Stores and schools closed, roads cut off, residents advised to stockpile food and water as disease continues to pose a threat in many areas

POPULARITY SLUMP: Reality hits ruling party in Bangkok charm offensive

TRT MPs brought in to win over capital’s voters told of anger over failed drug crackdown, lack of funds for city’s problems. The Thai Rak Thai Party has some hard work to do if it wants to shore up its popularity in the capital, which has slipped due to a growing disappointment with the government. The ruling party heard a number of complaints and growing frustration from 500 Bangkok residents in Min Buri’s Klong Samwa constituency during a two-hour meeting organised at a local school on Saturday. The meeting, attended by party MPs and members of Cabinet along with others from all of Bangkok’s constituencies, was part of the ruling party’s annual gathering held over the weekend, which came to a close yesterday.

SOUTH DISASTER: Study shows region may one day be swamped

Winter deluges only the start; global warming adding to problem. The chronic flooding in the South was a warning signal to Thailand that the heaviest floods in the country’s history – 6,000 years ago – would be repeated within 60 years, according to a geologist who has studied global climate change.

State agencies to be ‘smoke free’

The Public Health Ministry has called on all government agencies to ensure that their buildings are completely smoke-free.

Environment is No 1 concern for city folk

The environment, traffic congestion and the illegal drug trade were among the top concerns of Bangkok residents, a survey by the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party has found.

IN BRIEF: education

NAP head joins school-transfer fight. New Aspiration Party leader and former education minister Chingchai Mongkoltham was yesterday named as an adviser to the movement against the transfer of state schools to local administrative organisations.

WTO DEMONSTRATIONS: 79 Thai farmers, protesters arrested in HK

Representative complains of lack of aid from Thai diplomats. Police arrested 79 Thai activists and farmers who joined anti-World Trade Organisation demonstrations in Hong Kong early yesterday morning along with more than 900 protesters from several other countries.

TRT leadership stands by spokesmen

Thai Rak Thai will not change its spokesmen, despite criticism from MPs that the staff were politically inexperienced, party deputy secretary general Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday.

Govt struggling for credibility: Opposition

The government has been trying to restore public credibility in the wake of bad press involving certain key figures, the Democrat Party’s spokesman said yesterday.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: PM heads north

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today goes to Sukhothai province to preside over the opening of the “Poverty-fighting Caravan”. He will also hand out land title deeds to villagers.

Legal aid for Burmese workers

A legal counselling clinic aimed at providing assistance to exploited Burmese labourers opened yesterday in Mae Sot.

Medical aid dispatched

The Public Health Ministry has sent 100,000 medical-supply packs and mobile medical teams to the South. The ministry said about 40,000 people had been injured in the disaster.