Thailand Live Monday 14 Nov 2011

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Ayutthaya industrial estates set to start clean-up

BANGKOK, Nov 14 – Some flood-hit industrial estates are set to start draining water and cleaning up their sites after the flood has receded, Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul said.

The greatest progress was seen at Factory Land Industrial Estate in Wang Noi district where the floodwater dropped to 20-30 per cent of the previously measured level. Twelve factories have already resumed operations and about 70 others are cleaning up.

Meanwhile, Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate plans a big cleaning day on Nov 17 before it restoring electricity and water supply, and will resume operations Nov 25.

Two other sites, Hi-Tech Industrial Estate and Rojana Industrial Park, will pump water out on the same day on Nov 30.

Rojana Industrial Park will start cleaning on Dec 1 and will use chemicals to eliminate the residual oil slick. Currently, floodwater at Rojana is 1.5 metres deep inside the site, and 1.1 metres deep outside. The Pollution Control Department has not found any toxic substances while inspecting Rajana’s water quality.

The minister said many plants will be able to resume operations in the beginning of December, except those whose machinery has been damaged.

At three estates, Saha Rattna Nakhon in Ayutthaya, and Bangkadi and Nava Nakhon in Pathum Thani, floodwaters remain high, so they must wait until the water level is lower than the dykes before draining operations start.

Regarding industrial estates in eastern Bangkok, Mr Wannarat emphasised that the situation at Bangchan Industrial Estate is still manageable, as the water level in two nearby canals receded by 2-5cm.

At Lat Krabang Industrial Estate, more pumps will be installed to speed the draining process.

The industry minister said he was confident neither Bangchan nor Lat Krabang will be flooded. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-14

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Flood death toll rises to 562

The flood-related death toll has risen to 562 while two people were still listed as missing, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced Monday.

The department said 22 provinces are still flooded, affecting 5.1 million people.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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Shortened URLs becoming hot targets for malware attacks

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RT @ThanongK: Some 100 metropolitan police are now guarding the big bags at Don Mueang. Pracha and Sukhumbhand will hold talks today.

FROC director Pracha says BKK Governor invited to 8pm meeting to discuss Big Bag issue;Pheu Thai Don Mueang MP Karun not involved with dismantling barrier /MCOT

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Flood Aid From International Communities Continue Flowing

The Thai Foreign Minister said the government has agreed to accept the United States's and Japan's assistance in flood relief operations.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul talked about Thailand's flood situation in an interview at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC Summit, in Hawaii.

He revealed that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during a bilateral talk, offered assistance on behalf of the United States in restoring Don Muang Airport.

In response, the Flood Relief Operations Center or FROC, decided to accept assistance immediately.

However, it is not readily apparent in what form or means the aid would come.

Surapong added that the Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba also pledged to assist Thailand in tackling the worst flood crisis in five decades.

At the same time, Gemba urged his counterparts to undertake urgent relief measures to help Japanese companies in Thailand recover from the severe flooding.

Gemba suggested the Thai government to provide public utilities such as electricity and water to Japanese factories, exempt taxes on imported equipment brought in to replace damaged machinery, and minimize red-tape for officials who will be deployed to assist Japanese companies.

Surapong insisted that the Thai government will do its best to ensure an early resumption of industrial operations in the country.

He pledged to provide complete support for Japanese manufacturers.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

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Protesters call for 2 water pumps installed at Rama 2 otherwise will continue roadblock at 6pm via ThaiPBS /TANN

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Flood Situation Has Been Improving In Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate

More than one million cubic meters of floodwater was drained from the Bang Pa-In industrial estate while other industrial estates have been pumping water out of their areas as well.

Ayutthaya Provincial Industry Chief Prayoon Tingtong said that over 1.3 million cubic meters of runoff has been discharged from the Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate.

Locals are concerned about the chemicals being discharged into the flood water.

Officials have been inspecting the runoff but have not found it to be toxic.

The Industrial Estate Chief Advisor Wittaya Buranasiri stated that the water level in the Bang Pa-In industrial estate would be as low as 20 to 30 centimeters by November 15.

Recently, officials have been constantly draining water from the estate until the water levels are only one meter high.

Officials in Ayuttaya along with local residents will clean up the area and work to restore and repair the machinery to resume operations.

Wittaya was confident that some manufactures can restart their operations next month.

In the Hi-Tech industrial estate, flood water was discharged last week while the embankments have been completely repaired. A total of 13 water pumps have been able to drain only 230,000 cubic meters of water.

However, the Hi-Tech industrial estate has installed more water pumps to drain the runoff faster, while at Rotjana, Saharattananakorn, and Factory Land industrial estates, they have been rushing to discharge flood waters from their estates.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

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Highway 340 about 70% Salvaged

Efforts to salvage Highway 340 Bang Bua Thong-Suphan Buri Province is now about 70 percent complete.

The route will be used as a detour for south-bound Rama II Road which has been cut off by the flood.

The Department of Highways reported that it has been coordinating assistance efforts from Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Phetchaburi, and Samut Prakan provinces along with the Forest Department to salvage Highway 340 Bang Bua Thong-Suphan Buri Province.

The authorities have constructed a flood defense line out of 1x1 cement pipes and 30,000 sand bags along the route.

In addition, water pumps have been installed in the area to drain water from the road so that it is accessible to small vehicles.

Highway 340 merges with the south-bound highway at Bang Len District in Nakhon Pathom Province.

Meanwhile, locals who are disgruntled with the salvage efforts have been appeased by the authorities.

Director General of the Department of Highways, Wanchai Parklak indicated that Highway 340 is about 70 percent repaired as there are only about 300 more meters of cement pipes that need to be laid.

He expects the flood barrier to be completed within the next two days.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

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Police Gives Residents Nov 16 Deadline to Move Vehicles Parked on Don Muang Tollway

Police have asked residents who parked their vehicles on the Don Muang Tollway to move them to designated areas by November 16 now that the flood situation in Ayutthaya province is improving.

Royal Thai Police Spokesperson Police Major General Piya Uthayo said after a meeting with the Security Center for Life, Property and Traffic that now the flooding situation in the north central provinces has started to ease.

Therefore, the traffic from the Don Muang Tollway to the Asia Highway and to the northeastern region has resumed as usual.

Residents are advised to move their vehicles parked on the tollway to designated areas by November 16.

A number of people parked their vehicles on the tollway to avoid the flooding that hit Vibhavadi Rangsit Road and Bangkok's northern suburbs.

He said residents can park their cars at Amata Industrial Estate in Chonburi, which has over 3,000 parking spaces available.

The police spokesperson stressed that all motorcycles, including motorcycle taxis, are banned from the tollway.

Violators will be receive a preliminary warning and will be prosecuted for repeated offenses.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

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RT @nationnews: RT @tulsathit: TR @ThaiRedCross: Blood can be donated at Royal Paragon Hall Nov 14-16 10 am to 7 pm

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AFP: Angry Bangkok residents damage major floodwall

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Muslim man killed by insurgents in Narathiwat

Narathiwat - A Muslim man was shot dead by insurgents inside a rubber plantation in this southern border province Monday morning.

Police said Russadee Hayiroh, 30, was killed while tapping his rubber trees in Moo 4 village in Tambon Batong in Rusoh district at about 8 am.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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Residents end Rama 2 roadblock (Bangkok Post)

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SET index midday up 16.51 pts, 1.70 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Monday stood at 987.48, up 16.51 points, or 1.70 per cent in line with regional bourses amid Bt 13.71 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 696.44, up 13.43 points, or 1.97 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: PTTGC, TOP, PTT, JAS, SCC.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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UN chief to visit Thailand

The Nation

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will arrive in Thailand on Wednesday, Nov 16, on a three-country visit to Southeast Asia.

He is making visits to Government House and to the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. He also plans to visit the flood-affected areas in Bangkok.

The Secretary-General will be received by the Prime Minister of Thailand at Government House where they will make a joint statement and take questions at 1.50pm.

While in the Thai capital, he will also deliver a keynote address at a roundtable on universal health coverage at UNCC. The closed meeting is expected to be attended by Thailand's Minister of Public Health, health

experts, civil society, diplomats and others.

The final leg of his trip will take him to Indonesia and he will return to New York on Nov 20.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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1.36pm: BKK governor Sukhumphand inspects the Don Mueang big bags: http://t.co/7xfkqgaI by @tanatpong_nna/via@tukky_nt

Rama 2 residents end roadblock after BMA agrees to install more pumps to drain out water. bkkpost reports/TAN_Network

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1:44pm office of Drainage: Big Bag dismantled resulting in higher water level in PremPrachakorn canal.~@fm91trafficpro/via@TulipOum

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Hong Kong extends tourism ban on flood-hit Thailand

Hong Kong on Monday extended a ban on tour groups travelling to Bangkok for a fourth week because of problems caused by flooding in the city. The ban has cancelled about 125 tours of more than 2,800 people.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung said the ban would be extended until November 21 and involve tours being scrapped for another 300 people.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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Nakhonsawan locals along Chao Phraya river start moving back home after water recedes via ThaiPBS/TAN_Network

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Prof. Anont prepares "Water Fair" for Feb nxt yr, will gather experts to brainstorm ideas to prevent flooding in the long term. viaFM100.5/TAN_Network

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APEC SUMMIT

Kittiratt promises no repeat of floods

The Nation

While attending the Asia Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong reiterated Thailand's commitment to short-term and long-term upgrades to the country's water management systems.

Joining the summit in Honolulu, USA, as a stand-in for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, he promised the construction of large canals and more efficient use of dams and reservoirs.

"We have high confidence that this will not repeat," he said in an exclusive interview with Dow Jones Newswires.

Kittiratt countered criticisms of the Thai government. "There is no evidence to believe there was mismanagement or malpractice or ignorance," he said. "This has to be a result of climate change and global warming."

He also argued that businesses themselves are responsible for losses caused by the interruptions to their factory operations, saying the businesses have pursued efficiency over better risk management.

Thailand has unveiled the short and long-term plans to deal with the water management systems, said to involve Bt900 billion of investment. As part of the 2012 budget, the government allocates Bt120 billion for relief measures, of which details are not yet available.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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2pm:An aerial view of the demolish Don Mueang big bag barrier:http://t.co/67p2eWzb by @nationphoto/via@tukky_nt

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BMA joins forces with unflooded districts in producing 20,000 l of EM water per day for flood affected areas. Call 1555 for more info /TANN

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MRT confirms 18 stations still provide services, water level along underground tracks continue to rise no higher than 5cm. via ThaiPBS /TANN

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Phuket schools relax rules for hiring English teachers

Schools in Phuket Town are struggling to attract native English

speakers as teachers, a factor that may leave Thailand behind in

the AEC 2015 race. Photo: Rex Pe

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FROC Director: Don Muang residents accept conditions, allow Big Bag barrier repair, open 6m gap for boat access; press conference with BKK governor /Mcot

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500 water-supplying service points set up for flood victims

The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) set up 500 water-supplying service points across Bangkok to alleviate the flood-affected people's woes.

MWA assistant governor Wikrom Suwanchomphu said MWA could produce and supply tap water to some 10 million people as usual and improve the tap water quality to meet the World Health Organisation's standard. As MWA set up 500 water-supplying points at shelters and MWA office branches - except Bang Bua Thong, Bangkok Noi and Phasee Charoen branches - flood-affected people could bring containers to get the water for use, he said. Some heavy-traffic service points such as The Mall Ngamwongwan would also hand out a five-liter drinking water bag, he added. Call the hotline 1125.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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Bangkok floods boost Phuket short-term rentals

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Don Mueang residents OK "Big Bag" dyke repairs: FROC director

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