Thailand Live Tuesday 29 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 29 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 Monday 28 Nov 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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CENSURE DEBATE

Jatuporn to sue 154 Democrat MPs over censure claims

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WORLD BANK

Thailand 'remains attractive investment destination'

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Thai doctor allowed to treat ailing Veera in Cambodian jail

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UNESCO experts to check sites at Ayutthaya

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AFTERMATH

Angry flood victims stage multiple protests

The Nation

Frustrated flood victims - many of whose homes have been under water for a month now - staged no fewer than four protests yesterday to demand more action be taken to tackle inundation in their areas.

A group of residents of the Setthakij housing estate off Phetkasem Road in western Bangkok rallied and called for immediate drainage of flood water from the estatel. They said the central areas of the complex were under up to 100 cm of water, while the entrance was under 50 cm of water.

In Pathum Thani, 200 residents of two estates in the Rangsit area gathered to meet with municipal officials to press for immediate solutions, including deploying 10 water pumps and laying a new sandbag barrier. They dispersed after being promised that both estates would be dry within five days.

Off Soi Chaeng Watthana 14, a group of residents gathered and demanded that concrete measures be adopted, otherwise they would gather again on December 1. They received a similar promise of action from senior officials who met them at the protest site.

A group of residents from the Garden Home housing estate in Phaholyothin Soi 60 in northern Bangok gathered outside the government's Flood Relief Operations Centre asking it to review several existing measures and that flood gates in the Song and Sam Wa canals be opened by another 30 cm.

Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee said he could not promise the flood water at Garden Home would be gone by December 5, but vowed to look into the many points raised by the residents and to cover the costs of flood-prevention measures they had initiated on their own.

A protest leader, Adisak Srisapphakij, said the residents were mulling criminal complaints of dereliction of duty against FROC and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), as well as a lawsuit demanding compensation from both agencies, possibly along with a petition against them to be lodged with the Central Administrative Court.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra accused FROC officials of encouraging flood victims to illegally raise gates across the Phraya Suren Canal by another 50 cm to a level of 1.5 metres, resulting in waters in areas to the south - home to 37,000 people - increasing by 3 cm. The gate's opening had been restored to 1 metre, he said.

He also called on FROC director and Justice Minister Pracha Promnok to clarify what the governor said was photographic evidence that a FROC official led a group of people to shoo away water officials and raise the gates to the 1.50-metre level.

The BMA's disaster-analysis centre, meanwhile, said Don Mueang Airport remained in a "state of crisis" despite flood water receding by 6 cm. The centre also cited reports from many police stations that flood water remained relatively high in western Bangkok.

Royal Irrigation Department director-general Chalit Damrongsak said all main roads in western Bangkok would be passable by the end of this month, and that flood water in low-lying areas of the capital's west would begin to recede "continuously" in December.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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FLOOD IN THE SOUTH

Situation in South stable

PARES LOHASAN

THE NATION

The flood situation in the southern province of Pattani remains stable. Highway 418 was impassable for small vehicles, while one more district suffered inundation.

People living in areas at risk of high floods were evacuated and classes |suspended at over 10 local schools and 10 Islamic boarding schools, until things return to normal.

Runoff from Yala and nearby mountains continued to pour into the Pattani River, which runs through the city to the sea. With many buildings and land filling for bridge construction, the river was slower and has overflowed into low-laying areas and nearby homes for over a week. Areas such as Tambon Pakaharang’s Moo 1-2, Tambon Barahor’s Moo 8, Tambon Taluboh’s Moo 7 have repeatedly flooded, and were 1-2-metres under water, so people only used boats as transports.

Ban Ja-nga in Tambon Pakaharang’s Moo 2 has seen 30 families evacuated out of the 90 families there while remaining residents stayed on their second floors and many had stockpiled food. But drinking water was running low and so far no agencies had helped them.

Water about 20cm deep has covered a 2km section |of the four-lane highway 418 (Pattani-Yala) since Saturday.

In Nong Chik district, 171 families from Ban Khlong Khud suffered a 50cm-deep flood and local officials set up tents along 418 road as temporary shelter for residents.

In Narathiwat, the flood stabilised as the rain ceased. Residential areas and farmland remained under 1.5 metres of water. Deputy governor Detchrat Simsiri said the three major rivers - the Bangnara, Saiburi and Sungai Kolok - continued to overflow.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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EDITORIAL

Interest rate cut to be expected after flood crisis

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BURNING ISSUE

The curious tale of Suphoth: Was he bagman for a bent politician?: Thai politics

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Gordon lese majeste verdict delayed till Dec 8

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Confusion reigned yesterday over the verdict day for Joe Gordon, a dual Thai-US citizen charged under the lese majeste law and Computer Crimes Act, when US Embassy personnel and Gordon's lawyer appeared at the Criminal Court - only to be told the ruling on his prosecution would be handed down next Thursday, December 8.

Gordon was arrested in May this year for translating the banned book 'The King Never Smiles' and posting a link to it. The defendant, whose Thai name is Lerphong Pichaikammart, confessed to the charges during his trial. He was transported from prison to the court yesterday morning. Asked by The Nation if he felt confident about getting a just verdict, Gordon said "50-50". He then shouted in English - from a cell 10 metres away: "I want to go home!"

His lawyer Arnon Nampa said later there was misunderstanding about the verdict day, but he questioned why the ruling was delayed as he had heard the verdict was already written even before the flood, which temporarily interrupted the court's activities. Arnon was told by a court official that Gordon was transported to the court yesterday for "further questioning".

A source from the US Embassy who showed up yesterday said he was "optimistic" about the ruling.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Chalerm links 'money trove' to politicians with homes in London: Suphoth cash

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GUEST COLUMN

The 'new Thailand': Policies after the flood

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Red-shirt MP to petition ICC over 2010 crackdown

THE NATION

Red-shirt Pheu Thai MP Sunai Julponsathorn said yesterday he will ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on December 9 to consider whether the military crackdown on protesting red shirts in April and May 2010 that killed 91 people constituted a crime against humanity.

The move is aimed at removing any suspicions of interference by the Pheu Thai-led government in ongoing local investigations, said Sunai, who is chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The MP said he would use his own money to travel to the Dutch city and that red shirt supporters based in Europe would help him organise his legal bid.

Sunai said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva his then deputy, Suthep Thuagsuban, should be held accountable as they had overall responsibility for the crackdown.

Pheu Thai party-list MP Kattiyar Sawasdiphol, whose father Maj-General Kattiya Sawasdiphol was shot and killed by a sniper during the protests, said there has been no progress in the investigation of her father's death and thus she is counting on the ICC to take up the case.

Thailand, however, is not among the ICC's 119 member states, as it has yet to ratify the court's Rome Statute.

Abhisit, now the opposition leader, said he is willing to cooperate with the Office of the Attorney General if he is summoned for questioning over the crackdown.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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TELECOM

CAT plans sell-back, 3G launch

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Drug haul seized near river at Bueng Kan

The Nation

Soldiers from the Udon Thani-based Surasak Montri Camp and Nong Khai Mekong River Patrol Patch officials seized 180,000 ya ba (methamphetamine) pills worth Bt54 million from transnational drug dealers early yesterday as they did an exchange at a spot by the river in Bueng Kan's Bung Khla district.

The drug seizure followed a military tip that the gang would smuggle drugs into Thailand and deliver them to a Thai customer at a location on Bueng Kan-Nakhon Phanom Road. The security team staked out the area until they spotted three men with a black bag getting out of a boat on the Mekong while a car without a licence plate came to pick them up.

Officers went to search the car, but the driver dropped the bag and sped away towards Bung Khla. Officers found 90 packs of ya ba inside the bag, totalling 180,000 tablets worth Bt54 million. It was submitted as evidence to Bung Khla police for further action.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Unemployment and household debt expected to soar in coming months: Thailand

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Private sector funds Hat Yai flood-alert system

The Nation

Businesses in Songkhla's Hat Yai district have contributed Bt2 million each towards the development of a sophisticated flood-warning system designed by Prince of Songkhla University.

Somboon Ponglertnapakorn, an executive of Ocean Hat Yai Hotel, said yesterday that he granted Bt2 million to the research effort so that the destructive effects of inundations could be mitigated.

Citing the great floods of 1988, 2000 and 2010, he said the annual floods were growing severer and causing greater economic losses.

The South's commercial capital should be equipped with effective means to forecast disasters and give advance warnings so that people could have time to prepare and the damage could be minimised, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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New semester begins Dec 13 for schools remaining flooded

The Nation

The reopening of public schools has been postponed again to December 13, but only for those remaining underwater.

Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said yesterday that the Basic Education Commission has reported that some schools in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom were unable to start the new semester on December 6 as scheduled.

He would today receive the list of schools still affected by floods.

The Ordinary National Educational Test (Onet) for the sixth and ninth grades would also likely be delayed for two more weeks so that the students whose schools open on December 13 will have enough time to finish the required curriculum.

"The schools may have to make up classes but only after school or on Saturday if necessary. We won't let them make up classes on Sunday because students and parents will be too tired and stressed out," he added.

The National Institute of Educational Testing Service has already pushed back Onet for both levels once. Onet for Prathom 6 was postponed from February 1 to February 15, and for Matthayom 3 from February 2-3 to February 16-17.

However, Onet for Matthayom 6 (Grade 12) students would be held from February 18-19.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Cabinet mulls rehabilitation plan

THE NATION

A budget request for tens of billions of baht to be spent on post-flood restoration and rehabilitation projects is to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval today.

The money will be disbursed through three committees: one on general flood relief, one on quality of life and another on rehabilitation, each chaired by a Cabinet member.

The projects, which received initial approval yesterday at a two-hour meeting at Government House of the three ministers in charge, are required to be completed by December 2012, said government spokesperson Thitima Chaisaeng.

Under the panel working on rehabilitation, chaired by Transport Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Bt384 million will be spent on general repairs to infrastructure at government offices, Bt1.59 billion on historic sites and ancient temples, Bt1.43 billion on schools and universities, and Bt5.9 billion on waterways and waterworks mechanisms.

Under the panel working on quality of life, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Kowit Wattana, six ministers will oversee the spending of Bt2.26 billion on 14 projects of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry; Bt778 million on 12 Education Ministry projects; Bt1.98 billion on six Labour Ministry projets; and Bt1.64 billion on Interior Ministry projects.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered grand "Big Cleaning Day" events to be held in 25 flooded provinces from Thursday to Sunday, Thitima said.

Yingluck and Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, who chairs the panel on general flood relief, will visit Songkhla's Hat Yai area for an inspection visit on December 2.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Traffic police say all roads in eastern BKK have been drained of floodwater and are now opened to traffic /TANN

Royal Irrigation Dept expects flooding in western BKK to recede in 7 days /TANN

Traffic police allow traffic on Nawamin and Petchkasem roads /TANN

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Meteorological Dept: North, Northeast see cool temperature with thick fog in the morning; South sees less rain as monsoon weakening /TANN

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9am: Appeals Court verdict to be read in Thaksin's libel suit against Sondhi in which Criminal Court handed down 3 year jail term /TANN

9am: Supreme Court verdict to be read in prosecutor's case against Somchai Kunplome in masterminding murder of Prayoon Sitthichote /TANN

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The Mall Bangkae to open its supermarket on Dec 1 and the rest of shops will open on Dec 5 /TANN

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Administrative Court to rule on Nonthaburi resident's demand for temporary injunction to remove Big Bag levee at 9.30am /TANN

Today's Cabinet meeting to discuss additional flood relief measures and possibly Cabinet retreat to Khon Kaen /TANN

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Science Minister Plodprasop slams BMA for being selfish in its flood management of the capital /TANN

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AFP: Thai PM hospitalised with food poisoning

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 984.17, down 0.01 points /MCOT

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Opposition Leader Abhisit Disappointed over PM Yingluck's Refusal for Reshuffle

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Briton Detained After Thai Girlfriend Jumps Off 7th Floor Of Pattaya Hotel

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