Thailand Live Saturday 8 Oct 2011

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Thailand Live Saturday 8 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 Friday 7 Oct 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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BMA takes steps to stop flooding in east Bangkok

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Workers remind Thai govt of Bt300 pledge

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RICE PLEDGING

Farmers unsure of benefits from Thai govt scheme; rising costs a worry

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FLOOD CRISIS

Focus on flooding, HM advises

The Nation

His Majesty the King wants celebrations for his upcoming birthday to be kept simple, as his subjects are suffering from severe flooding, HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana said yesterday.

His Majesty will turn 84 on December 5.

"He is concerned about the situation and is always providing advice to relevant authorities on how to solve the flooding," the princess said. She added that his advanced age and illness stopped the much-beloved monarch from visiting his suffering subjects.

-- The Nation 2011-10-08

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Sense of urgency must turn into action: Thai comment

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Woman gets 20 years for fraud

The Nation

A woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison yesterday for duping people of more than Bt20 million for Blythe dolls that she never delivered.

The Criminal Court also ordered Sarinya Choo-iam, 26, to return the Bt20,406,748 that she had taken from 73 victims. She was initially handed a 146-year prison term, but it was cut to 20 years because of a legal technicality.

The 20-year term includes the four months she was given for operating a direct-sale business without registration. Sarinya had posted an online advertisement claiming she could sell the expensive dolls at lower prices.

-- The Nation 2011-10-08

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Drug abuse is a social problem, not only criminal: Thai opinion

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FLOOD CRISIS

Honda to resume production in Ayutthaya

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation

Honda Automobile (Thailand) vows to resume its production in Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya province, as soon as possible, said executive vice president Pitak Pruittisarikorn.

Rojana Industrial Park, where Honda's assembly plant is located, is still safe from the flooding that has ravaged much of the province, but the company had to halt production temporarily on Wednesday because its suppliers could not ship parts to the plant.

"We are constantly evaluating the flood situation. We will resume normal operations as soon as possible," Pitak said.

Honda has moved about 4,000 assembled cars to a safe place, he added.

The Honda facility, which has production capacity of 240,000 units per year, employs about 6,000 workers. The company is likely to have an update on the situation on Monday.

Amara Charoengitwattanagun, independent director of Rojana Industrial Park, said the park had not closed as advised by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), but had told its clients to consider the flooding situation and make their own decision on maintaining operations. Some of them have announced production suspensions, but others are still running their plants as usual.

She said it was too soon to think about how the flooding has affected the confidence of investors dealing with Rojana, as the situation had been serious for only a few days. Besides, the investors will consider many factors before making a decision and think for the long term.

The IEAT has urged all industrial estates in Ayutthaya province to suspend operations to prepare for more flooding expected next week.

Asia Plus Securities said it had surveyed four industrial-estate operators, namely Amata Corporation, Hemaraj Land and Development, Rojana Industrial Park and Ticon Industrial Connection. The broker said Rojana seemed to be the most affected by flooding in Ayutthaya.

One of its industrial parks is in the province's Uthai district. It accounts for 75 per cent of the company's total industrial-park area of 10,000 rai (1,600 hectares). Rojana is building a soil wall to a height of 7.5 metres, up from the 6.5 metres currently, to deal with the flood, which is expected to be as high as 6 metres.

Revenue from this industrial park accounts for 56 per cent of Rojana's total revenue, Asia Plus Securities said.

Ticon, which operates warehouses for rent and factories for lease, also does business in Ayutthaya province. Factories on lease in three industrial estates - Rojana, Hi-Tech and Bang Pa-in - in the province account for 40 per cent of the company's total factory area of 550,000 square metres. None of those estates has been hit by the flood so far. Ticon Logistics Park in Rojana and Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district is so far safe from the flood as well.

"The industrial area in Ayutthaya province will be less attractive for investors. If flooding occurs every year, investors may consider moving their manufacturing facilities to safer places," Asia Plus said.

The broker said it was likely to lower its forecast for operating results of Rojana and Ticon based on the possible impact from the flooding.

Total car production in Thailand is expected to be maintained at the earlier target of 1.8 million units this year despite the massive flooding, which has hit many provinces throughout the Kingdom, said Piengjai Keawsuwan, president of the Thai Automotive Industry Association. She said many carmakers had made urgent plans for a quick recovery after the flooding is over to cash in on the high sales season in the current fourth quarter.

"There are many months until the end of this year and I believe that all car manufacturers as well as dealers will adjust very quickly to the situation," said Piengjai, who is also a chief of Nissan Motor (Thailand).

She said the number of overall car sales domestically was expected to reach the target of 950,000 units this year.

-- The Nation 2011-10-08

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PAD all set to fight Thaksin's return

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Pattani villagers plead with troops to stay

Nakarin Chinworakomol,

Narong Nuansakul,

Pares Lohasan

THE NATION

Residents of three villages in the deep South province of Pattani gathered in front of a military camp in neighbouring Yala province yesterday to demand that the military drop its plan to pull out a unit of troops providing security in their area.

Some 200 people from the villages in Pattani's Panare district lodged a petition with Fourth Army Region Commander Udomchai Thamsarorat urging him to continue posting a unit of rangers at Wat Mahingsaram school in the district.

Villager Kriang Promchan said residents of Ban Yai village had been told that the troops would be removed. The villagers need the soldiers' protection and want the authorities to review the decision, Kriang said.

Jintana Pakrak, another villager, said residents of the three villages have felt unsafe since learning that authorities planned to move the troops out of the area.

A group of about 10 people led by Sil Tanthapong, chief of Kok Krabue Tambon Administrative Organisation, held a brief meeting with Attadej Mathanom, deputy chief of staff of the Internal Security Operation Command's Fourth Region, in an effort to come to some sort of security arrangement. They were unable to reach a clear solution, however, and the villagers agreed to return home after the meeting.

Violence has become a near-daily occurrence in the deep South since January 2004, killing about 5,000 people since then. Most of the victims have been civilians, including many teachers.

The latest attack on teachers took place Thursday in Narathiwat's Yi-ngor district, when gunmen killed Waroon Thong-eiad, assistant director of Romklao School, and injured her husband, school director Sakul Thong-eiad.

Boonsom Thongsriplai, chairperson of the Teacher Federation in the three southernmost provinces, said educators feel vulnerable after sustaining terrible losses this year. Since January 2004, 148 teachers have been killed, he said. He urged the authorities to do more to protect teachers.

-- The Nation 2011-10-08

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Bangkok flood measures outlined on Sukhumbhand Paribatra's Facebook page

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Central, East, BKK and its vicinity and Upper South to see rain throughout with heavy rain in some areas /

Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani see embankment collapse in several areas; Uthai Thani's downtown flooded; BKK sees flooding in many areas /

/TAN_Network

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Flood war room set to swing into action

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Thailand Floods Reach Crisis Level, Threaten Bangkok, Prime Minister Says

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AFP: Bangkok's neighbours shoulder flood burden

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Flooding at Ratchada-Lardprao intersection, Paholyothin Rd, Kaset intersection, Ngamwongwan Rd; motorists urged to avoid

PM assures water drainage out to sea is being speeded up while stagnant floodwater is being treated during weekly radio show

/TAN_Network

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Former Beatle Paul McCartney will wed for the third time on Sunday

Former Beatle Paul McCartney will wed for the third time on Sunday when he and New York heiress Nancy Shevell are married in civil ceremony in London

-- TNA 2011-10-08

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Driving Through The Floods: Official resources for checking current road conditions

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11 NBTC members endorsed by HM the King

BANGKOK, 8 October 2011 (NNT) – His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has royally endorsed 11 individuals as members of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

A royal command has been issued by His Majesty the King, approving the appointment of the 11 NBTC commissioners, who were selected by the Senate on 5 September. The commission is scheduled to convene its first meeting on 10 October at the NBTC office.

The 11 commissioners consist of Air Chief Marshal Thares Punsri as chairman, Colonel Natee Sukolrat and Colonel Settapong Malisuwan as deputy chairmen, Lieutenant General Peerapong Manakit, Mr Suthipol Thaweechaikarn, Police Colonel Thaweesak Ngamsanga, Mr Prasert Silpipat, Mr Thawatchai Jittrapanun, Ms Supinya Klangnarong, Mr Prawit Leesathapornwongsa and General Sukit Khamasunthorn.

-- NNT 2011-10-08

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Sirikit Dam to release less water until 10 Oct

BANGKOK, 8 October 2011 (NNT) – The amount of water being released from Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit province will be reduced by 5 million cubic meters per day until 10 October in a bid to alleviate the current flooding in areas downstream.

According to Assistant Governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)’s Hydro Power Plant Kitti Tancharoen, EGAT and the Royal Irrigation Department have reached an agreement to decrease the volume of water flowing out of Sirikit Dam each day from 60 million cubic meters to 55 million. The reduction will be imposed from today until 10 October with an aim to relieve people in inundated areas below the dam of further hardship.

The decision was made upon the discovery of a decline in the amount of incoming water at Sirikit Dam; it was measured at 42 million cubic meters per day on 6 October, down from 58 million cubic meters on the previous day. The remaining capacity of the dam now stands at 101 million cubic meters.

If the water input to Sirikit Dam continues to lessen, Mr Kitti stated that EGAT would further reduce the output accordingly.

-- NNT 2011-10-08

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HM the King wishes for modest celebrations of his 84th birthday anniversary

RAYONG, 8 October 2011 (NNT)-Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn says that she has got a communication from the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary, saying that His Majesty wishes for modest celebrations of his 84th birthday anniversary, as the Thai people are suffering from natural disaster.

Speaking to members of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother’s Volunteer Doctor Foundation on her visit to the volunteer units and the people in Ban Chang district, Rayong province, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn affirmed His Majesty’s keen interest in the people’s welfare, although he had been hospitalized due to his ailment and advanced age.

The Princess thus asked all volunteer doctors to contribute to His Majesty’s 84th birthday anniversary, 5 December 2011, by wholeheartedly serve the people, the subject of His Majesty’s concerns.

-- NNT 2011-10-08

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(11.30am) Flood-related free parking at Don Muang has reached full capacity. (via @worawisut) /via@veen_NT

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17 Bangkok locations submerged after heavy rain overnight

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Phuket officials 'helpless' in bypass road landslide threat

Rassada Mayor Suratin Lianudom said he fears that any more rain

could trigger a large landslide on the bypass road.

Business owner Adisak Lertchuwongsa has been forced to close

shop due to the landslide threat.

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Vocational students will be recruited to help repair electrical appliance in flood affected zones

BANGKOK, 8 October 2011 (NNT) - The government will open Fix It centers in areas where floods have receded to help repair electrical and mechanical appliances including cars and motorcycles damaged by floods.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said during her weekly radio talk this morning that she has requested cooperation from the Ministry of Education in providing well-trained vocational students to man the centers and visit affected villagers to give the repair service free of charge.

According to her, damaged public infrastructure will also be renovated as soon as possible. Provincial administrations have been instructed to urgently report the damage so that proper renovation will be planned and accelerated. As for those who were killed in the floods or whose houses were completely damaged, the Prime Minister said the government is initially using public donations under the Disaster Relief Fund recently established by the Prime Minister’s Office, to compensate for the loss of lives and damage to property.

Meanwhile, the ad-hoc flood relief operation center at Don Mueang Airport comes into operation today, having Deputy Prime Minister Pol-Gen Pracha Promnog as director and Acting Permanent Secretary for Interior Pranai Suwannarat as deputy director. The center has opened its hotline 1111 press 5 to receive public complaints around the clock.

In another televised address last night, Prime Minister Yingluck said the current flood situation was critical and worst in the past 15 years, affecting people in 59 out of the 77 provinces of the country. Of that number, 28 provinces are being severely affected. She also indicated that higher tide in the Chao Phraya River was expected during 15-17 October, and contingency measures have been laid down in order to divert as much flood water to the sea as possible before the new tide comes.

-- NNT 2011-10-08

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Travel info: All northbound trains remain suspended, except the short route to Lop Buri. Check more information at SRT Call Centre 1690

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PM: Thailand's flood landscape deemed 'critical'

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All inter-provincial buses to the North resumes, detoured to avoid flooded roads /via@Biz_TheNation /via@veen_NT