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Sala Daeng residents receive permission to stay
The Chiang Mai Municipality
granted permission to stay on publicly owned land to 57 residents of the
Sala Daeng community off of Mahidol Road on 26 October, 2011. Mayor Tussanai
Buranupakorn was joined by Municipality at the ceremony that saw residents
receive their grants to remain.
Cabinet approves holiday for 21 provinces
The Cabinet today declared Thursday through Monday Oct
27-31 as extra holidays in 21 provinces including Bangkok to allow residents
in areas, affected by floods to handle the flood situation during the
weekend high tide period as flood water from northern run-off is now flowing
into northern Bangkok.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Don Mueang Airport where the Flood
Relief Operations Centre (FROC) is situated.
The extra holidays are aimed at
allowing residents in Bangkok and other 20 provinces to respond to the flood
emergency during the high tide period, which could worsen flood problems in
the capital.
Latest reports indicate that
floodwaters now extend from Rangsit, north of Bangkok, along Phaholyothin
Road to Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force Base and Yingcharoen Market.
The water level has reached 30cm and is
overflowing on sidewalks. The left traffic lane is impassable for small
vehicles. Traffic became congested Tuesday morning, the first workday of the
week after Monday’s public holiday.
In the northwestern Bangkok district of
Bangphlat, Charansanitwong Road from Bangphlat intersection to the Rama VII
Bridge is rising after the flood barrier in Soi Charansanitwong 80 at the
Chao Phraya River was breached on Monday and floodwater from adjacent
Nonthaburi’s Bang Kruai district overflowed to Charansanitwong Road.
The highest water level was 1.50 metres
at the junction of Soi Charansanitwong 84 with the main road, so that small
vehicles cannot pass. Local residents were to be evacuated by military
trucks. (MCOT online news)
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Quirky pics from here and around Thailand
A night out at a Chiang Mai
had one of our Thai readers wondering why they translated this page as woman
to woman and what these foods had to do with women!
Every once in a while we see a sign or a sight that makes
us smile, if you see something that makes you smile don’t hesitate to pull
out your camera or even camera phone and snap a pic. Send it to
editor@chiangmai-mail.com and be sure to let us know where you saw it.
A welcoming
restaurant for both carnivores and vegetarians on Tha Pae.
Royal Flora Ratchaphruek postponed
Chiang Mai Governor ML
Panadda Diskul joined with organizers of the upcoming International
Exposition; Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 at the Furama Hotel on October 25,
2011 to announce the postponement of the horticultural event due to the
widespread flooding in Thailand. The event, which features the gardens of 13
different nations in honor of HM the King’s 84th birthday, will
now be held from December 15 20111 to March 14, 2012. (Photo courtesy of
CityNow!)
Japanese officials visit Chiang Mai
Chiba City Council members
and administrators paid a visit to Chiang Mai last week on Friday, October
21, 2011 to engage in meetings discussing economic exchanges and tourism
development between the two cities. Additionally, the officials came to
discuss plans on long term Japanese residents, mainly retirees, that have
moved to Chiang Mai. The meeting included Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai
Buranupakorn and city officials from various departments.
New bus station opens
The new
Chiang Mai bus station had its grand opening on Tuesday, October 25, 2011
(Photo courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality)
The grand opening for Chiang Mai’s new
bus station was held on October 25, 2011. The new passenger terminal
building is across from the old Arcade Station and is a two story building
air conditioned throughout. The construction was initiated with a budget
from the Ministry of Transportation and will be managed under the aegis of
the Chiang Mai Municipality as part of a governmental policy set in place
several years ago to decentralize many public services and place them under
the control of local governments.
The new bus station is very modern and
government officials added that it was open in time to prepare for the
upcoming visitors to the Royal Flora Exhibition that will open December 14,
2011 and will run through March 14, 2012.
Chiang Mai
Governor ML Panadda Diskul and Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn attended the
opening of the new bus depot with President of the Provincial Administrative
Organization Boonlert Buranupakorn.
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Cold weather hits the North
The Meteorological Department of Thailand has predicted
cool temperatures seeing drops of 1-2 degrees Celsius and morning fog on the
mountaintops. Residents of the mountains are warned to stock up on warm
clothing as the North enters the cold season, lows are expected to reach
10-16 degrees Celsius this week and 19 degrees in the lower elevations.
A moderate high pressure system out of
China is expected to bring the cool temperatures and foggy mornings, it may
also bring light showers.
The cool season is a popular time of
year for Thai tourists as they flock to the North to enjoy the cool
temperatures rare in the rest of the country.
Don Mueang Airport halts all flight services Tuesday
Don Mueang Airport, Thailand’s main domestic airport
which also houses the government's flood crisis centre, suspended all
flight operations Tuesday, October 25, 2011 for the safety of passengers,
according to Group Captain Kanputt Mungklasiri, director of Don Mueang
Airport.
The airport director denied reports
that the runway has been flooded, saying the flight suspension is a
precautionary and preventative measure done for safety reasons. Normally,
160 daily flights operate from the former main international airport by Nok
Air and Orient Thai Airlines.
Thailand’s budget carrier Nok Air
announced suspension of all flight services as water has flowed into the
northern tier of the airport and has now nearly reached the areas where the
airport’s electronic control system is housed.
Nok Air halted flight operations since
noon on Tuesday with flights diverted to Suvarnabhumi Airport, according to
Patee Sarasin, Nok Air chief executive officer.
Mr Patee said the airline expected to
resume operating flights on Nov 1, explaining that the company was uncertain
whether Suvarnabhumi Airport will be flooded. The airline has opted to wait
and see what the situation will be at both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi
airports.
Owing to the suspension, Mr Patee said,
Nok Air passengers could reschedule their tickets.
Orient Thai Airlines began diverting
all domestic flights from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3pm
on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, national flag carrier Thai
Airways (THAI) is still operating normally at Suvarnabhumi airport but is
closely monitoring the flood situation, according to Samat Poom-on, director
of THAI’s Crisis Management & Operations Centre (CMOC).
Initially, the company has prepared six
optional airports and two emergency airports for further consideration if
the situation worsens.
Previously, the airline moved some
additional equipment for on-ground services to U-Tapao Airport in the
eastern province of Chon Buri. (MCOT online news)
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Chulalongkorn Day falls on Sunday, October 23
October 23 commemorates the day King Chulalongkorn the
Great passed away. A great reformer for Thailand his works extended to the
education system, military affairs, the Slave Liberation Act, the State
Railways, and national communications.
Also known as Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua, and the
eldest son of King Rama IV, King Chulalongkorn was born in Bangkok on
September 20, 1853 and was crowned King of Siam on October 1, 1868,
following the death of his father. The first few years of his reign were
under a regency. King Chulalongkorn is perhaps the most revered of all the
Chakri Kings. During his long reign of 42 years 23 days great advances were
achieved for the country.
The King actively pursued a policy of modernizing the
country and had a number of Europeans in his service to oversee such
projects as the building of the first railway in Thailand. He himself made
two visits to Europe, one in 1897 and another in 1907, during which he
became acquainted with most of the rulers of Europe. He successfully managed
to cultivate the idea of Siam as a buffer state between the colonial
possessions of the European powers in South East Asia. The price he paid for
losing certain border territories was amply rewarded, for Siam was never
colonized - the only country in the region to maintain its sovereignty
throughout the period of colonial expansionism. He died on October 23, 1910.
A national holiday in Thailand, Monday is the replacement
day and schools and government offices will be closed to commemorate this
revered King.
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Bua Tong blooms in Mae Hong Son
Fields of
Bua Tong or Giant Wild Mexican Sunflowers fill fields with gold and orange
during the cool season in Mae Hong Son.
Doi Mae U-Kho will turn golden in the
coming month as the Bua Tong, the Giant Wild Mexican Sunflower as it is more
commonly known and Tithonia Diversifolia as it’s known to gardeners, blooms.
The cool temperatures draw tourists
from around Thailand and the gorgeous fields covered in gold make for
fantastic scenery with the mountains as a backdrop. Camping is allowed but
its best to reserve your spot, or come during the weekday, as it is a hugely
popular destination with Thai tourists.
The Bua Tong Festival will open on
November 16 at Doi Mae U-Kho with the Miss Bua Tong contest on November 19.
The festival will feature flowers, food, music and games.
Although the Bua Tong is native to
Mexico and Central America, it has been widely introduced across the globe
and Mae Hong Son has named it the official flower of the province. Viewing
is expected to start November 1 until mid December. When the flowers fade,
the seeds are collected and made into insecticide.
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Chiang Mai residents send flood aid to Central Thailand
Chiang Mai residents and
officials gathered together to take donated goods including food, water,
clothing and more to flooded people in Central Thailand including Nakhon
Sawan and Ayutthaya on Monday, October 17. Chiang Mai’s Member of Parliament
Tassanee Buranupakorn and Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn joined government
officials, and local residents in seeing off the caravan that consisted of
private cars and trucks loaded with goods. (Photo courtesy of Chiang Mai
Municipality).
Temperatures drop on Doi Inthanon
Cool season temperatures are already
arriving on Doi Inthanon where villagers are already finding the cold
weather hard to manage with the high price of charcoal due to flooding. The
villagers have said they must pay 20 baht more per sack than usual and
generally have to travel to the city to find it. Elderly villagers suffer
from respiratory illnesses during the cold season and donations of warm
sweaters, jackets and blankets are needed. Temperatures are forecast to
hover around 12 degrees at night.
Royal flora fair rescheduled to December
The organizing committee of the International Horticultural
Exposition Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 has decided to postpone the fair by
another month due to the ongoing flood crisis.
The event, previously due to begin on
November 9, has been rescheduled to December 16.
According to Agriculture Department
Director-General Jirakorn Kosaisewee, the fair had to be delayed as the flood
situation remains worrying. Several transport routes have been heavily damaged
by floods, spoiling the public mood for traveling.
The rescheduled flora fair will take place
between December 16, 2011 and March 14, 2012. Thirty-one countries have agreed
to participate in the event. (NNT)
Their Majesties donate to Chiang Mai flood victims
Chiang Mai sends aid
The Japanese government
airlifted tents, water purifiers and other supplies for flood victims to
Thailand (Photo courtesy of the Embassy of Japan).
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
Their Majesties the King and Queen have very
graciouslydonated 100,000 Baht in personal funds to victims of the flooding
in Chiang Mai on Friday, October 14, 2011. Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda
Diskul received the funds and the head of the Provincial Disaster Prevention
and Mitigation Office Khomsan Suwanampa will distribute them to needy local
residents who have had their homes and livelihoods destroyed in the
flooding.
Japan has airlifted aid to flood victims in Thailand
including tents and water purifiers through the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (Jica). The donations are valued at around 12 million
Baht. The People’s Republic of China is also airlifting flood aid to
Thailand including 120 boats, 60 water purification units and water tanks
along with 30 million Baht.
Although the government has not appealed for
international aid, they are accepting donations. Donation centers have been
set up at Central Aiport Plaza, Nim City Daily, the Chiang Mai Municipality
and there are donation boxes around the city.
The Chiang Mai Municipality has organized a caravan of
goods to deliver to people devastated by flooding in Central Thailand that
is due to leave on Monday, October 16. The caravan will carry 3,000 sets of
supply bags, three mobile toilets, ten boats and other equipment to help
those ravaged by the flooding in Ayutthaya.
Flood damage on the Central Plains alone has reached 190
billion Baht with millions of households affected by the floods.
The Chiang Mai Municipality is working to fend off any
future flooding and is currently installing a flood wall barrier that
includes a 1.5 m wall and sandbags. Officials have urged residents to not
take sandbags from along the river wall.
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Tak Bat Devo at 3 Kings Monument
The end of the Buddhist rains
retreat, or Buddhist Lent is marked by Tak Bat Devo, which falls on the day
after Auk Phansa, and sees monks emerging from their temples to receive
offerings from laypeople. Chiang Mai celebrated Tak Bat Devo on Thursday,
October 13 at the 3 Kings Monument where city officials and local people
turned out to make merit by offering monks food and alms. Tak Bat Devo is based on the
word “Devorohana” which means “the Buddha coming down from the heavenly
world” and celebrates the return of the Lord Buddha to earth after he had
gone to the heavenly world to preach to his mother for the 3 month rains
retreat. On the last day, the first day of the waning moon of the 11th
month, he returned and thousands of people presented him and his followers
with offerings of food. And so, Tak Bat Devo recreates that moment with lay
people offering monks who have emerged from the 3 months rains retreat with
offerings of food. (Photo courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality)
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Municipal officials inspect damaged areas
Chiang Mai Municipal
officials joined Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn in visiting local residents
affected by the flooding and to assess their needs. Additionally they
inspected flood barriers being erected to aid in the prevention of future
flooding. A 1.5 meter wall as well as many more sandbags are being put into
place along the Ping River. (Photo courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality)
Further flood prevention measures to be introduced
Chiang Mai Governor ML
Panadda Diskul chaired a meeting where flood prevention measures were
discussed on October 7, 2011.
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul
chaired a meeting with Chiang Mai Member of Parliament Tassannee
Buranupakorn, Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn and various agencies including the
Forestry Department and discussed ways to alleviate potential flooding in
the future on October 7, 2011.
The construction of a 14.88 km long
flood protection wall along the Ping River was put forward as well as other
options such as a water diversion tunnel along with measures that can be put
into place including forest rehabilitation, measures to
reduce the amount of water flowing into the Ping River, methods to
accelerate drainage and dealing with encroachment into areas on the Ping
River.
In addition, further
sandbags have been added to replace the ones lost in the flooding, and to
rebuild the walls that were damaged or destroyed during the floods.
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Briton arrested on bank robbery charges
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
Chiang Mai police used CCTV footage to
track down and arrest 64 year old British citizen Michael Ludwig Wynn.
Reportedly a former policeman in the United Kingdom, Mr. Wynn is alleged to
have entered a Siam Commercial Bank on Ratwithi Road on October 5, 2011
dressed in black and wearing a black tinted full face helmet and and escaped
with over half a million Baht in cash.
The police allege that the suspect,
after holding the bank up at gun and knife point fled on a Honda Click. CCTV
footage allowed the police to trace the suspect and arrest him at his
accommodation in Chang Phuak. Witnesses had reported seeing the suspect
drive by several times before entering the bank to allegedly hold it up.
Police were able to trace the rented motorbike to the owner who gave them
the name of the suspect. Police entered the suspect’s quarters with a search
warrant where they found over 400,000 Baht in cash still wrapped in Bank of
Thailand paper.
The police say the suspect has been
living in Thailand for two years and had overstayed his visa. They report he
suffers from prostate cancer and was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
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Walking Street Donations for flood victims
Chiang Mai Governor ML
Panadda Diskul greets a visitor the Sunday Walking Street Market on October
7, 2011.
Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul and Mayor Tussanai
Buranupakorn visited the Chiang Mai Sunday Walking Street Market on October
9, 2011 where donation boxes have been distributed to gather funds for flood
victims. Tourists and residents alike have so far donated
112,439.75 Baht to aid victims of the flooding from Walking Street donation
boxes that have been set up from Tha Pae Gate to the 3 Kings Monument.
Additionally, Chiang
Mai Member of Parliament Tassanee Buranupakorn presented over 170,000 Baht
to Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul collected from donations boxes set
up by the Municipality around the city.
Chiang Mai
MP Tassanee Buranupakorn presents the Governor with a check for 170,530.75
Baht that has been recently collected from donation boxes set up around the
city.
Mekong River hijack leaves 12 Chinese nationals confirmed dead
China suspends shipping on the Mekong
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
The hijacking of two Chinese cargo
ships on the Mekong River last week left 13 Chinese nationals dead including
the woman cook and a teenager. One body was recovered on one of the boats
while another 11 were found in the river, another body found yesterday is
suspected to be the missing crew member. Thai police recovered nearly
930,000 Yabaa tablets on the ships as well.
Thai authorities believe that Myanmar
drug lord Nor Kham is behind the attacks, police believe that the gang
hijacked the boats and attempted to force the crew to carry drugs when a
shootout may have broken out. With no surviving crewmembers and no
witnesses, police are attempting to reconstruct the crime.
Thai military regularly hear gunfire
along the Northern borders of the river and on the day the ships were
discovered, and when they went to investigate discovered the two ships with
one body on board.
The Chinese government has suspended
cargo and passenger traffic along the river and Chinese Consul General in
Chiang Mai Zhu Wei Min told the Chiang Mai Mail that the Chinese government
hopes the Thai government can conclude the investigation quickly.
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Quirky pics from here and around Thailand
Stefan did just that in
Kanchanaburi, where he saw this intriguing sign that had changed within a
day as the owner made changes to the sign after the spelling errors were
pointed out.
Every once in a while we see a sign or a sight that makes
us smile, if you see something that makes you smile don’t hesitate to pull
out your camera or even camera phone and snap a pic. Send it to
editor@chiangmai-mail.com and be sure to let us know where you saw it.
Ron questions who would be a
security guard at this building? Sounds ominous!
Flood costs could reach 4 billion Baht
Chiang Mai Governor ML
Panadda Diskul and Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn survey flood
damaged areas and asses possible solutions for flood control. (Photo
courtesy of the Chiang Mai Municipality)
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn
said, after a meeting with the Governor on flood damage that the costs in
both damage and lost income could reach as high as 4 billion Baht. He
expressed concern that flood could also impact the upcoming tourist season
could push those figures higher.
The death toll from the heavy rains
that began with the storm Nock Ten in August of 2011 have reached 252
nationwide with 3 people listed as missing. More than half a million people
are suffering from flood related diseases and the numbers increase by 20,000
daily. Floods still affect many provinces and more than 2.5 million people
are affected.
Chiang Mai has returned to normal, with
the Night Bazaar back in business and most businesses cleaning up and
re-opening. More than 10,000 homes were affected across Chiang Mai Province
by the floods. The government plans to help villagers whose homes were
damaged in landslides and floods.
In addition to the pumping stations
already in place, the Municipality proposes to add more pumps on the East
side of the river. Other additional measures are being considered and are
under discussion with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.
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Bank heist nets robber 700,000 Baht haul
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
A lone knife and gun wielding robber
held up the Siam Commercial Bank on Ratwithi Road on Wednesday, October 5,
making off with 700,000 Baht in cash.
Wearing a black crash helmet and black
clothing, the man entered the bank and forced the 4 staff members in the
bank at the time to hand over cash at gun and knife point before fleeing on
a motorcycle parked outside. The bank’s security guards were away at lunch
at the time of the robbery.
The police are offering a reward for
information leading to the arrest of the person who robbed the bank.
Drug trafficker killed after gun battle on the river in Chiang Rai
900,000 Yabaa pills seized
A drug trafficking suspect was killed on Wednesday,
October 5, 2011 in a gunfight between uniformed government forces led by
Marine Police and drug trafficking suspects on the Mekong River in
Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai, with the authorities
confiscating 900,000 methamphetamine pills found on two Chinese-owned river
boats, according to authorities.
The body of an unidentified man,
believed to be part of the syndicate, was found on a river cargo carrier
after the shooting between government forces and an estimated 10 men on two
Chinese-owned cargo ships in Chiang Saen district.
The Thai government personnel were on
river patrol when they saw the two Chinese cargo boats heading to Chiang
Saen port from the Golden Triangle. Marine Police signalled the two vessels
to stop to be searched, but the boats did not stop, and an estimated 10 men
on board the vessels opened fire on the authorities.
After the 10-minute gunfight, one man
was found dead and the government personnel confiscated 900,000
methamphetamine pills in five sacks. However, the men on board the two
vessels, presumed to be related to the drug syndicate, fled the scene.
The combined forces included Thai Navy
sailors, Chiang Rai provincial security personnel, Chiang Saen-based Marine
Police and Army Rangers. (MCOT online news)
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U.S. government supports anti-trafficking NGO in Northern Thailand with grant for $260,000
As part of global efforts to combat human trafficking,
the U.S. Government is committed to working with the Royal Thai Government
and the people of Thailand to prevent trafficking activity in Thailand, to
prosecute perpetrators, and to assist victims. Toward that end, on October
5, Acting U.S. Consul General Todd M. Bate-Poxon presented a grant of USD
260,000 to TRAFCORD, a non-governmental coordination unit for anti-human
trafficking operations in northern Thailand.
This grant from the U.S. Department of
State will allow TRAFCORD to continue to coordinate governmental and
non-governmental activities to combat human trafficking in the nine
provinces of the upper northern region of Thailand and their associated
Burmese and Lao border regions. The project will raise community awareness
of human trafficking, provide direct assistance to trafficking victims, and
support police and prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of this
crime.
Acting Consul General Bate-Poxon said,
“The U.S. Mission in Thailand has a long history of cooperation with
TRAFCORD. We admire the work they do on behalf of the victims and salute the
Thai law enforcement agencies and centers for protection and recovery with
which they cooperate. This grant reflects the continued importance that the
United States places on stopping trafficking and our confidence in
TRAFCORD’s operation.”
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Clean up begins as Chiang Mai floods recede
Flood cost estimates from 1 billion Baht
Clean up began around the city
on September 30 as the flood waters receded.
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
After some of the worst flooding to hit
the city in decades recedes, the city begins cleaning up. The Night Bazaar
area and Nong Hoi were both hit hard by flood waters and areas along the
river were heavily inundated with flood waters.
Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn
apologized to Chiang Mai residents for the failure to keep the Ping River
from flooding parts of Chiang Mai. Sandbags failed to hold back the flood
waters, which reached higher than the 2005 floods. He said the city has
initially estimated damages and lost revenue of at least one billion baht
although Bangkok Bank experts put the costs much higher, at 3 billion baht.
The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce
Secretary General Wittaya Krongsap estimates that flooding has cost local
businesses more than 600 million Baht a day, with three days of flooding
reaching 1.8 million Baht.
Preecha
Rengsomboonsuk, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment flew
in from Bangkok to assess the flood situation; here he visits flood stricken
areas with Boonlert Buranupakorn, President of the Provincial Administration
Organization (right) and Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn (left).
As flood waters receded, businesses
quickly turned towards cleaning up with many stalls re-opening on the Night
Bazaar as soon as the waters had receded. Clean up around the city remains
in force.
More than 20,000 people have been
affected by flooding in Chiang Mai as areas in the province were also hit
hard by the floods.
Further rains may be headed Chiang
Mai’s way this evening as the remnants of Typhoon Nesat hit northern
Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department warns of possible flash floods
and landslides especially for Chiang Rai, Nan, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon
Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom as the storm degrades into a low pressure cell
slowly moving west-northwest.
Chiang Mai
Governor ML Panadda Diskul took to the streets to inspect flood damage from
the very first day, here he is seen wading through flood waters on September
28, 2011.
A bit of
flood water didn’t slow these vendors down on September 29, 2011. (Photo by
Nicky Scott)
Volunteers
get aid packages ready for delivery to flood stricken residents.
Residents
pitched together to help
fill sandbags as the river continued to rise.
The
municipality began delivering food and water to flood victims within hours
after the city was inundated.
Giving a
helping hand quickly spread, as those more fortunate helped those in need.
This man was given a lift through the flood waters in Nong Hoi (Photo
courtesy of Miguel’s Restaurant in Nong Hoi).
Little boys
seemed to like the day off school. (Photo by Ron Lister)
It’s
difficult to keep the Thai smile down, even in times of disaster
(Photo by Nicky Scott).
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