Short news from Thailand
Former Prime Minister Thaksin only returns to Thailand when 'reconciliation really happens'. At a press conference in Korea yesterday, he said: 'I don't want to be part of the problem, but I want to be part of the solution.'
– Another three roads in Bangkok have been opened to traffic after the water has almost completely drained away. Parts of seven main roads are still closed.
– The Second Army deploys 2.000 extra soldiers to help flood victims repair their homes after the water has drained. The army unit has produced approximately 1 million EM balls (effective micro-organism) to treat contaminated water. It has previously provided assistance with six companies and four mobile medical units.
– Workers who have been laid off because of the floods and who are members of the Social Security Fund do not have 30 days, as usual, but 60 days to register with the Social Security Office. They are entitled to a benefit of half their salary for six months.
– Two men with payung (rosewood) blocks worth 1 million baht in their pick-up truck have been arrested at a police checkpoint in Nakhon Ratchasima. The men were on their way to the port of Klong Toey (Bangkok), from where the wood would be smuggled to an unknown destination. The two previously confessed to having smuggled the precious wood. See page Illegal logging.
– Red shirt co-leader Suporn Atthawong has reported to the police. He faces charges of violating the Internal Security Act during last year's red shirt rally at Ratchaprasong intersection. The police had called him up before, but he stayed away because he thought his offense was 'not serious'.
– Three days of heavy rainfall caused flooding in the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat and Yala. Preparations are being made for the evacuation of residents living close to the sea and rivers. In a school in Nakhon Si Thammarat, the water reached a height of 70 cm. In Narathiwat, some roads are under 30 to 40 cm of water.
– Residents of Nonthaburi have gone to the Administrative Court with a request that the municipality of Bangkok be declared incompetent to manage the flooding in districts bordering other provinces. They also ask the court to order the government to stop its efforts to save the flooded highway 340 and Kanchanapisek road, as it continues to cause flooding for residents of Bang Bua Thong district.
The Nonthaburi residents protested quite loudly the day before yesterday in the Provincial House of Nonthaburi. According to them, the flood barrier along highway 340 and the refusal of the city of Bangkok to open the dams in Khlong Maha Sawat exacerbates the flooding in their area. Because the governor of Bangkok does not seem very willing to open the dams 1 meter, they are now seeking the help of the judge. The governor, on the other hand, said on Wednesday evening that the municipality will open all weirs by 1 meter, but he reserves the right to adjust the opening if the situation requires it. He also said he has asked Froc and the Royal Irrigation Department to open two weirs elsewhere, which will benefit Nonthaburi residents.
– The economic loss as a result of the floods is 1,12 trillion baht or `10,5 percent of gross domestic product. Exports fell by 10 percent on an annual basis in the last two months of this year. This says the Federation of Thai Industries. Nearly 10.000 factories with 660.000 employees are affected: 30 percent in the automotive industry, 26 percent in electronics and electrical appliances. The industrial sector suffered a loss of 475 billion baht, of which 237 billion in damage to factories in the seven flooded industrial estates. The damage to exports is estimated at 148 billion baht, the household and agricultural sectors book a loss of 80 and 50 billion baht respectively.
– To lure back the tourists deterred by the floods, conventional methods such as roadshows, advertisements and dissemination of information not enough. The country must take strong and tangible measures such as removing visa requirements and offering financial guarantees to foreign visitors affected by the floods. This says Udom Tantiprasongchai, founder of Orient Thai Airlines. He thinks of an amount of 500.000 or 1 million baht. Furthermore, Udom thinks that the government should send a delegation of top people to the most important markets, especially China, which is Thailand's largest tourist market with 1,6 million tourists. It should ask the governments of these countries to encourage their residents to get up again travel to go to Thailand. 'With the peak season under way, the government needs to do something. Authorities need to tell the world the situation is improving and many destinations are intact', says Udom.