Thailand Live Wednesday 23 Nov 2011

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BMA asks for ppls cooperation in protecting floodwalls, damage/destroyers seen, report to distrct off., FROC, BMA 24hrs at 1555, 02-2211212 /TANN

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Flood death toll raises to 610 (Bangkok Post)

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Floods Hit 1,400 Textile Factories

The recent flooding has caused damage to about 1,400 textile factories, according to the Federation of Thai Textile Industries, which expects the industry to fully recover by the middle of next year.

Pilantha Thammongkol, chairman of the Federation of Thai Textile Industries, said about 1,400 textile factories have been hit by the floods.

The council is calling for assistance such as soft loans, clarification on insurance claims, and measures to protect jobs and confidence among trade partners.

He expects the textile industry will fully recover by the middle of next year.

Meanwhile, Pilantha said a delay to the minimum wage hike until April will not help operators much because they're unable to stand on their feet yet.

He said to impose the measure at that time would instead add to their hardship.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Nov 22 onwards, registration open for flood victims to receive Bt5,000 aid money at ground fl., Robinson side / GCC_1111 /TANN

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Schools Prepare for Next Term in the Wake of Flooding

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is relocating flood victims from temporary shelters in schools where floodwater has been drained, to prepare the schools for the upcoming term.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA spokesman Wasan Meewong revealed that the BMA has a plan to relocate flood evacuees currently staying at Bangkok schools to BMA youth centers and the Krung Thon Scout Camp, to clean up in preparation for the new school term opening on December 6.

As for the areas that still have high floodwater, including as Don Muang, Sai Mai, Lak Si , Thavee Wattana, Nong Khaem, Bang Khae and Bang Bon districts, the BMA will wait for the floodwater to subside before cleaning up and opening the school term on December 13.

The amount of garbage collected on November 20 was around 7,473 tons, the equivalent of 87.92 percent of all garbage collected under normal conditions.

In addition, the amount of garbage in 25 flooded districts was 3,379 tons, or 78.4 percent higher than regular times.

The Bangkok Governor is making officials rush to collect garbage to prevent further pollution of the floodwater.

The BMA is fumigating 12,000 liters of Effective Microorganisms, or EM, to tackle filthy water emitting foul odors in Bang Khae and Phayathai districts.

People can request for EM liquids at the Lumpini Park.

Deputy city clerk Peerapong Saichua and the BMA Health Department were instructed deal with mosquito-infested areas and handle four flood-related outbreaks, namely diarrhea, Leptospirosis, dengue fever, and cold viruses.

People are advised to avoid inhaling insecticide.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Army Redirects Flood Relief Efforts to Critical and Isolated Areas

The Army has adjusted its approach to providing aid for flood victims by focusing more on deeply-flooded areas and communities that are difficult to access.

Army Deputy Spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong said Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered the Army flood relief center to adjust its approach to providing help for flood victims by concentrating on critical areas with deep and stagnant floodwater, areas that are difficult to access, and highly populated communities.

She added that the Army will increase the number of military vehicles and trips for transporting residents, set up more canteens, and deploy additional mobile medical teams which also run more frequently.

All these measures are to ensure that flood victims receive better care.

Sirichan noted that Army vehicles will not overlap with existing public transportation routes, as they will only run in deeply flooded areas and on secondary roads in order to reach more communities.

Currently, military shuttle services are operating on eight major roads and 264 smaller roads.

The spokesperson went on to say the Army has built 35 raised-plank walkways in 14 Bangkok districts, and set up ten more canteens in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Pathum Thani in order to provide food to affected residents more adequately.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Flash flood risk areas announced in Trang's Huayod-Wangwiset-Muang Trang districts /TANN

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Dalai Lama sends a msg to Thai PM expressing concerns and condolences to the loss of lives and damage from the heavy flooding situation/TANN

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Hydrography dept reports Highest water level in Chao Praya river at 2.15meters, 3.05pm /via springnews /TANN

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Heavy rain triggers flood in Thailand's southern provinces

Follow this link:

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PM: Cabinet Supports Royal Pardon Decree

The Prime Minister insisted that the cabinet has already approved the royal decree seeking clemency for convicts, saying that the decree is legal without discrimination.

Today, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted a message on her facebook account, saying the government's draft royal decree seeking a pardon for jailed convicts will not benefit any one person in particular.

In contrast, the decree is in tandem with the cabinet consensus.

She reiterated that the government's policies must follow the laws and protocols without discrimination.

She stated that she has already clarified to Thai nationals that she would like to remain as Prime Minister to devote herself to the society as a whole, adding that she prioritizes the country's benefits and her actions will not go against the law.

In addition, the premier stated Thailand was successful from the recent 19th ASEAN summit as many countries expressed their will to provide aid in flood relief operations.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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PM: Relief measures for flood vicitms in case of house damage, will recieve no more than Bt30,000, biz equipments no more than Bt10,000 /TANN

PM: For those affected by flooding more than 7 days onwards causing property damage will receive Bt5,000 /TANN

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ACSBKK ACS Bangkok

Access roads to Thai Immigration Chaengwattana are now passable. However they report that most staff are still @ Soi SuanPluu

Photo of the government complex on Chaengwattana Rd. taken by ACS staff member today at 0830 http://twitpic.com/7i60ak

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20 years' jail for Thai anti-royal texts: lawyer

BANGKOK, November 23, 2011 (AFP) - A Thai court on Wednesday sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy, his lawyer said, under the kingdom's strict lese-majeste laws.

Ampon Tangnoppakul was found guilty of sending messages to the private secretary of then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on at least three dates in May 2010, according to a criminal court in Bangkok.

"The court found him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in jail," his lawyer Anon Nampa told AFP, adding that he had 30 days to lodge an appeal.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-11-23

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BANKING SECTOR

Normal operations resume, as the worst has passed

Seetalavajit Sabayjai

The Nation

Thailand's financial system has returned to normal, after some disruptions from the floods, the Bank of Thailand's governor said today.

The central bank’s "business continuity plan (BCP)" will end this week as financial institutions can resume normal operations, said Prasarn Trairatvorakul, BOT governor. The BCP involves close and rapid communications through regular video conferences between the central bank and top executives of commercial banks in Thailand.

Participants at the 12th video conference yesterday concluded that the risks that affected the country’s financial system had reduced substantially, he said. Siam Commercial Bank’s headquarter, which was surrounded by the floodwaters weeks ago, fully resumed its operations.

Financial institutions’ acute problem now rests on growing debt problems.

Prasarn said that total outstanding debts of enterprises and individuals in 30 flood-hit provinces amounted to about Bt400 billion. "Some could turn into non-performing loans but not all," he said.

Now, most flooded-affected companies concentrated more on recovering plants and restoring machinery than assessment of damage, he said. With that, the manufacturing sector may be restored by the end of this year, instead of expectation for the first quarter of next year.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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Thai Flood Death Toll Reaches 610

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that 17 provinces remain flooded and a total of 610 people were confirmed dead.

Furthermore, two provinces have been warned of a cold snap.

Since tropical storm Nok-Ten hit Thailand on July 25, floods have affected 64 provinces across the country.

The situation has eased in 47 provinces and these areas are currently beginning the recovery process.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on the current flood situation, saying there are currently 17 provinces, comprised of 121 districts and 943 sub-districts that remain flooded.

More than 1.8 million households and nearly 5 million residents, from approximately 5,800 villages have been affected.

A total of 610 people have been confirmed dead and two people are missing, one in Mae Hong Son Province and another in Uttaradit Province.

Provinces that remain flooded include Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, and Bangkok.

Meanwhile, residents in six districts of Chiang Mai and Nan provinces are experiencing a cold snap that began on November 2.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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BKK gov confirms Mahasawat canal will not be opened up to 1 meter from 75cms in 3 canals /via ThaiPBS /TANN

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Bank of Thailand Increases Cash Liquidity for Holidays

The Bank of Thailand or BOT plans to increase cash liquidity by 10 percent to support the New Year holiday.

Bank of Thailand Assistant Governor of the Notes Issuing Department, Nopporn Pramojanee disclosed that the commercial banks have started to deposit more cash to the BOT, after the banks withdrew the money from the BOT to preserve it for their customers during the recent flood.

However, it's expected that money will be deposited back during the holidays in December, including the New Year festival, Father's day, and Constitution day.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand prepared to increase cash liquidity by 10 percent.

The BOT ensured that the amount of cash in commercial banks will be sufficient to support customer spending.

Nopporn went on to say that people have been keeping more cash-at-hand during the flood.

The average cash withdrawal rate was 13 percent during the flood.

Currently, this rate rose as high as 17 percent.

In addition, the assistant governor added that the BOT will gather banknotes damaged by the floodwater after the flood situation improves.

If there is an insufficient amount of cash to be circulated in the system, the BOT will print new bills.

However, the governor is optimistic that the number of damaged bills remains low.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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SRT resumes normal services for South bound trains leaving Hualumpong and Thonburi stations, more details call 1690 /TANN

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RT @tulsathit: RT @veen_NT: (12.10) Garden Home residents dismantle 'big bag' barrier at Air Operations Control intersection. via @noppatjak

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Residents dismantle 'big bag' barrier at Air Operations Control intersection, water moving into Phahonyothin Road; Police monitor situation, wait for BMA to negotiate/MCOT

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Pattaya Is Named Asia and Australasia's Best Golf Destination for 2012

Thailand wins another golf tourism award. At its annual marketing showcase at Belek, Turkey, this week, golf tourism's global organization, the International Association of Golf Tourism Operators (IAGTO), named the resort city of Pattaya as Asia and Australasia's best golf destination for 2012. Thailand itself received IAGTO's same premier award for 2010.

Two weeks ago, at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Pattaya, Thailand was named the best golf destination in Asia/Pacific, while Black Mountain Golf Club at Hua Hin was declared the region's best championship course and Thai Country Club in Bangkok the number two layout to Kingston Heath in Melbourne, Australia.

What other accolades await Thailand, which boasts 260 courses and the best all-round golf tourism experience on the planet? Having scooped so many awards, perhaps only those of individual golfers who come to see for themselves why golf in the kingdom is so good.

Heading the new award for Pattaya, which has 17 golf courses and is only 110 kilometers by motorway from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, is Siam Country Club where Thailand's first privately-owned course opened in 1970. It, too, received a major accolade at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit earlier this month by winning the best-maintained course in the region.

"Pattaya is a true golf course destination and thoroughly deserves this award," says Siam Country Club's owner, Prasertchai Phornprapha. "The strength of the area is the diversity of courses and costs. It is also great for our confidence as we [at Siam CC] embark on construction of our new 18 holes that will open in 2014. We will then have 63 holes of golf and expect the new course will attract another 50,000 rounds a year. We are doing this because we believe so much in Pattaya as a golf tourism destination."

Siam CC's Old Course was originally laid out by Isao Mazumi and was redesigned in 2007 by Schmidt-Curley, immediately after which it became the first course in Thailand to host an LPGA event, the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand.

Its sister Plantation course, also designed by Schmidt-Curley, opened in 2008 and immediately hosted the Honda LPGA Thailand, won by world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa. The 27-hole layout is situated on a former pineapple and tapioca plantation and is home to Asia's first triple green, shaped like a clover.

Large ravines, multi-tiered greens, superb conditioning and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside are among many features of the course. Its sleek, ultra-modern birdwing clubhouse is worth visiting in its own right. Web site: www.siamcountryclub.com

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department

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SET index midday down 2.68 pts, 0.27 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Wednesday stood at 974.68, down 2.68 points, or 0.27 per cent in line with regional shares amid ligh trading of Bt 7.71 billion.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 681.45 points, down 2.62 points, or 0.38 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: BANPU, PTTGC, TPIPL, ADVANC, KTB.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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Unsatisfied Pathumtani locals blocking tollway at Zeers Rangsit, wants BigBag barriers taken down/TAN_Network

Southern bus terminal resumed services Wed. at Boromratchonnanee Rd after flood receded/Biz_TheNation

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RT@tulsathit: TR @Neaw_NBC: 1.39 pm Flood mobs on tollway in front of Sear causing traffic turmoil. #smsINN

RT@tulsathit: TR @satien_nna: Still unclear who's leading the tollway mobs, making it difficult for authorities to negotiate.

Negotiation successful for 1 right lane to be opened at blocked tollway in front of Zeers Rangsit/TAN_Network

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Special report: Struggling to end Phuket's transgender stigma

WOMEN AT WORK: Toedsak ‘Gai’ Kaipraiwan is happy working in Phuket.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/514345-special-report-struggling-to-end-phukets-transgender-stigma/page__view__findpost__p__4866545

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Post-flooding military repair to cost Bt12 billion

The Nation

The Defence Ministry will next Tuesday seek the Cabinet approval to earmark Bt12 billion for the repair of military equipment damaged by the flooding, permanent secretary General Sathien Permthong-in said on Wednesday.

"The Air Force will require a most costly repair for flood damages of more than Bt10 billion," he said.

Sathien said the air base and aviation equipment would have to undergo a major overhaul following the inundation at Don Mueang.

The remainder of the funds, estimated more than Bt1.2 billion, would be allocated to the Army to fix its flood-damaged weaponry and installations.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

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PM Affirms Pardon Decree Made in Compliance with Law

The prime minister posts on her Facebook page that her administration's issuance of the royal pardon decree on the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday followed due process of the law.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted on her personal Facebook page that the issuance of the royal pardon decree was decided by the Cabinet.

She added the government's stance on this issue is that the decree must follow due process of the law and regulations and not be selective to benefit any particular individual.

She stated she has told the public over and over again that she will be working as prime minister for the whole country and will uphold the law.

Anything she says or does must be for the benefit of the country.

Yingluck added that her participation in the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, last week was a success for the country as it gained a lot of benefits.

Moreover, other leaders have also expressed a desire to help Thailand with the current flood crisis.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23

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Pathum Thani residents block Don Mueang Tollway at Zeer Rangsit protesting deep flooding; clash with motorists, wait to negotiate with FROC /MCOT

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Ministry to Seek Bt600 Million to Salvage Flooded Gas Stations

The Energy Business Department has pointed out that there are more than 400 gas stations damaged by floods.

As a result, the department is planing to seek 600 million baht from the government to repair them.

The Energy Business Department has reported that 124 gas service stations have reopened for business while 444 stations remained closed.

At the same time, 24 liquefied petroleum gas or LPG stations have resumed their service while 175 are still closed.

Seven LPG filling stations for cooking gas have reopened while 24 remain closed and 128 natural gas stations are yet to open for service.

These stations have all been damaged by floods or are affected by the cut-off transportation routes.

Deputy Director General of the Energy Business Department Somnuek Naewmalee said the department is seeking 600 million baht from the government as low-interest loans for operators of the affected gas stations.

Each gas station will be given priority on a loan not exceeding 300,000 baht to repair their damaged facilities. Large gas stations will not be eligible as they are already being supported by oil companies.

As for the domestic fuel prices, gasoline 91 sells at 34.57 per liter, gasohol 95 at 33.29 baht, gasohol 91 at 31.54 baht, E85 at 20.72 baht and diesel at 29.19 baht.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-23