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 Media Centre
Media Monitoring
Sources: Bangkok Post, MCOT, ThaisNews and The Nation 18 October 2005:
Thailand's tsunami early warning system to be fully completed by March 2006According to, Suranand Vejjajiva, the first 12 signal receivers acquired through the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology had arrived and could be completely installed by the end of next month. He also stressed that before mid-December the installation would be finished at 24 towers from a total of 62 structures. The remaining 38 towers are expected to be completed in March next year. The Minister added that the authorities would decide where more towers are to be placed, and which towers would be raised first. 18 October 2005:
MFA and foreign embassies expressed different forms of frustration over commemoration activities on Dec 26They say they are involved in the delicate and sensitive business of communicating with survivors and the relatives of the victims, according to diplomatic sources. Problems regarding the identification of the victims' next of kin, verifying eligible applicants, and the legal implications regarding individuals' rights to privacy and some concern over whether it is appropriate to hold a commemoration in an ``entertainment'' or ``concert'' style are raised by diplomats. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry officials have voiced their concerns over the invitation process and shortcoming in terms of accommodation. 19 October 2005:
Meeting held to brief hotel operators in Phuket on arrangements for the tsunami disaster 1st anniversaryA meeting was held today between private sector entities in Phuket concerning room accommodation for tourists who will come to participate in the tsunami 1-year anniversary. Representatives of each hotel were asked to declare the number of rooms they are willing to provide in accommodations of this group of tourists. In total, about 1,700 rooms have been gathered in the meeting. 19 October 2005:
ID centre forensic row flares up againConflict is once again brewing between police and the Justice Ministry's Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) over the operation of the Disaster Victims Identification (DVI) centres. Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, the new CIFS director, said the PM had ordered the DVI centres at Phuket and Phang Nga to be transferred to CIFS control by October. The police had, however, not followed this instruction. 20 October 2005:
Tsunami anniversary project announced Six major activities would commemorate the first anniversary of the Dec 26 tsunami disaster under a project planned by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. Project ''Clear-sky Andaman _ Care for the Environment'' will involve the rehabilitation of natural resources and the environment to raise public awareness of natural disasters. The activities would promote cooperation between the state, the mass media, the private sector and the public to rehabilitate coastal resources such as mangrove and beach forests, coral reefs, and marine flora and fauna. 21 October 2005:
Govt denies tsunami-aid fraudThe Thai Prime Minister insisted that the government had provided comprehensive assistance to tsunami victims and did so using strict accountancy practices to ensure transparency. He said that problems occurred when some victims were perceived to have received more help from the private sector than others. He also defended the government's plan to pay for overseas visitors to travel to attend the anniversary on December 26, saying it was intended to honour the victims and apologise for the disaster. |
© 2005 United Nations Thailand
