Thaksin Appreciates Thais' Unity During Crisis

[george]

PM appreciates Thais' unity during crisis

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra expressed his appreciation on Thai people's unity in helping tsunami victims in six disaster-stricken provinces in the South.

Speaking to reporters at his Bangkok residence, he disclosed that His Majesty the King was happy to see Thai people's willingness to extend their help in any way they could.

Thai people, he added, shared the royal family's grief for losing Khun Poom Jensen, His Majesty's grandson, in the tragic disaster.

Mr. Thaksin planned to revisit the tsunami-battered areas on Jan. 2 while his wife, Khunying Pojaman, and her team were in Phang-nga and Phuket to provide assistance to survivors.

Rescue operations in recovering bodies were only half way and more bodies would be found, he said, adding that the delay was partly due to power blackout and communication breakdown.

''Other countries have offered assistances especially equipments, experts and personnel and we have not turned them down. We however would not accept financial aids since some less fortunate nations were hit harder by the tidal waves. The money should be sent to them instead,'' he said.

Mr.Thaksin added that the government would look into ways to find employment for those who lost their jobs.

--TNA 2004-12-31