Residents submit flood plan Three districts aim toclear stagnant water

The Flood Relief Operations Command and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have agreed with a six-point proposal demanding better management of stagnant and fetid floodwater in Bangkok's Don Muang and Laksi districts and Pathum Thani's Muang district.

Soldiers get lucky 

A resident in flooded soi 69 on Rama II Road hands Buddhist amulets to a military officer to express thanks for the soldiers’ flood relief mission.

They pledged to consider the proposals submitted yesterday by about 30 representatives from the three flood-hit districts after they had a meeting with the representatives, led by Pongthep Sirisap, at the Froc headquarters.

Froc spokesman Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen accepted the letter and met representatives to discuss the issue.

The BMA's representative, former Democrat MP candidate for Don Muang Tankhun Chit-isara, and Anond Snidvongs, the Froc's water management adviser, also attended.

After the meeting, Pol Gen Pongsapat promised to present the proposals to the relief committee and the prime minister to consider. Mr Pongthep said representatives were happy with the results of the meeting.

First of the six proposals, the residents requested 30 pumps to drain water from Klong Pream Prachakorn into Khlong Rangsit on its way to the Chao Phraya River and they also requested assistance with fuel and electricity shortages in some areas.

Second, they wanted Khlong Prem Prachakorn to be cleaned of debris and litter that is obstructing the water flow and for the sluice gate to be opened as widely as possible.

Third, they asked that a new "big bag" barrier be constructed along Khlong Rangsit in the area under Rangsit bridge to stop water entering Vibhavadi Road and begin draining the area as well as remove the old barrier to allow the passage of road traffic to resume.

Fourth, they also wanted the water to be pushed out of eastern Khlong Rangsit; different payment rates depending on the severity of the flooding in different areas; and for the Froc to consider draining water to Khlong Ban Mai as an alternative to expedite draining.

Fifth, the representatives proposed compensation models such as compensating 50% of the damage but not exceeding 500,000 baht, compensation for multiple households living under one property registration, and 50% compensation, taxation and a workers' policy for landlords.

Last, they requested an extension of the fee exemption on all tollways in their area.

He also said he would closely monitor the delivery of the promises and would meet with the affected residents to explain the situation to them today at a restaurant on Sri Samarn Road in Don Muang district.

In related news, Pol Gen Pracha, Nonthaburi Governor Wichean Putiwinyu, deputy city clerk of the BMA Jumpol Samkaopol and Weera Sangna, the Froc's chairman of committee on water management in the worst-affected flood areas,

held a press conference yesterday to announce that BMA would open all sluice gates in Khlong Mahasawat to varying degrees as an answer to the Nonthaburi residents' request through the governor.

Mr Wichean said following the residents' request to widen the opening of the sluice gates from 50cm to one metre or more in Khlong Mahasawat, the BMA had agreed to open all of them but the width of the openings will be different from place to place.

He said some gates might be open 70-80cm and some might be open to more than a metre. If the openings don't create problems for Bangkok residents, the widening of the gates will continue.

There will also be a reduction in the height of the barriers along Khlong Bang Kruai in Bang Phlat and Bang Lamphu district of Bangkok and Nonthaburi's Bang Kruai district so that the water can drain towards the sluice gate.

The BMA will consider reducing the height according to the opening of the gate from 50cm to 1m.

Mr Jumpol said he was confident the opening of the gates would not affect Bangkok.

Science and Environment Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is head of Froc's flood operations section, said BMA must dismantle all flood barriers to allow stagnant floodwater north of the barriers to quickly flow to the sea.

"The opening of flood barriers will not pose any flood risk as floodwater levels in several areas have receded sharply over the past two months, particularly in areas along the Chao Phraya River," he said.

The government had no authority to dismantle the flood barriers erected by City Hall, he added.

But the BMA yesterday reported that eight of 36 districts affected by flooding were still in a critical condition, with levels exceeding 80cm. 

The districts are Bang Khen, Bang Kae, Bang Phlat, Don Muang, Klong Sam Wa, Sai Mai, Taling Chan and Thawi Watthana.

Nonthaburi locals want BMA out of way Authority to fight floods 'needs to be removed'

Flood-hit Nonthaburi residents petitioned the Administrative Court yesterday to revoke the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's power in managing flood in areas connected to other provinces.

The residents also asked the court to order the government to stop trying to rescue the submerged Highway 340 and Kanchanapisek Road for fear the work will prolong the flood misery of people living in Bang Bua Thong.

The petition was lodged with the court by Todsiri Poolnual, 50, of Bang Rak Pattana sub-district on behalf of flood-hit residents after they staged a raucous protest at Nonthaburi provincial hall on Tuesday over prolonged flooding in their communities.

She said the embankments set up by the government along Highway 340 and the BMA's refusal to open the sluice gates along Maha Sawat canal had badly affected flooded residents.

"We do not want to be discriminated against," said Ms Todsiri. "Bangkok residents have started cleaning their homes, but we still have no idea when we can return to our flooded homes.

"The Nonthaburi provincial authority must do more than just deliver us relief items. It needs to come up with a convincing water management plan."

Since Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra was not eager to respond to the Nonthaburi residents' request to open the sluice gates to one metre, they were forced to seek the help from the court, she said.

"We will agree with any means to get the water drained out of our area. It can be the proposal discussed on Tuesday to divide the flooded area into smaller blocks so the water can be drained sooner. 

We need communications. We need a goal. We need to have a target in two weeks or so," she said.

Sermsak Charumanus, a commercial bank employee and resident of Tharinphorn Villa on Chalermprakiat Road, said he supported the fight through judicial means.

"It's better than demolishing sand bag walls. This is a peaceful and justified fight for our rights," he said.

MR Sukhumbhand announced yesterday evening that City Hall had agreed to open all sluice gates along the Maha Sawat canal by one metre.

The Bangkok governor said the BMA was aware of the plight of Nonthaburi residents, but the authority wanted to reserve its right to adjust the opening of all the sluice gates according to the situation.

The BMA has asked the Royal Irrigation Department to speed up water drainage through sluice gates along the canals in the western side of the Chao Phraya River.

MR Sukhumbhand said he had asked the Froc and the irrigation department to open the Khlong Chimphlee sluice gate to allow water to flow into Bangkok Noi canal and to open the Nakhon Chaisi sluice gate to allow water to flow into other canals in the western side of the Chao Phraya River.

Opening the two sluice gates would help ease flooding in Nonthaburi, and at the same time lower the risk of flooding in Bangkok's western districts, said the governor.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday the BMA and Froc should discuss a drainage strategy again after floodwaters have been drained out of several Bangkok districts.

She added that while Bangkok needed to prevent flooding in the capital, the Froc needs to handle flood problems all over the country.

Seemingly healthy fugitive Nunun seen in Thailand and Singapore

Photos allegedly showing Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspect Nunun Nurbaeti strolling the streets of Bangkok and Singapore have emerged, putting new pressure on the KPK and the National Police to arrest the graft suspect and bring her home for trial.

Online news portal tempo.co published two photos on Wednesday that showed a mature woman, who it claimed was Nunun, in Singapore and Thailand.

In the first photo, the woman is seen strolling in a shopping district of Singapore accompanied by another woman of her age. 

The second photo was taken in Bangkok, Thailand, the news portal claimed, adding that the photos were taken “a couple of months ago”.

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker and former National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. (ret) Adang Daradjatun, who is also Nunun’s husband, confirmed reports that Nunun was currently in Singapore.

“Yes, yes, [Nunun is in Singapore] but she is not there [on holiday], she is there for medical treatment,” Adang said on Wednesday.

Adang rebuffed claims that his wife was healthy and went to Singapore for a holiday. He reiterated that Nunun went to Singapore for medical treatment, claiming his wife had Alzheimer’s disease and would not be able to wander alone on the streets of Singapore without medical supervision.

In contrast to Adang’s statements, both the Singaporean and Thai embassies denied that the 62-year-old fugitive was currently resident in their respective countries

“Earlier this year, Nunun was indeed in Thailand. According to the Thai immigration office, Nunun then left for Laos, they have no record of her re-entering Thailand since then,” 

Muhammad Hatta, the Indonesian ambassador to Thailand, told reporters in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Hatta also said a KPK team had gone to Thailand few months ago to look for Nunun but the efforts were halted due to Thailand’s legal system prohibiting foreign agencies from conducting legal investigations in the country.

Nunun is wanted by the KPK and police for allegedly disbursing travelers checks to several legislators in return for voting for Miranda S. Goeltom, in the 2004 Bank Indonesia senior deputy-governor election.

Although the KPK officially named Nunun as a suspect in May, Nunun has been missing since March last year, reportedly going to Singapore for medical treatment for her disease that causes amnesia.

Immigration data also showed that Nunun visited Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia in the last six months. Efforts by the police and KPK to trace her whereabouts have been to no avail.

The police have also coordinated with Interpol, with the latter issuing a red notice requesting assistance from police forces in its 188 member-countries to arrest Nunun.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the antigraft body was still “clueless” as to Nunun’s current whereabouts. 

“First and foremost, we will check out when the pictures were taken as she did once fly [to Singapore],” he said.

Meanwhile, Adang told reporters that he had been protecting Nunun all along, and challenged the KPK to try him for his actions.

“It’s me, it’s definitely me who protected Nunun],” Adang said. “I am her husband; I want her to get well. Just prosecute me if I have violated the law.”

MFA withdraws travel warning on Bangkok

LAST WEEK: Cars submerged in flood waters at a Honda auto factory north of Bangkok on Saturday.

The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has withdrawn its advice to Singaporeans to defer trips to Bangkok, as the threat of murky waters flooding the inner city recedes.

'MFA no longer advises Singaporeans to consider deferring non-essential travel to Bangkok,' the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

It noted the remarks by the Thai Prime Minister who said that inner Bangkok would be safe from flooding, as measures to stem it have been successful.

Nevertheless, MFA added, Singaporeans in Bangkok or who plan to visit the Thai capital are advised to avoid flood-affected areas.

Disease outbreak in Bangkok still a concern: MFA

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) no longer advises Singaporeans to consider deferring non-essential travel to Bangkok, according to a press statement released Wednesday.

But Singaporeans in Bangkok or travellers to the Thai capital are still advised to avoid the flood-affected areas, and to take necessary precautions and monitor the local news for instructions from local authorities.

Concerns about the possibility of outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as leptospirosis remain.

According to the statement, the flood situation in Bangkok "continues to improve and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has announced that inner Bangkok will be safe from floods, as the measures to stem the flooding have been successful."

Singaporeans who are travelling to or in Thailand and have yet to eRegister with MFA should do so at http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg.

Singaporeans who require consular assistance can contact the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok or the MFA Duty Office.

As Thai floods recede, more communities clean up

PATHUM THANI, THAILAND

Efforts to clean up areas near Bangkok that were flooded as much as a yard (meter) deep just two weeks ago are gaining pace as the threat of inundation of the Thai capital eases.

Hundreds of volunteers joined monks in gathering flood detritus into garbage bags Tuesday near the massive temple that houses the Dhammakaya Buddhist sect in Pathum Thani province, just north of Bangkok.

Businesses in unaffected parts of central Bangkok are removing their sandbag barriers as it becomes clear that floodwaters have been diverted east and west of the center of the city.

Since July, more than a fifth of the country's 64 million people have been affected by the worst flooding in more than 50 years, leaving at least 606 people dead.

MFA withdraws Bangkok travel warning

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it no longer advises Singaporeans to consider deferring non-essential travel to Bangkok.

This is because the flood situation in Bangkok has improved.

The ministry said that Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has announced that inner Bangkok will be safe from floods as measures to stem the flooding have been successful.

It advised Singaporeans already in Bangkok and those planning to visit to avoid flood-affected areas to take necessary precautions including heeding instructions of the local authorities and to closely monitor the local news.

It added that concerns about the possibility of outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as leptospirosis remain.

Those travelling to Thailand who have not eRegistered with the ministry are advised to do so at its.