ID :
38098
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 19:17
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http://m.oananews.org//node/38098
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PM pledges to erase social divisions, boost economy in policy address
PM pledges to erase social divisions, boost economy in policy address
BANGKOK, Dec 30 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday pledged his coalition government would try to solve deepening social divisions which have impacted country's development which has already been hurt by the global economic slump.
The venue for the policy address by the premier was relocated from Parliament to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, several kilometres distant, to avoid confrontation with a siege of the parliamentary premises by anti-government protesters.
Delivering his government's policy statements to a joint House of Representatives and Senate session at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the premier said his coalition government has issued urgent policies which would be implemented and completed within one year.
"The government will boost confidence and stimulate the overall economy, promote reconciliation and the unity of the Thai people, and to establish a permanent office to administer the southern border provinces to resolve the problems in the region as well as making it a special development zone," Mr. Abhisit said as he addressed 330 members of parliament and senators during his two-hour policy speech.
Some 3,500 people have been killed since violence erupted in the deep South in January 2004.
On concerns regarding the projected sharp increase in unemployment in the kingdom in 2009, Mr. Abhisit said his government would focus on cooperating with the private sector in slowing down the problem of joblessness in the industrial sector.
Urgent measures will be adopted aimed at easing cost of living while school children will receive free education, text books and school uniforms until they complete higher secondary education, he said.
Free education is expected to begin in the 2009 educational year, due to start next May.
"The government will set up an economy-related ministerial committee and a joint public/private consultative committee to help solve economic problems," Mr. Abhisit said.
Only three persons, all senators, urged the government to create business confidence, reconciliation among people, amend problematic articles in the constitution and outdated laws, and to make poverty eradication the national agenda.
Opposition MPs boycotted the session which was not held at the Parliament because protesters loyal to anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) blocked entrances of the chamber as they demanded that Mr. Abhisit dissolve the House of Representatives.
Pledging that his government would try its best to restore foreign confidence, Mr. Abhisit said his government has an idea to push forward the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
The government has said recently that the summit, postponed from December, would be held in Bangkok in February 2009. (TNA)
BANGKOK, Dec 30 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday pledged his coalition government would try to solve deepening social divisions which have impacted country's development which has already been hurt by the global economic slump.
The venue for the policy address by the premier was relocated from Parliament to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, several kilometres distant, to avoid confrontation with a siege of the parliamentary premises by anti-government protesters.
Delivering his government's policy statements to a joint House of Representatives and Senate session at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the premier said his coalition government has issued urgent policies which would be implemented and completed within one year.
"The government will boost confidence and stimulate the overall economy, promote reconciliation and the unity of the Thai people, and to establish a permanent office to administer the southern border provinces to resolve the problems in the region as well as making it a special development zone," Mr. Abhisit said as he addressed 330 members of parliament and senators during his two-hour policy speech.
Some 3,500 people have been killed since violence erupted in the deep South in January 2004.
On concerns regarding the projected sharp increase in unemployment in the kingdom in 2009, Mr. Abhisit said his government would focus on cooperating with the private sector in slowing down the problem of joblessness in the industrial sector.
Urgent measures will be adopted aimed at easing cost of living while school children will receive free education, text books and school uniforms until they complete higher secondary education, he said.
Free education is expected to begin in the 2009 educational year, due to start next May.
"The government will set up an economy-related ministerial committee and a joint public/private consultative committee to help solve economic problems," Mr. Abhisit said.
Only three persons, all senators, urged the government to create business confidence, reconciliation among people, amend problematic articles in the constitution and outdated laws, and to make poverty eradication the national agenda.
Opposition MPs boycotted the session which was not held at the Parliament because protesters loyal to anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) blocked entrances of the chamber as they demanded that Mr. Abhisit dissolve the House of Representatives.
Pledging that his government would try its best to restore foreign confidence, Mr. Abhisit said his government has an idea to push forward the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
The government has said recently that the summit, postponed from December, would be held in Bangkok in February 2009. (TNA)
