Mr Kasit said all ASEAN nations had emerged with the confidence that all nations had to help each other move forward to be an ASEAN Community as well as to overcome and resolve any problems and challenges. He said the discussions thus far were progressing well, adding that everyone contributed to the meeting.
The Minister cited that it was time that all ASEAN nations had to commit themselves to own their destiny and gain respect from the international community.Mr Kasit elaborated that ASEAN has been working on the Nargis rehabilitation plan and would move to the Rohingya migrants issue in the Indian Ocean. He affirmed that ASEAN would work closely with the Myanmar Government in accordance with the ASEAN Charter and the Roadmaps towards a general election and reconciliation in Myanmar.
]]>In a press conference after the meetings, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya elaborated that the draft ToR would be proposed in the name ‘ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights’. He said the ASEAN Human Rights Body would be tasked to promote and protect human rights in ASEAN, and would be launched at the 15th ASEAN Summit which will take place in October 2009 in Phuket, Thailand.
Mr Kasit stated that national selection of the body could begin right after the meeting if the ToR could be endorsed at the Foreign Minister Retreat. He explained that the body would consist of one representative appointed by each ASEAN member nation, who would be serving a three-year term, adding that they could come from any sector.
In addition, the Minister informed that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers also endorsed the draft agreement on privileges and immunities of ASEAN, which would be in the same manner as that of the United Nations (UN). He said that it was hoped also that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers would be able to sign this draft during the 15th ASEAN Summit.
The ten ASEAN Foreign Ministers are currently meeting in the southern island of Phuket, at the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meetings, Post-Ministerial Conferences and 16th ASEAN Regional Forum from 17-23 July.
]]>Lt-Gen. Pichet Wisaijorn, commander of the Fourth Army Region responsible for security in the South, inspected security checkpoints, expressing satisfaction with security preparations people in the province had cooperated well to host the meetings.
Thailand is hosting the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) from Friday (July 17), running through next Thursday (July 23).
Meanwhile, Sunthorn Tohman, a leader of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), on Saturday led about 60 members to meet Phuket governor Wichai Praisa-ngob, telling him they would travel to the northern province of Chiang Mai to see Thailand’s new panda cub.
Mr. Sunthorn submitted a letter to the governor, saying that the Red Shirts supported the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting and that the UDD would have nothing to do with any chaos, if it happened, occurring during the meetings as his group is leaving for Chiang Mai.
He said the group would go to see the baby panda at Chiang Mai zoo. The governor supported the trip by giving Bt6,000 to the group and asked the Highway Police to facilitate the trip to Chiang Mai.
However, Mr. Wichai said officials would continue to watch for any untoward incident out
]]>“The ASEAN Foreign Ministers strongly condemn the bombings in Jakarta on 17 July 2009, which caused loss of innocent lives and injuries,” said the statement.
The statement said the ministers supported the Indonesian government’s effort to “bring the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice.”
It said: “ASEAN stands united with the government and people of Indonesia and remains steadfast in our continued fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
Foreign ministers of ASEAN will hold meetings in the Thai southern resort of Phuket from Sunday to Thursday in the coming week. (TNA)
]]>The Supreme Commander and his team were welcomed by Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob at the airport. He surveyed several places in the province such as the Phuket Provincial police station, and the Cherngthalae Witthayakom School to make sure that the security measures of the provinces had been prepared for the international meeting. Besides, he also checked the preparedness of the security unit stationed at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Hotel Phuket which would be the venue for the ASEAN meeting.
The source reported that the atmosphere in the province was quite lively as officials of several countries have already arrived. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting would kick off tomorrow.
]]>Mr Eivino Byberg, a Norwegian tourist said he was not scared of the H1N1 outbreak situation in Thailand. In an interview with NNT, he shared that he had been traveling in Thailand with other six members of his family to many provinces in Thailand from Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. He informed that his family trip would be completed with snorkeling activities in Phuket, adding that this was his fourth time to Thailand.
Meanwhile, Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob informed that the outbreak situation in the province was not a concerning matter, reasoning that there were not many influenza A patients in the province. However, he asserted that Phuket authorities were prepared for the virus, adding that sanitary masks were already ordered.
]]>Natural resources such as plants and fruits are the real reason behind these goats’ healthy physique. Akkara is feeding his goat with these fruits and plants he’s growing in his farm and he also uses them as his cooking ingredient, he does not need to buy ingredients from outside at all, which is a good way to cut costs on grocery shopping.
The goat’s excrement is also the best fertilizer for the trees, plants and fruits to grow. This is such a great example of a sustainable lifestyle following His Majesty the King’s philosophy of living a sustainable life and maintaining the balance and respecting the environment. We talked more to Akkara Ti-ti-tha-vorn about the way he’s living his sustainable life following His Majesty The King’s philosophy.
“I am applying the ‘self-help management’ theory to this farm. We are living a sustainable lifestyle following His Majesty The King’s Philosophy. This goat farm is not only producing clean pasteurized goat milk but also we are successful in breeding new goat breeds for export sales. Also, we have this so-called ‘By Product’ in which we are gathering the goat’s excrement and use it as effective fertilizer for the plants and fruits or trees in the farm. This method is able to help reduce the wheatgrass and insects problems because we’re only using the natural ingredients for our farm. We are strictly concerned about our environment. This is the best way for farmers and gardeners to manage their farms without disturbing the nature with chemicals.”
Not only goat milk and fruits or herbal plants are growing in ‘Prujampa Goat Farm’, but a variety of fish such as catfish or serpent head fish are also growing in his backyard pond too, giving Akkara enough food supply for his household and creating more income. The food chain systems are easily created by letting the goats eat the natural grasses and fruits which are fertilized by the goat’s excrement. Biological water which is made from left over fruits mixed with water is sprinkled all over the farm on plants and even added into goat’s water, 20 cc per 10 liters, for them to drink and absorb good effective bacteria which are good for their health and immune systems.
By living a sustainable lifestyle following His Majesty The King’s philosophy, Akkara and his farmers and fellow gardeners are living quite a happy and prolonged lifestyle by not ruining the natural resources and environment. He is able to lower his household costs and feeding plus milking his goats every morning, without hassle. This is a true good example of living such a sustainable lifestyle by a man who wants nothing more than a happy family by having his goats, naturally fertilized grass and fruits, and his green plus peaceful agricultural farm. This is Zenniesha, reporting for Andaman News.
Special Report for Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 3.30pm, 7pm, 1.30am & 6.30am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Friday 10 July 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews Send comments to AndamanNews@yahoo.com
]]>Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan together with Permanent Secretary for Defense General Apichart Penkitti, Supreme Commander General Songkitti Jaggabatara, Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda, and Navy Chief Admiral Kamthorn Phumhiran travelled to Phuket to observe the readiness of the province for holding international meetings. According to the schedule, the province would be a venue for the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) and 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) during July 17-23. Gen. Prawit stated that this itinerary in Phuket was to make sure that the province is ready to organize the international talks.
Concerning the request made by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) for the House dissolution, the Defense Minister believed the matter would not have an impact on the upcoming meetings as the holding of the international discussion would benefit the country. He hoped that most people would recognize that the meeting is for the best interest of the country and be cooperative in hosting the conferences.
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