Thailand Live Thursday 17 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 17 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 Wednesday 16 Nov 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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AFP: Clinton brings aid to flood-hit Thailand

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ANALYSIS

Pardon for Thaksin: Thai govt takes dangerous path

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Red-Shirt supporters have no objection to 'secret' Cabinet meeting: Thaksin pardon

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UNITED NATIONS

UN secretary general praises Thai healthcare

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PUBLIC DEBT

Abhisit fears huge public debt by 2013

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Social networks overtake papers as source of flood information: Thailand

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Angry Thai residents breach big-bag flood barrier

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Eight more neighbourhoods told to evacuate

THE NATION

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday warned residents of eight more communities in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district to brace for possible flooding.

"Please move your belongings to higher ground and evacuate to shelters provided by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration," he advised.

The eight communities are Wang Yai, Wang Soam, Samakkee Pattana, Lam Salee, Lam Salee Pattana, Mooban Yoosabai, Matcha and Pracha Ruamjai.

Sukhumbhand said the warning was issued because run-off water from the upper part of the country is now flowing into Bang Kapi district via several canals, which look set to overflow. In Bangkok's eastern zone, a section of Krungthep Kreetha Road - which stretches between Lam Salee and Krungthep Kreetha golf course - was already seriously inundated. Flood-water levels stood as high as 80 centimetres there.

In Bangkok's western zone, sections of many key roads including Phetkasem Road remained impassable to traffic because of raging floods.

At the mouth of Soi Phetkasem 65, water was up to a metre deep.

Flooding in Bangkok mainly eased in areas close to Bang Sue Canal, which has now played a vital role in pushing run-off water into the Chao Phraya River.

Thanks partially to the drainage system and extra pumps along this canal, flood water that raged through districts of northern Bangkok such as Don Muang had not entered the capital's inner zone.

Flood water also receded from Phaholyothin Road in front of the Skytrain's Mo Chit station and the MRT subway's Phaholyothin station.

Along the border of Bangkok and Samut Sakhon, locals, officials and businesspeople are joining efforts to fight floods.

At the National Housing Authority's Thon Buri project (Keha Thonburi), soldiers and officials used sandbags and pumps to drain flood water from the project site after finding that a canal that ran into the zone hit a dead end. As a result, flood-water levels there dropped by between 5cm and 7cm.

At a nearby location, residents, businesspeople and local administrative bodies were attempting to build another channel alongside the Bang Nam Jeud Canal.

"Once completed, this channel will help push about 10 cubic metres of water out to sea per second," said Sinchai Industry owner Wiwat Singchai, who was spearheading the effort.

-- The Nation 2011-11-17

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What's behind Abhisit's olive branch to Yingluck?: Thai talk

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EDITORIAL

Draft amendment to amnesty bill is deeply suspicious

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Carless plates probed

The Nation

Traffic police were sent yesterday to investigate the numerous vehicle licence plates found in front of the Major Cineplex Ratchayothin leisure complex after flood waters subsided.

Worasak Noppasithiporn, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police, said police would reopen some roads that were now passable after waters had receded.

People can get more information from the 1197 hotline or www.trafficpolice.go.th, he said.

Police will gather the fallen licence plates and send them to the Land Transport Department for repair or return to the rightful holders.

Somchai Sirichoke, director-general of the department, said people with missing plates could ask for new ones within 15 days without filing a police report.

However, anybody using someone else's fallen plates with criminal intent could be jailed for up six years and fined Bt1,000 to Bt10,000, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-17

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POSITIVE SIGNS

Bangkok activity begins to resume

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TOURIST

Bangkok hotels hit by rising tourist fears over outbreak of disease

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AIR ASIA

Air Asia's Chiang Mai-Ubon Ratchathani

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Key panels ordered to come up with rehab plans

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday ordered two key panels to urgently come up with a framework on post-flood rehabilitation and ways to prevent future flood crises.

Representatives from the Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF) and Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) were summoned to Government House for a meeting with the premier that lasted for about 45 minutes.

Over the past two months, floods have ravaged dozens of provinces, submerging seven industrial estates, disrupting many businesses and ravaging the homes of millions.

"The international community is watching us now," Yingluck said.

To date, the two committees have had different views on flood prevention.

SCRF secretary Arkhom Termpittayapaisith is interested in building roads in low-lying areas, which can be open to traffic during the dry season and serve as floodways during the wet season.

Dr Royol Chitdon from SCWRM, meanwhile, wants to stick with the floodways recommended by His Majesty a long time ago. During the current flood crisis, only 40 per cent of the existing floodways, which rely on Dan, Phraong Chao Chaiyanichit and Bang Pakong canals, are usable.

"We plan to stick to that route, but make sure at least 80 per cent of the stretch is functional. Our committee has no plan to expropriate land to build new floodways," Royol said.

However, according to Arkom, laws controlling the usage of land may be necessary to prevent such crises in the future.

"We have not reached any conclusions yet," he explained.

In a related development, Office of the Government Pawnshop said it would relax its rules so as to ease people's burden during the flood crisis. People will be given six months to redeem their items instead of five months and 15-days of interest will be waived in certain cases.

-- The Nation 2011-11-17

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-- The Nation 2011-11-17

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Innovative winners named

ASINA PORNWASIN

THE NATION

In a bid to encourage the creation of innovations that can help authorities deal with the flood crisis, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), in cooperation with PTT, launched a "Mobility in the Time of Floods" competition on October 26.

From the 110 proposals submitted, 89 were chosen as winners, though only 59 of the prototypes could be demonstrated at Lumpini Park yesterday.

Each innovation had to fulfil three categories: usage under less than a metre of water, creativity of the product, and speediness. Each category had five prizes, with the winner getting Bt100,000, the two runners-up getting Bt50,000 each, the third place getting Bt30,000, and a fifth team getting Bt10,000 for merit. The judges also granted Bt3,000 to each of the 59 teams demonstrating their innovations yesterday.

Before demonstration, each team had to show how the prototype was assembled and what its winning features are before it was used in water. Each team had to get enough points in each category to win.

Innovations winning in the speed category were projects that helped vehicles move in water and helped locate misplaced items. The winning teams in this category came from King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thammasat University and Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology.

Under the category of creativity, King Mongkut's University of Technology in Thon Buri won for the development of the "2-in-1 boat".

However, nobody won in the category of gadgets that can be used in less than a metre of water.

To be eligible, the innovations were not allowed to use electric or motor power, had to weigh no more than 160 kilograms, could be proved to be applied in a real flooding situation and could be used to transport either people or belongings.

Kwan Sritathani from the National Electronics and Technology Centre under the NSTDA said the objective was to encourage people to come up with innovations that can be used during a flood crisis.

-- The Nation 2011-11-17

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Anger Erupts in Thailand Over Plans for Amnesty

New York Times

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19th ASEAN Summit officially kicks off in Bali, Indonesia; PM arrived in Bali since 2am and will return on Sat night /TANN

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Chao Phraya River's high tide at 12.44pm at 2.20m /TANN

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19th ASEAN Summit Kicks off in Bali

The 19th ASEAN Summit has officially commenced in Bali, Indonesia this morning.

PM Yingluck Shinawatra arrived in Bali at 2 A.M. and is scheduled to return to Thailand on Saturday night.

She plans to use the venue to restore international confidence in Thailand following the flood crisis.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-17

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Lardprao 5-way junction sees floodwater recede; flooding at 10-30cm so traffic is starting to be seen in the area /TANN

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Subway Authority Begins Removing Flood Barriers

Floodwater barriers are being removed from underground train stations for passenger convenience, as officials are confident the flood situation is improving.

All the sandbags will be removed from the train stations by Sunday, except Ratchada, Lad Prao, and Phaholyothin stations.

Acting Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand or MRTA and Bangkok Metro Company Limited or BMCL, Ronnachit Yamsaart said as Bangkok's flood crisis is improving, MRTA and BMCL officials are withdrawing barriers from the underground train stations, to provide decent access for commuters.

The Samyan underground train station is the first place where embankments will be removed.

The other embankments will be taken away before this Saturday.

However, flood barriers will remain at Ratchada, Lad Phrao, and Phaholyothin stations.

Officials will open two entrances so that passengers can walk easier.

Furthermore, the MRTA and the BMCL have been operating continuous flood rescue activities.

On Saturday, students, college students, and the general public are invited to work together to produce 50,000 EM balls from 10am to 6pm at Jatujak train station.

Additionally, the MRTA and the BMCL will organize a low-price appliances event to help flood victims at the Lad Phrao underground train station the end of this month.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-17

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Govt Urged to Boost Tourism

The private sector requested the government to focus on tourism to generate economic income in Thailand due to the loss of revenue in industrial business sector.

Tourism Council of Thailand President, or TCT, Piyaman Taechapaiboon said many countries have been warning their citizens to be aware of traveling to Thailand due to the unclear information about the flooding, and the inundation at Don Muang Airport.

The government needs to restore confidence to those countries, particularly about the public health issue.

The tourism will become the major source of income for the country after 7 Industrial Estates were wrecked by the flood, which can have a drastic affect on the export business.

The number of tourists in October were about 16 million.

The private sector estimated that tourists will decline by 50 percent in November.

It is projected that the number of tourists will be 19.5 million people for the whole year, which means the country will lose the income from 700 billion baht to 50 billion baht.

Therefore, the Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT has targeted a revenue of 400 billion baht for this year.

Recently, the Thailand tourism industry lost 20 billion baht caused by flood damages, and that number does not include tourist attractions and other private sector.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-17

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PAD Leader Sondhi Slams Thai Govt's Push for Amnesty Decree

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 993.36, down 3.75 points /MCOT

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US to help Thailand to restore flooded Don Mueang Airport

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Phuket teacher crisis appeal sparks flood of applicants

More English teachers are needed at Phuket schools.

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