Fried Egg in Clear Soup [Kang Jued Kai Num]

This Thai Clear Soup menu is easy to make. Serve hot as part of a main meal.

Fried Egg in Clear Soup Ingredients

1. 200 grams ground pork

2. 100 grams vermicelli noodle (optional)

3. 6 eggs, beaten 1 cup oil

4. 1 tablespoon. crispy fried chopped garlic (for topping)

5. 1 cup thin sliced onions

6. 6 cups chicken stock or water

7. 1/ 3 cup fish sauce

8. 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

9. 300 grams chinese cabbage, cut into well pieces

10. 2 spring onions cut into 1 inch long pieces

Fried Egg in Clear Soup Preparations

1. Heat oil in a wok over low heat, and add beaten eggs, fry until golden brown ( about 2 minutes on each side) and set aside, then cut into small strips.

2. In a pot, bring the chicken stock (or water) to boil. When boiling, add pork and stir until cooked.

3. Add onion, chinese cabbages and spring onions, the egg strips,and the remaining ingredients.

4. Remove to a serving bowl. Before serving, garnish with crispy fried chopped garlic on top of the bowl.

 

Red Curry with Roasted Duck [Kang Phed Ped Yang]

Kang Phed Ped Yang is a unique dish of roast duck in a spicy red curry. It combines kaffir lime leaves and many ingredients. Serve hot as part of a main meal.

Red Curry with Roasted Duck Ingredients

1. 1 roasted duck, deboned and cut into well sized pieces

2. 5 pieces of pineapple, cut into bite sized pieces

3. 4 fresh kaffir lime leaves, chopped

4. 1 teaspoon sugar

5. 2 1/2 cups coconut milk

6. 8 cherry tomatoes

7. 1 cup eggplant, cut into bite-sized pieces

8. 1/2 teaspoon salt

9. 2 tablespoons fish sauce

10. 1/2 cup water (or chicken stock)

11. 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable cooking oil

12. 3 tablespoons red curry paste

Red Curry with Roasted Duck Preparations

1. Heat oil in a wok over medium heat and add the red curry paste, stir well. Then add 3/4 cups coconut milk and stir until mixed thoroughly.

2. Add the roasted duck and stir often. Then pour the mixture into a pot, add the remaining coconut milk, water, tomatoes, pineapples, eggplants, kaffir lime leaves, sugar, salt, and fish sauce.

3. Continue stirring until boiling and remove from heat. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Green Curry with Chicken [Kang Kaew Wan Kai]

Kang Kaew Wan is a popular dish of chicken in a spicy green curry. It combines many herbs such as basil leaves, chillies, kaffir lime leaves. Serve hot as part of a main meal.

Green Curry with Chicken Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup green curry paste

2. 350 grams chicken breast or thigh, cut in bite-size pieces

3. 1 1/4 cups coconut milk

4. 1/4 cup thai basil leaves

5. 2 eggplants, cut into small pieces.

6. 1/2 cup chicken stock

7. 2 teaspoons palm sugar

8. 3 tablespoons fish sauce

9. 2 red chilies, sliced diagonally

10. 4 kaffir lime leaves

Green Curry with Chicken Preparations

1. Bring 1 1/4 cups of coconut milk (use the thick cream off the top) to a boil in a pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often for 3 to 5 minutes. Add green curry paste; continue to cook and stir until the mixture becomes dry and fragrant. Transfer mixture to a larger pot.

2. Add the chicken and stir for 1-2 minutes, add fish sauce, sugar, keep stirring for another minute then add cut eggplant, the remaining coconut milk and chicken stock. Cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked and eggplant is tender.

3. Add kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and adjust the seasoning and transfer to a serving bowl.

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass [Tom Yum Goong]

Tom Yum Goong soup combines all the exotic flavours of Thai Food bringing together herbs ingredients such as lemongrass, chillies, ginza and coriander.

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass Ingredients

1. 12 medium-size shrimps, deveined

2. 10 mushrooms

3. 1 stalk of lemon grass (lightly pounded and cut into 2" long)

4. 3 lime leaves

5. 1 teaspoon of salt

6. 2 tablespoons of fishsauce

7. 3 tablespoons of lime juice

8. 6 hot peppers (pounded lightly)

9. 4 cups of water

10. 1/2 cup of roughly cut coriander leaves

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass Preparations

1. Remove the shrimp shell but leave the tails (for good appearance). Then cut open the back of each shrimp to remove the veins. Also clean the mushrooms with water and dry them well before wedging each into quarters.

2. Bring water to boil, then add lemon grass, lime leaves, and shrimps. When the shrimps turn pink, add mushrooms and salts.

3. Remove the pot from heat after boiling. Then season with fish sauce, lime juice, and hot peppers. Serve the soup while still hot and garnish on top with pieces of coriander leaves.

Papaya Salad [Som Tum]

Papaya salad is very popular with both Thais and foreigners. It combines many vegetables such as papaya, tomato, etc. Thais like to eat with sticky rice and barbecued chicken.

Papaya Salad Ingredients

1. 2 cups shredded green papaya

2. 1/2 cup shredded carrot

3. 1/2 cup sting bean (cut into 1" long)

4. 2 tablespoons fish sauce

5. 1 1/2 tablespoons palm sugar

6. 3 tablespoons lime juice

7. 1/2 cup tomato (wedged)

8. 1/3 cup dried shrimps

9. 1/4 cup peanuts

10. 10 green chilies

11. 5 cloves fresh garlic

Papaya Salad Preparations

1. Use motar and prestle to crush the chilli and garlic, add shrimps, continue crushing.

2. Add sugar, continue beating with the prestle, then add the papaya, carrot, sting bean, fish sauce, lime juice, tomato, and peanuts. Continue beating until all ingredients mixed well.

3. Finally, season with sugar, fish sauce, or lime. The original taste this dish should be the balance taste between sweet, (pepper) hot, salty, and sour.

4. Serve with vegetables (e.g. cabbage, string bean, napa, etc.). Thai people love to eat Sticky Rice with Papaya Salad. In this case, sticky rice can be served together with finished Papaya Salad.

Stir-Fried Rice Noodle with Shrimp [Pad Thai Goong]

 Thai style fried noodle is very well known and is one of the dishes that foreigners love to eat. It combines with many ingredients such as bean sprouts, green onion

Stir-Fried Rice Noodle with Shrimp Ingredients

1. 12 fresh Shrimp

2. 90 gram Dry Rice Noodle (3 - 5 m.m.)

3. 50 gram Fresh Bean Sprouts

4. 2 tablespoons Chopped (1") Green Onion

5. 6 tablespoons Fish Sauce

6. 6 tablespoons Oyster Sauce

7. 3 teaspoons Vinegar

8. 2 tablespoons Sugar

9. 2 Tablespoons Preserved Turnip

10. 2 Tablespoons Crushed Peanuts

11. 1 Tablespoon Paprika

12. 2 Eggs

13. 1 Teaspoon Red Chili (for Spicy lover)

14. 1/2 Lemon

Stir-Fried Rice Noodle with Shrimp Preparations

1. Soak the noodles about 30 minutes in room temperature water.

2. Heat and season the wok. Add the Shrimp and grill for 90 seconds. Add the Eggs. When the eggs are not quite finished, add the Noodles, Sugar, Peanuts, Turnips and Paprika. Stir Fry until all ingredients are mixed well and the noodles are wilted.

3. Season with the Fish Sauce, Oyster Sauce and vinegar. Then add Bean Sprouts, Green Onions and Red Chili. Stir fry quickly ensuring everything is well combined. If you like wet noodle dishes de glaze with 5 oz. water stock. If you like firmer dry noddles de glaze with only 2 oz. water stock. Place on Serving plate and garnish with more Bean Sprouts and a Lemon wedge.

anana Pudding (Kha-Nom Kluy)

A popular and really simple cake to make steamed in little banana leaf boats or in little bowls

Banana Pudding Ingredients

1. Fresh banana,pureed in a food processor or blender 3cups

2. Freshly grated fresh coconut meat 1 cup

3. Pre-sifted rice flour 3 cups

4. Granulated sugar2 cups

5. Salt 1 tbsp.

6. Cream of coconut milk 1cup

Banana Pudding Preparations

1. Mix together all the ingredients except the bananas.

2. Once everything is in a mixing bowl and well mixed, puree the bananas and immediately pour it into the mixture.

3. Pour this mixture into an either round or square baking pan and steam this pudding in a steamer for about 20 minutes or until the flour in the pudding is cooked and the pudding sets.

4. Take the pudding out of the steamer and allow to cool before cutting and serve garnished with a little of the freshly grated coconut meat and salted coconut cream.

Shoppers flee fire at Central Bang Na

A fire broke out on the seventh floor of the Central Bang Na shopping mall late yesterday afternoon, prompting shoppers and shop assistants to flee the building in panic.
The floor housed the mall's food court, a movie theatre, a bowling alley and a water-fun park. No injuries or deaths were reported.
After firefighters had the fire under control in 20 minutes, the initial inspection found that it might have started around 3pm in the food-court area, which was under renovation, possibly after sparks from metal welding burned a wall and the ceiling. The fire-damaged area covered 50-60 square metres. Forensic investigators were inspecting the scene for the exact cause of the fire.
The incident caused panic to shoppers who fled the building and gathered on the footpath, while many tried to drive their cars out of the mall, causing a severe traffic jam in the area.
A seventh floor Major Bowl assistant manager, Natthakan Aasainam, said there was no fire alarm at the time but he smelled the burning smoke and looked toward the food court, some 30 metres away, and saw the flames, so he alerted customers and fellow workers to run out of the building. "I wasn't so shocked because I believed firefighters would put it out in time. Many others were fearful and stampeded to get out. I hurriedly put money in the safe box before running out," he said.
Forty-year-old Boonthiam Kaewmueuangkao, who was shopping with her young daughter,
said they were on the fifth floor escalator when they smelled and saw the smoke and people fleeing. Getting scared, she carried her daughter and ran along with others until they were clear of the building.

Killer of NZ croquet chief nabbed

Syrian ex-commando admits stabbing New Zealander in Jomtien after row

A former Syrian Army commando has been arrested in connection with the murder of Charles Edmund Jones, late president of the World Croquet Federation, in Jones's rented condominium in Chon Buri's Jomtien area on Monday night.
The New Zealander's body was discovered in the condominium with multiple stab wounds on Tuesday.
Provincial Police Region 2 chief Lt-General Thangai Prasajaksatru and Pattaya Police superintendent Col Nanthawut Suwanla-ong yesterday presented the suspect, 21-year-old Mohamad Shanar Ryad, at a press conference along with the victim's notebook, cell phones and wristwatch, which were reportedly stolen, as well as a pocket knife they alleged was the murder weapon.
Ryad reportedly told police he met Jones on August 19 in South Pattaya. He said Jones invited him to smoke marijuana with him in his room and paid him Bt400 to perform oral sex on him. Ryad claimed that on Monday night, Jones invited him to his room again, but the pair got into an argument, during which Jones pulled a knife on him and attempted to sexually assault him. According to police, Ryad admitted to using his pocket knife to stab the victim about 20 times before fleeing with Jones's valuables and hiding at the room of Ryad's Thai girlfriend in Soi Chalermphrakiat 19.
Thangai said police had determined that Ryad came to Thailand as a refugee with the assistance of the United Nations after serving as an army commando in Syria.
He had travelled between Thailand and Malaysia frequently over the past four years and was recently fired from his job as a cook at a Pattaya restaurant before moving in with his girlfriend, Thangai said. Police took the suspect to re-enact the crime at the Jomtien condo yesterday.
In related news, police have arrested an alleged hitman, ranked 16th on their most-wanted list of professional killers, in connection with several murders in Nakhon Sawan. The suspect had evaded police efforts to arrest him and taken a job as a security guard at Suvarnbhumi Airport before quitting work, going into hiding and seeking treatment for gout, they said.
Bundit (also known as Sathit) Tomoung, 53, was arrested while lying low in his hometown in Nakhon Sawan's Chumsaeng district, Pol Colonel Supat Pheungphuang told a press conference at Metropolitan Police Headquarters yesterday.

Democrats call for end to intimidation of govt critics by the red shirts

The Democrat Party yesterday claimed to have endured a "week of harassment" last week as senior opposition figures including Chuan Leekpai and Abhisit Vejjajiva, as well as other critics of the government, were subject to intimidation by red-shirt supporters of the government.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the intimidation of former premiers Chuan and Abhisit, as well as an assault on two students involved in a protest, must not be allowed to happen again.
Democrat Party Trang MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said the party had assigned him to check with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on the progress of investigations into the alleged red-shirt attack on two students protesting outside Parliament on Thursday during the policy debate.
Sathit said he was confident Chalerm would be able to rein in the red shirts. However, he said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Pheu Thai were responsible for the activities of red shirts, because she appointed them to carry out tasks related to political activities.
He urged the public to keep a watch for any double standard regarding the government's treatment of red shirts.
Democrat Party MP Kowit Tarana warned red shirts to behave appropriately, saying their leaders' rise to power does not give them impunity.
"The premier and her ministers preach reconciliation in press interviews, but take no action against those who assault people outside Parliament,'' Kowit said.
He said House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont cannot avoid responsibility, as the incident happened in front of Parliament. The speaker must take action to see that law and order is maintained, Kowit said.
Chavanond said the Democrats will next week name a shadow Cabinet to check the government.
"To ensure that we can effectively check the government, we will select members who have potential and competency and can fully devote their time to carrying out their duties to best of their ability,'' the spokesman said.
He criticised as inappropriate Pheu Thai's decision to appoint party deputy spokesman Wim Rungwattnachinda as secretary to the PM's office minister in charge of overseeing the media, due to allegations that Wim was involved in bribing reporters.
The Democrat spokesman also said the Pheu Thai-led government's policy to suspend contributions to the Oil Fund was a distortion of the ruling party's election campaign promises, and will not curb the rising cost of living as claimed.
Chavanond said the suspension of the contribution would put the Oil Fund Bt5 billion to Bt6 billion in debt, a burden that would ultimately have to be shouldered by the public. Democrat Party Bangkok MP Attawit Suwanpakdi said the prime minister promised during an election campaign event at Rajamangala Sport Stadium that the Oil Fund would be permanently scrapped in order to drastically reduce the cost of living. However, the government now says the contribution to the Oil Fund will be suspended for six months. Thus, Attawit said, prices of goods will not come down because the measure is temporary.
He said the drastic drop in the benzene price to Bt34.77 will affect sugar cane farmers, since the margin between benzene and benzene gasohol is only 23 satang. Many motorists will stop using gasohol, and prices of tapioca and sugar will plunge, he said.
The suspension of the contribution to the Oil Fund, he added, will affect the subsidy for LPG, which Attawit said was used by every household for cooking. Even though the diesel price has dropped by Bt3, the price of LPG will rise from Bt280 to Bt570 per 15 kg cylinder, he said.

HEADLINE MAKER

A guitarist meets a uke and it's love at first note

The owner of ukulele shop Apple Rangers, Phennapang Chaidan has also designed simple uke tutorials for the Net that are earning her quite a following
She may not be quite as big an Internet sensation as young Filipina singer Charisse or the 15-year-old South Korean acoustic finger-style guitarist Sungha Jung, but Phennapang Chaidan, 31, is raking up the hits on YouTube with her deft ukulele playing.
The uke, as it's known for short, looks like a small guitar but has only four strings. It's long been associated with Hawaii though it actually originated in Portugal.
Popular in Thailand for the last three or four years, the ukulele achieved star billing last year when singer Singto Numchok picked up the People's Choice prize at the "Ukulele Thai Competition". Early this year, the instrument was accorded an event of its very own, with Ribbee Boutique organising the Thailand Ukulele Festival 2011. Now the ukulele is so popular that anyone wanting to buy one has to join a long queue or book their instrument months in advance.
Phennapang has posted 62 ukulele tutorials on YouTube under the name "SuperAppleshow". In just one year, the simple lessons have attracted more than three million views.
She believes her YouTube success is down to her easy techniques and the fun elements in her teaching style.
"I think everyone can play the ukulele after watching my tutorial," says the owner of Apple Rangers, a ukulele shop in Phuket, adding that she designed the course mainly because she felt she could up with something better than the difficult guitar lessons she'd faced many years ago.
"When I was young, I signed up for a guitar course but I found it very difficult. The technique used was complex, probably unnecessarily so, so I took ages to learn. When I had the chance to teach music, I wanted the lessons to be easy. The technique I used is like a friend talking with a friend," Phennapang says.
Before recording a video clip, she chooses a song and a theme, then creates the mood by dressing and making up her face to suit both mood and theme. For some songs, she goes live.




If she went to all the trouble of studying guitar - and she is now a skilled guitarist - why has she now dropped the instrument in favour of the uke?
"That's simple," she says. "Singto recommended I give it a try."
Although reluctant at first, she agreed to join a ukulele workshop held by the singer.
And, she says with a laugh, it was love at first note.
"It easy to play and easy to carry around. It's much smaller than a guitar. I can take it with me wherever I go," she said.
Phennapang compares the uke to a woman. It's an instrument with several moods, she says. Sometimes it's sweet, sometimes naughty, other times gentle or cheerful. "Just like me," she says.
Her first how-to-clip on Singto's Facebook wall received so many encouraging comments that she decided to go one further and post an ukulele tutorial on YouTube.
"It 's not easy to make people pay attention to a four- to five-minute video clip and watch it until the end. Social media users tend not to focus on anything for long," she said
In addition to the tutorials, she answers questions on her Facebook/fanappleshow and twitter.com/superappleshow links as soon as they come in.
"If it takes two days for the poster to get an answer, he or she may give up the idea of trying the ukulele already. Be answering immediately, the instrument probably wins another devotees.
Despite her success, she doesn't plan to take the next logical step and open a music school. "I wouldn't be able to teach many people that way. Recording video clips is a much better way of reaching out."
However, she is willing to act as a guest instructor from time to time.
And while her SuperAppleshow is popular on YouTube, she'd like to see it evolve into an entertainment channel. Another dream is to have her own album.
In the meantime, she'll focus on managing her ukulele shop.
"I opened my shop in Phuket because I felt that Bangkokians had plenty of chances to buy and play the instrument and I wanted to give a chance to people in other provinces," she says.
Apple Ranger also incorporates a ukulele club where players can get together to talk about their little instruments and teach other. Youngsters who don't have the money to pay a uke of their own are invited to try the instrument for free.
"If you want to play the ukulele, give it a try. You'll quickly realise it's not difficult," she says.

Drivers pounce on cut-price fuel

MOTORISTS THRONG FILLING STATIONS AS PUMP PRICES SLASHED BY UP TO 8 BAHT PER LITRE

Petrol stations were packed with motorists queuing to buy cheap petrol yesterday as the new pump prices, which have been cut by three to eight baht per litre, started.

FILL HER UP: A staff member of a PTT petrol station on Phetkasem Road refuels a car yesterday after cuts in pump prices for 95 and 91 octane petrol took effect.

Consumers welcomed the measure, saying it would help ease the rising cost of living but cautioned they were worried it would only be short-lived.
Others urged the government to also consider cutting the gasohol price as a sharp drop in 91 and 95 octane petrol prices had resulted in motorists switching from green alternative fuels to premium petrol.
Worawit Chotiwannaporn, a 35-year-old businessman, said he normally uses gasohol but as 91 petrol had dropped to almost the same price as gasohol, he had decided to switch.
"The government should consider cutting the gasohol price too because the fuel is more environmentally friendly," he said yesterday.
Mr Worawit said he supported the Yingluck Shinawatra government's oil price cut measure. However, he was concerned it could spoil the energy-saving and alternative energy promotion efforts of previous governments.
The National Energy Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck, on Friday approved the reduction of contributions by refineries to the State Oil Fund by three baht a litre for diesel, 7.17 baht for 91 octane petrol and 8.02 baht for 95 octane petrol.
This drove down the pump prices of the fuels to 26.99 baht/litre for diesel, 34.77 for 91 petrol and 39.54 for 95 petrol.
Staff at a petrol station on Bangkok's Sukhumvit Soi 105 said the number of customers doubled yesterday, with other operators across the city and nationwide reporting similar increases.
Chuang Sukka, a coffee vendor who drove a diesel pick-up truck, lauded the measure, saying it would help ease the financial burden on low-income earners.
However, he did not think cheaper petrol would lower the price of other consumer goods as the government's plan to increase the minimum wage could lead to rising production costs.
Taxi-driver Piamseree Sansukborkhum, 49, said he and his colleagues weren't benefiting from the price cut as most of them used natural gas.
He said the price of LGP and NGV should also be slashed to help taxi drivers, adding that Ms Yingluck should come up with other measures to tackle increasing living costs.
A motorcycle taxi-driver who gave his nickname as Meng said the cuts were proof that the Pheu Thai-led government was serious about helping grassroots people, as motorcycles were a large percentage of premium petrol consumers.
Fares for public transport are expected to drop following the oil price cut, but operators of natural gas-fuelled vehicles, such as private buses operating in Bangkok, insisted they would not lower their fares.
Saen Sab boat operators yesterday announced a one-baht reduction for boat fares for every trip section. Chao Phraya ferries also cut ticket prices by 50 satang at some piers.
However, the Chao Phraya Express boat operators and inter-provincial bus operators have not yet lowered their fares, saying further discussion was needed.
Suchinda Cherdchai, president of the Association of Inter-provincial Bus Operators, said the association had no plans to reduce fares.
"We won't reduce fares because we have shouldered rising oil prices for a long time," she said.
"The Transport Ministry did not allow us to raise fares even though the oil price kept rising in recent years."
Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan yesterday said the government would compensate petrol stations for losses incurred from the pump price slash.
Officials had been sent to 18,000 petrol stations nationwide to check the amount of petrol stocks before the new prices became effective, Mr Pichai said, adding that the government had set aside about 3 billion baht to compensate pump operators.
Viraphol Jirapraditkul, director general of the Department of Energy Business, yesterday said the agency was discussing means to slash the gasohol price.
Two potential measures include reducing excise tax for gasohol or increasing the subsidy for gasohol by using the money from the Oil Fund.
However, the latter could cause negative impact on the fund, which already lost 6.16 billion baht in monthly income from the petrol price cut measure.

Stakes rise in casino row

CHUVIT UNVEILS NEW VIDEO OF SECRET DEN, THREATENS TO DEAL CARDS ON SECOND OUTLET

Rak Thailand Party list MP Chuvit Kamolvisit has revealed a new video clip apparently showing gambling equipment being removed from a hidden casino he revealed in last week's policy debate in parliament.

ANOTHER EXPOSE: Chuvit Kamolvisit yesterday revealed a new video clip which he said shows gambling equipment being moved out of an illegal casino.

If the video clip is real, it will be a blow to the Sutthisan police station, which insisted it was unable to find any illegal gambling dens in its jurisdiction, as claimed by Mr Chuvit.
In the new clip, trucks are seen transporting gambling equipment out of the casino to be stored at a nearby warehouse. The video was supposedly recorded about 3am on Thursday.
Mr Chuvit played a clip of the suspected casino before parliament on Tuesday, the first day of the two-day debate on the new government's policies.
He said yesterday this was the last time he would disclose information about this particular casino, as he found it unacceptable that the police were too slow to take action.
The police had waited for three days before going to the alleged casino, which gave the casino operator plenty of time to remove evidence, said Mr Chuvit.
That ruined the credibility of the police, said Mr Chuvit.
He knew of another illegal casino in the Chokechai Si area and he also had video footage of its operations. Police have denied such a casino exists, which has upset Mr Chuvit, who yesterday threatened to release the video to prove his claims.
He denied speculation that he exposed the alleged casinos as a favour to someone who desperately wanted to remove national police chief Wichean Potephosree from his post.
He insisted that what he was doing was for the sake of society and not a political game.
Pol Gen Sathaphon Laothong, who is leading the police panel investigating the casino claims, said 10 witnesses had been questioned and they had provided useful information.
Among the witnesses were taxi motorcycle drivers and car park attendants of the first alleged casino.
The panel would invite Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commissioner Chaktip Chaichinda for questioning on Thursday in his capacity as the boss of both Sutthisan and Chokechai Si police stations.
Pol Maj Gen Suthi Nerakanthi, MPB's Division 4 chief, said he had received a report concluding that there was no such casino on Chokechai Si Road, as claimed by Mr Chuvit.
Meanwhile, an Abac poll published by Assumption University shows the public was most impressed by Mr Chuvit in the policy debate.
The survey of almost 1,500 Bangkok residents aged 18 and older showed 90.7% backed Mr Chuvit, whom they said was helping society. Most also named Mr Chuvit as a rising star because of his performance and said they wanted him to keep divulging the truth.

Southerners press govt for special zone

YONGYUTH SAYS IDEA NEVER FLOATED

Muslims in the deep South are urging the Pheu Thai-led government to fulfil its campaign promise to turn the three southernmost provinces into a special administrative zone.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit told parliament during the government's policy address on Wednesday that his party had never actually floated the idea of establishing the so-called Nakhon Pattani or Pattani Metropolitan model. He said the idea had been initiated by Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former chairman of the Pheu Thai Party, and Yingluck Shinawatra repeated it during her election campaign in the deep South.
Mr Yongyuth said the government's policy on decentralisation had been drafted broadly and it was necessary for all stakeholders to discuss the topic and determine what type of special administration should be applied in the deep South.
Anantachai Thaiprathan, former member of the now-dissolved National Reconciliation Commission, said Ms Yingluck must make it clear that turning the restive South into a special administrative zone is a priority for her government.
"Nearly 5,000 people have been killed [in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala] in since violence flared up in 2004," he said. "Isn't the number of people killed enough evidence to adjust administration in the deep South?"

• Related: Yala man shot; cops hunt bombers

Mr Anantachai is also a member of a people's network which has drafted a decentralisation bill for a new local administration model in the deep South.
He said the bill arose from discussions between a small circle of people and members of the network about the situation in the deep South and how they can contribute to efforts to resolve the conflict.
Mr Anantachai cited Section 163 of the constitution which states that the public has a right to propose their own bills to parliament if they have the backing of at least 10,000 supporters.
He said he also wanted the Yingluck government to study this draft law and support it, as he believed it would be an effective tool to help quell violence in the deep South and help empower locals.
Somboon Ahmad Bualuang, peace advocate and chairman of the Puyut Tambon Administration Organisation in Pattani, said Ms Yingluck must study models of special local administrative areas in the country, mainly the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pattaya in Chon Buri, to see which was the most relevant to the deep South.
"State officials, especially those in security agencies, must change their perceptions that turning the deep South into a special administrative zone will lead to the separation of a new state," said Mr Somboon. "In fact, this will help solve the violence problem."
Nimu Makajae, former chairman of the Yala Provincial Islamic Committee, said besides the special administration body, he wanted the government to be open to negotiations with insurgent groups to help bring peace to the region.
Mr Nimu disagreed with the government's idea to restructure the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre initiated by the Democrat-led administration, saying it should remain in operation until it is proven that it is no longer needed.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Exports in July back on fast track
38% growth spurred by rubber and rice

After a hiccup in recent months, Thai exports regained strength in July, with a record monthly value and growth of 38.2% year-on-year, bringing the seven-month expansion to 25.7%.

Exports in US dollar terms were worth $21.52 billion in July, breaking the previous record of $21.07 billion in March. The July growth was the highest in 13 months and a huge improvement from growth of 16.83% in June and 17.58% in May.

Yanyong Phuangrach, the permanent secretary to the Commerce Ministry, said exports rose in all major sectors, especially farm products, with 53.5% expansion from a year earlier to $3.79 billion. The farm export growth was spurred by rubber (up 69.3%) and rice (110.6%).

Thailand exported $14.11 billion worth of industrial goods in July, up 37.9% year-on-year. The expansion reflected a sharp rise of 302% in exports of gems and jewellery, while gold exports surged 3.92 times to $995 million.

The steady revival in Japan's economy also helped push Thai exports in July. Growth in the Japanese market was 23% and Europe 35.5%, but the US market slowed down, expanding by only 8.1%.

Exports in the first seven months were worth $136.5 billion, up by 25.7% year-on-year.

Imports in July were worth $18.12 billion, up by 13.5% year-on-year, resulting in a trade surplus of $2.798 billion. The seven-month total was $130.25 billion, up by 26.1%, resulting in a surplus of $6.24 billion.

Mr Yanyong said the Commerce Ministry was maintaining its export growth target at 15% for this year despite foreseeable problems in some markets since exporters are seeking new ones.

"Although the new government has a policy of strengthening domestic trade and local consumption to reduce dependence on exports, exports will remain the major factor, generating income of more than $200 billion for the country this year," he said.

Sompop Manarungsan, president of the Panyapiwat Institute of Technology, said July exports rose impressively despite the global economic problems. The expansion was partly supported by growth in the Chinese market of 83.3%, compensating for the drop in the US.

Growth in the Chinese market was helped by Beijing's policy of spurring domestic consumption. New infrastructure also pushed up imports of rubber and other raw materials.

He pointed out a big surprise in the data was the 35% growth in the European market, which is still mired in debt problems and impacts from austerity measures.

He estimates exports this year will likely push GDP growth to 4-5%. Domestic consumption remains in good shape with 3-4% growth, as evidenced by the expansion of food, restaurant and retail businesses.

"The government should be careful with fiscal and monetary policy to ensure sustainability rather than growth," said Dr Sompop.

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the Export Promotion Department, said there were signs that exports in the second half would decline when compared with the first half.

As of Aug 24, Thailand had shipped 8.03 million tonnes of rice, up by 57% year-on-year, worth $4.55 billion, up 51%. The average free-on-board price was $567 a tonne, with Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa and South Korea the major markets.

US and EU woes to curb export growth

The growth of Thai exports may slow to only single digits in the final two months of this year given the possibility of a double-dip recession in the United States and Europe, notes a study by Kasikorn Research Center.

The centre projected that exports over the rest of this year would increase in value in US dollar terms by 13% or in a range between 6% and 17.5%.
The prediction is based on the global economy slowing as the US and Europe struggle, though this worst-case scenario might not actually occur.
However, revived supply chains in Japan will aid local manufacturing.
K-Research added farm and food sectors would remain strong this year. It forecast annual export growth of 20%.
It said that exports in July, which set a record at $21.52 billion, were supported by seasonal demand, noting if the un usually high value of gold exports were excluded, the total figure would have been lower than June.
The growth of 38.3% year-on-year in July also reflected a low base last year.
The southern office of the Bank of Thailand predicted shrimp exports will rise, especially during the harvest from August and October.
The improvement would help offset the drop of 8.2% in the volume of frozen and processed shrimp exports in the first five months of this year, resulting from diseases and floods last November and April.
Thanomchit Siripakaporn, a senior economist at the office, said renewed demand from Japan and lower supplies from Vietnam and Indonesia have increased prices.
The Thai shrimp industry is still No.1 in the world with production of around 500,000 tonnes a year, or 26% of global output, and 90% exported.

Chalerm vows lese majeste net crackdown

Yingluck orders check if UDD intimidated press

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has promised to crack down on websites with lese majeste content and to look into alleged intimidation of the press by red shirts.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung offers Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra some advice while she chairs a meeting to explain the government’s policies to senior state officials at Government House yesterday. CHANAT KATANYU

Mr Chalerm, who oversees the Royal Thai Police Office, said taking action against websites containing content that insults the monarchy would be one of his top priorities.
He made the statement yesterday after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called a cabinet meeting to apportion tasks among members of her cabinet.

• Related: Policies 'for good of country'

Mr Chalerm said he would tell the police force to set up a war room to deal with websites with lese majeste content straight away.
"Such websites will not be tolerated by this government. I will take action as quickly as possible," Mr Chalerm said.
Mr Chalerm also said Prime Minister Yingluck had told him to follow up on a case involving alleged intimidation of the press by red shirts.
A group of journalists on the parliament beat on Thursday said in an open letter to Ms Yingluck that they were concerned about an email hate campaign being circulated among red shirts who claimed to be supporters of the Pheu Thai Party.
The emails expressed disappointment over news coverage of Ms Yingluck and singled out a Channel 7 female reporter.
The e-mails included a photo of the woman and her name, with the remarks "Remember her face", and "Take care of her when you see her".
Mr Chalerm said he would look into the matter.
He dismissed accusations that the government was behind the email hate campaign.
Mr Chalerm said he had asked Kwanchai Praipana, a red shirt leader in Udon Thani, to ensure his red shirt supporters behaved themselves.
Mr Kwanchai has promised to keep the red shirts in Udon Thani under control, Mr Chalerm said.
Udon Thani is one of the main strongholds of the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Mr Kwanchai yesterday expressed disapproval of the use of force by red shirts who allegedly assaulted two men who were laying a wreath outside parliament in protest against House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon.
They were upset after he supposedly failed to show neutrality in the House this week.
He said this could further hurt the red shirts' image which has already been cast in a negative light.
Mr Kwanchai said any ill-judged moves by red shirts would do more harm than good to the government, although he believed that most red shirts have supported efforts to restore national reconciliation.
Mr Kwanchai also said Tida Tavornseth, UDD chairwoman, was no longer in a position to control the red shirts.
Most red shirt supporters would only listen to Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua _ the red shirt leaders who have now become Pheu Thai MPs.

Pump prices slashed from today

Fears held for impact on bio fuels, gas prices

Prices at the pump will tumble by as much as eight baht a litre today after the government gave the green light for a measure slashing contributions by refineries to the State Oil Fund.

Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said contributions and value-added tax have been cut by three baht a litre for diesel, 7.17 baht for 91 octane petrol and 8.02 baht for 95 octane petrol.
The National Energy Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, approved the reductions yesterday.
Ms Yingluck said the cuts formed part of the government's policy commitments made to parliament earlier this week and would help ease expenses for the public.
The Oil Fund collects contributions from sales of all fuel in Thailand. Contributions from diesel and petrol sales help subsidise alternative fuels such as gasohol as well as cooking gas.
Oil company Bangchak Petroleum last night cut its 91 petrol price by 7.17 baht a litre to 34.77 baht, with diesel prices falling by three baht to 26.99 baht a litre.
Policy-makers said cutting diesel prices would help ease pressure to raise prices across the economy by curbing transportation and logistics expenses. Transport officials said that bus and commuter van fares would also come down with the decline in fuel costs.
Mr Pichai said 91 petrol was primarily used by motorcycles drivers, while the price cuts for 95 petrol would assist drivers of older vehicles unable to use cheaper gasohol blends.
Overall, 10 million motorcycle drivers, 7 million diesel consumers and one million premium petrol users would benefit from the policy.
He insisted the measure would be only temporary. The Oil Fund is expected to lose 6.16 billion baht in income a month from the measure.
"The government will monitor oil prices and other economic factors, as well as progress in our policies to raise the incomes of lower-income workers," Mr Pichai said.
He added the energy policy committee had yet to consider any changes on excise taxes charged for fuel or whether to extend the tax cut measure taken by the last government that is due to expire next month. The government collects seven baht a litre in excise tax for 95 and 91 petrol, 6.3 baht for 95 and 91 gasohol and 0.005 baht for diesel.
Unleaded 91 petrol prices have risen by 8.5% this year to 41.94 baht a litre while diesel has been capped at 29.99 baht.
This is despite the fact that oil prices are now trading around US$85 a barrel, 7% cheaper than at the end of 2010 on worries about slower global economic growth.
Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij criticised the government's energy pricing policy as ill-conceived.
The reductions in contributions to the State Oil Fund would reduce incentives for commuters to use alternative fuels, affecting long-term energy security, conservation efforts and ethanol producers.
Mr Korn, the former finance minister, said the government would also face a challenge in raising funds to support cooking gas subsidies.
Without subsidies from the Oil Fund, local prices for a 15-kilogramme tank of cooking gas would more than double to 570 baht, in line with market prices, he said.
"The government has two choices _ float gas prices, which will affect lower-income users, or use taxpayer funds to subsidise cooking gas," Mr Korn said.
Energy experts offered mixed views on the new policy.
Siriwut Siampakdee, chairman of the Ethanol Producers Association, warned that motorists would shift from gasohol to petrol with the price changes.
"Thailand has been developing alternative fuels for over a decade and has tried to encourage its use by both motorists and auto manufacturers. I think this new policy needs to be carefully considered, otherwise [alternative fuel] policies will collapse," he said.
Thailand uses some 1.5 million litres a day of ethanol for blending with petrol to create gasohol. Energy policy-makers want to raise total ethanol production to 2.9 million litres a day.
"The government says it wants to increase alternative energy to 25% of total usage from 20%. But I see this new policy as the opposite of what it previously said," Mr Siriwut said, adding that he supported allowing prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) to float with market prices.
Energy expert Manoon Siriwan said the Oil Fund cuts should be strictly temporary to avoid hurting demand for alternative fuels, which has risen in recent years primarily due to the price advantage over unblended petrol and diesel.
Longer term, prices for all retail petroleum products should be adjusted to reflect global prices, he said.
But Prasert Bunsumpun, the chief executive of PTT Plc, said the new policy is unlikely to have a long-term impact if maintained for just six months.
He agreed, however, that subsidies on LPG and CNG should be cut to help bring prices closer to market levels and ease the burden on the state.
Payungsak Chartsuthipol, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, cautioned that the policy would distort the energy market and take away budget resources that could be better used for research and development and other long-term development programmes.
"The government should allow for a free market policy because when implementing a reduction policy, it's quite hard to cancel," he said.

UN office in Nigerian capital bombed; at least 18 dead

ABUJA - A suicide bomb blast rocked the UN compound in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Friday, killing at least 18 people, leaving others trapped and blowing out large areas of the building, officials said.

Witnesses reported that the bomb went off after a suspect rammed a car through the front gate. Parts of the first two floors of the building were blown out and rescue workers scrambled to rescue those left inside.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of bombings in recent months.

"So far, we have 18 dead and eight injured," Mike Zuokumor, police commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, which includes Abuja, told journalists.

"It was a Honda Accord car. The suicide bomber died immediately as the bomb cut him into three. I cannot say how many people are still in the building. The rescue operation is still on."

A member of security personnel speaking on condition of anonymity spoke of "many dead."

"A guy drove a Honda car, forced his way through the gate and rammed into the building, and then the bomb exploded," the security source said at the scene.

AFP correspondents saw wounded people being taken from the building, including those with bloodied heads. Some appeared lifeless but it was unclear whether they were dead.

One UN staff member said people were still trapped in the building that sustained heavy damage.

"I don't know what is going on. Many people are still trapped upstairs and we need a crane to bring people down," said the UN staffer who did not want to give her name.

Two cranes were later brought to the scene and rescue workers were trying to free those trapped on the upper floors.

"We spoke to our colleagues in Lagos, who confirmed that the explosion was caused by a bomb. But we have no further information for now," a UN spokeswoman in Geneva told AFP.

A spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs meanwhile told AFP that a colleague on site had sent an SMS message to say that the explosion "appears to have come from the gate entrance to the building."

The UN building is located in Abuja's diplomatic zone, not far from the US Embassy, and houses a number of United Nations agencies.

Security is usually extremely tight, with non-UN vehicles typically not allowed to approach the gate leading to the compound, and the building is set back from the street.

A bomb blast that rocked a car park at national police headquarters in Abuja in June and killed at least two people was claimed by Boko Haram. Police first said it was the result of a suicide blast before later retracting their statement, saying they could not be sure.

Most of the attacks blamed on the sect have occurred in the country's northeast, but a number have been carried out elsewhere, including the previous explosion in Abuja as well as several in Suleija near the capital.

The sect launched an uprising in 2009, put down by a brutal military assault that left hundreds dead. It went dormant for about a year before reemerging in 2010 with a series of assassinations of security personnel and politicians, as well as religious and community leaders.

There have been growing concerns that the sect has formed links with extremist groups outside of Nigeria, including Al-Qaeda's north African branch.

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Bomb kills 5 defence volunteers

Terror group blamed for suspected reprisal attack

Five defence volunteers were killed and another wounded in a bomb blast in Narathiwat's Rueso district while on their way to inspect the scene of a gun attack yesterday morning.

The six were travelling in a pickup truck heading to a rubber plantation in tambon Ruang of the district where Somsak Saeng-ngam, 53, had been shot dead by suspected insurgents while working in his rubber plantation.

The five victims killed by the bomb were Mayari Late, Eksunan Manirat, Ekkittiphon Chuayrot, Trizukifli Taye and Tri Thawin.

Their bodies were torn apart by the impact of the blast.

The injured defence volunteer was Triariphen Sira.

Pol Lt Sithanon Samli, who heads the investigation into the explosion, said the bomb consisted of 20 kilogrammes of explosives stuffed into a fire distinguisher. It had been buried in the middle of the road.

The bomb left a crater in the road about one metre deep and one metre wide.

Another team of police narrowly escaped the explosion because their car was travelling in front of the pickup that was hit.

Assistant district chief Sarawut Sama-ae, who survived the blast, suspects the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) insurgent movement was behind the attack.

Earlier in the day, a military ranger force from the Narathiwat 30 Special Task Force raided a mountain area believed to be the secret den of about eight RKK members, said Mr Sarawut.

The suspected insurgent group escaped the pre-dawn raid and might have asked their comrades in the communities to respond by attacking the six defence volunteers, he said.

In Yala, five garbage collectors of tambon Mae Wat municipality were injured when a bomb went off inside their rubbish truck while they unloading it at a dump site.

Two out of the five were left in critical condition after the blast that was reported to police around 7.30am.

Police investigators said the 5kg time bomb had been left in the rubbish.

Deputy Prime Minister Kowit Wattana, who is in charge of southern security affairs, said the government was speeding up measures to boost security and tackle the unrest.

Japan PM announces his resignation

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday stepped down as president of the ruling party, paving the way for the selection of the disaster-hit nation's sixth new premier in five years.
Kan's resignation comes after a turbulent 14 months in power during which he was criticised for his response to the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear plant accident, which saw his approval ratings plummet.
"I propose to you that I resign as the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan today," Kan told party lawmakers Friday.
"Once a new leader is elected, I will resign promptly as prime minister and my cabinet will resign."
A leadership election for a new party president, who would then become prime minister, is expected on Monday. Parliament will then vote the leader in as premier on Tuesday.
A relaxed-looking Kan called on his colleagues to "rebuild" the DPJ and reflected on his time leading Japan during its worst post-war crisis. "I believe I did my best and did what I had to do in severe conditions," he said.
After surviving a no-confidence vote in June, Kan said he would quit on condition that three key bills were passed -- a second budget, a budget financing bill and legislation promoting the use of renewable energy.
The budget for reconstruction in quake-hit areas was approved in July, while the final two bills were passed Friday, clearing the way for him to depart.
At least five candidates are jockeying to succeed Kan, including the favourite, former foreign minister Seiji Maehara. Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda officially threw his hat into the ring shortly after Kan's resignation.
The winner faces the unenviable task of overseeing Japan's biggest post-war reconstruction, resolving the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl 25 years ago, and shielding the economy from a soaring yen.
The new premier must also unite a divided parliament, decide on a new energy policy and win market confidence that Japan can overcome a legislative quagmire to address the world's biggest debt mountain.
Ratings agency Moody's this week downgraded Japan, citing its revolving-door political leadership as an obstacle to reform.
"The latest power change will yet again give the world the impression that Japan's leadership is unstable," said Shinichi Nishikawa, professor of politics at Meiji University in Tokyo.
Maehara, 49, who stepped down as foreign minister in March over a donations row, could become the nation's youngest post-war prime minister. He has advocated pursuing growth instead of raising taxes to ease Japan's fiscal woes.
Noda -- who recently courted controversy with statements supporting war criminals -- has softened his earlier stance on hiking taxes.
Between candidates such as Maehara and the premiership stands party kingmaker Ichiro Ozawa, who controls the DPJ's biggest political faction.
Ozawa, a divisive figure who faces criminal trial over a different donations scandal, leads up to 130 lawmakers out of the 398 who can vote on Kan's replacement.
He made waves Friday by saying he would not support Maehara, throwing the race into uncertainty.
During his tenure, 64-year-old Kan struggled amid low support ratings, a power struggle within the DPJ and a divided parliament in which the Liberal Democratic Party opposition blocked various bills.
The deadlock helped erode high early expectations of him as the first leader in years not born into a political dynasty, as the DPJ failed to meet its election pledges.
He was seen as mishandling the response to the March quake and tsunami that left 20,000 dead or missing and sparked the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident that forced tens of thousands to evacuate.
The atomic crisis triggered accusations of government negligence amid radiation leaks and food safety scares.
Kan later advocated a nuclear-free future for Japan in defiance of the power companies, bureaucrats and politicians who make up Japan's so-called "nuclear village", making more enemies along the way.
The message tapped into popular sentiment, with some polls saying 70 percent of Japanese want to phase out atomic power, but was not enough to revive his own tumbling ratings.

Red shirts raise journos' ire

A group of journalists on the parliament beat yesterday called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to look into alleged intimidation of the press by red shirts.

A man is held by red shirts who tried to block him from laying a wreath outside Parliament in a protest against House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont. Some MPs say the speaker lacked neutrality during the government policy debate in the House this week.

In an open letter to Ms Yingluck, the reporters said they were concerned about an email hate campaign being conducted among red shirts who claimed to be supporters of Pheu Thai.
The emails expressed disappointment over news coverage of Ms Yingluck and singled out a Channel 7 female reporter.
The e-mails included a photo of the woman and her name, with the remarks "Remember her face", and "Take care of her when you see her".
The call by the reporters coincided with an incident outside parliament yesterday when red shirts allegedly assaulted two men who were laying a wreath outside the House in protest against House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont.
Yutthaphum Tanleg and Arthit Poonsiri were confronted by at least 10 red shirts who were camping out in front of parliament.
Dozens of red shirts had amassed outside parliament to mark the occasion of the government's policy statement delivery and surrounded the two men, destroying their wreath and beating them up.
Police tried to step in, but failed to act, because they were outnumbered.
Eventually other red shirts interceded and pulled the two away to safety, he said.
Mr Yutthaphum said he came to protest against Mr Somsak because he had failed to do his job properly during debate on the government's policy statement.
The assault came on the heels of news that red shirts had intimidated a female reporter from China's CCTV news agency on Tuesday.
The reporter was said to be wearing a yellow outfit when she stood amid red shirts to report on their rally.
The red shirts surrounded her and tried to prevent her from doing her job.
They let up only after the reporter's interpreter convinced them to stop.
Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtoey yesterday brought the assaults to the attention of parliament.
Prime Minister Yingluck said she would assign Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung to investigate.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit condemned attempts to intimidate reporters. "The press has a code of ethics to govern its members," he said. "The public will be the judge if any fail to keep true to that code."

House chaos hurts govt

ANALYSIS: Pheu Thai to blame for quorum mess

A parliamentary session to debate the policy statement delivered by the government was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night before it was cancelled for a lack of a quorum.

House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon appears worn out as he takes a break from his duties in parliament yesterday. Mr Somsak has had his hands full trying to deal with a commotion during the debate on the government’s policy statement. CHANAT KATANYU

This does not bode well for House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon, who is likely to find it tough to keep MPs under control.
The cancellation of the session indicates there is no guarantee that the Pheu Thai-led coalition government can always benefit from having the majority of the House seats and a House speaker known for his strict approach to maintaining order. The session concluded yesterday.
As the ruling party with the majority of House seats, the onus is on Pheu Thai to ensure there are enough party MPs present when the House meets.
Whenever a House session has to be called off because of a lack of quorum, the Pheu Thai Party is entirely to blame. Half of the MPs have to be present to constitute a quorum and the party controls more than half of the House.
Pheu Thai cannot underestimate the opposition Democrat Party which is skilled at using parliamentary regulations to its advantage.
The Democrats have a sense of timing and can take advantage of missteps in parliament to throw the government off balance.
They always come up with a reason to do so.
Their protest against House Speaker Somsak during the policy debate on Wednesday is a case in point.
Mr Somsak has earned the nickname "The Hammer Man" for his strict approach to ensuring MPs behave themselves during House sessions.
However, Mr Somsak's ability to maintain neutrality when he chairs House meetings has been called into question and he will be forced to deal with the tough task of handling protesting MPs during future House sessions.
During the policy debate on Wednesday, the Democrats fiercely protested against Mr Somsak's rules barring them from debating the government's policy on protecting the royal institution, and from criticising former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Democrats also protested against a government proposal for a motion to end the policy debate despite the fact there was still time for the opposition to question government leaders.
They said the House Speaker was showing bias against the opposition.
Yet Mr Somsak called off the meeting after he called a quorum count twice and found the meeting lacked enough bodies despite efforts to call government MPs into the House to fill out the numbers.
As a result, the two-day policy debate which was supposed to end on Wednesday, had to be deferred to yesterday.
House Speaker Mr Somsak yesterday insisted he would strictly enforce the House regulations to ensure that politics will be more constructive.
Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Chinnaworn Bunyakiat criticised Mr Somsak for lacking neutrality, failing to enforce House regulations correctly and being overly protective of the government.
Observers said that future House meetings will be anything but plain sailing for the government as long as Pheu Thai's primary aim is to protect Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Thaksin from criticism by the opposition.
And that's despite the fact that it has Pheu Thai MPs acting as the Shinawatra's "bodyguards" and a mass of supporters outside parliament.

Top cops transferred in casino scandal

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (left)
and Pol Gen Wichean Potphosree,
the national police chief.
(Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Six high-ranking police officers have been transferred to inactive posts pending investigation of Rak Thailand party-list MP Chuvit Kamolvisit's claim in parliament that police operate a major casino in the heart of Bangkok.

Pol Maj-Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat, Metropolitan Police Division 2 commander, Pol Col Paisal Wongwacharamongkol, chief of Suthisarn police, were transferred, along with four other senior officers at Suthisarn police station, police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said on Thursday afternoon.
The other officers are two deputy Suthisarn police chiefs, the chief suppression officer and chief investigation officer.
Pol Lt-Gen Chakthip Chaichinda, the Metropolitan Police chief, had ordered their immediate transfer to Metropolitan Police headquarters for 30 days pending investigation of the allegations, the spokesman said.
National police chief Wichean Potphosree today set up a video conference with regional police headquarters throughout the country and ordered them to take strict legal action against illegal casinos and other games outlets.
He cited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's policy instruction.
Regional police chiefs were also ordered to step up drug suppression.
Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) secretary-general Ampol Wongsiri on Thursday confirmed MP Chuvit's claim that senior police officers own a big illegal casino in the capital.
Mr Ampol said his staff had found the casino on Ratchadaphisek 18 Road.
He said it was the same gambling den that the Rak Thailand Party leader exposed in parliament on Tuesday. It was overseen by local police and allowed in only high-stakes gamblers.
Mr Ampol said the casino had moved from Rama IX Road, Bangkok. There were also medium and small  gambling dens in apartment buildings on Lat Phrao Road.
He also confirmed Mr Chuvit's remark that illegal drugs were available in toilets of almost all entertainment venues.
Mr Ampol said he questioned Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Jakthip Chaijinda's insistence that Bangkok is free of casinos. He said taxi drivers could comfortably take gamblers to their favourite casinos in Bangkok.
According to a PACC source, senior police officers at two police agencies own the big casino on Ratchadaphisek 18 Road.
There was also an order to close illegal casinos in Bangkok prior to the July 3 general election, intended to force Thai gamblers to visit Thai politicians' casinos in neighbouring countries. Those politicians used their profits to fund their election campaigns, the source said.

Catering to K-POP

Thai brands are cashing in by signing K-Pop endorsement deals.

Thai teenagers' craze for Korean pop stars shows no signs of slowing down, leading more Thai companies to exploit this trend for product endorsements and marketing promotions.

Nattayoot Apiratikiat, managing director of TFS (Thailand), stands with a poster of Korean star Kim Hyun Joong at TheFaceshop store.

K-pop fever has fuelled the Thai market since the Dae Jung Geum series aired on Channel 3 a few years ago.
Osotspa Co, the distributor of 12Plus BB powder, is a consumer product that has exploited the trend to increase sales and build their brand awareness among Thai fans.
At least 15 Thai firms ranging from snacks, beverages, motorcycles, beauty clinics, contact lenses, cosmetics and candy use Korean pop stars as their presenters.
12Plus BB powder uses the Super Junior band for endorsement while Yamaha motorcycle signed stars from Tongbangshingi and 2NE 1. Super Junior's Dong Haee represents Maxim contact lenses and Scott sugar-free drink uses 4Minute, while Singha Corporation's Mashita seaweed hired Kyu Hyan, Lee Min Ho is a presenter for Dunkin' Donuts and T-MAX works for Wuttisak clinic.
TheFaceshop is the latest company to use Kim Hyun Joong, a famous Korean singer, in its marketing activities.
"It's really crazy here. Just by putting his image in our store, our sales could jump by 100% within only two months," said Nattayoot Apiratikiat, managing director of TFS (Thailand) Co, the distributor of TheFaceshop in Thailand.
TFS' latest campaign was to offer an autograph of Kim Hyun Joong for every purchase of 5,000 baht worth of TheFaceshop products.
"Believe it or not, the quota of 150 signatures was booked within two hours. It's beyond our wildest expectations," said Mr Nattayoot.
Sales of TheFaceshop in Thailand grew by 30% to 50 million baht in the first half of this year, about 20 million baht higher than its earlier projection.
TheFaceshop belongs to LG Health & Household, a branch of the electrical appliance manufacturer LG Group of Korea.
There are 26 TheFaceshop outlets in Thailand and the group expects the number to rise to 50 by 2014. Each shop requires an investment of 2.3 million baht and about 400,000-500,000 baht per counter sales. Seven new outlets will be added in the second half, including at Central Rama 9, Terminal 21, Central Plaza LardPrao and The Mall Bang Khae. The company expects sales of 90 million baht by the end of this year.
JB Kwak, TheFaceshop's overseas marketing team leader, said it plans to triple its overseas outlets to over 1,000 over the next three years, up from 356 outlets in 19 countries currently.
TheFaceshop expects its international market to grow by at least 40% per year.
"Even in Japan, which is known for supporting its local pop stars, K-pop fever has exceeded our expectations. We should be able to open more shops than we projected. At the Myeongdong tourist area in Korea, the top three spenders on our brand are Japanese, Chinese and Thai, respectively," she said.
Some 85% of TheFaceshop sales come from the local market with the balance abroad. The company aims to see an even sales split by 2014.

PROCUREMENT

Apirak: Faces Supreme Court

High court to hear fire truck case

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions yesterday accepted for consideration a case against five former top officials and an Austrian company for their roles in alleged corruption in the purchase of fire boats and trucks for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in 2004.

Named as defendants in the case filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission in July are former interior minister Pokin Polakul, former deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont, former commerce minister Watana Muangsook, former head of the BMA's Disaster Prevention and Relief Department Pol Maj Gen Athilak Tanchukiat, the Austrian supplier Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug AG, and former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin.
The former officials have been charged with malfeasance in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code and the Anti-Price Collusion Act in connection with the procurement of fire trucks and boats and other disaster relief equipment worth 6.7 billion baht for the BMA.
The NACC's probe found that the 315 fire trucks and 30 fire boats were procured at an inflated price.
The NACCs action came after the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) decided last year not to indict Mr Apirak, Mr Pokin and Mr Watana, citing insufficient evidence.
The NACC disagreed. In its lawsuit, the NACC claimed Mr Apirak, now a Democrat list-MP, was aware of irregularities in the purchase scheme.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the first hearing for the defendants, except for the Austrian supplier, for Nov 2. The Austrian supplier is scheduled to give statements in court on Jan 30 next year.

Potjaman wins tax appeal

Court doubts evidence in Shin evasion case

The Appeals Court yesterday overturned a lower court's verdict against Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, former wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, clearing her of all charges relating to a tax evasion scandal.

Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, the former wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arrives with her three children to hear the Appeal Court’s verdict in her tax evasion case. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

Khunying Potjaman was found guilty on July 31, 2008 by the Criminal Court of conspiring to evade taxes worth 546 million baht in her transfer of shares worth 738 million baht to her stepbrother Bannapot Damapong.
The transfer of shares in Shinawatra Computer and Communications, now Shin Corp, took place on Nov 7, 1997. It was investigated by an anti-graft agency, but never came to the public's attention until the coup-appointed Asset Scrutiny Committee decided to pursue charges.
The Criminal Court handed down a three-year jail term to Khunying Potjaman and Mr Bannapot for conspiracy to evade taxes and giving false statements to authorities. Her close aide, Kanchanapa Honghern, was also found guilty and given a two-year prison term.
The defendants argued against the Criminal Court's verdict on seven points. The Appeals Court found two points in their favour.
In its review, the Appeals Court said that there was no substantial evidence to prove that Khunying Potjaman and Ms Kanchanapa had assisted Mr Bannapot in evading taxes.
It acquitted Khunying Potjaman and her aide of the charges, citing the benefit of the doubt.
According to the Appeals Court, the transaction between Khunying Potjaman and her step-brother was deemed straightforward. The prosecution was convinced that there was no actual transaction.
It alleged that Khunying Potjaman paid for the shares for her brother and received the money back later from her nominee, Duangta Vongpakdi, the Shinawatra family maid, while Mr Bannapot did not pay tax on the shares.
"The plaintiff's evidence is weak, lending doubt as to whether the two defendants conspired to commit wrongdoing. The defendants should be given the benefit of the doubt," said the court.
The three-year jail term handed down by the Criminal Court was also dismissed.
But, the Appeals Court upheld a guilty verdict against Mr Bannapot for tax evasion. It reduced the jail term from three years to two years and fined him 100,000 baht.
The leniency was based on Mr Bannapot's lack of a prior criminal record and philanthropic endeavours.
"The three-year sentence is deemed appropriate. But the Appeals Court believes the prison term is a measure to boost efficiency of tax collection," the court wrote. "The first defendant [Mr Bannapot] is only a businessman, not a political office holder and he has no criminal record. He also made social contributions by donating large amounts of money to the Thaicom Foundation to support the education of underprivileged children."
Thaicom Foundation was founded in 1993 by Thaksin as a non-profit organisation. It contributed about 300 million baht between 1994 and 2004 to provide technological support to help the government initiate satellite education programmes for children in remote areas.
The Appeals Court also dismissed the charges against the two of giving false statements to authorities, citing a lack of evidence.
After hearing the verdict, Khunying Potjaman and the two defendants left the court without speaking to the press.
Khunying Potjaman smiled and said "Thank you" as she walked past reporters. She was accompanied by her children _ Panthongtae, Pinthongta and Paethongtan.
Metha Thammawiharn, Mr Bannapot's lawyer, said he would first have to study the ruling thoroughly before deciding whether to proceed with an appeal.
Weerapat Srichaiya, Khunying Potjaman's counsel, said that he was not satisfied with the verdict.
"The acquittal is for two people. In our appeal, we sought acquittal for three," he said.
He noted that Mr Bannapot had not been required to pay tax because the Revenue Department's probe was illegitimate.
He added that the probe had exceeded the statutory limit of five years.

12 red shirts jailed for town hall fires

Terms range from 8 months to 34 years

Twelve red-shirt protesters have been sentenced to jail for terms ranging from eight months to 34 years for their involvement in the arson attack on Ubon Ratchathani provincial hall during anti-government rioting last year.

On May 20, 2010, the day after the military crackdown and arson in Bangkok, red shirt demonstrators broke into the Ubon Ratchathani province hall and burnt the building. (Reuters photo)

They were among 21 defendants on trial for involvement in the arson attack on the hall last May.
All of the defendants were originally charged with violating international security law, terrorism and arson.
The verdict, originally scheduled to be read on Sept 5 by the Ubon Ratchathani provincial court, was moved to yesterday.
Nine of the defendants were acquitted for lack of evidence. The most notable defendant _ well-known radio host Pichet Thabutda _ was given a one-year jail term for fomenting unrest by persuading others to join in the riot. Pichet, also known as DJ Toy, was acquitted of other charges because he convinced the court that he was not at the provincial hall when the fire started.
Four rioters _ Patama Moolmee, Thirawat Sajasuwan, Somsak Prasansap, and Sanong Ketsuwan _ were first given life in prison, but their sentences were commuted to 34 years in jail because they had confessed.
Another four people _ Pradit Boonsuk, Likhit Suthiphan, Chaiya Deesaeng, and Pisut But-amkha _ were sentenced to three years in jail but the sentences were commuted to two years after they confessed.
The other three defendants _ Ubon Saentaweesuk, Supoj Duang-ngam, and On-anong Banpachart _ were each given one-year in jail, but the sentences were reduced to eight months after they had confessed.
The remaining suspects were acquitted, among them Thanusil Thanuthong, 52, who was wrongfully detained.
At a Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand hearing in April, Pol Col Aiyasoon Singhanat, then Ubon Ratchathani deputy police commander, conceded police had wrongfully arrested one man on an arrest warrant that had been based on a still photograph.
Dokchan Thanuthong, 47, Thanusil's wife, said in a telephone interview she was glad that her husband would be finally released as his detention had adversely affected her family.
She said she would consult with her husband and his lawyer about taking legal action against the police for the mistake.
Khamploy Namee, 60, said he was relieved he had been acquitted. Khamploy yesterday processed documents to retrieve his bail guarantee. He was the only one among the 21 defendants who was given a bail release this month so he could receive treatment for partial paralysis, a condition he has developed.
About 200 red shirts showed up to give the defendants moral support.

Idea to revive rice mortgage plan blasted

Democrats warn of big losses, Vietnam rivalry

The Democrats fiercely criticised the government's plan to revive the rice mortgage scheme during the second day of the parliamentary debate on government policies yesterday.

The opposition said the scheme was ineffective, favouring rich exporters rather than poor farmers, would expose the state to possible huge losses and possibly violate a regulation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Democrat list MP Kiat Sittheeamorn expressed doubts the rice mortgage scheme would be successful.

He said the Somchai Wongsawat government had implemented the scheme back in 2008 which caused a massive loss of 16 billion baht to the state.

It also led to a quota system that benefited large-scale exporters.

Mr Kiat cited a study by the Thailand Development Research Institute which concluded the previous mortgage scheme helped only one-third of Thai rice farmers and around 500,000-600,000 tonnes of rice from neighbouring countries was used to fraudulently claim privilege prices from the government.

Mr Kiat also warned the government its rice mortgage scheme might violate a WTO regulation which he said limited member states' subsidies to 10% of their products.

He wondered if the government's plan to spend 472 billion baht on the mortgage scheme would breach the limit. If it did violate the regulation, Thailand could face international lawsuits and trade partners might impose trade barriers.

Consequently, Thailand's other export-oriented industries would be affected and workers would be at risk of losing their jobs, Mr Kiat said.

He said the mortgage scheme could further widen the price gap between Thai rice and Vietnamese rice, encouraging local consumers to switch.

Democrat list MP Trairong Suwannakhiri said the previous rice mortgage scheme had benefited just 15% of Thai farmers and officials had casually spent government money on it.

He pointed out the scheme with high rice prices set by the government would not encourage farmers to cut their production costs. In the meantime Vietnam, which is an arch-rival of Thailand in rice exports, is researching cost reduction and its rice is now cheaper than Thai rice.

Vietnam is researching and developing irrigation, fertilisers and rice strains to cut costs. Vietnam sells its rice at US$570 a tonne while Thailand prices its product at $625 a tonne. This would pose marketing problems for Thai rice.

Mr Trairong warned Thailand could no longer be proud of its premium rice because the quality of Vietnamese fragrant rice almost matches that of Thai rice. Vietnamese rice has 70% of the Asian market.

The Democrat said when he became deputy prime minister in the last government, rice stocks resulting from the previous mortgage scheme amounted to 5.6 million tonnes. The government had to pay 10 billion baht a year for rice warehouse storage, as well as interest, and some lots of rice had been kept for as long as eight years as they could not be sold.

The storage of Thai rice under the mortgage scheme also raised the price of rice in global markets because Thai rice did not get there, he added.