Thailand hosts int'l conference on joint actions against natural disasters

BANGKOK, April 30 (TNA) - The Office of Policy and Planning under the Thai Ministry of Defence organized an international conference in Bangkok on Tuesday to discuss and work out guidelines for joint actions on preventing and mitigating natural disasters among participating military and civilian parties. The international conference, inaugurated by General Paichayon Katancharoen, Director-General of the ministry's Office of Policy and Planning, was attended by about 85 representatives of government and civilian agencies, both in Thailand and foreign countries, as well as those from foreign defence attaches' offices. General Paichayon said that the international conference is part of the Thai Ministry of Defence's preparations for the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015, after which the military and civilians need to work together in several dimensions for the sake of security in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly in handling new forms of natural disasters. According to the senior official, results from the international conference will then be ended in the issuance of a handbook containing guidelines for joint actions on the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters between military and civilian parties in the region in what is considered the most effective manner. (TNA)