On Thailand And Tsunami Support

[SunbeltAsia]

On Thailand and tsunami support

4 January 2005

THAILAND’S is one of Asia’s success stories. A country that was very poor some 25 years ago, it boasts today of being south-east Asia’s second largest economy--$143 billion strong, with its GDP growing at 8 per cent. Its confidence in its own strength was evident the other day when it stressed that it didn’t require international funds to tide over the tsunami crisis.

Dear readers, Thailand has come to this level in a matter of two decades, though its governance in the past had gone through periods of military take-over, and its economy through the Asian economic crisis of the late 90s. But, it recovered fast, and over the years turned its economic base largely from agriculture to manufacture, trade and exports. Today, it is the world’s largest exporter of rice. The economy got a fresh boost when telecommunications tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra became prime minister in 2001, riding the crest of a pro-development wave. Its progress is also linked in large measure to the trade deals it had seen through with the United States in the past years. Today, Thailand is America’s 18th largest trading partner.

Thailand had seen it all. It had passed through constitutional monarchy, military dictatorship and for the past about two decades democracy. There was a time when tourists from the various regions used to go there for cheap pleasures. But, now, people from the Gulf and other regions go to Thailand seeking standard medical aid and high class tourism. It has progressed in every field. Those who go there are those who feel America is too far, or that Europe is too expensive. Thailand has the infrastructure matching those of the developed world.

The proof of the soundness of Thailand’s economy is the confidence with which its officials say they do not need international funds to tide over the tsunami crisis. What they want is only volunteers or specialists to assist them.

Well, when it comes to international assistance for tsunami victims, that’s coming in good measure from around the world. It would go out to all areas affected by the quake and tidal waves. The United Nations itself has organized a fund flow of the order of 2 billion dollars. A question is how effectively will this aid be distributed. It should, in the least, be distributed without having to face problems of bureaucratic red tape or bungling.

The scenario, as we come to know through TV visuals or news reports, is pathetic indeed. After all the deaths, there now are more deaths. People are committing suicides, if only because they have lost all their near and dear ones; or because they have lost their only means of livelihood, every thing having been washed away by flood waters. Psychiatrists say these are situations that fan suicide tendencies.

There, so far, is no insurance to the victims of natural calamities. So no money will be forthcoming that way. The international funds should thus be utilized for relief as well as for reconstruction. The infrastructure, like roads, rails, bridges, telecommunication networks, and above all houses need be set up again. It will involve lots of funds, time and efforts. There is need to ensure that the money is properly utilized. Bureaucrats should not be allowed to splurge on funds. They should be taking resort to modest means as they implement the reconstruction programmes. In other words, they must tighten their own belts while helping the needy. This is an extra-ordinary situation. It needs extra-ordinary resolve on the part of bureaucrats and volunteers who implement the relief and reconstruction programmes. Every penny should benefit the victims

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle...section=comment