They are Air Marshal Kriengdej Jienjanpong, Lt Gen Jittipong Suwannaset, Lt Gen Chusilp Kunathai, Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon, Banpot Hongthong, Pongpayom Wasaputi, General Wuthichai Pornpiboon, Virasakdi Futrakul, Lt Gen Sujit Sitthiprapa, Vice Admiral Suwit Thararoop and Samak Chaowapanant.

The Council for National Security chairman proposed the appointments to complete the 250 seats in the NLA after 242 members appointed on October 11, 2006 and three members - Krit Garnjanagoonchorn, Chalongphob Sussangkarn and Pinij Charusombat - later quit. - The Nation.

Pojaman, kids, get 'last warning'

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) yesterday agreed to extend the deadline for the wife and two children of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to testify on the Shin stock deal.

"The deadline extension is the fourth and final time and the three risk being arrested if they still refuse to report themselves," AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said.

The new deadline for Khunying Pojaman and her two children, Panthongtae and Pinthonta, is July 19.

Sak said the three cited "illness and conflicting schedules" as reasons for the delay in giving their statements.

Pojaman was admitted for "treatment at a hospital in Singapore" last week and Panthongtae suffered from "food poisoning" before being admitted in a Bangkok hospital on Tuesday, he said. Pinthongta had to take the examination for her graduate course work in England, he added.

Meanwhile the AEC released a 19-page booklet to explain its decision to freeze Thaksin's assets.  - The Nation.

PR info is factual, Thirapat says

PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan yesterday defended the government's publicity campaign on ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's legal wrangling, saying it was designed to help the people understand the legal proceedings.

"The message is factual and contains no malicious attack on Thaksin," he said.

Thirapat said the explanations would focus on two issues - the May 30 verdict by the nine-judge Constitution Tribunal to disband the Thai Rak Thai Party and Thaksin's frozen assets ordered by the Assets Examination Committee.

The publicity will include spot messages broadcast via radio stations and a one-hour programme to be aired by TV stations. The timing of the broadcast will be decided by each station.

Thirapat dismissed speculation the government relied on propaganda to discredit Thaksin, arguing that his mission was to dispel the misconception about the September 19 coup.

"Memories about events leading to the military intervention might lapse if the government fails to raise awareness," he said.

"For the past five to six years, we have had democracy and the government abusing its power to cheat in every way," he said. "Should we allow this to continue?" - The Nation.

Thammasat activists in a tizz

Student activists at Thammasat University yesterday claimed more than 100 of their anti-draft constitution posters had been removed from various campus buildings by unknown culprits.

Postgraduate student Uchaen Chiangsaen said he was "appalled and shocked" by the incident as it "bode ill" for the climate of freedom of expression, even at a famous university which is supposed to be a sanctuary of free debate.

Uchaen, who led a socialist student group called Dome Daeng, said he did not know who was behind the action but believed it was "probably done by university staff who were merely acting on orders of the administrators". - The Nation.