PM wants Khao Lak reconstructed by the end of this year

PHANG-NGA: -- Thailand's Khao Lak resort in the southern Phang-nga Province will be fully redeveloped this 26 December, exactly one year after it was devastated by the last 26 December tsunamis, with a grand celebration to be held on that day, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has announced.

Speaking to journalists in Phang-nga today after attending a meeting on ways to help local hotel businesses affected by the tsunami disaster, Mr. Thaksin said he had assigned Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak to consult with agencies concerned in both the public and private sectors on how to fully redevelop the tsunami-hit areas in time for the next tourism season, which is only 255 days left.

He said he wanted both the public and private sector to help reconstruct Khao Lak, which was said to be one of the country's most attractive tourist destinations before the tsunami disaster, as soon as possible.

He stressed that every concerned unit must render cooperation in order to restore and improve Khao Lak by 26 December, 2005.

Apart from Mr. Somkid, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula and Deputy Finance Minister Varathep Ratanakorn also attended the meeting, chaired by the prime minister.

Mr. Thaksin said he wanted major businesses in Khao Lak, especially the hotels, to recover as quickly as possible because foreign tourists were prepared to re-visit Thailand.

The government, he said, was willing to invest in infrastructure, and the private sector should invest in their own businesses.

These two things should be done simultaneously, he told the meeting.

Touching on complaints made by business operators that financial assistance was still insufficient, Mr. Thaksin said the issue was insignificant, and he was confident that everything would be fully developed within 255 days from now .

"Confidence building for foreign tourists is not a problem, as they are prepared to visit Thailand if there is no hotel accommodation problem", said Mr. Thaksin.

Before the meeting, Mr. Thaksin met army disaster relief centre officers and villagers in the area hit by the tsunamis.

He thanked the officers for their efforts in assisting the tsunami victims.

He reportedly told them that the next priority was to build schools with funds provided by His Majesty the King.

The other main priority was to help identify the victims who had perished in the disaster, he said.

The prime minister said he planned to discuss Thailand’s need for technical assistance from the US with the two former US presidents, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, on Saturday evening.

The two former US presidents are visiting Thailand on 19-20 February to assess damages caused by the disaster and explore opportunities for cooperation with the Thai kingdom in the latter's rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

Mr. Thaksin said he would not accept financial assistance from the US unless the money went directly to help the tsunami victims.

--TNA 2005-01-19

Mr. Thaksin said he would not accept financial assistance from the US unless the money went directly to help the tsunami victims.

That US money is just too nice to say 'no' to.

Good the rebuilding is going ahead - but I will stick to Phuket for my vacations and not Khao Lak.

no mention of the sea gypsys plight,of course

Its good to see that some of the money is making its way to where its suppose to go, and not just in some ones pocket.

It's all about money (isn't it)

It's all about money (isn't it) 

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It always is

Well the money did go to the victims, but guess what, HEY!!!!!!! what happen to the cash man?????? All of it is gone!!!!!!!! What are we going to do now????????

Does anyone remember its disappearance???? of recent or are you dudes that shortsighted and have amnesia?????

Sigh

So Thasky says no to USA aid, yet he still got it via the hot channels and it went to whose pockets????????????? Oooooooooops I think we all know don't we?????

Hehehehehehee, as porky pig says---->>>>> "THAT'S ALL FOLKS"

Daveyo

Well the money did go to the victims, but guess what, HEY!!!!!!! what happen to the cash man??????  All of it is gone!!!!!!!!  What are we going to do now????????

Does anyone remember its disappearance????  of recent or are you dudes that shortsighted and have amnesia?????

Sigh

So Thasky says no to USA aid, yet he still got it via the hot channels and it went to whose pockets?????????????  Oooooooooops  I think we all know don't we?????

Hehehehehehee,  as porky pig says---->>>>>  "THAT'S ALL FOLKS"

Daveyo

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quit the drink David.

Well the money did go to the victims, but guess what, HEY!!!!!!! what happen to the cash man??????   All of it is gone!!!!!!!!   What are we going to do now????????

Does anyone remember its disappearance????  of recent or are you dudes that shortsighted and have amnesia?????

Sigh

So Thasky says no to USA aid, yet he still got it via the hot channels and it went to whose pockets?????????????  Oooooooooops   I think we all know don't we?????

Hehehehehehee,  as porky pig says---->>>>>  "THAT'S ALL FOLKS"

Daveyo

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Quit the drink David.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

seconded!

I couldn't quite put that gem together.

Well the money did go to the victims, but guess what, HEY!!!!!!! what happen to the cash man??????  All of it is gone!!!!!!!!  What are we going to do now????????

Does anyone remember its disappearance????  of recent or are you dudes that shortsighted and have amnesia?????

Sigh

So Thasky says no to USA aid, yet he still got it via the hot channels and it went to whose pockets?????????????  Oooooooooops  I think we all know don't we?????

Hehehehehehee,  as porky pig says---->>>>>  "THAT'S ALL FOLKS"

Daveyo

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quit the drink David.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

seconded!

I couldn't quite put that gem together.

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Dave used to fix 777's ... I gave up flying in 'em