Help For The Thai Flood Victims Must Be The Top Priority

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EDITORIAL

Help for the flood victims must be the top priority

By The Nation

Rehabilitation of people's lives must be prompt, effective and transparent

Water is receding in many of the flooded areas. But one of the worst natural disasters to have struck Thailand in years is leaving immense tasks for the Abhisit government to follow up. Rushing food and other relief supplies to stranded villagers is one thing. Helping them rebuild their shattered lives is different, though equally important.

The death toll is expected to go above 100. How many of the casualties had to do with the state's poor advance warning system or apparent inadequacy when it comes to anticipating an imminent disaster is debatable. Would the devastation in Nakhon Ratchasima have been far less severe if not for some dubious construction

projects? That is among many questions that have been raised and the Abhisit administration has to endure, fairly or not.

But there will be no excuse to fall back on when it comes to the issue of rehabilitation. Lacklustre state assistance will be unforgivable, and if the rebuilding process is plagued with corruption it will be unacceptable. Rehabilitation must be prompt, effective and transparent. The Thai public, who have been casting a weary eye on the government, expect nothing less.

Rehabilitation must be the first item on the national agenda. We can expect it to be highly politicised, but that only means the government will have to be doubly careful. Sincerity must go hand in hand with efficiency and speed. Many homes have been badly damaged. A large amount of farmland has been destroyed. Many families have lost their breadwinners.

The government has to kick-start rehabilitation even though the flood crisis is not over yet. Many provinces are still under water, which has become more infested, threatening affected villagers with disease. Cold weather is likely to compound the problem soon.

The flooding has put political problems on hold for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The potentially explosive issue of "lobbying" video clips, which purportedly expose

inappropriate contact between a former Constitution Court official and a Democrat MP concerning the party dissolution case, was somewhat doused by floodwater. Conflicts with political allies seemed to sort themselves out when nobody was really paying attention to them. The government has come under much criticism for its emergency relief efforts, but, politically, it must have been a far cry from having to face the backlash from the "lobbying" clips straight up.

Whether Abhisit likes it or not, politics is coming back to haunt him. Government failings in the aftermath of the flood crisis will certainly amplify all other problems the prime minister has faced. This, however, doesn't mean the government needs to act quickly and efficiently to help flood victims for its own political survival. The disaster has simply left the government with the Rule Number One of being politicians in power - they must help citizens in trouble.

Thailand's political problems have prevented our governments from effectively carrying out that basic job description. On the other hand, the political crisis has pitted governments against big parts of the population. A bloody crackdown on the yellow shirts took place under a pro-red government, whereas red protesters were crushed by their "rival" administration. For years, the job of politicians in power has been to handle angry street protests while looking over their shoulders wondering how and when their parties could be dissolved.

Whether it's an opportunity or a curse, the Abhisit government does not have any more time to worry about when the red shirts will hold their next rally or whether the Democrat Party will be dissolved with its executives banned. The flooding requires that the government, for once, has to act as a government. That means whether or not Abhisit will remain prime minister come next December, he must have the welfare of the flood victims at heart until the last day of his job as this country's chief executive.

-- The Nation 2010-10-31

[chainarong]

Why do U need your political opponents advise to help the flood victims, just do it.

[sirchai]

Why do U need your political opponents advise to help the flood victims, just do it.

I remember when the Tsunami hit Thailand and a lot of people gave money for the victims, but most of it dissapeared....:jap:

[surayu]

When there is a top priority like this one, it's time for some of the top men to take charge of it, like colonel Pornprasert Karnjanarin, whom can help fellow thais better than him?