A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective. Look for MediaWATCH every morning this week and AseanWATCH every evening, Monday to Friday, to stay informed.

Associated Press Denis D. Gray writes: Southeast Asian officials on Sunday were finalising an unprecedented regional human rights body which has sparked criticism from activists that it will be toothless. Endorsement is expected Monday at a conference of the region's foreign ministers, with official approval coming at a summit of Asean, in October. Critics say the Asean Human Rights Body is unlikely to have bite since the 10-nation bloc has traditionally operated by consensus and shuns interference in the internal affairs of its members, which include military-run Myanmar and Communist Vietnam and Laos.

monstersandcritics.com Asean foreign ministers Sunday agreed to set up a regional human rights commission, even as they noted that some members' coolness to the idea meant it would start off lacking the ability to investigate or monitor abuses by members. The new commission would thus initially be tasked with raising awareness of human rights and engaging with civil society while seeking regional solutions to problems. However, the body would also be ''evolutionary,'' with plans to revisit and strengthen its makeup every five years.

Xinhua Hundreds of army and policemen on Sunday were seen at or around the Sheraton Grande Laguna Hotel to provide security for foreign ministers from Asean. On the road connecting the Sunwing Hotel, where the delegates and reporters stay, and the Laguna Beach & Spa Hotel, where the press center is located, the army has set up four checkpoints. At noon, reporters at the press center were asked to receive security check-up around 5.30pm, just one day before the Asean ministerial meeting.

businessmirror.com.ph A coalition of civil-society organisations on Burma called on the foreign ministers of Asean meeting in Phuket to push for a stronger mechanism for the terms of reference (TOR) of the Asean Human Rights Body. The Task Force on Asean and Burma (TFAB), a coalition of 69 civil-society groups working on democratisation in Burma, said an effective and credible Asean Human Rights Body will help improve the lingering rights atrocities in Burma, particularly the continued detention of prodemocracy and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Thai News Agency Tourism in Phuket is expected to become bullish again due to the confidence gained by foreign tourists following the ongoing meetings of Asean, tourism executives said. Somboon Jirayus, chairman of the Phuket Tourism Association, said the tourism business in the resort island, sluggish in the past three to four months, is anticipated to pick up again as hotels along the beach have been fully booked by participants and journalists covering the Asean meetings. More tourists are expected to visit Phuket after the meetings end, said Mr. Somboon.


The Nation Despite renewed political pressure and economic uncertainty, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is still voicing staunch confidence in his 'Strong Thailand' stimulus plan, saying the country is not ready for an early election. In an exclusive interview with The Nation, PM Abhisit said the existing national divide would stop a truly democratic election from taking place because politicians could not visit hostile constituencies. This is why he is reluctant to dissolve the House, he explained.

theage.com.au The Australian Government has warned that more terrorist attacks could be staged in Jakarta after the twin blasts that killed nine and injured more than 50 at the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels on Friday. By smuggling bombs into heavily protected buildings and by targeting a breakfast meeting of executives, it is becoming clear the murders were a sophisticated operation involving many people. But there have been no arrests. The man many suspect of being the mastermind, the Malaysian-born terrorist Noordin Mohammed Top, remains a fugitive.

smh.com.au A leading Australian private security consultant has warned that some hotels in Indonesia may have gradually dropped their guard after the last successful Jemaah Islamiah attacks four years ago. Neil Fergus, head of the firm Intelligent Risks, said JI had extensively reconnoitred targets in the past, and ''one hypothesis is that they have selected hotels that have been a bit complacent''. Mr Fergus said: ''There was an enormous amount of work put into [Indonesian hotel security] but four years later I am not sure that standards have been maintained, though there are some very clear exceptions.''

Mirror.co.uk Britons going on summer holidays with suspected swine flu will be banned from boarding jets. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have both warned they will stop anyone displaying symptoms from travelling with them. It comes as experts predicted a severe outbreak of swine flu could plunge the economy into its worst crisis since 1921. The flight ban was announced as thousands of Brits prepare to flock abroad for sunshine breaks.

Bangkok Post Editorial China is a prime tourist target with an economy recovering faster than anyone thought possible. But even with predictions of eight percent growth, affluent Chinese have been cancelling holidays in Thailand because of fears of contracting the H1N1 virus. The president of the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association described this segment of the tourism industry as ''totally dead''. Airlines are also seeing a downward trend, especially on domestic and long-haul flights. Some blame the risk factor of spending hours in a closed environment surrounded by strangers, any one of whom might be shedding the airborne virus.

Swedish radio Although Swedes are known for being eco-conscious it looks like few are prepared to change their holiday plans to save the climate - but they may be prepared to pay extra. A survey by insurance company Folksam shows that 70 percent of Swedes do not think about the climate consequences of their travelling. But of the 4200 people questioned, 56 percent were ready to accept extra costs in order to compensate for emissions of greenhouse gasses. One environmentalist says a flight to Thailand and back is the equivalent of driving a car for two years.

Associated Press Authorities in military-run Burma detained dozens of opposition party members as they returned from ceremonies marking the death of the father of the jailed democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, witnesses said. The arrests came after riot police set up barricades around the Martyr's Mausoleum where the official ceremony took place to commemorate the death of General Aung San, the country's independence hero. They were later released.

Yonhap news agency The US has urged North Korea to return to the six-party talks on ending its nuclear programs, but warned of aggressive implementation of punitive actions until then. ''If North Korea wants to return to that process, we will be supportive of that. Until that time, we are aggressively implementing the provisions of (UN Resolution) 1874 and we are continuing doing things that we believe have an impact on North Korea,'' Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, told a news conference.

latimes.com Research suggested that male circumcision might reduce the risk of transmission to the female partners of HIV-positive men. That seems not to be the case. The new study, of 922 Ugandan men with the virus, found that the female partners of circumcised participants were no less likely to contract the disease than the female partners of uncircumcised participants. The removal of the penile foreskin does seem to protect men against HIV transmission from female partners. Just not women at risk from men.

smh.com.au Jenny Letchford writes: Thirty years ago our feminist forebears also thought it unfair that men were addressed as Mr, their marital status obscure, while women were identifiable as either married or a spinster. To stop this blatant sexism, the feminists decreed that all women should be Ms. But not all agreed and we kept all three. Now, whenever a woman fills out a form, she must choose from one of three labels. If only we could remove the stigma associated with Ms and make it a universal, one-size-fits-all title, rather than the abhorrence it is deemed by some. (Thais use the non-gender specific title Khun for all individuals.)


Phuket 'Kill You' Rampage Wake-Up Call for Police
Crime Alarm Three men have terrified residents of a stylish upmarket apartment block in Phuket City, raising issues about police manpower and the pursuit of crimes involving expats.
Phuket 'Kill You' Rampage Wake-Up Call for Police

Aid Groups Alarmed at Isolation of Rohingyas
Latest Two aid groups are alarmed because they have been denied access to a group of Rohingya boat people for six months. One has died, raising concerns about survivors.
Aid Groups Alarmed at Isolation of Rohingyas

SOUND Phuket Opening Party: Photo Special
Updating Photo Special Bangkok hi so and Phuket so so met to enjoy a treat of an evening when SOUND Phuket opened its doors and the eyes and ears of hundreds of fans in Patong.
SOUND Phuket Opening Party: Photo Special

Tragic Riddle of Young Tourist's Death in Patong
Updating report A student nurse on holiday on Phuket has died leaving question marks about what caused her sudden demise. A grieving father is looking for answers.
Tragic Riddle of Young Tourist's Death in Patong

Patong Tourist Tells of Sharp Jellyfish Sting
Latest An Australian tourist has told of a marine sting that took place in the sea off Patong, raising concerns about safety as jellyfish numbers increase.
Patong Tourist Tells of Sharp Jellyfish Sting


AseanWATCH: Media Tarnishes Phuket's Image
Update Red Shirts leave by bus for pandas, Governor pays for fuel; Phuket open for tourism as usual yet newspaper describes ''Asean lockdown''' in erroneous report about the island.
AseanWATCH: Media Tarnishes Phuket's Image

AseanWATCH: Expat Loses Cool at Checkpoint
Latest Who's a Checkpoint Charlie then? The first case of an expat losing his cool over security delays fills the air with expletives, but fortunately not lead.
AseanWATCH: Expat Loses Cool at Checkpoint

AseanWATCH: What Happens if Hillary Sneezes?
LatestDelegates began descending on Phuket in numbers today with some people wondering whether Hillary Clinton and the other VIPs will appear in surgical masks.
AseanWATCH: What Happens if Hillary Sneezes?