The Nation
Mekong runs dry as politics, business fail local communities
“The most disastrous situation in history,” was one expert’s stark verdict when shown images of the dry Mekong River bed and dead aquatic animals. Dr Chainarong Setthachua, a lecturer and ecology expert at Maha Sarakham University, was at a loss when asked to describe the ...
Piyaporn Wongruang
Water resources projects on track: ONWR
The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is planning to move forward with 100 water management projects worth Bt400 billion before the end of the year to boost available water up to 2.9 million cubic metres and cover the needs of 630,000 families nationwide, ...
Don grateful to China, Laos for opening Mekong dams
Arthayudh Srisamoot, the Foreign Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, had spoken to Chinese Ambassador Lyu Jian and Laos Ambassador Seng Soukhathivong on Tuesday following a media outcry about farmers suffering and the Mekong River running dry. “This severe drought is a natural problem because we have had ...
New master plan for elderly care to be drafted
Social Development and Human Security Juti Krairiksh said he would speed up the drafting of a new master plan for elderly care and submit it for the Cabinet’s approval within a month. Juti was speaking to reporters on Tuesday while accompanying a team of doctors from ...
Dramatic drop in Mekong water level sparks alarm
Mekong River water levels that fell dramatically on Thursday under impact from dam operations will soon recover, says the national water management agency. Somkiat Prajumwong, secretary-general at the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), offered the reassurance despite warnings from experts that the dams are destroying ...
Pratch Rujivanarom
People’s network takes on China over Mekong
Local residents and environmentalists spent the weekend having a hot debate with the Chinese Embassy about Beijing’s utilisation and management of the Mekong River. While the embassy accused Thai media of spreading false information on China’s development projects in Southeast Asia’s longest rivers, the Thai Mekong ...
Low-carbon farming the ‘NAMA’ way
More than 300 farmers gathered in a rice field in Suphan Buri province’s Baan Hua Mai Sung community rice centre to gain more experience and knowledge in earth-friendly farming practices during the Thai Rice NAMA Project’s kickoff event. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Doojduan Sasanavin, Deputy ...
Jirapan Boonnoon
Thailand encourages South Korean investment in Mekong subregion development projects
THAILAND has reassured South Korea there will be plenty of opportunities for the country’s participation in development projects in the Mekong subregion, the Foreign Ministry said. Several development projects are planned for this year and the next that can be carried out under the Mekong-ROK cooperation ...
Plight of citizens PUSHED ASIDE by progress
Looking from the West to the East, the North to the South, large-scale development continues apace across Southeast Asia, leaving a toll on people whether or not it is linked to ambitious plans proposed in Asean frameworks. On June12, Cambodian villagers had travelled a long distance and across the border ...
Piyaporn Wongruang
Myanmar launches first solar power plant
The Minbo Solar Power Plant project, hailed as a triumph by some Myanmar people and the Thai investors who supported this first phase, was celebrated with an opening ceremony on Thursday. The plant is Myanmar’s first renewable energy and solar power project, and viewed by many ...