Thailand Live Thursday 8 Mar 2012

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Police arrest Udon Thani inmate who escaped while dredging sewage pipe in Saimai area; slapped with 6 more months of jail term /TAN_Network

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PM: Government to empower women's roles

BANGKOK, March 8 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on International Women's Day 2012 affirmed her government is giving importance to and empowering women.

In a speech posted on the Government House website, Ms Yingluck passed on a well-wishing message to Thai women countrywide on this day, saying that a number of Thai women are educated, have potential and are leaders in every business, which reflects that their abilities are second to none compared to those of other nations.

The prime minister added her administration had set up a fund, in which women from all sectors and communities can take part, in order to develop their roles for further knowledge and ability to keep up with the world.

She strongly wished Thai women to fully develop their potential for self-improvement and the development of their families and societies.

Meanwhile, a group of female workers were protesting in the capital's Chamaimaruchate Bridge near Government House in order to submit a letter to the prime minister on International Women's Day.

They asked the government to find solutions to many issues, including employment termination of women working in the industrial sector as a result of the recent flood, limited access to national development funds for women in the industrial sector, and lack of childcare for women labourers working in factories.

The demonstration was not satisfactory to the protesters, as no government representative received the letter to give to the prime minister.

They made an ironic speech that the Thai prime minister is a woman but gives no importance to the International Women's Day, which falls on the same day as their protest, and threw the letter into the Government House wall.

The demonstration lasted for an hour and a half. The demonstrators said they would continue to go back to the site to protest. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-08

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Fire seen on 4th floor of 15-storey Mercure Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 22; fire trucks arriving while electricity in soi cut off /TAN_Network

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Thailand Live Friday 9 Mar 2012