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Emergency declared as cold
wave hits northern Thai provinces
Fatalities reported as continuing cold
weather affects all areas of the kingdom
Hill tribe villagers hold
blankets distributed by the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center in
northern Thailand. Some 70,000 blankets and 40,000 winter jackets have
already been handed out to local residents to help them keep warm.
TNA/CMM Reporters
A recent and continuing cold spell sweeping in from China has
resulted in the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department declaring a
state of emergency in 46 provinces in the north, north-east, east and
central regions of the country. For many provinces, the current cold wave is
the worst in ten years with temperatures occasionally dropping below 0
degrees Celsius.
Any province recording temperatures of below 15 degrees Celsius for three
consecutive days can seek an emergency budget of up to one million baht from
the government to supply people with warm clothing. Special centers have
been set up to work with local offices in helping residents in the affected
areas.
On Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon, temperatures dropped to minus
three degrees Celsius last Friday, with thick mists as a result. The
freezing temperatures have resulted in frost being seen on the ground in
many areas, drawing tourists to witness this unusual event.
Prajon Pratsakul, an official of Chiang Mai’s Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Center, said that the center had already provided 70,000 blankets
and 40,000 winter jackets to local residents.
The elderly are particularly threatened by the cold weather, which can cause
illness related to the respiratory system and blood circulation, said Asst.
Prof. Dr. Wattana Nawacharoen, director of Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai
Hospital.
Fatalities due to exposure to cold have been reported from several
provinces. In Uttaradit, a nine-year-old girl was found dead last Thursday
morning. She had suffered from AIDS and was spending the night at the ground
in front of the municipality office to keep warm.
As the temperature dropped to 0 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas of
Phitsanulok province, thousands of residents had to kindle fires to warm
themselves. A 51-year-old man in Wang Thong district was pronounced dead as
a result of the unusually cold conditions, while an 83-year-old man in
Lopburi died after he started a fire to keep himself warm, but the fire
spread quickly and burned down his house.
In Lampang province, it was reported an average of 5,000 local residents
daily had visited hospitals with respiratory-related illnesses, while in
parts of Ubon Ratchathani province, school children had class in the sun and
exercised to stay warm. Officials at zoos have also taken animals from their
shelters to warm them up in the sunlight.
In Nan province fish farmers have been hard hit, as thousands of fish have
died in the freezing water. Even in the southern province of Phattalung,
animals have migrated from the mountains to stay near the hot geysers at Kao
Chia Son to escape the cold spell.
Chiang Mai gears up for 2009 Flower Festival
Crowds enjoy a float full of flowers at last
year’s Chiang Mai Flower Festival.
Elena Edwards
During the comparative cool of the winter season, there is one event
that is eagerly awaited by residents and visitors alike - the Chiang Mai
Flower Festival, which takes place this year between February 6 and 8
inclusive. Chiang Mai is rightfully known as the ‘Rose of the North’, with
its unique Lanna cultural characteristics and its stunning surroundings of
mountains and wild lands.
Every year at this time, the beauty of the myriads of differing kinds of
flowers which grow on the Ping River plain and in the surrounding mountains
is displayed on many beautifully decorated floats, which parade around the
old city walls for all to marvel at and enjoy.
Included in the festival are exhibitions of many species, flower arrangement
competitions, a beauty contest, and a number of other events connected with
this mainly agricultural and horticultural province. Visitors can also buy
examples of the huge number of varieties displayed in the parade from the
many stalls around the moat. Local produce will also be on sale at several
small markets set up especially for the occasion.
The 2009 Chiang Mai Flower Festival will begin on Friday February 6, with a
flower exhibition, a gardening contest, a local produce fair, and a food
fair, to be held all day from 9 a.m. at and near Buak Haad Park. In the Thai
manner, the opening ceremony of these events will be held at 5 p.m. at the
park. Between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., also in the park, the ‘Miss Flower Bloom’
and ‘Miss International Flower Bloom’ beauty contests will take place.
On Saturday 7th, between 6 a.m. and 12 mid-day, a ‘Kadmua’ traditional
market will be held outside the governor’s residence, and at 8 a.m. at the
same site, the Flower Festival will be officially opened by the Governor of
Chiang Mai, thus launching the Flower Floats Parade itself. The exhibitions
and contests at Buak Haad Park will continue throughout the day. The Flower
Float Parade will finish at the park, followed at 7 p.m. by a musical event.
The exhibitions and contests in the park will continue on Sunday 9th, and
the festival will end with more musical delights between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The event is an amazing opportunity to view all the wonders of the huge
number of flowers that grow in Chiang Mai, and maybe to take several example
home to enjoy all year round.
For further information, contact TAT Chiang Mai on 053-248-604, between 8.30
a.m. and 4.30 p.m., or TAT’s call centre at the same times on 1672.
Gov’t considers visa fee waiver to boost tourism
Bangkok (AP) – The Thai government is considering waiving visa fees
for three months in a bid to revive its key tourism industry, which has been
battered by the political turmoil that culminated in the occupation of
Bangkok’s two airports late last year.
The measure, already approved by the government’s economic ministers, was
due to be proposed to the full Cabinet this week, Juthaporn Rerngronasa,
deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said on Friday.
“We hope this will be one of many measures that will boost the tourism
industry in Thailand amid the global slowdown and following the political
crisis,” Juthaporn said.
Residents of many neighboring and Western countries already enjoy visa-free
entry privileges for short visits, but those planning longer stays must
obtain visas in advance for a fee of at least $30 per entry.
Earlier last week, the government allocated 1 billion baht of its
115-billion-baht fiscal stimulus package to rejuvenate the tourism industry,
which accounts for about 5 percent of the country’s economy. Prime Minister
Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier said the government would also consider discounts
on aircraft landing fees.
The central bank has forecast that tourist arrivals this year could drop by
8.8 percent from 12.8 million in 2008.
Deputy government spokesman Puttipong Punnakan said the Cabinet plans to
discuss other measures as well, including a short-term reduction in interest
rates and property tax for hotel operators, and a reduction of airport
surcharges, as well as discounts on air tickets.
Thai PM speaks out
for change in Burma
Abhisit Vejjajiva
(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
CMM Reporters
In a follow-up to a comment made shortly after he was elected,
Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has stated that it is time for
changes in military junta-ruled Burma. The remark was made during a dinner
party held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, during which
Abhisit told reporters that the Burmese situation impacted on the entire
South-East Asian region. Thailand, he added, would try to persuade the junta
of the need for change.
Gang of teenaged
‘drive-by’ robbers arrested
Saksit Meesubkwang
A teenage gang of ‘drive-by’ robbers, who used stolen motorbikes to
facilitate snatching bags and purses, were arrested and charged recently and
will appear in Chiang Mai’s Juvenile Court for sentencing.
Police were called by a victim of the gang, Anita Meepolakit, when her purse
was snatched from a table in a local restaurant by the gang of 4 teenagers,
all on motorbikes. She was able to give a full description of one of the
gang, who had a star-shaped tattoo on his face, which led to the immediate
arrest of the four gang members.
A subsequent search of their home revealed stolen property including a
quantity of US dollar bills, 2 mobile phones, 20 credit cards and a Yamaha
Mio without registration plates.
The four culprits wait to be interviewed at the
police station.
Four Asian nations,
US to hold Cobra Gold drill
VNA/CMM Reporters
The armed forces of Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and
the United States will conduct a joint military exercise in Chiang Mai
from Feb. 4-17, according to Thai and US officials.
The “Cobra Gold” exercise is a regularly scheduled joint and coalition
multi-national exercise hosted annually by Thailand. Cobra Gold 2009 is
the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote
regional peace and security.
About 11,600 personnel from the five countries will take part in the
Southeast Asian region’s largest exercise which is budgeted at more than
14 million USD.
Eric G. John, US Ambassador to Thailand, said at the CG’09 press
conference that the exercise will help participating militaries be
“ready to respond to the real-world priorities of peacekeeping,
stability, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance.”
Training will consist of a computer-simulated command post exercise,
water and ground exercises, and humanitarian and civic assistance
projects. Almost 7,300 troops from the US, about 4,000 from Thailand,
113 from Indonesia, 106 from Singapore and 75 from Japan will
participate, the Thai Armed Forces announced. Cobra Gold will cost
Thailand some 40 million baht.
Chiang Rai ONCB officers
arrest 4 Chinese dealers
Heroin valued at 70 million baht seized
CMM Reporters
Chiang Rai police and officers from Region 5’s Office of
Narcotic Control Board (ONCB) have successfully completed a major
investigation, resulting in the arrest of 4 Chinese drug dealers and the
seizure of 63 packs of heroin with a Taiwanese street value of 70
million baht, 100 times higher than its value on the Thai-Burmese
border.
Following a report from an informer, police and ONCB Officers went to a
resort in Chiang Rai, where they arrested a Taiwanese-Chinese man, and
seized a large quantity of heroin. On questioning, the suspect revealed
details of three more members of the gang. Further investigation
resulted in the arrest of two Chinese men, and a Taiwanese-Chinese, the
financier of the deal, who had been staying at the Chiang Rai resort
awaiting delivery of the drugs.
The financier is wanted by the Taiwanese police, and will be sent back
to Taiwan for trial and sentence. The remaining three members of the
gang have been charged and transported to Chiang Mai for sentencing by
the courts.
Break-in at
Bangladesh Consulate
Saksit Meesubkwang
The temporary office of the Bangladesh Consulate on Huay Kaew
Road suffered a break-in during the early hours of January 12, with the
loss of 4 computer CPUs and 2 monitors. Staff arriving for work the
following morning found that the door had been forced and the equipment
was missing. Police are investigating, and have questioned all employees
at the consulate.
SGA Air to launch shuttle service
between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son
CMM Reporters
SGA Airlines has announced it is preparing to launch an air
shuttle service between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. The company is
planning to use smaller aircraft which are able to provide high flight
frequencies dependent on demand, and has been pioneering commuter
airlines for more than 8 years, with more conventional flight services
already operative between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. Dr. Jain
Charnnarong, the company’s CEO, states that the airline maintains its
entire operation strictly according to ISO9001:2000 quality standards,
adding, in reassurance, that its maintenance department is also the
appointed authorised service facility for Cessna in Thailand and
South-East Asia. According to Dr. Jain, “We use an uncompromising
approach to operational efficiency and safety.”
Ministry of Interior stresses
strict inspection of all nightclubs
Saksit Meesubkwang
The Thai Ministry of the Interior is insisting on strict
and properly conducted inspections of all nightclubs nationwide
following the disastrous fire at the Santika Pub in Bangkok on
New Year’s Eve.
Dr. Duentemduang na Chiengmai, Mayor of Chiang Mai, told
reporters that the municipality had checked all fire prevention
equipment and compliance with regulation at many venues in the
city, and are continuing to do so at the present time.
She stated that, “Nightclubs and places of entertainment must
comply with the Buildings Control Act, particularly in fire
prevention and safety. Venues which have been modified will have
to be re-inspected by the relevant officials. However, a high
number of such venues are not registered, and are operating
illegally as nightclubs, which may lead to another catastrophe
as they are not complying with regulations regarding fire
prevention and fire exits. These venues are being targeted and
will be subject to strenuous inspection by the authorities. The
municipality has placed control and inspection at night clubs
high on its agenda, as the province is a popular tourist
destination.”
The Mayor also expressed her concerns about underage drinking at
nightclubs and other venues, saying that, whilst the
municipality has responsibility for the infrastructure of such
venues, the police must take full responsibility for ensuring
that persons under the age of 18 are not allowed into the
venues, according to Thai law.
Migrant workers to be forced to return to Burma to re-apply for permits
CMM Reporters
In February 2010, all Burmese migrant workers will be
forced to return to Burma to apply, through a new system, for
legal work-permit papers from the Burmese authorities. In the
meantime, migrant workers whose present work permits are due to
expire before next year will be issued with a one-year extension
by the Thai authorities on production of the correct
documentation. Documents giving information on the scheme have
been received by the Chiang Mai-based Migrant Assistance
Programme (MAP).
Representatives of the Chiang Mai local authority have been in
contact with the Workers’ Solidarity Association (WSA) in Chiang
Mai, to discuss the issuance of the Burmese work permits, and
have told the WSA that as, migrants’ permits will not be renewed
again in 2010, the authority will collect personal registration
details of all migrant workers at present in the city.
A WSA representative is concerned that migrant workers will be
‘in the crossfire’ if the new system is implemented, as they
will not be able to stay in Thailand, and may well be under
threat of persecution by Burmese officials, should they return
to their homeland. A plan to set up a work permit registration
office in Chiang Mai, rather than in Tachilek, across the
border, met with doubt from the WSA representative, who stated
that, “We would like to stress that we are afraid to believe
this new information due to lessons learnt from the past.”
An agreement between Thailand and Burma as regards the setting
up of nationality identification centres for migrant workers was
concluded in 2006, but has not yet been implemented. Reports
that migrant workers returning home had been terrorised into
paying bribes to junta authorities after their personal details
had been used to trace their relatives would appear to be the
reason for the WSA’s reluctance to trust the new scheme.
Chiang Mai to host 2nd Gay Pride celebrations and parade
Michael Davies
MPlus, an NGO set up to give help and advice to men who
have sex with men, have proudly announced they have received
permission to hold the 2nd Gay Pride event in Chiang Mai next
month.
The first of a series of events will take place on February 15
with a ‘Fancy Condom Creation Contest’, to be held on the 3rd
floor at Kad Suan Kaew, starting at 1 p.m. Admission will be
free.
The Chiang Mai Gay Pride Parade will be held on Saturday
February 21, with participants being advised to arrive between 4
p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Buddha Satan parking lot on Thapae Road,
next to Narawat Bridge. The parade itself will commence at 5
p.m., heading down Changklan Road through the Night Bazaar and
finishing at Tawan Trendy Mall, opposite Panthip Plaza.
The parade will coincide with the Chiang Mai Gay Festival, which
will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday 21 and will include various
entertainments, taking place once the parade reaches its finale
and continuing until 10 p.m.
Prior to the Gay Pride event there will be several fundraisers,
of which details are not yet finalised. For further information,
contact Pad of MPlus at padchiangmaipride@hotmail .com or call
on 089-950-8726.
Deputy Governor sets out priorities for 2009
CMM Reporters
According to Chuchart Keerapaeng, the Chiang Mai deputy
governor, the province will continue with its main strategies on
society, security, natural resources and the environment, in
spite of the continuing global economic crisis and the fear of
recession in Thailand. He noted, however, that some changes
might have to be made in order to match the policies of the
current government, and that the administration’s focus for 2009
would concentrate on society and the economy.
According to Chuchart, employment promotion and the maximizing
of job potential and stability are priorities in societal
strategies being implemented in the province. He gives the
example of the Chiang Mai Employment Office, which has recruited
more than 2,500 temporary workers from 10 local districts who
have been the victims of hardship caused by natural disasters.
14 labour skill developmental projects are being carried out in
7 districts, with 112 workers participating, and 26 waterway
improvement projects are underway. The province is also
highlighting natural resource and environmental concerns in
2009, and providing mobile consultation units where residents
can discuss their problems and state their requirements, with
poverty eradication as a priority.
Hiking Club presents
‘Bringing the Mountain to You’
CMM Reporters
The Chiang Mai Hiking Club provided an exciting and
energetic presentation at the Shangri-La Hotel as the undoubted
highlight of the recent Expats’ Club meeting. Carol Beauclerk
headed up the team, giving an enthusiastic commentary to
accompany the light-hearted slide-show of scenes from trails
around Chiang Mai which the hikers had enjoyed quite a number of
times.
The slides of flora, fauna and beautiful scenery that can only
be observed ‘off the beaten path’, were much appreciated by the
audience. Interesting details were provided of the way in which
one regular hiker uses a GPS service to track his route,
plotting it later on maps stored in his home computer.
Equally or perhaps even more appreciated was the ‘Hikers’
Fashion Show’, featuring pants, shirts, hats, shoes and even
walking sticks, all in the latest ‘Hiking’ fashion, and
accompanied by a commentary from the ‘Lady in Blue’. Great fun
and an encouragement to get up and go and shed some
post-Christmas pounds.
For more information on the Hiking Club and their events, email
them at chiangmaihiking@gmail.com
Three Thai university websites included in world’s top 200 most popular
CMM Reporters
The websites of Chulalongkorn University, Khon Kaen
University and Mahidol University have been included in the
www.4icu.org list of the top 200 university websites worldwide.
The site is an international higher education search engine and
directory, including 8,750 university and college sites from 200
countries, ranked by web popularity.
 The
official website of Khon Kaen University.
The Thai universities were included in the 2008 university
rankings, with the Chulalongkorn website being voted the 112th
most popular, the Khon Kaen University site ranking as the
160th, and Mahidol University’s site coming in at 182nd most
popular. In Asia, the number 1 rating went to the National
University of Singapore.
The 4icu.org directory only includes worldwide higher education
organizations, which are officially accredited or recognised by
national or regional bodies, and currently does not include
community colleges, vocational colleges or distance learning
organisations. To ensure the quality of the directory listings,
the site does not participate in link exchanges or include
affiliate resources within the directory. All universities and
colleges are included free of charge.
Northern umbrella
industry facing hard times
The global economic slowdown has already affected Bo Sang
umbrella village in Chiang Mai, with orders from overseas
dropping by more than half. Many have expressed concern that the
northern-style parasol industry will soon face one of its most
critical moments during the past three decades.
People in a small village near San Kamphaeng district continue
to craft the bamboo frames of the northern-style parasol, but
they don’t know when, or if, their products will be sold. The
bamboo frames the villagers supply to umbrella manufacturers in
Bo Sang vary from 5 to 14 baht each in cost, depending on the
size. Those who make them earn just one baht profit for each
frame. Recently, villagers said, their orders had decreased
dramatically. “We could sell umbrella frames every day in the
past, but now we can sell only them once a week. The umbrella
factories claim they have no purchase orders. Tourists still
visit Bo Sang, but they buy nothing,” according to an umbrella
frame maker.
Thavil Buacheen, founder of the Bo Sang umbrella-making Centre,
says that, with ten thousand parasol frames remaining in stock,
the centre has stopped buying frames from the villagers.
Finished handmade parasols at the showrooms have proved hard to
sell. Thavil, who has been in the umbrella-making industry for
over 30 years, is concerned that, because of the ongoing global
financial crisis, purchase orders from major markets such as the
US and Europe have dropped 70%, with an order valued at 2
million baht cancelled in December. To make matters worse,
formerly up to 30 buses filled with foreign tourists came every
day to see the 200-year-old art of parasol-making. Today the
arrival of 1 or 2 buses is considered lucky.
“The 1997 economic crisis did not affect us that much because
our main export markets still had purchasing power. But now they
are in a critical situation and we are directly hit,” said
Thavil.
With about 200 employees working in the umbrella-making centre,
Thavil has advised his workers to try to get through the crisis
by cutting unnecessary expenses and creating a variety of more
delicate and beautiful work to expand markets and compete with
parasols from rivals Laos and Vietnam. He also hoped the annual
Bo Sang Umbrella Festival (held last weekend) would help extend
the life of the traditional Lanna umbrella to the next
generation.
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