Thailand Live Tuesday 3 Jan 2012

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ROAD SAFETY

Police on alert on Day 6 on New Year break: Thailand

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Green Group Coordinator: Thaksin Should Receive Criminal Sentence

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NEW YEAR BREAK

Extra buses, trains to cope with return to Bangkok

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INUNDATION

Flooding eases in Trang and Hat Yai

The Nation

Heavy rainfall and flooding in several southern southern provinces early in the New Year have severely disrupted travel, causing all flights to be suspended at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport, and putting railway tracks and a main highway underwater.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Wirote Jiwarangsan declared three districts disaster zones and ordered government workers to help flood-affected residents. Floodwater has continued rising since dawn in the municipal area, flooding all communities as the rains continue.

All flights have been suspended at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport due to poor weather, leaving several hundred passengers stranded. The rail tracks from Nakhon Si Thammarat station to Tung Song station are underwater. Passengers travelling north are advised to board trains at Tung Song station.

In Phatthalung, overnight rain triggered flooding in business areas in the provincial seat. Many roads are under 40cm of water and the water continues to rise. Phatthalung Hospital is flooded, causing difficulties for patients coming to hospital.

The provincial prison, located in a low-lying area, is also underwater. Guards and inmates are draining water from the premises. In some areas out of town, floodwater is as deep as two metres.

In Chumphon, Lang Suan district has been hard hit, with all areas flooded and the municipality cut off, affecting several thousand people. Due to heavy rain and flash floods, a portion of the inbound and outbound Asian Highway lanes near the Thung Tako district office are under 50cm of water and impassable to all vehicles.

In Surat Thani, six districts have been declared disaster zones. On Monday morning, a flash flood hit the Surat Thani-Nakhon Si Thammarat Road near Kanchanadit Hospital and authorities warned residents in Kanchanadit district to watch for a possible new round of flooding from Romyen National Park after 210mm of rain fell Monday morning.

In Trang however, the rain has stopped and flooding has eased in the provincial seat. It was expected to return to normal Monday evening if there was no more rain.

Songkhla's business district of Hat Yai saw the flood subsiding on Tuesday. Shops in Hat Yai market reopened, but garbage scattered by the flood remained on roads.

-- The Nation 2012-01-03

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Laotian Woman arrested in border drug bust

Nong Khai -- A Laotian woman has been arrested for the alleged possession of crystal methamphetamine worth Bt3 million, Customs Department officials said Tuesday.

The arrest of Vientiane resident Ponchan Bandawong, 29, was made at 6.30am at the ThaiLaotian Friendship Bridge checkpoint in Nong Khai's Muang district after customs officials allegedly found 1 kilogram of crystalmeth tablets in her bag.

Ponchan reportedly confessed to police that she worked as a hairdressing teacher and was hired for Bt5,000 by a Laotian man identified only as Tao On to carry the drugs to a Thai customer at the Nong Khai Bus Terminal.

-- The Nation 2012-01-03

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New Year road toll rises to 282

The first five of the seven dangerous days of New Year festivities have killed 282 people and injured 2,783 in 2,544 traffic accidents nationwide, the Road Safety Centre reported Tuesday.

Buri Ram was still the deadliest province with 16 fatalities, while Chaiyaphum was the only accident-free province.

Compared with last year, deaths were up by one, while injuries were down by 308 and accidents down by 337, Silapachai Jarukasemrattana, deputy permanent secretary for the Transport Ministry, said Tuesday.

Chiang Rai had the most accidents at 95 while Nakhon Sawan was tops in injuries at 100.

On Monday alone, the fifth dangerous day, 41 people were killed and 401 injured in 377 road accidents. That was six fewer deaths than last year, 34 injuries fewer and 31 accidents fewer.

-- The Nation 2012-01-03

[Lite Beer]

4 Men Arrested for Robbing Ex-deputy Commerce Minister's Son

Police have arrested four men for allegedly robbing a son of a former deputy commerce minister.

The Region 7 Provincial Police announced the arrest of four men identified as Chirakorn Wattrong, Kittipat Charoenphol, Ronnachai Setchan and another man whose name has not been released for robbing Saharat Treenoraset and Chatchatham Polbut, a son of ex-deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Pollabutr.

The incident took place on a road along a railway in Bangkok Noi District on the night of December 26. Many items were confiscated in the arrest, including two motorcycles, two mobile phones - an iPhone 4 and a Blackberry, as well as a pocket.

The suspects admitted to the crime and said they did not know that the victim is the son of the ex-deputy commerce minister. They said they had committed many robberies in Thonburi side and claimed that they used the stolen money for gallivanting and decorating motorbikes.

Police said the four suspects have earlier been charged in the robbery and murder before in an area under the supervision of Ratchaburana police station.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-03

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Dams may be built on southern coast to prevent further erosion

BANGKOK, 3 January 2012 (NNT) - The government is deliberating the idea of constructing dams and ports to prevent coastal erosion in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where strong waves wreck havoc every year.

Minister of Science and Technology Plodprasob Suraswadi traveled to Nakhon Si Thammarat on 3 January to inspect coastal erosion at Ban Laem Talum Phuk Village in Pak Phanang district. The minister said waves would eventually wipe out the entire village if nothing was done to solve the erosion problem. Strong constructions, such as dams and ports, were therefore needed to protect the shoreline, he added.

The construction project is expected to take shape within two years after being proposed to the Prime Minister. 133 Rai of mangrove forests are expected to be used as a new settlement for the affected villagers.

Since 28 October 2011, the problem of coastal erosion in the area has been worsening, damaging roads, public utilities and residences. The villagers of Ban Laem Talum Phuk are most affected by coastal erosion, especially during the monsoon season.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-03

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to continue:

Thailand Live Wednesday 4 Jan 2012

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