ThaiDay is published by Manager Media Group, owned by Sondhi Limthong-kul — a staunch critic of Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. News reports claimed Sondhi was unable to pay wages at the newspaper, although a source at the title confirmed that staff had received their salaries.
"For some staff, it is a matter of ongoing concern, but there are others who are keen to keep the paper going," said the source.
"Funding has run into some unusual difficulties but, at the same time, it's hard for Sondhi to concentrate on multiple things all at once." The source added that "certain guarantees" had been made that staff would be paid regularly in future. Another source in Thailand said Sondhi is claiming that he cannot transfer funds between various bank accounts.
Weddle, meanwhile, refused to comment on whether the situation would lead the IHT to reconsider its distribution partnership with ThaiDay, which has helped the international newspaper grow its domestic circulation by 30 per cent since it was inked 15 months ago. Manager Media Group CEO Jittanart Limthongkul did not return requests for comment.
