Deluge Can't Cover Up Government's Press Clampdown: Thai Talk

[dominique355]

Bangkok and Thailand are on the verge of huge devastation and this is what the paper chooses to print? Makes you wonder if having somebody control the press is a good idea if there idea of news at a critical time like this is to inflame politics. Absolutely no reason in the world to run this story now. After the waters recedes then you can inflame politics but at this point it seems like many people are simply using this natural disaster to put politics before Thailand and its people.

I'm all for seeing an end to Thaksin and his family in politics but this is a time when people need to pull together. If things do get very bad I have a feeling many people are going to die that would not have needed to die if politics were not taking front stage right now. I even think the government is scared to deploy the military for fear of a coup and instead are depending on the police who not only are taking care of themselves and their own families now but have nowhere near the capabilities the army does in handling something like this.

Very very sad and as you can see from the comments on Thaivisa and the English newspapers, this is not just a Thai thing.

And just plane wrong to mislead readers to believing this story has anything to do with flooding. Politicians lie, that is what they do best across the globe and if these newspapers had real reporters then we'd be getting facts instead of nonsense and politicians would be less likely to lie so boldly.

If this is the wrong time to report about this law, I might ask why the Government choose this time to install this law?

One might ask, don't they have better things to do?

Or maybe, just maybe, they were hoping it would pass under the radar of the public's attention and when the flood is over and the attention shifts away from the flooding, well, then is TOO LATE! Haha! Gotcha!

This law is a fine product of Red Shirt thinking: Democracy is fine, as long as you follow MY opinion. Zero tolerance for deviation.

[AleG]

If passed by Parliament into law, it will give the national police chief the power to censor, close down and threaten the constitutional rights of any newspaper with impunity.

To those not following the plot closely, the current police chief is Thaksin's brother in law. How convenient.

...

In respect to the issue at hand, the Nation with its small following has appointed itself as the official opposition to the democratically elected government of Thailand. Perhaps the Nation is worried that its rabid vociferous opinions that denigrate and insult the government are coming back to bite it on its posterior? If the Nation spent as much time on constructive criticism and unbiased reporting as it does on stirring up animosities, and spewing hatred, it might not be in panic mode?

"In respect to the issue at hand", followed not by the issue at hand. Misdirection, your one single trick; it's quite tiresome by now.

[Bakseedaa]

Bangkok and Thailand are on the verge of huge devastation and this is what the paper chooses to print? Makes you wonder if having somebody control the press is a good idea if there idea of news at a critical time like this is to inflame politics. Absolutely no reason in the world to run this story now. After the waters recedes then you can inflame politics but at this point it seems like many people are simply using this natural disaster to put politics before Thailand and its people.

I'm all for seeing an end to Thaksin and his family in politics but this is a time when people need to pull together. If things do get very bad I have a feeling many people are going to die that would not have needed to die if politics were not taking front stage right now. I even think the government is scared to deploy the military for fear of a coup and instead are depending on the police who not only are taking care of themselves and their own families now but have nowhere near the capabilities the army does in handling something like this.

Very very sad and as you can see from the comments on Thaivisa and the English newspapers, this is not just a Thai thing.

And just plane wrong to mislead readers to believing this story has anything to do with flooding. Politicians lie, that is what they do best across the globe and if these newspapers had real reporters then we'd be getting facts instead of nonsense and politicians would be less likely to lie so boldly.

What a lot of <deleted>.......what is it they say...... Reap what you sow... and so too the Thai peoples....! They voted her in.... and now the "just" deserves...

[piete121]

Bangkok and Thailand are on the verge of huge devastation and this is what the paper chooses to print? Makes you wonder if having somebody control the press is a good idea if there idea of news at a critical time like this is to inflame politics. Absolutely no reason in the world to run this story now. After the waters recedes then you can inflame politics but at this point it seems like many people are simply using this natural disaster to put politics before Thailand and its people.

I'm all for seeing an end to Thaksin and his family in politics but this is a time when people need to pull together. If things do get very bad I have a feeling many people are going to die that would not have needed to die if politics were not taking front stage right now. I even think the government is scared to deploy the military for fear of a coup and instead are depending on the police who not only are taking care of themselves and their own families now but have nowhere near the capabilities the army does in handling something like this.

Very very sad and as you can see from the comments on Thaivisa and the English newspapers, this is not just a Thai thing.

And just plane wrong to mislead readers to believing this story has anything to do with flooding. Politicians lie, that is what they do best across the globe and if these newspapers had real reporters then we'd be getting facts instead of nonsense and politicians would be less likely to lie so boldly.

True the story has nothing to do with the flooding, but if I may be so bold as to suggest you read up on Jo Moore from the UK. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Moore) She wrote an email on September 11th clearly stating it was a good time for British government departments to 'bury bad news'. She wasn't even a politician but a 'Spin Doctor' - someone who's only job is to twist and control the press to get their point of view the platform it needs to have it believed by the public (also known as a consultant!). This is exactly how all governments think - when the public are distracted they can get the news/laws that they want.

I won't say anyone is stupid but I will say most are naive to think that politicians in Thailand aren't as good as their western counterparts when it comes to conning the voting public. If the voters had real information and a real ability to critically assess what they are told then, I would hope, half of all governments worldwide would not be elected. I even heard a story the other day how some Red Villagers believe that Thaksin, in his generosity to the Thai people, paid off a 500million Baht IMF loan from his own pocket. Maybe he used some of the money he arranged to be lent to the Burmese government for their broadcasting infrastructure overhaul. Not to mention the amazing generosity of Jatuporn to 'personally' donate so many relief packages to the Red Villages that have been affected by this disaster. After all if someone's face is on a product aren't they responsible for it being there?

The real problem is that governments the world over think they should muzzle the press. And the press go along with it. Embedded reporters in Iraq/Afghanistan have shown time and again that they can only show what the establishment wants them to say, anything else or contrary to the party line is deemed incorrect and is not published. The BBC is frequently deemed to be a government mouthpiece in the UK, but when a broadcaster is only going to keep getting access by not telling the real story they will do whatever they can to stay even with their competitors. How do you think Fox News does so well? It parrots the party line and while it still talks utter b*****it through it's 'Opinion' presenters, their system is designed to keep the American public blissfully unaware of what is the truth. Just look at the news surrounding the 'Occupy' protests. How much of that is designed to make you think the protest is just a bunch of hairy teenage hippies who don't do diddly squat except leech off the system?

We should all be highly critical of politicians and never take a word they say to be either true or the whole story. They have agendas of their own. Either through their political parties, or their families, or their business interests, or even their own misguided opinions. It was only ever a truly independent press that revealed stories like the Watergate saga. Free the press and the public's mind might just about be able to work out that when voting you are choosing between two (or more) giant lies.

Plain and simply put - Politicians do what is good for them and no one else.

[Thaddeus]

If passed by Parliament into law, it will give the national police chief the power to censor, close down and threaten the constitutional rights of any newspaper with impunity.

To those not following the plot closely, the current police chief is Thaksin's brother in law. How convenient.

Apparently, you are not following the plot closely, since Mr. Thaksin is divorced. As such, the "police chief" is not his brother in law.

It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse.

Utter tripe (again)

They marry for money, they divorce for money, their marital status is completely irrelevant while the money is the main link in the chain.

[dru2]

Who can believe a single thing this compulsive Thaksin apologist posts?

If passed by Parliament into law, it will give the national police chief the power to censor, close down and threaten the constitutional rights of any newspaper with impunity.

To those not following the plot closely, the current police chief is Thaksin's brother in law. How convenient.

Apparently, you are not following the plot closely, since Mr. Thaksin is divorced. As such, the "police chief" is not his brother in law.

It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse.

In respect to the issue at hand, the Nation with its small following has appointed itself as the official opposition to the democratically elected government of Thailand. Perhaps the Nation is worried that its rabid vociferous opinions that denigrate and insult the government are coming back to bite it on its posterior? If the Nation spent as much time on constructive criticism and unbiased reporting as it does on stirring up animosities, and spewing hatred, it might not be in panic mode?

[siampolee]

They marry for money, they divorce for money, their marital status is completely irrelevant while the money is the main link in the chain.

geriatrickid # 17

Apparently, you are not following the plot closely, since Mr. Thaksin is divorced. As such, the "police chief" is not his brother in law.

It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse.

Machiavellian is a word that springs to mind regarding the nepotism in the current puppet government.

Edited October 27, 2011 by siampolee

[whybother]

<snip>

I even heard a story the other day how some Red Villagers believe that Thaksin, in his generosity to the Thai people, paid off a 500million Baht IMF loan from his own pocket. Maybe he used some of the money he arranged to be lent to the Burmese government for their broadcasting infrastructure overhaul. Not to mention the amazing generosity of Jatuporn to 'personally' donate so many relief packages to the Red Villages that have been affected by this disaster. After all if someone's face is on a product aren't they responsible for it being there?

<snip>

The banner at the side of the truck says, Donated by Thaksin Shinawatra, captured at Don Muang /via@PlaSiuPlaSoi

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4798447 (with video)

[OzMick]

Any move to restrict, control and subvert the role of the press to serve as the people's watchdog and gate-keeper runs counter to the Constitution, of course.

Surely our Prime Minister and her (?) administration are not proposing to curtail the rights of the fourth estate contrary to their campaign comments are they ?

This must be that famed , "Equality for all policy," as espoused by the Red Shirt faction of the P.T.PT (Personal Thaksin Property) faction or possibly the puppet masters strings have become a little tangled in his manipulative exercises.

It seems like a retrograde step and I sincerely hope it won't happen.

Equally given the source and the long tradition of self censorship, shoddy and lazy journalism, non existent fact checking, metropolitan bias and habit of kowtowing to the prevailing power (yes, I mean the English language press in Thailand) the posture of outrage is rather hard to take seriously.

Diplomacy 101 - you don't shoot the messenger

[sfbandung]

I wonder what percentage of all replies to all threads relate to Red/Yellow Pro/Anti Thaksin rather than the actual subject of the OP?

I may have misread it, but it reads like an article about proposed changes that could/will result in a less free-speaking press.

Which is apalling and should be opposed, regardless of what colour shirt you're wearing.

Now, back to the floods... Mobile phones are definitely still working well, my wife has been on the phone to her BKK sisters and brothers ALL DAY.

[longtom]

If passed by Parliament into law, it will give the national police chief the power to censor, close down and threaten the constitutional rights of any newspaper with impunity.

To those not following the plot closely, the current police chief is Thaksin's brother in law. How convenient.

Apparently, you are not following the plot closely, since Mr. Thaksin is divorced. As such, the "police chief" is not his brother in law.

It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse.

In respect to the issue at hand, the Nation with its small following has appointed itself as the official opposition to the democratically elected government of Thailand. Perhaps the Nation is worried that its rabid vociferous opinions that denigrate and insult the government are coming back to bite it on its posterior? If the Nation spent as much time on constructive criticism and unbiased reporting as it does on stirring up animosities, and spewing hatred, it might not be in panic mode?

What does it take for you to critisize anything that your beloved governement is doing? You have lost all credibility in the last year, I'm afraid. What a pitty, you used to be a resonable poster before.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

As to Nisa's whine about why The Nation chose to editorialize on the proposal now...perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the Cabinet voted on the measure, according to the article, on Oct. 18... A bit over a week ago....

Nice to see, amid the disaster of the floods, that the current govt. is showing their true "colors."

[animatic]

Bangkok and Thailand are on the verge of huge devastation and this is what the paper chooses to print? Makes you wonder if having somebody control the press is a good idea if there idea of news at a critical time like this is to inflame politics. Absolutely no reason in the world to run this story now. After the waters recedes then you can inflame politics but at this point it seems like many people are simply using this natural disaster to put politics before Thailand and its people.

I'm all for seeing an end to Thaksin and his family in politics but this is a time when people need to pull together. If things do get very bad I have a feeling many people are going to die that would not have needed to die if politics were not taking front stage right now. I even think the government is scared to deploy the military for fear of a coup and instead are depending on the police who not only are taking care of themselves and their own families now but have nowhere near the capabilities the army does in handling something like this.

Very very sad and as you can see from the comments on Thaivisa and the English newspapers, this is not just a Thai thing.

And just plane wrong to mislead readers to believing this story has anything to do with flooding. Politicians lie, that is what they do best across the globe and if these newspapers had real reporters then we'd be getting facts instead of nonsense and politicians would be less likely to lie so boldly.

If the government changes the laws during floods, then the newspapers print the details during floods. It stops governments from hiding their law changes during times of "huge devastation".

The government is taking much face losing bad publicity that is making IT, The Party and Red Shirts look bad over their flood tactics. Relief can be big business or political capital depends who's IN CHARGE.

This is EXACTLY the time to change the law. Many if not most people ARE distracted, and this was always in the cards.

Yes Thaksin's 'legally ex brother in law', but in reality still BiL in effect, is now being handed the keys to controlling any COUNTER PROPAGANDA free speech. They can say what they like, and if you print the truth, or simply contradict them.... then they can shut you down, with nothing more than a 'A note from Thaksin's Brother In/OutLaw.

Edited October 27, 2011 by animatic

[animatic]

I wonder what percentage of all replies to all threads relate to Red/Yellow Pro/Anti Thaksin rather than the actual subject of the OP?

I may have misread it, but it reads like an article about proposed changes that could/will result in a less free-speaking press.

Which is apalling and should be opposed, regardless of what colour shirt you're wearing.

Now, back to the floods... Mobile phones are definitely still working well, my wife has been on the phone to her BKK sisters and brothers ALL DAY.

The OP is specifically about them trying to slip a stranglehold choke around the press while the flood is going on, since it is a nice distraction fro the public, but also makes THEM look bad... so instinctively they want to silence the criticism. That IS the point of the OP.

[Crushdepth]

No government should have the power to arbitrarily censor the media without recourse. Especially when that power is in the hands of a RELATIVE.

What disturbs me though, is that people let their political ideology get in the way of common sense. This is not in the public interest, regardless of your politics. This act is as anti-democratic as it gets.

[hammered]

I dont remember such an outcry against the very real and enforced censorship under the last regime where hundreds of media outlets were closed down funnily enough all of a similar political persuasion as compared to this outcry (quite rightly) against a proposed piece of legislation. The media needs to take a long look at itself and its selective outrage against authoritarian moves. It should be against all authoritarian moves if it wants to be seen as a fair media.

[Crushdepth]

I dont remember such an outcry against the very real and enforced censorship under the last regime where hundreds of media outlets were closed down funnily enough all of a similar political persuasion as compared to this outcry (quite rightly) against a proposed piece of legislation. The media needs to take a long look at itself and its selective outrage against authoritarian moves. It should be against all authoritarian moves if it wants to be seen as a fair media.

I do not think the two are in any way comparable. So long as you don't mess with LM and don't advocate violence, there are few restrictions on Thai media. This is a far more insidious piece of legislation that can be applied arbitrarily and without recourse. It is absolutely unacceptable that such a power would reside in the hands of a relative.

IMHO this kind of abuse of power also fuels the coup cycle.

[Thaddeus]

I dont remember such an outcry against the very real and enforced censorship under the last regime where hundreds of media outlets were closed down funnily enough all of a similar political persuasion as compared to this outcry (quite rightly) against a proposed piece of legislation. The media needs to take a long look at itself and its selective outrage against authoritarian moves. It should be against all authoritarian moves if it wants to be seen as a fair media.

There's just a wee difference between silencing outlets inciting acts of violence and those just reporting acts of violence (and corruption and cronyism and nepotism and rampant stupidity)

[AleG]

I dont remember such an outcry against the very real and enforced censorship under the last regime where hundreds of media outlets were closed down funnily enough all of a similar political persuasion as compared to this outcry (quite rightly) against a proposed piece of legislation. The media needs to take a long look at itself and its selective outrage against authoritarian moves. It should be against all authoritarian moves if it wants to be seen as a fair media.

Can´t recall anyone complaining about that, really?

Must had been a dream then, all the Red Shirt apologists raising hell over the issue of illegal radios and publications encouraging violence being closed down.

Nope never happened, nobody said a peep.

Anyway, so you agree this piece of legislation is good? Police chief (relative of and picked by Thaksin) deciding on his own what can be said in the press?

Do you think its democratic? in line with freedom of expression? can you address the issue without misdirections?

[scorecard]

They marry for money, they divorce for money, their marital status is completely irrelevant while the money is the main link in the chain.

geriatrickid # 17

Apparently, you are not following the plot closely, since Mr. Thaksin is divorced. As such, the "police chief" is not his brother in law.

It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse.

Machiavellian is a word that springs to mind regarding the nepotism in the current puppet government.

G'kid: "It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse."

So lots of wild assumptions and not relevant to the subject at hand, and I ask you again to please share your thoughts about freedom of the press.

[noahvail]

I dont remember such an outcry against the very real and enforced censorship under the last regime where hundreds of media outlets were closed down funnily enough all of a similar political persuasion as compared to this outcry (quite rightly) against a proposed piece of legislation. The media needs to take a long look at itself and its selective outrage against authoritarian moves. It should be against all authoritarian moves if it wants to be seen as a fair media.

There's just a wee difference between silencing outlets inciting acts of violence and those just reporting acts of violence (and corruption and cronyism and nepotism and rampant stupidity)

Agreed. And as I recall, there were a fair few radio stations shut not for not having a broadcast license. Pretty reasonable to shut those down, especially as they were inciting violence.

[Abduljabbar01]

Does not Thailand's government read the news anymore or keep track of current technology?

Many people don't use the old fashioned news print anymore to share what's going on.

This is 2011 not 2002.

People here use Blackberry mobile phones, IPhone's, IPad Tablet, Android Tablets, Facebook, Twitter and other forms of multimedia to distribute information both domestically and globally.

• Unless, Thailand government wants a complete control of Freedom of the Press like China have.
  
• Then they will have to: To shut down the Internet, close down True Internet, AIS, DTAC, Hutch and other telephone networks.
• Send the police or military personal to every wireless checkpoint, such as Starbucks and other popular places, and physically confiscate every Tablet PC's away.
• They will have to arrest and confine or find a way to silence foreign journalists from other networks, such as Al-Jazeera, BBC, CNN, Routers, and so on.
• Close every blog both Thai and expat in Thailand or issue a stop order on local Thai happening

Preventing distribution of information and news is virtually in this day and age. Look at the Middle East and their Arab Uprisings, even in Yemen and Syria. Thank you Steve Jobs for your wonderful inventions.

Once the fire starts, there is really no way to stop the spread of information.

Thailand's government officials have to accept the fact, we don't live in the 20^th or the 19^th century, and when "THE SHIT HIT’S THE FAN". You have to deal with it both domestically and internationally. Though, knowing Thais, they have to save face and cannot admit mistakes.

On a more positive note. Thai people are strong here and when things get really bad, they pull together and drop their prejudices for a while those who are not from Thailand offer to help and help.

Edited October 27, 2011 by Abduljabbar01

[AleG]

G'kid: "It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse."

So lots of wild assumptions and not relevant to the subject at hand, and I ask you again to please share your thoughts about freedom of the press.

Nah, Thaksin hates the guys guts; that's why he had him appointed as National Police Chief.

Makes sense after you drink enough Cool-Aid. (although some people seem to snorting it at this stage.

[ginjag]

I dont remember such an outcry against the very real and enforced censorship under the last regime where hundreds of media outlets were closed down funnily enough all of a similar political persuasion as compared to this outcry (quite rightly) against a proposed piece of legislation. The media needs to take a long look at itself and its selective outrage against authoritarian moves. It should be against all authoritarian moves if it wants to be seen as a fair media.

There's just a wee difference between silencing outlets inciting acts of violence and those just reporting acts of violence (and corruption and cronyism and nepotism and rampant stupidity)

Gagging the media is the biggest sign of FEAR and a help to control freaks, ---then total control of all television networks, putting a stop on freedom. Near neighbours Myanmar and N Korea example. Thaksin led the way before but that time it was DO AS I DO...and what I say. This is going to turn out exactly the same.

" I take care of the people of Thailand" what a load of bUllocks

[MunterHunter]

I dont remember such an outcry against the very real and enforced censorship under the last regime where hundreds of media outlets were closed down funnily enough all of a similar political persuasion as compared to this outcry (quite rightly) against a proposed piece of legislation. The media needs to take a long look at itself and its selective outrage against authoritarian moves. It should be against all authoritarian moves if it wants to be seen as a fair media.

Difference between closing down illegal radio stations, tv stations and press offices and stealth law changes that will silence any media outlet who the government disagrees with. Big difference, apples and oranges mate, even you can see that, no?

[Tompa]

If passed by Parliament into law, it will give the national police chief the power to censor, close down and threaten the constitutional rights of any newspaper with impunity.

To those not following the plot closely, the current police chief is Thaksin's brother in law. How convenient.

Apparently, you are not following the plot closely, since Mr. Thaksin is divorced. As such, the "police chief" is not his brother in law.

It is uncommon for divorced people to remain "close" to their ex inlaws. Based upon the expert opinion of TVFers, it seems to be the norm to put as much distance as possible between the ex inlaws and the divorced spouse.

In respect to the issue at hand, the Nation with its small following has appointed itself as the official opposition to the democratically elected government of Thailand. Perhaps the Nation is worried that its rabid vociferous opinions that denigrate and insult the government are coming back to bite it on its posterior? If the Nation spent as much time on constructive criticism and unbiased reporting as it does on stirring up animosities, and spewing hatred, it might not be in panic mode?

Yes, you are really red to the core, and ONLY YOU and your fellow reds believe that Thaksin divorced his wife for any other reason than to escape massive tax evasion penalties, and other stuffs. ONLY YOU and your fellow reds believe that the ex brother in law has been appointed for other reasons that he is the ex brother in law.

Your never ending red sh*t propaganda is really tiring, and serves no purpose.

By the way, I hope that you will react strongly to the fact that some trucks full of food donated by Thai people are marked on the side with a banner saying that this is a gift from Thaksin.... Or will you give us the same explanation that another of your heroes, namely Natthawut ???

Well said :jap:

[rogerdee123]

The Thaksin mob is following the Ferdinand Marcos model of developing Thai "democracy" .... although Marcos probably could have learned a lot from the present Thai leaders about graft, corruption and nepotism. I think his accumulated plunder was not as much as Thaksin managed to acquire, and Thaksin ain't finished yet.

By the way, that was another "democracy", (complete with elections, political parties etc) where I cheered on the military coup d'etat.

Edited October 27, 2011 by rogerdee123

[Nisa]

10 Day old news of something that is not going to be law until and unless Parliament agrees to it which will not be anytime during this flood crisis.

But good to see the article served its purpose in terms of adding fuel to the fire of making sure to get people emotional about during this crisis.

[MunterHunter]

10 Day old news of something that is not going to be law until and unless Parliament agrees to it which will not be anytime during this flood crisis.

But good to see the article served its purpose in terms of adding fuel to the fire of making sure to get people emotional about during this crisis.

So you have no problem with the content of this proposed law? Nor its timing (10 days ago 1/3rd of the country was still under water, even though Bangkok was not affected directly at that time)

[Nisa]

10 Day old news of something that is not going to be law until and unless Parliament agrees to it which will not be anytime during this flood crisis.

But good to see the article served its purpose in terms of adding fuel to the fire of making sure to get people emotional about during this crisis.

So you have no problem with the content of this proposed law? Nor its timing (10 days ago 1/3rd of the country was still under water, even though Bangkok was not affected directly at that time)

10 Days ago it could have been considered news as opposed to releasing this story during the peak of panic when the capital and its 15 million inhabitants (largely against the current government) are already under a great deal of stress. Over a week ago the flood was not effecting nowhere near as many people, as well as the country as a whole, and it could have been justified by actually reporting the news when it happened as opposed to waiting for things to become so bad that a 5-day holiday needed to be enacted.

Clearly the newspaper, if it had real reporters, would have reported this more timely and would be spending all its current resources on updating flood conditions and maybe helping saving lives. Beyond editorial and opinion pieces (such as this one) there is little reporting ever done beyond passing along official government statements.

It would seem this article is designed to flame the current political divide during a time of national crisis where a natural disaster is already being used to divide the public.

Edited October 27, 2011 by Nisa