Thai finance minister resigns

POSTED: 0627 GMT (1427 HKT), February 28, 2007

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Deputy Prime Minister and FinanceMinister Pridiyathorn Devakula resigned Wednesday, quitting thetroubled government that took power after a September coup and castingfurther doubt on Thailand’s economic policy.
Pridiyathorn, whohas faced widespread criticism for policies that spooked foreigninvestors, said his resignation from both posts would take effect [...]

In Thailand, cries of ‘Singapore, go home’

February 28, 2007 edition
The Thai military is pushing to regain control of a phone company sold to Singapore by former Thai leader.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Five months after seizing power, Thailand’s military rulers have a lot on their plate: battling an escalating insurgency in the Muslim-dominated south, keeping [...]

Thailand’s FM reassures Japanese investors over economic policies

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
TOKYO : Thailand’s Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram says the timetable for the country’s return to democracy is on track.
He was speaking in Japan, where he is on a four-day visit to reassure one of the kingdom’s most important [...]

Thailand moves to control private television station

Thailand says it will take control of the nation’s only privatetelevision broadcaster if it fails to meet a deadline next week to pay$US2.8 billion in fines and overdue fees.
The battle over iTV marks the latest move by the military-backed governmentagainst companies controlled by Shin Corp, a telecom giant founded bydeposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. [...]

Thai military to take action against TRT leader

www.chinaview.cn 2007-02-27 17:33:11
BANGKOK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — Thailand’s militaryauthority Council for National Security (CNS) decided on Tuesday totake legal action against the acting leader of Thailand’s former rulingThai Rak Thai Party (TRT), [...]

Thai red tape thwarts anti-Thaksin graft drive – analysts

Tuesday February 27, 5:27 PM
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s army-appointed government is piling up
graft allegations against ousted billionaire Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, but the chances of putting him behind bars remain remote,
analysts said.
Having cited “rampant corruption” by Thaksin and his cabinet
colleagues as the main reason for their Sept. 19 coup, the generals
ordered teams of accountants and lawyers [...]

Economic nationalism grips Thailand

By Amy Kazmin in Bangkok
Published: February 27 2007 00:07
Last updated: February 27 2007 00:07
In good times, the Niwat materials shop
in north-east Thailand bustles with villagers buying tools, cement,
paint and other home improvement materials.
But these days, the family-owned shop is virtually deserted as rural Thais restrict home repairs to essential maintenance.
“If the economy is good, a [...]

Thai TV station to launch in defiance of military

Web posted at: 2/26/2007 3:39:38

Source ::: AFP
BANGKOK • A television station founded by members of ousted Thai premier’s
Thaksin Shinawatra’s political party is preparing to launch in defiance
of Thailand’s military-installed government, its chairman said
yesterday.

The new 24-hour satellite channel People’s Television, or PTV, was unveiled
last week “to educate the Thai people about what is going on [...]

Drug use on the rise in Thailand: official

10:03, February 25, 2007
Thailand’s
use of illicit recreational and hard drugs is growing again, especially
among young people, after a lull during the tough war on drugs by the
former administration of Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai News Agency
Saturday quoted officials as saying.

Kitti Limchaikij, secretary-general of the Office of the
Narcotics Control Board (NCB), after attending a national anti- [...]

Army-appointed Thai PM’s popularity drops further

Sunday February 25, 6:40 PM

Photo:
Reuters
Click to enlarge
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Army-appointed Thai Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont has suffered a further fall in popularity months after the
removal of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to a poll
released on Sunday.
Surayud, a former army commander-in-chief and adviser to revered
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, won approval from 34.8 percent of respondents,
compared with 39.2 percent [...]