The US financial crisis affects not only the United States, but also European countries and worldwide nations.

Japanese and American investors already reduced their investment value to get ready for shrinking economy in the future.

It is expected jewelry, garment and auto parts industry will be affected.

The Board of Investment (BoI) will gear up to approve projects as more than 380 projects worth more than 240 billlion baht have not been approved yet.

The BoI also launched the SME Power scheme to give financial and technological support to SMEs.

It will primarily be able to give about 10 billion baht of loans. The interest rate is 7.25 %, and the repayment period is extended from five to seven years.

Loan borrowing period will be from November 11 to December 31, 2008.

The temperature will drop 1-2 degree Celsius as the high-pressure mass from China covers the northeastern and northern part of Thailand.

The low-pressure mass will pass the central region, upper south and eastern coast. As a result, heavy rain can be expected in some areas.

People in risk areas such as Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan were warned of heavy rain.

Drizzling rain will be in 60% of the northern areas. Heavy rain can be expected in Mae Hong Son, Tak and Khampaengphet.

Drizzling rain will also be in 40% of the northeastern areas, especially in Loei, Nongkhai, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram and Ubon Ratchathani. The temperature will drop 1-2 degree Celsius.

60% of rain can be expected in the central region. Heavy rain will be in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi.

Heavy rain will be in Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trad.

70% of rain can be expected in the eastern south. Heavy rain will be in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumporn.

Heavy rain can also be expected in the western south, particularly in Ranong, Phuket and Phang Nga.

60% of rain can be expected in Bangkok and adjourning provinces. Heavy rain will also be in some areas.

People Power party member Jatuporn Promphan did not explain the change in plan, saying only that the political talk show Kwam Jing Wan Nee (The Truth Today) would not on air on Saturday on state-owned NBT, formerly Channel 11.

Mr Jatuporn, who co-hosts the programme with government spokesman Nattawut Saikua and Veera Musikapong, said Thaksin’s remarks to supporters will instead be posted on todayfact.com and will air on NBT after Saturday.

The change comes amid growing criticism of Thaksin’s decision to talk to his supporters from London.

Critics believe it will lead to more political tension.

The last UDD gathering, held while the mobile political talk show took place on stage, was on Oct 11 at the Thunder Dome in Muang Thong Thani. It was broadcast on the television station.

That gathering drew about 10,000 Thaksin fans. Organisers expect many more people to attend on Saturday at the bigger venue, Rajamangala stadium.

Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail in absentia by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions last Tuesday. He was convicted for abuse of power in the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

About 500 UDD members last night moved from Sanam Luang to the Defence Ministry to air their opposition to any attempt by the armed forces to stage a military coup.

UDD members were with former deputy police chief Salang Bunnag last Wednesday when he announced his intention to surround Government House to force the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to give up its occupation of the venue.

The PAD was stepping up security measures in the wake of Pol Gen Salang’s threat by enlarging its tyre barricade at Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue near Makkhawan Rangsan bridge, to prevent the blockade of Government House.

The protest group had dismantled its stage near the bridge, which leaves Government House as its only stronghold.

Police should not get involved in Pol Gen Salang’s campaign, PAD co-leader Pibhop Dhongchai said.

PAD seized Government House on Aug 26 and refuses to relinquish it until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat stands down and efforts to rewrite the charter are aborted.

Pol Gen Salang yesterday attended a merit-making ceremony with more than 200 pro-government demonstrators in Chiang Mai. He said his blockade plan was still alive and details would be finalised soon.

Mr Pibhop and PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said former members of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party and former activists supported Pol Gen Salang.

But former TRT leader Chaturon Chaisaeng denied that, saying no TRT members or activists backed Pol Gen Salang’s bid to take back Government House.

The government which ordered the dispersal and the Royal Thai Police that launched the dispersal operation must take responsibility for the Oct 7 violence, said Surasee Kosolnawin, who chairs the NHRC’s sub-committee probing human rights violations during the Oct 7 clashes.

Mr Surasee said his sub-committee has gathered information on the clashes and found police tried to disperse demonstrators after receiving instructions from the government which wanted to deliver its policy statement in parliament. PAD protesters tried to stop politicians gaining entry.

Mr Surasee said NHRC has approved his sub-committee’s findings, and he would soon send his report to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan.

Meanwhile, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) and the Thai Broadcasting Journalists Association (TBJA) yesterday called a meeting of editors of newspapers, radio and television stations to discuss measures to put an end to violence in society.

The meeting agreed the political stalemate between the government and demonstrators has been escalating and was likely to lead to violence.

All fields of the media will disseminate articles, views and suggestions on how to put an end to violence.

The TJA and TBJA will produce T-shirts bearing messages calling for an end to violence and give them to reporters, news anchormen and talk show hosts as part of its campaign.

At the same time, the Democrat party yesterday asked the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to investigate Mr Somchai in connection with the use of force by police to disperse protesters.

Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said that a sub-committee set up by the NCCC to look into the clashes has questioned only top police officers.

Mr Sathit said the party also filed a petition with the Office of the Ombudsman seeking an inquiry into the legitimacy of the Oct 7 parliamentary session when Mr Somchai delivered the government’s policy statement.

(photo: AP / Vincent Yu)

December’s summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) has been moved from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to avoid ongoing anti-government protests in the capital, media and ministerial sources said on Monday.

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat announced the shift over the weekend during a visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city, located 550km north of Bangkok, the Bangkok Post said.

The change in venue, however, has yet to be confirmed with Thailand’s fellow Asean members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

“It’s 90% certain, but this will have to be ruled on soon,” Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tharit Charungvat said.

Bangkok has been the scene of anti-government protests led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) since May, culminating in the seizure of Government House on August 26.

The PAD continued to occupy the seat of the administration, forcing Somchai’s government to shift offices to Don Muaeng, Bangkok’s old international airport.

There are fears that the PAD would disrupt the Asean summit if the December 15-18 meetings are held in Bangkok.

Chiang Mai is the hometown and a political power base for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by a military coup in September 2006.

Somchai, Thaksin’s brother-in-law, also has a house in Chiang Mai.

The PAD is a loose coalition of conservative groups opposed to the return to power of Thaksin and his populist policies.

Source: news24