(BangkokPost.com) - Veera Somkwamkid has filed charges against Thaksin Shinawatra for his alleged involvement in an incident involving the words "Thaksin" and "Welcome Thaksin" which was seen appearing on Thailand's national flag in England. The secretary-general of the People’s Network Against Corruption filed charges on Thursday morning, urging authorities to bring those responsible for making the flags, which have offended the majority of the Thai people, to justice. He insisted that Mr Thaksin deliberately turned a blind eye to similar incidents many times in the past. And up to this very day, Mr Veera said Mr Thaksin has failed to publicly express his disapproval over the issue or to condemn those responsile ever since it was publicised by the Thai media. May 01, 2008

Mill owner arrested for rice theft PHICHIT Source bangkok post 4th May 2008

The owner of a rice mill in Bung Na Rong district of Phichit was arrested on Thursday after the disappearance of more than 1,700 tonnes of rice worth about 21 million baht, which belonged to the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO). The PWO deposited more than 4,000 tonnes of rice at the warehouse owned by Kamnung Liewcharoensap, who had a contract with the PWO. However, 1,749 tonnes went missing at the start of March. The rice stocks were under the mortgage programme for the 2005/2006 crop season. Police said Mr Kamnung admitted to stealing the rice and selling it because of its rising price. Phichit governor Preecha Ruenchan said another rice mill in Muang district had also been prosecuted for embezzling rice stock from the PWO. About 2,500 tonnes of rice worth 180 million baht had gone missing. PWO officials and police are working together to monitor rice mills in the province. Rice thefts were rampant in several provinces in the Central region due to constantly rising prices. Consumers have complained about sky-rocketing rice prices which prompted the government to decide to bring some 2.1 million tonnes of rice in the state stockpiles nationwide to be sold as packed rice.

Banned TRT exec Saksiam to head panel

Deputy Interior Minister Supon Fongngam has appointed Saksiam Chidchob, a younger brother of ex-Thai Rak Thai executive Newin, to head a powerful, new working panel at the ministry. Mr Saksiam was among the 111 TRT executives banned from politics for five years when the party was dissolved by the Constitution Tribunal for poll fraud.Critics have called into question the appointment, which is seen as an attempt by elements still wielding power in the People Power party to dominate the ministry which controls budgets and mechanisms in running provincial and local administration bodies. The 11-member panel, which will report to the deputy interior minister, will comprise officials from the Department of Public Works and Town & City Planning, the Provincial Administration Department, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Department of Local Administration, the Provincial Waterworks Authority and the Community Development Department. The panel will be given the power to supervise and evaluate the performances of those agencies.Former Democrat member Chaiwat Sinsuwong was strongly critical of the new appointment. Mr Chaiwat, who leads a pressure group in Buri Ram, the Chidchobs' political heartland, said even though Mr Saksiam's new post is not a political one, he still has the power to control many key government agencies.Inevitably, he would still be linked to politics, Mr Chaiwat said. "'The Constitution Tribunal's verdict is meant to forbid the 111 TRT executives from politics.Mr Chaiwat added that Karuna Chidchob, chief of Buri Ram provincial administration organisation, had appointed Pornchai Srisuriyanyothin as deputy PAO chief. Mrs Karuna is Mr Newin's wife.Mr Chaiwat said the appointment may be illegal as Mr Pornchai, a former PPP election candidate, was red-carded by the Election Commission.He said that he would ask the Interior Ministry to look into the matter.

Por Pratunam convicted of defaming Sereepisut

BangkokPost.com) - The Dusit district court on Tuesday sentenced influential businessman Paijit Thamrojpinit, aka Por Pratunam, to six months in jail for defaming former national police chief Pol Gen Sereepisut Taemeeyaves. Por Pratunam, nicknamed for his area of operations in Bangkok's Pratunam area, was also fined 50,000 baht.He was released on bail pending his appeal.The court found Por Pratunam guilty of defaming Pol Gen Sereepisut by accusing him of abuse of authority when the policeman led a raid on a casino allegedly owned by Por Pratunam in February 2006. May 06, 2008

 

Top official abruptly moved

THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama yesterday ordered the abrupt transfer of a senior ministry official handling the Preah Vihear temple dispute with Cambodia to an inactive post. Treaties and Legal Affairs Department director-general Virachai Plasai has been made an ambassador attached to the ministry, an inactive position. He was on his way to Phnom Penh with foreign affairs permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul yesterday for talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on the controversial issue of Unesco World Heritage listing for Preah Vihear. Source Bangkok Post 7th May 2008

NCCC releases assets and debt list of senators

(BangkokPost.com) - Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondech and family own of 32 million baht while Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul has 4 million baht, according to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC). The NCCC released the list of assets and debts of all senators on Thursday. Mr Prasopsuk has more than 16 million baht while his wife has about the same amount of assets. First Deputy Speaker Nikhom Wairachpanich and family has assets of more than 194 million baht while Second Deputy Senate Speaker Tassana Boonthong has assets of 45 million baht. The richest senator is M.R. Preeyanantha Rangsit, who has assets of more than 1.2 billion baht, while the poorest one is senator from Uthai Thani province Singchai Thungthong, who has assets of about 5 million baht. May 08, 2008

Karun guilty of brawl in Parliament; House to deliberate on punishment

People Power Party MP Karun Hosakul has been found guilty of physical and verbal attacks against Democrat MP Sompong Kiartpaibul inside Parliament on April 2, the House fact-finding report said in its conclusion Friday. MP Vichet Panvichartkul said the report will be forwarded for the House deliberation on punishment. The Nation

MP Karun Hosakul refuses to resign over alleged assault May 13th 2008 Bangkok Post

Karun Hosakul, the Bangkok MP for the People Power party, has refused to resign over an alleged assault on a member of the opposition. Mr Karun claimed there has been no firm evidence that he is guilty of the assault. A House fact-finding committee agreed last week that Mr Karun physically and verbally assaulted Democrat MP Somkiat Pongpaibul in the parliament building on April 2.Mr Karun said if police decided he was guilty, he would only have to pay a fine and there would be no need to resign his seat.He also argued that the findings of the fact-finding committee were only circumstantial and it did not include strong evidence that he was guilty. Mr Karun said several times he had challenged Mr Somkiat to testify about the incident, but he had not accepted.

''I'm ready to swear on my mother's life that I did not commit the alleged offence. And I love my mum very much,'' said Mr Somkiat. The PPP MP was accused of verbally insulting and kicking Mr Somkiat during a coffee break in a heated House debate on Mr Somkiat's role in the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Mr Somkiat, who is a core leader of the PAD, was questioned by many PPP MPs during the debate. Democrat MP and opposition whip Sathit Wongnongtoey said his party would ask for the House committee's findings tomorrow. The party wants to know what punishment the PPP will take against Mr Karun.