PM received letter from residents suffering from factories in Saraburi

PM received letter from residents suffering from factories in Saraburi

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva received a letter from residents who suffered from factories' toxic waste release in Saraburi Province areas to be included in the consideration of the Environment Committee of the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister today (March 10) was delivered a letter from local residents who suffered from factories in Saraburi Province areas and demonstrated in front of the Democrat Party’s Head Office, urging the Government to shut down poisonous waste's dumping site to ease up villagers’ troubles, as well as asking for a discharge of Saraburi Governor Thanasek Assawanuwat.

The Prime Minister accepted the demands and said he would bring the matter into the consideration of the Environment Committee of the House of Representatives for further resolutions.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

TOT helps ICT Ministry monitoring IT threats

TOT helps ICT Ministry monitoring IT threats

TOT Plc Co Ltd sets up ICT Solution and telecommunication in the Internet Security Operation Centre (ISOC) of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry to monitor IT threats.

Mr Varut Suvakorn, Director and President TOT Plc Co Ltd said that ICT Ministry has employed the company to carry out the IT Threat Watch Centre Project of the ICT Ministry.

The project is to set up a system and equipments with Internet Data Centre, with staff to receive traces of internet threats, help information search and manage the storage system.

Equipments to analyze data and watch network securities of the laboratory as well as other necessary equipments, including large and medium sized monitor screens, a channeling system controlling 18 displaying monitors are also installed for speedy and efficient IT threat analysis.

The installment of the equipments is to provide more effective ICT Solution service in watching and tracing IT threats. The center established by TOT will be operating around the clock and can handle any expansion in the future since there are more people committing cyber crime.

ISOC is established to monitor website displaying inappropriate contents or pictures associated with the nation, religion, monarchy, traditions, cultures and all sorts of online games and gambling.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

Democrat tipped Piyasvasti Amranand as THAI President

Democrat tipped Piyasvasti Amranand as THAI President

Former energy minister Piyasvasti Amranand was approached by the government to take the post of president of the Thai Airways International (THAI) according to the Democrat party’s source.

The government decided to approach Mr Piyasvasti, now Chief Advisor of Kasikorn Bank, due to the national airline’s financial problems. The source said the government hoped that the former minister would be able to help rescue the company.

Mr Piyasvasti is one of 11 candidates contending for the post.

THAI is currently in urgent need of a recovery plan following a major loss of profits.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

ASEAN caravan visits Sirindhorn Museum

ASEAN caravan visits Sirindhorn Museum

Dr Suban Kaeomeexai, Deputy District Attorney of Sawannakhet, the Lao People's Democratic Republic said Thailand and Laos would collaborate to establish dinosaur learning center after a visit to Sirindhorn Museum yesterday with 200 other ASEAN Family Rally 2009 caravan members.

Dr Suban and caravan members from Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand visited Sirindhorn Museum and Phu Kham Khao Dinosaur Excavation Site in Sahatsakhan District, Kalasin Province.

The group was welcomed by Kalasin Deputy Governor Suvit Subongkot and Sahatsakhan District Chief Pramual Srithong. The group’s visit was part of ‘ASEAN Family Rally 2009’ project.

‘ASEAN Family Rally 2009’ Project is organised to promote collaboration between people in ASEAN region via exchanges of cultures, traditions and way of life. The project is also to develop the economy of member countries by using tourism and sports to strengthen ties among nations.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

THAI Labor Union divided over Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi transfer

THAI Labor Union divided over Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi transfer

The Thai Airways International Labor Union has been split into two factions on the topic of relocating all flights from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Today’s (March 10) meeting of the Thai Airways International Labor Union was cut short after its president, Mrs. Jamsri Sukchotirat, along with a group of members, abruptly walked out of the proceeding due to disagreement on the transfer of all THAI flights from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport as part of the single-airport policy. The walkout caused the meeting to remain inconclusive and thus incited frustration among other members supportive of the policy. A protest stage has also been erected outside of the THAI Headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road with participation from labor union members of outside agencies, such as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and TOT Public Company Limited.

Mr. Pakpoom Panrat, a THAI Labor Union member, criticized Mrs. Jamsri for involving outsiders into the issue and pointed out that the actions of the opposing faction would become detrimental to the company's image while also noting that the issue of flight relocation to Suvarnabhumi Airport had been brought up months ago. Nonetheless, he assured that most members of the THAI Labor Union are still hoping to continue talks to resolve the conflict.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

3rd leg of ASEAN rally arrives in Sukhothai

3rd leg of ASEAN rally arrives in Sukhothai

The 3rd leg of ASEAN Family Rally 2009 caravan from Cambodia arrives in Sukhothai today.

Sukhothai Provincial Centre of Tourism, Sports and Recreation Director Chareuk Pinprapa today (Mar 10)welcomed the 3rd leg of ASEAN Family Rally 2009 caravan traveling from Cambodia.

The caravan entered Thailand’s border via Si Sa Ket province. The motorcade then left from Phitsanulok Province and was greeted at Sukhothai Historical Park in Sukhothai Province.

‘ASEAN Family Rally 2009’ project is organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to encourage tourism routes in Thailand and other ASEAN members as Thailand assumes the Chair of ASEAN. The project is also to develop facilities along the rally route as well.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) : hospitals to hand out more anti-HIV pills

NHSO : hospitals to hand out more anti-HIV pills

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has agreed all hospitals nationwide with gold card social security contract to prescribe the anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pills to unemployed social security holders for their continuous medication.

NHSO Secretary General Medical Doctor Winai Sawasdiworn said that the NHSO is preparing to expand the prescription of the anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pills to social security holders, no matter they use their social security or health security rights.

Many HIV patients are experiencing problems of receiving continuous medication since many of them return home and becoming unemployed due to the economic crisis.

Currently, there are only 306 big hospitals nationwide with social security contracts offering anti-HIV pills while other 1,150 hospitals belonged to NHSO’s project in districts and communities do not offer such service.

Therefore, NHSO has to distribute the pills to all unemployed patients for their continuous medication and prevent drug resistance in the future.

MD Winai also said that currently there are 43,346 HIV patients holding social security who need to receive the pills. He believed that the existing budget will be able to cover further drug prescription for gold card social security holders too.

In addition, NHSO will speedily consider drug prescription for some other diseases which need continuous medication like tuberculosis to prevent drug resistance and more spreading of diseases.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

Thailand and Myanmar to study water diversion scheme

Thailand and Myanmar to study water diversion scheme

The Department of Water Resources is geared up to open a water diversion route from Myanmar with studies set to begin in September.

Director of the Department of Water Resources Siripong Hungsapruek stated yesterday that a recent meeting between Thai and Myanmar agencies that included representatives of the Royal Irrigation Department, the Energy Generating Authority of Thailand and the Department of East Asian Affairs reanalyzed a framework for cooperation in the development of water resources between the two nations established in 2005.

The gathering also studied a plan to divert water from Myanmar's Sai River into the Northern agricultural region of Thailand, noting that the action would benefit both nations in terms of irrigation and agricultural production.

The joint committee then moved to decide on the details of the Sai River water diversion scheme, proposing three locations where dams would be appropriate. The meeting also noted the need for a flood detection system to be put in place. Studies on the scheme will begin in September and take approximately 18 months.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

ASEAN nations to form new regional tourism strategy

ASEAN nations to form new regional tourism strategy

ASEAN member countries have created a strategic plan for regional tourism, emphasizing youth travel to bridge borders.

Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Sasithara Pichaichan-narong disclosed that Thailand's recent hosting of the ASEAN Summit agreed to create a new tourism strategy plan in light of the existing plans impending expiry date in 2010.

Tthe new plan will extend cooperation within the region on tourism for another 4 years, beginning in 2011. The 10 nations of ASEAN agreed that the most important type of tourism for the region during the period will be tourism for "connectivity".

The strategic plan will thus focus on promoting youths throughout the ASEAN region to travel to other member nations to exchange their cultures and create ties. The plan is also hoped to increase financial flow in ASEAN.

Miss Sasithara also revealed that Thailand and Japan have agreed to organize a joint Thai-Japanese tour to encourage tourism between both countries.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009