Thai Co60 - State to cover medical bills

[P van Rooyen <rooyen@aib-vincotte.nl>]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/today/190800_News12.html

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State to cover cobalt 60 bills
Ministry urged to sue Kamol Sukosol

Anjira Assavanonda


The state will meet all future medical bills of the victims of the cobalt 60
radiation tragedy in Samut Prakan six months ago, Science Minister
Arthit Ourairat said yesterday.

Mr Arthit said help was at hand after representatives of the radiation
burn victims handed him a petition demanding action on three issues.

Heading the group was Kampol Vuthisarnsunthorn, uncle of Jitraporn
Jiam-udomsap who owns Somjit scrap shop.

Others present included Pattana Thamniyom, who had an abortion after
the leak, and Surinoi Yucharoen and Somjai Kaewpradub, shop employees
who suffer from low white blood cell counts.

They asked the ministry to establish a fund to relieve the victims' financial
burden, mainly involving medical treatment.

Some of them could not afford to travel to and from hospital, or could
not pay the cost of treatment at a private clinic in their neighbourhood.

They also want an investigation to identify the real culprits so they could
be made to take full responsibility, and for the findings to be made
public.

Thirdly, that the ministry speed up legal proceedings against Kamol
Sukosol Electric Co, as no progress has been reported since the Office
of Atomic Energy for Peace sued the company for violating the OAEP
Act six months ago.

Voravit Charoenlert, who chairs the working group for radiation victims,
said the people who were injured and families of those who died in the
tragedy had still not received assistance from the state.

The government had made no clear announcement on the issue.

The group rallied in front of Kamol Sukosol on Tuesday demanding total
compensation of more than 17 million baht, but their protest seemed in
vain, Mr Voravit said.

None of the senior management turned up to meet them or accept their
letter.

There was only a negative response from Suwat Apaipakdi, the firm's
legal adviser.

Mr Suwat said afterwards the company would not pay the victims more
compensation, particularly the scrap collectors who were "thieves" and
had stolen the company's property.

The company has paid those injured 10,000 baht each.

Mr Arthit gave an undertaking the ministry would help in negotiations
with Kamol Sukosol for more assistance for the victims.

The minister said there were three parties in the wrong regarding the
accident.

The first group comprised the Science Ministry and the OAEP, which
failed to ensure radioactive objects were stored in a safe place and had
failed to properly educate the public.

The second party was Kamol Sukosol, which had not stored the cobalt
60 containers properly and therefore violated the OAEP Act.

The third group was the scrap collectors who were believed to have
taken the cobalt 60 containers from the company's lot in Soi Onnuj.

Mr Arthit said he did not blame the scrap collectors because they were
victims who unknowingly took away the radioactive material.

He vowed to do his best to respond to their demands.

No matter who was right or wrong, the first priority was to ensure the
sick people had proper treatment, Dr Arthit said.

He did not have the authority to force Kamol Sukosol to help the
victims, Mr Arthit said.

It was possible the ministry may have to take the case to court.

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Paul van Rooijen
Manager HSE
AIB-Vinçotte Nederland BV
Postbus 6869, 4802 HW Breda
The Netherlands

tel	++31 (0) 76 579 11 54
fax	++31 (0) 76 587 47 60 
e-mail	rooyen@aib-vincotte.nl



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