Reshuffle of panel follows murder of Luang Phor Khoon’s nephew. One of the country’s most revered monks, Luang Phor Khoon Parisuttho, has ap-pointed a new board for Wat Ban Rai in Nakhon Ratchasima. The new board has National Police deputy commissioner Maj-General Mahakhaphan Surakup as its chairman, and Nakhon Ratchasima MP Pairoj Suwanchawee as its vice chairman.

Disabled, dairy farmers stage own rallies

In addition to a large gathering of teachers, two other groups turned up to protest in front of Government House yesterday. The first group consisted of 1,000 dairy farmers demanding the government solve the oversupply of milk powder; the second was a group of disabled protesters who were demanding facilities for handicapped people on the public transport system. The farmers, led by the Dairy Co-operatives Federation of Thailand, arrived early in the morning.

BURNING ISSUE: Surayud: Politics, monarchy don’t mix

Privy councillor sends timely message to Thaksin, Sondhi

TRT insists 90-day rule must remain

The Thai Rak Thai Party will not support the scrapping of a Constitution requirement that candidates belong to one political party in the 90 days before a general election.

Govt asked to explain big rise in ‘credit line’

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called on the government yesterday to review its cash management and not spur economic growth beyond the country’s financial capacity.

Security tighter at Govt House

Government House became a scene of chaos yesterday after the Office of the PM’s Secretary-General quietly tightened security measures for visitors.

Dress in yellow, public urged

The government invites people to dress in yellow and have their clothes emblazoned with the message “We Love the King” in celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne on December 1.

SOUTHERN UNREST: Narathiwat bans M’sian SIM cards

Move follows authorities’ failure to halt mobile-phone detonated bombs attacks

Nonthaburi’s Bang Kruay only area left with bird flu

The agriculture minister reported to the Cabinet yesterday that there is now only one area in the country with an outbreak of bird flu: Bang Kruay district in Nonthaburi province, Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said.

Advertisers ‘pressured by authorities’

Among many other intimidation techniques, withholding advertising in print media is being used as a tool to restrain the Thai press from criticising the government, a Bangkok seminar on press freedom was told yesterday.

SONDHI BESIEGED: Phumtham mounts defence

Deputy Transport Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday published an open letter to government critic Sondhi Limthongkul, in which he defended himself against the media mogul’s accusations.

BROADCASTING REGULATOR: Govt to appeal NBC verdict

Legal action will take four months, ‘but amending charter would take longer’

Restoration under way at Chiang Saen

The ancient city of Chiang Saen is set to return to its former glory after various government agencies and local residents agreed to work together to restore it.

Tempers flare during Jaruvan debate

Two senators exchanged heated words and pointed fingers at each other yesterday as the upper chamber debated the protracted controversy over the post of the auditor-general.

King Naresuan Day now April 25

The Cabinet has decided that King Naresuan Maharat Day would fall on April 25 next year according to calculations made using the solar calendar, said Deputy government spokesman Danuporn Punnakan yesterday.

Learning from December 26

Representatives from 17 Asia Pacific countries yesterday gathered to share their experiences of post-tsunami operations.

BMA demolishes first Mahakan Fort dwelling

After 13 years of conflict, the first house in the Mahakan Fort community was razed yesterday by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Burma wants long-necked Karen back

Authorities in the border province of Mae Hong Son will hold talks with their Burmese counterparts to discuss a request by the Burmese side for members of the long-necked Karen tribe to be repatriated, provincial governor Direk Konkleeb said yesterday.

Songkhla bids to beat flash floods

Songkhla city administrators will build three water-drainage systems and hire a private company to maintain the Samrong canal as a long-term solution to flood problems.

‘Lottery funds needed for ambulances’

The Cabinet yesterday approved an additional budget from lottery funds to support an existing fund to buy 232 ambulances, Deputy Prime Minister Pinij Charusombat said.

Lawyers, govt body back police

The Rights Protection and Liberties Department and the Law Society of Thailand yesterday voiced support for the police move to stop parading suspects at press conferences.

METRO BRIEFS: Self-sufficiency

Bangkok residents are being encouraged to demonstrate their adherence to His Majesty the King’s theory of self-sufficiency at Sanam Luang tomorrow.