Chiang Rai Governor played key role in Tham Luang cave rescue mission

[webfact]

Governor played key role in mission

By THE NATION

 

 

CHIANG RAI Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn

 

Multifaceted provincial chief brought topnotch leadership skills to operation

 

CHIANG RAI Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn has emerged as one of the knights in shining armour during the mission to save 13 lives inside a flooded cave.

 

It took the Thai public less than a week to notice the key contribution from this man.

 

With Narongsak at the helm of the rescue-operation war room, clear plans were laid down. Officials and volunteers alike were assigned clear tasks and their efforts efficiently coordinated. Safety measures also received strong emphasis, ensuring there were no fatalities while trying to save the 12 young football players and the assistant football coach of Mu Pa Academy Mae Sai from the Tham Luang cave. 

 

The 13 footballers got stranded when flash floods hit the cave on June 23. 

 

Large-scale rescue efforts have since taken off. Although the operations of such a scale are difficult to manage, Narongsak has risen to the challenge. 

 

Throngs of newshounds at the cave site were also a formidable challenge but Narongsak handled them with finesse.

 

While also being tough on their intrusive behaviour, Narongsak provided clear-cut briefings every now and then.

 

His communication skills, including the use of a Line chat group, were effective in dispelling rumours. 

 

Now that the rescue mission has been successful in finding the missing 13, the public is keen to know more about Narongsak’s future. 

 

Records show Chiang Rai is the first province where Narongsak has served as the governor. 

 

He started his tenure in Chiang Rai one year ago.

 

When it was confirmed that 13 people had gone missing at the Tham Luang cave, Narongsak was still the province’s governor. So, he quickly set rescue efforts in motion and worked really hard. 

 

He went inside the cave to check the situation every day. 

 

He also visited the families of the stranded footballers every day.

 

Many observers were amazed at the multiple skills Narongsak demonstrated. But when the range of his educational qualifications are considered, his abilities do not come as a surprise. 

 

Narongsak has four bachelors degrees. In 1985, he graduated from the Kasetsart University with a bachelor’s in engineering (civil). Later, he received a bachelor of law, bachelor of technology, and bachelor of public administration degrees from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.

 

Narongsak also had an overseas education stint. In 1988, he received a masters degree in survey engineering and geographic information from Ohio State University. 

 

These many degrees reflect Narongsak’s extensive knowledge and his keen eagerness to study new things. 

 

His wealth of knowledge firmly anchored the rescue operations, as various branches of knowledge have been applied to boost the operations.

 

Before Narongsak became the governor of Chiang Rai, he was a senior official at the Lands Department where he headed the department’s Map Transformation Group and Mapping Technology Office.

 

Throughout his career, he has been known for his integrity, courage and honesty. 

 

He is known to speak up if he finds something wrong. 

 

If he finds any project suspicious, he does not give his stamp of approval. 

 

During his stint in Chiang Rai, he blocked several high-profile projects because he felt they were not in the best interests of the public. 

 

Narongsak has never faced criticism or complaints from the people of Chiang Rai.

 

Earlier this week, the transfer order for Narongsak, 57, to take the post of Phayao governor took effect after its publication in the Royal Gazette. Although he will become the governor of a northern province smaller than Chiang Rai, he will remain the chief of the rescue operations until all the 13 footballers are safely evacuated from the cave.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30349327

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-05

[webfact]

Kingpin in rescue operation being transferred as Phayao governor

By THE NATION

 

Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn

 

THE ROYAL Gazette yesterday announced the transfer of Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn, who led the mission to rescue 13 footballers trapped in a cave, to the new post of governor of Phayao province.

 

The announcement also named 10 other officials who were being transferred. 

 

Narongsak’s transfer had been in the pipeline since April as a routine reshuffle within the Interior Ministry.

 

The ministry, however, is looking to issue another order to delay Narongsak’s departure until the rescue mission is completed. Although the missing footballers have been found and given initial assistance, the operation to evacuate them from the cave is not considered feasible until their health improves.

 

After days of hard work to rescue the boys trapped in the flooded cave, the Chiang Rai governor has gained massive popularity around the country.

 

Members of the public have lauded Narongsak for his dedication, especially after a video clip went viral on the Internet showing him telling officials to consider the missing boys as their own children and to work hard to try to find them.

 

Netizens expressed disappointment at the transfer announcement partly because his transfer to a smaller province like Phayao is viewed as a demotion.

 

News also circulated that Narongsak was being transferred for declining to approve several projects involving irregularities in the use of the state funds.

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday reiterated that the transfer had been approved in April as a routine reshuffle within the Interior Ministry and was not a reflection on his performance.

 

Prayut also said Narongsak was a good man and would do a good job wherever he went.

 

“We want capable people to work in underdeveloped areas. So, we need him. And I have already wished him luck,” Prayut said. “This (the transfer) has already got the Royal endorsement after being presented two to three months ago, so we have to go ahead with it.”

 

In another development, social activist Srisuwan Janya is currently campaigning against the transfer, gathering signatures to petition for Narongsak to stay on as Chiang Rai Governor.

 

The campaign was launched online via the website Change.org. Srisuwan said after gaining sufficient signatures, he would submit the documents to the concerned agencies.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349335

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-05

[Katipo]

I would be very curious to know who they have selected to replace him. Does anyone know? ?

[robblok]

No idea, but there were rumors that the junta wanted to replace him because he was not pro junta. I feel these rumors are a bit strange as this article states that he started working in the province 1 year ago. That means the junta put him there so it makes no sense that he is not pro junta otherwise he would not have been send there in the first place.

 

 

[oldrunner]

Don't outshine the man.

[kevvy]

5 hours ago, Katipo said:

I would be very curious to know who they have selected to replace him. Does anyone know? ?

My wife said , as she heard it on the Thai news  that he tried to stop 20 projects as he thought there was corruption involved. say no more ..This man is a good man , we live here . 

[colinneil]

1 minute ago, kevvy said:

My wife said , as she heard it on the Thai news  that he tried to stop 20 projects as he thought there was corruption involved. say no more ..This man is a good man , we live here . 

 Yes he has apparently had a few problems with senior staff because he is honest, tried to stop a few corrupt practices going on.

So he is being moved on the orders of someone who says he will stop corruption but has done nothing about it.

[chainarong]

11 minutes ago, colinneil said:

 Yes he has apparently had a few problems with senior staff because he is honest, tried to stop a few corrupt practices going on.

So he is being moved on the orders of someone who says he will stop corruption but has done nothing about it.

Can't see any of this in the true sense, however if that was the case Phayao is in for interesting times, I'd say if the good Governor had stepped on toes he would be a third assistant by now.

[maxcorrigan]

26 minutes ago, chainarong said:

Can't see any of this in the true sense, however if that was the case Phayao is in for interesting times, I'd say if the good Governor had stepped on toes he would be a third assistant by now.

I think it might be like the old union days "Closed Shop" in the UK whereby the management would promote a union official who was giving them trouble to a better paid  out of the way post, ie. keep them sweet as it were, most times it worked sometimes not, depending on how far the union officials principles lay!

[chama]

He's got to go. His popularity is growing and a politician with high popularity numbers frighten those politicians (who shall remain nameless) who's popularity numbers are far less.

[kevvy]

8 hours ago, colinneil said:

 Yes he has apparently had a few problems with senior staff because he is honest, tried to stop a few corrupt practices going on.

So he is being moved on the orders of someone who says he will stop corruption but has done nothing about it.

that someone is going to put some of his men in place of him. the governor stopped many projects , one of the was 2 elephants statues 32 million baht, rubbish service center 300, million which cannot be opened. and one flag for chiang rai  made by local artist...50 million !!!! E.G he said if the budget was 100 baht  the project would cost 30 baht ..where was the rest going ?? that is why he did not sign..