PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - Aug 5

BANGKOK, Aug 5 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit told Cambodia to stay away from Ta Moan Thom after the 13th century temple became the latest hot spot between the two countries (BANGKOK POST)

- Virabongsa Ramangkura, the newly appointed chief economic adviser to the prime minister, is under fire as pressure mounts on him to resign from all his private-sector positions to avoid conflict of interest (THE NATION)

- The government was heavily criticised after People Power Party MPs proposed a bill to regulate public rallies. The bill would be an organic law under article 63 of the constitution, which declares people's freedom to gather (THE NATION).

- Up to 1,000 of the country's most serious drug offenders will soon be sent to a new prison equipped with high-tech security to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs into the cells (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- IRPC IRPC.BK has put on hold its $1.2 billion long-residue efficiency-enhancement project, citing the sub-prime crisis and volatile oil prices as obstacles (THE NATION)

- The government's new economics team should be given at least three months to prove its mettle in addressing the country's economic problems, according to local business leaders (BANGKOK POST)

- Investors will soon be able to buy inflation-linked bonds once the Finance Ministry decides on the most suitable type to introduce (THE NATION)

- The national telecom regulator has set up a committee to draw up the guidelines for allocating WiMax broadband spectra and service development (THE NATION)

- Thailand is pushing for a five-year Asean energy plan with emphasis on alternative fuel and creating regional energy linkage as long-term solutions to ease the oil price woes (THE NATION)

- The fishery, transportation, construction and food industries have been losing their ability to repay debt due to surges in oil and commodity prices, according to the Bank of Thailand's inflation report (THE NATION)

- Kuwait plans to send a team to Cambodia later this year to assess large-scale investments in rice production, according to a senior Cambodian official (BANGKOK POST) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and The Nation.