Thailand Live Friday 18 Nov 2011

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Deputy PM: Pardon Decree Not Aimed at Favoring Thaksin

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THAI Airways cancelled 500 domestic/intl flights due to sharp fall in numbers of in/out-bound tourists /The NATION

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Khlong San Saeb rising higher after authorities opened Phraya Suren sluice gate by one metre

BANGKOK, Nov 18 -- Khlong San Saeb is rising higher after the Phraya Suren sluice gate was opened by one metre as demanded by Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district residents.

A large volume of water from Khlong Hok Wa flowing into Khlong San Saeb caused a surge at Wat Sri Bun Rueang pier, but not as much at the Rama IX pumping station.

The canal’s higher water followed the opening of the Phraya Suren sluice gate as demanded by residents of Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district.

Opening the gate will eventually bring higher water at Bangchan intersection and Bangchan Industrial Estate now faces being flooded.

However, the industrial estate has built a Big Bag embankment around its premises to prevent flooding.

Some 300 Pathum Thani residents dismantled a stretch of the sandbag flood barrier at the lower line of Khlong Hok Wa, trying to drain some water from their neighbourhood, located outside the barrier.

After the flood wall was partially pulled down for a 70 metre stretch of the 7km structure, water has again flooded Bangkok's Sai Mai district which was previously almost dry.

However, in the initial negotiation, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to open the Phraya Suren sluice to one metre high from 40cm as demanded by Lam Luk Ka residents, while Sai Mai residents later helped fix the broken sandbag barrier.

Residents of Lam Luk Ka and Sai Mai were scheduled to meet Saturday with Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) officials to resolve the problems.

Apart from demanding to lower the differential between the water levels inside and outside barrier to 40cm from 70cm, Lam Luk Ka residents also wanted the government to pay special flood compensation to the affected residents.

The Khlong Hok Wa flood wall is one of two major barriers blocking Pathum Thani floodwater from surging into northern Bangkok. The other barrier is in Pathum Thani’s Lak Hok district, which connects to Bangkok's Don Muang district.

Meanwhile, the gap at the Big Bag wall at Don Meaung’s Air Operations Control intersection has until now not impacted the water level of inner Bangkok. The water level at Khlong Bang Sue stayed at 45cm, lower from Thursday’s level by 5cm.

Water on Phahonyothin Road was declining to 15-20 cm.

At Ratchayothin intersection, water was backed up to Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, but Kaset and Bang Khen intersections are still under 30cm water causing difficulty for small vehicles.

FROC on Thursday agreed to open two parts of the Big Bag barrier at the Directorate of Air Operations Control intersection in Don Mueang after talks with local residents affected by the flood wall erected across Phahon Yothin Road. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-18

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PAD Threatens Protest if Thai Govt Continues Amnesty Push

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Nat'l Disaster Warning Center: BKK capable of draining 11 million cbm of water/day, current volume at 267 million cbm. /TANN

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Thai Airways Cancels More Than 500 Flights In Flood Aftermath

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AFP: Thai floods ripple through global supply chain

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Public Health Ministry confident Thailand will not see disease spreading after water recedes

The Public Health Ministry is confident that Thailand will not see any spreading of diseases after the flood crisis eases while assuring that measures are up to World Health Organization (WHO) standards

Wittaya Buranasiri, Public Health minister expresses confidence in looking after flood affected victims in all areas focusing on environmental health, preventing plague and epidemic.

Next week tourist attractions and locations will be inspected to give confidence to tourists in visiting the country once the flooding situation improves especially focusing on health concerns and hygeine.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-18

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Ratchadapisek to Lat Phrao 5-way intersection totally flood-free, Central Plaza Lat Phrao reopens but Phahonyothin Rd still under water/MCOT

BMA reports many canals are still over flowing, water from Salaya keep on coming into Thonburi area /TANN

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RT @tulsathit: Thaksin's yet to face trials in 4 corruption cases, 3 of which related to assets seizure trial in which he was found guilty.

RT @tulsathit: The 3 cases are Exim loan to Burma, share concealment and conversion of telecom concessions.

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Bank of Thailand urges financial institutions to provide simple loan collection management for flood affected consumers via ThaiPBS /TANN

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Flood Victim Robs Bank to Rebuild Flooded Home: Thailand

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Two More Coordinated Attacks Rock Pattani

Insurgents have carried out coordinated attacks in two more districts of Pattani Province, after five districts were attacked last Wednesday night.

The first bomb attack took place in front of the Pattani District Office.

Upon inspection of the scene, officials found that three tree-pots in front of the office have been damaged, and bomb fragments in the area.

No injuries have been reported.

The bomb was a 2-kilogram Improvised Explosive Device that used a watch alarm to trigger the device.

The bomb was detonated when volunteer officers were on duty at the office.

Investigators assume the culprits planted the bomb during the night so it could be detonated in the morning.

A second bomb went off at relatively the same time at Palas Post Office in Panarae

District.

A large number of parcels were burnt or destroyed.

The bomb type was the same as the first bomb and the second bomb was contained in a parcel, which the culprits registered with the office yesterday afternoon.

A post office staff member left the parcel on a trolley to be posted.

Authorities believe the culprits set the bomb timer relative to the other bomb, but the bomb at the post office burned instead of exploding.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-18

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Bhumjai Thai Party to Not Partake in Justice Minister Censure Debate

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Food institution predicts if Samutsakorn is flooded, sea-food industry will be affected causing Bt18,000 Mn in damage per month via ThaiPBS

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BOT signals possible rate cut

Seetalavajit Sabayjai

Bank of Thailand governor today signaled a possible cut of the policy rate after the rate is close to normalisation in the monetary policy meeting on November 30.

"There is some room" for the accommodating policy, said Prasarn Trairatvorakul, the central bank’s governor. Next year’s estimated headline inflation is 3.5 per cent and the policy rate is 3.5 per cent.

The BOT held the policy rate steady in October, after series of rate rises since July of last year, at 3.5 per cent.

"We have raised the rate from last year" and the current rate is close to the normal level, Prasarn said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-18

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NACC investigates Transport min's permanent secretary's assets after being robbed of Bt200 million

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Transport min reveals water will not be drained out of Don Muang airport yet, fears flood could affect surrounding communities via ThaiPBS

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Pattaya Wins Major Travel Destination Award

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Bkk gov disagrees with removing barrier along Hokwa canal. "Will cause more water to flow into area, could see flooding till nxt yr" /-ThaiPBS

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RT @tulsathit: Thaksin told Reuters he knew nothing about the amnesty decree because it was discussed at closed-door Cabinet meeting.

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Bkk gov disagrees with removing barrier along Hokwa canal. "Will cause more water to flow into area, could see flooding till nxt yr"-ThaiPBS/TAN_Network

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Yingluck's bio booklet makes the scene at Asean Summit

Copies of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's profile booklet were made available for the media during the 19th Asean Summit on Friday -- something that experienced journalists described as "unusual".

The eight-page booklet made of fine paper, entitled "Yingluck Shinawatra, the 28th Prime Minister of Thailand", outlines her brief biography, profile and work experiences. She is described in the bio as "a business executive, entrepreneur, developer, and loving mother".

-- The Nation 2011-11-18

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House Speaker says no-confidence debate against Justice Minister expected Nov 27 after Opposition lodges motion/MCOT

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POLICY RATE

"There's a room for rate cuts": Prasarn

Seetalavajit Sabayjai

The Nation

Bank of Thailand governor today signaled a possible cut in the policy rate at the monetary policy meeting on November 30 as interest rate and inflation are nearly on par.

"There is a room" for the accommodating policy, said Prasarn Trairatvorakul, the central bank’s governor.

Next year’s estimated headline inflation is 3.5 per cent and the policy rate is now 3.5 per cent.

The BOT held the policy rate steady in October, after series of rate hikes since July last year.

"We have raised the rate from last year" and the current rate is close to the normalised level, Prasarn said.

There are calls for a steep cut of upto 1 percentage point, as the economy is expected to contract in the fourth quarter due to severe floods.

-- The Nation 2011-11-18

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Interior Ministry aims to extend free tollway fees and postpone water/electricity bill collecting in flooded areas/TAN_Network

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Kasikorn Research Center: Not so bright for Thailand's economy nxt yr, affectd by floods, foreign economy swaying, political issues emerging/TAN_Network

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RT@ Biz_TheNation: SET index midday Fri. at 984.76,down 8.62 pts, 0.87% in line with global shares

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RT@ tukky_nt:Major Cineplex will reopen its branches at Ratchayothin&Chaengwattana on Nov 19, Fashion Island on Nov 22, and Phetchakasem on Nov 24 TR @Thairath_News

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PAD to rally against amnesty decree Monday

The People's Alliance for Democracy will Monday hold a rally against a draft decree reportedly aimed at providing royal pardon for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

PAD spokesman Parnthep Puaphanpong posted a message on his Facebook page that the yellow-shirt movement would stage a rally in front of the Council of State on Monday from 10 am to 6 pm.

The Cabinet has approved a draft decree to seek royal pardon for convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday. Thaksin's opponents that the decree's criteria would make it eligible for Thaksin to receive royal pardon for his two-year jail term.

-- The Nation 2011-11-18