The number of street children is likely to increase due to Southeast Asia's economic problems, said a child's rights activist yesterday. Prof Somphong Chitradub, director of Chulalongkorn University's Education Institute for Underprivileged Students, told the European Commission-organised seminar that the crisis had turned Thailand into a major centre for child trafficking. Social and political problems in neighbouring countries and the opening of borders meant Thailand was still seen as a good place to go buy children fleeing poverty.