Chavalit steps in as Thaksin cancels trip

PHUKET: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has canceled a trip to Phuket tomorrow for a scheduled speech to open the national convention for members of Provincial Administration Organizations (OrBorJor). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, will stand in for the PM, launching the two-day convention at the Royal Phuket City Hotel at 9:30 am with a speech on provincial government reform. The cancellation came less than 24 hours before the PM was due to talk for an hour to about 800 OrBorJor officials from all over Thailand. Instead, the PM will fly to Indonesia for pressing talks, the Gazette has learned. Boonchai Somjai, the Phuket Governor’s Secretary, said that a fax was received today apologizing for his non-appearance. About 800 OrBorJor members are expected. Samroeng Chaisorn, Vice Chief Executive of the Phuket OrBorJor, has said it will be the first convention “attended by every OrBorJor in the country.” K. Samroeng explained that the main objectives of the convention are to educate OrBorJor members about policies and laws, and how to create budgets to target specific concerns, such as education, anti-narcotics campaigns and sports.