Minimum wage rise postponed

The cabinet has postponed the increase in the minimum wage to 300 baht per day from Jan 1 to April 1 next year, to help flood-affected employers.

Deputy government spokesman Chalitrat Chantharubeksa said the cabinet resolved on Tuesday to delay the wage hike for three months out of regard for the problems of flooded businesses.

"The cabinet has postponed the wage rise to April 1 next year. It will start in seven provinces, and will be in place nationwide from April 1, 2013," the deputy government spokesman said.

The first seven provinces are: Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Phuket and Pathum Thani.

The minumum wage hike was a campaign policy of the Pheu Thai Party before the July 3 election.

Floods reduce the number of foreign tourists

The total number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand this year is expected to be 18.8 million, falling short of the previous target of 19.5 million visitors, according to the Tourism Department.

It will take a while before the Ayutthaya Historical Park and other attractions in areas affected by the floods see tourist numbers rise back to normal.

The target was revised after 28 provinces in the central region, including Bangkok have been flooded for the past couple of months, leaving millions of people homeless, the World Heritage Site in Ayutthaya submerged and accessibility by land to various provinces hampered.

During the first eight months of 2011, foreign tourists arriving in the country increased by 28.6% from last year to 12.9 million visitors, making the original target achievable, but the number of international visitors started to decline in September.

On average, the number of international tourists arriving in the country is in the range of 1.5-1.8 million visitors a month, but during September, the number dropped to 1.4 million visitors and there were about 90,000 fewer visitors in October.

For November, there are about 25,000 foreign tourists arriving in Thailand each day and the forecast for this month will drop by almost half to 750,000 visitors.

Although the Tourism Authority of Thailand has worked hard to promote other parts of the country that have not been affected by the floods, the target of 19.5 million visitors seems too high to reach.

The Kasikorn Research Centre also predicted that the flood situation in Bangkok will cause the tourism industry losses of 15-25 billion baht during the fourth quarter of this year.

If the floodwaters recede this month and the tourists are confident enough to visit the country in December, the total number of foreign tourists could reach 18.9 million visitors with an estimated loss of 15 billion baht.

If the flood situation continues to December, the total number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand this year could decline to 18.6 million visitors and business lost for the tourism industry alone could reach 25 billion baht.

Heritage help

The government has asked the Unesco office in Bangkok to help with the restoration of the World Heritage Site of Ayutthaya.

A Unesco expert team will also help assess the flood impact and help organise training programmes showing how to handle the reconstruction of damaged buildings, roads and historic monuments, said Unesco expert on Technical and Vocational Education and Training Youngsup Choi.

Thailand also applied for emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund which will cover emergency measures and help to draw up an emergency plan for the safeguarding of the site.

Thailand has been a member of the World Heritage Convention since 1987. The historic city of Ayutthaya was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991.

Visit whc.unesco.org

Airlines update

- Thai Airways International has launched direct flights from Copenhagen to Phuket three times a week to promote the destination that has not been affected by the floods.

The first flight arrived in Phuket on November 12 with 88% of cabin capacity and the travel time was 10 hours and 35 minutes. On the return, passengers must fly back to Suvarnabhumi Airport to connect with THAI's flights to Copenhagen.

THAI also operates daily flights from Phuket to Hong Kong, Seoul and Perth. The percentage of passengers booked on these flights in December 2011 are 87, 80 and 65 respectively.

Visit www.thaiairways.com or call 02-356-1111.

Garuda Indonesia will increase its flights to Korea to serve the higher number of Korean passengers during the high season.

The airline will provide daily flights from Bali to Seoul this month and from Jakarta to Seoul in December.

"Korea is a prospective market for us and business between Korea and Indonesia is growing strongly," said the airline CEO Emirsyah Satar.

The number of Korean visitors to Indonesia topped three million last year, up 17% from the year before.

The airlines "Visa on Board" service with two immigration officers shortens the waiting time for passengers at immigration counters.

This service, which is currently offered on some Garuda flights, will soon be provided on the Seoul-Bali route, Emirsyah said.

Hotels update

- Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa has been opened on Tong Nai Pan Noi beach, on the northeast of Koh Phangan in Surat Thani.

The luxurious resort offers 44 suites and villas, ranging in space from 100 to 250 square metres and each featuring a private plunge pool.


Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, beachfront infinity pool, spa, fitness centre, library with PCs, gift shop and 37-foot ocean cruiser for transfers and excursions.

Visit http://phangan-rasananda.anantara.com

- Cha Am Beach resort has been renamed Hotel de la Paix Cha Am Beach this month.

Owned by KS Resorts, the boutique hotel was originally known as Alila Hotel and Resort but was renamed Cha Am Beach resort after a management team change in April.

It provides 79 rooms, including seven villas with private pools and maintains the existing boutique design by well-known architect Duangrit Bunnag.

Based in Bangkok, KS Resorts also owns Hotel de La Paix Siem Reap, Hotel de la Paix Luang Prabang, 3 Nagas Luang Prabang, The Yamu Phuket and Park Hyatt Maldives.

Visit www.hoteldelapaixhh.com

Accor has opened Mercure Koh Chang Hideaway on Bai Lan Bay in Koh Chang, Trat.

Located about four kilometres from the popular Lonely Beach and three kilometres from Bang Bao fishing village, the luxurious resort provides 96 rooms and villas some of which also have private pools.

Other facilities include two restaurants, lobby bar, pool bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and meeting room with a capacity to accommodate up to 200 guests.

A little less sweet and a whole lot tougher

All leaders are tested. As Thailand's first woman prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra's first trial is the flood of 2011.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attends the Asean Summit in Bali on November 18.

A natural disaster is an immense challenge for any leader. For Thailand, it involves expediting the bureaucracy to get timely relief to the people, moving and managing relief funds, planning and executing a large-scale recovery effort and balancing national and provincial-level politics.

The coordinating of logistics alone, in order to manage the crisis, is overwhelming.

The flood has brought our government's weaknesses to light. It has shown us the coordination loopholes that exist between different government departments that hamper their ability to work together. It has revealed the ugly side of some of our politicians.

It has shown us that we do not have adequate capability to rapidly respond to large-scale disaster. We didn't have a good plan on the books. And even if we did, our execution has been borderline poor at best.

And what did our prime minister do? She took a promising first step, by putting all her other prime ministerial duties on hold and placing flood relief efforts at the top of her priority list.

She solicited advisers for relief plans and ideas. She inspected the damage and reassured people that their government was working hard to relieve the situation.

She has talked with flood victims and actively monitored the crisis. She has put other work on hold and made relief for the Thai people her first priority.

In dealing with the flood, our prime minister has been forced to work with many handicaps.

First, she doesn't have the necessary leadership experience to handle the flood because her resume{aac} is almost exclusively in business.

How often does the CEO of a company plan and execute disaster relief? Most would certainly prepare for the potential impact of a natural disaster on their business, but very few would care beyond that.

Second, our lady prime minister's leadership style might not be well-suited to the situation. A flood is best managed with military-style leadership and centralised decision-making, with decentralised execution.

In a situation with widespread disarray of the infrastructure, precision guidance is vital for reorganization.

The prime minister's matronly style and her aristocratic charm hardly fit the bill. It's nice that she is handing out relief bags one at a time in perfect hair and make-up.

It shows that she cares and it makes great evening news. But wouldn't a prime minister with executive powers be better off figuring out how to hand out thousands of bags instead?

If a natural disaster is like a storm at sea, then the prime minister is like a ship's captain who needs to grab hold of the wheel and steer. A captain doesn't get on deck and start emptying out one bucket of water at a time; that's the job of the deck hands.

Third, our prime minister has little education or experience in emergency management. The last time Thailand endured this level of flooding was how many years ago?

And Yingluck has been in politics for how long? The math adds up to about zero. Our premier has very capable and experienced advisers and experts. But when experts and advisers disagree with one another, will she be able to make the right decision?

Now that the water in some areas has receded, the blame game is in full bloom. Most often, it's the person at the top who becomes society's No. 1 accused. But it's hardly fair to hold the prime minister responsible for every aspect of the flood relief mismanagement.

In adversity, people will do whatever they perceive as necessary to survive and to secure their livelihood. Sometimes this involved theft, coercion, and even acts of violence.

Our prime minister is not responsible for the immoral conduct of every man and woman affected by the flood that evil is our own making.

However, our premier is responsible for the execution of the relief system everything from the distribution of relief bags, movement of goods and supply to flood-hit areas, controlling the price of food and supplies, restoring sanitation and reopening roads and railways. The test is not over, and there is still work for her to do.

We know that our prime minister excels at meetings and engagements, shaking hands with dignitaries and charming everyone with her sincerity. All of us were smitten by her demeanour, her glamour and her charisma.

And if it were not for the flood, she would be at these meetings and engagements _ getting them all smitten by deadly kindness. Instead, fate has given her an opportunity to rise up against adversity and truly make a difference for her people.

Perhaps it's time we saw the gallant side of our lovely prime minister. After all, she is a mother, the disciplinarian of the household.

This disaster is a chance for her to add toughness to her elegant rapport. We have been ripped to shreds by this disaster. We are tired of the same old song of promise and reassurance.

What we desperately need is strength. We need someone upfront who will unite us. Someone who will be the hope of better days ahead.

Thailand hands in border report to ICJ

Thailand has submitted a 900-page report on the disputed Preah Vihear temple to the International Court of Justice.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the report contains 300 pages of detailed narrative and 600 pages of annexes but he could not disclose details unless given permission by the ICJ.

Thai ambassador to the Hague Virachai Plasai and Legal and Treaties Affairs Department director-general Ittiporn Boonprakong submitted the report to the ICJ yesterday.

In April, Cambodia submitted a request to the ICJ to interpret its 1962 verdict that awarded temple ownership to Cambodia. However, it never clarified the ownership of the area around the temple.

Cambodia also requested the court to issue a provisional measure to order Thailand to withdraw its troops and stop all military activities around the temple.

The ICJ had asked both Thailand and Cambodia to submit their written observations by yesterday.

It is not clear as to how long the ICJ will take to consider the case, but Mr Surapong hoped the ICJ would adhere to justice and fairness.

He said improved relations between Thailand and Cambodia since the change of government might make the ICJ's deliberations easier.

"No matter how the ICJ's decision turns out, Thai society should understand that this government and the past government of Abhisit Vejjajiva have tried their best to protect the country's sovereignty and interests," Mr Surapong said.

He said he had discussed the issue with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on the sidelines of the Asean Summit in Bali, Indonesia, last week and the latter agreed that he would like discussions between the countries to go smoothly, including on the issue of the overlapping maritime area in the Gulf of Thailand.

Meanwhile, Cambodia has asked Indonesia, as the outgoing chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to continue its role as mediator for the border dispute.

The issue was raised during a meeting between Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who asked Indonesia to continue its role as the representative of Asean to solve the border conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand in the framework of the ICJ.

As Cambodia has officially become the 2012 Asean chair, the country cannot act as both player and referee at the same time in negotiations about the border dispute with Thailand.

"It's essential to have Indonesia to act as mediator on this issue," Hor Namhong said.

PAD vows to protest if govt renews bid to help Thaksin

The People's Alliance for Democracy has vowed to hold a prolonged mass rally against the government if there is a renewed bid to seek a royal pardon for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul yesterday said if the Yingluck Shinawatra government revives its plan to bring Thaksin back to Thailand without him serving part of his jail sentence and fails to stop the anti-monarchy movement, the alliance would hold a prolonged anti-government rally.

Thaksin was convicted in 2008 for abuse of power for helping his then wife Potjaman na Pombejra buy state-owned land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok in 2003.

He fled overseas before the Supreme Court sentenced him in absentia to two years in jail and has remained a fugitive.

"If the government does not back down, we are ready for a prolonged rally which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people," Mr Sonthi told a press conference at the Baan Phra Arthit residence, where the office of the PAD leader and ASTV is located.

He said the anti-monarchy movement was still active with websites with lese majeste content prevalent on the internet.

Mr Sondhi said the PAD is gathering evidence to prove the government is insincere in protecting the monarchy.

He said the alliance will submit a petition asking the government to take action against anti-monarchy elements.

If the government fails to act within 14 days, the PAD will stage a mass rally against it, Mr Sondhi said.

The PAD yesterday cancelled its plan to hold a protest against the proposed pardon decree in front of the Office of Council of State.

PAD spokesman Panthep Phuaphongphan said that the alliance's core leaders were satisfied with the confirmation by Justice Minister Pracha Promnok on Sunday that the proposed royal pardon decree would be in line with the one introduced by the previous Democrat Party-led government.

Still, Mr Panthep warned the government not to set its red shirt supporters against the yellow shirts.

"If there is a violent confrontation with the knowledge of the government, the government must take sole responsibility," Mr Panthep said.

"Thaksin has no land [in Thailand] to live on. Ms Yingluck may end up like her brother," he said.

Pol Gen Pracha said the draft royal decree for royal pardons for convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday anniversary on Dec 5 this year would have conventional conditions.

These include bans on people found guilty of drug offences and corruption and convicts who absconded.

Pol Gen Pracha, who is responsible for proposing royal pardons for convicts, made the statement only hours after Thaksin released a letter saying he had no wish to accept preferential treatment for a royal pardon.

Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, said yesterday that Thaksin did not know about the details and content of the proposed royal pardon decree.

New Airbus A320 gives more exposure to Lao Airlines

Lao Airlines will replace to Bangkok its ATR72 by an Airbus A320

BANGKOK, Thailand (eTN) - It is ASEAN's smallest national carrier: tiny Lao Airlines is like a mirror of its country of origin, Lao PDR. 

The carrier is small, with a fleet of regional aircraft (ATR 72 and MA60, with respectively 70 and 56 seats).

These aircraft operate flights to 15 destinations, including 8 domestic cities. The dormant Lao Airlines, with its limited resources, explained why Lao has so far not been very keen to embrace ASEAN's open skies policy.

AirAsia is so far the only low-cost carrier flying into Laos. And they got traffic rights exclusively from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane.

But changes might be in the air as Lao Airlines suddenly seems to have new ambitions to turn into a bigger player in the region. 

The airline just took delivery from its first Airbus A320. This is the first jet aircraft ordered by Lao Airlines. The aircraft arrived in Vientiane last week with a second one due to be delivered in December.

Lao Airlines' new Airbus A320 will help the carrier to better face competition in Southeast Asia by offering higher standards of service. Lao Airlines will introduce a business class (16 seats). 

The jet will serve the busy Bangkok-Vientiane route, already served by Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways International.

It will also be put into service to Singapore. It will be the first non-stop destination between Laos and Singapore with three weekly flights to and from Vientiane. 

The A320 will also be introduced on a regular basis to Hanoi, Kunming, and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Pakse in Southern Laos. 

The aircraft was originally planned to fly also a new route from Vientiane to Guangzhou, but it seems that the opening of the route has been pushed back to the springtime of 2012.

The introduction of two Airbus A320 would, for most airlines, be an unnoticed event. However, it is a very important step for Lao Airlines, with its fleet of 10 turbo propellers. 

The two jet aircraft will help the carrier to grow its market share and expand total seats capacity from and to Laos by 50 percent. For Lao Airlines alone, seat capacity will almost doubled compared to the summer of 2011

Manufacturing shift to east of Bangkok boosts Thai Factory Development

Industrial-estate firm Thai Factory Development has raised its revenue estimate for the year from Bt800 million to Bt1.3 billion, thanks to rising demand for the construction of manufacturing plants to the east of Bangkok.

The company recorded revenue of Bt766.61 million and net profit Bt116.58 million in the first nine months of the year.

It achieved revenue of Bt370.42 million and a net loss of Bt46.17 million last year.

TFD's adviser to the board, Apichai Taechaubol, yesterday |said that two weeks ago the com-pany had sold three plots worth nearly Bt500 million combined |to Japanese auto-assembly |firms.

The companies have decided to set up plants at TFD Industrial Estate because it is in Chachoeng-sao province, which has not been hit by the severe flooding and is close to other auto manufacturing plants.

Meanwhile, some manufacturers badly affected by the floods in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces have moved their plants or warehouses to TFD Industrial Estate, which will drive the developer's revenue this year above its earlier estimate, he said.

Given the demand to move manufacturing to the east of Bangkok, the company has decided to buy 1,000 rai (160 hectares) of land close to its Chachoengsao estate for

Bt1.2 billion, so that it can establish another industrial estate.

TFD has also set aside Bt800 million to build infrastructure at the new estate next year.

Apichai said the company would also develop a new condominium project worth Bt3.2 billion in Hua Hin, with the grand opening and resales launch set for December 1.

The project, which targets home-buyers seeking a second residence, will commence construction in March and be completed in 2014.

"We target sales of about 15 per cent upon opening presales next month," he added.

The Hua Hin project is the company's second condominium, following the launch of a Bt3.3-billion project at Sukhumvit Soi 15 in Bangkok.

The Sukhumvit project has sold 50 per cent of its value and will be completed and transferred to customers next year.

Apichai said the main income of the company this year was from its industrial estate, but revenue next year would also be generated by condominium projects and the Anantara Sathorn Hotel in Bangkok.

Utah nurses teach Thai about neonatal care

BANGKOK, THAILAND -- Debra Whipple looks out for the tiniest patients at LDS Hospital. As the nurse manager of the special care nursery her days are busy but she never forgets the reason she loves her job.

"For me, (babies) are hope for the future," she says.

The World Health Organization reports that up to 10 percent of babies will struggle to breathe at birth and nearly one million will die worldwide due to various birthing complications. 

The LDS Church estimates they've trained more than 100,000 birth attendants in their program saving an untold number of lives in more than 30 countries. 

Whipple has volunteered everywhere from Asia to Central and South America, to Africa. Thailand holds a special place in her heart.

"I feel blessed to work with this group of people," she says.

Part of that is due to the relationship the program has with the Neonatal Society of Thailand, headed up by Dr Sarayet Supapannacharp. Known to many as simply Dr. Supa, he is dedicated in reducing the infant mortality rate in Thailand.

"In every 100 babies that are born, there will be two babies that will die in the first minute of life," he says. "Everyday baby is precious and we don't want accidents to happen."

Whipple, her husband, and three other Utah nurses traveled to Thailand this week to run Thai doctors and nurses through simulations using infant mannequins. 

The mannequins and other training tools stay in the country. For every person trained the program hopes eight additional people will be trained with the goal of having someone educated by the program at every birth in Thailand.

"This is the most essential thing," says Neonatologist Dr. Meera Khorana. "Just by training us how to start, how to evaluate, we are saving a life."

While the Utah volunteers know they are making a difference, they don't often get to see the direct impact they have. During the Bangkok session, however, they got to meet one of the patients saved by their training.

Puu Kumngern celebrated his third birthday the day he stopped by that training. His mother collapsed while pregnant and delivered Puu early. He wasn't breathing but was revived by a medical team who'd been trained on infant resuscitation. 

Through a translator his father expressed his fears for his son and wife three years ago and his gratitude that today they are healthy and happy.

Watching the young family had a profound impact on Debra Whipple.

Legal activist to speak at Bangkok conference

Rights and legal activist Nizar Kochery will make a presentation on the importance of effecting timely changes in international labor laws depending on the requirements of each nation at a conference to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, starting tomorrow.

The conference, being organized by Migrant Forum in Asia, an NGO with considerable presence in Asean countries and South Asia, has attracted participation from more than 25 countries.

Commenting on the significance of the conference, Kochery said apart from labor activists from across Asean countries, lawyers and diplomats from Asian and GCC countries are taking part.

At a session on “migration and international law’’ where Kochery is among the panel speakers, the panelists will bring forward examples of how international legal instruments could be used are used at national level in forwarding rights of migrant workers and the necessity of effecting policy changes.

The discussions will also focus on the trend of implementing memorandums of understanding and bilateral agreements.

At a session on “international migration law and Islamic jurisprudence” featuring lawmakers from the Middle East countries, the speakers will provide an overview of Islamic jurisprudence focusing on the spaces within the legal context in which arguments could be made for the protection of migrant workers.