Thailand Live Monday 21 Nov 2011

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Evacuees flocking back to Bangkok after flooding situation eases, INN reports /TANN

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Flood-effected Don Muang residents: "If no progress is seen, next move is to block the tollway", springnews reports /TANN

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Ayutthaya drains flood; holds 'Big Cleaning Day' for Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate

AYUTTHAYA, Nov 21 – Thailand’s historic central province of Ayutthaya, heavily hit in the recent floods, is holding a 'Big Cleaning Day' for the Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate after floodwaters have drained, according to Ayutthaya governor Wittaya Phewpong.

Mr Wittaya said that holding the Bang Pa-In cleaning day is to show the readiness of the authorities to rehabilitate the estate and restore foreign investor confidence.

Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate is one of seven industrial estates and parks in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani including Saha Rattana Nakhon, Rojana, Hi-Tech, Factory Land, Nava Nakorn and Bangkadi that were forced to close due to the deep floodwater.

Mr Wittaya said that the Labour, Industry, and Public Health Ministries cooperated to revive Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate in accordance with its 58 day-rehabilitation plan, from Oct 20-Dec 16.

The plan includes draining floodwater, reducing the water level by 50 per cent to pave the way for factory owners to repair plants damaged by the flood, he said.

It was expected that the factories could resume running their production lines and workers return to their duties by Dec 16, he said, adding that some 60-70 factories of the estate’s 90 factories could resume operations.

Meanwhile, at Rojana Industrial Estate, also in Ayutthaya, powerful water pumps with 24,000 cubic metres per day capacity operated round-the-clock for nine days and lowered 2.50 metre floodwater in Phase 1 Zone 1 to 40cm.

With assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which provided 10 pump vehicles, it was expected that the mission to revive all three phases of the Rojana estate could be completed earlier than planned as it could be dry by next week. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-21

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Chao Phraya expresss boat resume service Nov 21, orange-flag bt Nontaburi-Rajsingkorn templ 6am-7pm /Tourist bt Sathorn-PraArthit pier 9.30am-4pm

/TANN

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RT @veen_NT: RT @ACSBKK: BKK's Criminal Court reopens today. Still unsure how rescheduling will work for court dates missed b/c of flooding.

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TOT Puts off Full 3G Service Launch Due to Floods

National telecommunications operator TOT has delayed launching its full 3G service until December due to the floods.

TOT Executive Vice President for Regional Sales and Service, Rungsun Channarukul said the company has to postpone the launch of its full 3G broadband service, worth nearly 16 billion baht, until December as the recent flooding has prevented the company from installing equipment in many areas.

TOT has already launched 3G service in 18 provinces.

The company is currently surveying damage to its warehouse facilities in flood-hit areas and is determining which areas they will be able to resume installing 3G equipment.

Rungsun added that the company is currently short of technical staff to install the equipment since many of them have also been affected by the floods.

He said the company will reassess the situation once the flooding abates.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-21

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'Waste For Eggs' Project Organized to Solve Pollution Problems: Thailand

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RT @suthichai: Friends from the South have reported heavy downpours in Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Yala, Narathiwat since last night.

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Buriram Airport Services Halted as Don Muang Airport Flooded

Buriram Airport Director Sommai Chaiyanit announced to residents, business travelers, and passengers with plans to travel on Nok Airlines that the Buriram airport is being closed temporarily.

Flights from Buriram Province to Bangkok have been canceled or postponed until the situation at Don Muang airport returns to normal.

As of now, Nok Airlines has only two flights per week for passengers who want to fly from Buriram to Bangkok, one on Friday, and one on Sunday.

By halting the flight services, it has seriously affected airline operators and residents who travel by plane for business matters.

However, the airline's services will resume once the situation at Don Muang airport returns to normal.

Previously, plane services were halted from October 28 until November 10, as floodwater covered Don Muang airport's runway, preventing planes from landing.

In Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Sakon Nakhon provinces, Nok Airlines is still operating as usual, since the flight's operation center was temporarily moved to Suwannabhumi airport.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-21

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Govt's Amnesty Push Causes Concerns in Tourism Industry

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Japanese automakers in Thailand resume operations incld Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Hino, FM100.5 reports /TANN

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FROC agrees to Don Muang reps 6 demands, satisfied locals disperse /via INN /TANN

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Yingluck Urged to Review Thaksin Pardon Bid

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AMLO Probes into Former Transport Permanent Sec's Wealth

The Anti-Money Laundering Office has begun an inquiry into the source of wealth obtained by a former permanent secretary for the Transport Ministry after the recent robbery of his home has revealed that he has hundreds of millions baht in his possession.

Acting Secretary-General of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, or AMLO, Police Colonel Seeharnart Prayoonrat said officials and police investigators are looking into documents and other evidence to find out how former Permanent Secretary for Transport Supoj Saplom has accumulated his wealth.

Supoj has become under scrutiny after a recent robbery at his residence revealed that he had hundreds of millions baht's worth of cash kept at home.

Many speculated that his total wealth could amount to a billion baht.

Seehanart said his agency has yet to call in the former permanent secretary to testify.

If he is found in possession of a billion baht in assets, it will need to check if the assets were properly declared.

He said Supoj's assets will not be seized until it becomes clear that he is found guilty of any wrongdoing.

The interim AMLO chief said he could not tell how long the investigation will take because it also depends on cooperation of the banks.

He insisted that the investigation will be carried out with due fairness.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-21

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SET index midday down 3.29 pts, 0.33 pct

November 21

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Monday stood at 980.87, down 3.29 points, or 0.33 per cent in line with regional shares amid light trade of Bt 7.71 billion.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 685.91, down 2.89 points, or 0.42 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: PTTGC, BANPU, TOP, PTT, SCB.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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AFP: Thailand growth picks up, floods force outlook cut

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Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun are in Thailand; granted audience to PM Yingluck Mon. /MCOT

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Flooding remains at Petchkasem,The Mall (Bangkae);expressway traffic congested;flood to recede most areas w/in 7 days, Dr.Anond said /Nation

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Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand inspecting BigBag barriers at Don Muang and opening a full 1-stop rehabilitation center/TAN_Network

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RT@Biz_TheNation: Baht fell to 6-week low Mon. at 31.04/USD after announcement of 3.5% GDP growth for Q3 2011 vs 2.7% figure for Q2

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Locals of Maesod in Tak province still suffer frm expensive bottled-water from 55 up to 60-80bht despite water imported from abroad -ThaiPBS/TAN_Network

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Yala defence volunteer killed in explosion

Yala - A Muslim defence volunteer was killed when he stepped on a homemade bomb trap Monday.

Police said Yakoh Yangoh, 55, was killed when stepped on the bomb trap planned in his banana plantation at 10:45 am.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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FROC promises floodwaters' levels in most areas to drop in 7 days

The Flood Relief Operations Centre said Monday that levels of floodwaters in most areas will clearly go down in seven days.

The FROC's representative gave the promise while trying to pacify angry residents of communities near Rangsit Canal in Pathum Thani's Lakhok area.

The residents were lead by Democrat member Thankhun Jit-issara to submit their demand to the FROC representatives.

The protesters demanded the FROC to remove the big-bag floodwall, saying it caused floodwaters to become stagnant and polluted.

But the representatives asked them to be patient as the authorities were draining floodwaters into Prem Prachakorn Cnl and other canals.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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Phuket mob rises after accident kills two

The driver of the pickup truck, heading towards Phuket Town, allegedly lost control on the curve in the rain and collided with the motorbike. Photo: Wichai Wittawat

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513827-phuket-mob-rises-after-accident-kills-two/page__view__findpost__p__4862141

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Group of 50 protest unsolved flood problems blocking Paholyothin out bound rd near Navanakorn industrial estate causing traffic -FM100.5/TAN_Network

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ECONOMY

SCB expects 1.8% growth in 2011

The Nation

Siam Commercial Bank's Economic Intelligence Centre sharply revised down Thailand's 2011 economic growth forecast to 1.8 per cent, due to suspension in manufacturing activities which caused supply-chain disruptions, damage to agricultural crops as well as tourism.

In the fourth quarter, the economy should contract 4 per cent on year, compared to the third quarter, said Suthapa Amornvivat, the bank’s chief economist.

Yet, she believed that the economy would expand sharply in 2012, probably by 4.5 per cent, thanks to the government’s investment to rehabilitate the country. This will induce private investment. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector is expected to boost capacity in the second half in response to higher demand from local and foreign clients. Export value could rise 11 per cent next year, compared to nearly 20 per cent in 2011.

"Though, foreign direct investment may slow initially as damage evaluation is underway and damage to infrastructure," she said.

She also expects a cut in policy rate to help lower the financing cost. Inflation is also expected to gradually soften, in line with mild increases in oil prices as well as baht stabilisation.

Suthapa added that investor confidence in debt crisis in the euro zone would be two major economic risk factors in 2012. She noted that water management measures would be the key in restoring investor confidence.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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Phuket police swoop on two meth dealer suspects

Suspected Phuket drug dealers Somkiat (black shirt) and Anon (black and yellow). Photo: Warisa Temram

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513833-phuket-police-swoop-on-two-meth-dealer-suspects/page__view__findpost__p__4862171

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FLOOD FALLOUT

Developers see need for revised Bangkok plan

Somluck Srimalee

The Nation

Disaster reveals flaws in plan due to take effect next year, property firms say

Bangkok's poor ability to deal with major flooding, as demonstrated by the recent disaster, means the draft city plan that is supposed to come into effect next year needs to be revised, property developers say.

After flooding hit more than 300,000 homes in the capital and its suburbs since October, many developers say the City Planning Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) must include in the new plan proper floodways in residential areas.

But property firms themselves have also learned from the disaster. They will have to revise their construction processes, designing homes to withstand floods while spending more on landfill to ensure houses are above flood levels.

Pruksa Real Estate director and chief business officer Prasert Taedullayasatit said homes in such locations as Min Buri, Nong Chok and Lat Krabang faced flooding in November, meaning run-offs hit residential areas before floodways. And that means something is wrong with the city plan and flood-management system.

"We suggest that the City Planning Department revise its new city plan regarding the loca-tions of floodways and residential areas. This will help property de-velopers know which locations are suitable for building homes," he said.

Rising costs

Pruksa president and chief executive officer Thongma Vijitphongpun said the company also had to revise its construction processes in flood-prone locations by increasing its landfill in an effort to keep new homes above flood levels. This will drive up its construction costs by 1.5 per cent for detached-house projects and 3 per cent for townhouse projects.

After this flood, Pruksa has lowered its revenue target for this year from Bt30 billion to between Bt22 billion and Bt24 billion.

Business Housing Association president Issara Boonyoung, who also owns property firm Kanda Group, agreed that the BMA's City Planning Department had to take flood prevention into account before the new plan comes into effect because this was an urgent issue that would affect land use in Greater Bangkok.

"This is not only for property firms to manage their residential projects. This is necessary for home-buyers to know which locations are safe from floods," he said.

He added that this flood would change how property firms select locations to develop residential projects and would have a consequent impact on land prices.

"Land prices in locations that faced floods will drop by 10-20 per cent, while prices in locations that did not face floods will benefit from this event," he said.

Property market down

Thai Real Estate Association president Kittipol Pramote Na Ayudhya said the flood would have a direct impact on the property market in Greater Bangkok, which would drop by at least 33 per cent from Bt390 billion last year as people delay their decisions to buy or transfer homes in flooded areas.

Earlier, the Real Estate Information Centre (REIC) said 700,000 residential units in metropolitan Bangkok had sustained flood damage, 100,000 of which were in projects built by property firms and the rest built privately by landowners.

According to REIC figures, the Greater Bangkok property market this year will drop by 10-20 per cent. This includes newly registered homes in Bangkok and suburbs dropping from 107,000 units last year to 80,000-90,000 this year, a reduction of 15-25 per cent. Transfers of residences, both new projects and resale homes, in the metropolitan area will drop by 15-21 per cent, from 178,000 units last year to 140,000-150,000 this year.

The number of new condominium projects launched in Greater Bangkok this year will be 24-31 per cent lower than last year, from 66,000 units in 2010 to 45,000-50,000 units in 2011.

The number of new low-rise residences including detached houses, duplexes and townhouses will drop by 7-16 per cent from 54,000 units last year to 45,000-50,000 this year.

REIC research indicates that the property market will see reduced activity from the current quarter into the first quarter of next year

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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Government whip gives green light for no-confidence debate against Justice Minister Pracha by Opposition Nov 27; vote set for Nov 28/MCOT

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Hong Kong extends tourism ban on flood-hit Thailand

Hong Kong - Hong Kong on Monday extended a ban on tour groups travelling to Bangkok for a fifth week because of problems caused by flooding in the city. The ban has led to the cancellation of around 150 tours involving more than 3,000 people.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung said the ban would be extended until November 28 and involve tours being scrapped for another 100 people.

However, he said he was optimistic tours would resume in time for Christmas.

A Hong Kong government-imposed red travel alert, which advises against all non-essential travel, is still in place for Bangkok

-- The Nation 2011-11-21