Thais complain at Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla
THAILAND will be pushing for Asean-level efforts to rein in haze that comes from smoke-belching fires in neighbouring countries.
"I have already instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to raise the issue with source countries," Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday, as people in Thailand's lower South struggle with the impact from Indonesian hotspots. Fires in eastern Myanmar also regularly affect air quality in Thailand's North.
Prayut addressed the smog issue a few days after the Malaysian premier urged Indonesia to act against the people and companies responsible for raging fires, mainly in Sumatra.
Smoke originating from Indonesian burn-offs has blanketed Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand, causing health problems for people in those areas, plus difficulties for businesses.
About 50 Thais turned up at the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla yesterday to officially complain about the haze.
The Pollution Control Department's air pollution index showed the haze yesterday was the worst since 1999. As of yesterday, the amount of Particulate Matter up to 10 micrometers in size (PM10) exceeded safe limits in Songkhla, Phuket and Satun provinces.
"This is the first time we've come forward because we are afraid that if we just stay silent, the problem will just get worse and worse," Supawan Chanasongkhram said yesterday on behalf of the demonstrators.
She said governments of relevant countries needed to explore solutions together.
Supawan said she had now had difficulty breathing and had heard that people with underlying illnesses had even graver symptoms.
Her group wanted the Indonesian government to tackle the smog problem more seriously.