Thailand Live Tuesday 1 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 1 November 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 Monday 31 Oct 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

Follow this link: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

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PM Yingluck hopeful but Bangkok governor fears a second wave

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AIRPORTS

Suvarnabhumi Airport ready for floods

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Western Bangkok bearing large brunt of the flood

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Dispute has been resolved: PM

THE NATION

The dispute between officials and residents over the drainage rate at Klong Sam Wa watergate in eastern Bangkok is over, with the height of the gate currently being fixed at 100 centimetres, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said he had learned of Yingluck's statement, but needed a written order before he could comply with the decision on the height of the gate.

The governor had earlier said that keeping the gate at a height of 100cm would put many nearby districts that had not yet flooded at greater risk, and that 80cm was technically an appropriate level - a possible reason for his statement that he required written approval from the government before proceeding.

However, the gate's height cannot remain at this level all the time, and will be lowered occasionally to prevent excess water being released from Sam Wa Canal into San Saeb Canal, which would put many areas and industrial estates at risk of flooding, Yingluck said.

Local residents had converged at Klong Sam Wa watergate throughout Sunday night, demanding that the gate's height be raised to 150cm from the original, standard level of 80cm.

Feeling threatened by a 1,000-strong crowd, many of whom were armed with tools and hurled angry words at them, officials agreed to increase the height to 75cm in accordance with regulations and the authority they possessed.

The size of the crowd ebbed and flowed throughout the night, with additional villagers swelling the numbers after learning of the rally. The protesters also staged a roadblock at the nearby Hathai Mitr Intersection in a bid to pressure officials into meeting their demand for the gate to be raised to 150cm above water level.

Despite mediation by two Pheu Thai MPs, who said the height could be increased initially to 130cm after negotiations with officials, a group of residents starting digging up both shoulders of the sluice gate in an effort to release more water, before being pushed away by police.

Various proposed levels were repeatedly tossed around by both sides, with heights ranging from 100cm to 150cm being demanded, and 75cm being put forward by officials. The 75cm level was then jointly approved by the government and the BMA. However, a height of 100cm was finally agreed upon by the government and the BMA, as announced by the prime minister.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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MPs wary of Thai govt rehabilitation plan

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Social Media - Vital sources of information during flood crisis

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EDITORIAL

Floods highlight again the worst of our politics: Thai opinion

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Phone Services Undisrupted by Floods

CAT Telecom has assured that 90 percent of home phone services in Bangkok and the outskirts remain intact despite widespread floods.

However, the company has admitted its concern about the worsening flood situation in the western part of the capital. It said home and mobile phone signals will be disrupted if power supply to areas severely flooded is cut.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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Thailand floods disrupt Honda's car production in Canada, US

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Finland warns against travel to Bangkok

Finland has joined other countries in warning its citizens against unnecessary travel to the flood-threatened Thai capital, Bangkok.

The Foreign Ministry also recommended that Finns stay away from other badly-affected regions of Thailand as it battles the worst flooding in 50 years. The warning does not apply to Bangkok's international airport, some 20km east of the capital, which is operating normally.

The warning is in effect until at least the end of October, although the floods could last for several weeks. The Foreign Ministry advises travellers to follow the situation closely via local news sources and follow advice given by local authorities.

On Friday the main river coursing through Thailand's capital swelled to record highs, briefly flooding riverside buildings and a royal complex at high tide. There are fears that flood defences could break and swamp the heart of the city.

Source: http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?news_id=9755&coun_code=fi

-- scandasia.com 2011-11-01

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Thai embassy opens hotline for abused wives: Sweden

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Test shows 'very deteriorated' water quality

The Nation

The flood coursing through the Waterworks Canal in Bangkok's Bang Sue district has been shown to be among the filthiest in the country.

Worasart Apaipong, deputy director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said yesterday that the water quality at the canal in front of the Bang Sue District Office was very deteriorated, with 1.3 milligrams per litre of dissolved oxygen (DO).

Citing a report by the operations centre for pollution mitigation in flood-affected areas, Worasart said officials had measured the water quality at 25 flooded areas nationwide and found 32 per cent were "very deteriorated", 40 per cent "deteriorated", 4 per cent "fair" and 24 per cent "good".

In Sing Buri, tambon Ton Pho in Muang district and tambon Hua Pa in Phromburi district reported the DO level at 0.0-1.0mg/L, while Suphan Buri's Bang Pla Ma district reported 1.6-5mg/L.

In Lop Buri's Muang district, tambon Patan had 1.3mg/L of DO, while Ayutthaya's Lat Bua Luang, Phak Hai and Bang Sai districts were reported at 2.0-4.8mg/L. Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district was reported at 1.6mg/L.

From October 27-31, 190 water-pollution complaints were filed through the 1111 flood hotline and the 1650 department hotline.

Officials had given Effective Micro-organism (EM) liquid as an initial solution to 59 people while contacting other agencies for the rest. So far, 25,004 litres of EM and 40,000 EM balls have been sent to assist flood victims, while 85,000 litres and 11,200 balls were held in reserve.

Officials have also responded to 43 complaints of garbage or chemical leakage, including engine oil, in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district and chemical fertiliser in Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi district, Worasart said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Army reassures public over armoury

The Nation

With floodwaters in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment barracks in Bangkok's Bang Khen district continuing to rise, Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha yesterday ordered that APC trucks, weapons and munitions be moved to the 3rd Infantry Battalion in Phetchaburi's Muang district, and assigned 200 soldiers to guard and repair floodwalls.

General Yuthasak said the transportation, by convoy and using low-traffic routes such as Rama II Road, began noon yesterday and would be gradual.

Royal Thai Army deputy spokesman Lieutenant-Col Wanchana Sawasdee reassured members of the public that the transportation was due to flooding and had no political motive. He added that the 4th Cavalry Division King's Guard in Kiak Kai will move 19 tanks, four APS trucks and four Scorpion tanks to Chon Buri's Anti-aircraft Artillery Division 21, away from possible flooding.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Floodwall warning

The Nation

Rushing to put up a concrete floodwall at your home could be worse than letting the water in, an engineer warned yesterday.

"If the wall is 70 centimetres high or more, homeowners have to carefully consider its structure and location," said Suppachai Sinthavorn, an engineering lecturer at Srinakharinwirot University.

A high concrete wall situated close to the house and exposed to floodwater for weeks could threaten the structural integrity of the building.

"Water pressure will increase on the foundation and that may be enough to crack open a hole in your floor. By then, the damage will be much more than what it would be if you let the floodwater come in without the flood barrier," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Tap-water bill

The Nation

Cabinet will be asked to draft a bill that allows small operators to operate tap-water businesses more easily, a source said yesterday.

The Natural Resource and Environment Ministry will approach Cabinet for a decision to draft a Private Tap-Water Operation bill.

The law governing tap-water distribution around the country is regarded as an outdated bill. It was introduced by a coup administration and endorsed nearly 40 years ago, in 1972. Tap-water operators must seek permission or receive a concession from the state in order to have the right to produce tap-water.

Procedures to seek and receive approval are lengthy and small operators making applications encounter considerable red tape. The ministry wants to draft a bill that allows the operators to get approval more easily.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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JICA WATER MANAGEMENT EXPERTS

Japanese advisers keen to help Thai govt: Flood

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Less rain in Bangkok

The Nation

The area of Bangkok that experienced rainfall fell to 10 per cent yesterday, while 70-80 per cent of the Southern region saw rain, and morning temperatures dropped in the North and Northeast in the morning, the Meteorological Department reported yesterday.

A ridge of moderate high pressure covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea has brought cool weather with mist in the morning and isolated thundershowers. Moderate north-east monsoon conditions prevail over the Gulf of Thailand and southern Thailand, hence fairly widespread thundershowers are expected over the Southeast coast. Waves in the Gulf of Thailand from Chumphon southwards were about two-metres high; all ships should sail with caution.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Burmese hungry

The Nation

More than 30,000 Burmese have been detained at the Immigration Centre in Mae Sot over the past two weeks, an informed source said yesterday.

The detainees - unregistered workers seeking to return home because of flooding in and around Bangkok - have complained about lack of food and water, as well as overcrowding.

Groups that support migrant workers say they are flocking back to Burma at a vast rate. About 1,000 people a day were leaving Mahachai in immigration trucks after paying Bt2,400 each for the trip to Mae Sot, activist Andy Hall said yesterday.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Three shot dead, three hurt by home-made bombs

The Nation

Three people were wounded - a child and two men - in two incidents in Narathiwat after home-made bombs were laid.

The bombs yesterday followed the fatal shooting of three people at a petrol station in the same province on Sunday.

The first incident took place at 7am yesterday when a civilian defence volunteer was inspecting trees felled to block a road in Waeng district. He stepped on one of the home-made bombs and lost his right leg. Police said the bomb was a plastic water pipe filled with 1kg of explosive.

A banner tied to tree branches at the scene had a message in Thai, which said: "October of Tak Bai: As long as those who killed Malays are in power, Thai Buddhists pay for it with their lives."

Later, at a rubber plantation in Sri Sakhon district, a 16-year-old and a 10-year-old were wounded after the elder boy stepped on a similar device and lost his left ankle. The younger boy was hit with shrapnel in the torso and both legs, sustaining minor injuries. Police found debris similar to the first bomb.

At about 10am, a roadside bomb was detonated on a road in Bah Choh district near a squad of soldiers on foot patrol, but they suffered no injuries.

And in Yala, a bomb squad defused another home-made device planted at a bus shelter in Raman district.

Narathiwat police said insurgents who planted bomb attacks at several locations in five districts had disguised themselves as women by wearing head-to-toe burkas before planting the explosives in target areas.

Police in Yala said they had found a crucial piece of evidence in a series of bomb attacks on October 25 which killed three and wounded 60 people - a SIM card in the mobile phone of an insurgent also killed by the blast linking him with fellow insurgents in Bannang Sata and Yarang districts in Pattani.

Meanwhile, unknown gunmen shot dead three Buddhists at a petrol station in Narathiwat on Sunday, police said. Victims included a 75-year-old man shot in the head while refuelling his motorcycle and a woman gunned down in front of a grocery store at the station. No arrests were made.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

[Lite Beer]

Attention

The three offices of Immigration Division 1 open on Tuesday 1 November, 2011.

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/intro1.html

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The three offices of Immigration Division 1 open on Tuesday 1 November, 2011.

Chaengwattana Road flooded, (Update 1 Nov, 2011)

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/intro1.html

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DEPT Bkk gov no longer sure the 19 districts will be safe frm #ThaiFloodENG after locals forced govt to open Sam Wa floodgate /Via TPBS /TANN

RT @Tulip_Oum: 11dist effected by hi-tide; Dusit-PraNakorn-Sampantawong-BangRak-BangkorLeam-Yannawa-Klongteuy-PraKanong-Klongsan-BangkokYai-Bangna~@nnanews

It's mean chance is it'll get fully flooded, according to the info. RT @RogerHaslock: @Tulip_Oum @nnanews I'm in Bang Khae, no flooding here

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Bangkok tide prediction

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

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RT @Tulip_Oum: 8:27am part of RamIntra is in 1.2m water, Water in Bangplad is 30cm lower.~@Neaw_NBC #thaifloodeng

RT @AndersInNon: Ngam Wong Wan still flooded @ Phong Phet. Avoid if you can #ThaiFloodEng

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Bangkok Immigration opens extra service points during flooding

According to flooded Chaengwattana Rd., some foreigners are not able to visit Immigration Division 1.

In order to release these troublesome and inconvenience, Immigration Division will open some extra services at following offices;

1. Office One Stop Center for Visa and Work Permits located at Chamchuri Square Buliding , special services are as follows;

1.1 Extension of temporary stay for reasons of working at business company, government unit, international organization, foundation, Studing,, Teaching.

1.2 Ninty day report for the above mentioned reasons.

1.3 Visa Issueing and change type of visa.

2. Office at Immgiratipon Bureau Soi SuanPlu (1st Floor, One Building ) special services are as follows;

2.1 Extension of temporary stay for reason of tourist , retirement , medicle treatment , staying / visit Thai spouse / Childrend and Other

2.2 Ninty day report for the above mentioned reasons.

2.3 Re-entry Permit.

Office at Goverment Complex still open.

Extra servcies above will be begining from 1 November, 2011 unit normal situation return.

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/intro1.html

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Kasetsart University intersection inundated 30cm deep; Chaeng Wattana Road still flooded /MCOT

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RT @RichardBarrow: Foreigners from Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani & Nonthaburi can do their visa at Soi Suan Phlu, Building 1, Fl.1 #ThaiFloodEng

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BANGKOK'S FLOOD ALERT MAP http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_around_thailand.php?id=5961 via @prdthailand