A new daily wrap of Thailand news from national and international media

Straits Times, Singapore: The assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul was designed to spark a civil war followed by an outright army takeover, a co-leader of the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy claims. Pipob Thongchai made the allegation at a rally in Phuket over the weekend, following last Friday's shooting of the media mogul and key PAD leader.

Reuters: The leading international news agency looks at a range of possible outcomes of political unrest in Thailand and offers the following scenarios: ABHISIT HOLDS ON BUT THAILAND REMAINS TURBULENT; ABHISIT'S GOVERNMENT CONSOLIDATES POPULAR SUPPORT; PRO-THAKSIN PARTIES REGAIN POWER; ANOTHER COUP; ''NATIONAL UNITY'' ADMINISTRATION EMERGES; THE WILD CARD - ROYAL SUCCESSION. Phuketwan supports a non-violent commonsense approach, and lower case.

Daily News: The one CCTV camera nearby that was working has given Bangkok police the lead they wanted in the Sondhi shooting, identifying the registration number of the pickup that the would-be assassins used. More than 10,000 new CCTVs are to be installed around central Bangkok following the red shirt Songkran Skirmish; Tomorrow PTT will boost the price of gasahol 91 to 25.44 baht and gasahol 95 to 26.24 baht with benzine also going up to 30.04 baht; Red shirt leaders still say the army killed protesters and disposed of the bodies without anyone knowing. The 10-day Songkran holiday at least had the benefit of delivering a boost to local economies, with spending in the villages increasing.


Spiegel Online Under the heading 'In Thailand, the Law of the Jungle Prevails,' Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the governor of Bangkok and a cousin of the King, condemns former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and criticizes the Thai Army. He says he is deeply concerned about the state of Thailand and the future of the monarchy. One of many interesting questions (and answers): ''Thailand was considered the epitome of a Buddhist tropical paradise. But today the country is mentioned in the same breath as civil war and chaos. How do you explain the polarization of your society?''

The Nation Channel Heavy rain can be expected around Thailand from April 24 to April 26. Deputy PM Kobsak Supawasuk says tourism was being harmed by the political situation, but there was no big budget to rescue the industry.

Matichon: Police in Bangkok are aiming to crack down on Internet games that have the wrong effect, especially on young boys. Officers are to spend more time in Internet shops, checking out games of violence.

The Nation: PM Abhisit denies reports of a Cabinet shuffle coming up and says that, contrary to some reports, he has not decided to reshuffle ministers in charge of national security. He will wait until the emergency decree is lifted before discussing any flaws in the security apparatus and the security team. Key lawmakers voice support for the government's amnesty idea for political offences, although the People's Alliance for Democracy remains opposed to it. Red shirt on the run Jakrapob Penkair, who went into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against him, told the Straits Times in Singapore that he was ''in the midst of setting up a base'' from which to run the red-shirt movement.

Kom Chad Luek: A new police team has been appointed to pursue the shooters of Khun Sondhi. The new national chief of police, Thani Somboonsub, said last night on national television that his team was focussing on the Sondhi shooting and 54 other ''political'' cases, including the Santika pub inferno that killed more than 60 patrons on New Year's eve and the invasion of Bangkok's airports by yellow shirts in November. He has to report progress to the PM every seven days. Police have reenacted the shooting of Khun Sondhi. They have yet to reveal any conclusions. The colonel in charge of Chonburi at the time of the Asean summit meeting invasion has been moved to another province.

Bangkok Post: PM Abhisit says that he is seriously considering giving amnesty to all banned politicians. An alleged petty thief has been nabbed after leaving five severed toes. Police said Atthapol Maenkrathok, 42, left his toes after his foot was snagged as he leapt from a train after robbing a woman. Participants in the identification parade are expected to be barefoot.

Thai Rath: The director of lotteries in Thailand, Wanchai Surakul, says everything is ready for 5000 lottery machines to go into place around the country. He will present the concept to PM Abhisit today. The scheme could be in place within 45 days. It is not known whether the machines have been trained to interrupt diners at restaurants.


Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Today's News Update
Introducing a new feature: a newsy wrap of the latest reports from around the national and local media. Look for it every day on Phuketwan
Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Today's News Update


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