Thailand Live Wednesday 30 Nov 2011

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BKK governor orders the opening of the Phraya Suren Canal sluice gate to 1.3m to help alleviate flood woes of Lamlukka, Pathum Thani /TANN

Salvage of flooded cars begin at Don Muang Airport /TANN

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SET index midday up 5.53 pts, 0.56 pct

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Wednesday stood at 993.59, up 5.53 points, or 0.56 per cent amid Bt 7.87 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 695.81, up 4.02 points, or 0.58 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: PTTGC, KTB, TRUE, KBANK, ADVANC.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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Pathum Thani: Protesters Reduce Sluice Gate Down to 1 Meter

A protest leader has adjusted the Phraya Suren sluice gate down to 97 centimeters.

Previously, the sluice gate was lifted up to 1.5 meters. The leader insisted he will have no further discussions.

According to a news reporter, the Phraya Suren sluice gate level was adjusted down to 1 meter, which reduced the water level above the sluice gate to 1.95 meters.

Meanwhile, the water level at the lower sluice gate is at 1.75 meters, a decrease of 3 centimeters since yesterday.

The water level on the two sides of the gate is 20 centimeters different.

Police Major General Sangiem Samranrat, who led the protest, admitted that he opened the sluice gate last night to help residents in Sai Mai and Sukhapiban 5 districts.

He plans to lift the sluice gate up to 1.5 meters in the late afternoon to drain the floodwater quickly.

Furthermore, he insisted that he will be responsible for determining the height of the sluice gate opening, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA has failed to discharge the floodwater.

He said he will act as the Bangkok governor's shadow.

Sangiem went on to say he does not want to negotiate with the Flood Relief Operations Center and the BMA because he believes he is able to manage the floodwater effectively.

He has a plan to survey sluice gates in various areas, and to open the Phraya Suren gate wider after he ensures that there will be no further impact.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-30

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Over Bt26 billion expected to circulate during Thai Motor Expo 2011 Dec 1-12 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani /MCOT

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Energy body cuts maximum electricity usage to be eligible for free electricity from 90 to 50 units/month/TAN_Network

Energy body cancels sales of gasoline 91 nationwide by Oct 1, 2012/TAN_Network

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RT@PouYingluck: PM would like to thank for all lovely concerned messages. She feels much better now and ready to work. (Team)

RT@PouYingluck: Visiting Vietnam this afternoon, PM hopes to discuss about ASEAN flood prevention as Thai &Vietnam share similar characters both in geographical and agricultural aspects. (Team)

[Lite Beer]

BILATERAL TIE

Energy and rice top of Thai-VN talk

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is seeking a discussion on natural gas supply as well as closer cooperation in boosting rice price, during her visit to Vietnam, according to Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

During the visit, she will have a discussion with the president and prime minister of Vietnam.

"Thailand’s Energy Ministry plans to import gas from Vietnam. Meanwhile, on rice, we may persuade them not to compete on price cutting, as that would only dampen the price," Surapong said.

Other topics could include natural disasters, joint cooperation in mitigating disasters along the Mekong River, as well as food security.

Yingluck is discharged from hospital today, after a one-night stay due to food poisoning. She boarded a 1pm flight to Vietnam, accompanied by a medical team.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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ECONOMY

Flood damage hits 2.1% of GDP

Seetalavajit Sabayjai

The Nation

The Bank of Thailand today revised up its loss estimate from floods from 1.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to 2.1 per cent.

The upward revision followed a sharp contraction in the manufacturing sector in October, aside from the global economic crisis. Consumption in the month also declined due to manufacturing suspension and disruptions in goods transportation.

October’s Manufacturing Production Index slumped by 35.8 per cent year-on-year due to temporary shutdown of production due to the floods.

Hard-hit industries included the hard disk drive, automobile, integrated circuit and parts and electrical appliances industries, said Mathee Supapongse, senior director.

The manufacturing index of the automotive industry plunged the most, by 62 per cent on year; electronics by 52 per cent; and electrical appliances by 45 per cent.

October’s exports also suffered a 0.1 per cent shrinkage on year, as global demand dropped in light of the euro crisis.

The Monetary Policy Committee convenes today. It is expected to cut the policy rate by as much as 50 basis points, on poor economic data.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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Jatuporn holds a press conference saying he doesn't care if he's stripped of his MP status and will continue his fight outside Parliament/TAN_Network

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Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller advisory service.

The following Travel Advice has changed or been added since our last update (30 Nov 2011 17:33:54 EST):

* Thailand

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Current Advice Level: "High degree of caution"

Change Summary:

This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary under Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate (new information on floods affecting Bangkok and other parts of Thailand). The level of the advice for Bangkok and flood affected provinces has been lowered to High degree of caution. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

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Bank of Thailand cuts key interest rate by 0.25pct to 3.25pct to stimulate national economy in wake of flood crisis /MCOT

ECONOMY

BOT opts for mild rate cut

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Criminal Court orders extradition of two Thais to face murder trial in Australia

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German tourist fatally injured after falling from elephant's back

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AFP: Thai bank cuts interest rates

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Free Bus Service Marks Father's Day

The Transport Company launches a special campaign called "Travel with Dad" for the third year in a row.

Under the program, they are offering free bus ride to fathers who travel with their children from December 5 through December 13.

Transport Company Limited President, Wuttichat Kanlayannamit said the company is organizing a special project called, "Travel with Dad" for the third time to celebrate His Majesty the King's 84th birthday and to show loyalty to the King.

Fathers can travel with their children without paying for nine days, lasting from December 5 until December 13.

To qualify, passengers need to present their household registrations and identification cards at the ticket booths at bus terminals nationwide.

Eligible passengers will be able to use public buses that travel a distance of up to 100 kilometers.

The passengers cannot use this promotion with any other discount packages and it does not apply with VIP buses.

Wuttichat added that in the past, the project was quite successful and received a good response from the public.

The company has had the "Travel with Dad" promotion for three years now and sees it as a way to return some of their profits to their passengers and to help the flood victims.

Furthermore, the company believes that the project will help stimulate the economy and promote tourism in the country.

For more information, passengers can contact the company's call center at 1490 24 hours a day.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-30

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SET index closed at 995.33, up 7.27; Bt/USD31.12; GBP48.27; AUD30.86; EUR41.20; CAD29.91; HKD3.99; SGD23.81; JPY39.69

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Main Thonburi Canals Still Bloating

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has reported that water levels in most major canals in the capital have receded.

However, the four main canals on the Thonburi side of the city are still bloating.

Earlier today, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, reported that the water level in the Chao Phraya River in Bang Sai District of Ayutthaya Province was measured at three meters above the sea level, receding by six centimeters from the day before.

The high tide at 12:13 P.M. was measured at 2.07 meters.

Meanwhile, the floodwater at Canal 2 sluice gate has fallen by five centimeters.

The water level at Thawee Wattana floodgate and Premprachakorn Canal has also dropped by three centimeters and six centimeters respectively.

About the flooding situation in Bangkok, the water level in Saen Saeb Canal has receded by between one and three centimeters while the water level in Prawet Burirom Canal remained unchanged.

Many parts of Don Muang District are still flooded.

The floodwater in Bang Khen Canal has dropped by between four and six centimeters.

The water level in Bang Sue Canal has lowered by two to four centimeters.

On the Thonburi side of the capital, even though Thawee Wattana Canal has seen water level receding, Mahasawat, Bang Prom, Bang Chuek Nang and Bang Waek canals are still bloating.

At the same time, many parts of Lak Si, Bang Khen, Sai Mai, Ladprao, Kannayao, Klong Samwa and Minburi District are still flooded as in Thawee Wattana, Talingchan, Nong Khaem, Bang Khae and Pasichaoren districts in Thonburi area.

At around 2 A.M. today, a group of locals in Lumlukka District led by Sa-ngiem Samranrat lowered the Phraya Suren sluice gate from 1.5 meter to 97 centimeters, citing concern for those who live downstream from the gate in Sai Mai District.

However, Sa-ngiem announced that he will raise the gate back up to 1.5 meters today.

He even put himself in charge of all sluice gates in Bangkok, saying that authorities have failed to manage the flood problem.

Moreover, he said that he will not negotiate with either the BMA nor the Flood Relief Operations Center, believing that he is more experienced than both of them.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-30

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THE KING'S 84TH BIRTHDAY

HM the King to appear at balcony of Chakri Throne Hall on Dec 5

HM the King will appear at the balcony of Chakri Throne Hall on December 5 as part of the royal blessing ceremony for his 84th birthday, said Rattanawut Watcharothai, director of public relations and promotions at the Office of the Royal Household.

On December 5, HM the King will leave Siriraj Hospital where he is staying, in a motorcade to the Chakri Throne Hall thus allowing members of the public the opportunity to greet the King along the roads.

TV projectors will be installed at many places along the route from the hospital to Wiset Chaisri Gate so that people can observe the King.

In front of the Throne Hall, some 8,000 government guests and 5,000 others as well as 480 royal guards will wait to greet the King who will appear at the balcony at 10.30am.

Among the celebrations to be held between December 3 and 9, will be a special show, a first in Thailand, called the Illusion Live Wall, a 3D-panoramic multi-media presentation on the 200-metre wall of the Grand Palace on Na Pralarn Road.

The presentation will be about HM the King's remarkable talents and the country under his patronage. The 20-minute presentation will be aired from 7pm to 10pm.

As part of the seven-day celebration, people will also allowed for the first time to visit the Grand Palace at night. People can go into the inner area of the palace from December 5 until 9 nightly from 7pm until midnight and take photos.

Rattanawut said that normally only royal foreign guests are permitted to visit the Grand Palace at night.

-- The Nation 2011-11-30

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to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 1 Dec 2011

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