Pheu Thai And Red Shirts Do Nothing To Help Their Own

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE

Pheu Thai and red shirts do nothing to help their own

Thanong Khanthong

Bangkok is falling, similar to the fall of Ayutthaya in 1765.

It is now too late to save Bangkok from flooding. I could never have imagined that the City of Angels would collapse before my eyes.

On Wednesday, a Nation photographer saw a group of people trying to destroy barriers protecting the Grand Palace from floods. This information appeared in my colleague's twitter account, @Tulsathit. Few paid attention to this. But it's a revelation, illustrating that the tragedy of modern Thailand is a conspiracy. If the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were to be completely underwater, Thais would have been dealt a big shock, losing all morale and strength to fight back. If the Emerald Buddha cannot protect the City of Angels, then the angels would have taken flight and the capital would have fallen.

Are we facing "shock and awe" similar to 9/11? The crash of the economy and whole nation? Let me raise several crucial questions that have to be addressed, because government agencies, ministers, Pheu Thai MPs and red shirts are apparently adopting a passive mode while disasters pile on the Thai people.

In spite of heavy storms this year, water levels in general have not been significantly worse than the great floods in 1995. More investigation is needed on water releases from the dams this year and in 1995. Water resources experts from Plamod Maiklad to Dr Smith Thammasaroj have asserted that floods could have been avoided. I was told that a Cabinet member spoke to irrigation and electricity officials not to release the water from dams, in spite of heavy downpours in September, so there would be enough water for farmers. "I shall assume sole responsibility for this," he said.

The delay in releasing water from dams, particularly Bhumibol Dam, in the North has caused mayhem because the water has to be released en masse otherwise the dams would have been broken apart. This Cabinet member has not yet come out to assume any responsibility for his decision that caused unprecedented floods to so far destroy 10,000 factories and plunged millions of Thais into bankruptcy and homelessness. What was his motivation? Was it meant to coincide with 9/11?

Prime Minister Yingluck initiated the Bang Rakam Model to tackle the floods in September after visiting Amphoe Bang Rakam, Phitsanulok. Bang Rakam (bang, small town; rakam, painful suffering) is far from being an auspicious name. She must have been informed about the serious threat of floods, which started in August. It was not until October 9 that she signed an executive order to create the Flood Relief Operation Centre (Froc). What happened during the interval on the flood prevention programme when ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra stole the news headlines?

Yingluck has put the wrong people in the wrong jobs. Does she know what she is doing? Froc is headed by Police General Pracha Phromnok, the justice minister. Pracha has virtually no knowledge of water resources and crisis management. Korbsak Sabhavasu, the Democrat's strategist, was surprised upon learning that Dhirachai Wuthitham served as secretary-general of Froc? He asked: "Who is Dhirachai? If he is unknown, how can he coordiate with all the agencies and ministries to combat the floods?"

The Interior Ministry sits on the sidelines doing virtually nothing to tackle the crisis. Interior Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit said the floods are beyond his and the ministry's ability to tackle, although the ministry has the country's largest manpower and resources network to respond to a crisis situation to help the people.

We have not seen the police on TV helping the flood victims. Police General Phriewphan Damarong, a younger brother of Pojaman Na Pombejra, has been appointed police chief. He made some news initially. After the floods become more serious, he did not appear in the public eye. The police force is an idle watcher of the tragedy. Instead, the military has sent out 40,000 personnel to help communities fighting the floods. Why does the police force adopt a do-nothing attitude?

Pheu Thai MPs and ministers are not helping flood victims. They are nowhere to be seen. Where are they?

Red-shirt leaders have not come out to help those affected by the floods either. In April and May last year, they campaigned against the elite and for democracy. This year their people are suffering badly, but not a single red-shirt leader has emerged to help the poor. Ironically, the provinces suffering from the floods are Pheu Thai territories. Where are they?

At the same time, Pheu Thai wants to go against the military by pushing for legislation to nullify the coup in 2006. Jatuporn Promphan, a red-shirt leader, is trying to have the Defence Ministry's regulations amended so that the government can have more control over the reshuffling of military posts.

Yingluck has refused international assistance although Thailand is facing bankruptcy from the floods. I was told that Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, asked the prime minister how the UN could help. Yingluck's response was to the effect that UN assistance would not be needed. The US offered to send aircraft carriers, which were also refused. Why did she refuse international assistance, which now has to go through private channels rather than official channels.

We do not see red-shirts coming out to help other red shirts in a systematic way. Food, drinks and other supplies are slow to be delivered to the flood victims.

These questions have really disturbed me as I watch the floods destroy Thailand. Yingluck is apparently a puppet prime minister who is dancing to a tune written by those around her. Who are the invisible hands who apparently have a malicious intent for Thailand?

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

[jackr]

If the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were to be completely underwater, Thais would have been dealt a big shock, losing all morale and strength to fight back. If the Emerald Buddha cannot protect the City of Angels, then the angels would have taken flight and the capital would have fallen

All a bit dramatic don't you think, Mr Khanthong.

We do not see red-shirts coming out to help other red shirts in a systematic way.

Of course not, you'll need to grease their palm first.

[jehricaholic]

wow

[nurofiend]

If the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were to be completely underwater, Thais would have been dealt a big shock, losing all morale and strength to fight back. If the Emerald Buddha cannot protect the City of Angels, then the angels would have taken flight and the capital would have fallen

All a bit dramatic don't you think, Mr Khanthong.

We do not see red-shirts coming out to help other red shirts in a systematic way.

Of course not, you'll need to grease their palm first.

obviously, because they all 100% value money over human life of their comrades

[AleG]

If the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were to be completely underwater, Thais would have been dealt a big shock, losing all morale and strength to fight back. If the Emerald Buddha cannot protect the City of Angels, then the angels would have taken flight and the capital would have fallen

All a bit dramatic don't you think, Mr Khanthong.

It's a bit dramatic, yes, but Thai people, or at least the national ethos, places a tremendous amount of power in that figure. In fact is seen as the source of legitimacy to the current Chakri dynasty. It's said that if the Emerald Buddha would be destroyed the dynasty will fall, probably the reason why a Red Shirt tried to hit it with an RPG a couple years ago (he missed).

[Abduljabbar01]

Thailand is already falling apart. Thailand is falling inwards not outwards due to their greed. Give it time, give it time.

If the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were to be completely underwater, Thais would have been dealt a big shock, losing all morale and strength to fight back. If the Emerald Buddha cannot protect the City of Angels, then the angels would have taken flight and the capital would have fallen

All a bit dramatic don't you think, Mr Khanthong.

It's a bit dramatic, yes, but Thai people, or at least the national ethos, places a tremendous amount of power in that figure. In fact is seen as the source of legitimacy to the current Chakri dynasty. It's said that if the Emerald Buddha would be destroyed the dynasty will fall, probably the reason why a Red Shirt tried to hit it with an RPG a couple years ago (he missed).

[prefabs]

I been asking the gf for 2 weeks. Where is Chalerm? Before the floods, he couldn't be quietened, now he is anonymous. I mentioned in another post that I felt sorry for Yingluck, looked like she was being given the chance to sink or swim, whether out of pique or whatever by her party bigwigs

[siampolee]

No doubt that that infamous pink Bentley is now ensconced safe and secure like its odious owner and his family far from the maddening crowd and the floods.

Denmark was a previous bolt hole one wonders if the Chalerm tribe may be there ?

Edited October 28, 2011 by siampolee

[aussiebebe]

It's probably incompetence rather than a conspiracy by the Democrats to choose to hold an election when they knew there would be floods. It's quite obvious to me, having lived here last year during the red-shirt riots that the participants received stipends; so many incidents were caught on film or relayed to me through friends about what was going on. It's unfair to blame the current PM - but she won't escape. People have been warning about flooding for years and years; Samith Dharmasaroja, a former director general of Thailand's meteorological department, was ignored about his Tusnami warnings before 2004 and has warned for several years about the combination of high tides and flood waters inundating Bangkok. Dr Bhijit Rattakul, a former Bangkok governor and executive director of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, has also warned about the need to build defenses. Possibly now Thai politicians will be willing to put a policy onto the public agenda. Ironically they probably won't have the funds after they pay for repairs and rebuilding.

Edited October 28, 2011 by aussiebebe

[Krungbin]

I been asking the gf for 2 weeks. Where is Chalerm? Before the floods, he couldn't be quietened, now he is anonymous. I mentioned in another post that I felt sorry for Yingluck, looked like she was being given the chance to sink or swim, whether out of pique or whatever by her party bigwigs

Very good point. I noticed too and asked the same question.

I think that, once all the water is gone, Yingluck will have to watch her back very carefully because the enemy will not be the opposition. It will be her own camp. And Jatuporn....have you heard of him recently?

[Ricardo]

It's probably incompetence rather than a conspiracy by the Democrats to choose to hold an election when they knew there would be floods. It's quite obvious to me, having lived here last year during the red-shirt riots that the participants received stipends; so many incidents were caught on film or relayed to me through friends about what was going on. It's unfair to blame the current PM - but she won't escape. People have been warning about flooding for years and years; Samith Dharmasaroja, a former director general of Thailand's meteorological department, was ignored about his Tusnami warnings before 2004 and has warned for several years about the combination of high tides and flood waters inundating Bangkok. Dr Bhijit Rattakul, a former Bangkok governor and executive director of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, has also warned about the need to build defenses. Possibly now Thai politicians will be willing to put a policy onto the public agenda. Ironically they probably won't have the funds after they pay for repairs and rebuilding.

"when they knew there would be floods"

Was it really clear, back in April or May, that there were going to be major floods this year ?

"It's unfair to blame the current PM"

While I'd agree that this is a severe early-test of PM Yingluck's competence, were not the electorate assured pre-election, that she was fully up-to-the-job despite being a 'newbie', and post-election that all the new ministers were appointed for their competence, rather than family-connections or loyalty to DL?

[nicknostitz]

This story is wrong, and it is worse than just bad journalism. Thanong gives preference to his radical political views than to facts on the ground, and instrumentalizes this desaster to further his political hate agenda.

There are many Red Shirt teams indeed helping out where they can. Yesterday i accompanied, for example, a Red Shirt team working under the Ministry of Interior to rescue people on Lam Luka Road stuck in their Mu Bans by the approaching waters. Many of the teams members have helped since Ayutthaya was flooded, even though their own homes are under water now. There are many teams that work under the UDD independent of FROC, other locally organized teams of different community Radio Stations are working very hard as well. They do also work hand in hand with the military. Sombat's mirror foundation is working very hard as well.

I have accompanied teams of the fire brigade, i have been on boats with police officers patrolling inundated neighborhoods by boat, and helping wherever they can. If you travel the roads to the worst hit areas, you can see police officers trying to regulate the impossible traffic. I have met Sae Daengs daughter, now a Puea Thai party list MP on a boat inspecting one of the worst hit areas. Soldiers are working incredibly hard.

Naturally, given the nature of the disaster, it takes a long time to get supplies to affected neighborhoods, when so many roads are almost impossible to pass, or when it needs long detours to reach heavily hit areas. The resources are simply stretched to thin, and nobody can be blamed for that as huge areas are affected.

Basically, on the ground, everybody does what they can, regardless of political affiliation, as everybody is affected. And furthermore, i have seen all - military, police, government, Red Shirts, locals, doing their utmost to support us reporters in our work as well. It is well known and accepted by all that the causes of the flood is basically man made - decades of wrong city planning, wrong water management, and we all know that there are problems in communication. But anyone who has some experience with disasters knows that things could be handled much worse as it is done here.

I would suggest Thanong and his ilk to shut up and get wet before writing such rubbish.

[renaissanc]

I hope that the rural folks who voted for the current collection of low-lifes in power will take note, and ask the Red Shirts: "Where were you when we needed you?"

I think we can expect Jatuporn and Natthawut to appear afterwards to say they has "evidence" to show that the "evil" elites and the Democrats caused the people's suffering. Of course, they'll never produce the "evidence", and of course, the rural people will believe him.

Why is Thaksin so quiet too? It's like they are all being quiet deliberately. Thaksin always used to appear with his pep talks to stir up the rural folks. There is a nasty strategy afoot!

[EvilDrSomkid]

This is kind of odd.

Did we not see a lot of reports that PT MPs/ Red Shirts were putting their names on relief packages?

Did we not see reports that the Red Shirts were only helping Red Shirt people?

What is more odd, or silly rather, is to say that the Democrats knew the floods were coming so held elections. The elections were planned for months before the monsoon or flooding even started.

I would like to comment on the Emerald Buddha falling significance and associated House of Chakri prophecies, but that goes into forbidden territory.

[sirchai]

"Yingluck is apparently a puppet prime minister who is dancing to a tune written by those around her."

Well said. Her big brother will be back soon and together they'll save the country and its capital. Hurra....

[magpie3]

What are the odds that Chalerm is lying low because he gave the order to keep the dam full?

[Crushdepth]

I been asking the gf for 2 weeks. Where is Chalerm? Before the floods, he couldn't be quietened, now he is anonymous. I mentioned in another post that I felt sorry for Yingluck, looked like she was being given the chance to sink or swim, whether out of pique or whatever by her party bigwigs

Interesting, isn't it? I think government ministers are in hiding. They do not want to have been seen - to have had a hand in a train wreck.

[nurofiend]

What are the odds that Chalerm is lying low because he gave the order to keep the dam full?

yeah i'd say you're right there

[EvilDrSomkid]

What are the odds that Chalerm is lying low because he gave the order to keep the dam full?

I doubt that. He was more busy with getting his big buddy back.

It is strange that he is not ranting on TV, though. I really hope Yingluck does not resign.

Then we would have the robber baron as PM...

I have seen Jatuporn on TV. He is on the ASEAN Newsroom channel or some such.

[magpie3]

Surely there must be an army of journalists badgering the guy in charge at the dam for the name of the cabinet member who gave him the order? A little financial incentive could produce a major news story .....perhaps the fall of a government..... a Thai Watergate (was that too corny?) ..... which would be then covered up and the official transferred to a sewage works in an inaccessable Burmese border post

Ah well, an interesting train of thought while it lasted

[englishinsiam]

I've seen plenty of pictures of Pua Thai stickers on aid boxes medical and food. Donated be people in the towns less or not affected. But the communists in power have decided they are to take the credit for it.

Also pictures of boats with stickers saying only for Red Shirt supporters.

This is no way for a Democracy to run and I sadly can't see a true Thai Democracy in my lifetime. Greed and corruption is too rife nobody to my knowledge serves in a position of power here for the good of the people.

It's a sad state of affairs but I can see this rabble bringing Thailand to it's knees. And the Thai people will have no clue because they will dress it up as a success and sadly the poor masses will believe them as they pocket their 500 baht bribes.

[serenitynow]

This story is wrong, and it is worse than just bad journalism. Thanong gives preference to his radical political views than to facts on the ground, and instrumentalizes this desaster to further his political hate agenda.

There are many Red Shirt teams indeed helping out where they can. Yesterday i accompanied, for example, a Red Shirt team working under the Ministry of Interior to rescue people on Lam Luka Road stuck in their Mu Bans by the approaching waters. Many of the teams members have helped since Ayutthaya was flooded, even though their own homes are under water now. There are many teams that work under the UDD independent of FROC, other locally organized teams of different community Radio Stations are working very hard as well. They do also work hand in hand with the military. Sombat's mirror foundation is working very hard as well.

I have accompanied teams of the fire brigade, i have been on boats with police officers patrolling inundated neighborhoods by boat, and helping wherever they can. If you travel the roads to the worst hit areas, you can see police officers trying to regulate the impossible traffic. I have met Sae Daengs daughter, now a Puea Thai party list MP on a boat inspecting one of the worst hit areas. Soldiers are working incredibly hard.

Naturally, given the nature of the disaster, it takes a long time to get supplies to affected neighborhoods, when so many roads are almost impossible to pass, or when it needs long detours to reach heavily hit areas. The resources are simply stretched to thin, and nobody can be blamed for that as huge areas are affected.

Basically, on the ground, everybody does what they can, regardless of political affiliation, as everybody is affected. And furthermore, i have seen all - military, police, government, Red Shirts, locals, doing their utmost to support us reporters in our work as well. It is well known and accepted by all that the causes of the flood is basically man made - decades of wrong city planning, wrong water management, and we all know that there are problems in communication. But anyone who has some experience with disasters knows that things could be handled much worse as it is done here.

I would suggest Thanong and his ilk to shut up and get wet before writing such rubbish.

I agree with you about Thanong, Nick, he's a nutcase. BTW, have you chimed in on the PTP/ Thaksin taking credit for the generosity of others? Is that just sick, or what? And say, how's that Suphanburi story coming along?

[nicknostitz]

I agree with you about Thanong, Nick, he's a nutcase. BTW, have you chimed in on the PTP/ Thaksin taking credit for the generosity of others? Is that just sick, or what? And say, how's that Suphanburi story coming along?

Sorry, but i am busy taking pictures of the floods.

I am taking a brief hiatus from politics, as what is highlighted be certain media is nothing but little political bickering by each side of the divide and of no real importance on what actually goes on on the ground. So far, this bickering can be summarized with in one or two sentences: There was a flood, and apart from a few politicians of each side taking political advantage of this disaster, the larger socio-political conflict took a step back as all had to deal with the flood foremost, and for a time political enemies had bury their hatchets.

What about Suphanburi? I am sorry again, i just don't see the relevance. Why don't you enlighten us?

Edited October 28, 2011 by nicknostitz

[yumidesign]

a very good but disturbing article. a lot of what he is suggesting will come to pass, i believe, especially the parts about economic disaster which none of the inept government is capable of addressing. So many questions and the possibility of answers so remote. Feel very sad for poor Thai people. But at least there is freedom of the press (for now) to express such concerns openly

[serenitynow]

I agree with you about Thanong, Nick, he's a nutcase. BTW, have you chimed in on the PTP/ Thaksin taking credit for the generosity of others? Is that just sick, or what? And say, how's that Suphanburi story coming along?

Sorry, but i am busy taking pictures of the floods.

I am taking a brief hiatus from politics, as what is highlighted be certain media is nothing but little political bickering by each side of the divide and of no real importance on what actually goes on on the ground. So far, this bickering can be summarized with in one or two sentences: There was a flood, and apart from a few politicians of each side taking political advantage of this disaster, the larger socio-political conflict took a step back as all had to deal with the flood foremost, and for a time political enemies had bury their hatchets.

What about Suphanburi? I am sorry again, i just don't see the relevance. Why don't you enlighten us?

Well, you're the investigative reporter, but here's some leads to follow up. On the flooding. How was it that the dams were 20% below capacity when this govt took office as storms were expected soon, but rather than manage the dams they let them fill to overcapacity requiring the dumping of water at the worst possible time leading to the floods being experienced now. As for Suphan I was hoping you could connect the Banharn, Thaksin, Arab rice deal dots for us and if that had anything to do with the lack of flooding there. Stay well Nick.

[yumidesign]

"Yingluck is apparently a puppet prime minister who is dancing to a tune written by those around her."

Well said. Her big brother will be back soon and together they'll save the country and its capital. Hurra....

she is now a water puppet

[rametindallas]

Donated flood supplies being used to promote Thaksin?

การบริจาคของน้ำท่วมใช้เป็นการโปรโมททักษิณหรือปล่าว

http://www.posttoday.com/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87/118638/%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%89%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%B6%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A9%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%93

Use google translate for the text. video shows FROC donations loaded onto a truck with a banner reading, "With Love From Dr. Pol. Col. Thaksin"

These people can walk under a snake's belly and not even have to duck their heads.

[siampolee]

she is now a water puppet

Like this to ensure the gullible voters don't slip the bait ?

[rametindallas]

More corruption from UDD

New FROC speaker to replace Ai Wim to Ajarn Thongthogn does not help - better check the way to distribute donated stuffs along with using the facts instead of the politically distorted in and use her own power to open the watergates

http://www.oknation.net/blog/nailert/2011/10/27/entry-1

Yinglux and FROC to peter Bangkokians out of BKK

http://www.oknation.net/blog/setth/2011/10/27/entry-3

Websites that tell the truths about the flood situation in BKK instead of FROC which keep lying the public

http://www.oknation.net/blog/SOUTHER.../10/27/entry-2

Endless evil deeds by UDD men in FROC

http://www.oknation.net/blog/anonym/2011/10/27/entry-3

PT/UDD men stealing donated stuffs from China to be Ai maew Donation

http://www.oknation.net/blog/setth/2011/10/27/entry-1

PT men stealing BMA sandbags o be used for protecting Chan Song Lah house of EE Photjaman and The Shinnawatra clan

http://www.oknation.net/blog/rethink/2011/10/27/entry-2

Yingluk's government's days are numbered

http://www.oknation.net/blog/Smartle.../10/26/entry-1

[nicknostitz]

I agree with you about Thanong, Nick, he's a nutcase. BTW, have you chimed in on the PTP/ Thaksin taking credit for the generosity of others? Is that just sick, or what? And say, how's that Suphanburi story coming along?

Sorry, but i am busy taking pictures of the floods.

I am taking a brief hiatus from politics, as what is highlighted be certain media is nothing but little political bickering by each side of the divide and of no real importance on what actually goes on on the ground. So far, this bickering can be summarized with in one or two sentences: There was a flood, and apart from a few politicians of each side taking political advantage of this disaster, the larger socio-political conflict took a step back as all had to deal with the flood foremost, and for a time political enemies had bury their hatchets.

What about Suphanburi? I am sorry again, i just don't see the relevance. Why don't you enlighten us?

Well, you're the investigative reporter, but here's some leads to follow up. On the flooding. How was it that the dams were 20% below capacity when this govt took office as storms were expected soon, but rather than manage the dams they let them fill to overcapacity requiring the dumping of water at the worst possible time leading to the floods being experienced now. As for Suphan I was hoping you could connect the Banharn, Thaksin, Arab rice deal dots for us and if that had anything to do with the lack of flooding there. Stay well Nick.

I am working on the Red - Yellow conflict, and not on incidents of presumed corruption (all sides guilty), presumed mismanagement (all sides guilty), bad water management (decades of that by all governments), Banharn the eel (around for decades), or any nutty conspiracy theory that has nothing to do with the basic Red - Yellow conflict, and the differing ideological views on the future the Thai state, which is what i work on.

Right now - there is the flood, and so far attempts to draw the Red - Yellow conflict into this disaster is not reflected on the ground in more than on a miniscule level, and any attempt by "journalists" to artificially pull this conflict into the flood itself is nothing but blatantly taking advantage of this disaster, and leaving the path of any journalistic ethics and professionalism.

If you actually go to the affected areas, you can see military, police, Red Shirts and volunteers of many organizations working together (of course with the normal conflicts between humans). Therefore, from the ground perspective, which is my favored perspective - i really cannot say anything else than that, so far.

Have you noticed that none of the reporters that actually get their feet wet have anything else to say, and that the attempts to connect the flood with the sozio-political conflict come only from the reporters that never get down to the ground level - neither during the protests, nor now in the flood?

So, i would suggest the impossible here on Thaivisa: just leave the politics out of it for the time being.