PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers February 13

BANGKOK, Feb 13 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has proposed a public debate on giving the southernmost provinces a form of autonomy, but the idea has received a cool response from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej (BANGKOK POST)

- Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee beat a tactical retreat on Tuesday from a speedy lifting of the capital controls that have turned foreign investors off, saying he would decide before his overseas roadshow in March and April (THE NATION)

- One of the victims of an alleged racket involving a vehicle-hire project was stunned to see his missing minibus parked at police headquarters when he went to file a complaint on Tuesday (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Capital controls will likely to be lifted in the second half of this year as Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee and the Bank of Thailand are still worried about the impact of removing the curbs, Standard Chartered Bank said (THE NATION)

- PTT Exploration and Production PCL PTTE.BK has signed a preliminary agreement with Chinese National Offshore Oil Corp to make a joint investment in Myanmar (BANGKOK POST)

- Frustrated airlines are calling on the new government to fix nagging problems at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BANGKOK POST)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and Business Day.