Thailand Live Tuesday 29 Nov 2011

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Thai Navy Returns with Warm Welcome

The mission to fight Somali pirates at the Gulf of Aden has been a successful operation completed by 368 soldiers of Thai Navy, who traveled back and arrived yesterday amid a warm welcome.

Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakan was the chairman to welcome the arrival of the Ark Royal Similan and Ark Royal Narathiwat, along with the second naval unit.

Their mission was to combine maritime forces from other countries to fight Somali pirates at the Gulf of Aden and Somali Coast in Salalah City of Oman.

The ceremony was established at the Juk Samet port of the Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi Province.

They arrived back in yesterday amid a warm welcome from Naval Commander Admiral Surasak Roonruengrom, senior commissioned officers, and representatives of government units and the public, along with relatives of those soldiers.

The Thai Navy deployed an arsenal of ships for the completion of a 140 day anti-piracy mission off the North African Coast, such as the Ark Royal Similan, which is the largest navy logistics support vessel, and the Ark Royal Narathiwat, which is deemed the most efficient combat vessel, along with two Bell 212 helicopters, and recruited 368 crewmen aboard the mission.

The mission was led by Rear Admiral Tanin Likitvong.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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Remediation Measures Stimulated As Flood Eases

The flood situation in many provinces have eased and residents have begun to get their lives back to normal.

However, a number of residents are still unable to return home, as their houses remain submerged under water.

In Nakhon Sawan Province, a number of households from communities along Chao Phraya River, such as the Bang Prang District are still unable to return back home, as their homes have been submerged under water for two months now and incurred substantial damage.

Therefore, residents continue to live in temporary tents along the railway.

The municipality is now assessing the damages to provide relief to victims, which is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, at the Pak Tok Subdistrict Administration Organization of Muang District in Phitsanulok Province, a job training program has been organized for the disabled, the elderly, and residents affected by the flood to earn money during this time of disaster.

Art activities have also been organized for affected children.

At the same time, residents from Ban Nuea community in Muang Uthai Thani District Administration are helping to clean homes and repair equipment damaged during the flooding.

Boats have also have been cleaned in order to prepare for next year's flooding, as water levels can not be predicted.

370 flood victims with mental-health issues from Ban Kueng Withee who evacuated to the shelter at Tah Sadet Temple in Kanchanaburi Province returned back to the Half-Way House For Women in Ban Kueng Withee, Pathum Thani Province now that the flood situation has eased.

Likewise, Buddhist monks and novice monks have started to clean Tah Kokhae community temple at Muang District in Ubon Ratchathani Province and are attempting to return to normal again.

However, this year's severe flooding caused the temple's walls along the riverbanks to erode, which will require additional repairs.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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Flood Concerns Ease Among Factories East of Bangkok

Executives and workers at industrial estates in eastern flood-way zones and Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong District were confident that their factories will be safe from flooding.

Factory workers in Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong District helped dismantle sandbag barriers, as they were confident that the area is now safe from flooding.

Earlier, hundreds of factories erected 2 to 4 meter high sandbag walls as precautions against possible flooding.

At the Wellgrow Industrial Estate, the 3 to 4 meter high flood walls were pulled down.

Factories at the estate were very concerned that the government would channel flood water through their area.

Tawee Mongkhonrat, a maintenance supervisor at one factory in Bang Pakong, said the company's executives were confident that their factory will not be flooded after assessing the situation and following news reports.

Tawee added that his factory could face a significant loss if it gets flooded but for now he believes the flood situation has passed its peak.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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BMA Urges Central Govt to Address Phraya Suren Sluice Gate Problem

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is pressing the government and the Flood Relief Operations Center to address the unruly mob problem at the Phraya Suren sluice gate.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA Spokesperon, Wasan Meewong has reported on the overall situation in Bangkok, saying that the floodwater continues to recede in the capital, even after many sluice gates on San Saeb and Two canals were raised.

The BMA is also considering raising additional flood gates and installing more water pumps to assist the drainage efforts in various communities, low-lying areas, and roads.

The BMA is also asking the government and the Flood Relief Operations Center to address the problem at Phraya Suren sluice gate, where an unruly mob has again raised the flood gate by force.

Wasan says that the government must legally deal with the local political figures backing up the protestors.

The BMA spokesperson also said that it is possible that the incident was politically motivated, as prior to this, people from both sides of the sluice gate were getting along just fine.

However, the problem seems to have flared up only now that the water has been receding, over the past two days.

Furthermore, Wasan has asked the government to clarify and announce its flood management plan and is pleading with all sides not to politicize the crisis relief efforts.

In any case, the BMA has warned that anymore unauthorized attempts to raise the flood gates will be prosecuted under the law.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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SET index midday up 6.69 pts, 0.68 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Tuesday stood at 990.87, up 6.69 points, or 0.68 per cent amid Bt 8.52 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 694.40, up 4.99 points, or 0.72 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: PTTEP, KBANK, CPF, SCB, JAS.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Import tax exemption for flood-hit vehicles assemblers

Cabinet on Tuesday approved temporary import tariff exemption on machinery, fully-built vehicles and components for flood-hit vehicles assemblers,Industry Ministry Wannarat Charnnukul said.

The tax waivers will apply from October 25 this year until June 30, 2012 with imported quantity not to exceed last year’s production, Wannarat added.

Only Honda Motor (Thailand) is eligible to import fully-built vehicles as flood completely shut down its plant operations.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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RT@Biz_TheNation: Appeals Court Tue sentenced Sondhi,PAD core member to 1-yr suspended jail,plus Bt20,000 fine in defamation case filed by Thaksin

Appeal Court reduces Criminal Court's 3-yr jail term for Sondhi for defaming Thaksin to 1-yr suspended sentence/TAN_Network

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150 public vehicles initially join energy credit card scheme

The Nation

A number of 65,500 vehicles and 130,000 drivers are eligible to join the energy credit card scheme, launched to alleviate the impacts from NGV gas price adjustments as well as floods.

Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said on Tuesday that starting from Dec 1, each individual would be allocated credit worth Bt3,000 per month for the gas purchases. During Jan 16, 2012 until end-2015, they are also entitled to discounts of Bt0.50-Bt2 per kg, depending on the time of purchase.

He said that as the scheme will kick off on Dec 1, 150 vehicles would first join the scheme consisting of 100 cabs, 35 public buses, and 15 tuk-tuk.

The scheme will be carried out by PTT Plc and Krung Thai Bank. PTT will issue the credit cards. KTB will summarise monthly spending on the 25th day of each month and notify holders of outstanding debts via SMS.

Those with public driving licenses are invited to apply for the scheme at Impact Muang Thong Thani during Dec 15-17 and JJ Mall Chatuchak during Dec 19-24.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Sonthi says his party abstains for sake of neutrality

Matubhum Party leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Tuesday that he and another MP of his party abstained during a no-confidence vote Monday for the sake of political neutrality.

Sonthi said he and his party's MP did not join the Democrat to vote against the censure target, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, because both sides had their reasons.

Sonthi said his party would continue to work with the Rak Santi and Rak Prathethai parties as an opposition bloc although they have not voted in the same way.

The Rak Prathetthai of Chuwit Kamolvisit voted against Pracha while Rak Santi of Purachai Piumsombun abstained.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Flood death toll rises to 628

Flood-related death toll has risen to 628 and three people have been listed as missing, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced Tuesday.

It said 621 people have been reported killed in northern and central provinces while seven others in southern provinces.

It said 22 provinces were still affected by floods. They are seven southern provinces and 15 central provinces.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Red-shirt Leader Kwanchai to Campaign for Thaksin's Amnesty

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PM'S SICK

Yingluck's trip to Vietnam Wed in doubt

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PUBLIC HEALTH

More than 2 million people consult mobile medical units

The Nation

Photo : Watcharachai Klaipong

Public Health medical units providing services in flood-hit areas have been consulted by about 2,000 patients per day, Public Health Minister Witthaya Buransiri said Tuesday, with most patients suffering from colds and Hong Kong foot.

The ministry's medical units were sent to flooded areas, particularly hard-hit Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces to provide services, as people would find it difficult to travel to hospitals.

The units received about 2,000 patients a day and a total of 2,211,036 people had come for consultation, Witthaya said. However, there were no signs of any epidemics so far.

The ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Paijit Warachit, said that with the floodwater receding in many areas, almost all the 561 hospitals closed by the flooding had resumed services. However, some departments were not functioning pending renovations.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Facebook Considering Going Public In The Spring, Report Says

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Cabinet to spend Bt117 mn to host HM the King's 7th cycle birthday celebration on Dec 5 /

Cabinet approves tax exemption for import of auto parts to alleviate impact on auto industry from flooding /TANN

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Thai Airways Plans Post-flood Promotion

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Science Minister: Big Bag Barriers Could Be Removed in Two Weeks

The science and technology manager expects all Big Bag flood barriers could be dismantled within two weeks, starting with the one on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road.

Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said now is an appropriate time to consider dismantling the Big Bag flood barriers that have been used to slow down the flood flow into Bangkok for quite a while.

The minister noted that he has consulted with flood management experts Anont Sanitwong Na Ayutthaya and Royal Chitradon and gave them two days to come up with a dismantling plan.

He said they will also study which Big Bag barrier will be removed first and map out a drainage plan based on the capacity of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration drainage systems.

Plodprasop expects all Big Bag barriers will be completely removed within two weeks.

Other barriers will also be pulled down once support plans have been prepared.

He refused to comment on whether all floodwater will be drained before December 5 or not.

The minister said he has not discussed with the BMA regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, he admitted feeling disappointed about how the BMA has been doing its job.

Plodprasop said the Big Bag barrier on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road could be the first to be pulled own, followed by the one in Saimai area.

Meanwhile, he claimed that the Phraya Suren sluice gate is not under the government's supervision and said the dispute there must be settled between residents outside and inside the sluice gate.

They should work together to find out the best way to drain the water as much as possible.

Plodprasop also insisted that the Prime Minister did not order people to force open any sluice gates.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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BMA to send flood evacuees home Wednesday

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will send flood evacuees home Wednesday and prepare schools used as temporary shelters for the new school term opening on December 6.

However 91 schools in 10 Bangkok districts remained flooded hence the school term opening would be postponed to December 13.

BMA deputy governor Thaya Theepasuwan Tuesday said that BMA would gradually send flood evacuees home along with some cleaning kit bags.

The BMA would provide transport for evacuees from shelters to the various meeting points so that they could return home, while those who couldn’t return home yet would stay at the youth centers, sport centers or scout camps of BMA until the flood situation returned to normal.

-- The Nation 2011-11-29

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Temperature Drops to 1 Degree Celsius on Doi Inthanon

A number of tourists are visiting Doi Inthanon to witness frost after the temperature dropped to 1 degree Celsius.

The cold weather is expected to last longer this year.

Meanwhile, many other natural attractions are bustling with tourists as well.

This morning, frost was seen on Doi Inthanon in Chomthong District in Chiang Mai Province.

In Thai, this phenomenon is called Mae Kaning.

The temperature dropped gradually last night and eventually plummeted to 1 degree Celsius this morning.

Doi Inthanon Forest Preservation Chief Kriangsak Tanompan said frost or the Mae Kaning phenomenon occurred often this month due to the cold temperatures.

He also expects that the phenomenon will last longer this year.

All of the rental houses in the area were reserved by tourists until January.

Officials have prepared the area for campers and set up tents, which can accommodate 1,000 tourists per day.

At the Phu Pha Tueb National Park in Mukdahan Province, beautiful and colorful wild flowers bloom between October and December each year.

The wild flowers were bestowed by Her Majesty The Queen to grow in the fields, with varieties such as Dusita, Soisuwanna, Jaratjantorn, Tipkasorn, and Manitawa flowers.

Elsewhere, many tourists have been traveling to the Phu Tok top hill to watch the sun rise in the sea of mist.

Unfortunately, some tourists have desecrated the natural areas by writing and drawing on the signs.

Meanwhile, cattle farmers in Chanthaburi Province faced supply shortages to feed their cattle and were forced to scour for food in new areas.

They decided to lit fires during the night to keep their cattle warm.

In Surin Province, at Elephant Learning Center, the temperatures were higher during the day, while dropping at night.

Mahouts had to light fires around the elephant's encampments to keep them warm.

Livestock officials in Buriram Province have sprayed disinfectant in certain areas to prevent birds that migrate during the winter to lay eggs to avoid a possible outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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Bang Khae Floods Keep Receding

The flood level in several areas in Bangkok is subsiding with Phetkasem Road being reopened to traffic.

The Mall Bang Khae Department store will also resume service on December 1.

However, residents in Setthakit community are still seeing floodwater of 20 to 50 centimeters.

The flood level has subsided to approximately 10 and 20 centimeters in front of the Mall Bang Khae Department Store, allowing small vehicles to pass without any trouble.

Traffic on Phetkasem Road has also resumed after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has installed more water pumps to drain floodwater into nearby canals.

Thanks to the subsiding flood level, the Mall Bang Khae Department Store is planning to reopen on December 1.

Members of the Bang Khae Retirement Community are expected to return from a temporary shelter in Nong Hoi Temple to the retirement community on December 2.

While Bang Khae is seeing lower flood level, residents in Setthakit residential community are still facing inundation of 20-50 centimeters high.

A temporary wooden bridge has been built to facilitate foot travel for the residents.

However, the bridge only reached the middle of the small lane leading into the community.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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AFP: 'Clear' evidence Thai troops killed Japanese cameraman

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Narathiwat flood claims third victim

NARATHIWAT, Nov 29 - The body of a third flood victim was retrieved Tuesday in this southern border province, according to local authorities.

Identified as Arsun Jehuma, 21, from Sungai Kolok municipality, the victim was swimming in the Sungai Kolok River before being washed away by a flash flood and disappearing on Saturday.

Water level of the province's three main rivers-- the Sungai Kolok, Bangnara and Saiburi-- receded after the heavy, incessant rain stopped. Although the situation overall has eased, a thousand residents are facing difficulty and three local schools must remain closed until Thursday due to the floods.

At the Sungai Kolok River, the flood was reduced to 89 cm, but the other two rivers overflowed 50-60 cm in some locations.

Dechart Simsiri, Narathiwat deputy governor, said the situation should return to normal should there be no rain for two days. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-29

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Honda to Resume Local Production Next April

Honda Motor, one of Japan's largest automobile manufacturers, is planning to resume its operation in Thailand in April next year after disruption by floods.

The manufacturing plant was forced to suspend its operation since the beginning of October when the floods hit Ayutthaya Province.

Honda Motor was forced to suspend its operation since October 4.

The 6 month-suspension is costing Honda Motor 4.7 percent of its global production.

Nikkei, a Japanese newspaper, revealed Honda Motor plans to resume its operation in Thailand in April next year.

Soon, the company will install new machinery to replace the existing ones that were damaged by the floods.

The Ayutthaya plant is used to produce Honda Civic and CRV sport utility vehicles.

The manufacturing plant has the capacity to produce 240,000 units of cars per year, making it one of Honda's most important manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

Honda Motor also announced that all of its plants in north America will restart their assembly lines by the beginning of next year following improvement in overall parts supply, which was hit by the Thailand floods.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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MRT asks motorists to remove cars parked at Lardprao station before 5am on Dec 6 or face fine of Bt1,000/day /TANN

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SET index closed at 988.06, up 3.88; Bt/USD31.19; GBP48.34; AUD30.95; EUR41.59; CAD30.05; HKD4.00; SGD23.90; JPY39.73

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Court Commutes Libel Sentence for Yellow-shirt Leader

The Appeals Court reduced to 2 year suspended sentence the 3-year jail term that yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul was given by a lower court for defaming former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Appeals Court has reduced the 3 year jail term handed down by a lower court against Sondhi Limthongkul, leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD.

Sondhi was convicted by a lower court of defaming former PM Thaksin Shinawatra for the speeches he made on the PAD's stage in 2006.

On the PAD stage Sondhi gave a speech that hinted Thaksin was using money to buy support and that he was deeply involved in superstitious rituals.

The Appeals Court supported the lower court's conviction of Sondhi in the defamation suit.

However, the sentence was reduced from 3 years to a 2 years suspended sentence.

The court reasoned that Sondhi has an honest profession and has never been convicted of a serious offense.

As part of the commuted sentence Sondhi is required to pay for and publish an apology in the ASTV-Manager daily for 5 consecutive days.

The Appeals Court, meanwhile, dismissed the one year prison and 40,000-baht fine sentence against Sondhi's co-defendant Khunthong Lorseriwnanich, the editor-in-chief of ASTV-Manager newspaper which published Sondhi's remarks.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

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Australian Robbed By Bogus Police On Jomtien Second Road

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Restoration begins at Don Mueang Airport runway

BANGKOK, Nov 29 - Restoration work at the recently submerged Don Mueang Airport has begun and is expected to be complete within three months, while the United States is dispatching both personnel and helicopters to join the operations.

Thai government deputy spokesman Anusorn Eiamsaard said the Tuesday cabinet meeting acknowledged the assistance from the United States to provide 30 personnel, 30 helicopters, water pumps and other flood-related equipment to restore Don Mueang Airport from Nov 29 through Dec 4.

Don Mueang Airport director Kantpat Mangalasiri said the floodwater on the eastern part of the runway already receded to the surface of the runway on some 700 metres of its full length of 3,500 metres.

The dry runway is now being cleaned and the cleaning could be complete Dec 10 when the entire runway is expected to be dry again, Group Captain Kantpat said.

He also urged those who parked cars at the airport before it was hit by flood to claim their vehicles, altogether around 7,000, while the airport will provide the necessary equipment to facilitate the transport of cars damaged by flood.

The airport director said the rehabilitation will take 120 days within a budget of Bt1 billion. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-29

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RT@tulsathit: Doctor says Yingluck's illness has sparked frenzy among lottery gamblers who flooded hospital switchboard asking her room number.

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EC rules 4:1 to cancel Jatuporn's MP status for not casting his vote in general election;case to be sent to House speaker before year-end/TAN_Network