Thailand Live Friday 22 Oct 2010

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Thai Defense Minister Clarifies Crackdown of Red-Shirt Rally

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18 killed in deep South during past ten days

Pattani - Eighteen people were killed in 30 violent incidents in the southern border provinces from October 11 to 20, the southern Army announced Friday.

Col Banphot Poonpian, the spokesman of the Fourth Army Region's Forward Command, said five of the 30 violent incidents were classified as personal conflicts and 18 as southern insurgency-related events and the rest were being investigated.

Of the 18 killed, 13 were civilians, 4 were defence volunteers and one was a troop.

Banphot said the Forward Command of the southern Army would report the violent incidents in the deep South every ten days.

-- The Nation 2010-10-22

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Thailand's Floods Called Worst In Decades

Devastating floods spreading from northeastern Thailand have left 19 people dead over the past two weeks as heavy rainfall has put entire villages underwater, destroyed crops and disrupted transportation and commerce.

The most damaged area is reported to be at Tha Rue district in the central province of Ayutthaya as water level in some areas are as high as two meters.

Statistics suggested that water in Pa Sak river is rising by one centimeter an hour, forcing local officials to issue a warning that calls on residents to evacuate to higher grounds.

A total of 20 mobile military officers rushed to deliver aid to flood victims.

Pathumthani provincial governor Thani Samatkit inspected flood hit areas and water gates along Rangsit canal.

He stated that officials are diverting water from canals to Chaophraya river, saying that the situation is not critical yet.

He added that he demanded more sand bags to be distributed to flood victims and be installed in vulnerable areas after Chao Phraya and Pa Sak dams are set to release 4,000 cubic meters of water per second on October 27.

In the central province of Saraburi, a fresh market in Ban Mor district's municipality and villages nearby have been inundated.

Water level is reported to be between 20 and 40 centimeters after Chainat dam released more water.

Water from Phanomdongrak hill flooded houses in three more districts of Srisaket province after five districts were hit earlier.

In the eastern province of Prachinburi, Ban Thahay water gate collapsed after authorities tried to release water.

More than 100 houses downstream are now inundated.

In Kabinburi district, water levels remain unchanged and it is expected that the flooding will be over in a few weeks should there be no further rainfall.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-22

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2 Pakistan nationals arrested at Suvarnabhumi with 1.5 kg of heroine in their stomaches, worth Bt4.6 million, intended for selling in BKK /via @MCOTEnglishnews

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The 2.50m. water level of Chao Phraya river is 30 cm. short of the 2.80m. limit.Authorities rushing to extend height of riverbank by 50cm to prevent flood into Pathum Thani /NATION

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BKK-Chiang Mai train service to resume at 2.30pm; Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Dept says flood hits 186 districts in 29 provinces /via @MCOTEnglishnews

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Chiang Mai Railway Station now reports that trains will resume this evening but will stop at Lopburi where a bus will take passengers to BKK

Source: Chiang Mai Mail

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PM to inspect flood relief operations in Ayutthaya

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled Friday's afternnon to inspect flood relief operations in Tha Rua distrct, Ayutthaya.

Provincial irrigation chief Maitri Pitinanont said the authorities have already started to release overflowing water from three dams, Chao Phya, Phraram Six and Pasak Chonlasit.

The overflowing water is expected to inundate areas in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Bangkok. Tha Rua and Nakhon Lauang districts in Ayutthaya are already under water. The water level in Chao Phya have risen threatening to overflow the embankment.

-- The Nation 2010-10-22

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Flood claims 17 lives, 186 districts under water

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Friday said the flash flood has inflicted 17 deaths and inundated 186 districts of 29 province since October 10.

The flood impacted on 456,823 families, comprising 1,280.344 people in the North, the Northeast and the Central Region.

Flood areas cover Pichit, Chai Nat, Suphanburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Trat, Sa Kaew, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Chaiyaphum, Saraburi, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Nakhon Nayok, Si Sa Ket, Tak, Surin, Buriram, Khon Kaen, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Pathom, Uthai Thani, Sing Buri, Chanthaburi and Chiang Mai.

-- The Nation 2010-10-22

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FTI: Thai Auto Exports Growth to be Affected by Flood

The Federation of Thai Industries is worried that continued flooding may hurt the country’s auto industry considerably.

This is in spite of an impressive rise in car exports during the month of September.

The Federation of Thai Industries or FTI’s Spokesperson of the Automotive Group, Surapong Paisitpattanapong said that the flood crisis that has hit several parts of the country may hit motorbike and pick up truck sales hard unless the situation is resolved soon.

And while the FTI is waiting to see how auto sales will turn out in October, it was impressed by a 64.7 percent export growth in September.

Surapong is also confident in the FTI’s auto production target in 2010, which was set at 1.56 million units, considering that around 400,000 cars in advanced purchase orders for the remainder of the year have already been received.

He added that since the beginning of the year, about 750,000 units of vehicles have been sold domestically while at least 890,000 units have been exported.

The FTI also commented that as the baht has appreciated more than 10 percent since January, auto parts producers in particular, are now suffering serious losses and anticipating that the government will lend a hand soon.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-22

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School children injured in 6th floor Pattaya hotel lift plunge

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Phuket Thailand Open: Brazilians Franca and Da Silva top seeds

Juliana Felisberta Da Silva of Brazil gets down low in a

bid to set up teammate Larissa Franca. The Brazilian duo

are top seeds in the Phuket Thailand Open beach

volleyball tournament to be played in Karon November 3 to 7.

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Three members of illicit drug gang arrested with 16kg of heroin worth Bt64 million masquerading as Samut Sakorn factory workers /MCOT

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SET index closed at 992.24, up 3.44; Bt/USD29.82; GBP46.64; AUD29.04; EUR41.29; CAD29.04; HKD3.83; SGD22.79; JPY36.50

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Three men detained with 16 kg heroin, worth over US$2 mln

BANGKOK, Oct 22 – Three members of a drug syndicate in Thailand's northern region were arrested with 16 kg of compressed heroin, worth Bt64 million (more than $2.1 million), police said on Friday.

Thakorn Kajornwattanadeja, also known as Jo, and two accomplices, were captured at a chemical factory in Krathum Baen district of Samut Sakhon province, 36 km southwest of Bangkok, with the heroin hidden in ceiling compartments of the factory and their house.

Police confiscated 40 packages of compressed heroin, weighing 16 kg valued at over $2.1 million in street value, a pickup truck, cellphones and other baggage.

The three drugs dealers said they were members of the drug ring in the northern region and posed as factory workers. They also used factory vehicles to transport the heroin from the North, then hid it in the ceiling compartments to avoid being inspected by drug officials.

The trio explained that the drugs were about to be sold in Taiwan. However, the initial investigation found that the factory had no involvement in the drug crime and syndicate.

The arrest was cooperation between Narcotics Suppression Bureau and Office of the Narcotics Control Board. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-22

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Police Shooting Injures 1

A police officer who is also a member of the security team of a former deputy prime minister has allegedly fired at a vehicle during a road inspection, injuring one civilian.

The officer responsible for the shooting has denied the allegation.

Last night, 22 year old Rattisak Nomkaew reported to the Talingchan police station after an a uniformed police officer shot at his car.

The bullet entered the left front door, wounding his 23 year old wife Kanokkan Sanokiat on her leg.

She was holding her eight month old daughter.

The incident occurred just 200 meters from the Southern People Association building.

Rattisak said that he was driving home with his four friends when he reached a checkpoint where two police officers were conducting inspection.

As he slowed down for the inspection, he said that since the officers did not signal his vehicle to stop, he decided to overtake other vehicles on the right hand lane.

However, according to Rattisak, Police Corporal Nipon Unjai, who was a member of former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban's private security team, allegedly shot at Rattisak's car.

Nipon denied his involvement in the shooting and investigators have asked Nipon to surrender his firearm for a ballistic test.

If investigators found that he was responsible for the shooting, he would be charged with attempted murder.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-22

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UPDATE: Eleven students, teacher and hotel staff injured as lift freefalls at Central Pattaya hotel

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One of five suspects arrested following recent brutal murder on the outskirts of Pattaya

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DEA Drug Information Project Declared A Success By Pattaya Police

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Two Pakistanis Arrested At Suvarnabhumi With 1.5 kg Of Heroin Worth US$150,000

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Phuket City hotel staff to face mandatory drug testing

Muang District Chief Supachai Pochanukul (left) and Phuket

City Police chief Wanchai Ekpornpit at yesterday's briefing.

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For medical help - Thai Red Cross in Chaiyaphum - 044-811-203 and 044-811-558 #ThaiFlood /via@veen_NT

Other assistance in Chaiyaphum call FM 102 Mhz at 044 812989 or 044 816 930 #ThaiFlood /@1500miles /TR @BengoshiNadda /via@veen_NT

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to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 23 October 2010

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