Find Other Sides of Thai Politic. Update you on the political turmoil in Thailand.

อ่าน ทวิตเตอร์

Upcoming

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Pojaman released on bail

Pojaman released on bail

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra and two other defendants in a tax evasion
case were released on bail after the Criminal Court found them guilty.

Pojaman,
her brother Bhanapot Damapong and Kanchanapa Honghern were released
after each post assets worth Bt5 million as guarantee.

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30079448







Court sentences Pojaman to three years in jail

Court sentences Pojaman to three years in jail


Court said Pojaman should have served as society's good example









The Criminal Court on Thursday found wife of ousted prime
minister Thaksin Shinawatra, guilty of intentionally avoiding tax
payment of Bt546 million for the transfer of 4.5 million shares of the
Shinawatra Computer and Communications' shares worth Bt738 million.

Found guilty in the same charges were her adopted brother; Bannaphot Damapong and her secretary Pennapa Honghern.


The Court sentenced Khunying Pojaman, Bannaphot to a total of three
years in jail; two years for the charges relating to the conspiracy to
evade tax and one year for giving falsified statements. Pennapa faces
two years in jail.


The Court said the three defendants had committed serious crimes and
filed false statements with the government agencies in order to avoid
paying taxes. They intended paying taxes despite that they were rich
people.


The court ruled that the prosecution's evidence was solid and
indisputable. The three suspects were found guilty of fraud or
collaboration to evade taxes.


In addition, Pojaman and Bannapot were also found guilty of filing
false claims and presenting false evidence to the authorities with
intention to avoid paying taxes.


The court also reprimanded Pojaman in particular, saying that with
her high economic, social and political status - especially her status
as wife of the then county leader - she should have acted as good
example to society.

The Criminal Court rules out every defence
argument on the tax evasion case as insubstantial in rebutting the
prosecution evidence.


The court says the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt
that the defendants committed a conspiracy to evade tax. The ruling
says Pojaman and Bhanapot made the shares transfer in the stock market
in order to avoid tax liabilities even though there was no real
transaction.


Bhanapot admits Pojaman gave shares to him and the court finds this is not a family gift.


The ruling is addressing a key legal issue whether the three
defendants intentionally gave falsified statements to the authorities
in order to avoid tax liabilities.


The charges were from from transaction, which took place in November
1997, come under the criminal codes of Article 37 (1) (2) of the
Revenue Code. Violation of this law is punishable with a fine of
between Bt2,000 and Bt200,000 and a jail sentence of between three
months and seven years. A multiple violation of this law will result in
a jail sentence of not more than 20 years.


The Office of the Attorney General filed the suit on March 26 last
year, summoning more than 30 prosecution witnesses to testify including
Sak Korsaengruang, spokesman of the nowdefunct Assets Examination
Committee who chaired the AEC panel that probed the accusation of tax
evasion, and former Finance Ministry permanent secretary and former
directorgeneral of the Revenue Department Suparat Kawutkul.


The three defendants denied the charges and almost 20 defence witnesses testified in the case.

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/31/headlines/headlines_30079445.php

Court found Pojaman guilty of tax evasion

Court found Pojaman guilty of tax evasion



10.45am : Pojaman and her family
leave the court house. Former premier Thaksin and his children looked
serious while his wife smiles.








10.47am :
The Criminal Court on Thursday found Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra guilty
of intentionally avoiding a tax payment of Bt546 million for the
transfer of 4.5 million shares of the Shinawatra Computer and
Communications' shares worth Bt738 million.


Also found guilty in the historic trial are Pojaman's adopted
brother Bannaphot Damapong and her personal secretary Kanchana Honghern.

The court sentenced Pojaman and Bannaphot each to 3 years in jai.

10.20am : The court judges are still reading the verdict. All Shnawatra family appear to look tense.


9.10am : Criminal Court judges start reading the verdict.


8.40am : Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra arrives at the
Criminal Court. She is accompanied by her husband; former prime
minister Thaksin, and her children.

They are greeted by cheering crowds.

8.30am : Separate groups of people arrive at the Criminal Court as the Court is scheduled to start delivering verdict on 9.30am.


Some 200 police are on duty to provide security. Those who wanted to enter the court house have to pass metal detectors.


10 am: The court is still reading the historic verdict. Thaksin and his children look extremely tense and worried.

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/31/headlines/headlines_30079437.php

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Big boss may override reshuffle

Big boss may override reshuffle



It is true that money and the bargaining power of political factions always influence the allocation of ministerial posts.


This is also bound to apply to the upcoming reshuffle of the Sundaravej government.

Prime
Minister Samak said he would reshuffle his Cabinet at the end of the
month after the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office
Holders rules on whether to accept the case concerning irregularities
in the two- and three-digit lotteries scheme, submitted by the Assets
Examination Committee on July 28.

If the case is accepted,
three ministers - Surapong Suebwonglee, Uraiwan Thienthong and Anurak
Jureemas - may have to be suspended. However, should this be the case,
the ministers plan to seek a Constitution Court ruling on whether they
have to be suspended.

The reshuffle could create some
chaos. No one wants to be ousted or shifted from their posts,
especially those ministers who are also leaders of factions.

Interior
Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who may move to the Justice or Public
Health posts, has tried to forge an alliance with Northeast MPs,
excluding Newin Chidchob's faction. Bangkok MP Sudarat Keyuraphan's
faction is another Chalerm target.

Chalerm has
reportedly told Samak that if he is removed from the Interior
portfolio, he will only accept the post of justice minister.

Newin
reportedly did not want to lose any of his four ministerial seats,
filled by Deputy Education Minister Pongsakorn Annopporn, Deputy
Agriculture Minister Theerachai Saenkaew, Deputy Transport Minister
Songsak Thongsri and Deputy Interior Minister Supon Fongngam.

All
eyes are on Samak, as he vowed he would reshuffle his Cabinet a second
time to improve the government's image. He said he would appoint
outsiders to some posts, regardless of faction quotas.

Does Samak have the power to do that?

In
fact, since Samak became prime minister the real power of the People
Power Party (PPP) and the government appears to be in the hands of "the
big boss", the real owner of the party.

Also, as long as
money still feeds party members, financiers and leaders of the factions
will continue to play a vital role in appointing Cabinet members.

"If
Samak really cuts the quota from the financiers and the factions, who
will take care of party MPs?" a source from the PPP said.

He
said the parties had asked their ministers to allocate the
responsibility of overseeing party MPs in order to avoid a
concentration of MPs under any particular party.

The source said the big boss would be the one who has the final say in this reshuffle.

"At most, Samak can only float his idea through the media. Every decision will depend on the big boss," he said.

For these reasons, perhaps Samak will have to eat his words again.

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/23/politics/politics_30078751.php

Cabinet reshuffle on tract: Samak

Cabinet reshuffle on tract: Samak


Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on
Wednesday confirmed that the Cabinet line-up would be submitted for
royal endorsement regardless of the departure of Puea Pandin Party
leader Suwit Khunkitti.








Samak did not go into the details of the new line-up. He earlier
said the list of the Cabinet appointments would be forwarded to the
Royal Palace this morning and the announcement would be made in a few
days.

Earlier the day, Samak appeared at a loss for word by
saying he could not comment at this juncture on why Puea Pandin Party
leader Suwit Khunkitti abruptly withdrew from the coalition alliance on
Tuesday's evening.


Samak refused to confirm or deny that he was about to remove Suwit
from the Cabinet line-up and that he allocated only one ministerial
seat under the Puea Pandin quota.

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/30/politics/politics_30079358.php

Supreme Court decides to consider the Exim Bank loan case against Thaksin

Supreme Court decides to consider the Exim Bank loan case against Thaksin


The Supreme Court ruled on
Wednesday to consider the Exim Bank loan case filed by Assets
Examination Committee against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.



The high court's Criminal Division of Political Office Holders has scheduled September 16 for the first hearing of witnesses.

AEC
accused Thaksin of abusing his position to order a Bt1 billion increase
in the amount of loans to Burma, allegedly for the benefit of his
family's satellite and broadband businesses.

A total of
Bt4 billion was extended to the Burmese government to improve its
infrastructure and telecom sector in 2004. This came with the condition
that the Burmese government purchase materials from the Shinawatra
family's Shin Corp.

This is a third graft case linked to
Thaksin. His first litigation is the Ratchadapisek land case and the
second is the lottery case.

From: http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/30/politics/politics_30079363.php


Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tensions rise on Thai-Cambodia border after arrests

Tensions rise on Thai-Cambodia border after arrests






Bangkok/Phnom
Penh - Around 40 armed Thai border police crossed the Cambodian border
into Preah Vihear temple after Cambodian authorities arrested three
Thais, alarming tourists and sparking urgent talks between the two
sides, authorities said Tuesday.











Hang
Soth, secretary-general of the government's Preah Vihear authority,
said the armed group arrived after Cambodian soldiers had detained two
Thai border guards and a Thai Buddhist monk.

He said the
arrested trio had been warned first but continued and were detained on
suspicion of planning to demonstrate the listing of Preah Vihear temple
as a UN World Heritage Site.

Cambodia was now preparing to
repatriate them and they would be returned some time Tuesday, he said,
but added that tensions had risen considerably after the armed border
guards arrived in support.

State-run Thai TV PBS identified the three arrested as Phicharn Thapsorn, 35, Chanikarn Singnok, 64, and Buddhist Monk Khamphor.

"After
the arrests, around 40 black uniformed Thai border guards with guns
arrived at the temple and scared tourists with their weapons," Hang
Soth said by telephone.

He said most of them had now
returned to the Thai side of the border voluntarily. Cambodia has had
riot police and military on standby at the temple since Thai protests
began.

The arrested group had crossed in to Preah Vihear
province, Cambodia, from the Thai Khantalak district in Si Sa Khet
province on Monday, the TV station said.

Preah Vihear
temple, known as Phra Viharn in Thailand, was named a World Heritage
Site at a UNESCO meeting in Quebec earlier this month, despite Thai
opposition to the listing.

The ancient Hindu temple,
perched on a 525-metre-high cliff on the Dangrek Mountain range that
defines the Thai-Cambodian border, has been the source of a sovereignty
dispute for decades.

An ownership spat between Cambodia
and Thailand led to a suspension of diplomatic relations in 1958 and
eventually ended up in The Hague for an international settlement in
1962. Cambodia won.

The temple reemerged as a source of
bilateral tensions in 2006 when Cambodia first proposed listing the
monument as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thailand
objected, and succeeded in blocking the subscription attempt in 2006
and 2007 on the grounds that parts of the temple compound were still
subject to a border dispute.

Cambodia redrew the Preah
Vihear inscription map this year, excluding the disputed territory. It
was approved by the World Heritage Committee on July 7.

The Thai government at first backed the proposal, but then withdrew support when the issue became a political hot potato.

Residents
of Si Sa Khet province, about 400 kilometres north-east of Bangkok,
have been protesting the listing since early July, prompting Cambodia
to shut access to the temple from the Thai side of the border.//dpa

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/15/regional/regional_30078145.php

STOCKS CHARGES



STOCKS CHARGES

PPP attacks Democrats, senators and Banharn


The
ruling People Power Party has asked the Election Commission to remove
28 Democrats and 33 senators from office for alleged breach of the
Constitution because they own stocks in telecom, media and other firms
that hold government concessions.


PPP deputy spokesman Suphachai Jaisamut filed the complaint with
the EC yesterday by producing a list of MPs and senators holding stocks
in companies that operate businesses that have state concessions.


Article 48 of the Constitution prohibits political
office-holders from holding shares in telecom and media companies,
while Article 265 bars them from holding stakes in companies that enjoy
government concessions.


Supachai said he had obtained the list of MPs and senators from
their personal assets declarations filed with the National Counter
Corruption Commission when they assumed office.


Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban admitted he held
5,000 shares worth Bt50,000 of telecom firm True Corp, which he bought
from the stock market.


"They have to conduct the investigation because I bought these
stocks from the stock market at only Bt50,000. My stocks are worth
little. It should not be a problem," Suthep said.


Seri Suwanphanond, one of the authors of the 2007 Constitution,
said Article 48 of the charter bars political office-holders from
holding, directly or indirectly, even one stock in a media company.


"Violating it would affect their political status. The EC must
determine this matter. If the politicians think otherwise, the
Constitution Court will have to deliberate this case," he added.


Banharn Silapa-archa and his daughter Karnjana Silapa-archa of
the Chart Thai Party have been found to own Bt80 million-Bt90 million
worth of Siam City Cement stocks. The firm produces cement with
concessions from the government.


Other big-time politicians include Khunyin Kalaya Sophonpanich,
who holds stocks in Siam Cement; Somkiat Chanthavanic in Thai Oil, Siam
Cement, Nation Multimedia, PTT and PTT Exploration & Production;
and Ong-art Khlamphaiboon in Thai Oil.


The case of Suthep and other politicians is similar to what Chai
Chidchob, the House Speaker, is now facing. Chai and his wife La-ong
are found to own stocks in a company that has a concession with the
government.


Reungkrai Leekijwatana, a senator, who has filed a complaint against Chai, said Suthep's owning of True is also a violation.


"Suthep's stock holding, directly or indirectly, [in True]
violates the Constitution even though he does not have any involvement
in the policy of the company," he said.


List of 28 Democrat Party's MPs allegedly violating constitutional laws concerning shareholding:


1. Suthep Thaugsuban

2. Anucha Burapachaisri

3. Somkiet Chanthawanit

4.Sakoltee Phathayikul

5. Kalaya Sophonpanich

6 Chanin Rungsaeng.

7. Ratchada Thanadireak

8. Ong-art Klampaiboon

9. Sarawuth Aonlamai

10. Theinchai Suwanphen

11.Chanchai Aisarasaenarak

12.Narisa Adithepwarapan

13.Samphan Thongsamak

14.Abichart Sakdised

15. Songkran Jitsuthipakorn

16. Chalermchai Sriaon

17. Kantawan Thansatien

18. Juthi Krileurk

19 Wichai Lomsuthi

20. Juar Rajchasi

21. Winai Saeniem

22.Larbsak Laphalobkij

23.Nipha Pringsulka

24.Phicharnmate Muangmanee

25. Sukhumphan Boriphat

26.Prakob Jirakij

27. Trairong Suwankiri

28. Chalernluk Kebcharb


List of 33 senators allegedly violating constitutional laws concerning shareholding


1. Korbkul Phanjareunwaurakul

2. Kiertikuntrungjai Buranasompob

3. Thanu Kulchon

4. Wirath Phanijchapong

5. Surachai Lienboonlertchai

6. Jirawat Kulawanij

7. Phichet Suntornphipith

8. Lertrath Rathanawanij

9.Thawoorn Leenutapong

10. Boonchai Chockwathana

11. Phichai Authamaphinan

12. Warin Tiemjaras

13. Aurai Kunananthakul

14. Kerk Kanlayanamitr

15. Thasana Boonthong

16. Pornphan Boonyaratphan

17. Somchai Sawaengkarn

18. Thippawan Samutharaks

19. Warawuth Rojanaphanij

20. Surapong Thansrithanakul

21. Sithisak Yongtrakul

22. Mongkol Srikhamhaeng

23. Choochai Leartphong

24. Suphot Leirdprathom

25. Phongaek Abirak

26. Phikukkaew Krairuek

27. Prawath Thongsonboon

28. Jaran Juengrungreungkij

29. Suraphong Thansrithanakul

30. Manoch Kraiwong

31. Kowith Phakdeephome

32. Nareumon Siriwath

33. Phontip Janrathpreecha

Source: http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/15/headlines/headlines_30078109.php

Thailand's rich get richer: Forbes

Thailand's rich get richer: Forbes


Despite the political and economic
uncertainties, Thailand's 40 richest people have proved to be a stable
lot as old names remain on Forbes' 2008 list and some have even become
wealthier.




Chaleo Yoovidhya, with a net worth of US$4 billion (Bt135 billion),
returns to the No 1 spot - up $500 million from last year - thanks to
strong global sales of his Red Bull energy drink.

His
runner-up again is beer brewer Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, up $600
million. They are two of eight tycoons who made most of their fortune
in food and beverages, more than any other industry.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra also saw his fortune rise by about $100 million.

Forbes
said these names remained perhaps because the list was dominated by
businesses set up decades ago, or perhaps because the same families had
run the enterprises for so long, there had been little change.

All 40 appeared on the list in 2007 or 2006, or have taken the place of rel-atives who were listed previously.

Chaleo and Charoen are also first-generation entrepreneurs who still hold the bulk of their wealth.

More com-monplace are families whose wealth is now in the hands of the founders' wives, children or grandchildren.

Forbes
this year grouped together relatives who derived their wealth from the
same person or company. The three Thai Rath newspaper heirs who last
appeared as individuals are now listed together under the mother,
Praneetsilpa.

Combining family fortunes helped boost the top 40's total worth by $6 billion to $25 billion.

The survey is based on June 26 stock prices and exchange rates.

Forbes estimated the worth of pri-vately-held companies by figuring out what they could be worth if public.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstory/read.php?newsid=30077826

Sunday, July 13, 2008

PREAH VIHEAR CONTROVERSY





PREAH VIHEAR CONTROVERSY

Any Govt would have done it: Samak

Prime
Minister Samak Sundaravej said Sunday that any government would have
had done the same thing with what his administration has done in
endorsing Cambodia's registration of Preah Vihear a world heritage site.







He
said had the post-coup interim government remained in office, it would
have done the same thing with what his government had done regarding
the Preah Vihear listing.

Speaking during his live talk programme, Samak said had the Democrat won the election, it would have also done the same thing.

He
said Cambodia would seek to register Preah Vihear with our without Thai
endorsement and it could have caused more damages had the World
Heritage Committee approved the registration of the disputed
overlapping land as part of the world heritage site.

The
prime minster said his government endorsed the registration after
Cambodia agreed to register only the temple not the surrounding
landscape.

He said his government was not the one to
initiate the preparations for the endorsement of the joint communiqu้
of the two countries in support of the Preah Vihear listing.

He said the Foreign Ministry handled the issue with backing from the military and National Security Council.

Samak
said the Foreign Ministry's Treaties and Legal Affairs Department had
studied the issue and became certain that Thailand would not lose any
part of its territory because of the joint statement.

He
said the Supreme Command's Royal Thai Survey and the NSC also backed up
the opinion of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department.

Samak
added his government was facing all the trouble regarding to the Preah
Vihear issue because of the Constitution which was written with a
motive get rid of politicians of the People Power Party's side.

During
his Talk Samak Style programme, Samak particularly cited Article 190's
section paragraph, which the government's opponents cited to seek a
Constitution Court's ruling against the Cabinet's resolution to endorse
Cambodia's registration of Preah Vihear as a world heritage site.

He said the second paragraph should not have been included.

The government's opponents later cited the court ruling to seek an impeachment against his Cabinet.

The
second paragraph of Article 190 says: "A treaty which provides for a
change in the Thai territories or extraterrotorial areas over which
Thailand has sovereign rights or has jurisdiction in accordance
therewith or in accordance with international law or requires the
enactment of an Act for the implementation thereof or has extensive
impacts on national economic or social security or generates material
commitments in trade, investment or budgets of the country, must be
approved by the National Assembly. For this purpose, the National
Assembly shall complete its consideration within sixty days as from the
receipt of such matter."

http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/13/headlines/headlines_30077955.php

Samak denies irregularities in BMA flood-easing tunnel project

Samak denies irregularities in BMA flood-easing tunnel project













Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Sunday denied that there were
irregularities in a flood-easing tunnel project commenced when he was
governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

He
was reacting to reports that an executive of a Japanese construction
firm had admitted to Japanese prosecutor that he had paid a bribe to
Thai officials in return for favours connected to the tunnel project.

Samak
said he did not explain the issue during the week because he did not
trust the Thai media so he waited to give the explanation during his
live talk programme.

He said the project had been ruled by the
Administrative Court as being transparent after a Thai construction
firm sued the BMA and Japanese firm as violating the law against
collusion to win government's projects.

Samak said the BMA also managed to negotiate for reduction of the construction cost so there were no bribery in the project.

http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30077952

Vaccination casualty

Vaccination casualty






A two-month-old girl has died after being vaccinated at a state clinic.









Sunisa Chamjaeng became ill last Thursday after being taken to the
Uttaradit clinic for polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, hepatitis and
tetanus vaccinations.

Attachai
says his daughter and her mother attended the Ban Moh healthcare unit
and the child fell ill later at home with fever. She later fell into a
coma and stopped breathing.

The child was taken to nearby Pichai Hospital, but she died of pulmonary oedema before admission.

Attachai
says his daughter was healthy until visiting the clinic. "I don't want
to blame anybody. All I want is the truth about what happened to my
daughter."

Provincial public health chief Dr Aree Tanbanjong says vaccinations have been suspended pending a twoweek investigation.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/13/national/national_30077967.php

Monday, July 7, 2008

Chaiya fined Bt25,000 for contempt of court

Chaiya fined Bt25,000 for contempt of court









The Administrative Court found Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsup guilty of contempt of count and fined himi Bt25,000.

Chaiya
earlier criticised the court for issuing an injunction against Chaiya's
order to appoint a new board of directors for the Government
Pharmaceutical Organisation.

http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30077490

Japanese contractor allegedly bribes Thai officials

A former executive of Nishimatsu Construction Co. has told Japanese
prosecutors that the Japanese general contractor paid more than 400
million yen or Bt125 million in 2003 to Thai government officials.
Kyodo News Agency reported Monday.


The alleged bribes were in return for ''favors'' connected to the
award of a tunnel project of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in
2003.

Incumbent Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was Bangkok governor at that time.


The former executive of the major Japanese general contractor is
being probed by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office for
allegedly violating the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for
importing in around 100 million yen from overseas without reporting it
to customs, the sources said.


In September 2003, a partnership Nishimatsu Construction and a
local general contractor was awarded a project ordered by the BMA to
build a tunnel to ease flooding.


The project was worth around 6 billion yen, according to the administration.


Local staff of Nishimatsu in Thailand allegedly prepared bribes
after consulting executives of Nishimatsu's Thai partner, the sources
said. The payments were apparently made to Thai government officials
and officials overseeing overseeing bids for the project just before
and after the project was awarded.


The Nishimatsu executive claims he was not directly involved in
bribing the officials but ''in return for favors to secure the tunnel
construction project, the company paid a total of more than 400 million
yen to Thai government officials,'' the sources said.


''Such operational funds were necessary in order to be awarded public works projects in Thailand,'' he was quoted as saying.


Kyodo news agency said the prosecutors searched Nishimatsu's
head office in Tokyo's Minato Ward in early June in connection with the
former executive's suspected violation of the foreign exchange law. The
prosecutors suspect that the 100 million yen he brought into Japan was
part of a slush fund.


The prosecutors are also conducting investigations into Pacific
Consultants International, a major Japanese construction consultancy,
in connection with a case of suspected bribery in Vietnam related to a
project funded by official development assistance from the Japanese
government.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/07/national/national_30077492.php

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

WIMBLEDON, Packing a punch

WIMBLEDON

Packing a punch


Venus serves thunderbolts to end Tamarine's dream run in quarters

Defending champion Venus Williams moved a step closer to her fifth Wimbledon singles title yesterday, beating Tamarine Tanasugarn in straight sets to reach the semi-finals and close in on another potential championship match-up with sister Serena.

Williams downed the 31-year-old Tamarine 6-4 6-3 on Court 1 to extend her career record over the Thai player

to 7-0.

The seventh-seeded American, who has not dropped a set all tournament, was limping slightly at the end of the match with a hamstring problem.

Feeling a little pain

"It feels a little bit tight," she said. "I'll be fine. I'm a big girl. I can deal with it."

The Williams sisters are in opposite halves of the draw and could meet in Saturday's final. The two have been twice before in the Wimbledon final, with Serena winning both in 2003 and '04.

"That would be amazing if we both were in the final," Venus said. "I have to take it one more step and keep playing power tennis."

The 60th-ranked Tamarine, playing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final, pushed Williams as hard as she could but did not have enough energy to cope with her power game.

Williams served eight aces and had one serve at 204kph, while Tamarine had no aces and had an average first-serve speed of just 145kph.

Tamarine fashioned 10 break points, but converted only once. The key game was the sixth of the first set, when Williams saved six break points - mostly on Tamarine errors - and finished with a 203kph service winner to hold for 4-2.

With top seed Ana Ivanovic and No 3 Maria Sharapova eliminated last week, none of the top four seeded women reached the quarter-finals - the first time that has happened at Wimbledon and also the first time at any Grand Slam tournament in the 40-year history of the Open era.

The men's quarter-finals are set for today, with five-time champion Roger Federer and two-time runner-up Rafael Nadal seemingly headed toward a third straight championship showdown.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/02/headlines/headlines_30077070.php


PTTEP signs deal to drill for gas in gulf of Mataban

PTTEP signs deal to drill for gas in gulf of Mataban


PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has signed a heads of agreement (HoA) with Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, paving the way for the drilling and supply of natural gas from offshore Block 9 to PTT, which could entail an investment of US$2 billion (Bt67 billion).



Under the HoA, a non-binding document outlining the main issues relevant to a tentative partnership, PTTEP's wholly owned subsidiary PTTEP International would drill natural gas from Block 9, so-called M9, in the Gulf of Mataban, Burma.

"This contract is of mutual interest and vital for Thailand's gas sourcing in response to increasing gas demand and an attempt to establish long-term energy security," said Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop.

The Energy Ministry estimated that Thailand's gas demand would expand from 3,600 million cubic feet per day (mcfpd) to 5,350 mcfpd in 2012 and over 7,300 mcfpd in 2021.

The signing marks two years of negotiation for Block 9 exploration. Under the HoA, average sales volume of natural gas from M9 will be 300 mcfpd. Around 240 mcfpd will be exported to Thailand and 60 mcfpd supplied to Burma. The gas price will be based on the existing price under the current Gas Sales Agreement between Burma and Thailand.

The conditions in the HoA will be the essence of the Gas Sales Agreement, expected to be concluded this year.

Thanatthep Chantakarn, an analyst at Bualuang Securities, said the M9 project would require an investment of around US$2 billion for the drilling and pipeline. The work is expected to be complete in the next three years and the company will start to realise revenue in 2012.

He also said that PTTEP told securities houses recently that it may seek partners for the subsidiary as the investment in the M9 project is huge. This could lead to a share dilution in PTT International.

"As the additional gas will be supplied to PTT, this will allow PTT to maintain retail gas prices in the future," he said.

Kitichan Sirisukarcha, an analyst at Kim Eng Securities (Thailand), said PTTEP would not realise revenue from the new investment until 2012.

By Sucheera Pinijparakarn
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/06/25/headlines/headlines_30076440.php


"You're a traitor" : Foreign minister told

"You're a traitor" : Foreign minister told


Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama came under verbal assault from a marathon runner who called him a "traitor" just has he was taking off from the starting block.

Noppadon was standing next to US Ambassador Eric John at the starting point of the race, witnesses said. The two men co-chaired the opening ceremony of the marathon commemorating the 35th anniversary celebration of the Thai-US relationship.

According to witnesses, the runner shouted "Noppadon, you're a traitor" three time as he ran pass the minister.

The embarassed minister reportedly told Ambassador John, "This can happen in the democratic system."

Noppadon and the government have been strongly criticised by the opposition and the protesters led by People's Alliance for Democracy of having hidden agenda in endorsing Cambodia's bid to list Preah Vihear Temple as a Unesco Heritage Site.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/06/29/regional/regional_30076808.php

Label Cloud