Thailand Live Thursday 17 Nov 2011

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US VISIT

US secretary of state visits Thai flood victims

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/512962-us-secretary-of-state-visits-thai-flood-victims/page__view__findpost__p__4853294

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BMA opens full service rehabilitation center in Bangplad, ppl can register to recieve compensation money, fix appliances, checkups -ThaiPBS /TANN

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Drug Dealers Nabbed with 4,000 Speed Pills

Provincial Police Region 5 arrested two drug dealers with 4,000 methamphetamine pills after the culprits discarded their evidence on the side of the road and attempted to escape but were caught by the police.

Acting Commander of Provincial Police Region 5, Police Major General Treesuthep Dateraksa disclosed about the arrest of drug dealers with 4,000 methamphetamine pills.

The narcotics prevention team along the northern border have reported the smuggling of the drugs via the road along the Chonlapratan Canal.

Therefore, police officers have been ordered to arrest the suspects.

A police observation team closely monitored the suspect's pick-up truck.

While the truck was driving on the road near Chiang Mai's local highway office in Donkaew sub-district in Mae Rim District, police officers have asked the pick-up truck to stop for inspection.

However, the suspects disposed the drugs and drove away to escape.

Nevertheless, police officers were able to stop the suspect's truck and eventually arrested them.

The suspects were identified as 31 year-old Kwanchai Suyawa and 38 year-old Tammasak Boonpermpoon.

From the interrogation, the suspects accepted that 4,000 of methamphetamine pills belonged to them, and were transporting these methamphetamine pills to their customers.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-17

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ROYAL DECREE

Activists petition Council of State against amnesty

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NakornPanom gov brings dog food (once donated to them during illegal dog trade) to help feed dogs at Bangpakong animal shelter via FM100.5 /TANN

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483 bank branches closed

The Nation

A number of 483 bank branches are temporarily closed on Nov 17, according to Bank of Thailand.

The number is down by 10 from the previous day, as eight of them in Borom Rajajonani, Ratchaphruek, Phetkasem, Ratchayothin and Ram Intra were re-opened today.

Of total, 234 closed bank branches are in Bangkok, 136 in Pathum Thani, 58 in Nonthaburi, 27 in Nakhon Pathom, 14 in Ayutthaya, 10 in Samut Sakhon, 3 in Nakhon Sawan and 1 in Uthai Thani.

A number of 5,103 ATMs were unplugged on Nov 17, down by 165 from the previous day (including 87 in Bangkok).

For more information on unplugged ATMs, banks’ Call Centres and websites, consumers are advised to go to www.bot.or.th.

-- The Nation 2011-11-17

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AFP: Clinton asks flood-hit Thais to keep hope

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Thai Industries Sentiment Index sinks to 26-month low in October

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PAD Plans Legal Action against Govt over Amnesty Decree

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RT @veen_NT: BMA now has 646 volunteers to help collect the garbage. Yesterday they collect 6928t or 82% of total garbage. ~@bangkokgovernor

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Don Muang Aiport Renovation in Progress

The Transport Ministry is trying to finish laying a sandbag barrier at Don Muang Airport by today in order to start draining floodwater from the runway.

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SET index closed at 993.38, down 3.73; Bt/USD30.73; GBP48.29; AUD30.90; EUR41.35; CAD29.92; HKD3.94; SGD23.65; JPY39.68

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RT @tukky_nt: 4.24pm:Srinakarin soi 24 (inbound) yesterday (top) and today: http://twitpic.com/7f9z2g by @ittipat_Rw

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RT @veen_NT: Team Group: Barom Ratchachonanee and Buddhamonthon 4 roads should be passable again on Nov 22. /via @MrNaling

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PATTAYA NEWS

Japanese Man commits suicide in South Pattaya:

Russian woman escapes attempted abduction in East Pattaya:

Police blamed for lack of response to auto crime in Jomtien:

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TR @nnanews: Red shirt leader Kwanchai coordinating a move to rally Thaksin supporters to back amnesty. #nsn/via@tulsathit

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Bt1 billion needed to salvage inundated Don Mueang Airport: AoT

BANGKOK, Nov 17 - The Airports of Thailand (AoT) on Thursday said an estimated Bt1 billion is needed for the restoration of submerged Don Mueang Airport.

AoT President Anirut Thanomkulbutra said the airport authority will begin restoration of the western part of the flooded runway first as it will be used for take-off and landing of state flight services to facilitate the operation of officials in the area.

The rehabilitation work will later be expanded to other parts of the airport, including the commercial use zone, according to the AoT president.

Mr Anirut elaborated that the government allocated a budget of Bt489 million for AoT to reopen the airport, which was closed due to severe flooding, while added budget will be provided by AoT itself for the operation, altogether estimated at Bt1 billion, to restore Don Mueang Airport to a condition to resume flight services.

He said AoT and Suvarnabhumi Airport are also launching a campaign better inform foreign tourists about Thailand's flood situation and assuring them that the flooding at Don Mueang has nothing to do with flight services at the country's main airport.

Suvarnabhumi Acting Director Somchai Sawasdipol said the airport has prepared a video presentation on its ongoing flight services which it is distributing to embassies and tour agencies, around the world, especially to those in Thailand's major tourist targets such as China, Japan and European countries.

Next week, Mr Somchai said, airport personnel will meet with the Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association and airlines to outline measures to boost airfreight services and foreign tourist arrivals to the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) on Thursday agreed to open two parts of the big bag barrier at the Air Control Operations intersection in Don Mueang after negotiation with local residents, said Sompob Ra-ngabtook, deputy permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

FROC spokesman Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen met residents from Sai Mai and Lamlukka after they dismantled a four-metre part of the anti-flood barrier, trying to drain some floodwater from their neighbourhood, located outside the barrier.

After negotiation, the authorities agreed to open two five-metre sections of the barrier at Phahonyothin Road to allow some water to drain out and local residents are satisfied with the result.

The big bag barrier was installed to delay inflow of the northern run-off into the capital, so the authorities can manage to drain floodwaters already in the capital.

After opening the barrier to allow added inflow of water through the gaps, the BMA is closely monitoring the water situation below the barrier on Phahonyothin Road to ensure that the incoming amount of water can be handled. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-17

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2 sluice gates opened; 1) Paholyothin (5M):affect Vibhavadi-Rangsit 2) PhayaSuren(70cm).Officials meet /w public to negotiate./TAN_Network

Bangkok governor: decisions to open/close sluice gates and manage flood flow made jointly with FROC./TAN_Network

Bomb like material thrown at Sai Mai locals while sluice gate at Hok Wa Canal is being fixed, 6 injured via #INN /TAN_Network

LumLukka locals denied involvement in explosion at HokWa Canal after SaiMai locals finished fixing flood barrier (70cm gap)/TAN_Network

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After visiting heavily flooded Bang Bua Thong, today Dr Seri & Darin visited 2nd unfortunate area along Rangsit canal. Still badly flooded/via@terryfrd

Pathum Thani faces another 4 - 6 weeks before really drying out. Meanwhile, CP river levels remain low until 21st, "golden" drainage time/via@terryfrd

So far, the community efforts to open gaps in the big bag barrier haven't significantly increased BKK flood risks, Dr Seri says./via@terryfrd

Dr Seri says he's waiting for data to determine if the opening to 1 metre of a sluice gate above Bang Chan will present problems./via@terryfrd

On Thonburi side, Dr Seri sounded more optimistic about Rama 2 area, saying BMA appears to have a better handle on situation./via@terryfrd

Over next couple days, Khlong Pradit, artificial floodway betw 2 canals, in Samat Sakorn should be operational. Quite impressive./via@terryfrd

Dr Seri began w a few words abt South, answering a query frm Hatyai. Weather patterns look favourable, so no repeat of last yrs disaster/via@terryfrd

For frustrated residents in Don Muang area, water still coming in frm Rangsit & Khlong Prem doing a poor job sending water to Bang Sue/via@terryfrd

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>100 locals closed off outbound frontage road on Rama II Rd. (near Soi 69), calling for govt to drain stagnant flood water frm area/TAN_Network

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Meanwhile, on the political front the anti-pardon folks have almost reached 120,000 on their FB page./via@terryfrd

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to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 18 Nov 2011

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