Chiang Rai, The Prime Minister listened to the problems of the irrigation system and agricultural land in Chiang Saen District, while the representatives of Chiang Saen asked for help in allowing more than 100,000 Chinese people to cross the border from Laos to travel for 3 days at a time, and instructed security officers to watch out for drugs along the border, saying that if they come strong, they must return strong. Prime Minister Settha Thavisin and his team visited the area to study the solution to the irrigation system for consumption and met with the people at the Mekong River Peacekeeping Unit in Chiang Rai, Wiang Subdistrict, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province. They were welcomed by Chiang Rai MP Pichet Chueamuangphan, who is the owner of the area, along with various ethnic groups waiting to welcome them. The ethnic groups gave Yao and Lahu ethnic bags as souvenirs before the Prime Minister went on stage to talk to the villagers who were waiting to welcome him. He said that he had been there during the election campaign, but since becoming Prime Minister, this was the first time he had come. This was a good opportunity for him and his team to listen to their problems. After walking 100 meters, he heard many problems, such as low crop prices, animal husbandry, exports, and increasing income for farmers. He also met with many ethnic groups, and the government confirmed that it would take care of their nationality and farming areas under the push of Chiang Rai MP Piyarat Tiyapairat of the Pheu Thai Party. The government confirmed that it would provide equality and care for the people who were legally living in Thailand. While the president of the Chiang Saen Livable City Association submitted a letter to the prime minister, requesting support for 3 projects: 1. The project to merge Wiang Subdistrict Municipality and Wiang Chiang Saen Subdistrict Municipality into one, 2. The project to divert water from the Mekong River by constructing a pipeline from the Mekong River in the Ing River, Kok River, a nd Kham River areas to supply water to various subdistricts and neighboring provinces, and 3. Allowing those without Chinese passports who are on the Lao side to issue a border crossing document to enter for tourism, with a maximum stay of 3 days to stimulate the economy. After that, the prime minister and his team went down to see the condition of the Mekong River in Chiang Saen District. The Prime Minister then chaired a meeting to discuss the development plan for Chiang Rai Province and listened to problems with border trade, drug interception and suppression. After listening to the problems, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to negotiate with China about sending cows directly via the Mekong River to China in order to avoid paying the Lao animal quarantine fee of 8,000 baht per head. He also provided a crane to transport goods along the border by boat and requested that local fruit products be processed to increase their value. In terms of tourism, since Chiang Rai is a city wit h many ancient sites but lacks promotion, we would like to focus on cultural tourists interested in the history of Chiang Rai. The Prime Minister also mentioned a major problem, which is drug interception along the border, because from the report, the arrests have increased by three times, especially heroin. Therefore, he asked for coordination with the US Embassy, ??because it is a large market for smuggling. In the case of officers who died from clashes with drug gangs, he asked the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) to distribute military equipment to police units, especially night vision cameras, to border units as soon as possible, including the procurement of four-wheel drive vehicles, and to urgently study the transport of drugs via drones, which may occur in the future, in order to be able to intercept them in a timely manner. In addition, the Prime Minister also urged officials to be careful and not be careless to avoid losses. If the opposing side comes hard, let them be hard. We will no t allow any more losses. This is unacceptable. In addition, the community must be strong to help drug addicts who have received treatment not to return to drug addiction. Every village must be x-rayed and Nan and Roi Et provinces must be used as white province models. At the same time, he asked the army to be a refuge for those who have undergone drug rehabilitation so that they can have a career and not return to drug addiction. The Prime Minister praised the 38th Military Circle for its good operations in terms of those who have undergone drug rehabilitation and have returned to have a career. He also asked the security sector to take care of the drug addicts so that they are completely cured of their addiction by taking them for 1-2 months of treatment instead of the old method of sending them home every day to create discipline. Source: Thai News Agency
Sunday, September 08, 2024