Thailand Live Thursday 21 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Thursday 21 October 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on

a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those

who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Wednesday 20 October 2010

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Police offer Bt100,000 reward for anyone giving information leading to arrest of 2 suspects in Bang Bua Thong apartment bombing, more warrants expected

-- TNA 2010-10-21

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Transport Ministry Starts Assessing Flood Damage

After days of severe flooding, the Transport Ministry has started assessing the damage on roads.

Meanwhile, the country’s railway authority hopes to resume part of its suspended services in the flood-stricken areas before the end of the day.

Transport Minister Sopon Sarum said that initial assessment by the Rural Roads and Highways departments revealed that the current flood crisis has cost more than two billion baht in damage to roads.

Sopon said that more damage survey will be performed once the floodwater recedes.

At present, the ministry will utilize its own budget to take care of the repair cost, but will request extra cash from the Cabinet, if needed.

The transport minister went on to say that the State Railway of Thailand has been working with the Rural Roads and Highway departments to elevate submerged train tracks in the Northeast.

They hope the collaboration will help resume disrupted rail services before the end of today.

According to the State Railway of Thailand, certain routes in flood-hit areas, particularly in the Northeast, have been seriously damaged.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-21

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Quick Arrests Expected for Nonthaburi Blast Suspects

Police have confirmed that the Nonthaburi apartment blast case is moving forward with two suspects expected to be apprehended soon.

Meanwhile, the police chief says the city and special branch police will work together to close the case.

Deputy national police chief Police General Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya has reaffirmed that the investigation into the deadly apartment blast in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district has been progressing well.

National police chief Police General Wichien Podposri said the Special Branch Police Division and the Metropolitan Police Bureau will integrate their intelligence work to solve the Saman Metta apartment blast in Nonthaburi.

Wichien said investigators have offered a reward of 100,000 baht for information leading to the arrest of each of the two suspects in the case.

The suspects have been identified as Kasi Ditthanarut and Amporn Jaikorn.

They are on the run and are believed to still be in Thailand.

The police chief today also visited the operation center for the resolution of severe emergency situation.

The center was created from the initiative of the Bomb Data Center under the Thai police agency's cooperation with its Australian counterpart.

Wichien accredited the center for its significant role in solving the apartment blast case.

The police chief added the center will be working closely with other agencies in charge of handling the 114 recent security related cases.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-21

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PM chairs ceremony at City Hall sending humanitarian, medical aid to flood victims

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday chaired a ceremony at Bangkok City Hall to send a humanitarian aid caravan and medical teams to help the flood victims in the Northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.

The prime minister and officials the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) witnessed the release of a caravan of trucks carrying drinking water, mobile toilets, medical teams, medical equipment, and medicine to help flood hit Nakhon Ratchasima.

Mr Abhisit thanked everyone who helped support the civil servants work in helping the flood victim

He has instructed BMA workers to be alert as the waters from the upper provinces flowed to the capital while the monthly high tide now time could cause problems for Bangkok residents, especially riverside along Chao Phraya river and its branches. Mr Abhisit was scheduled to travel to central province of Lop Buri on Thursday to inspect the flood hit areas and give moral support to the officials and flood victims.

He told reporters that the overall level of emergency plan could work well and no need to upgreade the operation at the moment.

BMA has earlier ordered all district offices in Bangkok to brace for flooding, with the first surge down the Chao Phraya River from the north reached the capital this evening and high tides predicted later this week.

Makeshift flood embankments consisting of millions sandbags have been built alongside the riverbank.

BMA officials said water from the Pa Sak Jolasit Dam in Lop Buri and the Chao Phraya dam in Chainat were now the major factor of the Chao Phraya River's swelling.

The Meteorological Department issued advisory statement that a cold air mass from China has covered northeastern, northern and central Thailand.

A decrease in the amount of rain is likely, as the weather becomes cooler by 2-4 degrees Celsius.

The flooded areas may experience slight rain with little effect on flooding at this period. The areas include Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Lop Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya and provinces nearby.

The monsoon trough has moved across lower central, upper southern and eastern Thailand and brings slight to moderate rain. Besides, typhoon “Megi” over the middle South China Sea tracks north to southern China and Hong Kong. The typhoon has no effect on Thailand’s weather. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-21

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Whole country comes to aid of flood victims

By The Nation

From the Royal Palace to members of the socialmedia communities and people in all walks of life, help is pouring in for flood victims across the country, especially in hardesthit Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum provinces.

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Bhum Jai Thai Tight-lipped about PM Abhisit's Furor

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Floods cause Bt1-bn damage in Nakhon Ratchasima

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4 sentenced over murder plot

By The Nation

The four masterminds behind the plot to kill Privy Councillor Charnchai Likhitjittha were handed lengthy prison terms yes¬terday, while the spotter was given a short term and the gun¬man was acquitted.

The masterminds were initially handed a 25 years in prison, which was commuted to 16 years and eight months because they had cooperated and offered useful details to the police. The masterminds are Khamik Sukphanjanakas, Thianchai Muengjanthuek, Suchart Sabmanee and Sukkree Khaophong.

Cooperation with the court got Phanuphong Rattanaphaibool's term reduced from the initial oneyear sen¬tence for carrying firearms without a licence to eight months. He was the spotter in the twoman hit team.

Sakchai saeLim, the gunman, was acquitted because he had not yet committed any crime and was cooperative. Phanuphong and Sakchai travelled to Samut Prakarn province to observe Charnchai's home on a motorcycle, but Phanuphong was the only one carrying a pistol.

Last April, the media reported that Charnchai's murder was plotted by a man in Chiang Mai, who had allegedly paid Bt130,000. The motive behind the attempt on Charnchai's life was not discussed during the trial and Charnchai has always maintained that he was clueless about the motive.

-- The Nation 2010-10-21

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Deputy PM Meets New Politics Party for Reconciliation

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart has visited the New Politics Party on his national reconciliation promotion tour.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Adviser of the Chart Thai Pattana Party Sanan Kachornprasart met with the New Politics Party to discuss reconciliation.

New Politics Party Leader Somsak Kosaisuk, Secretary General Suriyasai Katasila, and Spokesperson Samran Rodpetch.

After the half hour meeting, the New Politics Party announced its support for Sanan's national reconciliation plan because of the deputy prime minister's experience and his social standing.

The New Politics Party has also demanded that all sides accept the judicial system and insists on all parties pledge to denounce political violence before the next election.

The party has also expressed its opposition to the amnesty bill for protesters, which goes against the rules of the law.

At the same time, Sanan said that he is planning to visit three more political parties before meeting with scholars and representatives of civic groups, independent organizations and the private sector.

The deputy prime minister also reported that very little progress was made in his meeting with General Prem Tinsulanonda, the head of the Privy Council.

However, the national reconciliation road map will be published in December.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-21

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City's Low-lying Communities Warned of Floods

As the flood crisis continues to ravage the upper parts of Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is warning people living along the Chao Phraya River to brace themselves for possible flooding next week.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaibul led a team of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, officials on a trip to inspect a flood levee along the Chao Phraya River.

Water level in the Chao Phraya River has recently been on the rise due to the release of excess water from dams upstream.

For now, the water level remains almost a meter lower than the maximum capacity of the levee.

However, Pornthep is worried that continued release of water from dams, rising sea level and more heavy rain may cause flooding in areas adjacent to the levee.

In such case, around 27 communities or more than 1,300 households could be hit next week.

In its preparation for possible floods, the BMA has been stocking up medical supplies and preparing shelters in case an evacuation is needed.

More than 700 water pumps have also been put on stand by in flood-prone areas.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-21

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Central Pattaya Beauty Salon raided by Police

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Floods Cause Suspension in Bkk-North Train Service

Floodwater levels have increased in Kampangpetch, Chaiyabhumi, and Lopburi provinces. Levels significantly last night causing the temporary suspension of train services from Bangkok to the North.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-21

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Floodwaters in Korat Start to Recede

Officials in the Muang district of Korat have revealed that floodwater levels have receded to about 30 to 40 centimeters. They expect that the situation in Muang district and surrounding areas will returning to normal in the next 7 to 10 days. However, situations in other areas remain worrisome.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will be visiting Lopburi province today to access the flood situation.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-21

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 992.73, up 4.62 points /MCOT

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Phuket's Patong Municipality gets UN award for disaster management

Public health workers in full anti-contamination gear fumigate near

Soi Bangla in June 2009 to prevent the spread of contagious

diseases like swine flu. File photo.

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Phuket Marine Police continue search for missing Russian's body

Even as Marine Police set out to sea in search of the drowned

tourist's body, other tourists continue to enter the dangerous

surf despite red warning flags.

Strong waves have made it impossible for Marine Police to dive in

search of the body, which they suspect may be trapped by rocks.

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Thai province Chaiyaphum still faces severe floods; Flash flood at Kamphaeng Phet

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US Man Faces Caning in Singapore

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Flood Wreaks Havoc in Thailand's North

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Si Sa Ket Governor Mulls Re-Opening Pha Mor E-Daeng for Tourism

The Si Sa Ket governor is looking to discuss the re opening of Pha Mor E Daeng cliff, a tourist attraction at the Preah Vihear National Park, during the upcoming tourist high season.

Governor of Si Sa Ket Somsak Suwansujarit said he will seek discussions with Army Region 2 Commander Lieutenant General Thawatchai Samutsakhon over the possibility of temporarily re opening the Pha Mor E Daeng cliff in the Preah Vihear National Park for tourism during the weekend and public holidays.

Somsak said he has received a number of requests from residents of Bhumisarol village in Sao Thongchai subdistrict for the re opening, which he thinks is reasonable given the approaching tourist high season as well as easing the border tension with Cambodia.

Accessing Phrea Vihear National Park is difficult given the ongoing dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the land surrounding Phrea Vihear temple.

However, tensions have eased after several bilateral talks.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-21

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Phuket tourism update: TAT to strengthen Aussie, Kiwi markets

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Maharat Hospital staff stressed by flood crisis

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Abhisit's honeymoon with strange bedfellow is over

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This quick fix for Thai schools is failing our children

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BMA in race against convergence of flood risk factors

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Newin seeks extra support from Banharn

By The Nation

Newin Chidchob has sought a private meeting with Chat Thai Pattana Party's big boss Banharn Silapa-archa in what is being seen as a sign that the Bhum Jai Thai Party's de facto leader is getting worried about his camp's shaky ties with the ruling Democrats.

Details of the meeting were not available but it was understood that Newin wanted to ensure his alliance with Chat Thai Pattana was strong, in order to maintain Bhum Jai Thai's bargaining power.

According to a source, Newin was even ready to sacrifice some big Cabinet stakes to keep his party's place in the coalition.

Bhum Jai Thai has 32 MPs, but Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday the coalition would have majority control even if the powerful ally pulled out or was dropped. To further weaken Bhum Jai Thai's bargaining power, it is believed that not all the party's 32 MPs are ready to quit.

However, Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said yesterday that Bhum Jai Thai was ready to quit if Abhisit no longer wanted it to be part of the coalition.

"I will not voice any more reactions, as I want my silence to quell any moves," he said.

Chaovarat was speaking in reaction to Abhisit's comment the government would survive without Bhum Jai Thai support and that he would cut loose anybody who felt "uneasy" about remaining in his coalition.

"I will just look for another job if Abhisit drops my party from the coalition," Chaovarat retorted.

He said neither he nor the prime minister discussed a Cabinet reshuffle during their talks on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Chaovarat's son, Anutin, who is also a faction leader, refused to say anything about his earlier remark voicing uneasiness about what he saw as a move by the Democrats to fault his party over corruption.

Anutin's remarks triggered speculation about a possible rift in the coalition. He said his father had cautioned him and he would, therefore, keep his mouth shut.

-- The Nation 2010-10-21

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Thaksin Tries To Upstage PM Abhisit On Flood Relief

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Phuket tunnel project to begin in 2013: Patong Mayor

Phuket Mayor Pian Keesin addresses the crowd at a rally held earlier this month.

BRAVE NEW WORLD: An artist's conception of what motorists

might see upon exiting the tunnel on the Patong side.

File image.

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Toyota announces safety recall of about 1.5 million vehicles worldwide to fix brake fluid leak that it warns can gradually diminish braking performance in cars

-- TNA 2010-10-21