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Jose Julio Rozental
Israel
BANGKOK POST,
26/10/2002
Cobalt-60 victims slam
minister, demand bigger payout
Victims of the cobalt-60 leakage accident are unhappy with the
science minister's response to pleas for speedy compensation and extra
help.
``I'm not happy. It's not clear when the compensation would be paid
out to us,'' said Sonthaya Srapratum after a one-hour talk with Science and
Technology Minister Pinit Charusombat.
Victims want an extra 2.8 million
baht on top of the 5.2 million baht compensation awarded by the Administrative
Court on Sept 27.
The court found that the Office of Atomic Energy for
Peace had failed to properly regulate the use and storage of radioactive
materials, resulting in the cobalt-60 leak in Samut Prakan two years ago that
killed three people and seriously injured several scrap workers.
The
court told the office to pay within 30 days, but so far the office has failed to
contact the 12 victims.
Mr Pinit told the victims to ``calm down'' and
said the payment including extra help would be paid. The amount of extra aid
would be considered on a case-by-case basis. He did not say when the
compensation would be paid.
Legal expert Somchai Homlaor said mental
suffering due to the accident should not be ignored.
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONIQUE
Friday, October 25, 2002
Report: U.S.
'dangerously unprepared'
Panel of experts sees seaports, power plants as
most vulnerable
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