Japan thanks Thailand for all assistance

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Japan thanks Thailand for all assistance
By The Nation
2011-03-17

Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Seiji Kojima yesterday expressed gratitude towards the Royal Family and the Thai government for assistance to Japan as it struggles in the wake of the massive earthquake and tsunami.

Kojima said he appreciated condolence letters to the Japanese government from Their Majesties the King and Queen, as well as the Thai government.

He also expressed gratitude for HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and HRH Princess Srirasmi's gracious donation of 20,000 blankets, as Japan faces cold spells and continues looking for some 15,000 missing people.

Kojima was present at the ceremony yesterday in which Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya received the 20,000 blankets from a palace official.

Kasit also received winter clothing and food products worth Bt2 million from QP Products and Prantalay Marketing, while Charoen Pokphand Foods presented a batch of instant-food products worth Bt250,000.

Kasit said 70 of 300 Thais living in Sendai near the nuclear power plant had already been evacuated to Tokyo, with 40 others set to travel to the capital last night. Around 200 others could not be reached due to communication problems.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he presided over a meeting yesterday of related agencies about the Japanese disaster.

They discussed tracking and assisting Thai nationals there, which the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry and its networks were working on. No Thais have been reported injured, dead or missing there so far, he said.

The premier urged agencies to prepare in case they had to evacuate a large number of Thais in a short period of time.

He said donations, the most needed of which were drinking water, torches, blankets and sleeping bags, were to be transported on a C130 plane last night. More would be sent later.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Department is allowing individuals to deduct donations to Japan from their income tax, providing combined donations do not exceed 10 per cent of taxable income.

Satit Rungkasiri, director-general of the Revenue Department, said the measure covered donations through schemes arranged by television channels and others. Donation receipts must be obtained.

Corporate donors are also entitled to tax deductions, but not exceeding 2 per cent of annual net profits. They will also get value-added tax exemption for donation of supplies to the country.

Thai artists held a fundraising event at Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping mall to assist Japan yesterday.