A security expert yesterday urged the government to invoke the internal security law amid mounting political tensions following Thursday's clash between People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters and their opponents in Udon Thani province.
ECONOMY
Thailand's economy is in a transition stage where the agricultural sector will eventually replace the industrial sector as its main driver, according to M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula.
POLITICS
Former permanent secretary for foreign affairs Tej Bunnag has been nominated to be the new foreign minister with his first mission to end the border row with Cambodia, sources said yesterday.
A study has confirmed many high schools exaggerated the GPAX, or cumulative grade point average, to increase chances of their students being admitted to university.
For Rien Chaikantri, the Preah Vihear temple is only the ''heritage'' he and his family has lived on.
CRIME
A Chiang Rai native suspected of stealing a 2,100-carat uncut diamond, valued by the owner at 315 million baht, reported to local police yesterday to protest his innocence. A warrant was issued yesterday for the arrest of Promma Chanmali, 51, a native of Chiang Rai's Wiang Pa Pao district, who was suspected to be the thief who ran off with the diamond from a shop on Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 76 in Don Muang district on Wednesday.
FUEL PRICE CUTS
More good news may be on the way for drivers who enjoyed new, cheaper fuel prices from yesterday thanks to the government's six-month cut in the excise tax for ethanol-based petrol and diesel.
POLITICS
The government will seek parliamentary approval to ratify the Asean Charter as its first move after Thailand assumed chairmanship of the 10-member Associations of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) yesterday. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who officially announced Thailand taking up the Asean helm yesterday, said this was the government's next step.
POLITICS
Energy officials yesterday accused the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) of distorting the facts and defended the PTT Plc's privatisation, claiming it served to benefit the state. Thousands of PAD demonstrators rallied in front of the PTT head office yesterday, demanding the country's oil and gas conglomerate return to state ownership.
NEWS THINK
A truly level political playing field between the government and its critics is not possible as long as the government shamelessly does what it pleases, by using the NBT, formerly Channel 11, as its mouthpiece to counter-attack its opponents. The one-hour ''Truths for Today'' weekday programme, being aired since Monday from 10-11pm, is hosted by Veera Musikapong, Jatuporn Promphan and Nattawut Saikua, three former anti-coup leaders from the Thaksin camp.
THE SOUTH
NARATHIWAT : Traces of gunpowder which might have come from the violent clash between authorities and insurgents on Thursday were found on students of a ponoh school in Rangae district, according to forensic experts. The forensic team led by Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, detected gunpowder on the clothes and bodies of some students at Ban Yue Nue Reh school.
Officials of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) have arrested three men and are hunting for two more for allegedly swindling nearly 10,000 people out of hundreds of millions of baht through a pyramid financial scam. The DSI swooped on Suwit Sinthunawa, Surajit Sinthunawa and Krisakorn Thongphuak as they were holding a ceremony to mark the opening of their Siam Line Trading Co at a shophouse in Suan Luang district yesterday, said Col Piyawat Kingkate of the DSI's special litigation office.
AIR POLLUTION
LAMPANG : Authorities expect to complete the planned relocation of about 1,000 villagers from their neighbourhoods polluted by the coal-fired power plant in Mae Mo district by the end of this month, said Mae Mo district chief Sermsak Sisan yesterday. The mass relocation is viewed as confirmation of the severe impact on human health caused by sulphur dioxide emissions from the plant 16 years ago.
EDITORIAL
The thousands of Thai villagers living in Si Sa Ket province near the Preah Vihear temple know there is a general election tomorrow in Cambodia. Few, though, care about which political party will win. The only outcome that excites them is that it might provide a chance for all the fuss to die down and allow them to be left in peace and able to get on with their lives.
CAMBODIA
Cambodia's political parties are in their last day of campaigning before the electors go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new government. Although 11 parties have fielded candidates, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) led by the longest-serving leader in Asia, Hun Sen, is expected to win a landslide victory. This has also further fuelled fears that Cambodia is effectively becoming a one-party state.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday filed a defamation suit against People's Alliance for Democracy member Somkiat Pongpaiboon, demanding 100 million baht in damages plus 7.5% interest per year.
IN Print
The economic problems facing Thailand require major surgery, but the six government stimulus measures unveiled in mid-July provide only temporary relief, said Dr Somphob Manarangsan, a noted Chulalongkorn University economist, as reported by Thai Rath.
@THAILAND
Life for people in the border villages of Si Sa Ket has changed as nearly 3,000 Thai soldiers have taken up position since July 15 to confront a similar number of Cambodian troops in the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple.
@THAILAND
Sattahip has been a naval operation hub for years but it is also fast gaining a reputation as a heart of conservation, where sea turtles are given a new lease on life, thanks to the navy's efforts.
PostBag
For the last three years I have been residing in Koh Samui and recently had an unfortunate experience during a weekend break in Bangkok. I was walking near my apartment early in the evening when a motorcycle driver came up behind me and grabbed my handbag, which contained my apartment keys, identification for travel and my wallet with my credit and ATM cards. Luckily my cell phone was in my pocket.
IN Brief
STOPOVER :US President George W. Bush and his wife will stop over for a two-day visit, Aug 6-7, to Thailand on their way to attend the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
