Decision to stop broadcasts was based on misleading survey: former employee. The BBC’s decision to stop its Thai-language service is based on the mistaken belief that few Thais listened to it, a former employee said yesterday.

Apirak says local offices can handle control measures

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin yesterday insisted that district offices were capable of handling bird-flu control measures in the capital without help from kamnan and village heads, whose posts are soon to be scrapped. Apirak was responding to a statement earlier by vice-minister for Agriculture Charal Trinwutthiphong that there were no public-health or livestock-care volunteers on standby in Bangkok to receive complaints regarding bird flu, unlike elsewhere in the country.

Call for pressure to be put on N Korea

The secretary-general of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea has urged local and international communities to provide assistance in determining the whereabouts of Anocha Panjoy, who was allegedly abducted by North Korea in 1978.

Increase in child allowance

The Labour Ministry will submit a draft ministerial regulation for Cabinet approval tomorrow under which working parents will receive a Bt100 increase in their child allowance from the social welfare fund.

Watana upsets women

Women’s groups said yesterday that they would ask Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to account for his appointment of Watana Muangsook as Social Development and Human Security Ministry in light of Watana’s call on Saturday for women to prostrate themselves at their husbands’ feet before bedtime, in line with Thai tradition.

Chiang Mai’s ‘indy’ fair a hit

Indy is flowering in Chiang Mai if the flood of children, teens and parents into the province’s so-called alternative bookstore Ran Laoh (To Tell) last weekend is any indication.

SOUTHERN UNREST: Self-rule idea called ‘dangerous’

Deputy security chief says NRC’s proposal could divide Kingdom

Drug ring linked to insurgency

Police in Narathiwat province yesterday arrested two suspects and froze assets worth Bt115 million in connection with narcotics trafficking, which they suspect may also be linked to the insurgency in the region.

Surapong hits back at Abhisit

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee yesterday attacked opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as lacking a conscience in his criticism of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

A wasteland of despair

The 45-rai plot of land once crowded with 900 shacks known as Klong Toey’s Lock 7 slum community is today almost completely open space after most of the residents were evicted.

Meeting draws many top business leaders

Japanese and South Korean business leaders will show up in force to promote closer Asean-Japan economic cooperation next week, signalling the recovery of its economic growth.

Asean names charter team

Former Foreign Minister MR Kasemsamosorn Kasemsri was named to join nine other in Asean’s Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to draft the charter of the 10-member grouping, sources said.

SNOH CLAN LOOKS FOR SWEEP

Veteran politician’s brother, sister spearhead Thienthong family’s bid for eastern province’s only two seats

Reach a consensus, PM tells teachers

The government is ready to amend laws to completely halt the plan to have government schools run by local administrative bodies if teachers nationwide could reach a consensus against it, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra said yesterday.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

Court hears Viset

TRT seeks alliance

The Thai Rak Thai Party will sign a memorandum of cooperation with the ruling political party in Turkey, PM’s Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva said yesterday.