugs, Wanchai Supachaturas, the GPO deputy director, said the Indian-based company Dabur Pharma would soon be able to deliver the first batch of the drug to treat some 1,000 lung and breast cancer patients.

The Indian-based company, which recently won the GPO-sponsored bidding to distribute the drug under the CL policy, has offered to sell the drug for Bt15,000 (US$468) per dose, or 100 times cheaper than the patented version, said the GPO deputy director.

Mr. Wanchai stressed the GPO drug procurement process was carried out on a non-profit basis only for the benefits of poor patients.

The agency, he said, would also go ahead with a plan to import the generic versions of the other two cancer drugs--Erlotinib and Letrozole.

Former public health minister Dr. Mongkol Na Songkhla on January 4 announced the CL policy to override the patents on the four cancer drugs because the patent owners refused to lower prices after many rounds of negotiations with the price-negotiation panel led by former Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Siriwat Thiptaradol.

Earlier, Novartis (Thailand), patent owner of the life-saving drug Imatinib agreed to provide the medicine free to some patients under the universal healthcare scheme in exchange for Thailand opting to not issue compulsory licences on the drug.

The company would provide Imatinib for patients suffering from leukaemia and gastrointestinal cancer without charge under the Glivec International Patient Assistance Programme (GIPAP).

The free access to the life-saving drugs will be given to those patients who have household income per year less than Bt 1.7 million (US$51,515). (TNA)-E001

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Chiang Mai smog expected to ease in several days

CHIANG MAI, March 7 (TNA) – Chiang Mai's governor on Friday insisted the level of smog in the city was not critical and expressed confidence that the province's air quality would soon improve.

Gov. Wiboon Sanguanpong said even when the situation improves, no kind of burning was permitted in open areas. He had asked the nearby provincial administrations to prevent possible burning during the coming days.

However, the level of dust particles measured Friday morning was at 141 microgrammes per cubic metre, above the maximum safe level of 120 mg.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai municipality officials have been spraying water three times a day around the city's heavily-travelled roads alongside the historic moats, to reduce toxic fumes and dust particles in the air.

Pollution Control Department director-general Supat Wangwongwatana said weather conditions were improving due to falling temperature.

"The situation this year was not as critical as that of last year as the rain helped increase the humidity. Moreover, many related agencies have worked closely together to control possible wildfires, open-air burning and toxic fumes emitted by vehicles," the director-general said.

Mr. Supat added, as part of the campaign to reducing pollution in Chiang Mai city, car users would soon have to pass a toxic fumes emission test. (TNA)-E110

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Finance minister willing to accept opposition's stimulus measures

BANGKOK, March 7 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee on Friday expressed his willingness to accept the economic stimulus approaches proposed by the single opposition Democrat Party, saying he believed the packages initiated by the government and opposition could be well-integrated to boost the economy.

He said he welcomed the Democrat's shadown finance minister Korn Chatikavanich's move to propose economic stimulus measures because the government wanted to see reconciliation among all parties so that they could jointly drive ahead the country in a constructive manner.
Dr. Surapong said he had monitored the proposed measures through mass media channels and found that many are in harmony with those of the government.

Previously, the government had come up with tax measures to promote investment and reduce the cost of living.

He said that other stimulus measures to be announced during this month to help boost the grass-roots economy include the village fund, the small-, medium-, and large-scale (SML) enterprise fund, and a debt moratorium for farmers.

These measures, if implemented, would help create new jobs for residents in localities and would stimulate the economy in local communities.

He added he had monitored possible repercussions from the end of capital controls end during the first four days after the measure was lifted and found it had not caused panic as many worried.

The baht had fluctuated so slightly and no foreign capital had flowed into the country for speculation on the currency following the lifting of the measure, he said, adding that it resulted partly from the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand's proper contingency measures to rein in the currency volatility. (TNA)-E005

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Anti-Thaksin camp vows to launch counter-campaign

BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA) – A coalition of opponents of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his political allies warned on Wednesday of an imminent unrest as a result of the recent government move to purge a number of senior government officials and interfere in judicial procedure, vowing to launch its campaign to counter the powers-that-be.

The Peoples' Alliance for Democracy (PAD) issued its second statement entitled "Here Comes the Chaos", accusing the government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej of insulting the public through its recent decisions, specifically the appointment of some members to the Cabinet and legislature with "unclean" track records, unfair transfers of some senior government officials and interference in the judiciary procedure in connection with corruption cases against the former prime minister.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila read a statement accusing Mr. Thaksin of pulling the strings behind the People Power Party (PPP), the leading party in the six-party coalition government

The statement claimed such moves were aimed to provoke social and political turmoil prior to a military reshuffle that might culminate in another coup to override the remaining coup-making council orders under which Mr. Thaksin may be put on trial.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee denied the accusation, saying the government would never stage a putsch to help Mr. Thaksin evade prosecution.

The PAD also announced that it would soon call a meeting of key members in all 76 provinces to plan a strategy to counter-balance and scrutinise the state authorities and follow up the progress of prosecution of the ex-premier.

Mr. Thaksin and his wife Pojaman are facing corruption and conflict of interest charges in connection with the purchase of a prime piece of Bangkok real estate in 2003, while he was prime minister.

The Supreme Court released him on an Bt8 million (US$267,000) bail and set a trial date on March 12.

The former prime minister was barred from leaving the country unless he first receives court permission.

The Attorney General's Office freed him on one million baht (US$33,530) bail in a second case in which he and his wife are accused of concealing ownership of shares in SC Asset, the family's property development company.

A hearing on whether Mr. Thaksin will be indicted was set for April 3. (TNA)-E001

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Energy Ministry to consider easing diesel price burden

BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA) – Thailand's Energy Ministry will submit three approaches for reducing diesel fuel prices to the National Energy Policy Committee for consideration next Wednesday.

Speaking after meeting with senior ministry officials, Energy Minister Lt-Gen. Poonpirom Liptapanlop said the ministry would seek committee deliberation on three options to lower diesel prices next week.

The first is to give up the proposed collection of an oil surcharge of 0.50 baht per litre to the Fund for Energy Conservation Promotion to be used to build electric rail routes because it remains unclear which form of funds the government would mobilise to finance construction.

The second measure is to scrap the collection of the oil surcharge of 0.10 baht per litre for the State Oil Fund.

The third is to move money from the Oil Fund to subsidise diesel prices by at least 0.30 baht per litre.

She said the ministry saw a need to propose the changes because oil prices had increased to record high levels. In particular, the diesel prices had now surged to US$110 per barrel. (TNA)-E005

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Baht continues to move in narrow range after capital control lifting

BANGKOK, March 3 (TNA) – The Thai baht continued to stay at around 31.50 to the US dollar in the Monday’s morning trading session after the Bank of Thailand’s decision to lift the 30 per cent reserve requirement took effect, according to a money dealer at Bank of Ayudhya Plc.

The dealer said the baht still moved in a narrow range near the level of last Friday’s close since the market waited to see the central bank’s contingency measures to rein in the currency volatility.

However, it is expected the baht would further appreciate because of foreign capital inflow and a dumping of the US dollar by exporters, who are afraid the baht would continue to strengthen.
Under the circumstance, the baht had an opportunity to appreciate further and break through the level of 31 to the dollar.

Charoen Iam-pattanatham of KTB Securities Co, projected more money would flow into the Stock Exchange of Thailand following the central bank’s move to end the capital control.

However, it remained to be seen whether the SET index would rise since the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged on Friday’s night and other regional markets plummeted in pursuit of the US stock market in the morning trading session.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Surapong Suebwonglee on Monday voiced confidence the baht would become stable within one week following the lifting of the capital control.

Commenting on the baht movement at around 31.50 to the dollar in the morning trading session, he said the central bank must closely supervise the currency to ensure it is stronger than other currencies in the region.

He believed investors and players in the money market would understand the situation soon and the currency volatility would ease within one week

Regarding news about the ousting of BoT’s Governor Tarisa Watanagase, he said he did not know where the news came from.

He affirmed the Finance Ministry and the central bank had coordinated performance efficiently. So, he saw "no need for a change of the central bank’s governor for now." (TNA) – E005

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Thai PM visits Cambodia to strengthen bilateral relations

BANGKOK, March 3 (TNA) – Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej began his second official trip abroad, leaving for Cambodia on Monday morning.

The prime minister and his delegation left for Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, Monday morning on a two-day visit, after having made his first visit abroad since assuming the premiership in an official visit to Laos last weekend.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said the Thai premier's visit to Cambodia was aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries Gen. Anupong Paochinda, Thailand's Army chief, who also accompanied the prime minister, said the main issue to be discussed with Cambodian authorities is border demarcation, which has not achieved much progress in the past.

Among the agenda items is the Cambodian request for a loan from Thailand to build a road with the budget of Bt1.4 billion (currently US$43.75 million).

Land development, oil and gas exploration in disputed, overlapping Thai-Cambodian geographic areas, are expected to be dealt with on the agenda, said Mr. Noppadon.

Speaking about the ancient Preah Vihear Khmer temple ruins, which Cambodia has proposed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for designation as a World Heritage site, Mr. Noppadon said Thailand can discuss the issue to reach a solution with the neighbouring country. However, Cambodia said the issue won't be considered.

"The International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled (in 1962) that Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia, but the move by Cambodia to push the temple on the UNESCO World Heritage list should neither affect Thailand's rights in the overlapping zone nor at the border," the Thai foreign minister said. (TNA)-E004

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Thai central bank lifts capital controls Monday

BANGKOK, Feb 29 (TNA) – After a year of implementing reserve witholding measure, by which Thailand forced investors to hold in reserve 30 per cent of all short-term capital flowing into the country, the Bank of Thailand (BoT), the country's central bank, acted Friday to remove the measure, effective Monday.

BoT Governor Tarisa Watanagase announced the lifting of the controversial measures to take effect March 3, ending the regime of the unremunerated reserve requirement (URR) after nearly 15 months in effect, a measure that was introduced to rein in the volatility of the Thai baht when demand was falling and "robust export growth was the main driver of the economy".

Political and economic players alike have both supported and condemned both the initiation the measures, and the ending of their implementation.

Stating that the country's economic performance in the last quarter of 2007 and in January this year indicated that the time was right to withdraw the measures, Mrs. Tarisa indicated Friday that the time had arrived.

"Foreign exchange inflows/outflows have become more balanced', according to a BoT statement, with a moderate trade account surplus in January 2008, increasing Thai investments abroad, and regulations permitting residents to deposit foreign currencies as of this month.

The appreciation of the baht – whether it will continue, and by how much – is at issue.

Mrs. Tarisa told a press conference that the controversial capital controls the BoT had imposed to restrain the country's currency from getting too strong had done the job they were intended to do.

The BoT's move follows the policy of the new government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to remove the controls.

The central bank's web site is carrying notification of the lifting of the URR measures, rules for non-resident baht accounts and related matters at www.bot.or.th. (TNA)-E006

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Thai Prime Minister visits Laos and Cambodia

BANGKOK, Feb 29 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej began a series of visits to introduce himself and his government's policies to ASEAN member countries with a trip to the neighbouring countries of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and the Kingdom of Cambodia from February 29 through March 4.

PM Samak and his entourage left Bangkok Friday morning for Vientiane to visit Laos between February 29-March 1 to strengthen diplomatic relations and cooperation with Thailand's neighbour.

Mr. Samak and his Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh were scheduled to hold bilateral talks regarding road links and energy cooperation.

The prime minister will also discuss with senior Lao officials current concerns in Thai foreign policy to have close links with ASEAN member countries.

He was also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.

On Saturday morning, Mr. Samak will meet Thai officials and the locally resident Thai community at the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane.

The prime minister will return to Bangkok Saturday afternoon and the second leg of his ASEAN neighbour visits starts Monday with a visit to Cambodia.

Mr. Samak and his delegation will leave for Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, early Monday morning.

Thai Prime Minister and Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, will co-chair a bilateral meeting in the late afternoon, and Mr.Samak will fly back to Thailand on Tuesday. (TNA)-E003

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Baht hits new high as market readies for capital controls end

BANGKOK, Feb 29 (TNA) – The Thai baht hit a new high again in Thursday's trading session because there is an expectation in the market that the central bank will scrap the 30 per cent reserve requirement, according to Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase.

She said the baht strengthened and broke through 31.99 to the US dollar compared with a range of 32.085-32.105 to the dollar on Wednesday, it's strongest level in 10 and a half years.

Mrs. Tarisa attributed the continued baht rise to the market expectation that BoT would call off the reserve withholding measure.

However, she said, the local currency had strengthened in conjunction with other regional markets.

The previous government imposed currency controls in December 2006 in an attempt to halt the baht's rapid rise against the dollar. The measure caused the biggest single-day drop in the Thai stock market in late 2006, with losses worth 203 billion dollars. Relaxations have since been made to the currency rules.

Mrs. Tarisa said should anyone want to know whether the central bank had intervened in the baht movement for now, they could see data on the country's international reserve through the website of the bank.

She reiterated the bank's supervision and management policies would remain unchanged.
Regarding a comment by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the BoT is indecisive and uncertain in the scrapping of the capital controls, she said it is a difference of perspectives.

However, she reasserted that what the central bank would do must benefit all parties. (TNA)-E005

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Ex-PM Thaksin vows to fight charges, restore reputation

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (TNA) - Thailand's ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, repeating his intention to refrain from politics, announced Thursday he would spend his time back in the country fighting charges against him and restoring his tarnished reputation.

Flanked by his wife Pojaman and three children, Mr. Thaksin told a press conference at the luxurious Peninsula Hotel that he felt disheartened to have his fingerprints taken before the authorities as if he was a "vital criminal."

He disclosed that he wanted to return to his homeland the next day after the September 19, 2006 coup but the situation was far from normal at that time.

"I have to apologise for what has happend in Thailand. I have finally decided to return home in light of the relaxing situation after the [December 23] general election," Mr. Thaksin said on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport on a Thai Airways International flight from Hong Kong Thursday morning.

The deposed premier called on anyone who has been worried about his political rivalry or revenge to take it easy for he has decided to live a peaceful and constructive life.

"I'm 59 years old and life is not that long," said the former prime minister. "My utmost desire is to spend a happy life with my family. I want to work for charity and sports"

Mr. Thaksin apologised to well-wishers at the airport for not stopping by to talk to them because "I didn't feel comfortable with the security system."

He added that he wanted Thailand to be back on its own feet given the mounting economic concerns the country has been encountering, whether the subprime crisis or the rising oil prices.

Mr. Thaksin and his family later moved to a luxury suite at the Peninsula where they would stay overnight. It was reported that he has booked 11 rooms, each Bt106,000 (US$ 3,312) a night, on the 33rd-35th floors. (TNA)

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Thai ex-PM returns home amid tight security

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (TNA)--Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to his homeland amid tight security Thursday morning, ending 17 months of self-imposed exile abroad since the Sept ember 2006 military coup that ousted him from the country's leadership. Once stepping on the Thai soil, Mr. Thaksin knelt down, placed both his hands on the ground and bowed down.

At least 600 policemen were deployed at Suvarnabhumi airport where a large crowd of Thaksin supporters, many of them carrying placards welcoming him back, waited anxiously for his arrival.

Mr. Thaksin, accompanied by his aides and a group of journalists, travelled from Hong Kong on a Thai Airways International flight TG603. He was welcomed at Suvarnabhumi airport by members of the present and previous cabinets.

The ex-premier went directly from Suvarnabhumi airport to the Supreme Court and was scheduled to move later to the Office of the Attorney-General to surrender himself to the authorities to fight malfeasance charges.

The Supreme Court's Crime Division for Holders of Political Positions has issued an arrest warrant for Mr Thaksin over the 772-million-baht purchase of Bangkok prime land from the Financial Institutions Development Fund in 2003. The Assets Examination Committee found that he used his position to influence the deal.

The Department of Special Investigation has charged Mr. Thaksin and his wife Pojaman for allegedly concealing ownership of shares in family business, SC Asset. (TNA)

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Diesel price hits new high; traders raise fuel prices again

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (TNA) – The price of diesel fuel in Thailand reached a new high of almost 30 baht per litre as oil traders raised fuel prices in all categories of petroleum and its byproducts by 0.40 baht per litre on the continued rise in global fuel prices.

Effective before dawn at 5 am Thursday morning, premium and regular gasoline prices at all service stations in metropolitan Bangkok edged up to 33.59 and 32.49 baht per litre.
Prices of premium and regular gasohol as well as diesel went up to 29.59, 28.79, and 29.94 baht per litre respectively.

The latest fuel price increase was mainly attributed to higher oil prices overseas as the crude price surged by US$2.2 to $101.43 per barrel, and refined gasoline and diesel prices in Singapore rose to $109.42 and $115.73 per barrel.

Anusorn Saengnimnual, president of Bangchak Petroleum Plc, said the company and other oil traders are ready to cooperate with the government in containing energy prices to ensure that the public gets the least burden and traders are commercially viable.

He said the firm is willing to bring cooking gas derived from oil refining for local sale although prices do not reflect the actual cost. (TNA)-E005

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EC resolves to disqualify House speaker Yongyuth

BANGKOK, Feb 26 (TNA) – Thailand's Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday resolved to disqualify House Speaker and President of Parliament Yongyuth Tiyapairaj for alleged election fraud in his electoral constituency in the northern province of Chiang Rai.

The disqualification of Mr. Yongyuth could also lead to the dissolution of the ruling party.

Speaking after the meeting of EC, Somchai Chuengprasert, commissioner in charge of investigations, said the five-member commission ruled with a majority vote of 3 to 2 to petition the Supreme Court's Election Frauds Department to nullify Mr. Yongyuth's victory and remove his election right for alleged election vote-rigging.

He said the petition would be submitted together with the EC's comments to the department within two weeks.

Should the court accept the petition, Mr. Yongyuth's duty as House Speaker and President of Parliament must be immediately suspended although he would be allowed to retain his seat pending a verdict.

If the court upholds the EC's decision to disqualify him, he would lose his parliamentary seat and face a five-year ban from the electoral process, he said.

EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn said the commission also resolved to give a yellow card to Mr. Yongyuth's younger sister La-ong Tiyaparaj, who is a member of parliament of the ruling Palang Prachon Party for the connected election violation in her constituency in Chiang Rai. The decision would lead to a by-election in the constituency.

Since Mr. Yongyuth is concurrently a PPP executive, the EC is obliged to form an investigative committee to see whether his alleged violations were linked to the party.

Should the linkage be suspected, the EC must petition the Constitution Court to rule whether the party should be dissolved. (TNA)-E005

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Bring back investors

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said at Post Forum 2008 that he is telling foreign investors that democracy is restored in Thailand and the country wants to welcome them back.

Mr Noppadon also called on the public to judge the achievements of the ministry, not its policy.

He then touched on the policy of the Foreign Ministry, and explained that it is written based on the wants and needs of people and the country.

He also said he is expected to travel a lot to create a better understanding about Thailand among foreigners after the military coup.

Mr Noppadon used a relation between Thailand and Singapore as an example. He said the relation with the city state has been improved, and Singapore investors will travel to Thailand to discuss with the government further investment in April.

He also mentioned his plan to push Thai embassies to become business centres.

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Thailand, The Land of Smiles

The Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. Thailand borders Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to the south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west. Vietnam is a close neighbor of Thailand. Thailand means โ€œFree Landโ€.

Thailand was known as Siam until 1939. Thailand is also known as the land of white elephants. The White Elephant have always been important symbol of royal power in Thailand.

Thailand is also dubbed as โ€œthe Land of Smilesโ€ after the perceived gentleness of its inhabitants. Thailand is truly the โ€œLand of Smilesโ€. A smile seems to be a continuous part of life in Thailand.

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Udon and Ubon are the main cities of Thailand. Patong, Karon beach in Phuket, Pattaya, Khao Lak, chiang mai and Sukhothai Historical Park are famous places in thailand.

Bangkok is the capital as well as the largest city of Thailand. Chiang Mai and the northern Thailand region are part of the infamous Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle is the term used for the meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Chiang Mai is located on the serene Mai Ping River in a beautiful mountain valley. Chiang Mai is a modern city surrounding the ancient walled & moated city.

Thailand is one of the hottest sex tourism destinations of the world. Tourism is one of the corner stones of Thai economy.

The flights to thailand are available from all over the globe. Bangkok International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport are the major airports in Thailand.

Bangkok International Airport, also known, as Don Muang International Airport or Don Mueang is an airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Itโ€™s an important hub of Asia and the hub of Thai Airways International and it serves the most air traffic in Thailand.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, also New Bangkok International Airport or Second Bangkok International Airport is the new international airport of bangkok, Thailand. The airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, some 25 kilometers east of Bangkok.

Chiang Mai International Airport is the major gateway to the north of Thailand. Air Asia, Air Mandalay, Angel Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Lao Aviation, LTU International, Malaysia Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, Nok Air, PB Air, Phuket Air, Silkair and Thai Airways International serve Chiang Mai International Airport.

Chiang Rai International Airport is located in Chiang Rai in the north of Thailand. It is located about 8 kilometers from the city center. The airlines that serve the airport include Thai Airways International, Angel Airlines, Air Asia and One-Two-GO.

The Phuket International Airport, the airport in phuket, Thailand, is served by Air Asia, Air China, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, China Airlines, Bal Air, Britannia Airways, Britannia (Sweden), Condor Flugdienst, Far Eastern Air, Finnair, Dragonair, Lauda Air, LTU, Malaysia Airlines, Nova Airlines, Phuket Air, Premi Air, Silkair, Thai Airways International, Tiger Airways, Trans Asia Airways and Uni Airways.

About Author: The author owns a website on flights to thailand, offering volumes of info on cheap flights thailand and valuable tips to take thailand flight, cheap flight thailand, thailand domestic flights etc. You can get more information about Thailand Flights from his site.

The Sights of Bangkok in Thailand

The Sights of Bangkok in ThailandBy Clint Leung

One of the most popular destinations in Asia to visit over recent years has been Thailand. This of course has also coincided with the booming popularity of Thai cuisine around the world. Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is the main entry point where the vast majority of tourists to Thailand will use.

Bangkok is a very interesting city because in addition to the usual modern buildings of offices, hotels and shopping centers, there are also about 400 exotic Thai temples that seem to stick out among the urban landscape. There are Thai citizens on the streets dressed in modern business clothing as well as Buddhist monks in saffron robes. Yet this is what part of Thailand is. The traditional mixed in with the modern. In fact, itโ€™s the traditional attractions that make Thailand so magical. The temples are sights that one just cannot see in the western world. They are like objects that popped out of an Asian fairy tale.

Like many other large Asian cities, Bangkok is congested with traffic, people and pollution. In fact, the air can be bad enough that there are locals wearing surgical masks in the streets. With an average annual temperature of 28 degrees Celsius or 83 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be somewhat uncomfortable outside for some tourists, especially those from northern climates. Also beware that there will be people on the streets who will try to hustle tourists and direct them to their own businesses and tours. But unlike places in the Caribbean, Thais are polite and not aggressive people. For example, once upon arrival at the international airport, there will be people within the terminal including the ones at the booths who will be offering taxi transportation to your hotel. Although these are legit, they will charge a premium compared to the taxis waiting outside the terminal. There is a similar situation at the hotels. The taxis waiting right outside the main hotel entrances do seem to quote more than those waiting on the side streets just further down. The three-wheeled โ€˜tuk tukโ€™ vehicles also vary a lot so it may be wise to ask for quotes from a few drivers rather than taking the first one you see. The tuk tuks are a fun ride by the way so they should be experienced at least once while in Bangkok. The city also has various public buses and river taxis which are long boats used on the river canal system. A nice way to spend some time is to take a ride on one of these river taxis to cruise the canals which some refer to as the โ€˜Venice of the Eastโ€™.

The Grand Palace is probably the most visited attraction in Bangkok. This complex is surrounded by walls built in 1783 and contains government offices, royal residences monuments and the Emerald Buddha Chapel. The Royal Chapel which contains the Emerald Buddha is the monarchโ€™s private chapel. The Buddha itself is actually a one piece jade sitting on top of a golden altar. Itโ€™s not a large Buddha but it is very special. Apparently, they change the Buddhaโ€™s clothing which is also made of gold on a seasonal basis. There are numerous monuments on the grounds that are dedicated to past monarchs. Walls with large mythological scenes are displayed throughout. The buildings and monuments within the Grand Palace have some very striking colors including golds and greens. Gold color is used quite a lot and the distinctively curved Thai roofs on the buildings are very detailed. Equally stunning are some of the interiors of these buildings with their magnificent rooms and halls used for different ceremonies and events. Some of these halls have special royal altars.

One temple not to miss is Wat Pho which is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. It features a giant Buddha lying on its side. Even the soles of this Buddhaโ€™s feet have very intricately detailed designs. Other nice temples to see are Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple). The Wat Pho temple has traditional Thai massage services which are very popular among tourists. Other temples such as Wat Mahathat and Wat Parinayok also have Thai massages available. The Royal Barges or long boats which are used during ceremonies on the river are also nice to see. The details put into decorating these boats are just remarkable.

For wildlife enthusiasts, thereโ€™s the Pasteur Instituteโ€™s Snake Farm where poisonous snakes are fed daily and visitors can watch handlers milk cobras for their venom. There is also the worldโ€™s largest Crocodile Farm. The national sport of Thai kickboxing can be seen at two different stadiums in Bangkok. Both the Ratchadamnoen and Lumphini stadiums feature events throughout the week on different days. Thai theatre and traditional dance are very interesting to watch as cultural entertainment. These can be seen at theatres as well as some of the top hotels in the city.

Bangkok has some good shopping opportunities especially for jewelry, handicrafts and textiles including silks as well as cottons. As in other locations in Asia, vendors in the streets will expect some bargaining of prices where the retail stores have fixed prices. Just like in Hong Kong, Bangkok has many custom tailors who can make suits, shirts and dresses for clients within 24 hours. Some will even delivery the finished clothing to your hotel free of charge.

There are some general guidelines of etiquette in Thailand that should be followed by all visitors. The Thai royal family is revered in this country so no outsider should ever make any even slightly negative remarks about the countryโ€™s monarchy. Temples should not be entered unless one is covered with long pants or skirts. Shorts and shoulderless tops are not permitted in temples. Footwear is always removed prior to entering any temple. Images and statues of Buddha, even postcards, are considered sacred in Thailand so one should never climb on one or do anything that will show disrespect. Public displays of affection between men and women are also frowned upon. Of course this seems to be a complete contradiction to Bangkokโ€™s famous red light and adult entertainment districts such as Patpong. But this is yet another example of the contrast thatโ€™s found in Thailand.

The attractions in Bangkok warrant a few days stay in the city before heading out to other parts of Thailand where thereโ€™s much less pollution and more beautiful natural scenery. Bangkok has good air connections with other Asian destinations as well so it can easily be fit into a larger tour of Asia.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca, an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

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