Supinya Sees Lack Of Trust In Govt Flood Communications

[Lite Beer]

Supinya sees lack of trust in govt flood communications

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation on Sunday

The government should quickly and efficiently provide centralised and reliable flood updates on television, radio, mobile phones and other media on a regular basis to avoid confusion, panic and exacerbating the damage already done, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) member Supinya Klangnarong said yesterday.

"Information on an hourly basis would help, or even [news tickers] on television, so people can feel reassured," Supinya told The Nation by phone.

Supinya, a media-reform activist, said the NBTC had contacted the government, but there seemed to be a lack of leadership among government officials at the moment. "What is lacking is a trustworthy voice," she said, adding that it's the government's responsibility to issue timely updates and warnings.

Supinya urged television channels to pool their resources so that coverage isn't duplicated. "It's up to the Broadcasting Journalists Association to decide," she said. As for online social media such as Twitter, of which Supinya is an active user, the commissioner urged people of various political stripes to "calm down" and not get bogged down in attacking one another.

Bangkok, she warned, would have to deal at some stage with the question of why it is necessary to sacrifice other areas by allowing them to be flooded in order to save the capital. The matter would have to be addressed "decisively" by the government, she said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-16

[hammered]

Bangkok, she warned, would have to deal at some stage with the question of why it is necessary to sacrifice other areas by allowing them to be flooded in order to save the capital. The matter would have to be addressed "decisively" by the government, she said.

The floods and the aftermath will just see more division and hatred in likelihood. The notion of "Bangkok" is already in low esteem up country and this only threatens to make it worse

[siampolee]

The floods and the aftermath will just see more division and hatred in likelihood. The notion of "Bangkok" is already in low esteem up country and this only threatens to make it worse

'Twill be interesting to see just how the government spin doctors deal with this particular scenario. the champions of the poor are seen as to be protecting the elite of Bangkok, those Red Shirt leaders seem to be very silent at the moment, nay conspicuous by both their physical and vocal absence, no high profile aid situations no comments at all.

Indeed one wonders why the Red Shirt leadership should be so silent, the political mileage car has possibly had its distance covered clock turned back?

The dog has perhaps bitten the Red Shirts bum ?

Edited October 16, 2011 by siampolee

[rubl]

With the PM, a few ministers, some MPs, army general, the maid and my driver offering opinions and confusing people, no one is helped.

I would think that if we had a SINGLE spokesperson doing the communications that would greatly reduce the problem. More correct communiqué's would also help. IMHO

[hellodolly]

The floods and the aftermath will just see more division and hatred in likelihood. The notion of "Bangkok" is already in low esteem up country and this only threatens to make it worse

'Twill be interesting to see just how the government spin doctors deal with this particular scenario. the champions of the poor are seen as to be protecting the elite of Bangkok, those Red Shirt leaders seem to be very silent at the moment, nay conspicuous by both their physical and vocal absence, no high profile aid situations no comments at all.

Indeed one wonders why the Red Shirt leadership should be so silent, the political mileage car has possibly had its distance covered clock turned back?

The dog has perhaps bitten the Red Shirts bum ?

It was my understanding that some of the red shirt leaders were in fact part of the elite.

For now they are to concerned with saving their own ass to attack any one else.

Or maybe the boss man out of country in flight from the law has told them be still this time it is my goods that are in danger.

[siampolee]

Hello Dolly. # 5

Succinct post indeed totally on target.

[TAWP]

There is currently an international organization housed at Don Muang that is trying to collect all available info to allow a better oversight and allow those responsible to give a streamlined information path from the PM's office to the people affected.

However, since several groups are involved, including but not limited to TOT, TRUE, PM's office, several other (PT and other) politicians and bureaucrats from relevant ministries, the project is right now dead in the water. Some information leaked out on Twitter from one of the local (Thai) developers of the project and Tweeted by an expat.

We shall see what comes out of it...but sofar the international group (with local Thai project management) are baffled as to why so many big ego's refuse to co-operate...

So what we get is non-coordinated information flows and counteracted points, where some want to give clear heads-up, others want the information to be toned down and minimized etc.

[siampolee]

There is currently an international organization housed at Don Muang that is trying to collect all available info to allow a better oversight and allow those responsible to give a streamlined information path from the PM's office to the people affected.

There is within the current government and its ministers a fear of an outbreak of a dangerous disease called, " The Truth," hence the hiatus in communications

Edited October 16, 2011 by siampolee

[Arkady]

The floods and the aftermath will just see more division and hatred in likelihood. The notion of "Bangkok" is already in low esteem up country and this only threatens to make it worse

'Twill be interesting to see just how the government spin doctors deal with this particular scenario. the champions of the poor are seen as to be protecting the elite of Bangkok, those Red Shirt leaders seem to be very silent at the moment, nay conspicuous by both their physical and vocal absence, no high profile aid situations no comments at all.

Indeed one wonders why the Red Shirt leadership should be so silent, the political mileage car has possibly had its distance covered clock turned back?

The dog has perhaps bitten the Red Shirts bum ?

It was my understanding that some of the red shirt leaders were in fact part of the elite.

For now they are to concerned with saving their own ass to attack any one else.

Or maybe the boss man out of country in flight from the law has told them be still this time it is my goods that are in danger.

Indeed many red shirt leaders and their sponsors are part of the "elite" or want to be. Some have been attacking the Bangkok governor's flood prevention efforts simply because he is a Democrat Party member, even though he doesn't get on with Abhisit and the rest of the party leadership. Others are simply going on with their fortified red hamlets policy to at least prevent the possibility of any alternative opinions reaching the red hamlets. Soon enough they will rally round a master water management plan (also involving flooding the peasants to save Bangkok but carefully concealed in the fine print) that Thaksin will announce and use the floods as an excuse to push for his amnesty, since he is the only man that can save Thailand from further devastation in the future. They will ignore the fact that he hand picked the cabinet and appears to have been running things behind the scenes and the people will follow them like sheep.

Edited October 16, 2011 by Arkady

[givenall]

Hello Dolly. # 5

Succinct post indeed totally on target.

Everyone seems to forget that most of Bangkok working classcomes from north the Red land and they also should be glad that their livelihoodwas spared. It is always convenient to blame someone. But for me I will be gladwhen all of these over and normal life returns