The Korat Post

Highways Department Schedules Bypass Road Meeting

13 March 2007
the Korat Post (translated from Highways Department notice)

The National Highway Department has scheduled a meeting with the press on Friday, 16 March 2007, from 08:30-12:00 to provide a summary of results made in selecting a design plan for a new bypass road on Friendship Highway inside Korat Municipality. To be held at the Rachabhat Institute, Chalermphrakieti Building, Suwat Liptapanlop Conference Room, 3rd floor. Media have been invited to present opinions and comments. Any readers of the Korat Post who have questions or concerns about this project, currently slated for 400 million Baht, are asked to contact the Korat Post via email prior to the end of working day Thursday, 15 March. Location of proposed work here.

Democracy Advocate Passes Away

Seen as a hard working democracy and human rights advocate, Suvit Watnuu, photo right, died unexpectedly on 12 March 2007 from a heart attack.

12 March 2007
Manager Online (Translated by the Korat Post Online)

Suvit Watnuu, spokesman for People's Alliance for Democracy, died peacefully in his sleep late last night just fifteen minutes after midnight. Suvit was born 20 December 1952. Throughout his life, he was an advocate for democracy and the poor. Suvit was a central element of Thailand's democracy advocates who helped garner public support for, and information that led to, the ouster of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Known as a humble man, Suvit had in the past hidden from government forces as a result of the Black October bloodletting in Bangkok, later returning to help fight for the rights of the poor.


Suvit Watnuu - photo Manager Online

Northeast poverty fighter and advocate for democracy, leading member of the People's Assliance for Democracy, dies of heart attack.

12 March 2007
the Nation

Muslim Women & Children In Protest

A tense stand-off between Muslim and Buddhist protesters outside a police station in the predominantly Buddhist district of Khok Pho ended peacefully yesterday following the intervention of the chairman of the Pattani Islamic Committee.more

10 March 2007
the Korat Post

Miss Nakhonratchasima 2007

This is to announce the 2007 Miss Nakhonratchasima Competition to be held on 24 March 2007 at the Rachaphruk Grand Hotel, Korat, from 18:00 on. To be aired live on local KCTV cable, the contest was open to young Korat women applicants until 2 March. There are currently no details on the hotel's website about this important event. Other hotels in Korat have previously expressed interest in jointly hosting and organizing the event - without results.
Observers have commented that the standard of contestants would improve markedly if such joint cooperation were developed, as well that expenses involved could be considerably lightened for individual sponsors and hosts. See 1966 visit to Camp 44 by Miss Thailand here.
We missed the 2006 event, but readers who wish to review the 2005 Miss Nakhonratchasima photos may do so at the Korat Post website here.

Huge Success!

The Land of Smiles' first artificially inseminated pachyderm, a 100 kilogramme male, was born at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in northern province of Lampang.

7 March 2007
Thai News Agency

BANGKOK, March 8 (TNA) - Thai scientists announced on Thursday their successful artificial insemination of elephants after 'The Land of Smiles' first artificially inseminated pachyderm, a 100 kilogramme male, was born at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in northern province of Lampang. more


Online file photo of Thai elephant and baby

Elephants in Thailand have also been widely abused by keepers who parade them around variious cities begging for alms. The elephants are forced to walk on hot, hard pavement under the heat in artificial urban conditions. Authorities have been effectively unresponsive to correct this problem.

Change of Mind?

BANGKOK, March 7, 2007 (TNA) – Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has completely reshuffled his cabinet and is in the process of seeking royal endorsement for the appointments of new ministers, according to Government Spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp. more

Isaan Farmers Demand Relief

However, their own formerly elected representatives have remained unscathed from criticism .

6 March 2007
TNA

Some 150 farmers rallied at Government House on Tuesday, demanding their debts be written off. The farmers from the Assembly of Isan Farmers’ Group had demonstrated in front of Government House since 4.00 am on Tuesday. more


The same voters want to keep iTV as-is.

Fox Reveals Prejudice!

Bill O'reilly, of Fox News, cites criticism of American foreign policies as harming America's interests, then ignores his own onscreen truth of what Fox News is all about - ideology.

5 March 2007
the Korat Post

When you want a pro-US government opinion, just turn on Fox News. Yet, even its own anchor Bill O'Reilly didn't see his own arguments' fallacies on his own screen when he admitted that Fox can't handle the truth. Editorial


O'Reilly - one of the less vehement anchors of Fox


Map indicating troubled southern region

NARATHIWAT, March 3, 2007 (TNA)

Thai army rangers are searching for a band of armed militants who escaped after an exchange of gunfire near their mountain stronghold in this troubled southern province Friday, a senior police officer said Saturday.
One of the obstacles facing Thai government in the Musllim dominated southern provinces is the initial history of having violently annexed the area with British assistance to act as a buffer against the French, followed by decades of corrupt Thai officials who were acting for their vested interests. Now that southern extremists have a firm hold on mayhem, and are seemingly able to commit a coordinated series of attacks almost at will, the central government is at a loss on how to quell what may become a southern rebellion. more

3 March 2007
the Korat Post Online

Thaksin Gives Sondhi Enough Rope - Maybe!

Thaksin, speaking at the entrance to a Four Seasons Hotel in Australia recently to members of the Thai community:
“At that time I was going to sue Sondhi. I was going to have him arrested. But Khun Prem went around to different courts telling them not do sue him. So the Public Prosecutor would not issue a plaint. He [Sondhi] was on my case, after me all the time, but nothing could work out for him because I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was only doing my job.”
Sondhi Limthongkul’s response on his daily Guardian of the Nation program on ASTV on 2 March 2007?
“I am going to submit Thaksin’s interview as additional lese majesty charge evidence. All I can say is …his speech was asinine.”

Thaksin and the Thai government are long overdue with an apology to two Far Eastern Economic Report writers who did a story early in Thaksin's troubled history as premier that Thaksin had differences with the royal Household. If that fact isn't clear today...

Korat's Ethanol Production Base
Non-existent!

3 March 2007
Translated from Korat Daily newspaper

Korat Ethanol Stumbles. Raw materials have problems. Government bolsters benzene use. Translated from Korat Daily 15 February 2007 No sign of a production base for ethanol in Korat. Announcement [to gas stations] free to cancel [from former government commitments]. Only one out of six companies in Korat file documents citing readiness to produce ethanol, but after review, even these were not complete. The Department of Rural Development permits local construction. The Korat Provincial Director of Commerce cites raw materials and government policies as obstacles to producers and agricultural workers. One of the ethanol production companies, K.I. Korat based in Phimai, invested 295 million Baht for ethanol production, using sugar cane and sugar palm waste for ethanol making.

TAT Website and Korat SEA Games

2 March 2007
the Korat Post

Political niceties may be bottlenecking timely Internet and other media PR on SEA Games 2007. Try to find SEA Games on TAT's website, for example. Although the games are scheduled to be held in Korat this December, virtually nothing is found - unless you get lucky. Even the Thai Cycling Association at least has references, with dates, to the 2007 SEA Games and a biking tour of Thailand that follows. So what's the problem? See editorial.

1 March 2007
the Korat Post/agencies

Cabinet Reshuffle Before Monday?

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont indicated today that he will, possibly as early as this weekend, reshuffle the interim Cabinet. A Cabinet change has been expected for some time, in part because of perceived lack of progress by the current government in tackling major issues, most especially economic policy, as well as following up on its initially stated allegations of corruption and possible lese majesty against the ousted permier. The abrupt resignation of Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Pridiyathorn Devakula, often called for by media baron Sondhi Limthonkul because the minister was a close associate of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, has shaken the nation's interim administration. Several economic policy initiatives by the current government have led foreign investors to become wary of bringing funds into the country.

Despite his representative having established a criminal record (and admitting to assault inside Watpa Salawan), abbot Luang Pho Pherm, left, continued approval of Papatchanan Chingin, right, representing his interests. The question is, why? Chingin is currently appealing against a civil court ruling against her awarding plaintiffs 60,000 Baht. On 26 February 2006, she reportedly delivered the same amount to the court as guarantee in her appeal. Chingin has on her FM 104.5 local radio show thanked us for making her famous. We would rather consider it exposure. There are few people like this in the world. They deserved to be reported.

Watpa Salawan
Update

27 February 2007
the Korat Post online

The dust may have settled in the minds of some officials and deluded main characters in the play, but events at Watpa Salawan, a Korat meung district forest Thammayut temple, are still causing waves and ripples in the courts and field of ethics. On 20 February 2007, admitted criminal assault former defendant Papatchanan Chingin appeared in criminal court as a co-defendant in a case filed against her by a brave monk formerly at Watpa Salawan charging Chingin with perjury. Supporing witness statements given in court were cited by observers as foolish in the extreme, and thinly veiled lies that were easily seen through.

Kornburi Farmers Fear Water Shortage
Despite 3.7 billion Baht paid out in water supply projects

27 February 2007
the Korat Post/local agencies

The municipality of Nakhonratchasima is holding discussions on solving water shortages. Loses agreement with Kornburi. Insists that a new public forum with the people of Kornburi has to be held, after having proceeded with projects costing 3,700 million Baht, but under protests from local farmers who won't have enough water for agricultural use. more

Even municipal homes face shortages

Gone and going... Korat's top regional commanders, police and army, both on the chopping block. Region 3 police commissioner Sathaporn Laowthong, right, already transferred to Bangkok. Army Region 2 commander Sujet Wattanasuk, left, said to be leaving effective 1 April 2007.

Korat's Top Commanders Axed
Seen as too close to Thaksin, too unable to solve school fires! Old army clique said involved. Bars and club owners in Korat not yet worried.

26 February 2007
the Korat Post/local agencies

Just a week after the Korat Post spoke with Thaland's new police commissioner expressing concerns for unsolved school fires in Isaan, both of the region's top military and police commanders have felt the axe fall. There are also persistent rumors, denied by the incumbant, that governor Somboon Ngamlak is due to be transferred. His staff denied the rumor.


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TAT: "Pay"

An invitation for a promotional tour at your own expense!

25 February 2007
the Korat Post/local agencies

[From TAT]
Each [foreign/Thai] couple will be charged 1,101 baht to go on the [Isaan] trip and translators will be on hand to help the foreigners. more
See Editorial. And our letter to TAT.


Please click on this link for larger scale English map.

Motorway Design

New link between Bang Pa-in and Korat to cut aotomobile transit time to two hours.

24 February 2007
the Korat Post/local agencies

Despite political upheaval, political uncertainties and economic worries, and terrorism threats, the proposed Bang Pa-in to Nakhonratchasima Motorway seems destined to become reality. Mr. Chanchai Daechasthongse, lead civil engineer on the survey and design team, provided some background to local reporters during a February press conference in Korat held at the Royal Princess Hotel. Coincidentally Caterpillar Company was preparing a NE Road Show with its heavy construction equipment being displayed on the hotel's grounds. more