US gives backing for regional surveillance centre

[Judi Lynn]

US gives backing for regional surveillance centre

The Nation
Publication Date : 2005-01-11

A visiting American lawmaker said Monday he supported a proposal that would make Thailand the regional surveillance centre for monitoring tsunamis in the Indian Ocean.

James Leach, chairman of the US House of Representatives International Relations Committee’s subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, expressed his support for the Thai proposal during a meeting with Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.
(snip)

Many Asean members, including Indonesia, which was the first and worst hit by the tsunami on December 26, are competing with Thailand to host the surveillance centre.
(snip)

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the refusal of cash donations was a part of his international strategy to avoid reliance on foreign assistance.

“We work with the international community equally. We don’t want to receive money and become a lackey,” he told reporters.
(snip)

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