Thailand Live Monday 21 Nov 2011

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water level inside Banwha Hi-tech Industrial estate down to abt 80 cm from over 2 meters http://lockerz.com/s/158093031 /via @tonravee

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5.9-magnitude quake hits Myanmar -- USGS

RANGON, Nov 21 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted Myanmar at 09:45:43 a.m. local time (03:15:43 GMT) on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter, with a depth of 121.00 km, was initially determined to be at 24.9466 degrees north latitude and 95.2263 degrees east longitude. (Xinhua).

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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RT @suthichai: RT @ReutersIndia: Suu Kyi to run for Myanmar parliament seat http://reut.rs/t2bBR9

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DevCon Asia to be Relocated due to Flooding in Bangkok

Due to the current high levels of flooding in Bangkok, Research In Motion (RIM) has decided BlackBerry DevCon Asia will not take place in Bangkok this year.

The decision was made following advisories that warn of ongoing dangers related to the serious impact of rain and floods on the local infrastructure in Bangkok, where the conference was scheduled to take place. The safety of attendees at any BlackBerry event is of utmost importance to RIM.

RIM is committed to the developer community in Asia and we are currently evaluating new locations and possibly new dates for the conference. Further details will be communicated in the coming days. We regret not being able to hold the conference in Bangkok this year, but we look forward to returning the event to Bangkok in the future.

RIM apologies to all current registrants for the late notice and inconvenience this may have caused, but appreciates their understanding due to the unforeseen circumstances that Bangkok is currently suffering.

Existing registrations will remain active pending confirmation of the location and timing for the DevCon Asia event.

Questions should be directed to [email protected]

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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Flood disaster photo contest organised by Culture Ministry

The Culture Ministry invited interested Thai or foreign professional or amateur photographers to submit their digitalformat photos of flood disaster so that they could be selected to be displayed at the "Nam+Jai 2554" (Water+Empathy 2011) photo exhibition.

The exhibition hosted by the ministry, the BACC, the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of HM the King, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Ayutthaya province was aimed to record this history incident and reflect people’s empathy and aids to one another in the face of this major crisis.

The money earned would be proceeded to the fund for ancient sites’ restoration. The ministry also received the photos taken by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to present in this exhibition.

The exhibition will be held from December 830 at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center’s ninth floor and from December 1115 at the Ayutthaya City Hall’s Tourism Center, as well as being shown at www.bigcamera.co.th/water+empathy2011. For more information, call 0221466308 extension 519,520 or visit www.bacc.or.th.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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State-owned Transport Co returns bus services to south-bound Bus Terminal at Boromratchachonnanee Road from Wednesday as flooding eases /MCOT

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RT @USEmbassyBKK: US Military &t he Royal Thai Army joined forces to restore a Lopburi school affected by the floods http://on.fb.me/uCpPyA

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AFP: Thai government backs off Thaksin pardon plan

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New metropolitan police chief, Special Branch police chief appointed

New chiefs of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Special Branch Police Bureau were appointed as part of 46 senior police officers' reshuffle announced Monday.

The command to appoint officer came forth Monday and was countersigned by the prime minister.

Pol Lt Gen Thanakorn Siri-at, commissioner of the Police Budget Bureau, was transferred to the position of the Special Branch Bureau commissioner.

Thanakorn replaced Pol Lt Gen Trithos Ronaritwichai, who was transferred to the inactive post of the commissioner attached to the Royal Thai Police.

Pol Maj Gen Winai Thongsong was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and position of the metropolitan police commissioner.

Winai replaced Pol Lt Gen Jakthip Chaichinda, who was transferred to become the commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 9.

The reshuffle also saw Pol Gen Pongsaphat Pongcharone, promoted from the position of an advisor for the Royal Thai Police, to become a deputy police commissioner-general.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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Vocational education office opens 84 shelters for over 14,000 flood victims

Flood victims can seek help from the Office of Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) via its hotline 1156 round the clock.

To date, its 84 shelters have accommodated 14,782 floodhit people.

In response to Ovec secretary general Dr Chaiyapruek Serirak's policy, teachers at the vocational schools and colleges also led their students into providing services to people in floodravaged areas.

Students' service hours can be translated into academic credits in their course.

The students have now cooked 54,000 food boxes each day. They have also produced 1,786 floatable toilets.

Moreover, they have already built 104 boats and given them to the Flood Relief Operation Centre.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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SOUTH CRISIS

Nine injured in Pattani violence, another killed in Yala

The Nation

Three monks, three policemen and three local residents were slightly wounded after a homemade bomb went off in front of a laundry on Charoen Pradit Road in Pattani's Muang district on Monday morning.

The monks from Wat Khajorn Pracharam, guarded by three policemen, were collecting alms when the three-kilogram bomb, hidden under a flowerpot near Nuch Laundry Shop was detonated by remote control and exploded when the group was about five metres away, said Muang Pattani Police Station Superintendent Pol Col Somporn Meesuk.

The wounded - Phra Jin Panichkul, 52, Phra Yongyuth Khaoborisut, 35, Phra Worapong Sutthipong, 54, Pol Cpl Thanom Khonwai, 29, Pol Cpl Kampanart Malawan, 28, Pol Cpl Prakarn Chedipeng, 26, as well as civilians Chat Suk-ubol, 72, Chid Suk-ubol, 70 and Yeun Sukhonkhet, 72 - were rushed to Pattani hospital. Police suspected the bomb was laid by insurgents with the aim of creating chaos in the region.

Pattani Deputy Governor Lertkiat Wongphopan later commented that the attack on monks and monk-protection officers reflected the insurgents' intention to attack symbolic targets and to discredit the Thai security force, as the incident took place on the route included in the security plan. They also wished to create disunity in this multi-culture society and attract public attention.

In neighbouring Yala province, an explosion took place in a shack inside a banana plantation in Tambon Wang Phraya, Raman district, at 10.45am on Monday morning. Police found the body of Yako Ya-ngo, 55, in front of the shack. Nearby was a 70cm-deep 80cm-wide hole from the five-kilogram bomb impact and pieces of the metal box, electric wiring and the battery. The investigation revealed that Yako, a security volunteer for Raman district, was inspecting his banana plantation when he stepped on the bomb and detonated it. As Yako had been shot at twice before, police suspect southern insurgents were behind the attack, possibly the group led by suspected insurgent Kama Chaichana, which operates in the district and is wanted in connection with several national security cases.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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Heavy Downpours in South Fuel Flood Fear

Several southern provinces continue to be battered with continuous heavy rainfall while the flood crisis has alleviated in various provinces.

Flood levels in many areas of Nakhon Sawan Province remain worrisome, especially at Moo 13 and 14 of Bangkian Subdistrict in Chum Saeng District.

Homes and commercial buildings remain under over one meter deep floodwater.

Parents are forced to use shuttle boats to send and pick up their children from schools everyday.

Six districts of Nakhon Sawan are still grappling with flooding, namely Kao Liaw, Chum Saeng, Payuhakiri, Krokphra, Tha Tago and Muang District.

Baan Tago Sung area of Muang District in Uthai Thaini has been under 60-80 centimeters of floodwater for more than three months.

Locals believe it will take at least two weeks before the flood situation improves.

They have been left without any means to make a living during the floods.

Left with nothing to do, residents have been forced to fish and collect wild vegetables to eat.

Baan Gud Pla Khao School in Ubon Ratchathai Province has been forced to suspend classes since September when the province became flooded.

The school reopens for the first day today with only 60 percent of students turning up for classes.

Some of them are unable to make their way to the school as various areas remain flooded.

Three out of five schools in the province have reopened.

Meanwhile, the south of Thailand is now faced with heavy rain.

The weather department has issued a severe weather alert for southern provinces from today until November 26.

Various areas of Pattani Province are seeing continuous downpours.

Local authorities have dug up new floodways to ensure the rain is drained quickly out into the Pattani River.

Yala Province is also seeing heavy rainfall.

Provincial authorities have cleaned up waterways and drains in the old market community and Pattani River to prepare for possible inundation.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-21

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SET index closed at 965.07, down 19.09; Bt/USD30.93; GBP48.47; AUD30.54; EUR41.49; CAD29.84; HKD3.97; SGD23.66; JPY40.04

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NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION

PM Yingluck likely to be attacked during censure debate

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BMA cancels light and sound event

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administrative (BMA) will cancel the Father's Day celebration's light and sound event in order to put the Bt30 million budget into building the permanent flood embankment along Mahasawat Canal next year instead, a senior official said Monday.

BMA clerk Charoenrat Chutikan said Bangkok flood caused extensive damages and affected people especially those living in Western Bangkok where there was no permanent floodprevention embankment. The flood and HM the King’s concern about flood situation prompted BMA to cancel the light and sound show, aimed to celebrate the king’s 84th birthday anniversary from December 511, at the Grand Palace Wall, and transfer the budget to help build the flood embankment in Western Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

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Regular Bus Services Resume after Floods

The city bus authority has canceled special free bus services on two routes.

The normal services on seven previous routes made inaccessible by floods have resumed.

Meanwhile, the Chao Phraya express boat service between Nonthaburi and Rajsingkorn Temple also resumes operation today.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority or BMTA has canceled the special free bus services on two routes.

One of the routes runs from the Victory Monument via the Ekkamai Expressway to Ramintra Road's Kilometer 8.

Commuters have been advised to use air-conditioned bus Number 26.

The free services on a special route from the Victory Monument, via Don Muang Expressway, to Talad Thai has also been discontinued.

Commuters have been advised to use air-conditioned bus Number 510 instead.

Thirty buses will operate from the Victory Monument via the Don Muang Expressway to Talad Thai and another 10 buses will run from the Victory Monument to Chatuchak Market and Thai PBS television station.

After the flood situation in various areas has improved, the BMTA decided to start collecting normal bus fees today.

Passengers will now need to pay, as per usual, for bus services on bus Number 29 that runs from Mor Chit 2 to the Victory Monument, bus Number 34 and 59 that run from Bang Khen to Chatuchak and bus Number 95 from Bang Ken to Bang Kapi.

The fee exemption was also canceled for bus Number 543 that runs from Ramintra to Klong 7 and bus Number 516 that runs from Big King's to Kanchanapisek, Barom Ratchonnanee, Pinklao and Tevet.

In the meantime, the Chao Phraya express boat resumes its service today.

The Orange Flag route or Nonthaburi-Rajsingkorn Temple route is once again operational.

Commuters can contact 02-623-6001 to 3 for more information on the express boat service.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-21

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BMA not opening Khlong Thawi Wattana sluice gate at 1 metre high as demanded by Nonthaburi residents; fear of affecting water level in inner Bangkok /MCOT

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Phuket's 'Grumpy Old Men' on mercy mission for flood victims

Phuket's Grumpy Old Men's Society are rallying support for a flood relief convoy to Nakhon Sawan.

Harry Usher loads up a pickup truck with flood aid items at Lady Pie in Cherng Talay.

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Phuket police go to town on drug dealers

FAMILY BUSINESS: Arrested by Phuket police in raids were (from left) Kriangkrai Kuangmuang, Teerapong Pimpa, Sorrapong Kuangmuang, Chaowarit Kuangmuang and Nathi Boonchuay.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513879-phuket-police-go-to-town-on-drug-dealers/page__view__findpost__p__4862842

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RT@Terryfrd: Dr Seri's call for help for embattled Som O growers in nakorn prathom has got good response, but there is still a huge need for sandbags

RT@Terryfrd: Dr Seri suggested, I think seriously, that they take those big bags at Don Muang & bring them to Nakorn Pathom.

RT@Terryfrd: Never a big fan of the big bag barrier, Dr Seri says removing them might speed up drainage of north by 10 days. Few other options he says.

RT@Terryfrd: Those long canals, 20kms plus, in both west & north make efficient drainage difficult. Pumps needed badly, something he has suggested before

RT@Terryfrd: Simply put, inundation remains on both sides of the river because it is difficult to remove in present situation. No magic bullet.

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to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 22 Nov 2011

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