Computer maker Dell warns Thai floods will hurt revenues

Dell has warned its revenues could be hit by a worldwide shortage of hard drives caused by the flooding in Thailand.
Thailand is a production hub for many global firms, and severe flooding has hurt a wide range of industries.

Dell's third quarter sales were slightly lower than expected

US-based Dell is the world's third-largest personal computer maker.

The earnings warning came as Dell announced revenues of $15.4bn (£9.7bn) and net profits of $893m (£564m) for the third quarter of 2011.

Shares in Dell fell by 2% in after-hours trading in New York, after the warning and after analysts said revenues had slightly missed expectations.

Brian Gladden, Dell's chief financial officer, told Reuters that the Thai floods may mean the company has to give priority to "higher-end customers and products".

He also warned that the company may have to raise computer prices after the flooding forced the closure of factories and pushed up the global cost of hard drives.

In recent years Dell has focused more on corporate needs and less on the home consumer, which is reflected in its latest results.

Its earnings from large corporations rose by 4% to $4.5bn compared to the same period last year, and revenue from consumers dropped by 6% to $2.8bn.

Powder proves powerful against putridity For city residents surrounded by foul-smelling floodwater, nasal salvation comes in chemical form

Weeks after living with putrid water, dwellers of flood-hit Bangkok Noi District are starting to get a breath of fresh air _ with the help of effective micro-organism (EM) powder developed by the Government Pharmaceutical Organization.

The GPO recently gave away the powder, said to be more effective than EM balls, to 43 communities in Bangkok Noi through Siriraj Hospital. Bangkok Noi is the first flood-hit district to get the powder.

Floods are no stranger to the riverine communities, but this year's flood has been very severe.

"As a community near the Chao Phraya River, we have put up with waist-deep flood-waters for almost a month," said Apiruth Tradussadee, chief of Bangkok Noi District Office, adding now that the flood has largely receded, leaving unpleasantly stagnant water.

Normally, community dwellers make their own EM balls and EM water to cope with the foul conditions caused by the annual floods, but this time they have welcomed help from the outside.

"We usually face flooding every year when the sea tide rises; stagnant water is our annual problem," said Kul Sukornkamnird, head of Charunsanit-wong 41 Community.

"Home-made EM balls get rid of the stinky smell, enabling us to live in our own homes during the annual floods. However, this year's flood situation is very serious and we simply ran short of the balls and the odour of stagnant water got stronger and stronger. We have heard that the EM powder is more efficient and it is our hope."

GPO Klean, invented by the GPO in 2008, is a blue-grey powder consisting of Bacillus subtitles and four enzymes, namely protease, amylase, lipase and cellulose, that help digest organic waste such as starch, protein, fat and cellulose in any circumstances, even zero-oxygen areas. 

The GPO said it is safe and environmentally friendly as, unlike the conventional EM balls which have molasses and rice bran as components, there is no waste left in the environment.

It's also easy to use. Simply mix a tablespoon of the powder with 20 liters of water, leave for 30 minutes to two hours, then pour into the stagnant water, and the smell will gradually disappear and the water will become clearer in about 1-4 weeks, depending on the water condition.

The GPO tested the powder with water samples from a sewage pipe in the Sathorn area and found it could considerably decrease biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) from 177.5mg/l to 58.7mg/l in three weeks and the water became obviously clearer.

"A test with a sample of stagnant water from the Wat Nairong area in Bangkok Noi also showed good results, the water condition improved in about a week," said GPO managing director Witit Artavatkun.

Asked about how GPO Klean is different from the EM balls, Witit said, "the powder consists of purely micro-organisms in dry spore form. It contains nothing that can make water more polluted."

One packet contains 200 grams of GPO Klean powder and only three of them are enough for 1,600 cubic meters or one-meter-high floodwater in an area of one rai.

"However, GPO Klean is not magic powder. It needs time for the microbe to work, the smell is not gone right after the GPO Klean water is poured into the polluted water. If you don't want to live with dirty water, you should change your behavior. Don't throw any garbage into the water," said Witit.

Free GPO Klean is up for grabs for all flood-hit communities. The GPO will distribute the powder through district offices.

Ayutthaya, after the floods Recovery and clean-up work under way for flood-affected areas in the ancient capital of Thailand

A group of French tourists were enjoying a buffet breakfast at the River View Place Hotel on U-Thong Road in Ayutthaya, a day after the floodwaters receded in the inner part of the ancient city, while hotel staff were packing food items for flood victims, which has become one of their routine jobs since the old capital of Siam was inundated.

Tourists travelled from Phitsanulok to Ayutthaya, a World Heritage site, after they were informed the water had been pumped out of the old town.

"Since November 8, about 10% of Ayutthaya has dried up," said Ayutthaya Governor Withaya Pewpong. The roads are now accessible to small vehicles and local officers have already started to collect garbage and clean up the city as of last week.

"We will spend the next 60 days draining out the water and reviving the city. We will bring normalcy back to the lives of the people affected by the floods by the end of this year as a New Year's gift," promised the governor.

For the past two months, floodwater has submerged 16 districts of the province, or about 90% of the land, including rice fields and five industrial estates, as well as historical sites and ruins.

"The flood losses total as high as three billion baht," said the governor. However, there are seven key places that have been spared from the floods: 

Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Wat Phut Thai Sawan, Wat Nivet Thammaprawat, the Queen's summer palace, Bang Pa-In Palace and the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts. "They are part of the seven wonders," he added.

While the governor waits for the post-flood recovery budget that was approved by the Cabinet, he outlined the expected time frame for repairing basic infrastructure and helping flood victims, in which each flood-hit household will initially receive 5,000 baht in compensation, as well as making sure the five industrial estates will be able to resume operations next month. 

"I will do everything in my power to ensure that at the very least a couple of factories in each industrial estate will be able to resume operations on December 16, and that the rice fields will be ready for planting by January," he said.

As for the tourist attractions, the province has teamed up with local companies and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to encourage people to help restore various sites, mostly old temples, under a massive clean-up campaign called ''We Care for Ayutthaya'', as well as reviving visitor confidence.

The campaign kicked off on November 10 at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhol, where 300 volunteers from Bangkok and local residents armed with brushes, brooms, shovels and hoses helped to remove the dirt and debris remaining in the temple grounds and on different Buddha images.

The TAT has also prepared a list of 500 religion-related places, including Thai temples, 41 churches, 61 masjids and 45 Chinese shrines, for those who wish to participate in the big clean-up activity.

''If any organisation, group or individual would like to make a contribution, whether to help clean or offer financial assistance, they can do so by contacting our office,'' said Somchai Chompoonoi, the executive director of the TAT's Central Region. 

The massive clean-up campaign will be promoted until the end of January. And next year, TAT will coordinate with related agencies to help organise monthly marketing activities to encourage more tourists to visit this ancient town.

''Although the floods have shown no mercy, the Thai people have shown their generous spirit and helped each other. I am impressed to see the level of cooperation among the people to help get Ayutthaya back on track,'' said Qin Yusen, the cultural counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, who also participated in a clean-up activity.

Yusen added that the Chinese government will extend a hand and send a troop of performers to Ayutthaya to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ayutthaya being declared a Unesco World Heritage Site on December 13, as well as the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 23.

''Ayutthaya is ready for visitors,'' said the cultural counsellor, adding, ''I give full moral support that Ayutthaya will soon be back on its feet and normal life will resume again _ and perhaps even better than it was before.''

Pre-Built: Factories go two-storey New flood designs raise construction cost

New factory construction will begin incorporating more flood-prevention measures with an emphasis on two-story buildings, pushing up construction costs by at least 20%.

Chaiyarat Thampeera, the chief executive of the SET-listed construction firm Pre-Built Plc (PREB), said two-stores factories naturally cost more to build than their single-story counterparts of similar area.

Pilings and the second-story floor must be stronger to support heavy machinery.

''Factory owners will consider placing machinery on the upper floor to stay above any flooding, as barriers outside are not always fully effective,'' he said.

Renovating an inundated factory will take three to six months. Mr Chaiyarat said five owners had already met with the company about doing the work, but nothing has been finalized.

The owners are still considering how much flood protection to go with or even whether to add an upper floor.

Mr Chaiyarat said existing customers have priority for renovation jobs.

The seven inundated industrial estates contain some factories constructed by Pre-Built including Ichitan.

Mr Chaiyarat said construction costs will increase by at least 10% after the flood crisis due to higher demand for construction materials and labour.

''People with flooded houses and who have rented an apartment or condo will probably wait longer to renovate due to the shortage of construction materials and labour. They could be waiting as long as six months,'' said Mr Chaiyarat.

He predicts the housing trend will shift more towards condominiums close to mass transit due to the convenience of transport and parking spaces. Demand for low-rise housing will drop.

However, Pre-Built's new low-rise townhouse project remains on schedule, as the location in Ban Sai Ma in Nonthaburi province will be close to the coming Purple Line route.

The company will raise the project land by 70 centimeters instead of the previously planned 50 cm to boost buyer confidence about flood prevention.

Pre-Built believes it will close out unit sales during its January launch.

Severely flood-hit areas like 345 Road and Bang Bua Thong district in Nonthaburi will be less attractive. Developers there may shift to condominiums.

Homebuyers look for good after-sales service and customer relationship management,'' said Mr Chaiyarat.

''Major developers will introduce customer-care plans after the floods.''

The impact of the flooding on the company includes a delay in starting construction of a condominium project on Ratchadaphisek Road, as the piling contractor faced flood problems.

Even though gross domestic product looks set to fall short of this year's target, Pre-Built is maintaining its revenue forecast of 3 billion baht and net profit exceeding 100 million.

The company posted a third-quarter net profit of 21 million baht, up by 15% year-on-year, on revenue of 993 million.

Its nine-month net profit was 88.23 million baht, up by 112.5% from 41.52 million, on revenue of 2.49 billion, compared with 1.38 billion in the same period last year.

PREB shares closed unchanged yesterday on the SET at 2.98 baht in trade worth 1 million baht.

Don't let the flood make your business stagger and sway

Times of crisis require swift and decisive action and for Thai companies this obligation falls to senior management and the board of directors.

Some factories have been submerged by recent floods and are unable to continue operations, other factories are not flooded but are prevented from operating as they cannot obtain supply chain materials sourced from factories that are now flooded, however in each case the result is the same: through no fault of the company, the factory cannot continue operations and there is no work for factory employees.

Flood-affected companies should consider three essential points:

Employees: Suspending payment of wages for employees is not risk-free. Frequent reports in the media have stated that companies affected by force majeure are not required to pay wages to employees, but companies can be exposed to claims for severance pay by not paying wages during a cessation of business operations and directors can become personally liable both civilly and criminally. Not all directors' and officers' insurance policies will cover this liability or the costs of defending claims.

Force majeure is defined in Thailand's Civil and Commercial Code (CCC) and is also referred to in the Labour Protection Act (LPA), but there is no clear legislative provision that entitles a company to unilaterally suspend payment of wages without being required to pay severance pay.

The LPA requires employers to pay severance on termination of employment, including where an employee has not worked and has not been paid, due to the inability of the employer to continue business. Severance pay varies from 30 days' salary, for employees with more than 120 days' service, to 300 days for employees with more than 10 years' service.

The LPA enables a company to pay its employees 75% of wages if the company has had to suspend operations for reasons other than force majeure _ this would not be termination as wages are being paid as required by law.

However, if the employer is unable to continue business operations and chooses not to pay employees any wages at all, the Labour Courts are likely to regard this as termination.

One example was considered by the courts in 2002: Water and electricity had been cut off to an employer's building and the employees were not able to access the building. This triggered termination of employment under the LPA because the employees could not work and were not paid and the employer was unable to continue its business.

The provisions of the CCC relating to force majeure do not entitle an employer to avoid its obligation to pay severance and the courts have previously ruled that an employer would be required to pay severance on termination of employment even in the event of force majeure.

Authorized directors come within the definition of "Employer" in the LPA and can be exposed to civil and criminal liability (such as claims for unpaid salary, six months' imprisonment and penalties of 100,000 baht) if the company suspends payments to employees, and managing directors of companies can also be held criminally liable.

Directors and officers should review their directors' and officers' insurance policies to determine whether they are covered before taking steps to suspend wage payments.

Any proposal to suspend wages should be discussed with employees and any agreement should be carefully documented, rather than being unilaterally implemented, to address concerns of duress and undue influence and show it was done in good faith.

Contractual obligations: As a result of disruption to factories, many companies are not able to fulfil contracts for manufactured goods.

Thai law can relieve a company from performance that becomes impossible, but not all contracts are subject to Thai law and companies should review the terms of their contracts to determine which law applies to the contract and obtain foreign legal advice if foreign law applies.

Some contracts impose content and timing requirements for notices and it is important to comply with these requirements; otherwise companies risk being subject to liabilities that would not have been imposed if the notice provisions had been properly observed.

Insurance: Disruption to manufacturing premises typically results in several types of damage:

- damage to buildings;

- damage to machinery and equipment;

- damage to inventory and raw materials;

- loss of profits as a result of interruption to business activities; and

- legal claims from third parties for failure to deliver manufactured goods.

Companies should assess the damage and review their insurance policies to determine which types of damage are covered by particular policies, and in particular, to determine whether the policies cover damage caused by flooding.

Insurance policies are not all worded equally; what is regarded as a flood under one policy may not necessarily be regarded as a flood by another insurance policy. A careful review of defined terms will be necessary.

Insurers should be promptly updated on developments and where the situation changes, these changes should also be promptly reported. 

This includes evacuation orders, changes to flood control management plans that affect your property or operations, and police, military or government orders and directions.

If in doubt, consult your broker or seek legal advice.

A charity born out of the floods A Dane mobilises a network of friends to help those whom the officials missed

What began as a rescue mission for one man's family unexpectedly turned into a volunteer group providing relief to flood victims who have been left behind by official channels.

Danish duo Bo Kristensen and Jakob Lykkegaard Pedersen initially organized a rescue mission for Kristensen's family, stranded by floodwater in Pathum Thani. Relief supplies had yet to reach them.

In doing so the pair realized there were still many more people facing the same predicament, so they formed a group of volunteers to deliver flood aid, called Thailand Direct Flood Relief.

"The idea came out of the blue," Mr Kristensen said. "There was no help available in the area in which my wife's family lives in Pathum Thani.

"At first I was just trying to help them. But then we realized many other people were also receiving no help so we decided to start our own flood relief group."

An IT entrepreneur, Mr Kristensen, 47, has been married to his Thai wife and living in Thailand for more than 10 years.

Their house in Bangkok was not flooded but that of his wife's parents in Pathum Thani was under water for over two months. They were also running out of supplies, with no help in sight.

Mr Kristensen posted a message on Facebook asking people who might be interested to help.

One of the first responses came from Mr Pedersen, 24, also an IT entrepreneur from Denmark.

The two were already friends who met regularly every week for their "Wednesday Club" at a restaurant in Nana. They decided to form a non-profit volunteer group accepting help from friends and neighbors in the Nana area.

The group is formed under the slogan "No middle men, no red tape, no delays". It hoped to raise 1 million baht for the cause of delivering aid directly to those in need.

"Our plan is to take help to areas that are out of the way and might have been forgotten by authorities," Mr Pedersen said.

Each Sunday, Mr Kristensen and fellow volunteers load up supplies into backpacks and into a friend's truck, and taxis.

As soon as they reach a flooded area they put on their backpacks and wade in, or charter boats in the neighbourhood to reach their destinations.

Mr Pedersen said the locations are selected based on intelligence from acquaintances.

He said since the intelligence comes from people they know and not strangers, it is reliable and less prone to falsified claims and fraud.

Mr Kristensen said the group buys supplies and delivers them itself, which cuts out the middleman and ensures supplies reach people in need.

He said he does not necessarily blame the government for the fact that help still fails to reach some areas, but he wishes authorities would worry less about bureaucracy and just get on with the job.

The group has about 12 volunteers helping out but he is encouraging more people to join. "The more the better," he said.

The organization has attracted volunteers from Denmark, France, South Africa, Austria, Thailand, the USA and Hong Kong.

Volunteer Jacob Ross, 25, an English teacher from the United States, said he enjoys the experience of helping people.

"There are many ways to help but it's great for me to deliver the supplies personally."

Volunteer Sylvain Mathieu, 32, an IT manager from France, said: "It is a great experience to help people and it makes you feel good."

Mr Kristensen's neighbor Rob Hall, 43, an advertising executive from Australia, said he felt moved to help after 40% of the staff at his company were hit by floods.

"You could make donations but it's different when you are able to help people directly yourself," he said.

Baan Muang Editorial

Thanks to their flood-relief operations, members of the three armed forces are gaining more support and acceptance from the public.

Both the Yingluck government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration were caught off guard when the floodwaters surged into the outskirts of Bangkok. 

Many people had to fend for themselves amid the chaos that spread to all outlying areas of the capital, including densely-populated communities along the canals.

Without the help of volunteers as well as police and soldiers, more harm could have been done to the outlying communities. 

Rice fields, orchards and commercial fish farms were not spared. Not to mention the big industrial parks that were submerged a month later.

Equipped with helicopters, rescue boats and trucks, the army, navy and air force were able to response quickly to the disaster. 

Tens of thousands of soldiers were involved in the rescue and relief operations. Many of these soldiers carried out their duties effectively even though their homes were also flooded.

These members of the armed forces worked around the clock repairing damaged dykes and bringing the sick and elderly to safety. Their presence lifted the morale of all flood victims.

It's true that other government agencies are not as well-equipped as the armed forces in dealing with the crisis. But the dedication of these soldiers who toiled all day in waist-deep water touched the hearts of all flood victims.

Democrats did nothing

I was pleased to read the commentary ''Not the time to play the blame game'' (BP, Nov 16). Mr Pandey writes very fairly about people blaming the new government for its handling of the flood. 

To me, the Democrat government also bears responsibility, insofar as it was told of Bangkok's inability to cope with major flooding. This happened in February after a team from the Netherlands Water Partnership surveyed Bangkok's flood defenses.

LILY

Yingluck, resign now!

Re: ''Amnesty decree passes cabinet'' (BP, Nov 16). This is the most outrageous public washing of hands since Pontius Pilate, and represents a total abrogation of her responsibilities as the supposed prime minister.

We all know, of course, that Ms Yingluck is not really the prime minister; but with this latest facile manoeuvrings so as not to be seen to be flavoring her fugitive brother, she has surrendered the last vestiges of being taken seriously.

She should resign or be replaced immediately.

DAVID BROWN

Rayong

Let's try him again

Re: ''Amnesty decree passes cabinet'' (BP, Nov 16). I have no problem with Thaksin returning if done above board and if justice is seen to be done, and thus being in full accord with democracy.

But PM Yingluck's method doesn't meet either criterion. The proposed amnesty decree seems tailor-made to fit you-know-who, including age, length of sentence, and omission of any requirement that the convicted person serve any part of his sentence.

If, as the Pheu Thai claims, Thaksin's conviction was political, by a biased court, then the existing judicial system provides for a means to remedy the situation, such that justice will be seen to be done.

For example, using judges seen to be impartial, re-try the defendant in open court. Then, all sides can see that justice has been served, and be reconciled to whatever verdict results.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

A near-criminal act

Re: ''Amnesty decree.'' Not all the people of Thailand have been able to enjoy the benefits of a higher education that affords one a broadened worldview. There does not currently exist among the populace a general understanding of the history of democracy.

It is essential that every means be used to enable all citizens to understand and, more importantly, those in power to be reminded, that a democracy cannot survive without the rule of law. 

And corruption cannot be reduced or eliminated if laws are circumvented to benefit the powerful or the wealthy. A man who is guilty does not flee to avoid conviction and punishment. 

It is fundamentally wrong for a government to use its power to circumvent conviction of crimes by creating an amnesty for the guilty, especially when the crime benefits the wealthy, the powerful or the connected.

If the Thai people want a better life for all their citizens, they must cry out with all their energy to reject the near-criminal attempt to circumvent the rule of law by granting amnesty to Thaksin, regardless of the fact that some consider him to be ''one of their own''.

There is no excuse that can justify using political power to manipulate laws to enrich connected people, to excuse criminal behaviour, or create special circumstances for favourite sons.

ROBERT EDWARDS

New York City

Visa salt in flood wound

My home and office in Rangsit have been inundated for quite some time. My visa expires this Friday. On learning of my inability to provide the required documents, one officer said I should leave the country. I asked him where to, as my house is here. He just laughed. Is this the kind of help the Immigration Dept gives a flood victim?

LAURENT

Save the jester

Re: ''Save a puppy'' (Postbag, Nov 16). There is a mangy puppy with no hind legs dragging itself around the soi I live on. Richard Harvey is welcome to put it out of its misery.

But as far as requiring BP to keep Thirasant Mann off its pages, I draw the line. We all know Thai politics is a joke, and it is indeed refreshing to see someone who can put it into perspective as Khun Thirasant does.

CHARLIE BROWN

UN's Ban inspects flood scene by air

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his sympathy for flood victims amid the hardships they are undergoing.

"I feel sympathy for those who have lost their belongings, family and properties," Mr Ban told flood victims at the Chulalongkorn Flood Relief Centre.

"The reality is very shocking and surprising. This is a natural disaster. I have seen many flooded areas."

He made his remarks after a helicopter tour of Bangkok's western side, Thon Buri, and one of the hardest-hit flood areas, Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate in Pathum Thani and Don Mueang airport.

Mr Ban, accompanied by his wife Ban Soon-taek on the helicopter tour, was paying a one-day visit to the country yesterday. He was en route to attend the Asean-UN summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Mr Ban said he was saddened and humbled by what he had seen and felt sorry for the victims. The government was working hard and has cooperated well with its international partners to help solve the flooding problem.

"I am sure the government and the people can overcome this as well as recovering and reconstructing as the water may take more days to recede," he said.

Mr Ban said he would propose that Asean member states work together for better disaster preparedness.

"We need to strengthen our capacity as we cannot predict such disasters but if we prepare well, we can save people's lives," he said.

The UN will continue providing assistance to countries to manage such disasters, he said.

Before taking the helicopter tour and visiting the Chula Flood Relief Centre, Mr Ban went to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap).

There, he praised Thailand's universal health system for enabling thousands of flood victims to gain access to essential healthcare. The scheme provided help to the poor with chronic diseases which required costly treatment, he said.

Collaboration between public, non-governmental and private organisations in prioritising health benefits was the key, and worthy of emulation by others.

Pleas to tear down wall rejected Angry housing estate residents remove bags

The Flood Relief Operations Command has shot down a demand by a new group of flood-affected residents to open a gap in the "big bag" flood barrier on Phahon Yothin Road.

About 200 residents of housing estates along the main road removed some of the bags on top of the barrier near the air force base yesterday afternoon, unleashing torrents of water through a 3.5 meter gap.

They demanded that an opening of at least 10m be made in the barrier. The incident occurred about 2.45pm at the Directorate of Air Operation Control intersection in Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani.

However, the Froc rejected their demand. Froc spokesman Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen said Froc decided not to bow to the residents' call as it could worsen the flood situation in inner Bangkok.

The Froc will meet protesters at 11am today to discuss other options, such as turning part of the barrier into a weir to hasten the flow of floodwater.

The weir idea was proposed earlier this week by another group of residents in Don Muang district who demanded the Froc tear down part of the barrier on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road to speed the flow of floodwater which has remained high and submerged their housing estates for almost a month.

The Froc accepted the weir idea, ending the protest there.

The Lam Luk Ka residents yesterday tore down more bags after learning their demand had been rejected.

At the same time, another group of residents in Rangsit which borders the upper Don Muang district descended on the crest of the big bag barrier on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

They vowed to tear down the barrier if the authorities did not pump out water from their areas where the barrier has blocked it in.

The protesters yesterday agreed to disperse after the Pathum Thani governor promised them he would report their demands to the Froc.

Deputy Bangkok city clerk Somphop Ra-ngapthuk, who has also spoken with the protesters, said it was the Pathum Thani provincial administration's duty to deal with their demands.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat has suggested motorists take Rama II Road instead of the Suphan Buri-Taling Chan Highway 340 that has been partly reopened. He said only one lane of Highway 340 was open to traffic and it was rather muddy.

The government has tried to salvage the whole of the flooded highway to make it an alternative route to Rama II Road, which was still passable yesterday.

Defer non-essential travel to Bangkok advises MFA

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it continues to advise Singaporeans to consider deferring non-essential travel to Bangkok and other areas affected by floods.

It said this follows a warning by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority to Bangkok residents of the possibility of outbreaks of diarrhoea, leptospirosis, cold and flu as well as infection of wounds.

MFA advises Singaporeans in Bangkok or those planning to visit Bangkok to avoid flood-affected areas, take the necessary precautions, heed the instructions of the local authorities and closely monitor local news.

Those who have not done so, it says, should also e Register.

MFA said flood waters have begun to recede in some parts of Bangkok and Thai authorities have managed to stem the flooding in the north of Bangkok and are taking all necessary efforts to drain the water.

But it added parts of Bangkok still remain flooded.

Singaporeans who require consular assistance can contact the MFA Duty Office (24-hours) at:

MFA Duty Office

Tel: +65 6379 8800, +65 6379 8855

Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg

Thailand, Cambodia agree to withdraw troops on border Yutthasak says soldiers to be replaced by police

Thailand has agreed in informal talks with Cambodia that both sides will withdraw their troops from the overlapping border near the Preah Vihear temple site after the General Border Committee meeting in December.

The talks on the replacement of troops in the 17.3 square kilometer area along the border, marked as the demilitarized zone, is among five issues the two countries will finalist at the next soldier-to-soldier meeting of the GBC, Defense Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said.

He was referring to recent negotiations with Cambodian Defense Minster Tea Banh.

"We've talked about the five issues and informally agreed to approve them all at the meeting," Gen Yutthasak said.

"There are some details for further discussion, but I believe we'll agree on all of them."

More than 700 Thai soldiers and up to 1,000 Cambodian soldiers are stationed in the area.

But the two countries must withdraw their troops to comply with the International Court of Justice's order on July 18 that the disputed border should be free of soldiers to avoid more skirmishes following cross-border fighting this year.

In their recent talks, neither country finalized how many soldiers they will withdraw, but Gen Yutthasak insisted all must move out and be replaced by police. He suggested each country deploy 400 officers.

Gen Yutthasak wants to hold the GBC meeting this month, but if the two countries cannot agree on a date, negotiations on the five issues are expected to start next month.

Other issues include the formation of an observer team in the disputed area, border checkpoint management, coordination with UNESCO officials and what to do with people living in Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara.

The temple is on the overlapping border of the 4.6 sq/km area near the Hindu temple ruins. Both countries claim ownership of the area.

Gen Yutthasak said either Cambodian people must leave the temple or Thai people must be allowed to settle in the area in equal numbers.

Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia should form a team made up of nine representatives from each country. Members would not have to be soldiers.

Gen Yutthasak suggested three areas serve as border checkpoints: the entrances to Preah Vihear and Wat Kaew Skha Khiri Sawara, and an area near Chong Ban Dai Hak.

Business, heal thyself Government inaction spurs SME initiative

Forty organizations led by the Thai Bankers' Association and the Thai Life Assurance Association have joined hands to introduce a manufacturing revival programmer aimed at revitalizing tens of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hurt by the floods.

Prasert Thammanoonkul, president of the Alliance for Supporting Industries Association (ASIA), said half of his group's 20,000 members had been inundated.

Hundreds of thousands of SMEs nationwide have been affected by the months-long flooding.

"Those businesses not directly affected have suffered an absence of orders over the past month. Sadly, the government has provided assistance only to big companies while ignoring the needs of these smaller operators," said Mr Prasert.

ASIA and the Thai Tool and Die Industry Association (TDIA) are among 40 organisations participating in the "Manufacturing Revival: Fast Track to Normal Production" programme.

Other participants include the Japan External Trade Organisation, the Thai-German Institute, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.

The alliance will stage four activities next month at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec).

They are a Revival Clinic where experts will advise flood-affected firms on recovering their production; a Sourcing Centre for affected firms to meet with subcontractors and maintenance service operators; a Financial Management Forum for recovery packages offered by banks and assurance companies; and seminars aimed at returning confidence to foreign partners and buyers.

Apart from these events, the alliance will hold roadshows in affected areas, starting with the Rojana Industrial Park early next year.

"The rehabilitation process should take about a year for the affected manufacturers," said Mr Prasert.

The TDIA said 4,000 moulds remained submerged and would need about two months to repair.

Moulds are major components in key sectors such as automobiles and electronics.

A total of 460 Japanese-operated factories have been affected, by the flooding, with 3,400 pieces of machinery damaged.

The revival activities will be held alongside Metalex 2011, Southeast Asia's largest international machine tools exhibition, to be held at Bitec from Dec 21-24.

Mr Prasert said 13 associations under the alliance generated combined annual sales of 300 billion baht and employed 300,000 workers.

Fury, scorn erupts over decree plan Kaewsun slams draft as 'unconstitutional'

The government's proposed royal pardon for convicts has sparked an outcry from many quarters, with critics pouring scorn on the draft allegedly designed to prevent former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from serving a jail term.

The anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy said it will meet soon to decide what action to take against the proposed pardon.

Speaking to supporters in the United States, the alliance co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul deplored the pardon plan which he said has piled pressure on the monarchy.

Mr Sondhi claimed the Pheu Thai Party was blatantly trying to destroy the rule of law by using the proposed pardon as a pretext. He said Pheu Thai and the coalition parties are teaming up to undo the wrongs of Thaksin.

"This is the most despicable act," he said.

Mr Sondhi said the PAD would "not sit idly by".

"We're studying the substance of the decree and we will meet to decide our moves at the first opportunity," Mr Sondhi said.

The PAD's statement came as nearly 20,000 people signed up to a Facebook account opened by well-known television news anchor Kanok Ratwongsakul yesterday to voice opposition to the decree.

Some of the opponents suggested in their online message that a mass rally be organized to oppose the draft.

Kaewsun Atibhodhi, a former investigator into corruption during the Thaksin government, and his Siam Samakkhi group also protested against the royal decree proposal.

The Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to two years imprisonment for helping his wife purchase a plot of government land off Ratchadapisek Road in 2003.

Thaksin fled the country before the Supreme Court announced the jail sentence in 2008.

Thaksin has never served time in jail. Mr Kaewsun said the royal decree was unconstitutional because it ran counter to the court's ruling.

He said the royal decree was designed to benefit Thaksin because the ban on convicts found guilty of corruption was excluded. Earlier, convicts prosecuted for corruption were not eligible for a royal pardon.

"How dare you exercise the limited power of the executive to overpower the judiciary for the interest of one man," Mr Kaewsun said.

He said the tactic was worse than he could imagine because it dealt a blow to the power of the judiciary and intentionally violated the constitution.

Government sources have said the draft was expected to benefit some 26,000 jail convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5. But critics claimed the decree was designed more to benefit Thaksin because it did not exclude persons convicted for corruption.

Mr Kaewsun called for the whole cabinet to be impeached, saying if it stayed, it would amend the constitution to free Thaksin from many other corruption cases. 

He also recommended Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra be impeached and said that as the prime minister, she could not deny responsibility for the planned decree.

Senator Somchai Sawaengkan joined with the Siam Samakkhi Group, saying he had not expected the government to push for the royal decree while so many people were suffering from the flood disaster.

He warned that the movement would cause a political crisis in addition to economic and social crises already resulting from floods.

Academic Somsak Jiamtheerasakul said on his Facebook account the government should exercise laws for the public interest instead of that of an individual. 

He said many Pro-Thaksin red shirt protesters had not been treated fairly. It was not right for the government to draft the decree to help Thaksin. "What benefit would millions of flood victims get from this decree?" he said.

Decree plan furore

Democrats argued the draft would undermine the justice system and divide society further.

Democrat chief and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the planned royal decree would undermine the justice system as it would allow Thaksin to go free without serving his jail term.

By allowing people convicted of corruption to benefit, the government was sending a signal that corruption was acceptable, Mr Abhisit said.

He said the royal decree proposal was issued particularly to benefit Thaksin and Prime Minister Yingluck could not deny her responsibility for the issue although she had not attended the cabinet meeting that discussed the decree on Tuesday.

Mr Abhisit confirmed that his party would fight the proposal to the end as it would bring about national disunity. His party will question the prime minister on the issue in the parliament today.

He said Thaksin might want a royal pardon because he wanted to return to Thailand on Dec 7 and attend his daughter's wedding on Dec 12.

Prime Minister Yingluck claimed she had had no knowledge about the meeting on Tuesday because she went upcountry on that day. She said, however, any action taken by the government would be lawful and fair for everyone.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung insisted on the legality of the proposal but declined to elaborate on it, saying the issue was classified and its details have not been finalized.

He said the Justice Ministry would form a committee to work out the details.

He said the government would then have the Council of State scrutinies the details before forwarding it to His Majesty the King for approval.

He expressed his dissatisfaction with some ministers who leaked the cabinet's resolution on the royal decree to the media on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul yesterday admitted the cabinet excluded the condition that required convicts eligible for a royal pardon to be free of corruption and drug convictions. 

He said the previous Democrat-led government had added the condition and his government had the right to exclude it.

He said the cabinet had the power to issue the royal decree without having to seek approval from the parliament.

It's a flooded market but Thais keep trading

Even small boats suddenly become water taxis in the submerged streets of Bangkok.

Flooded out but still want to make a fashion statement? Try these lime green rubber boots. Feeling stir crazy with the fetid waters surrounding your home? How about special snorkels to keep your car running in high water or a jet ski to navigate submerged streets?

In Bangkok, the ongoing flood disaster has provided plenty of opportunity for business ingenuity to flourish.

Months of floods in Thailand have paralyses car factories and disrupted other big businesses and are estimated to have caused billions of dollars of damage to industry.

But the slow-moving flood-waters have been a boon for quick-witted small traders looking to cater to some of the startling demands of water-weary Thais.

At one of the flood markets that have sprung up in Bangkok, dozens of makeshift shops line the sides of a road just a few hundred meters from encroaching flood-waters ready to arm those coping with a disaster that has killed 500 since July.

Operating out of the back of trucks and on the pavements, the traders sell plastic boats, jet skis, waders, water pumps, nonperishable food, propellers and plastic tarp marketed as "refrigerator wraps".

In other parts of the city, builders are erecting cinder block walls trying to protect shops and houses.

There's even a new car-towing service that uses Styrofoam to float stranded vehicles to safety.

The capital's mechanics have been busy with special modifications that allow cars, trucks and motorcycles to navigate swamped streets.

Thong Dechapak said his family's car repair shop had been refitting up to eight vehicles a day with an engine snorkel and exhaust pipe modification that together cost 10,000 baht ($422) - a month's salary for many in Thailand.

The device for the engine sticks up above the car's roof like a diving snorkel, sucking in air so fuel for the engine continues to combust while driving through flood water.

"Right now there's a lot of demand. There are no spare parts left. We started getting client orders about two months ago," when provinces north of Bangkok began to get flooded, said Dechapak, 24.

"They keep coming. There are more and more every day," he said.

They've also fitted exhaust snorkels to motorcycles for friends. The price: a case of beer.

Videos of modified Thai motorcycles chugging through dirty water are already causing a splash on YouTube. In one, the water is high enough to submerge the seat.

Many of the entrepreneurs have been flooded out of their shops or homes, but necessity and demand means they're not giving up their livelihoods.

Wiweena Boonsanong, 27, hawks colorful rubber boots in different patterns from plain black to lime green and purple army-print. Out of the 25 rubber boot shops dotted along a section of Ramintra Rd in Bangkok's northern suburbs, she's the only one selling boots with different patterns.

Boonsanong used to sell women's shoes at a market near the now swollen Chao Phraya River that winds through the city of nine million. That shop was flooded and with her house invaded by water, she realized that she didn't like wearing just the garden-variety black and brown ones.

"Women will always like to be in fashion even if it's flooded. We want to look cute," said Boonsanong, who had sold six pairs at 350 baht a pop within an hour of setting up shop.

Nearby, Wichra Lertrasamee's rather more high-end business - selling a motor adapted to function as both a water pump and a boat propeller - is bustling.

It sells for 9500 baht and Lertrasamee is moving 15 to 16 a day. Lertrasamee said he had one customer who used the motor to propel a bamboo raft.

Using another attachment turns the motor into a pump that can help clear water from a flooded house.

Bangkok flood situation improving, Lat Phrao 5-way junction expected to dry at weekend

BANGKOK, Nov 16 -- The flood situation in Bangkok is gradually improving as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is confident that if there is no added water inflow from the north of Bangkok, the Lat Phrao five-way intersection would be dry at the weekend, according to Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Mr Sukhumphand told reporters Tuesday after inspecting flooding at Kamphaengphet and Phahonyothin roads, from Chatuchak Park through the Lat Phrao junction that water at the BTS Skytrain Chatuchak station is significantly reduced and many areas gained no more water.

At the Lat Phrao intersection, water about 10cm deep and small vehicles could pass, he said.

The water level on Phahonyothin Road, from Central Plaza Lat Phrao to Soi Suea Yai Uthit, was falling, but Ratchayothin intersection was under 30-50cm water and water quality was deteriorating. BMA workers are using microorganism treatments to improve water quality.

The governor said that overall, the flood is improving and if no more water arrives from the north, he is confident that Lat Phrao’s five-way intersection will be free of water by the weekend.

East of Bangkok, RamaII Road until now has been spared from significant flooding with only 5cm of water over some sections but deep water remains at Soi 69 as residents have gradually evacuated. The flood is creeping toward Central Plaza Rama II.

In related developments, police on Wednesday began towing double-parked cars on expressways after the deadline passed for owners to move them, after being allowed temporary parking privileges to avoid the flood.

Police gave motorists until Tuesday night to move their vehicles, but many are still double-parked.

Thai flood run-off threat to marine life

BANGKOK, November 16, 2011 (AFP) - As billions of cubic meters of water flow away from Thailand's devastating floods, experts and campaigners are warning that millions of sea creatures could be the next victims of the disaster.

Fish and shellfish farmers on the Gulf of Thailand coast have been warned by Thai authorities to protect their stocks as an estimated 10 billion cubic meters of water flow into the gulf, massively diluting the salt water.

Environmental campaigners are also warning that pollutants in the flood-waters from agriculture and industry could have a longer-term impact -- and may even enter the food chain.

Pramot Sojisuporn, Assistant Professor at the Department of Marine Science at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University said the huge volume of water pouring into the gulf over the next month will cause salt levels to drop significantly, affecting fish and other marine animals.

"The problem is the salinity in the upper Gulf of Thailand will be reduced as it receives the fresh water -- a lot of fresh water," he told AFP.

"The fresh water will not affect the fish (so badly) but it will affect organisms that stay in the mud, so for mussels, clams, they will die."

Pramot said the deluge of flood-waters could mean salt levels fall from the usual level of around 32 parts per thousand to around two parts per thousand, and in the inner gulf the water will be like fresh water.

"If the water is fresh for over two months they will die," he said.

Aquaculture -- farming fish, cockles, mussels, shrimps, oysters and clams -- is one of the mainstays of the economy on the gulf coast, and Pramot said the sector would be badly affected by the fall in salinity.

On Monday the Fisheries Department warned fish farmers in Samut Sakhorn province, south of Bangkok, and to the west of the capital, to harvest or move their animals and strengthen flood defenses on ponds.

Ply Pirom, toxic campaigner for environmental activist group Greenpeace, said the run-off would likely kill millions of sea organisms, dealing a heavy blow to fish and shellfish farmers -- and it could affect the food chain.

"For the short term we might see some dead fish along the coast of Gulf of Thailand because of the salinity," he said.

"Some smaller organisms are more sensitive to the change of water quality and salinity, so these small organisms would die eventually and this is the food for the large fish."

Ply said that while the sea would naturally restore its salinity, there were concerns of more lasting problems from flood run-off contaminated with pollutants from agriculture and industry.

"The concern is that the run-off water picks up chemicals and goes into the Gulf of Thailand, which is a closed system," he said explaining that as a result, the pollution could enter the food chain.

"The problem is that the Gulf of Thailand is quite a closed system. There is no continuous flow. It's surrounded by land. The flow of water is very slow."

A team from Chulalongkorn University will begin testing in the gulf next week in an effort to predict how the fresh water will disperse and how far it will spread.

Pramot said the northeast monsoon would most likely spread the waters to the west of the gulf, some southern provinces and possibly the popular beach resort of Hua Hin.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will also set up around 50 points around the gulf to test water quality, and more in the estuary of the Chao Phraya, the main river that flows through Bangkok.

"We have to monitor a large volume, so we can work out how it will affect sea life, how long the effects will last and how long it will take to recover," a ministry official who asked not to be named said.

Until the research is completed it is difficult to predict how much of the gulf will be affected, or for how long, but one thing is clear -- come what may, the waters will reach the sea.

US announces $10 million Thai flood relief package

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, speaks during a joint news conference with Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011. Clinton is on a two-day visit to Thailand.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a $10 million aid package for flood-ravaged Thailand on Wednesday during a visit to express solidarity.

Clinton met with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as flooding continued to plague areas around Bangkok, the capital.

Thai authorities announced, however, that water in the capital is receding and all main streets will be dry in two weeks, providing good news after months of floods that have killed 564 people nationwide

.

Some 20 of Thailand's 77 provinces have been hit by floods since late July, mostly in northern and central areas, and more than one-fifth of the country's 64 million people have been affected. The flooding has scared away tens of thousands of tourists.

Thailand is a long-standing U.S. ally. Clinton is in the region to attend a Southeast Asian summit in Bali, Indonesia.

"During the past century we have stood by each other in times of challenge and we are proud to stand by you now in this time of challenge, as you contend with the worst floods in your nation's history," she said in a news conference with the Thai leader.

She said the U.S. was providing both military and civil assistance "to save and restore lives and to support Thailand's long-term rebuilding and recovery," and that teams were currently assessing how best to help.

The U.S. is already providing medical assistance and the U.S. Navy ship Lassen is in a Thai port with crew and helicopters to help relief efforts, Clinton said.

She said the U.S. would help reopen Bangkok's inundated Don Muang domestic airport and rehabilitate flooded police stations.

Washington is also consulting with the Thai government on how to restore important cultural sites, such as the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, which is in one of the most badly hit areas.

Clinton is to visit a flood victims evacuation center on Thursday. Also in town was U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who visited some flood-affected areas Wednesday.

Many areas remain flooded, especially those to the west and east of Bangkok, and it is still expected to take weeks for all that water to reach the Gulf of Thailand. 

The runoff spread to some sections of Rama II, a major road in Bangkok, but vehicles were still able to drive through, officials said.

But the government appears to have averted a worst-case scenario in which the densely populated and economically critical center of Bangkok would have succumbed.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority said the overall situation in the capital is improving quickly, especially in Don Muang, where the domestic airport is located, and Lad Phrao, a district studded with office towers, condominiums and a popular shopping mall.

Lad Phrao intersection is expected to be totally dry by this weekend, and all other main streets will be back to normal within two weeks, Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra said.

Many Bangkok neighborhoods have been under knee-deep, and even waist-high, water for weeks.

But government efforts to pump the water into the Chao Phraya river seem to be paying off, according to the latest reports.