Commentator

Samak to return to the airwaves

Bangkok senator-elect Samak Sundaravej will be back on air next week - as a host not as a guest. Virat Nagachat, acting manager of FM 100.5, said Samak would be invited to comment on news items.

Samak's former television co-host, Dusit Siriwan, will be invited to appear as a guest on a talk show on FM 96.5, he said. In February, Samak and Dusit quit their television programme, "This Morning in Thailand", after an uproar over their criticism of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda.

Graft claim

Eucalypt deal a private matter: govt

The sale of eucalypt trees from a plantation in Mukdahan was a private-sector matter and had nothing to do with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, a spokesman for minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat said yesterday.

Sarit Ung-apinan said the Forest Industry Organisation (FIO) had found that information provided by Democrat deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr differed from the facts.

Documents shown by Alongkorn last week referred to a private agreement and was not connected to the FIO. Sarit said the number of trees and prices quoted did not match Alongkorn's information.

Yongyuth was named by Alongkorn as being a recipient of money from the deal. But a contract that "identified" the minister did not identify the receiver by name, he said.

Sondhi case

Leading policeman cleared of libel

The Criminal Court yesterday acquitted a senior police officer of libel charges stemming from his investigation of anti-Thaksin campaigner Sondhi Limthongkul. The court found Crime Suppression Division commander Maj-General Winai Thongsong made no malicious remarks in the course of his duty. Sondhi sued Winai for allegedly portraying him as a guilty party for his involvement in rallies against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.