GOVT IS BEING ENGROSSED WITH POVERTY ERADICATION

The government is fully engaged in the mission to eradicate poverty nationwide, while Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra anticipates that Thai people will have a better quality of life within the next three years.

The premier said that Deputy Prime Minister CHAVALIT YONGCHAIYUDH (ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ), concerned officials and different ministries’ permanent-secretaries will have a meeting today, and they will discuss the poverty eradication scheme.

Dr. Thaksin said that every unit has to work hard in order to get rid of poverty. He has also urged officials to develop the country.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 January 2006

Dr. Thaksin said that every unit has to work hard in order to get rid of poverty. He has also urged officials to develop the country.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 January 2006

So what on earth does he think officials have been doing non-stop for the past 4 decades if not "developing" it? Whether (state-led) "development" has been the source of or solution of persistent poverty in a country with one of the most stark rich-poor divides in the world should be taxing Dr Thaksin's mind far more than are officials engrossed with "developing the country" or not. Notice that since the Atsamat debacle he's suddenly gained a PhD in poverty eradication, with a specialism in crisp white note therapy.

I hope he is successful but watching some of the locals dig thru the trash at our local trash dump leads me to believe he has his work cut out for him.

Do politicians back home talk this much <deleted>?

CHART THAI SAID THAT THE GOVT SHOULD ALSO SOLVE POVERTY IN CITY

Chart Thai party said that the government should also find ways to solve poverty for the city people, not just the people in the provinces.

Chart Thai spokesperson Janista Liew-chalermwong (จณิสตา ลิ่มเฉลิมวงศ์) commented on the poverty eradication workshop in At Samart (อาจสามารถ) district that poverty is a big issue that will need time to solve. She said that it is difficult for the government to eradicate poverty from the country within the year 2008 deadline.

Ms. Janista added that the government should also care for the city people, as there are also poverty problems in cities across the country. She suggested that government officials be allowed to participate in solving the problems, adding that the government should listen to opinions of local politicians and MPs as they know the real issues in the areas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 January 2006