Flaring nationalist sentiment in Thailand over the Preah Vihear temple issue threatens to harm ties between the neighbours, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong warned yesterday.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and seven cabinet ministers yesterday comfortably survived the no-confidence debate, but critics and the opposition say a cabinet reshuffle is imminent. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, the opposition's top target over the Preah Vihear temple dispute, won with the least number of votes.
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) yesterday decided to defer the indictment of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is accused of being unusually rich as a result of the sale of his shares in Shin Corp. The OAG said it wanted to form a joint inquiry panel with the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) to search for more information as that which had been recommended by the ASC was incomplete. The ASC's tenure ends on Monday.
FUEL CRISIS
Truckers are demanding three million litres of subsidised diesel a day from the government to help them cope with the rising cost of fuel. Thongyu Khongkhan, secretary-general of the Land Transport Confederation of Thailand, said yesterday that the request for three million litres a day was based on 20,000 trucks that needed the government's assistance nationwide.
The board of Thai Airways International (THAI) yesterday confirmed the reinstatement of airline president Apinan Sumanaseni amid growing calls within the company for him to quit for poor performance. A group of THAI employees, including flight captains, vowed to expose irregularities under Mr Apinan's administration next week.
POLITICS
The Central Administrative Court has summoned Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab to testify on Wednesday over alleged contempt of court. The case involves his comments on the court's ruling to grant a temporary injunction against a cabinet resolution to sack six Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) board members.
POLITICS
Police have been asked to continue their investigation into whether former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had anything to do with the two-million-baht snack box that his three lawyers passed on to a Supreme Court official, bringing the three a six-month jail term. A senior police officer commented yesterday that answers were still needed on whether the lawyers were using the money to influence Mr Thaksin's legal case.
POLITICS
The Democrat party has raised concerns about the government's 1.83-trillion-baht budget for the next fiscal year. The opposition argues that the budget has been compiled with too much optimism. The Democrats also expressed concern that the proposed budget would force the public to inherit huge debts.
POLITICS
Thailand's world heritage committee has decided to co-host the nomination of Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site with Cambodia. The committee, chaired by newly-appointed chairman Pongpol Adireksarn, also agreed that the listing of the ancient Hindu temple should not cover only the temple, but also the area around the temple, which is on Thai soil.
COMMENTARY
Sometimes you're hard-pressed to decide what's more entertaining: the semi-finals of the European Championship, or the gabby bitchfest of the recent censure debate, a mini-marathon of slightly overweight men spitting into the microphone and throwing verbal sludge at one another. For the sake of this country's progress, no less.
IN Print
Even though Noppadon Pattama is Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the case of Preah Vihear he should lower his profile, advised a Matichon writer. Explaining the issue in parliament is unavoidable as he is being cross-examined by the Democrat opposition as part of their censure initiative, but otherwise Mr Noppadon should let the technocrats explain it to the wider public and clarify various points.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Opposition and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday charged that the government was bent on misleading the public by distorting information over the Preah Vihear temple.
@THAILAND
Principal Buphachart Munsa believes students should not only have active minds, but also full stomachs. It is a common sight to see her cooking and selling food at a fresh market in the evening as she seeks to fulfill this ambition.
@THAILAND
Two years ago a landmine along the Thai-Burmese border in Tak province blew up the right forefoot of the seven-month-old cow elephant Mosa.
@THAILAND
More than 100 elephants hauling logs on the Thai-Burmese border are in constant danger, as one step in the wrong direction could injure or even kill them.
EDITORIAL
It is easy to tell when colleges are in session in trouble-prone areas of the capital. Opposite the main student entrance, a large, strategically parked and ominously black truck of the kind used to transfer those arrested in mass round-ups to police stations can often be seen. The word ''Police'' stencilled in no-nonsense, highly visible letters on the side looks intimidating and is intended to be.
PostBag
I am curious as to how your staff chooses what is newsworthy or not for publication in the Bangkok Post. Your newspaper lists obscure stories daily and yet you choose not to include wire-service stories of decisions by the US Supreme Court in your online articles.
IN BRIEF
EDUCATION : Parents and teachers at Rachawinit school have filed a petition with the Civil Court demanding it look into the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally that has caused traffic problems outside the school.
THAIS JAILED
A Cambodian lawyer has urged the United States to extract a written statement from chief terrorist suspect Riduan Isamuddin, who is better known as Hambali, which could vindicate his clients, two Thai Muslims convicted of colluding with Hambali in plotting terrorist attacks.
