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Published on September 9, 2007

"There is no construction at all on the relief centre," said Tasnee Prombuth, 48, speaking for the group of 105 victims.

Tasnee said the government in 2002 approved a budget of Bt25 million to set up the Occupational Medicine and Environmental Centre in Klong Toei. The project was the Health Ministry's responsibility.

The victims have already written on the issue to Government House, the Ombudsman's Office, the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Lawyers Council of Thailand.

According to the Health Ministry's Department of Disease Control, the Bureau of Budget released only Bt746,100 for the relief project. The rest of the Bt25 million was used to help victims of the 2004 tsunami and other disasters. "We just want to know where the money went," Tasnee said.

The fire victims have been living with severe symptoms for years. Most are elderly and poor with no one to care for them. Some of them have had to use their own money for medical care and cannot get reimbursement from any health agency.

"We are consulting the Lawyers Council to sue the government because they neglected their duty," said Tasnee.