Thailand Live Monday 3 Oct 2011

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Polynesian nation of Tuvalu declares state of emergency due to shortage of fresh water - AP /via@mpoppel /via@BreakingNews

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Chamber of Commerce Estimates More than 50 Billion Baht in Flood Damage

The Thai Chamber of Commerce is estimating that damage from the ongoing flooding could reach more than 50 billion baht and that it will negatively impact economic growth by 0.5 percent.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce estimates that the ongoing flooding could cause between 40 and 50 billion baht in damages and could cause the country's economic growth to shrink 0.5 percent.

The figure is higher than previous estimates of 32 billion baht and came from a survey conducted between July 25 and September 22.

Agricultural land, tourist attractions, and industrial settlements in many provinces have been badly affected.

It is expected that the impact to the economy will be greater when also taking into account overseas economic problems, and will be felt even more during the first quarter of next year.

The chamber is suggesting that the government inject 300 billion baht into the economy to compensate for damage caused to farmland, industrial facilities and tourism sites.

It is also urging the government to move ahead with its increase to the daily minimum wage and monthly salaries in order to boost domestic consumption, as well as to expedite the disbursement of monies from the village development fund for the development of 25 river basins.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-03

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Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Monday stood at 875.23, down 40.98 points, or 4.47 percent /Nation

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Dutch universities offer places for Thais

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Daily trade on Thai-Cambodian border not affected by the casino plan

BANGKOK, 3 October 2011 (NNT)-The proposed construction of an entertainment complex in Thung-Kula-Ronghai vast field in the Northeast by the Government Lottery Office is unlikely to affect daily trade at the Chong Jom border market on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Manager of the Thai-Cambodian Border Friendship Market, Mr. Pattana Chuenyong (พัฒนา ชื่นยงค์), said the market’s clients are mostly Cambodian retailers, not tourists. The proposal to build a casino in the planned Thung-Kula-Ronghai entertainment complex would not send negative impact to the market as worried publicly.

According to Mr. Pattana, most of the gamblers who usually cross the border to visit two major casinos in Cambodia through Chong Jom are Thai and foreign, mostly from China and Hong Kong. Those people seldom stop to buy anything from the market.

He reaffirmed that major customers of the border market are Cambodian retailers who buy goods in large amounts for their own shops in their country. Mr. Pattana added that tourism contributes very little to the market's economy.

-- NNT 2011-10-03

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Norwegian Telenor Plans to Open 4G Internet Networks in Malaysia

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Daruneee Kritboonyalai, a fugitive red-shirt leader, returns to Bangkok

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AFP: Thai PM takes Twitter break after account hacked

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Yingluck cancels Twitter account; PouYingluck

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Southern insurgents shoot military scout base

PATTANI, 3 October 2011 (NNT) – Southern insurgents opened fire at a military scout base in Pattani province. Local officials believed the move was a response to police’s crackdown on drug.

Police said the insurgents used M79 grenade launcher during the attack on Sunday night. Out of two bombs launched, one was a dud.

The exploded bomb caused a 30-centimeter hole at the back of the base. Fortunately, the sparks hit the tree, therefore no one was injured. After the bombing, the officials opened fire at the attackers, before they escaped into darkness.

The military scout base was attacked three months ago, with no injuries. Authorities believed the group was linked to a local drug group, who was infuriated by the police’s crackdown on drug.

-- NNT 2011-10-03

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Poll: Thai economy likely to see a downward trend

BANGKOK 3 October, 2011 (NNT) - Economic experts from leading institutions believe that the country’s economy is seeing a downward trend in the near future, according to Bangkok University’s research center.

The Bangkok University poll, conducted during 26-30 September, found that Thai economic index in the next three months would stay at 47.46, down from the previous forecast of 62.11 in July.

In the opinions of the respondents who were leading economists, the slowdown in the private sector’s consumption and investment, export, and tourism are major factors contributing to the downward forecast. Only the public sector’s spending and investment is believed to pick up during the next three months.

As for the next six months, the respondents predicted that the economic index would further slip to 45.14. However, domestic factors including consumption and investment in both the public and the private sectors are likely to pick up. Meanwhile, export and foreign tourist arrivals are likely to drop.

Despite the fall of economic forecast, the country’s economic status index is predicted at 53.95, indicating that the country’s economic status is still robust. The public sector’s spending and investment, exports and tourism remain a major boost to the country’s economy while the private sector’s spending and investments are found to weaken.

-- NNT 2011-10-03

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FLOODS

Phichit areas organise boat race to relieve stress

The Nation

Lampang airport closes

Residents of a precinct in Phichit's Muang district organised a boat race on Monday in an attempt to alleviate stress levels after suffering from flooding for almost two months.

Competitors took part in the plastic boats they pressed into service during the flooding.

About 30 boats belonging to villagers in Pakthang precinct joined the race, which was held in a flooded area near the Pichit-Sak Lek Road. The water is currently about two metres deep.

The race was full of laughter and joy. The residents took the opportunity to meet up again after the floods had prevented them from seeing much of each other.

The organisers said the race was held in an attempt to relieve stress, as the precinct has been under water for almost two months.

Meanwhile, the airport authorities in Lampang province suspended all flights after flash floods inundated the airport compound and runways.

The 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. The return flight from Lampang was cancelled.

The authority has ordered the suspension of all flights today.

Dozens of houses in the province's Muang municipality are under water after heavy rains hit the area last night. The rain also caused a 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 to prepare for possible evacuation. Many main roads in the province are also under water.

Some residents were seen destroying their fences to pave the ways for floodwater in an attempt to drain the water out of the area.

-- The Nation 2011-10-03

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Marine Department bans vessels plying Chao Phraya, Pasak rivers in Ayutthaya to prevent wave damage to embankments /MCOT

19 northbound trains suspended Monday /MCOT

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Planes Unable to Land As Flood Increases

Lampang Airport is now flooded with more than one meter of water, preventing planes from landing on the runway.

Passengers have been diverted to Sukhothai Airport instead.

The flood situation in Lampang Province is still critical due to continued run-off from the Doi Prabath mountain, which has caused water-levels in Lampang Municipality to rise continuously.

The latest reports say that the runways at Lampang Airport are now flooded with one meter of water.

The flooding has made it impossible for 9 A.M. flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to land.

The flights have been diverted to land at Sukhothai Airport instead.

A complete assessmentof flood damage is still in progress.

Director-General of Royal Irrigation Department Chalit Dumrongsak disclosed that with regards to making repairs to the Bang Chom Sri Dam, it is still a work in progress.

Construction workers were working on it all of last night even though it was raining.

The adjustments are expected to be competed within ten days.

However, there are still many considerations and time is still needed before they can say for certain what impact it will have on residents.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-03

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Domestic floods-related death toll over past 2 months rose to 212. 25 provinces remain submerged /via@veen_NT

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65-year-old man washed away by flash flood in Lampang

The Nation

Lampang

A 65-year-old man was washed away and went missing while he was struggling to cross an inundated road in Lampang Monday morning.

Paitoon Phothong, mayor of Muang Lampang Municipality, said Muen Jainoi was trying to cross the road in Ban Kluay Klang village when he was swept away by the tide of the flash flood.

Paitoon said the man was pulling along his bicycle.

His body has yet to be located.

-- The Nation 2011-10-03

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88-year-old man drowns in Lampang flash flood

The Nation

Lampang

An 88-year-old man drowned when his village in Lampang was hit by flash flood early Monday morning, officials said.

The man was identified as Tui Sri-inkaew, a resident of Kluayluang village in Tambon Kluayphae in Muang district.

Paitoon Phothong, the mayor Muang Lampang Municipality, said the flash flood hit the village at 3 am.

The man drowned because he was sleeping downstairs.

-- The Nation 2011-10-03

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Phuket downpours prompt weather warning

The Southern Meteorological Center at Phuket Airport forecasts

more widespread thundershowers to come.

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Opposition Leader Abhisit Hits Back at Pheu Thai Spokesman

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Govt Urged to Probe Alleged Flood Aid Fraud

The Democrat Party leader calls on the government to urgently investigate alleged corruption in flood aid.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged the Pheu Thai-led government to urgently help flood victims in remote areas where aid efforts are slow and take serious action against those found guilty of skimming off aid for flood victims.

As for petitions about the unfair release of water that caused flooding in many areas, especially in Suphan Buri Province, Abhisit said similar complaints were filed during his administration as well.

He has assigned Democrat Petchaburi MP Alongkorn Polbutr to look into the matter.

The Opposition leader noted that foreign countries are waiting for details of the rice pledging program, promised to be reinstated by the government on October 7 as it could be considered a violation of the World Trade Organization's restrictions.

Abhisit stated that his administration decided to cancel the scheme because it creates a distortion in the price of rice on the world market.

He added he personally believes that the government's attempt to bring back the scheme is aimed primarily for political gain.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-03

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Thai inflation slows on falling fuel costs

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Police check bars and other entertainment venues in East Pattaya

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Frenchman attacked and robbed by transsexuals on Pattaya Beach

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SET index closed at 869.31, down 46.90; Bt/USD31.15; GBP48.34; AUD29.94; EUR41.51; CAD29.58; HKD3.99; SGD23.63; JPY40.22

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Chalerm to push forward with tougher anti-drug measures

BANGKOK 3 October, 2011 (NNT) – In another move to stem the spread of narcotics-related crime, Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung has planned to apply a new stringent measure which will force rogue authorities to bear harsher consequences.

Speaking after a meeting with the Justice Minister, the Deputy PM revealed that all drug addicts would be ordered to undergo rehabilitation treatment regardless of whether they were willing or not. The scheme will be applied to drug-abusing inmates who represent as much as 60 percent of the 200,000 inmates on the verge of being released.

Mr Chalerm, who admits that some authorities are involved in drug trade, added that rogue authorities, if caught, would be dismissed, have their property seized, and jailed.

The deputy PM plans to meet the Narcotics Control Board to discuss ways to bring drug kingpins to justice.

-- NNT 2011-10-03

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Tak Set for Flood Evacuation

The Tak governor has been preparing to evacuate local residents due to water in the Bhumibol Dam reaching 95 percent of capacity.

The dam needs to discharge up to 52 million cubic meters of water soon.

Tak Governor Samart Loyfah has ordered Sam Ngao District authorities, rescue teams and the Ban Na Subdistrict Adminstration Organization in Tak Province to prepare boats and safe places in order to evacuate local residents.

The water level has been rising and flooding homes, particularly at Ban Hin Lad, Ban Na Hai, Ban Oom Wap and Ban San Pa Puay, located next to the Bhumibol Dam.

The current water held in the dam has reached 257 million cubic meters while the maximum water capacity is only at 260 million cubic meters.

Dam officials said about 45 to 52 million cubic meters need to be discharged from the dam soon.

Meanwhile, a total of 94 million cubic meters of water from the Wang and Ping rivers are expected to flow into the Chao Phraya River through Kampaengphet Province.

Communities along the Ping River banks and the municipal area of Kampaengphet will see flooding.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-03

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AFP: Aid Group MSF Quits Thailand Over 'Govt Interference'

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Bangkok under flash flood risk from Oct 16-17

The Nation

Bangkok remains under flash flood risk from now to October 1617 when the seasonal peak tide is expected, Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut warned Monday.

The high tides will also likely flood many central provinces in the Chao Phaya basin further while flood drainage at major water gateways is underway at highest capacity, he said.

Coming Storm Nal Kae is expected to cause heavy downpours throughout Thailand but light rain in the Central, which would not heavily increase flood water volume in the area which should ease the situation in Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-10-03

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to continue

Thailand Live Tuesday 4 Oct 2011

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