Thailand Live Tuesday 26 Oct 2010

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Thailand Live Tuesday 26 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 Monday 25 October 2010

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ADB: floods have no impact on Thai economy this year

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The current flood situations in Thailand have no impact on the nation’s economic growth this year, but will next year, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The ABD has maintained its earlier assessment of the Thai economic expansion this year at 7 percent, despite heavy floods damaging crops and infrastructures. However, it suggested that the effects from the damage could be felt next year, particularly in the agricultural industry; the fragile US and European economies are also factors affecting the Thai’s GDP growth. The Bank estimated that the Thai economy would expand by 4.5 percent next year.

As for the solution to the appreciating baht, the ADB advised that Thailand impose policies in line with strategies adopted by Indonesia and the Philippines because they their economy are quite the same size. It added Thailand should compete in terms of product values rather than price reduction.

-- NNT 2010-10-26

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PM admits movements to discredit Court exist

Nonthaburi (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has discussed with the National Police Chief on the safety of the Constitutional Court judges after they have received death threats.

Mr Abhisit has conversed with National Police Chief, Police General Wichean Potephosree, on the protection of Constitutional Court judges who have received death threats. Police General Wichean has reassured the safety of the judges.

The Premier believed that the threats would not have any affect on the decisions of the judges. He admitted there were constant movements of people to discredit the court. Mr Abhisit also warned those people to play by the rules, adding political conflicts should not have an impact on the credibility of the country’s major institution.

-- NNT 2010-10-26

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Thai-Chinese high-speed train project off tracks

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FLOOD CHAOS

Poor city planning blamed for aggravating flood crisis

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FLOOD CRISIS

Next 24 hours critical

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UN CHIEF'S VISIT

Reds warned not to mass during Ban's visit

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BURNING ISSUE

Thais must realise HM is above politics

By Avudh Panananda

The Nation

This month marks two centenaries - the death of King Chulalongkorn and birth of the late Princess Mother. It also gives us the chance to reflect on why so many Thai citizens have allowed themselves to get divided over the monarchy, when they have been the direct beneficiaries of the Chakri reign.

There has not been a single tyrant on the throne during this, the Rattanakosin Era, and His Majesty the King has been recognised, even by communist idealists, for his dedication.

Though a number of chronicles show criticism of absolute monarchy, past monarchs chose to reason and pacify opponents rather than resort to suppression.

With the advent of modern media, King Vajiravudh spearheaded the concept of free press in his experimental city, the Dusit Thani, set up in the palace to raise awareness about rights and democracy.

His successor, King Prajadhipok, chose to abdicate instead of siding with a certain clique of people, who wanted to delay popular voting in order to cling to power.

During the Cold War, the Royal Family became the target of an underground campaign launched by the communist movement. However, instead of reacting sternly, His Majesty reached out to his people and even accessed the red zones barred from local authorities.

The smear campaign failed to eclipse the King's benevolence and dissipated long before the Communist Party of Thailand collapsed.

The prevailing political predicament, which erupted during Thaksin Shinawatra's administration, has spawned the politicisation of the monarchy. Rival camps are trying to sway sentiment by involving the country's revered institution.

On the one side, a band of Thaksin supporters, anti-coup activists and anti-establishment individuals attack the monarchy for what they see as the King's meddling in politics. The pro-Thaksin camp attracts support mainly from rural people and workers.

On the other side, Thaksin's opponents, royalists, conservatives and pro-establishment individuals try to uphold the monarchy by branding their rivals as anti-royalist traitors. The anti-Thaksin camp attracts support from urbanites and professionals.

Also in the fray are individuals, who for some inexplicable reason coupled with mistaken bravado, like to post irresponsible comments on the Internet, hence the mushrooming of cyberspace graffiti on the monarchy.

Zealous agencies keep shutting down these websites, but the problem does not go away because this suppression is triggering defiance.

In a nutshell, the prevailing divisiveness over the monarchy can be attributed to the 2006 coup.

The pro-Thaksin camp launched veiled attacks blaming the King for condoning the coup. Under the red-shirt banner, the bashing of the monarchy gained momentum.

The yellow-shirt movement, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to sway the sentiment by portraying Thaksin and the red-shirt movement as conspiring to undermine the monarchy.

It even coined the phrase "lom chao", which means toppling the royalty, though the words have no legal classification or clear definition.

To this day both sides rely on hearsay to bring the King into their respective arguments. They are quick to invoke or blame the monarch to sway sentiment, even though there are no facts to back up their claims.

Meanwhile, the murky phrase manages to gag the opponents.

This does not bode well, because every monarch thrives on people's accessibility, not suppression.

How long will it take for Thais to realise that those at the top are trying to drive a wedge between them and their King for their personal gains?

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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CONTROVERSIAL CLIPS

PM orders top security for judges

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has told police to provide tighter security for Constitution Court judges because of concerns about their personal safety related to the Democrat Party dissolution trial.

"I have instructed national police chief General Wichean Potephosree to assess the security situation," he said.

Wichean has assigned officers to inspect each judge's security needs and measures were put in place last week, Abhisit said.

He pledged that his government would do everything in its power to ensure judicial independence and impartiality, free from intimidation and interference.

"Society will collapse if we cannot ensure the rule of law," the prime minister said, adding that he wanted ensure that political rivalry does not get so out of control that it harms institutions seen as the country's pillars.

In a related development, Democrat MP Wiruch Romyen said he would no longer comment on the video-clips scandal because he had already explained how he had fallen prey to a frame-up.

In one of the five clips, Wiruch was seen speaking to Pasit Sakdanarong, private secretary to Constitution Court president Chat Chonlaworn. After the scandal broke, Pasit was fired and Wiruch denied trying to lobby for his party.

"I have never thought of lobbying because I have confidence in the evidence my party has," he said, adding that he would not make any more public comments but reserved his right to testify in court. He said the matter was out of his hands now that he had filed a police complaint for defamation.

As for the Pheu Thai Party's threat to sue the Democrats for linking it to the video scandal, he said he was uncertain whether the main opposition party was making an empty threat or actually planning to litigate.

"I brace for every action taken by the opposition because facts will finally come out," he said.

He dismissed speculation that Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai had frozen his legislative career. "Chuan only reprimanded me for not heeding his warning not to meet Pasit."

Pheu Thai deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadee said a straw poll within his party indicated that the majority disapproved of the Pasit-Wiruch meeting.

Plodprasop said such a meeting was inappropriate and harmful to the judiciary, and he cast doubts as to why the two acted as though they had the mandate to negotiate a deal.

He said a lot of people could not understand the context of the remarks made by certain judges in the leaked videos.

Many were also puzzled about why the Wiruch-Pasit talks were on the same topic as that of the judges - the idea of summoning Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond as a witness - he added.

He called on either Wiruch or Pasit to step forward and explain why they were discussing ways to influence the judicial decision.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Army chief warns of arrests over lese majeste

By The Nation

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha warned yesterday that there would be a series of arrests under the lese majeste law, and those arrested shouldn't "whine" because they "should know better".

"Every time there is a gathering [of the red shirts], there are posters and graffiti [against the monarchy]. Let me inform you that we now have evidence and are in the process of making arrests. Do not whine, because we have warned you many times and you are not supposed to do that. If you did it because you didn't know better, then please go ask your parents. If your parents don't know then go ask those who are above them. From our grandparents' generation down to the present, we have been looked after by the monarchy, no matter which king.

"Thailand came into existence due to the monarchy, and we still have the monarchy institution. No matter how you want to express yourselves about democracy, do not involve the institution," Prayuth said.

When asked as to what the Army would do against those who are allegedly behind the anti-monarchist movement, Prayuth said investigation was ongoing and those not involved should not come out to retaliate. He said the world would wonder why a king who has devoted himself to his people is being criticised. Don't forget that people around the world adore the king and want to visit Thailand.

"Let me ask, how old are you? I saw that many of you are quite young," he said, referring to those who allegedly wrote the anti-monarchist messages in public areas. "Are you aware of what you are doing? You ought to reflect upon yourselves and your parents if they have benefited from the King's grace or not. If not, then there have been many others who have benefited... Those who have committed these wrongs should be punished. We have [evidence] in websites, posters and graffiti. We have all the pictures and we must see when they will be persecuted."

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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UN to be told of human trafficking

Labour activists will submit a petition to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today in a move to seek action against the exploitation of migrant workers in Thailand.

The group, including the Thai Labour Solidarity, has accused the government of turning a blind eye to human trafficking, saying the situation has become so bad that the buying and selling of humans take place on the ships that are suppose to take these workers back home.

The petition said they had sought help from the prime minister in July, but nothing has been done so far. It also condemned the government of allowing this violation to continue "in a systemic manner".

According to the group, the arrested migrants can be "repurchased" at Bt2,500 per head.

Some of the suggestions made by the group in the letter:

1. The government should invite the UN special rapporteur on human trafficking and the UN rapporteur against torture to visit Thailand and advise on how to improve the situation;

2. The government should immediately halt the extradition of illegal migrant workers until it conducts a detailed study on the violations and punishes those involved in the crime;

3. A transparent and legally fair system of registering migrant workers is needed, while legal protection of their family members should also be provided.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Princess grants boats to victims in Lop Buri

By The Nation

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday saw to it that flood victims in Lop Buri province were provided with 10 flatbottom boats, while the Emergency Medical Institute reported 41 floodrelated deaths from October 1025.

Apart from the boats, two representatives of the Princess also delivered 50 mobile toilets and 50 relief bags at the 8th Bridge in tambon Patan in Lop Buri's Muang district.

According to the Emergency Medical Institute's website, www.niems.go.th, 41 people have died in floodrelated incidents in 16 provinces, with the highest toll of eight in Lop Buri, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram at six deaths each.

In related news, the body of Suchat Thassa, 40, was discovered in a flooded rice field of Suphan Buri's Song Phi Nong district yesterday morning. His wife said he had left home on Saturday to visit his mother and never returned.

In Angthong, about 3,000 households and at least 200,000 rai (32,000 hectares) of farmland in four districts were affected, with some areas under 2 metres of water. Meanwhile, residents at Chaiyo district's tambon Chaiyaphum and Lakfa were urged to move their belongings to higher ground, as the metrehigh barrier was threatening to burst.

Besides providing funds to get relief items to victims, Angthong Governor Wisawa Sasisamith said he had assigned a committee to help out once the floods subside.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, provincial Governor Raphi Phongbuppakit yesterday confirmed that nine people had drowned in floods that affected 800,000 residents in 32 districts, damaging 1.59 million rai of farmland and causing Bt1.39 billion worth of damage to public spaces.

Flood waters in Muang district's Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality are starting to decrease, though areas around the Mool River remain critical, he said.

In Ubon Ratchathani, the Mool River has brimmed over to flood the Nakhon Ubon Ratchathani Municipality and the Muang Warin Chamrap Municipality, prompting the evacuation of 142 families.

Since floods from upstream Chaiyaphum and Khon Kaen's Ubonrat Dam are threatening to damage 50,000 rai of rice fields in Kalasin's Kamalasai district, an evacuation plan has been set to move 145 families living along the Chi River to higher ground.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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Thai farmlands wilt under flood onslaught

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Maharat hospital to go into full operation today

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital will begin offering all is medical services, apart from surgery, from today.

The hospital's acting director Dr Suwannee Tangweeraphong said the situation had improved because the level of waters around the hospital had receded from 80 centimetres to 40 centimetres.

The hospital yesterday reopened some sections, including the eye, ear, nose and throat, the paediatric, and medicine sections. The rest of the sections should resume operation by today.

However, Suwannee said, the hospital could not conduct surgery because it did not have clean water. The surgery section should start operating in the next two days.

Over the past week, the hospital's surgeons had been conducting operations at the Suranaree Military Camp Hospital.

There are some 420 inpatients still at the hospital, of whom 120 need respirators. Suwannee said the hospital had a week's worth of oxygen supply.

Only Army trucks or boats can access the hospital because the main road is still under about 50 centimetres of water.

In related news, Department of Mental Health's director general Dr Apichai Mongkol said officials had visited 5,200 flood victims in several areas across the country and discovered that about 800 people were suffering from mental health disorder, with 99 of them considering suicide.

"They should talk to others as much as possible so they can reduce stress," he said.

He added that the nearly 200 patients at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital were no longer under stress due to the flooding. The hospital continued providing medical services at its outpatient section.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit visited people living along the Bang Yai canal in Nonthaburi province.

About 54 villages in the province have been submerged, and victims suffering from chronic diseases could get to Bang Yai hospital for their medication.

"They need to receive their medication continuously," Jurin said.

He has instructed health officials to provide mobile medical services to people stuck in their homes.

Pirom Pirom, a 70yearold diabetes patient said she could not go get her medication and no healthrelated agencies had visited her during the past week. Upon hearing of her plight, Jurin sent a mobile medical team yesterday to provide her with medication.

-- The Nation 2010-10-26

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EDITORIAL

Forward-thinking urgently needed for flood relief

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Love-hate relationship between Thailand and UN needs sweetening

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UN Sec Gen Ban Ki Moon to meet PM Abhisit at 12.30PM, both to hold press conf at 2.30PM /@NationChannel24 /RT @Juarawee /via @tukky_NT

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Widespread floods in past 2 weeks claimed 42 lives,as Bangkok is on alert for possible flood as run-off water from the North coincides w/ rising tides in 1-2 days /NATION

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Bangkok on high alert as Chao Phraya overflow merges with high tides

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Floods kill 56 in Thailand

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 995.12, up 2.88 points /MCOT

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Boats, sandbags, tents, mobile toilets r in demand. Manufacturers pls contact govt flood centre. /via @tulsathit /RT @Mesapril /RT @iwhale

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Last night's 7.7 earthquake off Indonesia caused 3-meter (9.8-feet) high tsunami

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We've seen "toilet cars" many times. How about toilet boats? http://bit.ly/afAJJ9 (Thai Rath story in Thai) /via @tulsathit

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urgent - large plastic sheets needed at Dusit donation point. It's raining & some stuff cud b damaged. /via @veen_NT

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SIDELINES

From low down dirty shame to worse sinister game

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit Thailand today

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Highway robbery in Phuket

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Two more high tide flood warnings for today at 2:46 p.m. and 6:44 p.m. Not as high as this morning #thaiflood /via @RichardBarrow

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Chao Phraya River Peaks at Lower Than Expected Levels

Officials at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has revealed that the Chao Phraya River peaked this morning at 2.1 meters, 20 centimeters lower than expected. Bangkok residents living along the river banks were warned that the river would reach its highest peak at around 9:09 A.M. this morning.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-26

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Kajonkiet to open international school in Phuket

A CGI plan of the entire complex now under construction in Kathu.

A close-up CGI view of the kindergarten, which the school says

will be “very modern looking and eco-friendly".

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