Thailand Live Thursday 1 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Thursday 1 December 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 Wednesday 30 Nov 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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AFTER CENSURE MOTION

Disqualified red shirt leader Jatuporn smells a conspiracy

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BURNING ISSUE

Chalerm - the power behind the scenes

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TOURISM

Inbound tourism likely back to normal by Feb: Thailand

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POLITICS

Pheu Thai prepares impeachment move over flood relief 'interference'

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FLOOD IN THE SOUTH

Flood-hit Songkhla, Narathiwat returning to normal

The Nation

The flood situation in the South was returning to normal in Songkhla and Narathiwat as the monsoon rains stopped, allowing evacuees to start returning home.

Flood waters were receding in many areas, especially along the Sungai Kolok River in three districts. The inundation of vast areas was receding. Residents of Narathiwat's Waeng district were moving back home.

In Songkhla, only low-lying areas around Songkhla Lake were still submerged, accounting for about 20 per cent of six districts flooded annually. Relief officials said the situation was expected to return to normal if there were no more rain for two more days.

The provincial relief agency said two people drowned and 10 out of all 16 districts were declared disaster zones, where 63,487 people in 462 villagers have been affected, including 519 who were evacuated.

The regional weather bureau predicted that heavy rain would likely pelt the Gulf of Thailand coast, along with a possible storm, from tomorrow to Sunday. It called on residents to watch out for flash floods and fishing trawlers to avoid setting out to sea because of high swells.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will inspect flood-prevention efforts in the Hat Yai area of Songkhla tomorrow, including a contingency plan to cope with water arriving from Malaysia, where a 40-per-cent increase in annual flood water is expected, Mayor Phrai Phatthano said.

Among the measures are expanding an existing canal and digging two new canals to prevent excess rainwater from entering the Hat Yai area, which would require about Bt7 billion to implement, he said.

Danaiwit Saibundit, the provincial irrigation chief, said Yingluck's visit would give local authorities a chance to discuss proposed measures and request a Bt3.5-billion budget for short-term solutions.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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FLOOD OF CONFLICTS

Tension over sluice gates ease

The Nation

Tension over the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate eased significantly yesterday after Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to open it by 1.30 metres and a team from the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) visited the disgruntled locals.

The situation at the sluice gate has been tense for several days as Pol Major Sangiam Samranrat, an official at the PM's Secretary-General's Office, led protesters on Sunday night to demand that the gate be opened 1.5m wide.

BMA wanted to keep the opening a metre wide, while Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and Sa-ngiam started threatening to take legal action against each other. However, Sukhumbhand changed his mind yesterday by admitting that the sluice gate was one of the four key gates in the capital and needed to be opened wider.

"This is because the situation is getting better and we are keeping the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate opening at 1.30-metre wide," he said.

FROC director Pol General Pracha Promnok credited his team for helping ease the tension.

"They visited the locals and helped them understand the situation," Pracha said, adding that if opening the gate wider did not affect people in Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay and Bang Bua Thong districts, and those in Bangkok's Sai Mai and Don Muang districts, then the gate could be opened wider.

Meanwhile, people living in Soi Chaeng Wattana 14 are threatening to block Chaeng Wattana Road today because they say the authorities are doing little to drain their area.

"The water levels have only dropped by 20 centimetres and small vehicles still cannot enter the soi," a resident complained.

Meanwhile, an informed source said that FROC would quietly bring its operations to a stop by the end of this year. "There will be no official announcements because no one wants to see the issue getting politicised," the source said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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FLOOD CRISIS

Many sites in Ayutthaya face risk of crumbling: Thailand flood

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EDITORIAL

Thai govt will have to sacrifice some populist schemes

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I beg your pardon... Is amnesty in the works or not?: Thai talk

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Largest drug hauls in Thailand, China, Laos: UNODC

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Temperature drop could bring rise in disease

The Nation

The public has been warned that the cold season could bring outbreaks of six diseases: lung infections, flu, measles, rubella, chicken pox and diarrhoea in young children.

The Department of Disease Control said yesterday that nearly 90,000 people were suffering from these diseases, with young children, the elderly and those with existing chronic ailments most at risk.

Director-general Dr Phornthep Siriwanarangsan also warned against drinking alcohol as an antidote to cold temperatures, sleeping too close to fires, or living in close contact to people with chronic respiratory problems.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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Rohingya survive ordeal at sea

The Nation

Thirty-seven Rohingya men emerged alive after four days lost at sea without food yesterday, when they came ashore in Phang Nga's Takua Pa district.

The men, aged 16 to 50, from Burma's Rakhaing region, were on their way to seek work in Malaysia when their fishing trawler was hit by a storm and sent off course. The boat was not equipped with navigational devices.

The men have been given medical treatment and other assistance and are set to be repatriated.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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Bounty for fugitive in Suphoth case

The Nation

A Bt200,000 bounty has been offered for the capture of the alleged ringleader, reportedly on the run in Laos, who took millions of baht during the burglary at Transport Ministry permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom's house earlier this month.

A senior commander, Police-Col Yanyong Wej-osoth, said "wanted" posters for Weerasak Chuelee, featuring the Bt200,000 bounty, had been distributed in the Tha Khaew area along the Mekong River. Six teams of Thai police working with Lao police expect to apprehend Weerasak soon.

The National Anti-corruption Commission (NACC) will today reveal details of assets found in Suphoth's home, after an inspection was completed on Tuesday, said senior NACC official Methee Krongkaew. A large number of documents, bank transaction slips and a computer were seized for inspection from Suphoth's home.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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Bhutan's royals ask about flood victims

The Nation

King Jigme Wangchuck of Bhutan, during a flying visit to Thailand, expressed his concern about the flooding and its victims, Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said yesterday.

Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck also asked about the situation in Rangsit, during a brief welcome at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday, added Sukumol.

Sukumol said she was impressed with the concern shown by the royals, who were making a stopover in Thailand during a personal trip.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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Extradition to Australia

The Nation

The Criminal Court yesterday approved the extradition of two Thai murder suspects to Australia.

Sarat or Surat Sihaveerachart, 28, Tatiya Terdphutham, 26, and their friend are accused of fatally stabbing Luke Mitchell, an Australian, in Victoria State on May 24, 2009. They left Australia after the alleged crime.

According to the court's order, Sarat and Tatiya, who were arrested in Thailand, must be extradited 30-90 days after the ruling or else they will be released.

Sarat's attorney said he would appeal the verdict.

"We will request that the trial takes place in Thailand," he said, citing racist cases and physical assaults against Thais in Australia.

Sarat's mother insisted that he did nothing wrong.

"My son didn't carry the knife that night. He just went out with two other friends for some drinks," she said.

Sarat was studying in Australia, she said. He believed in his innocence and wanted to continue his studies there but she demanded that he fly back immediately.

"I was scared. His friend said my son was stabbed in the arm too," she said.

The Australian government cited the 1916 extradition treaty between Thailand and the UK to request the return of the two men to Australia.

The defence lawyers fought the extradition request on grounds that Thailand has no extradition treaty with Australia and Australia is not part of the UK, so it could not cite the Thai-UK treaty.

The court ruled that although Thailand and Australia had no extradition treaty, Australia used to be a part of the UK, so the Thai-UK treaty could be applied.

The court noted that the Australian government also promised to send suspects to Thailand in exchange, so the two countries did not need to have a formal extradition agreement.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

Main topic:

Criminal Court Orders Extradition Of Two Thais To Face Murder Trial In Australia

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DTAC files suit seeking termination of NBTC foreign-dominance regulations

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Monsoon gathers strength to cause more heavy rain on East coast of South from Nakhon Si Thammarat downwards from tomorrow-Sunday /TANN

Suvarnabhumi Airport asks those who parked their cars there to escape flooding to remove their cars by Dec 6 or else they'll be towed /TANN

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Thailand Motor Expo Kicked off Today

The press preview day of the 28th Thailand International Motor Expo 2011 yesterday was lively.

More than 40 automakers attended the exhibition. The total number of cars expected to be purchased at the event is about 25,000 units.

The 28th Thailand International Motor Expo 2011 with the theme “Automobile Blossoms in Full Bloom” will be held today until December 12 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Forty international automobile and motorcycle companies will attend.

The Motor Expo's organizing chairman, Kwanchai Papatpong, said about 25,000 cars are expected to be sold, generating around 27 billion baht.

A total number of visitors over the twelve consecutive days is anticipated to be around 1.2 million.

However, the number of visitors would surpass earlier predictions as the organizer decided not to charge the entrance fee due to the ongoing floods.

Kwanchai added that the pick-up car would gain popularity after the ravaging floods hit the country.

In addition, the Eco-car is still capturing the market.

The Honda Automobile Thailand Managing Director Pitak Preutisarikorn reiterated that Honda Automaker will continue to remain its production base in Thailand.

Pitak added that the Honda expected to resume its production as soon as possible.

He also insisted that Honda would dispose all car and auto parts stranded under the deluge in an environmentally friendly way.

Furthermore, Pitak clarified that the cabinet made a tariff exemption on completed cars and auto-parts to help the company.

However, he accepted that the imported car prices would be higher than their normal prices due to transportation costs.

As for the ongoing Thailand International Motor Expo, Honda Motor will showcase all models, including Brio, Jazz, CRV, Civic, City, Accord, and Freeze.

All models can be reserved in advance before purchase.

However, the company could not determine the exact day to transfer the cars.

Likewise, visitors are capable to reserve cars with the Isuzu, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motor during the exhibition.

However, Toyota Motor that severely affected by the flooding denies to take any reservations but to display its latest environmentally car innovation, Toyoya Hybrid Synergy Drive and Hilux Vigo Champ.

The exhibition's hi-light is the debut of Eco-car, modeled 'Peel Trident Fun Electric', valuing 850,000 baht imported from the United Kingdom by the TSL Auto Corporation.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01

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Royal Irrigation Department Renovates Nakhon Pathom's Pomelo Orchards

The Royal Irrigation Department has launched an effort to renovate Nakhon Pathom's flooded pomelo orchards, a key cash crop in the province.

Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department, Chalit Damnoeonsuk, said that his agency is in the process of installing additional water pumps for 5,000 rais of pomelo farms in Nakhon Pathom's five sub-districts under the "Rescue Samphran-Koh Songkhanong Pomelo Orchard" project.

Chalit said the operation consists of two parts. One is to build a levee around the 6-kilometer radius of Songkhanong Island.

Another is to install 20 water pumps to quickly drain the floodwater from the area into Tha Chin River.

He said eight water pumps have been installed so far, and the pumps will support the drainage efforts and flood prevention measures operated by local administrative bodies in the province.

The department chief added that four devices will be installed at the Nang Than shortcut canal and 10 others under Pho Nangkaew Bridge to expedite the drainage of floodwater to the river.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01

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Flood Waste, Gold for Garbage Pickers

The recent floods have caused major losses in the nation's history, but for some people whose income comes from others' unwanted items, the crisis has provided an opportunity to earn the highest income they've ever made.

Tons of flood-ravaged home furniture and appliances continue to be dumped in several areas across Bangkok since the floodwater began to recede.

This has presented lucrative opportunities for a group of people who make their living by collecting and selling trash, as well as for those looking for extra cash while unemployed due to the crisis.

Many people are making more than 2,000 baht a day, almost 10 times their normal income, and some have even found precious belongings in the mountains of waste.

A lot of people are not making an effort to go through their trash to salvage what may still be usable, as they have much to do to repair their homes and get their lives back to normal.

One small scrap dealer noted that his trade value has reached an average of 100,000 baht a day over the past few weeks since the floods have eased.

He remarked that many garbage pickers have visited him to convert their collected waste into cash.

Although this year's floods had a devastating impact on the country's economy, the situation has created an opportunity for many low-income earners to cash in on others' unwanted items, proving that one man's garbage is indeed another man's gold.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01

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Carabao New Year Expo

December 21 to 27

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 1,018.11, up 22.78 points /MCOT

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Thai Army Chief Confident About Military Budget Clarification

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Flood Eases While Many Areas Suffer From Rancid Floodwater

Although the flood situation in Buddha Monthon and Nakhon Chaisri districts have improved, many areas still contain high volumes of rancid floodwater.

Meanwhile, residents and vendors from the Don Wai Market gathered to build sandbag walls to drain stagnant floodwater from the market.

The flood situation in Buddha Monthon and Nakhon Chaisri districts continue to improve after a month of flooding.

However, many areas still contain high volumes of floodwater, some areas with as much as 1.5 meters.

At Lan Tak Fa-Salayanam road, the floodwater has decreased and is now at 50 to 60 centimeters.

Large vehicles can now pass this area.

However, orchards and rice farms along the road remain submerged under two meters of water, causing them serious damage.

The village remains submerged under one meter of water, and locals still must travel by boat.

Nevertheless, the big problem for the moment is the rancid smell coming from the large amount of waste associated with stagnant floodwater that cannot be drained out of the area.

Officials have installed two additional large water pumps at the Klong Yong Floodgate to quickly drain the floodwater from Nonthaburi Province into Tha Chin River.

Yesterday at the Don Wai Temple in Samphran District of Nakhon Pathom Province, residents, vendors, and the executives of Don Wai Temple School gathered to build sandbag walls around Don Wai Temple, Don Wai floating market, and Don Wai Temple School, before draining the stagnant floodwater to Nakhon Chaisri River.

Phra Mae Tee Thammanan, the Abbot of Don Wai Temple, disclosed that the assembling of local residents to recover the areas of Don Wai floating market was to prepare the space for the celebration of His Majesty the King's Birthday on December 5, and to prepare for the school opening day on December 6.

It's expected that the floodwater will be completely drained from the area over the next three days, after residents have suffered from more than a month of flooding.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-01

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AFP INTERVIEW: Thailand floods a 'wake-up' call for Asia: ADB

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Thailand ranks 80th in 2011 Corruption Perception Index

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Abhisit says FROC should not be disbanded now

The Nation

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday that the government should not dissolve the Flood Relief Operations Centre now.

He said the FROC still has to follow up on its measures to ensure that the measures in alleviating flood crisis would become successful.

He said the FROC should also provide help to people in the southern provinces, which have been hit by recent storms and flooding.

Abhisit said the FROC should also remain to settle conflicts in provinces around Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-12-01

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Second Hand Car Buyers are Warned of Flooded Cars

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