Thailand Live Sunday 17 Feb 2013

[Lite Beer]

Four killed in bomb attack in deep South

PATTANI: -- Four people were killed by a bomb in southern Thailand Sunday, and security forces said at least eight other bombs had been planted over the weekend by suspected separatist militants, reports said.

The latest in a string of rebel attacks took place near a military checkpoint in the centre of Pattani town, 800 kilometres south of Bangkok.

Two paramilitary defence volunteers and two civilians were killed in the blast, according to military officials.

Two other bombs exploded, wounding one civilian, but security forces reportedly managed to disarm the others.

Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha speculated the attacks were retaliation for a clash Wednesday in neighbouring Narathiwat province that left 16 rebels dead but no government casualties.

Five soldiers were killed last Sunday by a roadside bomb in Yala province

-- The Nation 2013-02-17

[Lite Beer]

Severe drought hits Lamphun

By Digital Media

LAMPHUN, Feb 17--- The northern province of Lamphun, which was severely hit by ongoing drought, has declared five districts disaster zones as dust particle levels in Lampang and Phrae were higher than the safety threshold of 120 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The five districts in Lamphun designated as drought emergency disaster zones are Wiang Nong Long, Li, Pa Sang, Thung Hua Chang and Ban Thi.

Currently, the water level in the Ping River in Pa Sang and Wiang Nong Long districts was critically low, with sand dunes visible in sections of the river.

The drought has impacted some 40,600 villagers and affected 16,721 rai (some 6,610 acres) of farmlands such as paddy fields and longan orchards.

Regarding initial drought relief for affected residents, relevant agencies are speeding up providing of enough water for family consumption and agriculture as well as fixing wells.

Local authorities also surveyed drought-related damage for further assistance.

Regarding smog and haze blanketing the northern region, Lampang provincial natural resources and environment office and the disaster prevention and mitigation office reported that dust particle levels in Mae Mo district were measured at 139 microgrammes per cubic metre on Sunday while the levels in Phare’s provincial seat were recorded at 127 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The levels exceeded the safety limit of 120 microgrammes per cubic metre, meaning residents were exposed to health risks.

Monitoring the ongoing smog, the Pollution Control Department urged local officials to strictly control all open-air burning activities as they were the main cause of elevated dust particles in the air.

Suvit Kattiyavong, director of Regional Environmental Office 2 (Lampang), expressed concerns that if there is no rain or strict measures against open-air burning activities, the situation could worsen. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02-17

[Lite Beer]

Deputy PM Chalerm to chair security agencies meeting on Monday to discuss & review measures to deal with southern problems, to propose Internal Security Act enforcement /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT191Thailand: One killed, 7 injured in car drifting stunt in Ayutthaya (Bangkok Post)

[webfact]

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Thailand Live Monday 18 Feb 2013