Thailand Live Wednesday 3 Nov 2010

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Thailand Live Wednesday 3 November 2010

News, Bits and Tweets

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Related topic: Thailand Live Tuesday 2 Nov 2010

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Tax Break to Be Granted for Flood Donations

The Revenue Department is granting a tax break for both residents and organizations that make donations to victims of the severe flooding.

It also believes that the current crisis will not affect the revenue target in fiscal year 2011.

Revenue Department Director General Satit Rungkasiri said the Cabinet has approved the proposed tax break for flood donations.

The proposal was made by the Revenue Department.

Satit said cash donations for flood victims through any private and public organization by either individuals or companies will be eligible for tax deduction.

He added that goods purchased for donations will be VAT free.

For corporate recipients of donations, items or cash collected through this program will also be exempt from income tax calculation in the current calendar year, which ends on December 31, 2010.

When asked about the impact on revenue collection, Satit said the current flood crisis will likely have only a short term effect on the department’s operations and tax target in 2011.

He believes that after the situation resolves, local economic activities will resume and return to normal in no time.

In October, which is the first month of the government’s fiscal year, the Revenue Department’s tax collection is approximately 7 percent higher than last year.

He is confident that the tax collection target of 1.3 trillion baht for fiscal 2011 will be achieved.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-03

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Inflation rate is still stable despite flooding

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The recent flood has not had impact on the nation's inflation rate, as there are still continuous flows of agricultural products into the markets. However, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) has warned that inflation rate might go up next year.

Consumer price Index rose 2.8% in October year-on-year; however, it was down by 0.03% when compared to September's.The index decrease was attributed to the lower prices of agricultural products such as pork, eggs, and fresh vegetables.

Commerce Permanent secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said floods in several provinces in October did not cause much change in inflation rate, given October is usually the month agro-products flooded the markets. The impact of the flood, if any, would likely be seen next month. The Commerce Ministry expects inflation rate to be around 3-3.5% for the whole 2010.

-- NNT 2010-11-03

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Floods likely to cost Bt50 bln loss to Thai economy: FTI

BANGKOK: -- The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) on Tuesday estimated that the nationwide floods were likely to cause Bt50 billion (around US$1.6 billion) in damage to this year’s Thai economy and could affect exports of goods produced in the South.

FTI Chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said the overall 2010 Thai economy is projected to lose some US$1.6 billion owing to the impact of the widespread inundation in the northern, northeastern and southern regions.

Meanwhile, cost of damage from the ongoing floods in the South currently remains unable to be assessed.

However, the FTI forecast that the floods would impact exports of processed foods, rubber, and palm oil produced in the South.

Mr Payungsak explained that the delivery and exports of food products may be delayed as this period is a time when customers will have their orders and high demands.

Although the country is affected by the severe inundation countrywide, the industrial-related agency is confident that the consumer goods would be enough for the domestic demands as well as no companies would raise the goods’ prices at this time despite high demands.

In related developments, the FTI will discuss with business operators in the fields of automobiles, auto parts, construction equipment, machines, medicines and spare parts to help flood victims after the situation returns to normal.

The measure, expected to be concluded this week, included discount for fixing cars damaged by the flood by about 30 per cent, the FTI chairman said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-03

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FLASH FLOODS

Hat Yai emergency overwhelms flood relief efforts

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SOUTH'S FLASH FLOODS

Residents in shock

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RELIEF OPERATIONS

Navy's big ships join flood rescue operations

By The Nation

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BURNING ISSUE

Faction fights wrack Pheu Thai Party

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CONTROVERSIAL COURT CLIPS

Former judge refuses to comment on video clip

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EDITORIAL

Insular attitude will not end political conflict in Thailand's south

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Their Majesties grant Bt5 million to buy relief items

By The Nation

With many regions still suffering from floods and the cold snap, Their Majesties the King and Queen yesterday graciously presented Bt5 million to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to buy flashlights, food, bottled water and other daily necessities for people affected in various areas.

Temperatures have plunged in the North, Northeast and Central regions, adding to the agony of flood victims.

Angthong Governor Wisawa Sasisamit said Her Majesty ensured that the Saiyairak Haeng Krobkrua Foundation under HRH Crown Prince's patronage used its mobile kitchen to cook food for flood victims in Pa Mok district's Tambon Phong Pheng.

The Princess Pa Foundation also set up a mobile kitchen in Muang district's Tambon Jampalor and distributed 772 relief kits and 2,000 bottles of water.

Public and private sector organisations brought cash donations and consumer items to assist the victims.

Today the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation will hand out supplies to 422 families in Angthong's Muang district and 578 families in Chaiya district, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-03

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Bt6 bn granted for tsunami master plan

By The Nation

CABINET YESTERDAY approved a Bt6-billion budget for a tsunami management master plan, dispersed through a tied-over budget allocation during the next three years.

The first Bt2.019 billion will be allocated from next year's budget with the remainder from budgets in the following two years. The request was made by the National Disaster Warning System Commission.

The master plan involves 81 government agencies and four minor plans: preventive measures and reduction of flood effects; pre-flooding measures; management of emergency relief assistance; and post-flooding restoration.

In yesterday's meeting, the Interior Ministry submitted a request for Bt3.16 billion in post-flooding assistance from next year's budget. The fixed payments are Bt5,000 for each of 89,309 households whose belongings were damaged by flood, and/or 542,979 households living in stagnant floodwater for more than seven days.

-- The Nation 2010-11-03

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Two-thirds of school in the south affected by floods

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Naval officer shot in head in Bangkok drive-by shooting

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Southern villages bear the brunt of massive flooding

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PHREA VIHEAR DISPUTE

PAD appeased as panel set to examine border issue

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

The nationalist People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday won a minor victory over Abhisit Vejjajiva’s government on the controversial boundary issue with Cambodia.

Parliament decided to set up a joint committee within 30 days, between the Senate and Lower House, to study minutes of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Committee.

A tactic Abhisit employed to relieve pressure from the PAD protest will further delay negotiations on the boundary dispute, meaning more time lost since the JBC’s last meeting in April last year.

As the PAD threatened to hold a lengthy demonstration, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya" a major supporter of the yellow-shirt PAD" proposed that Parliament set up a 30-member joint committee between the two legislative bodies.

The decision was made behind the scenes as the government reached a deal with PAD protesters before the Parliament session, which initially intended to vote for JBC document approval, a source said.

The PAD accused the government of losing territory in the areas adjacent to Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple if it allowed the JBC to continue its work in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed in 2000.

Conservative Senator Khamnoon Sithisamarn said in Parliament yesterday that demarcation of the boundary with Cambodia in the areas near the temple was unnecessary, as the task had already been done more than a century ago between Thailand" then known as Siam" and French Indochina.

The watershed in the Dangrek mountain range is the natural boundary line between the two countries, he said, referring to the France-Siam treaties signed in 1904 and 1907.

The 2000 MOU, signed during the Democrat-led government under the Chuan Leekpai administration, made a mistake by recognising the French-made map scale 1:200000, which indicates a boundary line different from the treaties, he said.

The map was a basic document used by the International Court of Justice in its judgement ruling the Hindu temple was situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia.

The senator urged Abhisit to scrap the MOU and dismiss the JBC negotiation.

Abhisit defended the government’s position saying the MOU would not cause a loss of territory but was an effective legal instrument to prevent Cambodia from claiming Thai soil.

Thousands of PAD protesters gathered in front of the Parliament compound yesterday morning before the session. Their leaders threatened to begin a crusade against Abhisit’s government over the boundary issue if Parliament voted to approve the JBC’s documents yesterday.

PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang ordered the end of the protest after the Parliament session, but another faction under extremist Veera Somkwamkid stayed on.

Abhisit admitted later that negotiations on the boundary would be delayed by the parliamentary process and he begged Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen for an understanding of Thailand’s internal politics.

-- The Nation 2010-11-03

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Thai Constitution Court has little time left to restore its credibility

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Phuket donations sought for flood victims nationwide

A scene from Nathawee District in Songkhla Province, which is

experiencing its worst flooding in 40 years.

Another image showing the depth of the water on streets in Nathawee District.

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Flood situation in Hat Yai still critical,but water level has receded slightly. Death tolls in Hat Yai at 8. Authorities expect 2-3 days to pump out water and restore electricity /The Nation

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Chumphon hit by heavy rain, flash floods in Lamae and Phato districts; Authorities rush to help stranded residents /MCOT

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Hat Yai critical amid deep flood, eight reported dead; Flash flood in Nakhon Si Thammarat, many southern provinces inundated /MCOT

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8.20am -Surat Thani airport opens today so as Samui Ferry Pier. It's been raining since last night. /via @js100radio /via @veen_NT

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(9am) Flash flood in Chumporn and many stranded - need boat to help evacuate ppl. /TR @daruneekarn /via @MrNaling cc @floodcenter /via @veen_NT

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South Thailand Floods Reports - LIVE updates Wednesday

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Scary..Picture taken from Indian satellite (8am): http://yfrog.com/2pwxlaj /RT @MrNaling @Fringer @MrVop #Thaiflood /via @tuckky_NT

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Big delays on BTS Silom line. Picture shows passengers at BTS Ratchadamri http://plixi.com/p/54644279 /via @yokekung /via@RichardBarrow

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Due to heavy rain, all flight to/from Samui Airport are suspended. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. /via @Bangkok_Airways

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Chumporn Province Hit with 2 Meter High Floods

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,014, up 8.48 points /MCOT

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Thai Airways has canceled all flights to and from Samui. The service may resume at 2pm. Call hotline 1556 /TR @Pat_TVThai #thaiflood /via@tukky_nt