Thai Government On The Back Foot

[webfact]

Government on the back foot

The Nation

Evacuation of workers from sixth industrial estate raises fears, Yingluck govt may not be able to prevent Bangkok from being swamped

The breaching of Thailand's first industrial estate - one of the country's biggest - by menacing flood water has put the Yingluck government on the back foot again and forced re-evaluation of the disaster, which seemed to have stabilised in recent days.

The success or failure of the government's hectic efforts to save the inner areas of Nava Nakhon Industrial Park, which employs more than 200,000 workers, will go a long way to determining the increasingly uncertain fate of Bangkok.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed confidence that the industrial park in Pathum Thani would be saved. Yesterday she was left nearly speechless, saying that she was sorry the outer parts of the vast industrial zone had finally succumbed to floods.

The fate of Nava Nakorn featured in a day full of bad news. The Thammasat Rangsit relief centre was itself sending alarming signals, asking owners who parked vehicles in the campus to escape flooding to get their cars out of the area immediately. The Dhammakaya Temple, which only a few days ago was listed as a good flood shelter location, faced a similar threat. The Air Force base at Don Mueang was also at risk of flooding and on evacuation alert.

Some military experts even warned that the Flood Relief Operations Command in Don Mueang was no longer safe. Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra did not sound as confident as he had been a few days earlier about protecting the capital. He said he could not give an assurance that the city was 100 per cent safe, although he reiterated that "if danger comes", he would be the first to tell Bangkokians.

The commotion at Nava Nakorn yesterday typified the government's rearguard battle against the biggest flood disaster in decades: beginning with a sense of fear, followed by expressions of confidence that a threatened area would hold, only for ravaging flood water to sweep away any initial optimism. Now, concerns are growing that a similar phenomenon could hit Bangkok. Realising how vulnerable the capital is, especially to human conflicts that could lead to destruction of key flood-prevention facilities, Yingluck yesterday made another plea for angry flood victims not to pull down structures in an attempt to "level things up" with Bangkok.

Nava Nakorn became the sixth industrial estate to be swamped. If the frantic defence of its inner areas fails, the economic damage, which was already estimated at way above Bt100 billion, will climb further. The other hard-hit industrial parks are Saharatana, Rojana, Hi-tech, Bang Pa-in and Factoryland, all in Ayutthaya province.

The growing woes of Thailand's industrial sector are shaping up as a two-front battle for the Yingluck government, as floods have also caused grave suffering to more than 2 million Thais. Government operations to provide relief to affected citizens have been far from efficient or swift, and cries for help have not subsided. Apparently admitting that the situation was getting worse, Yingluck on Sunday enlisted more help from the Army, assigning it to take charge of two relief centres tackling problems in five provinces: Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Lop Buri and Nonthaburi.

Over 200 plants in Nava Nakorn were affected yesterday. With the estate no longer a benchmark of government resistance to the flood, attention was shifting to Bang Kadee industrial estate, which is also in Pathum Thani. Parts of Rangsit - such as a Bangkok University branch and Rangsit market - were also being closely watched, as they form a virtual northern gateway to the capital.

In another development that could signal the alarming seriousness of the capital's situation, Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont, also president of the council at King Mongkut Institute of Technology in Lat Krabang, called for an urgent meeting of agencies concerned with protecting the eastern parts of Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-10-18

[pogal]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

[h90]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

but the terrible mismanagement is to blame on this government

[ETatBKK]

apparently true, this is not an one man or an one woman fault ( I am not saying what now it is right ). flooding was considered as a natural disaster and not a people things ( sounds familar just last week ) ! it is a subject of the upcountry, it has low economic threat, it has low political interest, and none of the government puts it in a high priority of the agenda.

with today's economic interest, technical advancement, and also the political position, this and the coming government administration should put more effort on the FLOOD PREVENTION and the flood management. looking forward !

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

[whybother]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

The current government is new, but the people in it are not. Most of the current government have been involved in politics for many years, including in previous governments.

The current government is not to blame for the floods, but their (lack of) management of the crisis, even in the last 2 weeks, has been terrible.

[scorecard]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

but the terrible mismanagement is to blame on this government

The thaksin clan appointed a whole raft of totally incapable and totally immoral people to head ministries and to many other high level positions (the science minister just one glaring example).

The results are very very clear, and who suffers? Everybody, but especially the sectors of society who have no resources whatever and now have to try to pick up the pieces, the very people who thaksin says he is champion of.

I hope the time comes very soon when a lot of thais realize how they have been hoodwinded.

[Crushdepth]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

but the terrible mismanagement is to blame on this government

The thaksin clan appointed a whole raft of totally incapable and totally immoral people to head ministries and to many other high level positions (the science minister just one glaring example).

The results are very very clear, and who suffers? Everybody, but especially the sectors of society who have no resources whatever and now have to try to pick up the pieces, the very people who thaksin says he is champion of.

I hope the time comes very soon when a lot of thais realize how they have been hoodwinded.

Such is the price of nepotism.

[arrowsdawdle]

This flooding is big business. The worse it gets, the more money to be skimmed from foreign aid and Thai taxpayers. Everything that happens in the world, no matter how tragic, makes somebody happy.

[Cayenne]

I still think that is debatable about lessening the impact of a flood BUT I do agree that the army should be more involved in disasters. You are right, they are an incredibly underutilized human resource that SHOULD be trained in all areas of Disaster and Rescue. The government(s) has left it up to volunteer rescue workers and TV stations to manage these floods. Meanwhile the army have been sitting in their barracks doing nothing AND getting paid for it! lol

Imagine they could set up elite rescue teams and do away with the volunteer rescue teams. Feel sorry for those volunteers, they have to take time off work to go and help people. Use their own vehicles, money and resources to do something the government should be doing.

Really good point Hellodolly!

Actually, the army has been involved for some time now but not on the scale as it is today simply because they cannot do full-scale mobilization without government orders. Plus, given the current government's mistrust of soldiers (you can read about it on other posts in this forum) and their reluctance to use the army until now has let the situation become what it is today.

[OzMick]

I still think that is debatable about lessening the impact of a flood BUT I do agree that the army should be more involved in disasters. You are right, they are an incredibly underutilized human resource that SHOULD be trained in all areas of Disaster and Rescue. The government(s) has left it up to volunteer rescue workers and TV stations to manage these floods. Meanwhile the army have been sitting in their barracks doing nothing AND getting paid for it! lol

Imagine they could set up elite rescue teams and do away with the volunteer rescue teams. Feel sorry for those volunteers, they have to take time off work to go and help people. Use their own vehicles, money and resources to do something the government should be doing.

Really good point Hellodolly!

" the army have been sitting in their barracks doing nothing AND getting paid for it! lol........" You win today's award for the most ridiculous comment. Congratulations!

1/ The army responds to requests from the government. If those request are not made, who would you blame?

2/ Recurring news items show RTA members doing it hard, and taking on increasing responsibility.

3/ Conscript troops receive less than the minimum wage, have no choice in the matter - almost slavery.

4/ Every day we read "Yingluk requests more help from military." Great - why didn't she order an all-out effort in the first bloody place?

[givenall]

More and more i read these report more and more i becomeconfused. It seems like no one really knows what is going on. All of theofficial ask their maid to look outside and tell them what they see and thenthey report. i really don’t have any faith in any of these so called official. Ofcourse if it was west all of these people would have to answer to the people aboutthe way they handled crisis and their job and the risk to them is to lose theirjob if not criminal action toward them. But not here they are all from the samefamily and they just get fatter and fatter

[SICHONSTEVE]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

Wow!!! that should make everyone feel better - what, with you "having now got that off your chest" this statement of yours should ease the situation in the country - very useful and helpful assessment (not)!!!!

Abhisit is the "man for moment" as HE, AND AN ABLE CABINET (something that Thailand doesn't have at the moment) would have responded in a much more "cold", "calculated" and "certain" way than this bunch of headless chickens have.

This current debacle reminds me of that famous "don't panic Mr Mannering" in a "Dad's army" episode. Unfortunately they are panicking though which is clearly making matters worse and only succeeds in exacerbating the problems further.

Another thing, how can the prime minister function properly when her cabinet members don't listen to her and ignore her orders - stating that they don't really regard her as their true leader!!!! Alarming or what!!!!.

What do you say to this Mr G'kid????:jap:.

[Arkady]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

but the terrible mismanagement is to blame on this government

Oh well the inundated provinces around Bangkok, including Ayudhya, Ang-Thong, Patum Thani and Nonthaburi voted overwhelmingly for the this government. So I hope they are pleased with their choice. The Bangkok voters overwhelmingly rejected them but get favorable treatment because the ministers and their families and their concealed asset businesses are nearly all in Bangkok. It is a good illustration to the upcountry voters of how the "elite" and "amartiya" operate "double standards". But no doubt they make the same mistake again.

[metisdead]

A post containing a link to a Bangkok Post news article has been removed as well as the replies to it.

[Prairieboy]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

It is a tragic loss to Thailand - past governments have obviously shown no foresight in planning flood control. The new Prime Ministrer was thrown into the fray as the rainy season started and obviously had no time to study or devise any permanent solutions.

One hopes the Thai government will learn a lesson and construct permanent 'floodways' similar to the "Red River Floodway" which alleviates the annual flooding in Winnipeg in Canada's province of Manitoba.

[whybother]

It is a tragic loss to Thailand - past governments have obviously shown no foresight in planning flood control. The new Prime Ministrer was thrown into the fray as the rainy season started and obviously had no time to study or devise any permanent solutions.

<snip>

I don't think anyone expected the current government to have implemented any permanent solutions for the flood problems.

But they have had many weeks notice that a lot of water was going to hit Bangkok, but the best they could do is waste time and energy with their 1000 boat plan. They even waited until it was flooding before they decided to dredge a few canals. And don't get me started on their communications.

[scorecard]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

but the terrible mismanagement is to blame on this government

and the terrible mismanagement goes right back to the fact that the offshore puppeteer surrounded his totally inexperienced sister with totally incapable and totally insincere people and surrounded them with totally incapable red shirt thugs.

You reap what you sow.

The loser is, sad to sad, the folks who have been totally and disgracefully manipulated and voted this gang into power.

[ozzieman05]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

When a Government takes the hands of power

They have already had time to see the events of the past

They accept full resposablility for the Country they want to Govern

Escapists always blame it on the past

If I want to buy a second hand car, it my responsiblity to find out all its faults before I buy it

This is true all over the world

But Lust for Control and Power has short sighted politicians

[rogerdee123]

Its right to blame the government on this one, but which government? These floods have happened every year for decades already. Yes, they are getting progressively worse but it's really not all THIS governments fault. We should blame the last 50 governments for no foresight or planning in flood management. Shame on ALL of them.

When a Government takes the hands of power

They have already had time to see the events of the past

They accept full resposablility for the Country they want to Govern

Escapists always blame it on the past

If I want to buy a second hand car, it my responsiblity to find out all its faults before I buy it

This is true all over the world

But Lust for Control and Power has short sighted politicians

Well .... after this flood there will be a lot of dodgy second-hand cars ... so be careful about what you're buying brother.

[RickBradford]

The government is not just on the back foot, they missed the rising ball completely and were struck squarely in what Richie Benaud would call "the lower abdomen"....

[animatic]

Only "on the back foot"...

More like the entire hind quarters of the ass in swirling feces up to the fetlocks.

[h90]

what back food?

It runs perfect for the government, just for the regular Thai people it is getting a bit difficult but I am sure the dear leader makes his profit on that.

[rogerdee123]

Only "on the back foot"...

More like the entire hind quarters of the ass in swirling feces up to the fetlocks.

[mrfarang]

What a poor piece of journalism. The current government only came to power barely 2 months ago. Can you tell me who decided to hold all the water in the Dams in the past 6 months? Who took that decision? When you're already facing a worse-than-normal rain season, you don't hold all the water during the summer months, you slowly release it. You don't release billions of cubic meters of water right when the worst rain reason comes.

Yingluck didn't take that decision - who did? Tell me.

[rubl]

What a poor piece of journalism. The current government only came to power barely 2 months ago. Can you tell me who decided to hold all the water in the Dams in the past 6 months? Who took that decision? When you're already facing a worse-than-normal rain season, you don't hold all the water during the summer months, you slowly release it. You don't release billions of cubic meters of water right when the worst rain reason comes.

Yingluck didn't take that decision - who did? Tell me.

Government barely two months, hold all water past six months. Some overlap there.

Anyway in THailand summer months you only release water from dams when below the water level becomes too low, but taking into account for how long remaining water might need to last. When up-North it really starts to rain heavily you slowly start to release a bit, increasing when need be. Looking at figures that seems to have happened. It takes a while to realise that this might be the worst rainy season for years, no-one clair voyant enough to predict, only hindsight.

One thing you're right about, most likely PM Yingluck didn't take decisions, her cabinet can elaborate

[Throatwobbler]

What a poor piece of journalism. The current government only came to power barely 2 months ago. Can you tell me who decided to hold all the water in the Dams in the past 6 months? Who took that decision? When you're already facing a worse-than-normal rain season, you don't hold all the water during the summer months, you slowly release it. You don't release billions of cubic meters of water right when the worst rain reason comes.

Yingluck didn't take that decision - who did? Tell me.

Chiang Mai flooded 4 weeks ago. This government has had plenty of time to prepare and now they seem all shocked about this amount of water hitting Bangkok.

The current government has had plenty of time to take action but was too involved in their main goal, and you don't need me to tell you what that is.

Is your name Bula? Typical red accept no responsibility and always blame eveyone else.

[yoshiwara]

What a poor piece of journalism. The current government only came to power barely 2 months ago. Can you tell me who decided to hold all the water in the Dams in the past 6 months? Who took that decision? When you're already facing a worse-than-normal rain season, you don't hold all the water during the summer months, you slowly release it. You don't release billions of cubic meters of water right when the worst rain reason comes.

Yingluck didn't take that decision - who did? Tell me.

Chiang Mai flooded 4 weeks ago. This government has had plenty of time to prepare and now they seem all shocked about this amount of water hitting Bangkok.

The current government has had plenty of time to take action but was too involved in their main goal, and you don't need me to tell you what that is.

Is your name Bula? Typical red accept no responsibility and always blame eveyone else.

Bottom line re the response now to the crisis is that Thaksin issued firm instructions not to declare a SOE. That is the key to the resulting shambles.By refusing to empower the army to respond in an appropriate way, the law of unintended consequences has kicked in and the uselessness of the ministers appointed by Thaksin has been extra-ordinarily amplified. Desperate attempts by forum Thaksin apologists to shovel blame further down the chronological line just don't cut it when the current government has refused to declare a SOE with all that implies. Effectively Thaksin has left his sister swinging in the wind. No wonder she has been crying.

[jayboy]

Desperate attempts by forum Thaksin apologists to shovel blame further down the chronological line just don't cut it when the current government has refused to declare a SOE with all that implies. Effectively Thaksin has left his sister swinging in the wind. No wonder she has been crying.

Here we ago again with the Thaksin apologists shtick.It is almost comic.

[serenitynow]

Desperate attempts by forum Thaksin apologists to shovel blame further down the chronological line just don't cut it when the current government has refused to declare a SOE with all that implies. Effectively Thaksin has left his sister swinging in the wind. No wonder she has been crying.

Here we ago again with the Thaksin apologists shtick.It is almost comic.

If it helps, I don't see you so much an as an an apologist but more as a toady. Which I'm sure you'd be the first to admit.