Thailand Live Tuesday 6 Dec 2011

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Blue Flag Event Held to Alleviate Flood Victims' Burden

The Commerce Ministry will provide a 100 million baht budget to host its popular "Blue Flag Express" discounted goods fair to help flood victims and SME operators.

Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said that the cabinet has already approved a 100 million baht budget to administer a Blue Flag express campaign in various flooded provinces, including Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.

Yanyong said people hit by the floods can purchase discounted goods at the event. The items include bags of rice, instant noodles, eggs, cooking oil, milk, detergent, and home cleaning products. All items will be loaded onto small trucks before being distributed to many places.

In addition, he added that the fair would also benefit entrepreneurs and farmers affected by flooding.

Moreover, the ministry will hold another campaign, aimed at helping exporters, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs, or SMEs, OTOP manufacturers, and farmers who were severely affected by the recent flooding. The event will allow them to sell their products, as inventory has been building up in warehouses.

In addition, the Blue Flag fair will also be holding an event to provide low-cost groceries, machinery, and agricultural equipment. The ministry will help repair electrical appliances that were damaged in the flooding. The ministry will hold the event once in Bangkok and three times inother provinces.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-06

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Cabinet to Finalize Flood Rehab Plan

At today's cabinet meeting, flood rehabilitation measures will be clarified and the recovery budget will finalized.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit chaired the cabinet meeting that began at 8 A.M. today. The top item on the agenda is finalizing rehabilitation schemes to provide assistance to flood-affected people.

The Flood Recovery and Restoration Committee has requested around 100 billion baht for the cabinet's approval. Earlier, the cabinet approved a 5,000 baht flood-relief money for residents to carry out repairs and a 30,000 baht compensation for homes that were completely flooded.

Meanwhile, the National Economic and Social Development Board Office will report to the cabinet on the water situation in the northeastern provinces.

The National Office of Buddhism will also report on flood assistance measures being provided to affected temples and monks nationwide.

In addition, the Commerce Ministry will present international trade numbers for the first ten months of this year, while the Finance Ministry will provide real estate statistics for the first half of the year.

The Interior Ministry will also propose a scheme to modify building structures in certain areas as a precautionary measure to guard possible earthquakes in the future.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-06

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Government Urged to carry out King's Flood Protection Project

A former Royal Irrigation Department director general has advised the government to promote the King's flood way project as a national priority and is urging all sides to work together in helping to bring about long term flood protection.

Former Director General of Royal Irrigation Department, PramoteMaiklad commented on the King's mentioning floodprotection in his speech, pointing out that the idea has been repeatedon many occasions. Promote is asking all sides, including engineeringexperts, to work together in carrying out the King's advice.

About the royal flood way project, which has failed to materialize,Pramote said that this is because everyone has different ideas abouthow to proceed with the flood management. He says that as aconsequence, governments failed to anticipate the disaster, thusinflicting great loss. The former Royal Irrigation Department directorgeneral is asking the government to promote the flood way project aspart of the national agenda. Since it is a long-term undertaking,everyone must cooperate with each other for the future of the country,particularly in the wake of the current flood disaster.

Concerning calls for changes in urban planning, Pramote believes thatthis is merely a ploy to benefit commercial housing developments, nota sincere attempt to solve the flood problem. He also stated thatthere have been some delays in the current flood relief efforts butrefused to assign blame, saying that he does not want to get involvedwith politics. Pramote has pledged to cooperate with all sides.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-06

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Transport Min Denies Feud with His Deputy

The transport minister denies reports that he is at odds with his deputy and is holding a press conference today to clarify the matter.

Transport Minister Air Chief Marshall Sukumpol Suwantat said he is holding a press conference today to clarify reports regarding a conflict with Deputy Transport Minister Chat Kuldilok.

He insisted that he remains on good terms with his deputy, but admitted that there are some matters on which they have differing opinions, such as the double-track and high-speed rail projects.

Sukumpol said he has asked his deputy to conduct a feasibility study again looking into the complete conversion of rail tracks from a one-meter rail gauge to a standard gauge of 1.435 meter, which he thinks will be too costly.

He added that generally, ministers and officials will talk through whether proposed approaches are realizable or not and together reach a conclusion.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-06

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Two Pattani ATM booths bombed; one woman wounded

PATTANI, Dec 6 - Bombs exploded at two Pattani municipality automatic teller machine booths in Pattani municipality, wounding one passer-by.

A person wearing a Muslim woman’s headscarf (hijab) was seen placing a one-kilogramme bomb at the Krung Thai Bank on Phipit Road in Pattani municipality and returning to a waiting motorcycle.

The bomb exploded, wounding a woman riding a motorcycle. Identified as Arisa Moomorari, 29, she was rushed to Pattani Hospital for treatment.

About 300 metres away, a remote controlled bomb exploded at Bank of Ayudhya ATM machine. The ATM was destroyed but no one was wounded.

The police said four persons wearing hijab riding two motorcycles carried out the bombings which were set to explode at 06.50am.

The police initially believed the actions were meant to create disturbance rather than injure, as not many people use the two ATM sites early in the morning. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-06

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RT @BangkokDan: Phnom Penh's today what Bangkok once was. Bustling with young travelers, hip bars, colonial-style restos, great vibes.

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PM to heed royal advice on flood control

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday pledged to heed His Majesty's advice on sustainable flood control.

"Today's Cabinet meeting will heed and implement the royal advice, acknowledging the King's concerns about flood-hit people," she said.

Yingluck said her government would try to complete the drainage of flood water as a New Year's gift for the people.

Based on the latest checks, some 80 to 100 villages were still being submerged, she said.

She vowed to iron out differences over the implementation of flood control measures, saying the Flood Relief Operations Centre would reason with local residents.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

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Flood crisis causes a 3 billion Baht loss for Thai Airways in Q4: THAI president

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Deputy PM Chalerm: Reuters Hires Investigators to Probe Cameraman's Death

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SOUTH CRISIS

Explosives placed at ATMs in Pattani, one injured

The Nation

Violence continued in southernmost province of Pattani with two bombs exploding simultaneously at ATMs on Tuesday slightly injuring one person.

The first attack took place at about 6.50am at an ATM of Krung Thai Bank in the middle of town near an intersection in Muang district.

The blast destroyed one of four machines as well as lights and walls. A woman, identified as Alisa Mumohali, who was standing near the machine at the time, suffered cuts to her left leg from pieces of the machine.

The second attack was at an ATM of the Bank of Ayudhya at the intersection of Udomwithee and Piphit roads. No one was wounded.

Police collected evidence from the sites and suspected the bombs were timed to explode.

Footage from a security camera showed a man wearing a hood behaving suspiciously and placing the explosive under the KT bank machine before leaving. The explosion took place about five minutes later followed almost immediately by the blast at the Bank of Ayudhya.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

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SET closes midday break down by 3.63 points at 1,025.74 with value of Bt12.68 bn /TANN

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PM Orders Flooded Areas to Be Drained by New Year

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Government will heed King's advice: PM

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Bt1.4 bln budget sought to restore Ayutthaya historical sites

BANGKOK, Dec 6 – Thailand’s Ministry of Culture initially sought the budget of Bt1.4 billion baht (about US$46 million ) from the cabinet to restore Ayutthaya’s historical sites, damaged by months-long flooding, Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said on Tuesday.

The minister said that following a survey by specialists from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) of historical sites in Ayutthaya, Thailand’s 600-year old former capital, the team found damage from flooding such as flaking, mildew stain and efflorescence on murals particularly at the Choeng Tha Temple where the damage is critical.

Structures of many historic buildings have also been affected such as at the Ayothaya Temple, which needs a revamp to rebuild its structure.

The ministry also has an initiative to revive the moat around the city as in the old days, to act as a flood prevention barrier for the city.

On Dec 18, Thai and Japanese experts will conduct another survey to assess the damage on historical sites following the flooding.

The ministry will also invite the private sector and other agencies to finance the restoration after the Finance Ministry announces tax incentives. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-06

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Manufacturers hit by floods delay openings

NALIN VIBOONCHART

THE NATION

New-factory registrations will likely decline in the first half of 2012 from the same period this year because of the expected minimum-wage increase and the floods, which have forced manufacturers to focus on rehabilitation instead of opening new plants, according to the head of the Industry Ministry's Department of Industrial Works (DIW).

The number of new factories granted operating licences began to slow in October because of the flooding, DIW director-general Arthit Wuthikaro said.

Another factor that will influence manufacturers' decisions on opening new factories is the increase in the minimum wage to Bt300 per day, which the government is expected to implement in April.

According to the DIW, 302 factories were granted licences in October, down from 424 in September. The number was down 3.21 per cent from 312 licences in the same month of 2010.

New licences dropped in November to 204. Compared with November last year, the number is down 34.82 per cent, while investment also decreased by 41.10 per cent from Bt14.054 billion in November 2010 to Bt8.278 billion.

The statistic for November is the lowest for the first 11 months of this year.

The number of factories planning to expand was also down year on year. In September, 45 factories requested permission to expand, down 36.62 per cent from 71 in the same month of 2010.

The number fell 41.54 per cent year on year in October from 65 to 38, and 52.46 per cent year on year in November from 61 to 29.

The number of factory expansions during the first 11 months of this year sank by 26.28 per cent from 605 in 2010 to 446 this year.

Investment value of the plant expansions in November dropped 72.01 per cent from Bt23.437 billion last year to Bt6.56 billion.

The number of factories informing the department of closure increased year on year in November from 89 to 110, and month on month from 84 in October. November was the only month of this year to see an increase in factory closures.

"The number of new factory registrations in the first half of next year is likely to slip compared with the same period of this year, based on what we've seen during the past few months," Arthit said.

Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said that when he met with Yoshihisa Kainuma, president of Minebea Thailand, on FridayDecember 2, Kai-numa insisted the company would keep its main operations in Thailand.

The electric-motor company has moved only labour-intensive operations to Cambodia, he said, with the items made in Thailand's neighbouring countries eventually being shipped here for assembly.

Minebea will hold an opening ceremony for its factory in Cambodia on December 17.

Wannarat said he was still confident that foreign investors would not leave Thailand. Some may leave, but not because of flooding, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

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Mekong nations to meet on controversial Laos dam

by Suy Se

PHNOM PENH, December 6, 2011 (AFP) - Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam hold high-level talks on Thursday to decide whether to approve a controversial proposed dam on the Mekong River fiercely opposed by environmentalists.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/517190-mekong-nations-to-meet-on-controversial-laos-dam/page__view__findpost__p__4894136

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THAI resumed technical operation

The Nation

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) announced that its Technical Department in Don Mueang Airport has reopened and has resumed normal technical operations.

Piyasvasti Amranand, president of the company, said the THAI's Technical Department in Don Mueang has reopened after heavy flooding affected Don Mueang Airport and Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, which resulted in temporary closure as it was not possible to conduct heavy aircraft maintenance from 26 October 2011 until now.

As flood waters have receded and the situation has returned to normal, THAI's Technical Department in Don Mueang will open for operations beginning today 6 December 2011 and will be ready to conduct all heavy maintenance services starting on 19 December 2011 every day including on public holidays.

The five aircraft that had been undergoing heavy maintenance in the hangar were unaffected by the flooding as they were supported by aircraft equipment in the hangar. The five aircraft include: two Boeing 747-400, one Boeing 777-300, one Boeing 777-300ER, and one Airbus A330-300. One Boeing 747-400 had been undergoing air cargo retrofit that was initially set for completion in March 2012 is now delayed approximately one month. Economy Class seats in the other Boeing 747-400, originally to be finished in December 2011, is now two-months delayed. The other three aircraft, Boeing 777-300, Boeing 777-300ER, and Airbus A330-300, are undergoing normal maintenance with no impact to THAI's flight planning schedule. For the two Airbus A300-600 aircraft that had been decommissioned from the fleet and were waiting to be sold, THAI's Technical Department had taken care to securely protect these aircraft and engines in plastic wrap, were found to be in normal conditions.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

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AFP: Swiss Re estimates Thai floods cost at US$600 million

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NACC announces that raid of Transport perm-sec Supoj's house netted evidence of Bt20m deposited in bank; he must clarify wealth in 30d /TANN

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Govt to give tax benefits to flood donors

The government is preparing tax benefits for members of the private sector who donate money for the repair of flooded historical sites.

"After the tax measures are finalised, we will request help from the private sector," Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said Tuesday.

The worst floods in decades have hit the country during the past few months, submerging houses as well as ancient structures.

Among them are historical sites in the world-heritage zone in Ayutthaya.

After floodwater in the former capital of Thailand subsided, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) last week dispatched a team of experts to inspect the scope of damages.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

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Thanksin will not interfere in Cabinet reshuffle: Noppadon

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had no involvement in the Cabinet reshuffle, his legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said, dismissing speculation on ministerial changes.

"Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has the sole jurisdiction to line up her cabinet," he said.

Noppadon insisted Thaksin had never mentioned to anybody that he would give a greenlight to reshuffle the Cabinet after the New Year holiday.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

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AFTERMATH

Bt1.4bn approved for Ayutthaya's historical sites

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SET index closed at 1030.77 up 1.40; Bt/USD30.75; GBP47.92; AUD31.09; EUR40.98; CAD30.01; HKD3.94; SGD23.77; JPY39.32

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Phuket Skywatch: Total lunar eclipse to mark Thai Constitution Day

An image of the crescent Moon taken from roughly 400,000 km by the spacecraft Galileo during an Earth flyby. Photo: NASA.

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130,000 workers, mainly outsourced labour, at risk of being laid off at flood-hit companies in Ayutthaya, Phathum Thani: Labour Ministry /MCOT

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More than 200 schools in Greater Bangkok remain closed

Tuesday was the delayed start of the second semester but more than 200 schools in Greater Bangkok were still flooded and remained closed.

Up to 90 schools in Pathum Thani, 54 in Nakhon Pathom, 50 in Nonthaburi and 11 in Bangkok were expected to reopen next Tuesday, said Pitsanu Tulasuk, deputy secretary-general of the Basic Education Commission.

However, if any of them were still inundated by then, they might postpone their classes again, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

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Phuket Marine Office to set up holiday safety center

Tourists at Rassada Harbour in Phuket during the Songkran Festival in April this year. File photo.

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Pardon Me! Phuket Prison population to plummet 10%

A group of QSI students leave Phuket Prison following a tour of the facility in May. The upcoming release of 143 inmates should prove far more emotional.

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Fugitive Arisman to surrender Wednesday

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MOTOR EXPO

Mazda enjoys brisk sales

The Nation

Mazda Sales Thailand Co Ltd enjoyed brisk business at the 28th Motor Expo, with the booking hitting near 2,000 units in the first five days of the 12-day event.

Luring orders is the promise of prompt delivery of Mazda 2 and Mazda 3 upon booking, just when Toyota Motor Thailand took no order at the booth while Honda has to import vehicles for domestic sales.

At the event, Mazda also unveiled the all new Mazda BT-50 Pro.

Sureethip La-Ongthong Chomthongdee, marketing director of the company, said that automotive demand remains high, but supply could not catch up due to flood impacts. She noted that Mazda takes this opportunity to adjust its production plan and inventory management.

The company welcomed orders for 1,759 units of Mazda 2, a two-fold increase from its target.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06