Watchdog to punish profiteers

Profiteering has become rife across the capital as opportunists try to turn a quick baht from the flood crisis. The Bangkok Post spoke to Jirachai Multhongroi, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), about the penalties and pitfalls of exploiting people during such a time.

WATER’S UP: People queue to buy boats at a factory in Bang Na. The boats cost 3,500 baht each at the factory, but profiteers sell them for about 10,000 baht

Some flood victims have no choice but to buy sandbags or water at inflated prices. What do you advise?

We have an emergency line and we coordinate with the Department of Internal Trade. One problem we face is that when consumers report the crime, they don't specify exactly where it's happening. For example, on Ratchaphruek Road, people report that the price of sandbags went up from 35 baht to 55 baht. We asked, where exactly. They answered Ratchaphruek Road in [Nonthaburi's] Bang Rak Noi district. The area is big. Consumers must specify where exactly _ which shop.

What's the punishment for profiteering?

If a shop doesn't display proper price tags on items, the punishment is no more than a 10,000 baht fine. This is both for goods and services. Second, let's say an item is [usually] 30 baht, but the price is inflated to 100 baht, the punishment is not more than seven years' jail or not more than 140,000 baht in fines, or both. All of this comes under the 1999 Trade Competition Act.

Profiteering is likely to continue after the floodwaters recede. How will you remedy this?

Report any irregularities to us. It's for the benefit of society.

Have many people have reported abuses to the OCPB so far? How many investigations have been conducted?

There have been some. The hotline is 1569 at the Internal Trade Department's Commerce Division. Make the report, be specific, and there will be an investigation. OCPB officials are also monitoring the situation. The emergency call line is 1135.

What are some examples of over-the-top price inflation?

Boats. A few days ago, I was at Sanambinnam [market park] in Nonthaburi. Boats were selling for 8,500 baht. The normal price should be around 2,000-3,000 baht. They said it's because production output is low, transportation is difficult and other reasons. We are investigating.

A big concern is cars damaged by floodwater. There could be problems with insurance claims. Garages may increase their fees. Parts will be much more expensive. What are your thoughts?

I want to address two issues here. First, cars under lease, if they are damaged by floodwater, we have already talked with the Thai Leasing Association. They will have measures to accommodate consumers. At the moment, payments are not being collected, because they simply can't be. There will be lease restructuring. For instance, if there are 48 payments, the restructuring may extend to 60 payments.

The second issue is car repairs. There must be evidence of insurance. Garages must issue receipts. The consumers must keep the evidence. If the repair costs are inflated, then the consumers must report this to the OCPB.

Given how some merchants have behaved so far during this crisis, should we just assume that some garages will overcharge for repairs?

Yes, there are many people who exploit opportunities during times of crisis. Each consumer must see himself as a representative of all consumers and report abuses.

But given all the hardships already endured, many consumers may just pay and be done with it.

That's true. But still, please do report [abuses]. Think of it as a social responsibility. Do the right thing by reporting and you will help prevent others falling victim in the future.

What's your advice on second-hand car dealers who may be peddling flood-damaged vehicles?

You must demand all documents from the dealer. The OCPB can help if we have all the documentation. It's difficult to tell which cars have been flood-damaged. If consumers are planning on buying a second-hand car, they should take a mechanic along with them and have it checked out.

What if I have made a down-payment on a house and signed all the documents, but it was flooded before I took possession of it. Am I entitled to compensation if it is severely damaged?

In this situation, no one is to blame for the flood damage. However, you have to be very careful. The person or company that sold you the house is responsible for the damages in the house before the flood. They have to repair all that for you. If you have evidence of those damages, you must keep them. Otherwise, they might try to pass those damages off as something that happened because of the flood.

What about normal household items; can insurance be claimed?

Normally household items have warranties that cover whenever they malfunction, but not if they are damaged due to carelessness. In the case of flood damage, it's not a routine malfunction or carelessness. A normal warranty doesn't cover flood damage.

For flooding, it's specific insurance. Check all your insurance policies very carefully to see what can and can't be claimed. If you have proper documentation, but insurance is denied, then report it to the OCPB.

Culture Ministry urges quick krathong clean-up

The Culture Ministry has asked authorities in flood-affected provinces to swiftly retrieve krathong floats from waterways for fear they will block attempts to drain floodwaters.

The Loy Krathong festival will be held on Thursday but much of the country remains bogged down in attempts to contain widespread flooding in the Central Plains.

The flood crisis has affected 26 provinces and more than 700,000 households so far.

Culture Minister Sukumol Khunploem said she had been informed that many communities affected by the flood had opted not to organise any events to mark the festival this year.

But the tradition will continue in many other provinces unaffected by flooding.

"In areas where the Loy Krathong festival will be held, the ministry has pledged, with the concerned authorities, to collect the floats as soon as possible [after the festival] so that they do not end up obstructing the water flow," Ms Sukumol said.

An accumulation of krathong floats in public waterways could hamper floodwater drainage efforts, she added.

Last year, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration collected more than 900,000 krathong floats, about 13% _ or more than 118,000 _ of which were made from non-biodegradable materials.

Ms Sukumol said the ministry has no authority to suspend an organisation or the festival, as several provinces are not affected by the floods.

Still, she said that since a flood crisis is ongoing in the Central Plains and several parts of Bangkok, members of the public have an obligation to clear the waterway and not aggravate the situation.

She also warned people to pay attention to the higher than normal water levels and the increased danger of electrocution.

Kasemsun Chinnavaso, chief of the Environmental Quality Promotion Department, said he is not too concerned about an increase in the amount of rubbish from leftover floats, as he believes most people would not be in a mood to join the festival. "This year we don't have any campaign for the festival. We don't expect to see a large number of krathong out there," he said.

"I think people don't care about the festival [this time]. They just have to pay attention to the flood crisis.

"This means there will be no litter problems [from discarded floats]. What we are more concerned about is the large amount of rubbish caused by the floods."

Mr Kasemsun said his department has been working with the Pollution Control Department to improve the quality of river water by adding EM (Effective Microorganism) balls and clearing rubbish.

Last year, the department launched a "one krathong for one family" campaign in a bid to reduce the number of floats used during the festival.

Employer, Labour reps want greater role in relief drive

Employer and labour groups say they want an equal chance to be involved in the government's flood rehabilitation committee.

The Labour Ministry was working on flood-relief measures for the manufacturing sector without input from employers and employees, said Anantachai Khunananthakul, president of the Employers' Confederation of Thailand (Ecot).

"The ministry has listened to only the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Bankers' Association. We have been neglected," said Mr Anantachai.

He said both the Ecot and the Confederation of Thai Labour (CTL) agreed they should have representatives sitting on the government's panel.

The groups recently met Somkiat Chayasriwong, permanent secretary for labour, to discuss their proposals for flood rehabilitation measures.

Chalee Loysoong, chairman of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, said the government should pay more attention to controlling the prices of consumer products.

Workers making less than 15,000 baht a month should be given cash coupons to buy consumer products, he said.

CTL chairman Chinachot Saengsang said he was opposed to suspending monthly contributions into the Social Security Fund (SSF) as a way of easing financial burdens on companies and their employees.

Suspending payments would affect benefits which employees are entitled to receive from the SSF, such as their pensions.

Mr Somkiat said he agreed with calls to allow employers and labour representatives to sit on the panel.

He would send the proposal to Labour Minister Padermchai Sasomsap.

The ministry would also propose that the government provide financial aid to employers for three months, which should help avoid the need for layoffs.

Coordination lacking, say overseas agencies

Humanitarian aid experts say that poor coordination between the government and international organisations, including the United Nations, is hurting flood relief efforts.

Diplomatic sources said that while Bangkok had not made a formal request for UN assistance in the country's flood relief efforts, some technicians from nearby countries with expertise in disaster relief were flown in.

After not being given any work to do for two weeks, the technicians returned home.

Jackie Pollock, director of the MAP (Migrant Assistance Programme) Foundation, a Chiang Mai-based non-governmental organisation, said a similar lack of coordination is evident with other agencies.

"It's sad that we don't see much coordination from agencies with expertise such as the Thai Red Cross and other international players," she said.

Ms Pollock said migrant workers in particular were suffering as a result of this lack of coordination.

Ms Pollock said inter-governmental agencies such as the International Organisation of Migration should play a bigger role in monitoring the flow of migrant workers who lost their jobs due to the flooding of industrial estates and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Andy Hall, with Mahidol University's Institute of Population and Social Research, echoed Ms Pollock's concerns. Mr Hall said hundreds of thousands of flood-hit migrant workers have been neglected.

Only one shelter was set aside for migrant workers, the Labour Ministry's evacuation centre at Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom province.

However, they were recently moved to Ratchaburi province amid fears of possible flooding at the Nakhon Pathom centre.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to visit flood victims during his scheduled visit to Thailand on Nov 16 and 17.

Mr Ban is expected to pledge support for the government's relief and rehabilitation efforts during his visit, diplomatic sources said.

The sources said that despite Bangkok not formally requesting assistance, the UN's resident agencies last month held talks with officials from the foreign, defence, agriculture and cooperatives and labour ministries.

They talked about help they could offer the government as it responds to the flood crisis.

One of these agencies, Unesco, offered to help rehabilitate flood-hit world heritage sites, especially in Ayutthaya and Phitsanulok provinces. The UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) also backed the flood-relief operation.

Escap executive secretary Noeleen Heyzer met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Flood Relief Operations Command at its former headquarters at Don Mueang airport late last month.

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has donated nearly US$100,000 (3.06 million baht) to the Thai Red Cross to purchase survival supplies.

Unicef delivered 20,000 mosquito nets to the Public Health Ministry.

The UN Refugee Agency has provided funding as well as 5,000 solar-powered lanterns and 1,300 plastic sheets.

The World Health Organisation disbursed aid from the Southeast Asia Region Health Emergency Fund to the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand to support response workers, and buy life jackets and first-aid kits for affected families.

Brought to you by the letter 'S' (For Shameless)

Thais have shown their generous spirit in flood aid efforts, but the trucks rolling around submerged sois bearing banners seem to be filling the sewers with something else entirely

Day 28 of the flood. It seems the infested waters are bringing with them disease, crocodiles, poisonous snakes and politicians.

Another truck rumbled past me last Wednesday on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, full of supplies for flood victims _ and another missed photo opportunity for your columnist.

How I wanted to take its picture to include in this column! Alas, my iPhone 4S was rigged up to my car stereo and despite driving at a moderate 110km per hour, there was no time to wrench it out of the stereo and flip it into camera mode.

I wanted the picture as evidence. That truck was full to the brim with bottled water and boxes, but that wasn't what caught my eye.

It was the big white canvas draped over one side of the truck with giant red lettering: DONATED ITEMS COURTESY OF POLITICIAN KARUN HOSAKUL.

Karun Hosakul? The guy who attacked the Democrat MP in the parliament cafeteria a few years ago? Goodness, hasn't he turned over a new leaf! If only all our politicians could have such an epiphany during times of national disaster.

Not a few hours after that _ and how's this for a coincidence _ I am coming back the other way along Vibhavadi Rangsit and there is another truck with red letters on white canvas. Only this time it wasn't Mr Karun being generous: A GIFT FROM POLICE GENERAL THAKSIN SHINAWATRA.

My reaction was immediate. I let out a sigh of relief with the knowledge our intermittently beloved former prime minister was still alive and kicking.

Seeing that sign was the first I'd heard of him in weeks. Since the start of the floods he's been quieter than a Nana Plaza go-go bar on Makha Bucha Day. But just when I thought he'd been swallowed up into the black hole of Montenegro or something, here was a truck bearing gifts.

It certainly reminded me of the good old days when Thaksin would sweep through the impoverished countryside, tossing wads of 1,000 baht notes with the flick of a hand to his beloved followers, who would fall to the ground and scoop them up with undying gratitude.

That is being flippant, I know. At least he is sending out trucks of gifts, despite my mother teaching me to be wary of strangers bearing such things.

But to say I'm a little hurt is an understatement. Isn't a truck or two of bottled water a case of too little too late? I mean, whenever the Cambodians have troubles he's quick to fly in and help them out, like when they had economic woes last year. He dashed over there with ideas so great that Hun Sen even appointed him economic adviser.

Well we're having a few economic troubles of our own at the moment, but we're getting no advice whatsoever from him. And if anybody needs advice, it's his own flesh and blood.

When I didn't get the opportunity to snap a pic of Mr Karun's truck, or Thaksin's, I went online to find a picture in the hope of passing it off as one of my own. And that is where I discovered a raging torrent of an entirely different kind.

It seems that up until last week these trucks with canvas-draped signs were leaving Don Mueang airport with alarming regularity.

Even I can see that's a little odd. Don Mueang was the centre for donations from generous Thais all over the country. The trucks are leaving Don Meuang. Surely Mr Karun and his mates aren't draping his canvas over my donations!

Well that explains why a mountain of donated goods were left behind at Don Mueang when the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) decided to get the Froc out of Don Mueang _ and quickly. In their hurry to vacate, they forgot about all those donated goods. That mountain is now underwater, but not before Channel 3 news reporters filmed it last Saturday night for the country to see.

Well of course it's going to be covered in water. Those floodwaters were rising rapidly, and it takes time to a) load a truck and then b) drape a big canvas sign with your name over the sides of that truck. Plus a good sign writer needs time and energy to do his job properly.

And so, on the same day hundreds of Saphan Mai locals milled around the back of a truck, stretching their frantic hands out for donations of food and water, such supplies were being swallowed up by the dirty waters of Don Mueang. One newspaper printed these two images side by side on its front page last Monday without the need to add an explanatory word.

(Faced with growing public resentment, last Tuesday cabinet announced that the Don Mueang pic was ''old'' by way of excusing it. As in, a month? No, it was three days old, not the day before as reported. So that makes it OK. Please, dear readers _ no nasty emails to me about that. They said it, not me.)

The online Thai community is very unhappy about this situation. There is now a Facebook page with dozens of pictures of trucks bearing canvas signs. Other pics show donated goods with stickers featuring politicians' names slapped on them. Now many people want to slap the politicians right back.

I don't bristle at politicians who see great PR ops in our flooded despair. After all, if the skytrain can interrupt my silence with blaring TV ads inside carriages, why can't Thai politicians blare out their names from the sides of trucks as the nation sinks? It's something to keep in mind next time you're at the polling booth, however.

In fact I'm not bitter about almost anything during these floods. Look at the positives; the donations that went underwater this week were a ''mountain'', straight from the hearts of average Thais. This is a country of people with extraordinarily big hearts in times of crisis.

And look at the army. If you have been anywhere near a flood-stricken area you will have seen them in action, hauling people and belongings into boats, through mud and poisonous torrents. They work non-stop amid cries from angry and afraid locals who are going under. You might like to pass that off as a PR exercise also, but not until you too have stood in that dirty chemically infested water. It's certainly much easier to paint red letters on white.

So I remain positive. We are over the manic buy-everything-off-the-supermarket-shelf phase we were in this time last week, and thank goodness for that. We got a little crazy there, hoarding water and instant noodles with the same zeal our politicians were hoarding canvas and red paint.

And when the flood waters recede, don't for a minute think it's over. The clean-up begins. Other than my labour, I am going to be very hesitant in donating anything. Because there is one thing worse than my donations being covered in water and sludge _ and that is canvas.

Emergency flood foster homes needed

Due to the severe flooding and continued flood risk, Scad is urgently looking for emergency foster homes for both dogs and cats, including those who have been rescued from flooded areas and existing Scad animals. Many pets have been abandoned and are in desperate need of shelter, food, water and general care.

If you can provide temporary refuge at your home for any dogs or cats, please answer the questions below and send the answers in an email to mot@scadbangkok.org (Thai) or info@scadbangkok.org (English)

If you can provide temporary refuge at your home for any dogs or cats, please answer the questions below and send the answers in an email to mot@scadbangkok.org (Thai) or info@scadbangkok.org (English)

1. Do you have a secure area for dogs/cats?

2. Indoors or outdoors?

3. How many adults in your home (including staff)?

4. If you have staff, are they used to dogs/cats or scared of them?

5. Do you have children? If yes, what are their ages?

6. Do you have dogs, cats or other pets at your home? If yes, please give details of sex, age and vaccination status.

7. Do you have transport? Yes/No, but can get /No, need transport.

8. What part of Bangkok do you live in?

9. What is your mobile phone number?

10. How many days do you think you could assist with an emergency foster home?

11. Do you think you could help with fostering more than one animal?

Contact will be made with suitable foster homes as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your support.

Piak

Piak, which means ''petite'' in Thai, was found alone and crying near the factory of one of Scad's corporate sponsors, shivering in the rain. As the kitten was so small and thin, she was taken home by kind Khun Shosun who was able to care for the kitten until she was fully vaccinated and old enough to come into the Scad adoption program. Piak is a very friendly and playful kitten who loves people and gets on well with other cats. She is sterilised and vaccinated.

Luang

Chocolate point Siamese-looking kitten Luang, meaning ''Yellow'' in Thai, was rescued during a community outreach programme at a temple. Many of the cats in the area were suffering from cat flu and sore eyes and received on site treatment for their conditions. Several, including Luang, were also taken into the Scad cat adoption programme. Luang has been sterilised and has started her vaccinations.

Dahlia

Young female cat Dahlia was rescued during a community outreach programme at a local temple. Many of the cats in the area were suffering from cat flu and sore eyes and received on-site treatment for their conditions. Several, including Dahlia, were also taken into the Scad cat adoption programme. Dahlia is an extremely affectionate and good natured cat who loves cuddles! She is sterilised and has started her course of vaccinations.

Nod

Nod was rescued along with his two siblings, Blink and Wink, from a box containing 15 other cats. While the other cats in the box were all old enough to be sterilised and immediately enter the Scad adoption programme, Nod and his brother and sister needed some extra TLC in foster care where they could be nursed back to health. Now older and stronger, Nod is looking for a home! He has started his course of vaccinations.

Kev

Kev the puppy was found dumped outside the Scad dog centre a few days after Shade, Short-Short and Somnig, who are though to be his siblings. Kev was likely kept a little longer because he was male, but he too started to develop mange and when abandoned he was also limping on one leg. Aside from a few skin problems, Kev was otherwise in good health and so was taken into the Scad adoption programme. He has started his course of vaccinations.

Somnig

Little Somnig found dumped with her two sisters outside the new Scad dog centre one evening. She was tired, hungry and showing the early signs of the skin condition mange, but was otherwise in good health and so was taken into the Scad adoption programme. Somnig means ''sleepy'' in Swedish, as when she first came to Scad she was very sleepy! Now she's wide awake and looking for people to cuddle and play with her! Somnig has started her course of vaccinations.

Kosmo

Kosmo was dumped with six siblings at the Scad front gate when he was a young pup, and has since grown into a handsome and friendly young dog who loves to play. Kosmo is very affectionate and loves people, as well as getting on well with other dogs. Kosmo is vaccinated and has been sterilised.

Lyca

Young puppy Lyca was rescued along with her sister Blondie from a temple near the Scad dog centre. She was found suffering from mange with large bald patches on her body and a high fever. She has now made an excellent full recovery and her fur has all grown back beautifully. Lyca can be shy with strangers at first but once she knows you her cheeky, playful character comes out. She is vaccinated and will soon be sterilised.

Govt to spend B100bn on flood rehabilitation work

The government has earmarked 100 billion baht for the country's flood rehabilitation efforts, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says.

CASH LANDING: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the provincial hall in Nakhon Sawan. She said her government has provided 182 million baht in cash aid to help flood victims there.

The first two provinces to benefit from the rehabilitation drive will be Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan.

Recovery work will also begin soon in Ayutthaya province.

The budget will be spent on repairing people's flooded homes and restoring the country's economy, Ms Yingluck said yesterday.

She said the flooding was caused by several tropical storms in September which led to the accumulation of massive amounts of water in the northern provinces.

Prime Minister Yingluck yesterday travelled to Nakhon Sawan to visit flood victims. She said the government has provided 182 million baht in cash aid to 36,500 families in Nakhon Sawan.

With tears in her eyes, the prime minister said she was concerned about people's well-being.

Ms Yingluck said the government's efforts in Nakhon Sawan will help restore confidence in her administration's ability to cope with the crisis.

"The work must be completed in 45 days because people have suffered for so long already," said Ms Yingluck.

The prime minister on Friday signed an order to appoint four committees to work on restoration and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the crisis.

The committee on assistance, rehabilitation and remedies will be chaired by Yongyuth Wichaidit, the deputy prime minister and interior minister; the committee on infrastructure will be chaired by Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat.

The committee on economy, industry and wellbeing will be chaired by Kittiratt Na-Ranong, the deputy prime minister and commerce minister, and the committee on quality of life will be chaired by Pol Gen Kowit Wattana, also a deputy prime minister.

The committees will replace three rehabilitation committees appointed earlier on Oct 12.

The Big Dry follows the Big Wet

The city's economy is suffering after entertainment venues are hit by declining numbers of patrons and face booze supplies that are quickly drying up.

Across the clubs, pubs and tourist areas of the city the message is the same _ as beer supplies begin to dwindle, so too does the number of revellers that help keep the financial lifeblood of Bangkok pumping.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE PUNTERS GONE?: Patpong Road has far fewer visitors than usual. An empty Irish pub around Silom Road, below left. A jazz concert at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit goes ahead, but fewer people are in attendance than usual, below right.

"There's definitely a drop in revenues," said Denis Hemakom, manager of the popular Q Bar nightclub on Sukhumvit Soi 11. "Almost all the local population are gone; we're living off tourists now. I'd say [sales are] maybe 30% [of normal] overall. Our good nights are still pretty good, but our slow nights are very, very slow."

The impact of the floods on tourism and entertainment venues is no small beer to the government. Thailand is likely to lose about 15-25 billion baht in tourism revenues this year as the number of travelers drops because of the floods, according to the Kasikorn Research Centro, even if Suvarnabhumi airport, entry point for 70% of arrivals, continues to function normally.

Tourism Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa said arrivals could be up to one million below the government's target of 19 million this year. The tourism industry employs more than two million people and accounts for 6% of GDP.

A visit by Spectrum last week to Silom Road, normally bustling with revellers, showed many empty bars and restaurants. A waitress at the nearly empty Molly Malone's, an Irish pub on Soi Convent, commented that they had plenty of beer but no customers or water.

The part owner and manager of another popular pub nearby said they had virtually no patrons over the past three weeks due to concerns over safety.

We don't know whether to applaud the government for handling the situation well or criticise it for overreacting and scaring people away," he said.

Beer deliveries have been unreliable due to transport problems; however, he added that the situation was now improving.

"We asked for 10 barrels, but I suspect we'll get one or two. But still, that's better than nothing."

He said that breweries still had stock, and it was still possible to buy bottled beer from supermarkets, although his staff were worried they might have to start selling large bottles of beer as small ones become scarce.

Breweries have indicated they are reducing production as a result of declining demand due to the temporary closure of major distribution centres in flooded areas.

Chatchai Wiratyosin, marketing director at Singha Corporation, said production of Singha draught beer has reduced slightly, resulting in a modest decline of beer stocks at pubs and bars.

However, even if the company's brewery in Pathum Thani is submerged by the floods, Singha's brewery in Khon Kaen has sufficient capacity to serve demand, he said. Nevertheless, Singha might have problems transporting beer from Khon Kaen to Bangkok as many roads are now impassable.

Sorrakit Lathitham, an executive at Thai Beverage, brewer and distributor of Chang beer, said that many breweries faced not only product shortages but a decline in consumption. However, the company was still able to make deliveries.

Heineken, meanwhile, is slowing production as some of its customers' distribution centres close due to the floods. These include Tesco Lotus, Big C, Tops and 7-Eleven.

One Heineken executive, who asked not to be named, said the company's production and inventory of raw materials had not yet been affected by the floods. But it started reducing production last week due to shrinking orders. Heineken has a production capacity of two hundred million litres of beer per year.

Nevertheless, Heineken was preparing for a worst-case scenario, the source said, with the possibility of importing beer from neighbouring production facilities. In Asia, the company has breweries in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and China.

Patpong Road last week had many empty bars but no shortage of men touting "ping-pong" shows and "full body" massages. The problem for them is one of demand rather than supply, although many bar girls have returned to the provinces, said one manager.

"Stick" of Stickmanbangkok.com, a popular website keeping tabs on the capital's seedy underbelly, told Spectrum that "Halloween [last Monday] is usually a big night but this year it was the worst in memory with fewer staff in the bars and even fewer customers. Generally, trade seems to be down and some bars have run low on certain products, notwithstanding that customary numbers are down, as are sales."

On Silom Soi 11, Bed Supperclub went ahead with its Halloween party and the turnout for a Monday night was quite good.

Mr Hemakom, on the other hand, said that Q Bar's Halloween party was cancelled. They were experiencing some beverage shortages, mainly of Singha soda water and Coca-Cola, though these have now eased.

He also commented on the cost of sandbags and flood safety preparations. "We spent good money raising electronics off the ground floor.

"The main effect has been on the customer though," he added.

"For the most part, I think the effect has been on the confusion people have over whether or not flooding is coming. It puts a downer on the party mood when you think your house might be underwater."

A centrally located five-star hotel's public relations manager told us that at this time of year they would normally expect full occupancy, but that numbers were down significantly with many cancellations. "Luckily, half our clientele are business travellers, and business for them has to continue regardless."

Concert promoters are also feeling the pain. At the time of writing, David Foster's Oct 31 concert was cancelled. Yesterday's Jason Mraz concert was cancelled. Tuesday's X Japan concert at Impact Arena, however, and Pitbull's Nov 28 concert, are going ahead. The World Film Festival of Bangkok has been postponed until Jan 20.

Sukhothai's famous Loy Krathong festival will go ahead this week but the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek Fair 2011 in Chiang Mai has been postponed until Dec 16.

Countless events and promotions have had to be rescheduled or dropped, as residents flee and travel advisories discourage visitors.

Kittitouch Srivimolwattana of Universal Music, Thailand, said the music industry was "definitely affected by the flood crisis. Many of our stores have closed and of course sales have dropped. That's the key factor really while consumers are more concerned about the floods than our new releases.

An island of defiance rises from the waters

With floods driving residents from his Nonthaburi estate, 'Bangkok Post' photographer Jetjaras Na Ranong made the tough decision to stay and try and save his home. This is a first-person account of his travails and triumphs

Day 13 started just like the previous day. I open my eyes at dawn, as the first rays of the sun peek through my window. I stumble to the coffeemaker, and carefully measure out a single cup of water. Mug in hand, I walk down the hall to peer down the stairs to the first floor.

TROOPS AGAINST THE TIDE: From left, Dr Aditep Pana, Panyo Sudyoddi, Soontorn Kamkajorn and Nattarat Pana.

The water is still rising. Sigh.

I drink my coffee in measured sips. No room for waste _ potable water is as scarce as gold, ever since last week, when I noticed that the water from my filter system was brown and tainted with oily fumes. Once finished, I spoon some water into another cup to brush my teeth.

No need to shower. I'll be in the water soon enough.

My ear itches. It's the water. You can't avoid it. Even if you stay dry, you aren't really dry.

Two weeks ago, when the floodwaters first came, they were as clear as crystal. You could see every detail on the roads, the blades of grass on the lawns, even the patterns on some newly liberated carp fish that escaped from a neighbour's pond.

Now the water is jet black, a miasma of oily swirls, rubbish and debris, all stinking of rot.

But it's still home.

I glance at my cars, their hoods hastily wrapped with plastic that has done little to protect the insides. More money gone.

There was no real time to evacuate. The directors of my community, the Ratirom Park development in Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi, gave us only an hour's warning before the waters first came on Oct 23.

Hurry, hurry. You have an hour. Anyone who hasn't moved their cars, must do so now! We're going to seal the roads with sandbags,'' they announced.

There was no time. I had only just returned home from an upcountry assignment. My first thought was to get my children, six and four, to safety. As we left the estate, I could see the first signs of the flood.

The next day, I came back alone to see what I could do to protect my house. I threw some plastic over the cars, moved some furniture upstairs and began looking for sandbags. The day passed in a blur. I left my three cars in the garage.

How bad could it be? In early October, the development manager met with the homeowners and explained the measures that were being taken to protect the community. It seemed enough: a two-metre perimeter of sandbags and rock would surround the estate. The sewage system would be sealed, and two big pumps were brought in to deal with any seepage.

It wasn't enough. Not even close. My home, one of the first built in the development, was the first to be hit, as pressure from the floodwaters outside forced water to seep into the estate.

My neighbours and I ran around incessantly to plug what holes we could with dirt and sandbags. But for every hole plugged two more sprouted elsewhere.

The exodus began. Some left on navy rowboats or army trucks. Others paddled out on giant inner tubes. Some just waded in and walked out.

I wasn't leaving. Call it ignorance. In my 41 years, flooding to me has always meant large puddles of water scattered along the roadway. I moved in only four months before. I wasn't going to leave now. Who could have imagined that my home, my community, my city could become a giant swamp in so little time?

That was two weeks ago. An eternity. I wade out to the clubhouse next door, where our little band of brothers come to congregate each day. No one wants to stay alone in their deserted house, surrounded by black water and dark thoughts.

There are nine of us, including myself, who stand vigil over the estate. Four are Cambodians working as guards for the estate, all very solid, tough men. The other four are my neighbours, who for their own reasons volunteered to stay behind and keep guard over our little community.

We all take turns making the rounds, to help guard our cars, our belongings and our homes from bandits. We are armed with only radios, knives and homemade air guns. At first, we patrolled on foot, wading in the water up and down the streets. Later, we received some boats as donations, easing the task.

At the front of the estate, we placed a sign saying ''Beware of electrical shocks'' to help ward off criminals. I remember we debated the wisdom of the sign. What if the thieves were foreigners who couldn't read Thai? Or if some good Samaritan sees the sign and calls the electricity company to cut power to the estate? 

That would be the end of our stay. We can survive the putrid water, the snakes, mosquitoes and centipedes, the dirt and the grime. But we need power to run the pumps used to prevent the water from reaching the second floors of our homes, to run our electrical appliances and cooking gear and to power our telephones and connections with the outer world.

My four neighbors are now family. We're all quite close in age, albeit from wildly different backgrounds and careers.

Ton and Fong, for instance, are both 37-year-old civil servants armed with a doctorate and master's degree respectively in Buddhism studies. 

Ton, or Dr Aditep Pana, maintains the kitchen, helps lift our spirits with his guitar and boasts a sharp tongue but a kind heart. 

His wife Fong, or Nattarat, is quick to laugh and has never lost her sense of optimism, even when the nights are darkest.

Soontorn Kamkajorn, or Boy, is the youngest of the five at 35. A graduate of King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Boy not only maintains our IT systems and the kitchens, he also helped design our gas-powered guns and keeps our spirits high with his jokes.

The eldest at 43, Panyo Sudyoddi, or Yo, sells khao moo dang (roasted pork and rice) for a living but now carries out his duty as a community director to help protect what's left of our homes.

Our meals are simple, comprised of rice and fried eggs, or sometimes instant noodles with a bit of pork or canned fish. Much of it is food donated by other families living in the estate, who give what they can spare. Sometimes it's the other way around, where we take the rowboats out to deliver food and water to the four other families who have also refused to leave their homes.

Most of our time is spent together in the clubhouse, chatting away the hours. If nothing else, the floods have given me four new friends. We've been together day-in, day-out for two weeks, united in our shared commitment to safeguard our homes and community.

But the sacrifice and suffering has been real, painful and deep. Our camaraderie only bandages our wounds, which are opened anew each time we part to make our trek back through the water to our homes.

It's dark inside. I quickly wash my legs, wipe off the gunk and grime and sprinkle foot powder generously on my toes to ward off rashes. It's only 9pm. Most nights, it will be several long hours before I finally drift off asleep amid the oppressive quiet of the water surrounding me. After a fitful, restless night, the day starts anew.

Day 14.

Some Bang Kruai residents left their flooded homes behind on boats, trucks and inner tubes.

More areas at risk due to lack of organisation

With the city centre, Suvarnabhumi airport and two industrial estates at risk, officials have been racing against the clock to drain water out of the eastern part of Bangkok through the city's canal system.

However, a lack of coordination between water management officials at both the city and national level has probably put more areas in danger.

In a worst-case scenario, the only option to solve the crisis would be to let the water drain through floodways  which are not regulated by gates or pumps _ resulting in no control over the flow.

"Water drainage via floodways is something people on the job don't want to talk about," said Sutat Weesakul, a member of the Water Drainage in Disaster Areas Committee.

"They all know that by draining water via floodways, people downstream could be at high risk of being flooded."

The eastern side of Bangkok, home to Suvarnabhumi airport and the Bang Chan and Lad Krabang industrial estates, is a major concern for business, politicians and officials.

Usually, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) coordinate efforts to defend the area from flooding. On the outer rim, the RID has a series of major canals running from west to east to help channel excess water and drain it into the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao province in the east.

The key canals are Rangsit and Khlong Hok Wa, which are connected to one another by a series of smaller canals running north-south from Khlong 1 to Khlong 16.

Khlong 13 normally sends excess water into Khlong Khlong Phra Ongchaochaiyanuchit, running north-south, to accelerate drainage into the Gulf of Thailand.

Sluice gates are the main tool. They are normally installed at the junctions where canals cross paths. At Khlong Hok Wa, seen as the last line of the city's northern defences, they are mainly installed on the upper parts of Khlong 6 and Khlongs 8-13.

But to regulate the water successfully, the RID needs the BMA to take some water into canals located inside His Majesty the King's dyke, which is a key barrier in the east against excessive flooding of the inner city.

Next to it is a vast area designated as floodways for the city.

The confrontation between residents and officials at Khlong Sam Wa last week reflected the extent to which the BMA and the RID are dependent on each other to regulate floodwaters.

On Sunday night, about 1,000 residents living along the canal rallied at the sluice gate on the canal running parallel to HM King's dyke to demand it be opened wider.

They claimed the narrow opening caused serious flooding in their communities. Residents destroyed the dyke running along the canal and parts of the gate.

The government eventually agreed to open the gate at the canal as demanded by the group. This would result in water flowing south into the Saen Saep canal which runs through the city and close to Bang Chan industrial estate.

Officials needed to regulate the sluice gates. They had to lower the gates on Khlong 9 and Khlong 10, running north-south from Khlong Hok Wa to slow the inflow of water in Khong Sam Wa. They also had to adjust the gate on Saen Saep canal, which runs northeast below Khlong Sam Wa to ensure the water level in inner Bang Kapi reached no higher than 0.25m.

According to a senior irrigation official, the BMA initially refused to cooperate. The water drainage committee was told that it was not informed the committee had assigned a technical group to come up with solutions, which reflected the committee's views, so it refused to acknowledge them. The situation has improved, but the water in Khlong Saen Saep has risen, with only 30cm left before it breaches the sides.

Officials have not yet decided to switch to the use of floodways, but the irrigation official said that given the massive amount of floodwater it is probably unavoidable. The situation has also been exacerbated by the fact that the water level is about to rise beyond the dykes and the sluice gates upstream, which could leave the RID powerless to regulate floodwaters.

The floodways area below it has only limited drainage infrastructure, which includes Saen Saep canal, Prawet Burirom canal, Samrong canal and the RID's water pumping stations.

The irrigation source, who also worked for the government's Flood Relief Operation Command, said there has been discord among officials on both sides. The BMA, he said, is supposed to help take the excessive water inside and manage it with its infrastructure. But the Khlong Sam Wa incident also revealed the wildcard factor of community demands, which has worsened the situation.

The official said the RID and the BMA needed to work more closely together and come up with ways to deal with social discord.

''It's not about water, but about how we work together, and also dealing with residents who are affected by flooding,'' said the official.

THREATENS TO DITCH FLOOD PLAN EFFORTS IF COOPERATION NOT FORTHCOMING

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has given the government an ultimatum to start cooperating or it will ditch the existing plans it has to tackle the city's floods.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday the BMA would come up with a new flood management plan if the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) does not spell out by tomorrow how it will cooperate in tackling the floods.

The BMA asked the Froc to provide water pumps and speed up flood drainage operations a week ago, but it had not received any response, the governor said.

City Hall also asked Froc to instruct the Royal Irrigation Department to open its 20 sluice gates in Nong Chok district to speed up water drainage to Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao province, but only nine of 20 sluice gates had been opened.

"If the BMA doesn't get tangible support from the Froc within 48 hours, we will review our flood management plan," MR Sukhumbhand said. He did not elaborate.

Froc yesterday ordered additional pumps from Korea and Japan, and appealed to the private sector to donate pumps.

The Irrigation Department, on behalf of the government, denied it was refusing to cooperate. It said the BMA asked the wrong agency for the loan of pumps.

The growing dispute between the Froc and BMA came as the flood crisis worsened in several parts of Bangkok.

The governor said overflow from Vibhavadi Rangsit Road and Lat Phrao intersection was likely to reach Din Daeng, Saphan Kwai, and the Victory Monument within days since Bang Sue canal, which is an important water drainage route in the area, was swollen and could not take more water.

City Hall declared some parts of Din Daeng district as special surveillance areas. They are Rim Khlong Bang Sue community, Yu Charoen Housing Estate, Soi Inthamara 41 and Yu Charoen Housing Estate Phase 3.

Residents in those areas should move their belongings to higher ground and prepare for evacuation.

On Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, water on the road's inbound lanes in front of St John University was about 30cm.

The government was confident, however, that flooding in the northern part of the city would ease following the completion of the first six kilometres of the big-bag flood barrier on Saturday night.

Transport Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat said Froc has completed the big bag barrier, made of thousands of giant sand bags, to the north of Bangkok. The barrier runs from Lak Hok, Chulalongkorn sluice gate, the area above Don Mueang airport, to Khlong Sam Wa. Each bag weighs 2.5 tonnes.

The barrier was intended to stop flooding from the North that has been moving into central Bangkok within seven days.

For Thon Buri, in the western part of Bangkok, the BMA has issued an evacuation alert for residents in Soi Charan Sanitwong 13 and Tha Phra subdistrict in Bangkok Yai district and four subdistricts in Phasi Charoen district.

The four subdistricts are Khlong Khwang, Bang Duan, Bang Waek and Bang Chak.

MR Sukhumbhand added the BMA has been considering declaring two more subdistricts_Khuha Sawan and Bang Wa _ in Phasi Charoen district as evacuation areas.

City Hall also requires the Froc's assistance in instructing the Royal Irrigation Department to help drain floodwater in Thon Buri into the Sanam Chai-Mahachai canal and the Tha Chin River as soon as possible, said the Bangkok governor.

Water levels between Bang Kae and the Tha Phra intersections are about 85cm on average.

IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT WILLING TO HELP, BUT REQUEST SENT TO WRONG AGENCY

Pumps to drain inner city floods are just a phone call away, says Chartthaipattana Party de facto leader Banharn Silpa-archa.

STILL AFLOAT: Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut (right) inspects repairs along the Chao Phraya River in Pathum Thani.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra should contact the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) to solve the flooding crisis, he said yesterday.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry's RID is supervised by Mr Banharn's party.

Mr Banharn spoke to the media yesterday after MR Sukhumbhand on Thursday said he did not receive cooperation from the RID when he asked for water pumps to remove water from inner Bangkok.

However, Mr Banharn said he had checked with RID director-general Chalit Damrongsak, who denied being contacted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) about the request.

Mr Banharn said he found that Bangkok city clerk Charoenrat Chutikarn had written to the Interior Ministry, not the RID, asking for water pumps.

"If MR Sukhumbhand calls to ask for water pumping machines from the RID director-general, it's all over.

"In such a crisis, we don't have to follow procedure exactly. If I were you [MR Sukhumbhand], I would finish it in one day," he said.

Since the floods began four months ago, the RID has sent many water pumping machines to flood-hit provinces, including more than 10 to eastern Bangkok.

Mr Banharn also criticised the BMA for diverting too much water to Khlong Pasi Charoen and Khlong Maha Sawat canals in the west of Bangkok through Tha Chin River as the two canals had no embankment and were generally shallow and full of rubbish.

As the Tha Chin is a meandering river, draining water through the river to the sea would take at least one and a half months, he said.

Mr Banharn, who comes from Suphan Buri, denied he had ordered RID officials not to open sluice gates there to protect his home province from floodwater.

Large parts of the province, especially Bang Pla Ma district, were submerged, and floods hit the province every year.

Mr Banharn said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had dealt with the flood problem carefully. She listened to all opinions, including those of RID officials, before making any decision.

It was not yet the right time to enforce an emergency decree to deal with flood problems. Doing so would create panic and fear among foreigners, he said.

Mr Banharn brushed aside claims his party will lose control over the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry in the next cabinet reshuffle because the ministry had failed to solve flood problems.

He hadn't heard such reports before.

Pheu Thai Party sources said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, brother of prime minister Yingluck, was disappointed over the performance of some ministers throughout the flood crisis.

The sources said Thaksin wanted the next cabinet reshuffle to happen shortly.

Ministers under scrutiny and who could lose their jobs included Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, Social Development and Human Security Minister Santi Prompat, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut, Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul, and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk.