Thailand Live Tuesday 15 Nov 2011

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RT @Biz_TheNation: "@Tik_NT: November salary payment for civil servants moved up to Nov 18

Dr.Anont believes opening areas of the BigBag would allow 2-3 mln cubic mtrs of water/day but Bkk can drain out more than that. via Spring /TANN

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RT @Tulip_Oum: 11:20am PM: BKK Evacuation order is BMA's resposibility, Disaster warning overall is FROC's responsibility. ~@jeerapong_nna

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104 schools in Nakhon Sawan begin new semester after floodwater recedes, 200 schools remain closed after being heavily damaged by flood /MCOT

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False Alarm of Phayathai District's Flood Alert

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, canceled evacuation alerts for residents living along Khlong Bang Sue area last night, citing inaccurate information.

At around 10 P.M., the BMA spokesman, Wasant Meewong cancelled the evacuation alert for residents living along Khlong Bang Sue area, including Intamara Soi 1-31, Praditpan Soi 1-25, and Phaholyothin Soi 15, in Phayathai District.

Wasant said and that the evacuation order was a mistake and apologized for the error, while the areas around Khlong Bang Sue remains dry and the water-level has decreased.

It has been further reported that a working team of Bangkok governor Mom Ratchawongse Sukhumbhand Paribatra posted on The Bangkok Governor Facebook page to confirm the cancellation of evacuation alerts for residents living along Khlong Bang Sue area in Phayathai District

However, other flood alerts still remain, including three communities in the Saphan Sung sub-district.

They are the Klong Tub Chang Lang, Baan Ma Koh Lang, and Kahanakhon communities, which are now under flood surveillance after water levels in nearby Tub Chang Lang and Lad Bua Kao canals continue to rise and overflow into the surrounding areas.

Residents were warned to move their belongings to higher ground.

The elderly, the disabled, children, pregnant women, and pets have been asked to leave the areas, and that the situation must be closely monitored.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-15

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Phuket CCTV: take two

CAN YOU SEE ME?: CCTV cameras in action in Phuket Town often go unnoticed.

Follow this link:

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Industrial estates begin recovery plans and resume operations after receding flood water

Many industrial estates are planning to resume operations while the situation at Bangchan and Ladkrabung industrial estates are still manageable

Industry Minister Wannarut Channukul said the recovery process of many estates hit by floods have been draining water in several areas such as Factory Land in Wang Noi district, Ayuthaya province and water is now measured at 20-30% of the original amount while another 12 factories have already completed draining water out and can now resume normal manufacturing operations. 70 more factories are cleaning up and getting ready to resume operations as well.

Bang Pa In industrial estate will have a big cleaning day on November the 17 before restoring electricity and water systems. Operations will resume on November 25th.

Hi tech industrial estate will begin draining water November 30th. The water level outside Rojana industrial estate is at 1.10 meters high, within the estate water is at 1.50 meters high. Draining efforts will begin November 30th and cleaning procedures will begin December 1st

For safety measures, estates have asked the Pollution Control Department to examine flood waters and so far no tests show toxic contamination

Other industrial estates such as Saharattananakorn, Bang Kradi and Navanakorn water levels still remain high, draining process can begin as soon as water recedes below floodwalls.

The Industry Minister believes that most industrial estates will be back to normal in early December except for some that might have mechanical damage to their equipments.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-15

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BMA announces closure to 6 flooded parks: Wachira Benchatat, Chatuchak, Rommannee, RamIndra Sports park, Taweewanarom, SuanLuang Rama8 /TANN

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2014 World Football Thailand welcomes match with Australia for Asian Zone, this evening at 6 pm via GovtContactCenter /TANN

RT @juliechungfso Factoid: Sec State Clinton born October 26 in Chicago, Studied at Wellesley & Yale. And she's coming to Bangkok tomorrow!

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Clinton to offer support to Philippines, Thailand

by Shaun Tandon

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, November 15, 2011 (AFP) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will announce new support for the Philippines and flood-hit Thailand as she shores up ties with key US allies, officials said Tuesday.

Clinton was due Tuesday in the Philippines and will head later this week to Thailand, part of a renewed US focus on Asia. President Barack Obama is traveling separately to Australia, another longtime ally in the region.

Officials accompanying Clinton, whose plane made a brief refueling stop in the US territory of Guam, said she would hold talks Wednesday with Philippine President Benigno Aquino and tour a warship, at a time of high tension between Manila and Beijing over disputed territories in the South China Sea.

The United States recently provided the Philippines with a destroyer and Clinton will discuss offering a second one, the officials said.

They said Clinton will also look for ways to step up cooperation at sea. Recent US military efforts with its former colony have focused on fighting Islamic guerrillas in the Mindanao region.

"We are now in the process of diversifying and changing the nature of our engagement. We will continue those efforts in the south, but we are focusing more on maritime capabilities," a senior State Department official said on condition of anonymity.

A Defense Department official said that the United States was not seeking to stir up tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in myriad disputes with countries including the Philippines and Vietnam.

The Philippines has "what they feel are legitimate claims in the South China Sea and they are being contested by other countries," the defense official said.

"We're very sensitive to making sure that this does not in any way alarm or provoke anybody else," he said.

But relations between the United States and China have been uneasy, with Obama pressing President Hu Jintao during a weekend summit on a range of issues from intellectual property rights to the level of the Chinese yuan.

Obama welcomed leaders from 20 other Pacific Rim economies to the weekend summit in his native Hawaii where he built momentum for an emerging free trade agreement that would span the Pacific -- but does not include China.

Clinton and Obama have vowed to put a new focus on the Asia-Pacific, saying that the United States wants to help build the emerging institutions of the fast-growing region that is vital both for the US economy and security.

In a speech last week, Clinton said that the United States was "updating" relationships with its five treaty-bound regional allies -- Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand.

"These five alliances are the fulcrum for our efforts in the Asia-Pacific," Clinton said at the East-West Center in Honolulu.

"They leverage our regional presence and enhance our regional leadership at a time of evolving security challenges," she said.

While US policymakers have been upbeat about the Philippines under Aquino, they have been concerned over Thailand after an extended period of political chaos.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of coup-ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, came to power only in August and has come under intense pressure as she tackles major floods that have threatened the capital Bangkok.

The State Department official said Clinton would offer a "very substantial" aid package to Thailand and hoped to reach out to the public in America's oldest Asian ally.

"One of the messages that the secretary will bring directly to the Thai people and the government is that we believe it is in the national security and political interest of the United States to have this government succeed," the official said.

"We will do what we can to support that going forward. There are substantial tensions in Thailand and those tensions will not be resolved after one or even a few elections," he said.

Clinton and Obama will head later this week to Bali for an East Asia Summit, hoping to show a strong US commitment to a forum where several Asian countries had initially sought to exclude the United States.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-11-15

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US Secretary of State to Offer Further Flood Relief Assistance

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she is ready to offer US assistance to Thailand for flood relief efforts while UN chief Ban Ki-moon will be in Bangkok on Wednesday and has planned to visit flood-hit areas.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has confirmed to visit the Philippines and Thailand before attending the ASEAN summit in Bali this weekend, said the US government will make a new offer for Thailand to assist in flood relief efforts after the Thai authority earlier did not request for the assistance of US aircraft near its territory.

She added the Thai government under leadership of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is facing a difficult task dealing with flooding in many provinces and the northern runoffs that are now surrounding the capital city of Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has confirmed his visit to Thailand.

He will arrive in Bangkok Wednesday and meet with the Thai premier before holding a joint press conference at Government House.

The UN chief has also planned to visit flood-hit areas which have yet to be confirmed.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-15

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Yesterdays level in ChaoPraya at 2.34m from medium sea level. Todays level estimated at 2.32m from medium sea level via bkkgov /TANN

Public health Ministry suggests house cleaning within 48 hrs after water recedes. /TANN

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-- The Nation 2011-11-15

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Bkk gov admits and apologizes for false evacuation annoucement yesterday, vows it wont happen again /TANN

BKK Governor says he is to be blamed for mistakenly announcing evacuation advisory; keeps close watch on 'Big Bag' barrier gap /MCOT

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Any questions about animal shelters try the Livestock Dept 02 653 4444 ext 4161-63 via FM91trafficpro /TANN

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Royal Irrigation Dept gathers 660 water pumps to drain water out to sea.123 mln cubic meters of water drained out of Bkk per day /TANN

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RT @nytimes: NYT NEWS ALERT: Police Begin Clearing Zuccotti Park of Occupy Wall Street Protesters

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Bangkokians whose homes flooded can register 4 compensation at their districts; no need to present photos of flooded homes. TR @bangkokgovernor

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Industry Ministry asks biz operators effected by floods to register for state's aid scheme http://t.co/16OsjdxE or call 1564 via GCC_1111/TAN_Network

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Six BMA parks closed to public

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Tuesday announced that six of its parks have been closed to public because of flooding.

Juri Janthornsup, director of the Public Park Department, said the six parks are Wachirabenjathat in Chatuchak district, Chatuchak Park in Chatuchak district, Rommanee Park in Don Mueang district, Ram Indra Sports Park in Bang Khen district, Thawee Wanarom in Thaweewatana district and the Rama VIII Park in Bang Phlad district.

Juri said BMA workers would rehabilitate the landscapes once floodwaters subside.

-- The Nation 2011-11-15

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Govt spokesman says cabinet approves 935 mln bht budget to restore operations at Donmuang airport for its runway, passenger terminal 1, etc/TAN_Network

UN Sec Gen Ban Ki Moon visits Thailand tomorrow, will meet Thai PM and visit flood-affected areas in Bkk via ThaiPBS/TAN_Network

Senator Ruengkrai reports to NACC on Opp leader Abhisit for misconduct in water management, claims water kept in dams too high via Rawangpai/TAN_Network

Water level at Pata Pinklao still at knee-high via News_Rama2 http://t.co/i83COfZU/TAN_Network

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SRT announces 4-6 special south bound speed trains per day by changing point of departure from Bkk to Nakhon Pathom via FM100.5/TAN_Network

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Rojana Industrial Estate expected to be dry early next month

Floodwater is expected to be completely drained from the Rojana Industrial Estate early next month, the estate informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

It informed the SET that it has started draining the floodwater since November 11 and the drainage is expected to be completed early next month, after which damages will be surveyed before a clean-up will be carried out.

-- The Nation 2011-11-15

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Industry Ministry announces BoI Fair 2011 postponed/TAN_Network

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70 to 80 per cent of factories in Ayutthaya to resume operations next month

Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul said Tuesday that 70 to 80 per cent of factories in Ayutthaya would be able to resume operations within next month.

He said high-capacity water pumps donated by Japan would start draining floodwaters in industrial estates on Friday.

He said 12 factories in Factory Land in Wang Noi district have resumed operations and more than 70 others would resume operations late this month or early next month.

He said the floodwater in Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate would be drained within November 20 and about 70 factories there would resume operations early next month.

-- The Nation 2011-11-15

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Traffic resumed at Kamphaeng Phet, Lat Phrao intersections

Traffic police Tuesday allowed motorists to resume using road from the Kamphaeng Phet Intersection to Lat Phrao Intersection after levels of floodwater on the road reduced.

Traffic also resumed on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road from Sutthisarn Intersection to Lat Phrao Intersection. Traffic also resumed from the kilometer marker No 2 to 8 on Ram-Indra Road.

-- The Nation 2011-11-15

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Thai Traffic Police calls on car owners parked on KrungThon, BangPlad elevated bridge to move their vehicles immediately via FM91trafficpro/TAN_Network

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Bangkok governor apologises for false evacuation alarm

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhubmbhand Paribatra Tuesday issued an apology to residents of Phayathai district for falsely urging them to evacuate.

Sukhumbhand said he signed an order to tell residents of three areas in the district to evacuate out of misinformation.

He said he later found out that the areas were not heavily flooded so he issued another order Monday to cancel the evacuation order.

He said he had to be blamed for the mishap because he was the one who signed the evacuation order.

-- The Nation 2011-11-15

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Orchid Farms Worth Billions Baht Submerged

The most well known orchid growing areas in Thailand have been affected by the recent floods with damages expected to cost orchid farmers billions of baht.

It will take more than two years to restore their businesses.

The flood situation in Nakhon Pathom province's Bang Lane District has been widespread, affecting 11 communities in Narapirom subdistrict where most of the orchid farms in the country are located.

Furthermore, the biggest orchid export company in Narapirom Subdistrict, known as "Air Orchid" has received the greatest impact from the disaster.

The company owns orchid nurseries in Bang Lane, Buddha Monthon, and Nakhon Chaisri districts, which have all been submerged under water.

The Narapirom Subdistrict Administration Organization President Tongyoi Wongubonsri said that Narapirom Subdistrict is where most of the orchid farms are located.

The orchid farms there have been completely destroyed by the floods with damages totaling billions of baht.

A number of small orchid farmers and orchid exporters have been affected in the crisis.

It may take more than two years to revitalize the businesses because orchids take two years to cultivate.

Meanwhile, the orchid farmers are concerned that no flood relief measures were proposed by government agencies to help them renovate their business operations.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-15

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Search Continues for Missing Forest Official

Officers continue aerial and ground searches for a forest official who got lost in the woods while carrying out an operation to bust an illegal logging operation at the Phanom Dongrak Wildlife Sanctuary in Si Sa Ket Province.

Search crews continue to look for Wit Thuphomla-or, an officer at the Wat Pai Lom non-hunting area who went missing after a confrontation between members of an illegal-logging ring and forest officials.

Wit had been sent in to assist with the operation to prevent the illegal logging of rose wood along the Thai-Cambodian border.

He has been missing for six days now.

Aerial and extensive ground searches have been conducted but so far he has not been found.

Recently, the rescue team moved its coordination center from the Phanom Dongrak Wildlife Sanctuary office to the location where Wit was last seen.

A ritual was also organized to pay respects to forest spirits and to boost the morale of crew members.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-15

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Japanese cabinet approves 400 million bht for flood aid assistance in Thailand via Ch3 /TANN