Thailand Live Wednesday 12 Sep 2012

[webfact]

PM Yingluck instructed all related offices to assist flood victims

BANGKOK, 12 September 2012 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has instructed all related state offices to provide assistance to flood victims without further delay.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Tuesday that she has been worried about the current flood problems in various parts of the country, especially in the areas where rainfall has been high.

PM Yingluck said that she has asked the Royal Thai Army to promptly repair the damaged dikes, which have been the cause of the latest flood in Sukhothai Province’s commercial district.

The Premier expects the repair work to take around 10 days to complete.

She has also instructed Science Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who chairs the Strategic Committee for Water Resource Management (SCWRM), to work collaboratively with the Sukhothai governor to solve the problem and ordered the Interior Ministry to assist those in need.

Concerning the flood situation in Ayutthaya Province, the Prime Minister said that she has asked the Royal Irrigation Department to gradually release retained water through all canals, in order to ease the situation and prevent future problem.

Ms. Yingluck also assured that the government will do its best to help the public while expressing confidence that the state assistance will be more efficiently extended this year.

-- NNT 2012-09-12

[webfact]

Tourist scam shame

By Staff Reporter

(photograph courtesy of our friends at the Phuket Gazette)

PHUKET: -- Phuket Police have had more than their fair share of tourist crimes this year and, along with dealing with genuine crimes, which they seem to have solved quickly on a regular basis, they have also had to deal with those that appear genuine, but are, in fact liars. Fortunately they have some of the best support in Thailand.. the All Seeing Eye.

Full story:

[webfact]

Phichit declares three districts disaster zones affected by flooding /MCOT

[webfact]

Thai Police hero dies in the line of duty

By Staff Reporter

SATTAHIP: -- Sattahip Police were notified of a man being rushed to Queen Sirikit Hospital with multiple gunwounds and, upon further investigation, found that the man was actually an off duty policeman who was killed in action trying to prevent a robbery in Ban Chang, near Pattaya.

Full story:

[webfact]

Bangkok to impose stricter traffic laws

BANGKOK, 12 September 2012 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) is planning to impose stricter traffic law while raising awareness on road safety to help reduce road casualties in the capital.

Full story:

[webfact]

Bt120billion anti-flood budget exhausted

BANGKOK, Sept 12 – The government’s Bt120 billion budget for the country’s massive flood prevention scheme has already been distributed to all state agencies concerned, according Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

Full story:

[webfact]

Phichit declares 3 districts flood disaster zones

PHICHIT, Sept 12 - Three districts in the lower northern province of Phichit were declared disaster zones Wednesday after being flooded.

Phichit Governor Suwit Watcharothayangkul said a number of districts at the confluence of the Nan and Yom Rivers are flooded. Three severely affected districts -- Sak Lek, Tap Khlo and Wang Sai Phun-- were declared flood disaster zones.

The governor said the announcement allows residents of 52 villages to receive rapid assistance from state agencies.

Mr Suwit said low lying areas in the provincial seat are now under one metre floodwaters fed by forest runoff, affecting 30 households and damaging thousands of rai of farmland. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-12

[webfact]

Dyke construction in eastern Bangkok 90% complete

BANGKOK, 12 September 2012 (NNT) – The subcommittee overseeing and assessing flood prevention projects in Bangkok has indicated that the dyke construction on the east of Bangkok is now 90% complete.

The subcommittee reported that the dykes project have been progressing well. Currently it is 90% complete. The panel added that canal dredging projects which have been conducted in eastern Bangkok are now 80% complete.

As for some residents living by the canals who do not see the necessity of canal dredging, the subcommittee has assigned related agencies to convice locals of their benefits from the project, in order to ensure that the dregdging will be carried out as scheduled.

The new dykes, being built on Khlong Sam Wa, Khlong Si, Khlong Sam, Khlong Song, and Khlong Nueng with a combined budget of 23 million baht, are expected to be operational this October.

-- NNT 2012-09-12

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: DIP announces strategic plans for 2013

Department of Intellectual Property has disclosed the key strategy for the 2013-budget year, aiming to improve the infringement prevention and to encourage product sales.

Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) Director General, Mrs.Pajchima Tanasanti said that the DIP will in the next year focus on the improvement of the intellectual products infringement prevention, making it on par with the international standards.

She revealed that the criminal charges against counterfeit products inside real packages will be added to the Trademark Act, B.E. 2534, given there have been many such cases in the past few years. The regulation on the infringement-watch programme will also be set up.

Another strategy, Mrs. Pajchima said, is to encourage products sales in Thai consumers, citing that the increase will help boost Thailand’s performance in competing with the neighboring countries once the AEC is formed.

In order to boost sales, the DIP will team up with universities across the country in disseminating information about intellectual property rights and the infringement prevention, as well as to introduce new technology that can help the locals produce better goods.

A networking platform of local SMEs will be set up to widen product distributions and help in creating a strong image of local product branding.

Mrs. Pajchima said that the DIP will also unveil a new AEC hotline, an informative centre responding to the queries related to the AEC as well as to provides consultants to the cooperate and local SMEs.

Additionally, the DIP will usher the ‘green department’ outlook to encourage green activities to help reduce the carbon emission in the workplace.

-- NNT 2012-09-12

[Lite Beer]

Democrat Party leader Abhisit says he'll lead party's southern provinces MPs to meet PM at Government House on southern violence, awaiting formal invitation /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Authorities plan to repair failed levee in Sukhothai in 48 hours

BANGKOK, Sept 12 - A meeting of the flood and water management committee, chaired by Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi today planned to fix eroded levee with 48 hours to control Sukhothai’s flooding.

Full story:

[Lite Beer]

Medical, psychiatric teams sent to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya as Phichit faces flooding

The Nation

Thanachai Pramarnpanich

Teams of medical doctors and psychiatrists will be sent to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to provide both physical and mental health care to flood victims, Deputy Minister of Public Health Surawit Khonsomboon said on Wednesday.

His ministry has ordered hospitals in both provinces to prepare to provide medical assistance to residents affected by the flooding.

Rapid mobile medical units will stand by to provide medical services and medical equipment and medicines will be prepared.

The Department of Mental Health would send psychiatrists to affected areas to help the victims handle stress.

Director General Narong Sahametapat said he has ordered the Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (MCATT) in both provinces to meet stressed flood victims, as many are worried about the flood situation.

Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital in Chiang Mai will prepare support teams for Sukhothai while Srithanya Hospital will support Ayuthaya.

Meanwhile three districts in Phichit were declared disaster zones Wednesday after being inundated.

Phichit Governor Suwit Watcharothayangkul said a number of districts at the confluence of the Nan and Yom Rivers are flooded. Three severely affected districts - Sak Lek, Tap Khlo and Wang Sai Phun - were declared flood disaster zones.

The governor said the announcement allows residents of 52 villages to receive rapid assistance from state agencies.

Suwit said low lying areas in the provincial seat are now under one metre of floodwaters fed by forest runoff, affecting 30 households and damaging thousands of rai of farmland.

-- The Nation 2012-09-12

[webfact]

Thai nature closes in on homeowners as the rainy season takes a hold

By Staff Reporter

BANGKOK: -- As the rainy season progresses in Thailand, so many insects and vermin will try and find fresh homes, away from the wet and heat. Those new homes could easily be in your house, garden, car or even shoes, as we all leave them outside.

Full story:

[webfact]

Man caught smuggling Bangkok-bought monkey in his underwear

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- A man traveling from Bangkok to Dubai was arrested for animal smuggling during a layover in India recently when a customs officer noticed a monkey in his trousers.

Full story:

[webfact]

RT @BreakingNews: Top German court rejects calls to block permanent eurozone rescue fund - @AP.

[webfact]

Industrial estates located in economic zones will be flood-free this year, Deputy PM Kittiratt assured /The Nation

[webfact]

Interior Minister asserts Sukhothai flood won't affect Bangkok, urges NGOs to stop objections to building Yom River dam /MCOT

[webfact]

Yingluck, Abhisit to discuss southern violence

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will sit together next Tuesday to discuss situation and solution to restore peace in the restive south.

Yingluck said she instructed her deputy Chalerm Yoobamrung to write an invitation letter to Abhisit and Democrat's MPs to join the meeting which she will chair at the government house on September 18.

-- The Nation 2012-09-12

[webfact]

RT @mpoppel: BREAKING -- U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, among 3 killed in Benghazi rocket attack.

[webfact]

Health ministry sets up flood monitoring centre

BANGKOK, Sept 12 - Thai Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri on Wednesday ordered the setting up of a flood monitoring centre to provide assistance for flood victims around the clock, especially for those living in flood-prone Sukhothai and six districts of Ayutthaya provinces.

Mr Witthaya said ten medical mobile units have been sent to the emergency areas and 7,000 medical supply kits have already been distributed to flood victims there.

He said the team found 1,500 patients with flood-related complaints, mostly suffering flu-like symptoms, while about 20 experienced stress.

Meanwhile, Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand (EMIT) Secretary-General Dr Chatree Chareoncheevakul said the institute sent Rapid Medical Assessment Teams to flood-affected provinces to assess damages and needed medical assistance.

Dr Chatree said the flood is most worrying in Sukhothai, Angthong, Phichit, Ayutthaya and Uthai Thani provinces.

Particularly regarding Sukhothai, severely hit by flood, Dr Chatree said, the medical services have been fully prepared to provide help in all emergency cases. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-09-12

[webfact]

Heavy rain warning as monsoon soaks Phuket, Andaman coast

Phuket Gazette

A weather radar image for Phuket taken at 5:15am today shows heavy cloud cover over the Andaman Sea. Image: TMD

PHUKET: -- The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a "heavy" to "very heavy" rain warning for all regions of Thailand, including Phuket, for the next five days.

Full story:

[webfact]

Science, Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi is confident that Bangkok should not be flooded again this year /The Nation

[webfact]

State Enterprise Policy Office approves plan to separate Airport Rail Link from SRT as new enterprise for better operation of Airport Rail Link system /MCOT

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1257.45, up 9.13; Bt/USD30.84; GBP49.48; AUD32.17; EUR39.58; CAD31.55; HKD3.97; SGD24.96; JPY39.39

[webfact]

Singapore's F&N may break-up if Thai bid wins: analysts

SINGAPORE, Sept 12, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai tycoon's bid for Singapore's Fraser and Neave (F&N) group could lead to its breakup and scuttle the takeover of an Asian brewer by Dutch giant Heineken, analysts said Wednesday.

Full story:

[webfact]

All flood-affected tourist destinations completely restored and safe for visits

BANGKOK, 12 September 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Tourism launches a PR campaign to assure foreign tourists of carefree travels to all tourist destinations in Thailand after the devastating flood last year.

Full story:

[webfact]

BREAKING

US ambassador 'killed in Libya'

BENGHAZI: -- The US ambassador to Libya has died after being attacked by militiamen storming the US consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi, reports say.

Full story:

[webfact]

Government's drug suppression campaign exceeds target: Deputy PM Chalerm

BANGKOK, Sept 12 - The government's one-year performance on drug suppression has surpassed its target, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said Wednesday.

Full story:

[george]

BMA warns Bangkok people to brace themselves while heavy downpours are predicted from Friday to Monday.

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 13 Sep 2012