TroyinEwa/Perv Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 Try to find the ghost hiding behind the tree watching the divers. Impossible to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 Time for a seance ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 Divers Open Mystery Containers Discover 20 Million Unsold Thailand Elite Cards Merchandise, marketing materials salvaged SATTAHIP -- Speculation surrounding the contents of several submerged containers in the coastal water off Chon Buri came to an end today when navy divers opened the rusted hulks and discovered millions of unsold Thailand Elite Cards inside. Additionally, some 300 tons of Thailand Elite Card merchandise, marketing materials, and signage have been found. â??When the door was cut open we were prepared for just about anything,â? said Capt. Kanchern Mottihaparn, the leader of the dive team. â??But nothing prepared us for what we saw â?? a wall of golden cards, cascading upon our heads and reflecting the sun from above. It was breathtaking.â? Later a navy dredging ship managed to extract the full contents and lift them aboard. Along with 20 million cards were about 5 million vouchers for King Power, 2 million complimentary passes for golf at Alpine, and 30 million brochures welcoming new members with a special message from Thaksin Shinawatra himself. The long-forgotten Thailand Elite Card program was the brainchild of the Thaksin administration, designed to lure high-class tourists to the kingdom through membership in an exclusive club. In exchange for a USD1 million sign-up fee, the card promised fast-track immigration privileges, long-term property leases and discounts at luxury spas, golf courses and hotels. Original hopes were that it would attract one million cardholders by 2008, but to date has drawn just 2,570. As a result, the state-owned Thailand Privilege Card, which issues the cards and operates the system, posted accumulated losses of to 1.14 billion baht as of 2006. Operating results for 2007 and last year have yet to be reported, amid speculation that the losses are even higher despite the continued payment of high salaries to senior executives managing the program. Ever since rumors had surfaced that the containers contained bodies of protesters killed during the crackdowns on 1992â??s Black May protests, a media spotlight had fueled wide speculation about the containers and their content. Suggestions had also included illegally dumped industrial waste. However, the discovery of the Thailand Elite Cards has taken everybody by surprise, since no one has spoken of it in years. According to Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd â??The discovery of the unsold cards and abandoned marketing collaterals suggests foul play. Someone is trying to hide the corpse of a long-dead tourism project.â? Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has promised a full investigation into any possible criminal activity. However, Central Institute of Forensic Science director Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan has complained that her investigation has already been stalled. â??I asked the Prime Ministerâ??s office for a list of people who were on the Thailand Elite Card payroll from 2004-2006.â? She said. â??And I was told not to ask.â? Linkage Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 Gee, I thought they were going to find that lawyer from down south who went missing during Mr. T's reign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Bangkok Post 2 Jun 2009 B7m budget to examine mystery seabed containers Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has allocated seven million baht from the central fund for the investigation of the contents of a container on the seabed off Chon Buri's Sattahip district, Central Institute of Forensic Science director Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan said. The money had been channelled through Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathabibhagha, she said. Khunying Porntip was speaking on Tuesday after a meeting of the Justice Ministry's investigation team which comprises herself, permanent secretary for justice Kittipong Kittiyarak, navy assistant chief-of-staff Vice Admiral Chumnum Ajwong and representatives of the departments of Special Investigation, Fisheries and Customs. Khunying Porntip expected a team of divers would be able to examine the first container next week to see if there were human skeletons inside as rumoured. The investigation team would meet at the DSI on Saturday to finalise planning Mr Kittipong said the dive team would find out what was in the container and whether there were any other sunken containers nearby. The DSI would find out who dropped them into the sea. Relatives of victims of the May 1992 crackdown on protesters have asked the government to find out if the container does hold human remains. Many protesters are still missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimDidMeGood Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 a little bit of contradicting information here... err... nothing. Let's just pretend I didn't say that. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.