Thailand Live Sunday 20 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Sunday 20 November 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

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Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 19 Nov 2011

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[Lite Beer]

PAD vows to thwart govt on Thaksin pardon

Techawat Sukrak

The Nation on Sunday

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) vowed to exploit all legal avenues to stop the government's attempt to help ex-premier Thaksin Shinwatra, brother of Prime Minister Yingluck, escape a jail term through a royal pardon.

Follow this link:http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513542-pad-vows-to-thwart-government-on-thaksin-pardon/page__view__findpost__p__4859055

[Lite Beer]

Inner Bangkok will stay dry, PM says

THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513543-inner-bangkok-will-stay-dry-pm-says/page__view__findpost__p__4859061

[Lite Beer]

Yingluck backs US initiatives

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

Kittipong Thavevong

The Nation on Sunday

Bali, Indonesia

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513544-yingluck-backs-us-initiatives/page__view__findpost__p__4859066

[Lite Beer]

Feuding residents reach compromise

The Nation on Sunday

Phrayasuren gate to be opened further; Lam Lukka residents to be compensated

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513546-feuding-residents-reach-compromise/page__view__findpost__p__4859070

[Lite Beer]

LIFESTYLE

Brace for the Big Scrub

Kamolpan Nuchpongsai

Special to The Nation on Sunday

Welcome your house back from its underwater adventure with a refreshing blast of chlorine

I've volunteered to help in various ways during the flood crisis, but it wasn't until I read about someone contracting leptospirosis while cleaning their salvaged house that I realised my personal experience could be put to use.

I inherited my parents' cleaning business and, having provided the service to many corporations, I knew my information could be useful for others affected by the calamity. So I started writing a blog - a guide to safely cleaning up buildings after the flood recedes. What follows are a few of the best tips.

Cleaning up after a flood is obviously far tougher than normal household chores, requiring a lot of time and energy. Don't expect your house to be shiny again in a matter of days.

Before beginning your major post-flood makeover, check the electrical system thoroughly. Switch off the main power and have a technician hunt for possible leaks and damage. You might have to replace wiring and sockets, and this could take days, but it's crucial for safety.

The next important chores are to get rid of any residual floodwater and kill off all the germs and fungus, which can cause serious health problems. You don't want to live in a house where germs have been left to go on incubating.

Once the power is up and running again, get equipped for the big cleanup. Wear latex gloves, boots and a mask at all times to protect against those germs and mould and also high-power bleaches and cleansing chemicals.

Keep a fan blowing the fumes out while you work but leave the air conditioner alone until your whole property is squeaky-clean. The air con might not be damaged, but it would suck bacteria into the filter, where they'd breed the next generation.

Whatever has fungus growing on it that's moveable, drag it outside to either clean it or get rid of it. Throw away what you can - incinerate it if that's possible.

If there's mould on the walls, floors or any furniture that's too big to shift, try and get it off with a vacuum cleaner or high-power water hose.

Empty the house as much as possible and clean the floors first. Hose them down thoroughly and scrape then with wooden mop.

Attack the fungus with 1cc of chlorine mixed in a litre of water. Spray the solution all over the place before scrubbing with floor polish. Then pour boiling water on the floor.

To get rid of grease, stubborn stains and smells, use a potion made with organic enzymes. It prevents dampness from lingering after the cleaning, and the effects can last up to six months.

You'll need to replace the flooring, especially vinyl, carpeting or parquet. First, though, lift the flooring up to dry the space beneath it. This could take a while, but it has to be completely dry.

Throw away carpeting. In most cases it's not worth the outrageous professional cleaning fee. If you have some expensive rugs you must keep, dry them in the sun before taking them to the cleaners.

Sorry, but that wallpaper also has to go.

If any electrical appliances spent time in the water, dry them in the sun and have a technician inspect them before you even think about plugging them in.

Items made of glass, plastic and melamine can be cleaned in a gallon of water containing two tablespoons of chlorine. Soak them for 10 minutes, then dry carefully. Then clean them again with dishwashing detergent.

Chlorine should not be used on metals, including silver, because it might discolour the surface. Boil metal items for 10 minutes to kill off germs and clean them with dishwashing soap.

Built-in furniture should be cleaned thoroughly with chlorine and water. Make sure the cupboards and closets are completely dry before putting your belongings back.

Other moveable furniture - like beds, drawers and latex mattresses - should be cleaned in the open air with chlorine. Dry them thoroughly too.

Furniture made of softwood isn't really worth salvaging, but if it's sterner, harder wood such as teak, it can be successfully restored. Reupholster cushioned sofas and seats once the frames are cleaned and dried.

Clothes pulled from the floodwater must be immediately washed in hot water and dried in the sunshine.

Soaked paper documents, photographs and books should be rinsed well, put in plastic bags and placed in the freezer to prevent the paper from sticking together. When you have time, clean them slowly, one by one: let the frozen pages thaw and dab them with a clean cloth. You might need professional help in some cases.

Throw away wet mattresses, pillows and stuffed dolls. Please don't donate them to charity!

Kamolpan is an assistant managing director at Far East Peerless (Thailand) 1968.

Her blog in Thai is at www.iUrban.in.th/highlight/cleanhouseafterflooding.

NEED HELP?

>> The Engineering Institute of Thailand has 150 engineers who have volunteered to check flood victims' house structure, electrical system and waterworks. Leave your name, address and phone number at (080) 812 3733, (080) 812 3743 or (080) 812 2853 between 9am and 5pm. Other engineers who want to volunteer can call (02) 184 4600-9.

>> Engineers at the Metropolitan Electricity Authority have volunteered to provide advice on electrical safety. Call (02) 256 3222 or visit www. MEA.or.th.

>> Pruksa Real Estate and Dr Amorn Pimanmas of the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology have produced a guide to securing and cleaning your house after the flood. Downloaded it from www.Pruksa.com.

[Lite Beer]

Tollways not free after tonight

The Nation on Sunday

After midnight today, motorists will have to start paying toll fees, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) said yesterday. EXAT had agreed to let people use the expressway routes for free during the flood crisis.

In related news, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) yesterday reminded owners of cars parked at its parking lots to move their vehicles before 5am December 6, or owners will be charged Bt300 daily if they use the subway and Bt1,000 per day if they do not.

The MRTA had offered free parking space to Bangkok residents affected by the flood from November 5 to December 5.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

[Lite Beer]

Farmers to get paid for damage

Floods have damaged about 146,000 rai of paddy fields and more than 60,000 rai of cassava plantations in 20 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima, the province's Agricultural Office revealed yesterday.

The office's acting chief Boonthin Detsoongnern said farmers whose fields had been damaged would get Bt2,222 per rai in compensation, while owners of cassava plantations would get Bt3,150 per rai. Boonthin vowed that the compensation would be paid by January.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

[Lite Beer]

Buddhist chanting for good luck

The Nation on Sunday

A chanting ceremony and meditation session was held yesterday from 9am at Bangkok's Emerald Buddha Temple to help boost people's morale and attract good luck to the Kingdom.

The ceremony, presided over by Wat Sa Ket abbot Somdet Phra Buddhajarn and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, was attended by 184 monks and many devout Buddhists. Similar ceremonies were also organised in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkhla.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

[Lite Beer]

Flood toll hits 595, with two missing

The Nation on Sunday

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department yesterday reported that the flooding has claimed 595 lives so far, with two people still missing.

The deluge has affected nearly 2 million families in 130 districts of 18 provinces, namely Bangkok, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et, Kalasin, Chachoengsao and Nakhon Nayok.

Meanwhile, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry, Dr Paijit Warajit, said nearly 2.2 million were suffering from flood-related health problems, mostly athlete's foot, influenza and rash. Medical teams have also reported that 6,700 people were under severe stress, 8,317 people suffered from depression and 2,341 people should be put on suicide watch.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

[Lite Beer]

BMA launches big clean-up campaign

Tanatpong Kongsai

The Nation on Sunday

More than 1,000 people gathered yesterday to participate in a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration campaign and helped sweep Phaholyothin Road clean now that flood waters have receded.

Meanwhile, the restoration of Highway 340 (Bang Bua Thong-Suphan Buri), an alternative route to the South, was completed on Friday night, Wanchai Phaklak, director general of the Department of Highways said. He added that the department would seek Bt1.8 billion in funding to restore and repair the 27 roads affected by flooding across the country.

Though Highway 340 has been completely restored, Wanchai is urging motorists to use Rama II Road, which also links to the South, as the highway is not clean yet.

The BMA clean-up campaign was launched yesterday after flood waters in Lat Phrao intersection, which has been submerged for the past few weeks, started subsiding. The volunteers, including police officers, soldiers and private companies, cleaned up six kilometres between Kamphaeng Phet and Ratchayothin intersections.

The BMA provided 700 sets of each cleaning material, including brooms, brushes, shovels and detergent, in addition to 25 trucks to hose down the area.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the campaign would continue until all submerged areas in the capital have been cleaned up.

The volunteers will head for Bangkok's Bang Phlat district today to clean up the area near the Tesco Lotus superstore branch on Charan Sanitwong Road.

Meanwhile, many areas in Ang Thong province, namely Tambon Phongpheng in Pa Moke district, have dried up and residents have started cleaning their homes that have been under water since August 27. However, some villages in the tambon are still under a metre or two of water.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

[Lite Beer]

Army chief orders reshuffle

The Nation on Sunday

General Prayuth Chan-ocha has approved the reshuffle of 221 Army colonels in a bid to consolidate his power base.

Dozens of soldiers who are close to the Army chief and his colleagues from Class 12 of the Armed Forces' Preparatory School were given key positions in various army units under reshuffle orders signed by Prayuth on Friday, sources said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

[Lite Beer]

Aide to Pracha admits lack of planning at FROC

Prapasri Osathanon

Praphan Jindalert-udomdee

The Nation on Sunday

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513548-aide-to-pracha-admits-lack-of-planning-at-froc/page__view__findpost__p__4859093

[Lite Beer]

Plain sailing as Keerati, Ek, Navin and Siriporn take gold

The Nation

Thai sailors clinched four gold medals out of the possible nine in the sailing competition of the SEA Games in Indonesia yesterday.

At Ancol Marina in Jakarta, teenager Keerati Bualong, who hails from Nakhon Pathom and who produced consistent performance throughout, won the last two races to claim the title in the men's Laser Class Radial division.

Keerati, the 19-year-old, never finished outside the top two in nine out of 10 races, which saw him finish with a nine-point win over Malaysia' Mohd Romzi Mohamad. Choo Jian Jie of Singapore completed the podium.

Fourteen-year-old Sarawut Phetsiri and a 15-year-old girl Kamolwan Chanyim had to settle for the runners-up spot in the Optimist Class Open and women's Laser Class Radial divisions respectively.

The Chon Buri native, Sarawut, had to play second fiddle to Singapore's Elisa Yukie, who finished first in all but one race, throughout the contest. Ahmad Syukri of Malaysia claimed the bronze.

However, it was a close duel between Kamolwan and Chan Jing Hua of Singapore, who recovered from a disqualification in the first race before edging the Thai to the gold medal by a five-point margin. Malaysia's Nur Amirah Binti ended up in the third spot.

Singaporean duo Liu Xiaodan and Tan Li Ching produced a near blemish free record by winning all but one out of 10 races on their way to the title in women's International 470 Class, leaving Thai pair Narisara Yusawat and Yupa Suwannawat content with only the bronze.

Thailand scored a hat-trick of gold medals in windsurfing event, with Navin Singsrart's triumph in the men's Mistral OD Man division the most impressive one.

Trailing behind favourite Oka Sulaksana of Indonesia after three days of racing, Navin saved his best for the last by winning the final two races, which drew him level on points with the veteran Indonesian.

With the two finishing either first or second in identical numbers, the race was decided on the result of the final round and the title went to the 23-year-old Thai.

Thailand made a clean sweep in the RSX division, with Ek Boonsawad, who led the way from the opening day, and a 17-year-old girl Siriporn Kaewduang-ngam being crowned in men's and women's categories respectively.

-- The Nation 2011-11-20

[Lite Beer]

Dusit Poll: Residents complain of higher costs for food, shelter, transportation; wanna buy boats, prepare homes for next flood/TAN_Network

BMA organizes Big Cleaning Day for the Bangplad area today/TAN_Network

Big Cleaning Day in Bangplad starts at 10AM at Tesco Lotus Charansanitwongs branch; join if you can! Use public transport n bring supplies/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

High pressure system from China causes rain in North, temps to decrease 3-5 degrees; South to see more rain; Bkk temps 25-33 degree/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Water situation in BKK improves in main canals; Bangchan industrial estate under watch after sluice gates opened/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Cleaning efforts being organized this morning: Bangplad, Pinklao Bridge in Thonburi side; Ratchayothin Intersection/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Fears for ancient Thai temples as floods recede - Focus

by Kelly Macnamara

AYUTTHAYA, November 20, 2011 (AFP) - The ruined temples of Ayutthaya have survived centuries of tropical heat and rain, but experts fear some have been weakened by Thailand's devastating floods and may be at risk of collapse.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513570-fears-for-ancient-thai-temples-as-floods-recede/page__view__findpost__p__4859378

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok governor leads "Big Cleaning" day in Bangkok Noi district after flood recedes; workers clean now-dry road at Ratchayothin/MCOT

Floodwater in Lam Luk Ka recedes after sluice gates widened as earlier agreed among concerned parties; Sai Mai district still unaffected/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Natural Resources/Environment Minister: gov't to quickly drain floodwater from Bkk by Dec 4 so residents can celebrate HM's birthday/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

RT @satitrangsit: Satit Rangsit re-scheduled the opening of Term 2 on Jan 6, 2012 due to the flooding: sbs.ac.th/via@tukky_nt

[Lite Beer]

In a letter, former PM Thaksin says he believes gov't won't pass law to benefit any one person, including him/TAN_Network

"We Love Don Mueang" group to meet at 11 AM to find peaceful solution to stagnant floodwater in the area; say they will not protest/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

NIDA Poll: Most respondents against proposed royal pardon decree; if gov't passes to benefit Thaksin, things will get messy again/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

RT@tucky_nt: Thaksin's statement on amnesty in brief:

"I support all measures that will lead to national reconciliation and do not want to see any attempt that will sour the atmosphere.

I am prepared to sacrifice my personal happiness though I have not received justice during the last five years.

[on royal pardon] I trust in the principle govt wont do anything that will benefit me or any individual specifically.

[to his supporters]..please don’t be disappointed as when the light of justice emerges, all will be settled

)Finally,I call upon all parties who truly love Thailand to know the words“forgive and forget”by forgiving each other and forget the past

in order to face new dimensions of tmrw for the sake of our country and younger generations. (END)

Thaksin statement sent from Dubai.

[Lite Beer]

PHUKET OPINION: Patong-style wisdom faces the fragrance

PHUKET POLLUTION: Will the chocolate balls and their 'plumes' finally be taken off the menu in Patong?

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513599-phuket-opinion-patong-style-wisdom-faces-the-fragrance/page__view__findpost__p__4859586

[Lite Beer]

Police have arrested 6 burglars who robbed Transport Perm-Sec's house; confiscated 16 million in cash; 4 more still on the run/TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Thaksin Writes Open Letter Supporting All Measures for National Reconciliation

On his personal Facebook page, Noppadon Pattama, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra’s legal advisor, posted an open letter from Thailand’s former leader dated November 20, 2011. The letter was written in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513596-letter-from-thaksin-shinawatra/page__view__findpost__p__4859602

[Lite Beer]

Thaksin: Govt not do anything to benefit me especially

The Nation

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has call on Thais to have reconciliation and express confidence that government of his sister will not do anything to benefit him especially.

Follow this link:http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513596-letter-from-thaksin-shinawatra/page__view__findpost__p__4859558