Flood recovery budget
January 11, 2012 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 11 January 2012: The Thai Cabinet has approved a Bt11,026.607 million budget for flood rehabilitation.
Government spokesperson, Thitima Chaisang reported the Cabinet approved a Bt11,026.607 million budget of which Bt5,693.800 million would go to transportation; Bt137.575 million to rebuilding religious and historical sites; Bt1,379.905 million to water resources and irrigation and Bt3,201.640 million to restore schools.
In addition, Bt613.688 million will go to the Ministry of Defence to repair military vehicles used to help flood victims in the capital and other inundated provinces. Around Bt341 million will cover hardware damaged by floods and Bt272 million for equipment damaged by military’s relief operations.
In a damage assessment report, the government reported that 8,252 factories in 42 provinces had suffered substantial losses estimated at Bt328,261 million including lost business revenue.
It included 888 factories in seven industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani province. They alone suffered losses of Bt171,087 million in lost revenue.
There were another 7,364 factories that filed claims for a total Bt157,174 in losses. Restoration will take up to six months to complete.
Myanmar’s Than Shwe steps down
YANGON, 5 April 2011 – Than Shwe, the general who ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for 19 years, has retired as head of the military after handing power to a nominally civilian government, officials said Monday.
The postman-turned-dictator, last week, disbanded the junta, the State Peace and Development Council, following November polls marred by the absence of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and complaints of cheating and intimidation.
“Senior general Than Shwe and vice-senior general, Maung Aye, retired 30 March after handing over power to the new government. They are staying at their homes in Naypyidaw. We cannot say their plan for the future. So far they are taking a rest,” a Myanmar official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Troops clash near ancient temple
PHNOM PENH, 4 February 2011 – Thai and Cambodian soldiers have clashed near a disputed temple on the two countries’ shared border, officials from both nations told AFP, amid increasing tensions between them.
“A clash is ongoing”, said Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith without elaborating.
A Cambodian soldier stationed near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both sides, told AFP by telephone fighting had broken out. Gunfire could be heard in the background.
BACKGROUND: Top army post goes to hardliner
BANGKOK, 1 October, 2010 – Thailand’s powerful new military chief, thought to take a hardline view of anti-government “Red Shirts,” vowed to protect the country’s monarchy in a ceremony Thursday to mark his appointment.
General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who officially starts work Friday, is the Thai army’s 37th commander-in-chief and takes the helm at a crucial juncture for the country following the deadliest political unrest in decades.
Pakistani officers mistreated in US
WASHINGTON, 1 September, 2010 – A delegation of Pakistani officers refused to attend a defense conference in the United States this week in protest over their treatment at a Washington airport, officials said Wednesday.
The nine Pakistanis were about to fly to Tampa, Florida from Dulles International Airport for a three-day conference at US Central Command when they were pulled off the plane and questioned for more than two hours.
