About 50,000 set to attend mass rally today over the transfer of schools. At least 50,000 teachers from across the country will stage a mass demonstration in Bangkok today to protest the transfer of schools from the Education Ministry to local administrative organisations. Thanarat Somkhanay, spokesman for the Network of Teachers Against the Transfer of Government Schools to Local Administrative Organisations, said yesterday that teachers from a number of provinces including Buri Ram, Kalasin and Surat Thani said they would be attending the protest.

Southeast on alert for further floods

More rain and mudslides have been forecast for seven provinces in the country’s southeast today and tomorrow. The Meteorological Depart-ment and Southeastern Weather Centre yesterday warned people in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Tham-marat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat to prepare for flash floods from forest areas and possible mudslides. The alert could last until mid-December.

CONSTITUTION: TRT factions want 90-day rule axed and more freedom

Govt MPs say charter provision restricts their rights, limits party’s development

Scrap independent bodies: judge

A senior judge yesterday floated the idea of abolishing independent organisations, saying they had failed to live up to expectations and the courts were in a better position to adjudicate on and check abuse of power by the government.

Army fears infra-red bomb devices

Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya yesterday warned of a new technique to remotely detonate bombs through the use of infrared technology by insurgents in the restive South.

Lawyer: No backdown

A lawyer who has accused the prime minister of lese majeste by chairing a merit-making ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in April is adamant that he will not drop his complaint.

PM asks commanders for budget requests

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday called a meeting of commanders of the Armed Forces and instructed them to complete their budget requests for their corps’ nine-year development plans.

Problems emerge over new parliament at new airport

Krisda Mahanakorn Plc (KMC), which two weeks ago looked set to have its land chosen as the location of the new Parliament may have to accept that the deal is no longer a certainty.

Acehnese trawlers seized

The Navy yesterday seized four trawlers and arrested 22 Acehnese men on board for fishing in Thai waters off the coast of Satun.

BURNING ISSUE: Blame the players – not the rules

The answer to Thaksin’s scorn for the Constitution isn’t to tear it up and start again

5-star office keeps TRT on the ball

Visitors to the new Thai Rak Thai headquarters should not be surprised if it reminds them of a luxury hotel. The ruling party moved into the Phetchaburi Road address, which provides all kinds of special services for party MPs and visitors, in the middle of the year.

NCCC chief: No time to waste on appointments

The secretary-general of the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) yesterday called for the speedy appointment of its nine members, saying that further delay would result in the collapse of many graft cases due to the expiry of the statute of limitations.

Libel hearing postponed

The Criminal Court yesterday postponed a pre-trial hearing for a libel case Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra filed against government critic Sondhi Limthongkul’s media group.

How can it be, man asks in suicide note

A 20-year-old man was found dead on Sunday, hanging from a basketball ring at the Loei provincial sports stadium. A suicide note found in his shirt pocket said he had decided to take his life because he could not deal with the bad news he had been given – that he had contracted a “serious disease”.

Abuse of women, kids on rise

The incidence of abuse of women and children has risen sharply to 28 cases a day this year from just five cases a day in 2002, Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said yesterday.

‘Airport noise to cost us Bt2 bn’

The head of a college close to the new airport said yesterday it would cost around Bt2 billion to make its buildings noise-proof.

Third autopsy for Hangthong corpse

Noppadol Thammawattana, brother of the late MP Hangthong Thammawattana, succeeded yesterday in getting a court order for a third autopsy on Hangthong’s body.

NBC impasse before Cabinet

The Cabinet will today consider amending the constitution to allow the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to take over the duties of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) until the broadcasting panel’s selection troubles have been solved, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

Pay hike for those who missed out

The Central Wage Committee is set to raise the minimum daily wage for workers in 36 provinces for the second time this year.

METRO BRIEFS: Stall tactics

Bangkok plans to allow entrepreneurs to set up stalls to sell goods in some business and tourist areas, deputy governor Wanlop Suwandee said yesterday. The stalls – each a standard size of 2 x 1.50 metres – could be set up in commercial or tourist areas such as Silom Road and Pakklongtalad, but not in front of buildings, Wanlop said, adding that many entrepreneurs were in the process of requesting stall areas. He said he would propose the matter to BMA committee members soon.