"About Bt70 million has been deposited in the account but it can not be used [without approval]," PM's Office permanent secretary Chulayuth Hiranyavasit said yesterday. Chulayuth said an answer from the Finance Ministry on whether the money could be used to pay salaries was "tentatively expected" this week.

A TITV employee said its union had no plans to protest against the delayed salaries.

"When the PM's Office took over iTV and was asked not to take iTV off the air, we told them we were ready for any conditions, including a delay in salaries during the first months."

The PM's Office took control of iTV on March 6.

Lingering questions regarding ownership prompted it to consider taking iTV off the air that day. However, the channel continued broadcasting under the new owner after the Council of State, influenced by protests by iTV employees, ruled it was legal.

Since then, iTV, renamed TITV, has operated under the supervision of the Public Relations Department while the PM's Office is finalising the operating formula for the channel.

Chulayuth said another round of meetings on the station's formula would take place today.

Meanwhile, he said the PM's Office had already confiscated a Bt25-million bank guarantee iTV placed on the concession signing in 1995, citing iTV's "failure to comply" with the concession as the reason.

The PM's Office last week filed a petition to the Central Admini-

strative Court, asking for compensation of Bt100 billion from iTV.

The petition was filed although the Arbitration Office is forcing the PM's Office to appoint a representative to an arbitration panel to mediate the compensation issue.

Chulayuth insisted yesterday that the PM's Office opposed the formation of the arbitration panel.

Meanwhile, a source from iTV said the company had already selected its representative for the panel, which would settle the compensation issue on May 9.