Fund to pump millions into democracy education

PHUKET TOWN: Phuket has received approval from the Miyazawa Fund to spend millions of baht educating people about Thailand’s new constitution. Though the exact amount to be spent on the five-month project is not yet finalised, it will involve hiring four coordinators at 8,000 baht a month each, and 96 educators at 5,000 baht a month each, for a total of 2.56 million baht. Khun Kitipong Thiengkunagrit, one of Phuket’s five Provincial Election Commissioners, told the Gazette that Bangkok wants local people to understand the details of the constitution, and of Thailand’s election process, in order to encourage positive attitudes towards democracy. The educators will stay in the villages for five months, meeting local people and telling them about the Constitution. Anyone interested in becoming an educator or coordinator should apply to the Office of the Provincial Election Commission (Phuket), at the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation, Narisorn Road, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (Tel: 354692-3). Suitable applicants will be required to attend an interview and take a written examination. The five-month project will begin on June 7.