Thailand Live Monday 3 Oct 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 3 October 2011

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 Saturday 1 Oc 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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SOCIAL NETWORKING

Hacker of PM's twitter account 'identified'

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PM Yingluck's Twitter Account Hacked!

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English programmes face lack of teachers: Thai eduction

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Former Thai PM Anand fears poor understanding of democracy opens way to tyranny

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Residents in the North warned to prepare for evacuation

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ICT Ministry spokesman eyes future in politics

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Civil servants' Bt18.8-bn salary overhaul goes to Thai Cabinet

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BUSINESS

French firms adjust wage

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

French companies in Thailand plan to adjust their employees' daily minimum wage to Bt300 in line with the government's policy to boost domestic spending.

Many French companies here have already increased the minimum wage to Bt300, and the rest have committed to do so next year.

In a recent meeting, French Ambassador to Thailand Gildas Le Lidec told Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong that about 400 French companies, which employ more than 100,000 Thais, plan to pay a minimum wage of Bt300 in accordance with the government's policy. "The ambassador said that French firms already pay their workers well. They are ready to pay more, believing this will boost spending and benefit the country's growth, Kittiratt said.

Paris has urged the Thai government to start bilateral talks with the European Union (EU) in order to boost trade and investment between the two markets.

Kittiratt said the Thai government would carefully consider the issue, as a free-trade agreement (FTA) would have both positive and negative impacts for Thai industries.

Thailand was invited to start bilateral trade talks with the EU a couple of years ago after negotiations on an Asean-EU FTA collapsed over differences of opinion among Asean members. The EU then sought bilateral talks with certain countries in Asean, including Thailand, seeing potential to strengthen trade and investment growth.

A draft negotiation plan between Thailand and the EU is being considered by the Trade Negotiation Department involving many areas, including intellectual property rights, human rights and trade barriers. The department plans to propose the draft plan to the Cabinet in the near future, and eventually for Parliament's endorsement.

-- The Nation 2011-10-03

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Thai Govt should have tackled flood crisis earlier: experts

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Thai 3G Plan Could Be Derailed by 'Conspiracy', Wichian Says

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North, Northeast, East and Southwest to see heavy rain; BKK will see some rain /TAN_Network

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The dangers of cultural and historical ignorance: Thai opinion

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Heavy rain in Chiang Mai, streets inundated, traffic snarls; landslide in Lampang blocks road to Phrae /MCOT

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Wildlife officials to keep a close watch on Chatuchak Market

BANGKOK 3 October, 2011 (NNT) - The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has stepped up its anti-wildlife trade efforts. Aside from intercepting animal smuggling at border areas, a special body will set up to watch out for wildlife trade in the capital.

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department chief Damrong Pidej revealed that he had assigned officials to inspect pet shops in Chatuchak Market to look out for wildlife traders. An office has been set up so that they can monitor the activity in the area more closely. The officials will work on a daily basis.

According to the department deputy chief Theerapat Prayoonsit, the move came after complaints of blatant sales of wild animals in Chatuchak Market where protected species such as flying squirrels, woodpeckers, and slow Loris are offered at high prices.

The assigned authorities have the right to arrest those involved in the activity. Buyers of wild animals face a jail term of up to three years or a fine of 30,000 THB or both.

-- NNT 2011-10-03

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Justice Ministry plans to set up justice center

BANGKOK 3 October, 2011 (NNT) - The Justice Ministry is planning to request a budget of 70 million THB from the cabinet to set up a new center to help people affected by unfair treatments.

A source from the Justice Ministry revealed that the center would focus on those having problems related to land disputes, loan sharks and court convictions.

With regard to land dispute, the center and related agencies, such as the Land Department, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and the Forestry Department will sign an MOU to work out a map for the Department of Special Investigation.

The DSI map and satellite pictures will be used to locate areas belonging to the national parks and land allotted to farmers by the So Po Ko land reform committee. The map is expected to help authorities prevent further national park encroachment and make sure that So Po Ko land serves the right purpose.

For those with debt problems, a legal advisory team will be provided to give legal knowledge and assistance to those falling victim to loan sharks.

In the case of those facing criminal punishments, well-behaved prisoners may be allowed a parole so that they could have a chance to redeem themselves. A special committee will be appointed to select the first 200 inmates recommended by the Corrections Department to join the program. The scheme is expected to relieve overcrowding of prisons.

-- NNT 2011-10-03

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HRH Princess Sirindhorn bestows 500 sets of necessity bags for flood victims in Fang, Chiang Mai /TAN_Network

Ayutthaya governor inspects flooding at ancient ruins after a sand barricade failed to keep out floodwaters /TAN_Network

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Zimbabwe's Mugabe returns to Singapore for medical treatment

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Lampang Airport closed due to 1m of floodwater on runway /TAN_Network

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 882.24, down 33.97 points /MCOT

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Opposition Has Plot to Overthrow Yingluck Govt: Pheu Thai Spokesperson

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Heavy rains return Northern provinces to critical flood-stage

CHIANG MAI, Oct 3 – Flooding in northern Thailand is critical again after heavy overnight rains caused land and rock slides to block roads in Lampang and elsewhere.

Rescue workers also directed traffic after slides blocked the Lampang-Phrae road at Ban Pha Lad, eight kilometers from the Lampang provincial seat, leaving only one lane passable for inbound and outbound traffic.

The Lampang-Phayao road at Ban Dong subdistrict office in Mae Mo was hit by landslide while the municipality was flooded with forest runoff.

Many routes including the Chiang Mai-Hot, Chiang Mai-Mae Sariang (Mae Hong Son) were flooded as the water level on the roads continued to rise, with the strong currents making the roads inaccessible to all kinds of vehicles.

Tourists and residents alike were stranded at Hot in Chiang Mai, with hundreds of vehicles unable to move along roads that were underwater.

In the central province of Pathum Thani, flooding remains critical, with the Mon community at Chiang Rak Noi subdistict under two metres of floodwater. The authorities cautioned residents that the floods could continue for at least three months.

The Pathum Thani Provincial Adminstration Organisation strengthened its temporary dyke with 80 cm to 140 cm of added earth as the water level in the Chao Phraya River is still high and shows no sign of receding. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-03

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Flood at Lampang airport closes runway, forces Lampang-BKK flight cancellation; Bangkok-Lampang flight diverted, lands at Chiang Mai /MCOT

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Russian grandmother kills self after dogs maul baby to death

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Tourist Arrivals to Fall Short of Target Due to Flooding

The Tourism and Sports Ministry expects fewer tourist arrivals than was originally foretasted as a result of the ongoing flooding.

It is currently in talks with the Finance Ministry about providing assistance to tourism operators that have been affected by floods.

Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Suwat Sitthilor said that this year's flooding is worse than in any other year and that news of the floods could dampen the confidence of foreign tourists during the last three months of the year.

He expects the number of tourist arrivals to grow from last year's15.9 million to around 17.5 million this year, which is less than the Tourism Authority of Thailand's original annual estimate of around 18 to 18.3 million visitors.

The permanent secretary added that his ministry still maintains their original projection of 650 to 750 billion baht in revenue generated by tourism, compared with last year's 590 billion baht.

Suwat said the ministry has instructed the tourism authority to target high-income tourists who have not been affected by the economic problems in Europe, as well tourists from China, India and the Middle East.

He added that it is equally important to encourage them to stay in the Kingdom longer.

Suwat went on to say that his ministry will work with the Finance Ministry to provide assistance to flood victims as there has been a proposal by the private sector that one-billion-baht in loans be offered to affected operators.

Earlier, the Federation of Thai Tourism Spokesperson Charoen Wangananont proposed that the Tourism and Sports Ministry allocate a special budget to boost tourism during the end of the year by increasing the number of festival locations for Loi Krathong celebrations and expanding existing ones.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-03

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Former PM Suggests Yingluck to Urgently Resolve Flood Crisis

A former prime minister said Yingluck has made no substantial contribution to solving the flood crisis, and noted that the latest crisis proves that a long-term flood prevention strategy is badly needed.

Former Prime Minister, General Chavalit Yongjaiyuth criticized the approach Prime Minter Yingluck Shinawatra has taken to solve the flood crisis nationwide and rediculed governors for posing for photos riding in boats with relief bags, saying that this is not a substantial contribution.

He went on to say that it is also unnecessary for Yingluck to travel around to flooded areas, since civil workers are doing already doing the best they can in all flooded areas.

Sufficient budgets are the only concern in each affected area.

Chavalit said that Yingluck should focus on how to resolve the flood crisis in the long-term.

He suggested that Yingluck assess and modify all previously implemented projects, including short-, medium-, and long-term flood prevention measures.

He further suggested that Yingluck provide direct benefits to residents, especially in the agricultural sector, and as it affects the country's overall economy, resulting in losses of several hundred billion baht each year due to the inundation.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-03

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Fugitive Red-shirt Member to Report to Police Today

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FLOODS

Flights to and from Lampang suspended

Airport authority in Lampang province on Monday suspended all flights after flash flood inundated the airport compound and runways.

Pilots of a flight from Bangkok to the province, scheduled to land at 9am, were informed to divert and land in Chiang Mai instead because the runways were under water. Therefore, the flight from Lampang to Bangkok was cancelled accordingly.

The authority then ordered the suspension of all flights today.

Meanwhile dozens of houses in the Muang municipality of the province are under water after heavy rains hit the areas last night. The rain also caused landslide in Kiew Prachao area on Lampang - Denchai Road this morning. Officials are now using bulldozers to clear the way.

Local residents were told to move their belongings to higher ground and possibly to prepare for evacuation. Many main roads of the province are also under water

Some residents were seen destroying their fences to pave ways for flooding water in their attempt to drain the water out of the areas.

-- The Nation 2011-10-03

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State Railway announces that the northern rail service will run only to Lop Buri due to flooding of rail tracks;call 1690 24h for info /TAN_Network