Anything & Everything About Thailand

[cumming]

UK man killed in Thailand


Bangkok - A British man who lived in the Thai resort of Pattaya was shot and killed while riding a motorcycle with his girlfriend, said police on Thursday.

Lieutenant colonel Pirom Preeyakorn of Bang Lamung police station said that the man, identified as Steven Parkinson, 47, was driving away from a bar early on Wednesday morning after two pairs of youths approached him on motorcycles and demanded he pull over.

Preeyakorn said that after Parkinson refused, the four teens opened fire, shot him four times and robbed him and his girlfriend before fleeing.

According to Preeyakorn, police were searching for the suspects. Parkinson had lived in Pattaya for more than two years.

Pattaya, about 110km southeast of Bangkok, was known for its beaches, its thriving sex industry and high crime rate.

[cumming]

The Kiwi that was killed in Pattaya

Steve Miller, a soft-spoken 39-year-old New Zealander and five-year resident of Pattaya, was shot and killed in broad daylight 10 days ago as he drove his motorbike on a quiet street in North Pattaya. What initially appeared to be just another random killing of a farang—so common in Pattaya—has, however, developed into a crime story that police might not have fully investigated if the victim’s friends and family had not hounded the boys in brown. The real story began six months ago...

By the standards of most men, Jen—a 30-year-old gogo dancer—wasn’t much to look at as she gyrated around the chrome pole. But like most things in Thailand, she was beautiful in the eyes of Steve Miller. Steve loved this country and was genuinely grateful to be living here. So the Kiwi bar-fined the dancer for the night and, eventually, bought her out entirely, moving her into his Pattaya apartment. He provided well for her and her family over the last six months, treated her like a princess, showered her with gifts, and remained faithful despite the temptations Pattaya offers all foreigners—even more so a handsome, mild-mannered young hunk with a constant smile.

Several months later, the expat was preparing to help purchase a house for his live-in girlfriend beginning by making a down-payment on the house. He had sold some property for two million baht and deposited 500,000 baht of that into Jen’s bank account so that she could qualify for a home loan. When the loan was approved earlier this month, she agreed to return the 500,000 baht, but said she must first go to Udon Thani to vote in the national election.

She returned to Pattaya for a brief stay, only to return to Udon almost immediately to visit her family for Songkran. She insisted on driving home in the couple’s new car, leaving Steve no option but to tool around Pattaya on his motorbike. A week-ago Thursday, she left Udon en route to Pattaya with the understanding she would return Steve’s money the following day. That same morning, as Steve drove his motorbike from Big C toward Third Road, a passenger on a second motorbike produced a pistol, took aim, and shot Steve dead.

Jen was notified of Steve’s murder when she arrived in Pattaya. Being a dutiful if inconsiderate girlfriend, she immediately placed a call to Steve’s parents in New Zealand, shouting into the phone, “Steve dead. Come to Pattaya.” She repeated her terse statement, then hung up. The family was understandably mortified and bewildered. They learned more only when Steve’s friends called to inform the family of details surrounding his death.

Those same friends were able to piece together the financial dealings between Steve and Jen, and dug up other information as well—learning that Jen had two Thai boyfriends even while she was living with Steve. Her roommate revealed that she never loved Steve but was hardcore and a skillful manipulator, even in past relationships. Friends immediately suspected the Isaan woman’s role in the murder. They gathered what evidence they could and presented their case to the police. Jen was arrested, interrogated, and ultimately confessed to having hired a hit-man to kill Steve. Since then, the motorbike driver has been arrested, but the identified gunman has avoided capture.

At a televised news briefing—where police allowed no questions, Jen attempted to justify her crime, claiming that Steve beat her, forced her to participate in drug dealings, and stole property from her. Police encouraged her story yet produced no supporting evidence that the health-conscious body-builder was into drugs or dealing (his friends insist he was not, nor had he ever been known to strike anyone). Furthermore, the police denied any knowledge of the accused girl having 500,000 baht in a bank, or that Steve lent her the funds. However, friends presented financial records substantiating the transfer of the money from Steve’s account to Jen’s.

When family members arrived here from New Zealand, they were denied access to Steve’s apartment. Police explained they needed to take inventory of his possessions first. The family was finally allowed into Steve’s home this past Sunday, but found the place devoid of all valuables. According to the apartment manager, the previous day police had brought Jen to the apartment to collect her belongings; she took everything—including her savings passbook.

While the case now has been solved and two of the three suspects have been arrested, the question of justice remains unanswered. The glorious triumphs of police in arresting those involved in crimes generally are well promoted by police and the press; subsequently, little is reported on the fate of such criminals. Sources intimately involved in this case imply that the 500,000 baht might disappear into police coffers or may go to finance Jen’s bail, following which she may be allowed to do a runner or the matter may be delayed until forgotten by most.

The family has hired an attorney to help ensure justice and return of the 500,000 baht, and friends—at their peril—promise to hound the police until all questions are answered and the killers prosecuted. While they are aware of the inherent dangers to themselves in accusing the boys in brown of misdeeds, they also know the influence that can be purchased for 500,000 baht. More importantly, they know how little value was placed on the life of a young, serene man from New Zealand.

[pussyman72]

poor guy =( sob sob. well this is thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 5 August 2006 :-

An idea for Don Muang: Make it a mall

When flight operations cease at Don Muang Aiprort, Thailand's Ministry of Commerce plans to convert at least a portion of Don Muang International Airport's existing departure areas into a central market after the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport is opened for commercial use on September 28, Deputy Commerce Minister Preecha Laohapongchana said Saturday.

The Don Muang Airport has two international terminals and one domestic terminal.

Departure areas are on the upper levels of the three terminals.

Arrivals are on the ground floor of the three terminals, while parking facilities are available for prospective shoppers.

A feasibility study has been conducted and will be soon given to Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, also a deputy prime minister, for his consideration before being submitted to the cabinet for a final approval, Mr. Preecha said.

The ministry plans to use 5,000 to 10,000 square metres of the airport's departure section for use as central market which will enable people to buy goods at fair prices, Mr. Preecha said.

Manufacturers will be allowed to display and sell their merchandises at the area, but their rights will be revoked if their goods are found to be overpriced or the quality is poor, he added.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[cyrus]

with regards to the new Suvarnabhmi Airport, I heard and saw that it rather far and remote compared to Don Muang? Maybe I'm wrong.

[JaoChoo]

Originally Posted by cyrus

with regards to the new Suvarnabhmi Airport, I heard and saw that it rather far and remote compared to Don Muang? Maybe I'm wrong.

You're right, compared to Don Muang, it is further. But linked by expressway, without a jam, should be ok. Suddenly, the businesses on the eastern side of bangkok will get a boost...

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 7 August 2006 :-

Domestic airlines ordered to move early to Suvarnabhumi Airport

Domestic flights are to be shifted from Bangkok's old airport to its newly constructed Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 15, two weeks earlier than originally planned, the transport minister said Monday.

Pongsak Rattapongpaisal said the opening to all domestic flights on September 15 would make the switch for all international flights on September 28 more convenient and give the airport manager 14 days of operations to help iron out problems that might arise, the Thai News Agency reported.

After several delays, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced last month that Bangkok's 3.8-billion-dollar Suvarnabhumi Airport will "definitely" open on September 28 for all commercial, scheduled flights.

The airport has conducted several test flights without major mishaps although industry sources were expecting problems with baggage distribution and other systems immediately after the facility opens, given the sheer size of the new airport's daily traffic.

Bangkok's current Don Muang International Airport, which handles about 38 million passengers a year, will be officially closed on September 28 to all commercial flights.

Thereafter, Don Muang is only to be used for military, VIP, charter and small, private aircraft flights.

So far, the new airport's biggest problem has been fixing its official opening date, which many blame on Thaksin's eagerness to launch the massive infrastructure project under his premiership.

Thaksin has been in "caretaker premier" status since he dissolved parliament on February 25. A new election is scheduled for October 15.

The government had initially promised the airport would be ready for business in September of last year. On September 29, Thaksin presided over a "symbolic" opening of the airport and promised it would be ready for commercial use by July of this year.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, when completed, will be five times larger than Don Muang. After the completion of its first phase, it will be able to receive 45 million passengers per year, making it one of the largest airports in the world.

The name Suvarnabhumi - which means "Golden Land," as South-East Asia was described by Marco Polo - was given to the new airport by Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The government purchased the airport site in the early 1970s, but the decision to go ahead with a new facility was only reached 10 years ago.

The airport is being built on a 3,238-hectare site in eastern Bangkok that used to be called "Cobra Swamp." The project has been dogged by construction delays caused by the soggy terrain, reports of ghosts scaring away workers and corruption scandals involving purchases of equipment.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 7 August 2006 :-

No Stopping Shopping : From small shophouses to skyscraping stores and malls, the face of Thailand's retail industry has changed dramatically

For retail magnate Wanchai Chirathivat, Thailand's shopping landscape has undergone dramatic changes in ways he had never anticipated over the past 60 years.

Fading from memory - especially in Bangkok - are the days when everyday essentials were sold in wet markets or neighbourhood family shophouses.

Yaowarat (Chinatown) was the largest shopping area at the time, offering a wide range of local and imported consumer products from shophouses.

Tai Fah was recognised as the first modern department store in Yaowarat. Major products available at its open-air outlet were clothes and home products, a few cosmetics and shoes. Of course, customers could always bargain down their prices.

Apart from Tai Fah, other Thai department stores included Maew Dam (Black Cat), Nightingale, Artang, Pacific and Kwan Nakhon.

A few years after Tai Fah opened, the Central Group drove the momentum forward with the introduction of a more sophisticated store on Si Phraya Road.

"In that era, Thai shoppers had started to become exposed to more international magazines, clothes, electrical appliances and cosmetics such as Lanco{aci}me, Helena Rubinstein, Dunhill, Manhattan and Jockey," recalled Mr Wanchai, the Central Group chairman.

But the Thai retail market was really revolutionised in 1972. The opening of Ratchadamri Arcade brought about a new era to the already sophisticated Bangkok shopping scene.

The complex not only housed 220 fully air-conditioned shops _ from restaurants, coffee shops, beauty treatment centres, boutiques and leather goods centres _ but also included a Japanese retail chain for the first time, the Daimaru department store.

Daimaru was sardine-packed with shoppers rushing up the first escalators they had seen in a department store. Not only did it offer a host of products, but it also had a children's playground on the roof and multi-storey parking for over 500 cars.

From 1980 to 1990, many more department stores entered the market. They included The Mall, Merry Kings, Pata, Banglampoo, Cathay, Asian, Edison, Robinson, Tang Hua Seng, Big Bell, Imperial and Wellgrow.

A few years later it was the turn of foreign and Japanese retail chains _ Jusco, Isetan, Yaohan, +++yu and Printemps department stores.

However, by the early 1990s the country saw many throw in the towel as the market intensified. Since then, various retail formats have continued to proliferate, from specialty shops to convenience stores.

This shaped the retail scene in many ways. Thai people were no longer hard-pressed to find hamburgers, buy a bar of soap or even pay an electricity bill after midnight.

And in a city seriously short of attractive public spaces and parks, shopping malls have become important venues for socialising and recreation, with children's fun parks, fitness centres and movie theatres.

The nature of shopping changed further starting in 1997, with the advent of foreign discount store chains. Touting cheaper prices, convenience and novel designs, they took over the market in a short period of time, driven by consumers hunting for low-cost goods during the economic crisis.

Today there are 120 outlets of the likes of Big C, Tesco Lotus and Carrefour.

At the other end of the spectrum, Thai people have also seen many high-end shopping complexes springing up of late, with the opening of The Emporium, between Sukhumvit 24 and 26, then Gaysorn, Erawan Bangkok and, most recently, Siam Paragon.

The good news is that better shopping experiences are here to stay. Mr Wanchai predicts Thailand's retail landscape will continue to develop far beyond what it has become today.

"The next five decades will be very different from today as Thai shoppers will have the chance to shop at Thai stores abroad," he said.

That drive could be led by the Central Group, which is looking to establish itself as a regional retailing presence.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 7 August 2006 :-

A world of choice on the menu

Bangkok Air Catering gears up to challenge two rivals for a big slice of the inflight meal pie at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Passengers of eight international airlines, including Emirates, China Southern and Bangkok Airways, departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport after Sept 28 will have a culinary treat to look forward to.

The reason is that gourmet dishes such as braised lamb shank, salmon en croute, stir-fried Hokkien noodles with prawns, green curry chicken with rice, chicken parmigiana or the Arabic vegetarian dish sabzi bhujia, complete with a selection of fine wines, will soon be available at 30,000 feet in the air.

Bangkok Air Catering Co (BAC), one of the three major inflight caterers that will service Bangkok's new airport, is gearing up to launch operations of its one-billion-baht facility ahead of the official Suvarnabhumi opening.

BAC, a partnership between Bangkok Airways Group and China's International Airline Food Co, seems to be more prepared than its competitors, Thai Airways International (THAI) and LSG Sky Chefs, part of Germany's Deutsche Lufthansa.

BAC's state-of-the-art facility, covering an area of 20,000 sq m with production capacity for up to 25,000 meals per day, could have started production on Sept 29 last year if the airport launch had not been delayed by one year.

"We were ready a long time ago," said Linus Knobel, BAC's managing director.

Construction of the plant began in March 2004 and was completed in March 2005.

Under a 20-year concession contract with Airports of Thailand (AoT), BAC was obliged to complete its facility six months ahead of the airport opening.The company is now in the process of installing the last pieces of equipment.

Staff training has been under way since May, and the plant started producing meals for Bangkok Airways on a limited scale in June.

The company will initially employ 300 to 350 people before doubling the manpower to 750 when it reaches full swing.

A total of eight carriers have signed long-term contracts, ranging from three to five years, for BAC to provide catering services.

Mr Knobel would not name the contracted carriers, but said BAC would deliver 9,000 to 10,000 meals to client airlines, or 40% of its capacity, on the opening day of the new airport.

About half the targeted volume will go to Bangkok Airways.

BAC targets to sign up more airlines in the future in line with growing demand.

A total of 25 international airlines have shown interest in BAC services, including those that have already signed contracts.

Mr Knobel, who has been in the hospitality industry for 30 years, most recently as general manager of Gastro Primo, a major Hong Kong-based catering concern, believes BAC has a competitive edge over the two other caterers at Suvarnabhumi due to its forward planning.

"I firmly believe there's no airline catering firm here that can match our preparedness at the moment. We have gone over all the possible hiccups," he said.

THAI's 3.68-billion-baht facility, the largest among three flight-catering plants at the new airport with the capacity to produce 87,000 meals per day, is still being repaired following a fire in January that killed one person, according to industry sources.

Meanwhile, the readiness of the LSG facility, with an estimated output of 15,000 to 18,000 meals per day, is also unclear as there has been no equipment installation in its main building recently.

THAI's contingency plan to have meals cooked at its Don Muang flight kitchen and transported in bulk over 27 km by chiller trucks to Suvarnabhumi, if its new facility is not ready, could be problematic, especially time-wise, due to traffic problems, sources noted.

Mr Knobel was optimistic about the future of BAC. Although it is a new player in the industry, its executives have strong experience in the catering business, and it aims to vigorously maintain high standards in order to win the confidence of airlines.

BAC expects to reach a break-even point within just three years after starting operations.

The success of BAC at Suvarnabhumi would be used as a model for future expansion, with potential facilities in China and India, which would present vast opportunities, said Mr Knobel.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 7 August 2006 :-

Mexican buns : Tapping into Kingdom's sweet tooth

Big@Bread boss sees expansion opportunities in Thailand, Vietnam and China

Inspired by the popularity of Mexican buns in Thailand, Suthatip Tantayanurak, founder and executive director of Beyond Intelligence Group, is starting her own Big@Bread bakeries selling the sweet delights.

Suthatip, 33, plans to open seven Big@Bread shops in China and Vietnam, each requiring an initial investment of about Bt2 million. Big@Bread outlets in Thailand will be franchised.

"I am interested in the Mexican-bun business because it has great potential for development in the long term, in product, marketing and organisation," Suthatip said.

Beyond Intelligence Group was formed in 2003 as a business-management consultancy and runs the Rad pub and restaurant outlets on Rachadapisek Soi 4 and in Khon Kaen province and the Horizon dinning cruises on the Chao Phya River.

"I have consulted a friend who has the recipe and runs the original Mexican-bun bake shop in Malaysia," said Suthatip. "I will set up Big@Bread in Thailand with him and then expand both domestically and abroad."

Suthatip said the first local franchised outlet would open at Central World Plaza this month, targeting schoolchildren and tourists.

She expects to open 30 franchises in Thailand this year, in three major formats - 20-square-metre mobile kiosks, 20-square-metre bake shops and 25-square-metre caf้s - suited to residential communities and universities. The kiosks and caf้s will produce 250 buns per hour and the bakeries 500.

Franchisees must initially invest Bt800,000 each for a kiosk, Bt1.5 million for the bakery and Bt2 million for a caf้, plus Bt100,000 for a year's franchise on a bakery and Bt150,000 on a caf้. They must also remit 5 per cent of sales as a management fee.

"We provide all management paradigms, including finance and accounting, and all baking equipment and accessories, including intercooler and freezer. We also supply 4,000-5,000 buns to get them started. They will take eight to 12 months to break even," Suthatip said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 8 August 2006 :-

2 million Thai graduates facing grim future : As many as two million graduates could be out of work in the next five years.

About 15 per cent of the 2.3 million students graduating with high-school and university qualifications will be unable to secure employment over the next five years, according to an adviser to the National Economic and Social Development Board.

This is because schools and places of higher education are churning out people qualified in areas where there were few jobs.

But, there are too few qualified people in fields desperate for personnel, Panitharn Yarmwinij told an Education Council seminar at Nakhon Pathom yesterday.

Just 300,000 graduates will get to work in their chosen fields, 85,000 of those in top scientific and technological positions.

Panitharn said about two million students faced unemployment or working in lower-paying positions for which they were overqualified.

Yet, there would be as many as one million vacancies in fields such as textiles, rubber, tourism and production-based industries.

To end oversupply Panitharn said schools and universities should turn out more graduates with science- and mathematics-based degrees.

He suggested 65 per cent of graduates over the next three years should have that type of qualification. Currently, just 55 per cent of graduates had science- or mathematics-based qualifications.

These graduates could go on to work in biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, rubber processing, electronics and fashion.

The development board's 10th National Development Plan emphasised the King's sufficiency economic theory.

Panitharn said training students in fields vital to Thailand's prosperity was critical.

The economy was now resource-based - or one that produced low-value products that were resource intensive.

"The right economic system should be knowledge based, or one which produces quality products requiring low resource exploitation," Panitharn said.

Thailand was a resource-based economy because its workforce was less skilled than those in developed countries.

"Seventy per cent of the entire work force of 34 million possess lower than a grade-12 education.

"To switch the economy to a knowledge-based one, a lot of investment in human-resource development is needed," he said.

Students must improve their analytical thinking, creativity and improvisational skills, as well as their English and computer literacy, Panitharn said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 9 August 2006 :-

Fears for labour force as women shun marriage : Nearly half of Kingdom's women now single, demography expert tells seminar

Nearly half of Thai women are single, prompting concerns that as more women go childless, the country may face a labour shortage and end up having to import workers, a demographer said yesterday.

Among the reasons cited for the increase in the number of unmarried women was a lack of time to look for husbands, and the fact that many women these days simply prefer the freedom of being single.

The number of single women is growing, Dr Pramote Prasartkul of Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research told some 200 demographers, academics and members of related agencies at a seminar in Nonthaburi.

Pramote quoted census findings that show that 22.7 per cent of Thai women aged between 15 and 49 years were single in 1970; the count went up to 25.7 per cent in 1980; 28.5 per cent in 1990 and to 31.8 per cent in 2000.

The number of single women older than 50 has risen, too, from 2.2 per cent in 1970 to 2.5 per cent in 1980; 3.1 per cent in 1990; and 4.5 per cent in 2000, he said. Based on these figures, it is estimated that 34-35 per cent of Thai women aged between 15 and 49 currently were single while the proportion of unmarried women above the age of 50 years had climbed as high as 10 per cent.Overall, Pramote put the percentage of Thai single women at about 44.

The main reason they were shying away from marriage was that their rise up society's status ladder had spawned a desire for greater independence, he said. And working harder and longer hours than previously left them with no time to look for boyfriends.

The census figures and the fact that 75 per cent of women use birth control has led the institute to estimate that currently the birth rate is 1.7 children per woman, compared to 6.3 in 1964; 4.9 in 1974; 2.7 in 1985; 2.2 in 1991 and two in 1996, he said.

With the birth rate having plunged below the two mark, the number of children was no longer sufficient to replace the preceding generation. This means Thailand will face a severe shortage of labour in the future, and might have to depend on immigrants, said Pramote.

Since trying to persuade people to get married by arranging conjugal tie-ups for singles has proved difficult in Singapore and Japan, the government should consider offering privileges to married couples who want kids but cannot afford the additional expenses, he said.

Another speaker, Health Department director-general Dr Somyos Charoensak, said that Thailand, for the first time in its history, faces becoming a country peopled mostly by the elderly - possibly as soon as 15 years from now. By 2022, its population will have risen to 65 million but, with the birth rate getting closer to the country's death rate, the population growth rate will dwindle to about zero, Somyos said, so that in about 15 years, the elderly would outnumber children in the country.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 9 August 2006 :-

Racy condom name rubs FDA wrong way

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no intention of allowing a condom brand to go on sale with a trade name that carries a sexual connotation, secretary-general Dr Pakdee Pothisiri said yesterday.

He was speaking just one day after the Culture Ministry publicly commented that the request for the name "Tom Dundee" was inappropriate and offensive to Thai culture.

"Tom Dundee" is singer Puntiwa Pumiprathet's stage name. He had hoped to manufacture and distribute the condoms, with some of the proceeds going to Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu. The temple is also known as the Aids Temple because it has cared for patients living with HIV.

However, "dundee" also translates as "good penetration" in Thai.

"We sent a letter to the manufacturing company on May 31 saying that we would not allow such a trade name," Pakdee said yesterday.

However, the company appealed and so the FDA decided to consult the Culture Ministry.

"When we officially receive the Culture Ministry's recommendation in writing, we will issue our decision," he said.

According to Pakdee, the FDA alone has the mandate to approve or reject the request for a condom trade name. He also complained that the Culture Ministry should have consulted the FDA before going public about the issue.

Department of Religious Affairs director-general Preecha Kanthiya said he appreciated the charitable intention but believed that a new trade name would be the most appropriate solution.

Puntiwa was unhappy with the authorities' intention to ban his trade name.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 10 August 2006 :-

Union 'no' to Sept 15 airport move

Thai Airways' labour union issued a statement yesterday opposing the government's plan to move the national flag carrier's domestic flights to the new airport on September 15.

The early relocation, two weeks ahead of the airport's controversial Sept 28 opening, would pose serious problems for connecting passengers as all international flights would remain at Don Muang, it said.

Virtually every domestic flight had passengers linking to outbound international services while incoming international arrivals also have passengers who need to connect to domestic flights, the union said.

This meant connecting flights would be missed and the airline would have to take responsibility for hotel and other expenses.

"If the government insists on opening the new airport for domestic service on September 15, we will ask employees not to report to work at Suvarnabhumi Airport on that date," a union official said.

The union said it would send an urgent note to Transport Ministry permanent secretary Wanchai Sarathulthat to try to clarify the early relocation date.

"Most THAI employees learned of the plan from the news media," said another union official, who noted that the idea - unveiled by caretaker premier Thaksin Shinawatra during his weekly radio address last week - could lead to serious technical problems for THAI aircraft.

For instance, he said the maintenance staff would not be able to fix any technical problems in the THAI fleet because most spare parts would still be at Don Muang. And at present, most of the parts and equipment for repair were shared among aircraft for both domestic and international flights.

THAI would also not be able to maximise the use of its cabin crew and pilots because it would be impossible to connect transit flights between international and domestic flights when using two airports.

International passengers and related parties have also not been fully informed of the early relocation plan, he said. Most were not aware of which airport they have to go to because at present the code is only "BKK" for Bangkok.

Thus, the union had asked airline managers to urge the government to review the early relocation plan - to protect the interests of THAI and its passengers, he said.

Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapong-pisal insisted yesterday that THAI would start domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi on Sept 15, but said other airlines may move to the new airport when ready.

THAI president Apinant Sumanaseranee said the airline would only fly three domestic routes from Suvarnabhumi on Sept 15 - to Phitsanulok, Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Mai.

Thaksin said yesterday that the early relocation plan would help the new airport reduce the chaos expected on September 28 when international and domestic services both begin operations.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from THe Nation dated Thursday 10 August 2006 :-

Pulo: Violence could reach capital, Phuket - Group warns of attacks outside deep South if govt continues to use 'oppressive tactics'


Insurgent violence in the deep South could spread out of the Malay-speaking region to Phuket and Bangkok if the central authorities continue with their oppressive tactics against the local community, a senior member of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) said yesterday.

Speaking to The Nation from an undisclosed location in Sweden, Pulo's foreign affairs chief Kasturi Mahkuta maintained that it was not entirely out of the question that any of the "Malay liberation groups" could be thinking about hitting targets outside the region.

Ultimately, the course of action taken would depend entirely on the actions of the government, Kasturi said.

Kasturi said Pulo has a significant number of officials and armed troops in southern Thailand but declined to go into detail or take credit for any of the attacks in the region.

"This is something we won't confirm or deny. I can't go into specifics," said Kasturi, when asked which major attacks or incidents could be attributed to Pulo.

In a surprising willingness to compromise, Kasturi said the Pulo leadership is concerned with the violence in the region and the high number of casualties and suggested that the violence appeared to be getting out of hand.

But there is also the tendency to unfairly blame all the attacks on the "Malay liberation groups", including Pulo, he added.

He also stated that Pulo is willing to enter into dialogue with the government to discuss "solutions other than a total breakaway".

Reports about possible attacks on major cities surfaced on Monday after a BBC news report quoted an unidentified Pulo official on the ground saying cities like Bangkok and Phuket could come under attack unless the government changed its course.

Kasturi said neither he nor other Pulo officials had authorised the BBC interview but added the organisation does not prevent its people from speaking to the press.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 10 August 2006 :-

PM scoffs at Pulo's threat to hit cities


Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday poured scorn on a threat by the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) to attack Bangkok and Phuket, saying it was just propaganda. Mr Thaksin downplayed rumours that the insurgent group based in the South was ready to switch its targets from the southern region to major cities such as Bangkok and Phuket.

The threat was brought to light following a recent interview of a senior member of Pulo with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

But Mr Thaksin said the group had no capability to carry out such attacks.

National police chief Gen Kowit Wattana and Supreme Commander Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranont shared the prime minister's view, saying the rumours would prove groundless.

Gen Ruengroj urged the public to have faith in the security forces
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork