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He was not certain what countries the other tourists were from. The accident was blamed on rough seas, which are common at this time of year, Somdet said.

Phi Phi island is a popular tourist destination, best known for its beaches and diving. It is located in the southern Thai province of Krabi, about 650 kilometers (400 miles) south of Bangkok. Last month, a boat carrying 38 passengers capsized near Phi Phi. All the passengers and crew were rescued. (AP)

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Monday, September 03, 2007

Burma's Domestic Airfares Up

Domestic airfares for local passengers rose 30 per cent over the weekend, the latest in a series of hefty price increases, according to a report by the German news agency DPA carried by The Myanmar Times on Monday. The rise in fares was implemented by all domestic airlines, including Air Mandalay, Air Bagan and Yangon Airways. A similar price hike is to take effect in October for foreign passengers, who must pay for their tickets in foreign currencies, the report said.

Malaysia's Mahathir to Have Second Heart Bypass Surgery

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has entered a hospital for his second bypass surgery after recently suffering two heart attacks, officials said Monday.Mahathir was set to undergo "elective coronary bypass surgery" on Tuesday, the National Heart Institute hospital said in a statement. Mahathir, 81, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, two days after taking part in a parade to mark the country's 50th independence day. The Star newspaper quoted Mahathir's son, Mokhzani, as saying his father—who suffered heart attacks in November and May—had wanted to postpone the surgery until after the national day celebrations. "He is all right and preparing for the operation," the paper quoted Mokhzani as saying. Yahya Awang, the surgeon who performed a bypass on Mahathir in 1989, was to head the surgery team Tuesday, the hospital statement said. (AP)

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Friday, August 31, 2007

Thailand Needs More Migrant Workers

Businesses in Thailand need 400,000 more migrant workers to solve the labor shortage, according to Department of Employment officials.  Manoon Punyakriyakorn, the director-general of the Department of Employment, said on Friday the Federation of Thai Industries, the Chamber of Commerce and 16 other trade organizations face serious shortages of migrant workers. “In addition, the Thailand Development Research Center found from their study that this year 400,000 more migrant workers are needed and in the next five years the demand will reach more than 500,000,” Manoon said.

The employment department will create a Migrant Worker Administration Committee to seek solutions, he said, including reopening registration for illegal migrant workers and encouraging more legal migrant workers to come to Thailand. Business sectors which need workers include agriculture, farming, fishing and seafood processing. Currently, about 500,000 workers from Burma, Laos and Cambodia are registered with the Thailand Ministry of Labour.

Indonesia Seeks Ways to Save Sumatran Elephants, Tigers

Efforts to save Sumatran elephants and tigers from extinction gathered steam in Indonesia on Friday, with government officials and experts vowing to find ways to protect the species' dwindling habitat from loggers and farmers. More than 100 people were taking part in the three-day meeting that wraps up Friday. "There is a very real danger that Sumatran elephants (and tigers) could become extinct in our lifetime if we don't come to agreement at this workshop," said Christy Williams of the World Wildlife Fund. "We need to decide what areas need to remain natural forests and how to go about making sure they are not touched."

Satellite images show that 8 million hectares (20 million acres) of Sumatra island's remaining lowland tropical forest—the animals' primary habitat—were lost to development from 1990 to 2000, conservationists say. They estimate that there are only 2,400 to 2,800 Sumatran elephants left in the world, and no more than 400 tigers. The meeting in Padang, West Sumatra, was significant because it was organized by the Indonesian government and brought together local officials, aid workers, international and local scientists, and members of the business community. (AP)

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Monday, August 27, 2007

Burmese Exiles to Gather in Ottawa
 
The Burma Policy Consultation Conference will be held Wednesday through Thursday at the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel in Ottawa, Canada.