New program is coming from Tourism and Sports Ministry which will launch “Miracle Thailand Year” campaign on April. The campaign requires 6.3 billion baht as it will share 600 million baht for the ministry, 4.8 billion baht to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the rest of the budget is going to other state agencies.

Most of the promotion contributes to the His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday last month. Further all of tourism activities will quote “miracle” world in its title while the ministry planned to prolong major festivals. Songkran festival may extend into one month occasion while it is only 3-5 days at first. “There is a plan to announce monthly activities from April to December,” said Chumpol Silpa-archa, Tourism Minister.

In the other side president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Susdivarchr Cheewarattanaporn said this campaign is a good idea but it is including to short promotion with large budget so the ministry should think about three-to-five-year plan to face Asean Economic Community in 2015. “The ministry should pay attention to improve tourism sites. If we are depending on the old sites, we will lose major position in 2015,” said Mr Susdivarchr.

Same suggestion is coming from Anake Srishevachart, president of the Thai-Japanese Tourism Association. Reviewing tourism market in Thailand, tourism operators should search new destination said him. Many foreigners are choosing to use independent travel than travel agent while last year most of Japanese tourists were independently travelling to Thailand. Last Friday TAT cooperated with Sendai, Japan to sound their tourism together by collecting 100 Thai travel agents to visit Sendai next month.

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The award of National Human Rights 2011 fell for seven figures of equality who have been killed or disappeared. The award is rising by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for Thanong Podhiarn, Thongnak Sawekchinda, Thongbai Thongpao, Nikom Chandravithun, Somchai Neelapaijit, Sanguan Nittayaramphong and Wanida Tantiwittayapitak.

Thanong Podhiarn is former labor unionist in this country who is still missing. His case is still pending at the UN Human Rights Council while government has excluded him from public investigation. His wife Ruchaneeboon Podhiarn told her proud of her husband recognition since his missing on June 19, 1991. One of Thanong’s children, Adisorn Podhiarn said this award indeed pointed to those who sacrifice themselves for Thai workers. He wanted to continue his father’s noble effort. “At first we were trying hard to asking for a justice but later we realizing there is nothing we can do. Karma then will follow the perpetrators. We have forgiven them who were involved.”

The other award receiver is Nik Chandravithun, the first of late labor rights advocate. Nikom’s children is welcoming this award which is coming 10 years after his father’s death. “He always reminded us if he came from farming family and he wanted to give back to society. Then he wished his children to do the same,” said Mr Nik. The third winner is Suthi Atchasai, an environmental activist and also the coordinator of the People’s Eastern Network; Patimoh Poh-I-Taeda-Oh of the Yala-based WePeace group; Noppadon Yupromdan of the Thailand Democratic Youth network; and Narisarawan Kaewnoparat in the female youth category.

Mr Suthi said it would be a morale boost for others to fight for community rights. The human rights devotion category is awarded to Gothom Arya, the director of Mahidol University’s Research Centre for Peace-Building and American pastor Joseph Maier from the Mercy Center which helps children and others for drugs problems in slum area. It also addressed to Sihasak Phuangketkeow, permanent secretary of foreign affairs who served UNHRC post on his one-year rotating task. At last the awards also appreciated Krittiya Achavanichkul from the People’s Information Centre and Walai Na Pombejra for his effort of fighting children’s right academic.

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TU Dome Plaza that costs 450 million baht will open for business on March after ten months delay. The managing director of PB Plus Property Co, TU Dome Plaza developer said it is lucky if the project launching was delayed last year though hard floods influenced it.

“If this project launched last year, it will emerge large impact,” said him. “The floods damaged only the underground area which is not spending much to renovate.” The shopping mall situated on Chiang Rak Road in front of Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus. This property rented from T.U. Dome Residential Complex Property for 28 year lease from this year. The total area is 12,000 square meters while the two storey plaza has 75% booked. Monthly the rents range from 700 baht to 1,000 baht per square meter.

Applying same plot, a two-storey dormitory housing 108 rooms with 40 sqm width for each and eight cluster rooms with 80 sqm width for each. Monthly the rents are 8,000 baht for smaller room and 20,000 baht for the larger one. Until now there is 90% of all rooms have been rented. The company wished to result 70-80 million baht this year and 135 million baht in 2013 when occupancy rates should be at least 85%.

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Yesterday a talk between government and transporters was still increasing natural gas price but just one time on Jan 16, said Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong. The meeting results an agreement of CNG price hike for 50 satang per kilogram on Jan 16.

The plan of price hike is still holding, said him. “But after a week of two, government and transport actor will meet again to consider the price should increase in a second or third time.” Then they will make a committee to determine proper price for CNG in four months. Mr. Kittirat apologized for unclear message to transport sector and for not searching any opinions before making decision.

Previously government decided to gradually increase CNG price by 50 satang per kg a month for 12 months as it starts on Jan 16. The price then will reach 14.50 baht. Under an agreement yesterday, government will publish energy credit cards for taxi and truck drivers to buy CNG during four month period while proper CNG price is ensured. The cards will be targeted truck and taxi operators before CNG price hikes up on Jan 16, said Mr Kittirat.

Yesterday transport operators were blocking streets at the Royal Plaza and in front of Government House to delay CNG price increase. This group closed three lanes of traffic in front of Government House before they sending their representatives to deal with government. Later the taxi operators are ended their protest after government find a solution to break the problem of CNG price in four months. The protester group contains truck drivers and transportation operators under Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) franchise.

Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said operators who affected by CNG price hike can meet the ministry to solve this problem. Problems should overcome through dialogue not by displaying road blockades, said him. ACM Sukumpol added if transport operators have never came to consult their mind about over fare increase. “Government would not increase fares as long as diesel price remained at 30 baht a liter. It is about 10% of the country or 700,000 trucks operate under CNG power. The other vehicles are using diesel oil, said ACM Sukumpol. Opas Phetmunee, director of the state-run Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, said the BMTA would put free buses into service if private passenger buses under the BMTA franchise cease services.

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The operating trucks also planned to block three distribution stations of PTT NGV in Saraburi, Sam Khok district of Pathum Thani, and Nam Phong district of Khon Kaen. More over protesters are taking hard way to talk with the government. If at 4 PM today government and the protesters are not making any progress with the result of NGV price delay, BMTA buses will stop their services. Mr Yoo said protesters do not want to make any troubles. Government wished to make a clear appointment to talk and proposing solutions, said him. It resulted heavy traffic on Vibhavadi-Rangsit road where protesters were built on a stage to attack government policy that increasing NGV price.

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School teachers around this country are living in fear of insurgent violence, said Boon Som , the chairman of Confederation of Teachers of the Three Southern Border Provinces. He is including to four teachers who had been honored this year for their dedication to the education. It will announce on Teachers Day on Jan 16. Mr Bonsom has suffered under prolonged insurgency. Since 2004 147 teachers had killed in far South.

“I have been chased for two or three times,” said him. In the southern most provinces there are about 30,000 teachers risking their lives on a daily basis. “One teacher told me if she looked at her family before she is going to work due to she did not know if she would them again in the evening,” said him. “Sometimes I want to leave but I was born here, so I will not leave my students and hometown behind.”

Another honored teacher is Kanit Chang-ngoen, the headmaster of Ban Mae Klongkee Border Police School in Tak’s Umphang district. This school is 3 km from the border of Burma. “Ethnic conflicts are happening on the border and people are too scared even to go outside,” said him. Patrol police and soldiers had visited them but they could not guarantee the safety of their children. This school has 347 students and 60 of them are stateless.

The teacher award also will give to Prayoon Suthaboon, director of Udomsitthisuksa School in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district. He should take care 1,081 students from any cultural backgrounds. The students are highlanders, Mon, Burmese and Muslims. Most of them are poor. He designed three school learning systems. The system correlated with students’ background, learning program at school, at home and at work places where these children help their parents. Last award receiver is Porameth Srihawong, director of Anuban Phayu School in Si Sa Ket’s Phayu district. He tried to solve illiteracy problems for disabled students. The teachers will receive 300,000 baht in cash, a golden plaque, plate and a certificate from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

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The polling comes from local and foreign tourists under their contact with the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s call center (1672). “We want each province develop into beautiful tourist destination and also safe site to visit,” said him. The survey will continue under the new committee that formed by private sector and related state agencies. The rating will classify into some categories; they are natural, cultural and artificial destinations.

The assessment will review on the asset of the destination, space utilization, conservation and its management if the destinations are managed by local administrations, said Mr Suwat. It is emerging a tourism database to work, said Surawat Akaraworamat, director of the Association of Thai Travel Agents and a committee member for this project. “Within this polling we found this country still has many interesting destination such as Betong district in Yala on 17th rank,” said him. Further he hoped tourists will realize if the four provinces of Deep South are safe for visiting. Each year Betong was attracted up 100,000 foreign tourists while domestic tourists were accountable.

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A shelter for flood-affected pets at Kasetsart University of Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Kamphang Saen district today closes. The shelter is still waiting the owner of 600 pets left by the owners. The abandoned pets divide into 430 dogs, 40 cats, 33 rabbits, 94 deer and seven wild boars since it opened on Oct 20. The hospital has noticed the owners to take them home while the half of the total 1,200 flood affected pets had brought home.

At first it is the good intention of Kamphang Saen campus to establish the burden of flood affected pet owners so they can leave their pets under proper treatment. Most of the pet owners were from Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom and Pathum Thani provinces. Livestock Development Division officials also took many pets especially dogs and cats to the shelter after flood affected victims asked their help. One of them named Manee Saengchan who brought 300 wild dogs to the shelter. She said she will take them next year.

Monchai Lekcharoenwong, a veterinarian of the hospital had noticed the pet owners to take their pets regarding to the shutdown plan a week ago but they were not taking their pets. “The matter is if we gave the pets without getting permission from the legal owner, we will get legal action,” said Mr Monchai. The plan is the pets will return to the Livestock Development Division officials and he heard if there is no one come to take them, they will bring to the other shelter.

One of the caring owner, Pornthip Sermphongphan who was picking her dog at the shelter said she could not take anything at the flood except her six beloved dogs. She moved to her family home but it was not big enough for her pets so she brought her pet at the shelter. “Dogs love their owner without any condition. They looked very happy to see me again,” said her. Another cat owner named Krai Sob-Ajem also picking his black feline soon after the flood receded. “I am so sad about the abandoned pets. Persons who willing to raise a pet should give them love,” said Mr Krai.

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A Green School suggestion proposed last year by Siam City Cement Plc (SCCC) as it will take place at the border of police schools in remote areas. The underprivileged kids will be the target to educate as well creating good image for Insee (Eagle) brand cement, said managing director Phillippe Arto. It involves 12 schools in northern provinces so far as the part of SCCC’s Green Heart campaign. The Green Heart projects are including Insee Green Water Tank and Green Heart Bank for recycling waste.

Mr Arto, a French native who leads Thailand’s second largest cement company told, “There is a complicated relationship between CSR and sales but Green School project is imaging our brands. We expected CSR activities to build our personality that Insee brand is not just cement and building materials. We are cement producer that does useful things with our products with Green Heart.” This personality later will attract business partners and job seekers, said Mr Arto.

Green School project even is supported by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to assist patrol police schools with financial support and green building technology. Green Schools tried hard to decrease the usage of air conditioning and electricity regarding to the greenhouse emissions. The architecture helped by the Association of Siamese Architects. Mr Arto told, “We will improve the living conditions not only for the students but also for their families. The Green School project aimed to finish 24 schools to take part including three in 2010 and 12 this year. The company would extend the Green School project after 2012 as it means expanding CSR activity in next year. Insee check-dam, for example, it is struggling in flood problem of the country. It has running for five years of which the first three cooperated by Chaipattana Foundation. Later SCCC has continued to review investment in green businesses such as Geocycle waste management.

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State agencies should spend minimum cost for celebration at Sanam Luang to cater interesting entertainment activities but low-cost. The money can save for flood victims, said the prime minister. It is delivered by Ms Thitima. The birthday celebration project called “Dec 5, Uniting Thai Power as a Blessing for His Majesty the King” from Dec 1-4 throughout December. The project would build solidarity among Thais hosted by any state ministries while Deputy government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said His Majesty worried about the flood victims. Further the government wished to renovate the country’s economy to bring back people’ prosperity,” said him.

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