Thai government provides assistance to oil-spill victims

BANGKOK, August 3 (TNA) - Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan says that the Thai government has set up an office to accept complaints from people and businesses having been affected by last Saturday's (Jul 27) crude oil leak incident in Rayong Province in the Thai East so that compensation could be given to them later. Speaking during a weekly TV and radio programme of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday (Aug 3) morning, Charupong told the public that a committee comprising government officials, the private sector and people living in the affected area has also been set up, aimed to rehabilitate those affected. Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wichet Kasemthongsri acknowledged that another committee assigned to evaluate damages and solve problems resulted from the incident will cooperate with PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), the parent company of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTGC), whose crude oil leaked from a pipeline into the sea off Rayong on July 27, in reporting the updated situation to the public on a regular basis. (TNA)