Thailand Live Monday 31 Oct 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 31 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 Sunday 30 Oct 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Chao Phraya River hits record level of 2.53m

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Thai Army chief cautious on emergency law

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Motorways to be free for 2 weeks

The Nation

To help motorists during the flood crisis, tollways, motorways and elevated expressways will remain free of charge till November 14.

Supoj Sublom, permanent-secretary of the Transport Ministry, said yesterday the ministry has extended the toll-free period for the Bangkok-Chon Buri Motorway (Route 7) and the Bang Phli-Bang Pa-in Motorway (Route 9) from tomorrow till November 14.

The Expressway Authority of Thailand will also extend the free use of its tollways from Bang Na to Chon Buri (Buraphawithi), Bang Phli to Rama II (Kanchanapisek) and At Narong-Ram Intra to Lamlooka (Chalongrat) till November 14.

Pol Maj General Amnuay Nimmano, deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner, said police would take legal action against traders who hoard the 16 goods recently added to the price control list of the Commerce Ministry's Internal Trade Department.

They are sanitary napkins, sleeping bags, water pumps, water tanks, batteries, sand and sandbags, candles, bottled water, toothbrushes, toothpaste, torches, silicone, boots, rubber boats, 15-passenger boats, life vests, and |bricks.

Traders are also not allowed to sell these goods above the controlled prices or refuse sales without reason. Violators face up to seven years' imprisonment and/or Bt140,000 fine.

No cases have been reported of robberies in the flood-hit residential areas covered by the Metropolitan Police or of thefts of cars left parked on flyovers and expressways to avoid water damage.

"There have been complaints only about broken side mirrors because drivers parked their cars in tight spaces,'' he said.

Penalties would be doubled for those who commit crimes in flooded areas, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-10-31

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Thai govt will seek to spend Bt900 billion on flood recovery

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Army best at rescues: poll

Four in five Bangkok residents have praised soldiers for being the most dependable rescue operators in the face of flooding, Suan Dusit Poll said in a survey released yesterday.

Some three in 10 people voiced surprise about officials' failure to safeguard the capital from inundation. About the same number of respondents said they were confused by the floodrelated information provided by the government.

Seven in 10 people said they would not leave their homes to live in shelters because they believed they could survive, despite the flood. One in five said they wanted to assess the flood situation for them

-- The Nation 2011-10-31

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Talks coming on more minimum wage rises

The Nation

Labour Minister Chalermchai Srion will tomorrow start discussions with the Federation of Thai Industries and employee associations over the Democrat Party's election promise to raise minimum wages by 25 per cent within two years.

According to Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutarak, raising minimum wages is one of two major policies for the upcoming election to help the poor cope with the increasing cost of living. On the other hand, farmers' income will also be raised by the same amount.

"We will launch the policies soon through TV commercials and radio spots until the election takes place," he said.

The latest rises in minimum wages, by Bt8Bt11 per day depending on the province, took place in January and drew criticism from manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Labour Ministry permanent secretary Somkiat Chayasriwong, as chairman of the Central Wage Committee, noted that the planned increase was just an election-campaign promise of the Democrat Party. He also believed other parties would follow suit, however.

He said provincial subcommittees had been assigned to collect data on the cost of living in each province and submit the data within two months.

If the cost of living in any province shows significant increases, the issue will be tabled at the committee's meeting for immediate discussion. Without such signs, the issue will be discussed at the end of the year, as usual.

-- The Nation 2011-10-31

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Speed up or Thailand will miss out on AEC: Asean chief Surin

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Research grants for 47 student projects

Students across the southern region of Thailand were given research grants last week to help carry out their science projects.

Forty-seven science projects have been selected from a total of 240 to receive the grants under the Young Scientist Competition 2012 or YSC.

Walailak University and National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre gave each student a Bt3,000 grant to complete their projects before presenting them for the final round to find the winner of the South in January next year.

Of the 47 grant projects, four involved engineering, 15 environmental science, two were on mathematics, 11 involved chemistry, 11 were about plant science and four about a rubber-tapping innovation.

The YSC has been organised for the 14th time this year.

Wansuree Prompat, director of the Centre for Academic Services at the university, said a project on bio-based packaging plastics invented from fish scales by students from Surat Thani's Suratpittaya School won the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award.

Their packaging plastic science project also received the Best of Category award in environmental management and the First Place Grand Award in the same category.

The Suratpittaya School project also bagged a gold medal in the environment category and a special prize called NAC Environmental-Friendly Technology Award from the fourth International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering |and Environment) Project Olympiad.

Both are international competitions.

Wansuree said the YSC was held to promote and encourage Thai secondary students to show their scientific skills in different fields on the national stage.

The nation's winner would represent Thailand in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world competition to be held in the US, she added.

-- The Nation 2011-10-31

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Bangkok governor and TV stations topped flood reality show

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Get the political games out of relief efforts: Thai opinion

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Explosions, shootings rock troubled Thai south

NARATHIWAT, October 31, 2011 (AFP) - A dozen small explosions shook Thailand's Muslim-majority deep south on Sunday, hours after gunmen shot dead three Buddhists at a petrol station in the restive region, police said.

There were no immediate reports of serious injuries or deaths from the blasts, which struck five districts of Narathiwat Province bordering Malaysia, officials said.

"Most of the explosions were from hand-made devices planted in front of convenience stores or telephone booths and lightly injured several people," said provincial police chief Major General Chaithat Intanuthip.

"So far there were no reports of serious casualties."

Earlier Sunday unknown gunmen shot dead three people including a 75-year-old man at a petrol station in the same province.

Thailand's southernmost provinces have been plagued by more than eight years of conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 4,800 people, both Muslims and Buddhists.

People in the region complain of a long history of discrimination against ethnic Malay Muslims by authorities in the Buddhist-majority nation, including alleged abuses by the armed forces.

The latest blasts came less than a week after 15 explosions blamed on suspected Muslim rebels ripped through a town in neighbouring Yala province, killing at least one civilian and wounding dozens more.

That attack coincided with the seventh anniversary of a protest in the region that left 85 anti-government demonstrators dead, most of whom suffocated or were crushed to death while being transported to a detention centre.

Rights groups have said the failure of Thai authorities to hold security forces to account over the deaths has fuelled further violence and alienation in the region.

Observers say there has been more frequent and intense violence in recent months.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-31

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Hid Tide Prediction Bangkok - Mon 31 Oct

Source; http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EASYTIDE/EasyTide/ShowPrediction.aspx?PortID=6883&PredictionLength=7

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Planes set to fly again – but what now for Qantas?

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Evacuation centre in Chonburi had so much fresh food that most went bad before it could be eaten (BkkPost) /RT @RichardBarrow:

Tap water supplies in Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan & Thonburi now back to normal after rationing (Bkk Post) /RT @RichardBarrow:

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The British Embassy in Bangkok is working mainly on flood issues. We are open but able to offer a limited service only. /RT @AsifAAhmad:

New Southern Bus Terminal still accessible despite floods in that area /via @js100radio /RT @RichardBarrow:

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NZ man goes on trial over Thai sex tour

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Reminder: @USEmbassyBKK is closed today to allow our staff to deal w flood issues. @ACSBKK is open for services to US citizens as usual /via@KristieKenney

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The navy's Hydrographic Department expects Chao Phraya River to rise to 2.5 meter at 11.31 AM today. /TANN

Kasertsart University now deluged under about 30 centimeter of water /TANN

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The water level at Chao Phraya River near Phra Pin-klao Bridge about 30 centimeter below the flood levee. /TANN

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TAT cancels Loy Krathong Festival as hotel and cruise businesses lose incomes

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT) – Mr Prasit Vichaisuchat, Secretary of the Thai Boat Association and Managing Director Assistant of the River Side Bangkok Hotel said that the accompanying rate of the total 250 rooms in the riverside Bangkok hotels has dropped from the avarage rate of 70-75% to 0% due to booking cancellations by all Thai and foreign guests while International Buffet Dinner Cruise is also shut down.

The hotel industry is estimated to lose about 50 million THB of its income.

Moreover, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has cencelled the Color of the River, Loy Krathong Festival 2011 in Bangkkok and all festivities along the Chao Phraya River, resulting in the loss of more than 56 million THB of income which is supposed to be earned by the business of 30 dinner cruises on the Loy Krathong night alone.

Consequently, the Thai Boat Association will propose a plan to Mr Chumpol Silpa-archa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Sports, to set up a post-flood integrated tourism rehabilitation strategy in response to the government's objective to welcome 30 million foreign tourists and gain 2,000,000 million THB in 2015.

The proposal suggests three key elements including the improvement and development of tourist attractions, the development of human resources and low-interest loans for tourism entrepreneurs. As for the short term, the tourism business will negotiate with the government in order to receive the share in the low-interest credits which are issued to assist flood-affected businsesses.

-- NNT 2011-10-31

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Klong Sam Wa mob destroys embankment

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT) – Klong Sam Wa residents, who had blocked both sides of Nimit Mai Road and inssited on opening up the sluice gate for another 1 metre wide, finally destroyed the embankment after the negotiation proved unsuccessful. Min Buri district has seen much overflows, as a result.

Yesterday, at 10 pm a group of about 300 protesters who are local residents in Khlong Sam Wa district eventually broke through the guarding line of police officers after they had blocked both inbound and outbound Nimit Mai roads since around noon, forcing the responsible officials to open the sluice gate at Klong Sam Wa more wider, from 75 cm to 1 metre wide. Having successfully intruding inside, the protesters used hoes, spades and axes to smash the Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate, cracking the cement walkway as well. Moreover, they pulled down the sandbag floodwall, letting more overflows into Min Buri district.

However, Pol. Maj. Gen. Winai Tongsong, Acting Commissionser of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, went to negotiate with the protesters himself while Metropolitan Police Commander 3 called the Director of Department of Drainage and Sewerage to be informed that if the sluice gate is opened wider than this, the lower area which is the business and densely populated district will be affected.

-- NNT 2011-10-31

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Floods in BKK´s 20 districts unlikely after sluice gates removed

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul said that after the sluice gates in Canal 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 have been pulled down and the Royal Irrigation Department has installed more water pumps at the water pumping station in the lower part of Khlong Song Wa, Canal 13, in order to release more than 10 million cubic metres of water into Bang Pakong River, the water situation in Khlong Song tends to get better as the water level does not increase. Believing that the measure is the right solution to the flooding problem, the deputy Bangkok governor estimated that the water level in Khlong Song Wa will decrease by 2 metres above the MSL in 5 days.

If the measure proves successful, 20 out of Bangkok's 50 districts which are business districts and are not in riparian strips, are 80% unlikely to be inundated. Those districts include Din Daeng, Phaya Thai, Bueng Kum, Bang Sue, Saphan Sung, Wattana, Prawet, Bang Kapi, Sathon, Thung Khru and Ratchathewi districts, Mr Teerachon added.

-- NNT 2011-10-31

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BMA urges residents of Taling Chan, Lak Si to evacuate

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared Taling Chan and Lak Si districts as flood-risk zones while suggesting residents to evacuate to temporary shelters as flooding continues to worsen.

During a press conference at the Bangkok City Hall, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra stated that the flood situation in the capital still remained critical as the northern runoff was continuing its way toward the inner city while more high tides were expected in the Chao Phraya River. Therefore, all residents of Taling Chan and Lak Si districts are encouraged to immediately evacuate from their homes to nearby flood shelters set up by the BMA.

The BMA earlier issued an announcement designating Chim Phli, Taling Chan and Bang Ramad sub-districts of Taling Chan as areas to be specially monitored for inundation. However, the evacuation became necessary for the entire district as well as Lak Si, which borders Don Mueang, after the flood situation was found to be growing more severe.

The water in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok on Sunday surged to a record high of 2.53 meters, overflowing onto several riverside roads. The lower Hok Wa and Thawi Watthana Canals experienced an increase of another 8 centimeters while Prem Prachakorn Canal also saw a 10-centimeter rise.

-- NNT 2011-10-31

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Ngam Wong Wan @ Phong Phet flooding worsened. You need to take flyover bridge. /via@AndersInNon:

Bangkok governor: the heavy flow from upper part of the country nearly over but the flooding situation remains unstable. /TANN

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Pope consoles flood-hit Thailand, Italy

VATICAN CITY, October 31, 2011 (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday offered consolation to people in Thailand and Italy affected by torrential rains and floods.

"I wish to express my closeness to the people of Thailand hid by serious floods like those in Liguria and Tuscany in Italy, recently affected by the consequences of serious rains," the pope said after his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican.

A three-month-old crisis in Thailand triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains has left at least 381 people dead around the kingdom and damaged millions of homes and livelihoods, mostly in northern and central parts of the country.

Heavy rains last week in Italy claimed nine lives and the government declared a state of emergency in the affected areas where damage was estimated at more than 200 million euros ($280 million).

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-31

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Via her Twitter account, PM Yingluck affirms that the government is not abandoning the flood victims in provincial areas /TANN

*CORRECTION* The PM posted the message on her FACEBOOK account, NOT Twitter's /TANN

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Northern run-off approaches city, reaching Laksi intersection on Vibhavadi Rd while on Phaholyothin Rd, it nears Bang Khen roundabout /MCOT

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Bangkok Governor Asks All 50 Districts to Remain Watchful

Governor of Bangkok Sukhumbhand Paribatra has admitted that the capital has seen a relatively high water level during the past two days and the situation is still unstable. However, he has pointed out that it is possible that the heavy flow from the upper part of the country is nearly over.

In any case, he is asking all 50 districts of the capital to remain watchful of the flooding situation and has pledged that the city will vigorously continue the drainage effort.

The governor also asks the security authorities to oversee the disputes over some flood barriers, which have resulted in a number of flood walls being razed down by the locals.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-31