Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - July 14, 2004
Preeyanat Phanayanggoor and Onnucha Huchtasingh
Many reporters for Thai-language newspapers have complained about the complete lack of translations of the various speeches, press releases, power points and key abstracts made available in English and other languages over the past three days of the conference.
Reporter Sontana Naksewewong said the problem began on the first day with the opening speech by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, which was translated only into six UN official languages.
Ms Sontana said the Thai press expected at least a press release or a briefing in the Thai language from the organisers since the conference was being held in Thailand.
Instead, she was told by one staff at the communications department that "we are too busy to translate it for you. The Thai-translated schedules and lists of speakers you received were a special favour, not an obligation".
Supanee Samnuek of Matichon, a leading Thai daily, said she was unhappy with the lack of translation, and the problem had hampered the paper's news coverage, which hoped to tell readers about progress in research and prevention measures on HIV/Aids.
Also, only four of the 50 computer terminals available to the press at the news centre were programmed in Thai, and local-language reporters had to wait in long queues for the chance to use them.
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