Nisit Sinthuprai, a former Thai Rak Thai MP for Roi Et, said a group of former party MPs, including Prasert Bunruang, Chalermchart Karun, Sakda Kongpet and Suthin Klangsaeng, would visit Thaksin in any country in which he happens to be staying. Noppadon Pattama, a legal adviser to Thaksin, said the ousted leader would write two books: his autobiography and a political analysis.

CNS sets up PR team to boost image

The Council for National Security (CNS) established its own public relations team yesterday in a bid to strengthen its image and popularity. An Army source said CNS chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin had appointed Lt-General Jariya Thongtub to head the new PR team, which will inform the public of the activities and progress of the National Legislative Assembly - and progress on inquiries into corruption by the administration of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The PR team plan to use 126 Army radio stations to reach people nation-wide, the source said.  -

Dept switches from to red to white rice

Prompted by complaints that the Corrections Department has unlawfully benefited from purchasing traditional red rice seeds as the only grain for inmates to consume, prison chiefs across the country are now allowed to independently buy white rice seeds.

Director-general Nathee Jitsawang said yesterday the change from red to white rice, for the first time in the 90 years since the department was founded, was aimed at encouraging transparent inspection that neither the department nor prison officials received kickbacks from rice vendors.