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They can recommend all they want, but I have a feeling they haven't been to the Sabay Bar. Sticky Rice didn't recommend that. The guy who wrote the article recommended it. I too have been approached by Sticky Rice to write articles for them. I think my information is just as valid as theirs. The only reason I turned them down is because I would have to give up my retirement visa to be able to legally write for the magazine. Of course, if you have someone to take with you, so much the better. If you are looking to find someone different in Koh Chang, the Sabay Bar is the place to do it.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Eerie Experience Interrupts Rite Ghostly Encounters at Suvarnabhumi By Amornrat Mahitthirook Airports of Thailand (AoT) organised its largest religious rite at the new Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday to ward off evil spirits, only to experience an encounter with the unexplained. Rumours of occasional ''ghostly sightings'' have gone around since the first foundation brick was laid at the airport many years ago. The AoT is determined to correct the growing perception that the airport is possibly harbouring some ''uninvited inhabitants'' and to put its staff members' minds at ease. Yesterday's rite was presided over by 99 monks who chanted en masse to improve the luck of the new airport, set to open commercially on Thursday. However, halfway through the rite, a man appeared, quivering, and began to speak in a commanding voice claiming to be ''Poo Ming'', a guardian spirit of the land partially developed into the airport. He ordered that a proper spirit house be built at the airport to allow for its smooth operation. The man, who was unidentified, later passed out and woke up to find the spirit had left him. AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya said the ceremony helped to boost the morale of airport staff, some of whom were unnerved after learning of frequent car crashes on the road running parallel to the airport's eastern runway. Some veiled figures have sometimes been spotted on the 6km-long road. Somchai Sawasdeepon, the airport general manager, said he had heard ghost stories from staff who came across a woman dressed in a Thai-style costume at the airport construction site in the evening. He said the airport land formerly belonged to some local communities encompassing the centuries-old Wat Nhong Prue and its cemetery. It was reported that the bodies had not been exhumed for proper religious cremation. Sqn Ldr Panupong Nualthongyai, head of Suvarnabhumi airport security, was also a witness to some strange, unexplained episodes. ''Whatever you make of it, it is the belief associated with the Thai way of life. For the non-believer, it is best not to act disrespectfully (towards the supernatural),'' he said.

SONGKHLA, Sept 23 (TNA) Police have arrested a total of six persons suspected of staging the bombing attacks in the southern region's commercial center of Hat Yai. Two suspects arrested Saturday are being held for questioning along with four others arrested earlier for possible involvement in six bomb attacks in major downtown commercial and tourist locations on September 16. The four suspects arrested earlier have refused to cooperate in the inquiry. They are being detained at Provincial Police Region 9 headquarters in Yala under the Emergency Decree. Pol. Maj. Gen. Thani Tawitsri, Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9, said so far it has not yet been established that the six suspects were definitely involved in the September 16 bombings. Earlier Saturday, Songkhla Deputy Governor Jit Pasompong attended the cremation of Canadian teacher Jesse Lee Daniel, one of the four persons killed in the bomb attacks. The explosions on September 16 killed four people, and injured more than 70 others. Twenty persons are still hospitalized, receiving treatment at three hospitals in Hat Yai. (TNA)-E007

Absolutely! My boyfriend and I were there just two weeks ago. We really enjoy Koh Chang and when we want a weekend getaway, that's where we go. I highly recommend staying at the Mac Resort on White Sands Beach. Their 'superior' room rate is 1600 baht per night at the moment, despite what their web site says. Get somebody Thai to place a call to them and make the reservation for you and you'll get the rate. The rooms are excellent, right on the appropriately named beach, in the best part of Koh Chang. Breakfast is included with the room and it's a very good breakfast buffet. If you meet someone, you can also have a romantic candle light dinner on the beach. Several of the beachfront hotels offer it, including the Mac. When you make the reservation, make sure to ask for a king size bed or you'll probably get stuck with twin beds. Their web site is : http://www.mac-resorthotel.com/en/index.html At White Sands Beach you don't have to worry about ATMs. There are plenty of them. There are several very good restaurants, convenience stores, and just about everything else you'll need. Local transportation is readily available and the hotel desk can help you arrange it. There are also rental cars and motorcycles available. Transportation to and from Koh Chang is easily arranged in Pattaya or Bangkok. The Mac Resort can also arrange it for you. Expect it to take three to four hours to get there from Pattaya. The only access to and from Koh Chang is by ferry boat. If you're lucky, you'll get to the ferry boat just as one is about to leave. The ride takes about 40 minutes. A "don't miss" in Koh Chang is the elephant trek that features "swimming with the elephants." It's a two-hour elephant trek, 900 baht per person (tip the guide 100 baht per person when the trek finishes). You don't have to swim with the elephants if you don't want to, but it's definitely something you'll always remember and perfectly safe. Don't worry that your wallet might end up soaked. Before the swimming part, they stop at a stand where you can leave your belongings. It's perfectly safe to leave your belongings on the stand. Nothing will get stolen. At the end of the trek they even give you a bottle of water and a bowl of fresh fruit at no additional charge. I won't tell you anything more about it. It would spoil the fun. Now, to your question: About half a block down from the Mac Resort, on the same side of the street, very easy walking distance, you'll spot the Sabay Bar. It's actually a disco and that's where all the gays go. There are a number of single local gay boys who frequent the disco and you won't have any trouble hooking up with someone. In all of Koh Chang that's the only gay life we encountered, but it's definitely there and there are definitely good looking single gay Thai boys there. The hotel won't give you any problem about bringing a boy back with you, but, of course, he doesn't get breakfast. I recommend two to three nights in Koh Chang (unless you meet someone who somehow motivates you to want to stay a little longer ).

Thank you. This time I found it. And you are right . . . well worth listening. It really was funny.

Subsequent to the coup, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has released the following statement: __________ Reports received from TAT offices, local and international travel trade associations, travel and tourism-related operators and media over the past two days indicate that the peaceful and bloodless coup d'

As of yesterday normal police presence seems to have returned, although I haven't spotted the usual stopping and fining helmetless mororcyclists just yet.

I wanted to try listening, but you need to provide more information. When I hit the "Listen Again," at least 300 possible listen again choices popped up. Which one is the one to click?

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _________ Thaksin Caused Severe Division: Royal Order (bangkokpost.com, dpa) - Thailand's coup leaders on Friday received an official royal endorsement as the country's ruling junta in a ceremony broadcast on Thai television. His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is head of state, on Wednesday informally endorsed coup leader and the Army's commander-in-chief, General Sonthi Boonyaratklin, as head of the Council of Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM). On Friday, Gen Sonthi and members of CDRM received an official endorsement as the country's new rulers in a ceremony performed in front of a portrait of the king. "Gen Sonthi informed HM the King that Thaksin Shinawatra as the prime minister caused severe division within the nation. This is something that has never happened in the country's history," according to the Royal Order as it was read out. Most people believe that the Thaksin administration was plagued with irregularites and corruption. Political intervention on independent bodies was rampant under Thaksin's watch. These interventions have created conflict and division. Many parties have tried but failed to change the situation. Therefore, the armed forces, police and civilian members have decided to seize administrative power under the leadership of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the head of the CDRM. For the sake of peace and national unity, HM the King has issued the Royal Order for General Sonthi as the leader of the CDRM. "We urged the public to remain calm and we ask that all government civil servants to support General Sonthi Boonyaratglin," the Royal Order said. The ceremony was broadcast on all Thai TV stations, which are now under the control of the council. Thailand has been under martial law since Tuesday night with troops and tanks stationed in the capital. At a press conference Wednesday, Sonthi said the junta would run the country for two weeks, after which it would hand power over to an appointed civilian administration to pave the way for a general election within a year. Sonthi mobilized troops and tanks Tuesday night in Bangkok in a bloodless coup that quickly toppled the caretaker government of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time. The junta dissolved the former cabinet, the Senate and the constitutional court and abolished the constitution. One of the next government's first tasks will be to draft and approve a new constitution that will presumably guard against the return of a populist prime minister who could gain complete control over the political system, as Thaksin did. Initial opinion polls suggested the coup has been popular among Thais although it has sparked criticism from abroad as a step backward for democracy. The majority of Thais polled said they believed the coup would help end Thailand's political impasse, which has dragged on since February when Thaksin dissolved Parliament in the wave of growing opposition to his rule. An election, scheduled for some time in November, was expected to bring back Thaksin's populist Thai Rak Thai Party to power, given its tremendous popularity among Thailand's provincial poor. Although still popular in the provinces, Thaksin faced strong opposition from Bangkok's middle class and members of the political elite, who were unlikely to accept his return to power. _____ Who is Sonthi? The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Sonthi: The Unusual Coup Leader PROFILE: Bangkok (dpa) - Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who was officially sworn in Friday as head of the junta that now rules Thailand, does not fit the common profile of past coup leaders. Thailand has experienced 18 coups in the past 76 years, including the last one staged Tuesday, but past putsches have been led by military or police generals with big mouths and giant egos, descriptions that so far don't stick to Sonthi. "In my dealings with General Sonthi, I've found him to be genuine, to be humble, to be polite and to be professional," said Surin Pitsuwan, a former foreign minister and leading executive of the Democrat Party. Like Surin, Sonthi is a Muslim, another trait that distinguishes this coup leader from his predecessors in predominantly Buddhist Thailand. Sonthi, 59, became Army commander-in-chief last year, partly on the prompting of Prem Tinsulanonda, chairman of the Privy Council, which advises the king, who thought it would be wise to have a Muslim in charge of the Army to cope with the escalating violence in Thailand's troubled, Muslim-majority deep South. He was never deemed a favourite of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom Sonthi overthrew earlier this week. Some said they believe it was disagreements over how to handle the southern situation that pushed Sonthi to stage the coup. In the aftermath of a spate of bombings of banks last month in Yala, Sonthi proposed opening a dialogue with the Muslim militants blamed for the violence, which has claimed up to 1,700 lives in the past two and half years. Militant groups in the deep South - made up of Narathiwat, Pattanai and Yala provinces - have for decades been waging a separatist struggle for the region, which was an independent Islamic sultanate more than 200 years ago. Thaksin, whose heavy-handed tactics in the South have been blamed for inflating the situation, turned Sonthi's suggestion down. Other sparks might have been Thaksin putting the blame on the military for an alleged assassination attempt on him on August 24; his efforts to handpick allies to be promoted to powerful posts in the military's annual reshuffle, which is to be finalized by September 30; or rumours that the now-former premier was planning to mobilize thousands of armed forest rangers to come to Bangkok to crack down on an anti-government protest on Wednesday without Sonthi's OK. Whatever his reasons for staging the coup, since seizing power, Sonthi has gone out of his way to make clear that his junta would not be in power for long, maybe two weeks at most, and would pave the way for a new general election as soon as possible. Both the international community and the Thai people will be waiting to see in the next few weeks whether Sonthi is as good as his word. "My advice to him is make the junta as short and as painless as possible, and don't take the international community lightly," Surin said. "It is the weak link in Thailand's chain of legitimacy, and Thaksin will try to exploit it." Thaksin, who counts world leaders, including US President George W Bush as friends, was in New York when the coup occurred and is currently in London, taking what he called a "well-deserved break" from politics.

BANGKOK, Sept 22 (TNA) Most Thai people believe the political situation in the kingdom will be steady and the national economy will recover soon after the Tuesday coup, according to a new opinion poll. Conducted by the Research Centre of Assumption University, the "ABAC Poll" from September 20-22 interviewed 4,250 respondents in 16 provinces nationwide finding that 82.7 per cent of the respondents thought that after the Tuesday coup staged by the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) -- the name the military council has given itself -- that Thai politics will remain calm, while 66.5 per cent anticipated national economic recovery. When asked how concerned they were about the nation's current affairs, over one in three persons -- 36.8 per cent -- conceded that they were still worried, but the proportion was lower than that previously discovered in the survey conducted before the coup. Prior to the military intervention, almost two-thirds of the respondents--62.5 per cent--expressed concern about the national situation. According to the new survey, the proportion of those who developed stress over the Thai politics stood at 26.6 per cent, compared to 36.1 per cent in the last poll conducted before the coup. Asked what they wanted the military council to do, a resounding majority of those responding--over 90 per cent--wished the coup architects to quickly resolve over ten problems the country is facing now, including the southern unrest, the public's suffering from national disasters. They also wanted to the CDRM to restore unity of the Thai people, clean up Thai politics, and make the upcoming new constitution more accessible to the public. Besides, a resounding 87.8 per cent of the respondents wanted the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the core body launching campaigns against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to end its gatherings. Meanwhile, three-fourths of the respondents--74.5 per cent--said that the former Cabinet members should be prosecuted if found guilty, as accused, of corruption and abusing of power. (TNA)

Whether or not meeting participants are safe, I've said it before and I'll say it again . . . I think Thailand is missing a golden opportunity to bring in the one man who can truly save Thailand, and probably the rest of the world. And here he is:

I'm sure you are right. I also can't picture arrests being made because of a Thais For Life meeting, but I would prefer to see something that fully clarifies it, coming from the new regime, that goes beyond what makes sense to us. I would not have any fear of attending apolitical meetings, but I still would like to see something from Thai authorities that says, in effect, yes, such meetings are allowable and are not banned. We say that such meetings are just fine and that it would be absurd to even entertain the notion that anyone would be arrested for attending such meetings, but I want to hear the same thing from Thai authorities.

That is quite an article, TeePee, and you know something? I believe every word of it. I've been convinced right from the start that the coup leaders are men of honor who acted because they thought it was right, not because they were power hungry. I also believe they are going to do exactly what they have been saying they are going to do. In my opinion, the only ones who have been power and greed hungry have been Thaksin and his cronies. Look what has been taking place: The suppression of the press. The violence in the south and the violent measures Thaksin took to put a stop to it. Worked great, didn't it? The tax free sale of his Shin Corporation. Literally buying votes from poverty stricken, uneducated people. The lawsuits against politicians who opposed him. The puritanical restrictions on entertainment venues, resulting in dramatic losses for the tourism industry. The list goes on and on. I believe if he could eventually have established a dictatorship, that's precisely what he would have done.

Ha! Are you familiar with the term "fat chance"? I've got a different idea. How about having Thaksin come back and take us? He can afford it. Me? I'm lucky when I can afford a som-tom from a street vendor . . . Common sense. In Thailand? Yes, I think a novel approach just might work, at that

I'm not seeing it that way, Tdperhs. Here's what I saw in the article: __________ "Meetings of political parties and conducting any other political activities are banned," said the statement read on national television. It also bans gatherings by five or more people and introduces restrictions on the media. __________ The word "also," to me, means that "gatherings" do not necessarily mean the same thing as limited to political reasons. That's the part that I'm concerned about. The article simply states that "gatherings" by five or more people are banned. What, exactly, does that mean? I don't see anything that says gatherings are ok as long as they are not for political reasons. The way I'm seeing it, gatherings are prohibited, period. It has not been sufficiently clarified to suit me. I'm not even sure if a non-political meeting would be considered a banned gathering. So, back to my primary question. How do we find out?

Here's something else I don't get. The coup has suspended Thailand's constitution. That, I suppose, is to be expected during a military coup, but why create a new one? What's wrong with the current constitution? I've seen many articles saying a new constitution will be drawn up, but I haven't seen any articles that explain why. Why not simply lift the suspension and go right back to the current constitution? I don't get it.

That's what I'm talking about, Bob. My concern is whether what we think and what is actually the case is really the same thing. Don't forget, we're talking about Thailand. They haven't banned "Thai logic," and perhaps this ban does apply to organized meetings. I think you're correct too, but how do we know for sure? Suppose you're not correct? How do we find out?

Welcome to Pattaya.

The coup leaders have banned gatherings, which I presume means meetings and demonstrations, of five or more people for the time being. What does that mean for "farang?" I'm not writing this in jest. I really don't know whether that means meetings such as Thais For Life, Ex-Pat Club, PGF, etc. are now banned. Am I misinterpreting the meaning of the ban? Does this ban include such types of 'gatherings?' I don't even know yet how to find out.

Thailand's Loy Kratong holiday will be Sunday, November 5 this year. The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Pattaya Eastern Sound to Rock Jomtien Beach in November On Thursday Morning at Pattaya City Hall, a further preparation meeting took place for the forthcoming Pattaya Eastern Sound Music City 2006 which will take place between 1st and 5th November on Jomtien Beach. The purpose of the event is to search for the Eastern Young Rocker 2006 and to promote local bands who will also take the stage. The Young Rocker competition will take place between 1st and 3rd and on 4th a concert featuring top Thai rock bands AB Normal and Overdrive will take place, followed by a Loy Krathong Festival Concert on 5th. Entrance is free to the 5 day event and there will be many booths and activities along Jomtien Beach .This event is sure to attract many thousands of young rock fans to Jomtien Beach and many interested tourists.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Question of Status Looms for Ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra was travelling light. As far as the British government is concerned, however, he may have arrived in London yesterday with very heavy political baggage. It's not about attempts to buy an English Premiership football club this time. The smiling politician has been overthrown by a coup in his country, accused of massive corruption among other things, and his arrival immediately triggered speculation about political asylum. As of yesterday, he had not made any request, and his British hosts, while providing the best welcome he can expect, must hope that he will not do so. There are plenty of reasons why No 10 Downing Street must be feeling uneasy about the prospect that former prime minister Thaksin might try to seek to live in political exile in the United Kingdom. While he can call himself a political victim, future criminal charges or corruption probes can make things very complicated for Britain where international laws, bilateral relations or simple moral standards are concerned. Thai sources said the British government surely would be happier if Thaksin stayed quietly in London, where he maintains a Kensington apartment and a luxury home near the Thames, on his normal visa. "On his normal visa he can stay quite a while and the British officials surely will heave a sigh of relief if he uses it," said one London source. Thaksin and his entourage arrived at Gatwick Airport from New York yesterday on a Thai International flight. He was seen waving to his supporters while disembarking from the aircraft. He wore a dark suit, white shirt and a red tie. He and his entourage were whisked away by private car and left Gatwick Airport via the VIP channel. Thaksin was looking forward to reuniting with his wife Khunying Pojaman and their children in the English capital. His statement issued yesterday didn't signal an asylum intent - yet - just vaguely mentioning a "deserved rest" and charitable work. The BBC quoted Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett as saying that Thaksin, who has business interests in the UK, had "chosen to come privately to London". "This is a matter for the people of Thailand," she told BBC news. It was "not a matter in which the British government is engaged", she added. She must be quietly hoping it stays that way. The Thai sources said an asylum request would create a political controversy in the UK. While Thaksin has admirers in government and diplomatic circles, his image among people on the street is something else. And there will be more to ponder if Thai authorities sought extradition on criminal charges. Meanwhile, other sources said if Thaksin was given some form of political status in the UK, it would be extremely difficult for him to travel because he would then be subject to certain conditions that would limit his mobility. "If he were to travel to France, and the Royal Thai government learnt about it and asked that the French government send him back to Bangkok, Thaksin would have to go through the complicated legal process of fighting the extradition charges," one source said. The International Herald Tribune quoted Pansak Vinyaratn, Thaksin's former chief policy adviser, as saying Thaksin would rest in London before travelling to other countries in Europe for further recreation. Pansak said Thaksin would concentrate on doing charity work for Thailand. "Dr Thaksin, as of now, will take a deserved rest. He will be planning to work on research and development and possible charitable work for Thailand," Pansak said, reading from a statement that Thaksin planned to issue later yesterday. Thaksin also called for a quick general election and suggested that the United Nations (UN) should get involved in the process to ensure fairness. Although he fell short of making a direct plea to the UN to intervene, Thaksin told reporters that his Thai Rak Thai Party could secure another victory if the world body was to sponsor the election. "We hope the new regime will quickly arrange a new general election and continue to uphold the principles of democracy for the future of all Thais," said a statement distributed by Thaksin's aides in London. In a related development, eyewitnesses said two of Thaksin's children, Panthongtae and Paethongtarn, were still in Thailand. Reporters yesterday called Panthongtae's personal number and a man claiming to be his personal aide insisted that Thaksin's son was still in the country. He said Panthongtae was still keeping his normal schedule, adding that he had gone to his office at How Come Company before returning home. Meanwhile, a reporter of a Thai-language newspaper saw Thaksin's youngest daughter Paethongtarn entering the Shinawatra residence on Charan Sanitwong Road. According to previous reports, Panthongtae and Paethongtarn flew to Singapore before going to London with Thaksin's wife Pojaman only minutes before the military took over the country. A lecturer of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science said Paethongtarn was still enrolled as a student and pointed out that she had one year left before graduating. "Two weeks ago, Paethongtarn's mother sent a request for Paethongtarn's absence for going abroad and I think she will return to the country," he said. The faculty will have its final examination on Monday, he added.

Here's the latest, as of 10:00 PM, Thailand time, Thursday, September 21: _______________ 4 Aides of Ousted Thai Leader Detained By SUTIN WANNABOVORN, Associated Press Writer Thailand's new military rulers said Thursday that four top members of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's administration had been detained. The regime also assumed the duties of parliament, which was dissolved when the government was ousted in a coup earlier this week, and banned meetings by all political parties. The junta's actions, which it said was to maintain peace and order, have come even though no open opposition has emerged to its Tuesday night ouster of Thaksin. Other moves include barring the establishment of new parties and placing limitations on public meetings and restrictions on the media. Thailand has had no working legislature and only a caretaker government since February, when Thaksin dissolved parliament to hold new elections to try to reaffirm his mandate. With Thaksin secluded in London, the provisional government headed by Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin also moved to place the vast assets of the telecommunications tycoon-turned-politician under scrutiny, amid mounting calls for his prosecution for alleged corruption. Thaksin released a statement saying he would take a "deserved rest," and urged the military to quickly arrange for new national elections. He urged "all parties to find ways and means to reconcile and work toward national reconciliation for the sake of our king and country." He did not say if he planned to return from London, where he has a home. Lt. Gen. Palanggoon Klaharn, a spokesman for the ruling military council, said the four trusted Thaksin associates were under the "care" of the military. Newin Chidchob, the minister attached to the prime minister's office, and Yongyut Tiyapairat, the minister of Natural Resources and Environment, surrendered to the military authorities Thursday, Palanggoon said. Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit and Cabinet Secretary General Prommin Lertsuridej, who was Thaksin's top aide, had been detained earlier. "During the transition period, every country does this in order for the situation to return to normalcy quickly," Palanggoon said. Thaksin's decline began about a year ago when a popular movement called for his resignation for alleged corruption and abuse of power. Critics allege he took advantage of his position as head of government to enrich himself and his associates. Less than 48 hours after the army sent tanks into the streets of Bangkok to terminate Thaksin's tenure, the capital was back to business as usual Thursday, with stores reopening and roads jammed with traffic. And despite condemnation of the coup by Western and some Asian governments, hope emerged in Thailand that the new government might have a chance to resolve a bloody Muslim insurgency that has led to the deaths of more than 1,700 people. An exiled rebel leader welcomed the military coup, saying it could help resolve the country's bloody Muslim insurgency. Lukman B. Lima, head of one of several groups fighting the central government for a separate Muslim state, said Sondhi, a Muslim, was the "only one who knows the real problems" of the Muslim-dominated provinces of southern Thailand. "We hope that the political (situation) can be resolved under Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin as the new leader," Lukman wrote in an e-mailed response to questions from The Associated Press. Lukman, vice president of the Pattani United Liberation Organization, or PULO, is in exile in Sweden. Thaksin arrived Wednesday in London from New York, where he had been attending the U.N. General Assembly. "I left Thailand as the prime minister and now I am a jobless man," the official Thai News Agency quoted Thaksin as telling reporters on the flight from New York. "Never mind, I can still keep in touch with my family. Everyone is fine." However, the agency said Thaksin was "grim-faced" as he spoke. In his statement, Thaksin said he was planning to work on research and development and possible charitable work for the country. "The event in Thailand during the past two days should not detract from my main aim of national reconciliation," Thaksin said. "I haven't talked to him directly but judging from what I learned from seniors of our party, I don't think he will return in the near future," said Sansasee Nakphong, former spokeswoman for Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party. Sondhi has said he would serve as de facto prime minister for two weeks and then the junta, which calls itself the Council of Administrative Reform, will choose a civilian to replace him. A constitution is to be drawn up and elections held in one year's time. The military leader received the imprimatur Wednesday of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which should effectively quash any efforts at resistance by Thaksin's partisans. The junta empowered Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka to investigative government corruption, which could lead to the confiscation of Thaksin's assets. Jaruvan, dubbed "The Iron Lady" was one of the few government officials who tried to expose corruption during Thaksin's regime and would have lost her job if it had not been for backing from the palace. The Office of the Auditor-General said it would continue its investigation into 14 cases of alleged corruption that occurred during Thaksin's tenure. Washington believes Thailand's first coup in 15 years is "a step backward for democracy," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. The European Union demanded "that the military forces stand back and give way to the democratically elected political government." Other Western governments have issued similar statements. Thaksin's ouster followed a series of missteps that prompted many to accuse the prime minister of challenging the king's authority

BANGKOK, Sept 21 (TNA) Thailand's Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy on Thursday announced a ban on political parties meeting and barred the establishment of new parties. "Meetings of political parties and conducting any other political activities are banned," said the statement read on national television. The council said in its statement that the move is necessary to maintain law and order. It was the latest announcement after the council imposed martial law on a nationwide basis, and repealed the 1997 Constitution when they effected a bloodless coup d'etat Tuesday night to overthrow caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It also bans gatherings by five or more people and introduces restrictions on the media. The media has been asked for 'cooperation' to report the news straghtforwardly' and 'constructively' to restore national unity. (TNA)-E001 ____________________ AND THIS: ____________________ BANGKOK, Sept 21 (TNA) The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology sought cooperation from broadcasters to temporarily stop activities of political expression via short-messaging or phone-in. However, posting information or views on web-board is permitted provided that internet service providers ensure against offensive content. Permanent Secretary for ICT Kraisorn Pornsuthee invited representatives of the broadcast media, telecoms and internet service providers to a meeting Thursday to discuss the censorship edict issued by the Council of Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy. (CDRM) At the meeting, Mr Kraisorn appealed to broadcasters to suspend interactive activities in which audiences are invited to send short messages (SMS) or phone-in live programmes to express opinion or comment on politics, as these activities may cause division. Broadcast media were also asked to refrain from making inappropriate reference to

For many the problem is easily solved. Many people are eligible for the one-year retirement visa, but they choose to do visa runs instead. I don't understand the reasons why people make that choice, but I'm sure they have their reasons. My suggestion is very simple: Get the one-year retirement visa if you are eligible for it. Then, the only thing you have to worry about is reporting your address every ninety days and renewing the visa once a year. You do not have to leave Thailand to renew the one-year visa. Why anyone would choose to do otherwise, if eligible for the one-year visa, escapes me. If you are not sure of what you have to do in order to obtain the retirement visa, just send me an E-mail. I have an article that I wrote not too long ago that clearly spells out what to do, step-by-step. If you'd like a copy of that srticle I will be happy to E-mail it to you. My E-mail address is gaybutton@gmail.com .

That is true. The question is whether it will remain that way. The baht was expected to drop sharply amid fears of what is going to happen in Thailand as a result of the coup. However, the coup has been benign and the generals have clearly stated that they are going to establish a new government as quickly as possible and then step down from control and resume their normal duties. Fears apparently have been allayed, but it is still far too soon to know exactly what to expect the baht to do. There apparently was initial fear that the new regime was going to establish a Burmese style junta. No such thing has happened and, to date, I have seen nothing to indicate that it will happen. I fully believe that the new regime is going to do exactly what they have said they are going to do. I really do believe these are men of honor who did what they did because they thought it was right and not because they were hungry for power or any other reason that could be considered sinister. I suppose whether they actually were right or not depends upon personal opinion, but so far Thailand is absolutely peaceful and there has been very little repression. I believe they truly want a peaceful and positive outcome for this and they want to try to do something about the problems Thailand has gone through. Others may disagree, of course, but that's the way I feel about it. I think the baht is going to remain relatively stable and is not going to dramatically plunge as a result of the coup. The next few weeks will tell the story.