1.   Central bank governor Chaiyawat Wibulswasdi told reporters after the meeting that Thailand still needs high interest rates to protect the baht from speculation.

2.   He said his government needed to strike a balance between high interest rates to protect the baht and export competitiveness.

3.   To Supachai, the urgent need for change also involves the IMF recommendation that Thailand should maintain high short-term interest rates to protect the baht.

4.   It added that high interest rates being used by the Bank of Thailand to protect the baht were adding to the problems of the stricken property sector.

5.   It added that high interest rates being used to protect the baht by the Bank of Thailand were adding to the problems of the stricken property sector.