Today'som Thailand

["J. J. Rozental" <joseroze@netvision.net.il>]

Bangkok Post Feb 29, 2000 - Safety team satisfied with local efforts
http://www.bangkokpost.net/today/290200_News06.html
Safety team satisfied with local efforts
Safe storage now the priority, says Arthit

Anchalee Kongrut

Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have expressed
their approval of the way Thai doctors had handled the radiation poisoning
cases and the performance of local nuclear experts in recovering the leaking
cobalt-60 cylinders, the deputy science minister said.
Pornthep Techapaiboon said: "They told us that Thai officials had followed
all international rules and regulations and did everything they had to
do."Carlos Nogueira de Oliveira, the mission leader, patted the shoulder of
Manoon Aramrattana, deputy secretary-general of the Office of Atomic Energy
for Peace (OAEP) on Sunday and said the agency had done an "excellent" job
in recovering the radioactive containers in such a short time.
The priority now for the government is to find a new radioactive waste
storage area, according to Arthit Ourairat, the science minister.
"The more we look into the matter of radioactive waste, the more problems we
see. The state should play a role in offering a safe area for radioactive
waste storage. It is difficult for the private sector to live up to
international safety standards," Mr Arthit told a press briefing yesterday.
He admitted that nuclear waste storage facilities to be built under the
Ongkharak Nuclear Research Reactor project would face more resistance from
local villagers.
Ongkharak villagers in Nakhon Nayok province, who are mostly farmers, have
campaigned against the project for several years. They cited lack of
adequate safety standards and demanded that the project be scrapped or
relocated to a more suitable site.
Early last year, Akrapol Sorasuchart, a Democrat MP and now the government
spokesman, publicly said that the Ongkharak project should be scrutinised
because corruption was involved and also put the country at great risk.
The National Counter Corruption Commission was asked to look into the
accusations and Sak Korsaengreung of the Law Society of Thailand was asked
to inspect the contract.
Mr Arthit said all suspicions should be removed before it should be allowed
to be implemented.
A public hearing is to be held soon to ensure public participation in the
project.
Mr Manoon requested the media to tone down reports on the condition of
victims of the radiation contamination.
He said the patients were in a depressive mood and some even wished to die
after learning through media reports that they were incurable and would
easily get cancer if they survived.
The radiation scare is far from over as hundreds of Phra Pradaeng residents
rushed to have their blood tested yesterday. Health officials said earlier
tests conducted on some 400 people on February 20 showed they were all free
of contamination.
Four of the patients who have been admitted to hospital after coming into
direct contact with the cobalt 60 were still in critical condition and
doctors were trying their best to boost their white blood cell count.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry yesterday asked all government agencies to
hand updated information on hazardous chemicals and substances to the Civil
Defence Office and to Bangkok and provincial governors within 15 days.
Chanasak Yuwaboon, the permanent secretary for Interior, said each governor
needed to know the details on hazardous substances, the type and amount, the
whereabouts, the name of importers, so that monitoring could be properly
done.
The government agencies involved include the Industry, Science, Agriculture
and Public Health ministries.


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