Thailand Does Not Need Any Foreign Aid

[Pie Boy]

Perhaps the PM doesn't want foreign journalist and agencies hanging around his country for too long, who knows what else they may uncover.If he does it all by himself then great spin material.

[george]

Thailand explains why it does not need foreign aid

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has refused direct aid from foreign donors because the country wants to be on an equal footing with other members of the international community, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters on Monday.

However, Thailand would be glad to accept assistance in the form of training and the transfer of technology, Mr. Thaksin explained.

“It’s a different story, between us and the begging bowl. We are grateful and will gladly accept offers of medical aid, schools, housing or hospitals being built for the poor. But what I decline is direct cash funds to the Thai government, because we want to be equal in the international political arena. If we keep begging, our credibility will be undermined,” he said.

The international donor community should give priority to nations which are in dire need of immediate help like Indonesia, where an entire island has been entirely wiped out by the Tsunami.

--TNA 2005-01-11

[sriracha john]

Thailand explains why it does not need foreign aid 

BANGKOK: --  Thailand has refused direct aid from foreign donors because the country wants to be on an equal footing with other members of the international community, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters on Monday.

However, Thailand would be glad to accept assistance in the form of training and the transfer of technology, Mr. Thaksin explained.

“It’s a different story, between us and the begging bowl. We are grateful and will gladly accept offers of medical aid, schools, housing or hospitals being built for the poor. But what I decline is direct cash funds to the Thai government, because we want to be equal in the international political arena. If we keep begging, our credibility will be undermined,” he said.

The international donor community should give priority to nations which are in dire need of immediate help like Indonesia, where an entire island has been entirely wiped out by the Tsunami.

--TNA 2005-01-11

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

afterall, Thailand is not a poor country, right? The country is so well off financially that it can afford to decline help.

[chonabot]

Thailand explains why it does not need foreign aid 

BANGKOK: --  Thailand has refused direct aid from foreign donors because the country wants to be on an equal footing with other members of the international community, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters on Monday.

However, Thailand would be glad to accept assistance in the form of training and the transfer of technology, Mr. Thaksin explained.

“It’s a different story, between us and the begging bowl. We are grateful and will gladly accept offers of medical aid, schools, housing or hospitals being built for the poor. But what I decline is direct cash funds to the Thai government, because we want to be equal in the international political arena. If we keep begging, our credibility will be undermined,” he said.

The international donor community should give priority to nations which are in dire need of immediate help like Indonesia, where an entire island has been entirely wiped out by the Tsunami.

--TNA 2005-01-11

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

afterall, Thailand is not a poor country, right? The country is so well off financially that it can afford to decline help.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Taksin - Rich

Kon ban nok - Not Rich.

[mffun]

Thailand explains why it does not need foreign aid 

BANGKOK: --  Thailand has refused direct aid from foreign donors because the country wants to be on an equal footing with other members of the international community, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters on Monday.

However, Thailand would be glad to accept assistance in the form of training and the transfer of technology, Mr. Thaksin explained.

“It’s a different story, between us and the begging bowl. We are grateful and will gladly accept offers of medical aid, schools, housing or hospitals being built for the poor. But what I decline is direct cash funds to the Thai government, because we want to be equal in the international political arena. If we keep begging, our credibility will be undermined,” he said.

The international donor community should give priority to nations which are in dire need of immediate help like Indonesia, where an entire island has been entirely wiped out by the Tsunami.

--TNA 2005-01-11

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is correct, thanks Thaksin!

Now we have one competition with unfortunately to donate.

This is a very bad indication, but same the terror does not stop!!!

Edited January 11, 2005 by mffun

[aaaaaa]

at least Thailand doesn't restrict such works !

=========================================

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4163517.stm

Tuesday, 11 January, 2005, 10:47 GMT

Indonesia restricts Aceh aid work

Indonesia's army is to restrict relief workers from reaching remoter parts of the tsunami-hit province of Aceh.

The army said aid workers must now register to travel outside the towns of Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, because it could not guarantee safety elsewhere.

Correspondents say the army wants to re-establish control over Aceh, where it has been battling separatist rebels.

Aceh, near the epicentre of the quake, was worst hit in the natural disaster that has killed about 150,000 people.

The United Nations is hosting a meeting of donor countries in Geneva to discuss how best to spend the billions of dollars pledged around the world to help victims of the tsunami.

One of the major concerns is to ensure that, in contrast with previous catastrophes, all the money promised is actually paid this time and reaches the people who need it.

Protecting aid

The head of the army, Endriartono Sutarto, admitted the restrictions could slow down relief efforts.

General Sutarto told the BBC the move was necessary because he had to protect foreign aid workers.

He accused the separatist Free Aceh Movement (Gam) of stealing aid, although aid agencies, who have been travelling freely outside the main towns, have not reported any problems.

Sofyan Dawood, a Gam spokesman in Aceh, told the BBC that the authorities were trying to paint the rebels as the black sheep, and stressed that Gam were Acehnese - unlike some of the military in Aceh - and were keen to support the aid effort.

Correspondents say the Indonesian government and the military may be pursuing different policies on how to handle Aceh following the tsunami.

Earlier, Indonesia's foreign minister told the BBC that Jakarta had struck a "gentleman's agreement" with rebels not to disrupt aid efforts.

Speaking on a visit to London, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said he sensed an "optimism that both sides are interested for reconciliation".

He said Jakarta had made contact with Gam, in a bid to avoid clashes between Indonesian government troops and rebels during the aid effort.

Before 26 December Aceh had been under emergency rule and was closed both to aid agencies and the international media.

In 2003, Indonesia's military launched an offensive against the rebels, who are estimated to have lost more than 2,000 men over the past two years.

Aid agencies will fear this new directive could increase bureaucracy on the ground where local commanders have immediate control, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Aceh.

Some minor skirmishes have been reported and both sides have accused the other of using the tsunami as a pretext for a renewed offensive, but the claims have not been independently verified.

Correspondents do stress the pre-tsunami level of hostility has not resumed.

In Sri Lanka, where Tamil Tiger separatists have also fought a long-running battle for independence, hopes that the tsunami might calm tensions have proved unfounded.

Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga said on Monday that she had advised UN Secretary General Kofi Annan against visiting rebel-held areas in northern Sri Lanka during a weekend visit to the country.

The Tigers have accused the central government in Colombo of withholding aid from Tamil areas of the country and using the disaster as a pretext for sending government troops into Tamil-governed area.

A 20-year war civil war in Sri Lanka killed 64,000 before a ceasefire was brokered in 2002. The agreement was faltering in the weeks before the tsunami struck Sri Lanka.

ACEH: KEY FACTS

Province on the north-western tip of Sumatra

Higher percentage of Muslims than other parts of Indonesia

Gam rebels have fought decades-long separatist campaign

Year-long military crackdown beginning in May 2003 weakened Gam, but failed to capture senior members

[Felt 35]

Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai prime minister, on Monday declared that the country did not need foreign aid to help it recover from the tsunami disaster

How can it be that the local people and even media have another declaration.

[sriracha john]

I daresay it's not the first time he's been out of step and out of touch with the reality of his country's people.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I daresay it's not the first time he's been out of step and out of touch with the reality of his country's people.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nor his last either.

[chico]

I daresay it's not the first time he's been out of step and out of touch with the reality of his country's people.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nor his last either.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i would dare say "he (certainly appears to be but) is not out..." -he knows exactly where and when to score and how to get reelected, by ALL MEANS!

He did not need to watch american preelection farces!

[David Barker]

I daresay it's not the first time he's been out of step and out of touch with the reality of his country's people.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nor his last either.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i would dare say "he (certainly appears to be but) is not out..." -he knows exactly where and when to score and how to get reelected, by ALL MEANS!

He did not need to watch american preelection farces!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[aaaaaa]

Italy's Berlusconi to donate 6.5 million dollars to tsunami-hit Thailand

Fri Jan 21,12:45 PM ET

ROME (AFP) - Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would donate five million euros (6.5 million dollars) in aid to Thailand to "set an example" for aiding recovery efforts following the tsunami disaster, the Italian press reported...

[sriracha john]

Thaksin and Ber...... have been compared as being very similiar beyond their shared billionaire businessmen background.

Additional news is also VERY interesting as this is EXACTLY what Thaksin had asked for. In lieu of direct foreign aid, he had asked for an easing in the shrimp tariff. And now, the WTO is making a formal request to it's member countries for the same thing.

Has Dr. (psuedo-PhD) Thaksin become that influential in world circles? ..... I perish that thought, but we'll find out if and when the countries agree.

Shrimp Group: Tariffs to Aid Thailand

Fri Jan 21, 3:08 AM ET Business - AP

By CAIN BURDEAU, Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS - American shrimpers oppose easing trade sanctions against India and Thailand, saying new tariffs they fought for will actually help drive up prices in those tsunami-ravaged countries.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance, an eight-state group of U.S. fishermen and processors, made its opposition public after the World Trade Organization called on its member countries last week to lift barriers on countries struck by the Dec. 26 disaster.

[aaaaaa]

Aceh buries dead, peace hopes fade

Monday, January 31, 2005 Posted: 12:53 AM EST (0553 GMT)

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had pledged that his country would offer $10 million towards the international warning system, The Associated Press reported.

Other countries have pledged at least $8 million to the effort................