Thailand Live Wednesday 23 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 23 November 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Tuesday 22 Nov 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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King relieved of abdominal pain

The Nation

His Majesty is no longer having pain in his abdomen, and his general condition is good and improving, a Royal Household Bureau statement said yesterday.

The King has been told about the ailments of his large intestine, which caused abdominal pain previously, said the 47th statement.

His body temperature and respiration have returned to normal, with fluid food intake, and he is undergoing medication intravenously, said the Royal Physicians.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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Trash, filthy water still a major problem: Flood aftermath

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Ocean surges slowing down flood drainage: expert

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Nonthaburi residents up in arms: Thailand flood

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CORRUPTION

NACC begins probe into Suphoth case

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SCG issues booklets offering repair tips

WANNAPA KHAOPA

THE NATION

Siam Cement Group (SCG) has issued booklets educating people on the things they should watch out for when inspecting and repairing their homes once the floods start receding.

These booklets will be handed out to public by the end of this month.

"Everybody can repair his home. We don't want people to start rushing to buy building materials and hiring workmen. It is not a good idea because it will cause a shortage of materials and workmen and will also drive up the prices," said Sunchai Khanan, director of the Nai Chang Dee Academy.

Instead, he said, people could follow these 10 suggestions listed in the SCG booklets:

- Prepare rubber or cloth gloves, plastic boots, face masks and circuit-testing devices.

- Call the authorities to check whether electricity has been cut in their areas and stay away from all electrical outlets that were flooded. People should wait until their homes have dried out, and if they can't wait, then an electrician should accompany them.

- Check and clean flooded water-supply equipment, with the exception of pumps, which should be handled by electricians.

- Clean and unclog sanitaryware.

- Do not use the front door if it is swollen, because repairing it might end up costing more. Enter the house using another entrance. The front door can then be eased open from the inside with a chisel, though a second lock may have to be used.

- Clean tile floors and try not to walk around on wet parquet floors until they are dried out. Do not pull out parquet tiles to dry them.

- Keep all doors and windows open to air the house and then wipe down the walls using toilet cleaner, ammonia or alcohol to kill germs.

- Inspect fences and electric posts near the house to see if they are at the risk of collapsing.

- Beware of snakes and other venomous animals when checking damaged furniture.

- Sandbags can be emptied over rotting grass.

SCG has five teams of experts who can offer advice and even provide training to groups of 20-30 for free. Call (02) 586 2433 to make an appointment from today onwards.

People seeking one-on-one advice can call (02) 586 2222, during office hours from Monday to Friday, starting from December 1 onwards.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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Thai Govt Affirms Same Flood Compensation Standard Nationwide

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BURNING ISSUE

Censure debate against Pracha may lack sting

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EDITORIAL

Flood disaster reveals the true national spirit: Thai opinion

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One killed, seven held in drug sting

THE NATION

A suspect was shot dead and seven others arrested during a police raid at a housing estate in Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district early yesterday.

The police unit also confiscated 768,000 tablets of ya ba and 46 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth a total of Bt400 million, Drug Suppression Police chief Chaiwat Chotima told the press yesterday.

Police shot dead a man in his 30s, identified only as Ton, and found drugs stashed in a pickup truck. The officers also arrested Ton's alleged accomplices - Worawit Sonchimplee, 26, Sura Munon, 22; Jaturong Homthien, 18; Itthipong Taengphong, 21; Rattanyu Leungchukiat, 19; Narongchai Nimmanee, 34; and Veeradech Thantanod, 31.

On Monday night, the gang moved the drugs from a rented house in Rajapreuk Ville onto a pick-up truck to deliver to a customer in Ayutthaya. The chief of the drug-suppression unit said his team had no choice but to shoot when Ton tried to drive the truck away when police demanded to search the vehicle.

Chaiwat said this raid was launched after his team arrested two suspects and confiscated 96,000 ya ba tablets and 2kg of crystal methamphetamine in an earlier sting operation in Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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Wage hike to be delayed until April

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Boil water first, people warned

The Nation

Artesian water should not be consumed or at least boiled before consumption, flood victims were warned yesterday.

"We are not saying that it is unsafe to drink groundwater, but boiling it before drinking is much safer," Dr Suwannachai Watthanayingcharoenchai, deputy director-general of the Disease Control Department, said yesterday.

The water could be contaminated after flooding, especially if it is sucked up from wells located not far from garbage disposal or toxic chemical storage sites, he said.

Celebrities on television programmes have been encouraging flood victims to quench their thirst with fresh groundwater.

"Consumption of underground water is fine, but drinking it, without or without boiling it, is not recommended, as there could be minerals unsuitable for drinking mixed with it," he added.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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Most Pathum Thani district offices open

The Nation

The Lat Lum Kaeo, Klong Luang, Thanyaburi, Lam Luk Ka and Nong Sua district offices in Pathum Thani are now open and have resumed services including the issuing of national ID cards.

Pathum Thani PR officer Anansak Boonkreuphan said state offices in Muang and Sam Khok districts, where the flood situation is improving, have also opened though they are still unable to issue household registration papers and national ID cards.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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Environmental agency offers to help flood victims sue Thai govt

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Evacuees will be moved out of schools

The Nation

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said yesterday that the 15,204 flood evacuees currently staying in Bangkok school campuses will be relocated to BMA youth centres and the Krung Thon Scout camp so the schools can be prepared before they reopen on December 6.

As for schools in areas that are still flooded, like Don Muang, Sai Mai, Lak Si, Thawee Watthana, Nong Khaem, Bang Khae and Bang Bon districts, they will be reopened by December 13 if the waters start receding, BMA spokesman Wasan Meewong said yesterday.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Japanese companies 'must do more for workers'

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RT @RichardBarrow: Chaeng Wattana Road from Khlong Prapa to Laksi Intersections now passable by small cars, but keep right /via @js100radio

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STOPPAGE TIME

A good way to ensure that Plan A remains on track: Thai opinion

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Flood hits Nakhon Si Thammarat as heavy rain across Taloompuk peninsula fells large trees; Forest runoff inundates Phatthalung /MCOT

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Industrial Parks Back in Operations Next Month

The industry minister expects all eight flood-hit industrial parks will be functioning normally by about late December or the beginning of January.

Industry Minister Wannarut Channukul said he has renounced the flood emergency plan for Bang Chan and Lad Krabang industrial estates given that water levels in the nearby canals have receded constantly, allowing operators to resume production as usual.

Wannarut said the Rojjana and Hi-Tech industrial estates in Ayutthaya scheduled an extensive cleanup day on November 30, while the Bang Pa-in estate in the same province and Bang Kadee estate in Pathum Thani will start pumping floodwater out from their areas on November 25th.

For the Factory Land industrial estate in Ayutthaya, the minister said 29 of its 93 facilities are now operating normally.

The minister stated that all the flood-stricken industrial parks should be able to resume regular operations between late December and early January.

Wannarut said the devastating floods struck 9,800 factories in eight industrial parks, with roughly 600,000 workers affected.

However, no operators have announced layoffs so far.

The proposed exemption of tariff on imported machines for affected business operators will be discussed at the Board of Investment's meeting on November 25, and if any tax issues are beyond its scope of power, they will be put forward for the Cabinet's consideration.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Kasetsart University will open December 19 /TANN

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BMA Widens Mahasawat Canal Sluice Gate

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday complied with the Nonthaburi residents' request to open the Mahasawat canal sluice gate by 1 meter.

With the severe flooding in Nonthaburi Province prolonged for months, many victims urged the provincial administration to drain flood water out of the area.

Earlier, the Nonthaburi governor promised to discharge all floodwater by December 1.

Yesterday, Nonthaburi Governor Wichian Phutthiwinyu, Royal Irrigation Department deputy director Weera Wongsangnak, Pheu Thai MP Chalong Riewrang, and large number of local representatives discussed the matter.

Local people gathered to negotiate for an opportunity to open the Mahasawat Canal gate to 1 meter.

However, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA denied, saying the gate would open to only 70 centimeters at maximum.

Consequently, the residents threatened that they will open the gate themselves.

After that, the deputy police chief and the Flood Relief Operations Center or FROC spokesman, Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen showed up to meet residents and insisted that the BMA agreed to respond to their demands by opening the gate 1 meter.

Meanwhile, local representatives escorted the officials to investigate the gate to ensure transparent administration.

In addition to draining flood water, Nonthaburi residents requested the provincial governor to expedite canal dredging, repairing ruined embankments as well as urging the FROC to declare the province as a disaster zone so that people would be entitled to receive compensation from the government.

The provincial governor said as of now officials are rushing to dredge canals and remove weeds that obstruct the water way.

Today, it would begin repairing embankments, starting at Bang Bua Thong and Phra Pimon Canals.

Furthermore, the Royal Irrigation Department will also send 200 water pumps to release floodwater.

All pumps are expected to be installed by today to drain out floodwaters by December 1.

Wichian said the provincial administration has already proposed the FROC to consider the province as a disaster zone yesterday to enable flood victims to be compensated for flood damages.

In response, the FROC will consider the request.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Art Auction Held to Raise Funds for Flood Victims

Well-known artists are offering their work for an auction to raise funds for flood victims.

Many artists have come together to raise funds for flood victims by holding an auction containing more than 50 art pieces, both paintings and photos, at the Queen Sirikit Art Gallery.

In the bidding, there are some unique pieces created by artist Charoon Boonsuan; national artist in visual arts, Prayad Pongdam; national artist in painting, Preecha Thaothong; chairman of the International Visual Artist Association of Thailand, Somsak Raksuwan, and many others.

Proceeds from the auction will be used to purchase food and relief supplies for people affected by the heavy floods.

Former singer Buachompoo Ford was among the bidders for an art piece with a bidding price of 70,000 baht.

Many artworks will be exhibited at the Queen's Gallery until October 2.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Acting Pattalung gov says all amphoes in 40 tambons are flooded, but not as severe yet, no area has been cut off or unreachable so far /TANN

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Long term flooding to be seen in Thonburi area due to Southern water begins at lower Ayuthaya, end of it is at Bangkhuntien/Bangbon district /TANN

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 973.13, down 4.23 points /MCOT

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Transport Ministry shaken by top official's cash: Sukumpol

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