Residents, Authorities reach flood barrier agreement

The ongoing dispute between flood-hit residents and authorities over the Khlong Hok Wa flood barrier ended yesterday with residents agreeing to not breach the dyke and authorities promising to widen three sluice gates.

After 90 minutes of negotiations between residents from Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district, the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) and City Hall, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra reported fruitful results.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to all of the residents' demands, including to keep the Khlong Phraya Suren sluice gate open by one metre, to widen the Khlong Lam Mo Taek sluice gate from 20cm to 50cm and to widen the Khlong Song sluice gate from one metre to 1.2m, said MR Sukhumbhand.

The Froc and the BMA also promised to lower flood levels in Lam Luk Ka district between three and five centimetres per day, he said.

Although it ruled out the risk of Bangchan Industrial Estate in Bangkok's Min Buri district being flooded as a result of its concessions yesterday, the BMA would still have to closely monitor flood levels in downstream canals, the governor said.

Any rise in flood water volume would slow down water drainage in Khlong Bang Bua and Khlong Lat Phrao and surrounding areas which were still inundated, he said.

To mitigate the impact of that on affected communities, the BMA would increase the number of water pumps draining floodwaters out of residential areas into the canals, he said.

More than a thousand Lam Luk Ka district residents gathered outside the Big C supermarket in tambon Khlong Si in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district where yesterday's meeting was held.

About 500 residents of Bangkok's Sai Mai district who are concerned they will see an increase in floodwaters if the Lam Luk Ka residents opened a gap in the Khlong Hok Wa flood barrier also attended.

But the Sai Mai residents were prevented from confronting with their Lam Luk Ka counterparts.

Pathum Thani Governor Khajornsak Singtokul said the provincial administration would accelerate financial compensation for flood victims.

He expected the first round of payouts would be made to affected residents by month's end.

Each family would receive an initial 5,000 baht. Those whose houses were partially damaged by the floods would receive 20,000 baht later on.

Homeowners whose houses were irreparably damaged would receive 30,000 baht each, said Mr Khajornsak.

Flood-affected residents in Pathum Thani would also be allowed to submit applications for the assistance at the Khlong Si Big C in addition to the district offices, he said.

The Froc also plans to ask the government to remove more "big bags" from the dyke protecting inner Bangkok after they were removed elsewhere without incident.

Floodwaters flowing through openings at some parts of the city's main flood wall, built from thousands of the 2.5-tonne bags stuffed with sand and rocks, have not had an impact as the city is still able to drain the water out to the river, said Froc spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen yesterday, citing the latest inspection of officials.

The big bags have been placed in many areas in northern Bangkok, including a section of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road and Don Mueang airport, to slow down the flow of water into inner Bangkok and allow officials enough time for drainage.

But the method has increased the water level in other parts of the area near Don Mueang airport, prompting residents and authorities to remove some of the bags.

Network of weirs, dykes proposed

BALI : Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will investigate setting up a network of weirs and dykes to provide water during droughts and generate clean electricity.

The initiative follows Thailand gaining support from Asean on cooperation on flood prevention, mitigation, relief, recovery and rehabilitation.

"The prime minister raised the issue of disaster relief and water management at the regional level. The prime minister spoke about food security. 

All agreed that natural disasters would have an impact on supply chains," said Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

The floods have driven home the fact that Thailand is crucial in regional supply chains, in particular the car industry and rice production.

"After food security we will be raising and talking about energy security," Mr Surapong said.

"The prime minister has the idea and we have spoken to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and Myanmar [Burma] about dams along the Mekong River.

"We are not talking about dams but weirs _ smaller dams which can produce electricity from water. This coincides with green growth. 

The prime minister will raise this on further occasions and we are confident that other countries would agree. This is clean energy."

China's huge dams along the Mekong River result in droughts in certain parts of Thailand and Laos, the foreign minister said.

"If we build these smaller dams ... we can control the flow of water and we can produce electricity. We will get water during droughts for our farmers and water to produce electricity. 

We can build a continuous number. This is a new idea," he said.

The foreign minister likened this network of dams to the Four Major Rivers restoration project in South Korea.

South Korea has urged Prime Minister Yingluck to visit and observe the project which the foreign minister said is successful and prevents drought and flooding.

The Four Rivers Major Restoration Project is a multi-purpose green growth project on the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan rivers in South Korea.

The project was initiated by South Korean president Lee Myung-bak and completed last month.

The South Korean restoration project's aims were to provide or improve water security, flood control and ecosystem vitality.

It was launched in January 2009 for an estimated cost of US$17 billion.

However, the project is not without its critics who questioned its viability and its goals.

Critics also say that the four provinces which host the project have relatively few water management problems and that the project will change the natural flow of water and increase erosion.

Watchdog to mull Supoj wealth probe

The anti-corruption watchdog will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to investigate Supoj Saplom for being unusually wealthy, following the arrest yesterday of a fifth suspect in the daring robbery of the transport official's home.

National Anti-Corruption Commission spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said a committee would be formed to probe the permanent secretary for transport's finances if the commissioners unanimously agree with the allegations.

Suspects arrested over the theft allegedly told police they took 200 million baht from Mr Supoj's home during the robbery earlier this month. The amount retrieved so far totals 12.7 million baht.

Mr Supoj insists the stolen money came from a wedding dowry for his daughter, but has declined to say how big the amount was.

Mr Klanarong said preliminary checks showed Mr Supoj had declared his assets 16 times since 2002, when he was a member of the Airport of Thailand's board of directors.

High-ranking government officials are required to declare their assets annually but unlike those of politicians, officials' assets declarations are not made public, said Mr Klanarong.

Mr Supoj refused to comment yesterday on reports that Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit had ordered him transferred to an inactive post pending an investigation into his wealth.

A fifth suspect in the burglary yesterday turned himself in to police along with 900,000 baht in cash. Somboon Riyathen, 40, who was wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with the burglary, surrendered at Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district.

Four other have been arrested, carrying with them 11.8 million baht.

The transport official alerted the police on Nov 12 that his house had been broken into about 9pm and 12 million baht was missing. 

Mr Supoj was away at the time of the robbery and the thieves tied up three maids at the house in Lat Phrao Soi 64 in Bangkok's Wang Thonglang district.

Two of the suspects caught on Thursday said they made off with more than 200 million baht in cash. Police said the men also claimed that when they broke into Mr Supoj's house, they found between 700 million baht and one billion baht stashed away in bags. Police have not commented on the amount of money taken during the robbery.

The alleged burglars arrested on Thursday _ Singthong Jaichuenchom 44, and Saokaew Namwong, 59 _ were caught with 2.8 million baht cash.

On Friday, two more suspects were caught. They were identified yesterday as Wanankrit Butrkanha, 40, who was caught in Nakhon Phanom with nine million baht cash, and Boonsueb Jomjan, 44, who was nabbed in Phitsanulok.

The police are still hunting three other suspects, identified as Wirasak Chuelee, 36, Khamnuan Meknoi, 38, and Phongsak Namwong, 35.

Yingluck backs anti-nuclear, trade calls Thai support wins thanks, White House invitation from Obama

BALI: Thailand has thrown its support behind two United States-backed initiatives and earned the thanks of US President Barack Obama.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government would move towards endorsing the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which aims to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems.

Ms Yingluck said Thailand would also consider joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade deal described by Mr Obama during the recent Apec Summit in Hawaii as a "21st century state of the art" initiative.

She and US President Barack Obama held a meeting Saturday.

Ms Yingluck said the cabinet would discuss the PSI soon before formally announcing Thailand's support.

It was launched by US President George W Bush in 2003 and has been endorsed by 98 countries.

Despite considerable support for the PSI, many major powers are opposed to it, including India, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Critics, including Iran and North Korea, say the PSI would allow members to stop ships on the high seas, in violation of international law guaranteeing freedom of the seas.

Article 23 of the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea allows ships "carrying nuclear or other inherently dangerous or noxious substances" the right of passage through territorial seas.

Critics also say the PSI amounts to an act of piracy.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the US had approached Thailand on past occasions to support the PSI. "This is a lingering issue of discussion with the US for many governments," he said.

Each time Thailand has said it was willing to support the PSI but military officials said they were concerned that if ships or vessels were stopped and their cargo damaged, they could face lawsuits.

"This was a sticking point which prevented Thailand from moving forward on this issue," he said.

During the Apec Summit, Mr Surapong said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raised the issue once again and sought Thai endorsement. The Foreign Ministry discussed the issue on Monday.

The minister said Thailand could obtain sufficient intelligence about what was being carried on ships to enable it to make decisions without any mistakes occurring which could lead to lawsuits.

The US considers this an important issue and Mr Obama thanked Ms Yingluck for Thailand's support, he said.

Despite Ms Yingluck's backing for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the other initiative raised in talks with Mr Obama, Mr Surapong said Thailand would need more time to consider the details.

The TPP is a multilateral free trade agreement that aims to liberalise the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.

"We did not say when. The United States is satisfied," said Mr Surapong.

"There are many conditions. Japan took a long time before deciding to join. But at least it is a starting point."

Japan recently joined the TPP, after taking years to consider the move amid opposition from its farmers.

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the TPP takes economic cooperation among its members further than Apec is prepared to go.

For example, it expands cooperative measures to areas such as government procurement contracts and projects.

Mr Surapong said Mr Obama also invited Ms Yingluck to visit the US. The visit is likely to take place early next year. The prime minister is scheduled to visit China next month and India on Jan 26. Ms Yingluck told the president that Thailand appreciates increased US engagement with Burma and is delighted that Mrs Clinton will visit Burma soon.

"Thailand supports the democratic process that is occurring in Burma," said Mr Surapong.

"We are close neighbours. When Ms Yingluck visited Burma, we could see their genuine intentions to move towards a democratic process."

Mr Surapong said he asked his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin why Burma had decided not to proceed with the Chinese-backed Myitsone dam in Kachin State. 

"He told me the people and NGOs did not want the dam to be built because it would harm the environment. This means the Burmese government is beginning to listen to the people and this is good," Mr Surapong said.

During her visit to Burma, Mrs Clinton will also meet Aung Sang Su Kyi. Ms Yingluck told Mr Obama that Thailand is ready to help the US in its dealings with Burma

Red, yellow shirts back on the streets Battle lines drawn as fight over Thaksin clemency looms

Red shirt supporters held rallies in three provinces on Saturday to back a proposed royal pardon of convicted criminals including Thaksin Shinawatra, while the yellow shirt leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) announced they will stage a day-long protest against the measure in Bangkok on Monday.

About 1,000 pro-Thaksin members gathered at Mukdahan provincial hall Saturday to back the government-proposed decree.

Hundreds of red shirt members also rallied at Khon Kaen and Samut Prakan provincial halls to call for the government to move forward the decree, which would pardon about 26,000 convicts, including some who have yet to serve a jail term, such as former prime minister Thaksin.

In Bangkok, the PAD issued a statement saying that it will hold a mass rally against the government's proposed royal decree.

The statement, read out by PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan, said the yellow shirts will gather in front of the Office of the Council of State from 10am to 6pm.

Rally leaders will submit petitions opposing the royal pardon to the Council of State, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Privy Council, said the statement.

The PAD said it also will seek a ruling from the Constitution Court on whether the royal pardon decree is constitutional.

The yellow shirts also will try to petition the National Anti-Corruption Committee (NACC) to act against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other cabinet ministers for malfeasance by proposing the law "which could whitewash Thaksin".

Red shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana Saturday announced members of the Rak Isan Network would hold a series of rallies from Sunday to give moral support to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the draft decree. 

The first rally would be held at Udon Thani provincial hall Sunday, followed by Khon Kaen Monday and Maha Sarakham on Tuesday.

The decree was seeking clemency for tens of thousands convicts. It should not be scrapped simply because opponents feared that it would also benefit Thaksin, he said.

The proposed decree is also galvanising opposition from the anti-Thaksin movement.

An anti-pardon protest outside Lumpini Park on Friday drew about 1,000 people.

The People's Alliance for Democracy will hold a rally in front of the Council of State Monday to protest the pardon bid.

"It is unacceptable and irresponsible for thegovernment to distortthe principle and details of the decree and to seek a royal pardon for a convict [Thaksin] who doesn't admit his guilt," PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan said.

The cabinet on Tuesday discussed plans for drafting this year's royal pardon for jailed convicts to mark His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.

The meeting, held behind closed doors, was criticised after government sources revealed the cabinet wanted to include conditions that might benefit Thaksin, who is on the run from a two-year jail term for corruption.

The Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail in 2008 for abusing his authority as prime minister to help his ex-wife Potjaman na Pombejra buy a state-owned plot of land in inner Bangkok in 2003.

Mr Parthep said the draft decree undermined the principle of the royal pardon.

Only convicts who were sentenced, had served their jail terms and admitted their guilt should be entitled to the annual royal pardon, he said.

The PAD would ask a Constitution Court judge to consider whether the government's move is illegitimate.

PAD would also ask the National Counter Corruption Commission to take legal action against the government for abuse of power by endorsing the draft royal decree.

PAD key leader Pibhop Dhongchai criticised the government for approving the draft decree when the country is struggling to get through the flood crisis.

Despite the controversy over the royal pardon for Thaksin, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said many leaders attending the Asean Summit in Bali have expressed their confidence in and support for Ms Yingluck, saying she would be able to overcome the challenges of her new administration.

Speaking at the summit, the minister said no one had raised any concerns about the political situation in Bangkok.

Ms Yingluck held a meeting with US President Barack Obama Saturday.

President Obama warmly congratulated Ms Yingluck on her "inspirational" victory at the ballot box in July's elections.

Referring to Thailand's floods which have left almost 600 people dead and has tested her leadership, Mr Obama said: 

"We will extend any assistance we can. The US and Thailand are old allies, with great friendship. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the flood."

Thai Residents Clean Up Bangkok

Bangkok residents hit the streets on Saturday to help clean up the flood-drenched city now that waters have receded.

Armed with brooms and mops, residents spent their weekend afternoon pitching in to beautify the capital.

[Nujip Juntasin, Worker]:

"When the flood waters first came, it was very, very sad. Now, the water has receded, we're happy, and we can help each other clean up."

The water missed the central part of Bangkok because soldiers successfully diverted it into canals and drainage systems to flow around the city and out to sea.

But here's where it ended up...

Residents in suburbs to the south and southwest of the city, right in the path of the water as it flows towards the coast, will have several more weeks of floodwaters to deal with.

Thailands worst floods in 50 years have killed nearly 600 people and affected over two million.

Big Cleaning Day' kicked off in Bangkok's flood-hit areas

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Saturday led workers from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and volunteers from all walks of life to clean up the Lat Phrao 5-way intersection and nearby zones after floodwaters receded.

The Big Cleaning Day activity started at Kamphaeng Phet intersection on Phaholyothin Road through to Lat Phrao 5-way intersection and Ratchayothin intersection.

Twenty five trucks containing water and 1,000 cleaning kits were provided for cleaning up areas on Phaholyothin Roads which had previously been affected by flood.

Saturday’s cleaning activity, jointly held by the BMA’s Chatuchak district office, the 1st Army Area, the Royal Thai Police and the private sector, was the first cleaning activity since floodwaters receded.

The governor, who presided over the Big Cleaning Day activity, thanked all related parties and volunteers for joining the event. He also said that city hall will organise cleaning activities in other flood-affected areas, expecting to complete the clean-up before Dec 31 as a New Year gift for Bangkok residents.

Meanwhile, the BMA is scheduled to hold Big Cleaning Day activities this Sunday on Charansanitwong Road, starting from Yanhee Hospital to Bang Phlat intersection.