Get The Political Games Out Of Relief Efforts: Thai Opinion

webfact · October 30, 2011

EDITORIAL

Get the political games out of relief efforts

The Nation

PM needs to rein in red shirts and MPs campaigning with public donations

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called for every party to transcend their political colours and work together to fight the flood. However, red-shirt leaders in her own Pheu Thai Party have disrupted the flood relief effort with their political bias while some politicians shamelessly took an advantage of people's suffering.

Chalong Riewrang, Pheu Thai Party MP from Nonthaburi province, told reporters recently that donated items had not been effectively distributed to flood victims because some of red-shirt politicians had an "influence" over donated items more than others.

This remark would have carried less weight if it had been from Pheu Thai's political opponents. But the public has paid attention to this news because it came from the same (ruling) party. In fact, Chalong's criticism was not surprising. Earlier, social media had featured clips exposing the alleged abuse and mismanagement of donations stockpiled at the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) headquarters.

Earlier, ThaiFlood, a large civic network, pulled out of FROC and said that officials at the operations centre were refusing to tell the truth about the situation. Also, ThaiFlood was being discriminated against when it came to distributing supplies. The ThaiFlood spokesman said red-shirt groups had received special privileges when it came to supplies for flood victims.

This act is inappropriate during this time of crisis, as donors have sought to assist flood victims regardless of their political preference. They assumed that FROC would do their best to hand out relief to needy victims.

In fact, FROC has been criticised by both the opposition and members of the society directly and indirectly. For example, members of online communities alleged that the FROC became a venue for Pheu Thai politicians, red-shirt leaders and former Thai Rak Thai Party executives to "steal the show" in a bid to boost their popularity. They showed up at the FROC to receive donated relief items and to hand out relief as a political stunt.

The issue of unfair distribution of donated items was reportedly brought up during a meeting between Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha and top military commanders to finalise preparation for flood control. There was a proposal to have the Army oversee the distribution of the donated items. But the government has not responded to this. As of press time, the government had asked Gen Pracha Promnok, director of the FROC, to give signature approval for items to be distributed to flood victims. Let's hope that this will ensure the distribution process works more smoothly, without bias and that signature approval doesn't cause distribution delays.

Donors want their assistance to be given to those in need in good faith. But some politicians have used the donations for political purposes. For instance, although selfless donors gave many items, some politicians shamelessly attached their names on these goods. Social media outlets such as Facebook helped exposed these actions so the public became aware of what they were up to.

Yingluck said she had delegated power to deputy prime ministers and other ministers to manage the flooding and to set up several committees to deal with the crisis. She may have hoped that delegating power would promote cooperation. But as it turns out, some politicians took the narrow perspective with the interest of their own constituencies without considering the big picture.

Yingluck needs to show some leadership to let the public know she means it when she says that there is no politics involved in the flood relief operation - by ensuring that donated items get to people in need promptly.

The easiest way is to start by looking at people around her. Otherwise, the flooding will end up doing serious damage to her and her government.

-- The Nation 2011-10-31

noitom · October 31, 2011

This endless newspaper stirring about Thai political and elite privileged class versus the underclass thing is very tiresome. As we all know, you can't run the clock back and reset all the issues. It's just a tiresome exercise in which came first the chicken or the egg, endless political bickering, and childish payback and revenge and it's really useless journalism to keep rehashing the same old same old. Thai governments through the decades have been extraordinarily inept and have been politically manipulated and they themselves heavily guided by corruption, agenda, and self interest. We all know that. You just need to read Chris Baker's Jungle Book to know how it really works. If there is an answer to reversing Thailand, it certainly is difficult to figure out. The main issue at hand is the management of the flood disaster and the disease, health, and safety aftermath. The contaminated filthy flood water filled with garbage, rat urine, fecal matter, and decomposed animal and maybe human corpses is monumentally expansive in its run over more than one third of the land mass of Thailand and who knows how many millions of this underclass, ignored and neglected for generations by the Bangkok elite minority. Government or no government leadership, the top corporations of Thailand have invested little in preparing and educating their workers on flood safety, evacuation and continuity procedures, and in general nothing to help out over decades. Two days ago one of the Thai newspapers listed a number of companies and what they were doing to "lend a hand." This after numerous letters and posts asking why they hadn't been visible until that story. The Thai English press is no better. It's difficult to find any evidence of diligence in making the public aware of the dangers, risk, safety, and health issues relating to serious filthy, contaminated flood water flowing through clinics, restaurants, supermarkets, homes, autos, buildings, hospitals..etc. Instead, the Thai press was content for the past three weeks in using headlines of an alarmist nature such as "Thonburi Doomed" or "Thais Flee." Never once in the last three or four weeks since closely following the flood crisis, until the day before yesterday, did I see any indication that the Thai English press was calling into question the role of the top twenty Thai companies or even attempting to inform and educate Thai people on the health and safety hazards, of flood waters and how to protect and minimize sickness illness and death resulting from serious diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, Leptospirosis, Dengue, Malaria, conjunctivitis, and others. It's no wonder that one of a string of many inept governments can't seem to set the priority straight when the press keeps stirring up class issues and political bickering instead of targeting the real monumental disease disaster coming soon. In the same newspaper, the day before yesterday, the newspaper began to discuss in one article, what the top twenty Thai companies have done to "lend a hand" as well as to at least discuss, albeit superficially, some important considerations relating to health, safety, disease, electrocution and other problems. So the purpose of my objective in writing at this point is not to carp about the lack of initiative and action by the top Thai companies and the reprehensible coverage of the flood by the Thai English press, but rather to call attention to the mandate for action and news leadership right now to begin dealing with disease and population dislocation. The magnitude and exposure to disease and contamination is an extremely serious issue for Thailand, and will alter the course of Thailand forever, but it is also a serious disaster for the region and neighboring countries as well as travelers to Thailand as these diseases have a propensity to spread very rapidly unless defended professionally. All Thailand's resources need to be turned toward health, safety, and education immediately in a unified disposition and objective and not toward repressing the voice of the underclass or inhibiting their natural instincts to protect their villages at the expense of the sacrosanct Bangkok.

zakk9 · October 31, 2011

noitom, you should read your own mail. What you write is along the same line as the OP, you just blame somebody else.

Thaddeus · October 31, 2011

^^ you stand more chance of people reading your entire post if you format it with a little more care.

Edited October 31, 2011 by Thaddeus

Deez · October 31, 2011

This endless newspaper stirring about Thai political and elite privileged class versus the underclass thing is very tiresome. As we all know, you can't run the clock back and reset all the issues. It's just a tiresome exercise in which came first the chicken or the egg, endless political bickering, and childish payback and revenge and it's really useless journalism to keep rehashing the same old same old. Thai governments through the decades have been extraordinarily inept and have been politically manipulated and they themselves heavily guided by corruption, agenda, and self interest. We all know that. You just need to read Chris Baker's Jungle Book to know how it really works. If there is an answer to reversing Thailand, it certainly is difficult to figure out. The main issue at hand is the management of the flood disaster and the disease, health, and safety aftermath. The contaminated filthy flood water filled with garbage, rat urine, fecal matter, and decomposed animal and maybe human corpses is monumentally expansive in its run over more than one third of the land mass of Thailand and who knows how many millions of this underclass, ignored and neglected for generations by the Bangkok elite minority. Government or no government leadership, the top corporations of Thailand have invested little in preparing and educating their workers on flood safety, evacuation and continuity procedures, and in general nothing to help out over decades. Two days ago one of the Thai newspapers listed a number of companies and what they were doing to "lend a hand." This after numerous letters and posts asking why they hadn't been visible until that story. The Thai English press is no better. It's difficult to find any evidence of diligence in making the public aware of the dangers, risk, safety, and health issues relating to serious filthy, contaminated flood water flowing through clinics, restaurants, supermarkets, homes, autos, buildings, hospitals..etc. Instead, the Thai press was content for the past three weeks in using headlines of an alarmist nature such as "Thonburi Doomed" or "Thais Flee." Never once in the last three or four weeks since closely following the flood crisis, until the day before yesterday, did I see any indication that the Thai English press was calling into question the role of the top twenty Thai companies or even attempting to inform and educate Thai people on the health and safety hazards, of flood waters and how to protect and minimize sickness illness and death resulting from serious diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, Leptospirosis, Dengue, Malaria, conjunctivitis, and others. It's no wonder that one of a string of many inept governments can't seem to set the priority straight when the press keeps stirring up class issues and political bickering instead of targeting the real monumental disease disaster coming soon. In the same newspaper, the day before yesterday, the newspaper began to discuss in one article, what the top twenty Thai companies have done to "lend a hand" as well as to at least discuss, albeit superficially, some important considerations relating to health, safety, disease, electrocution and other problems. So the purpose of my objective in writing at this point is not to carp about the lack of initiative and action by the top Thai companies and the reprehensible coverage of the flood by the Thai English press, but rather to call attention to the mandate for action and news leadership right now to begin dealing with disease and population dislocation. The magnitude and exposure to disease and contamination is an extremely serious issue for Thailand, and will alter the course of Thailand forever, but it is also a serious disaster for the region and neighboring countries as well as travelers to Thailand as these diseases have a propensity to spread very rapidly unless defended professionally. All Thailand's resources need to be turned toward health, safety, and education immediately in a unified disposition and objective and not toward repressing the voice of the underclass or inhibiting their natural instincts to protect their villages at the expense of the sacrosanct Bangkok.

That is the longest paragraph I have ever seen

whybother · October 31, 2011

That is the longest paragraph I have ever seen

Yes ... there was no need to see it again.

BuckarooBanzai · October 31, 2011

I will never understand how such blatant corruption can be identified and just forgotten about 15 minutes later. This is a rhetorical statement as I guess we all realize the underlying causes.

DoctorG · October 31, 2011

noitom, you should read your own mail. What you write is along the same line as the OP, you just blame somebody else.

I am impressed that you actually read it

Couldn't be bothered myself.

Morgo · October 31, 2011

Maybe we're missing noitom's point.

I was a little concerned seeing children playing & adults swimming in flood waters. With thousands & more overflowing septic pits mixed with industrial waste, the water can't be that healthy.

As an electrician, it is appalling to see the lack of electrical safety in Thailand, plus electricity and water don't mix. The media has a responsibility to highlight these dangers & each electrical death should be investigated.

SICHONSTEVE · October 31, 2011

This endless newspaper stirring about Thai political and elite privileged class versus the underclass thing is very tiresome. As we all know, you can't run the clock back and reset all the issues. It's just a tiresome exercise in which came first the chicken or the egg, endless political bickering, and childish payback and revenge and it's really useless journalism to keep rehashing the same old same old. Thai governments through the decades have been extraordinarily inept and have been politically manipulated and they themselves heavily guided by corruption, agenda, and self interest. We all know that. You just need to read Chris Baker's Jungle Book to know how it really works. If there is an answer to reversing Thailand, it certainly is difficult to figure out. The main issue at hand is the management of the flood disaster and the disease, health, and safety aftermath. The contaminated filthy flood water filled with garbage, rat urine, fecal matter, and decomposed animal and maybe human corpses is monumentally expansive in its run over more than one third of the land mass of Thailand and who knows how many millions of this underclass, ignored and neglected for generations by the Bangkok elite minority. Government or no government leadership, the top corporations of Thailand have invested little in preparing and educating their workers on flood safety, evacuation and continuity procedures, and in general nothing to help out over decades. Two days ago one of the Thai newspapers listed a number of companies and what they were doing to "lend a hand." This after numerous letters and posts asking why they hadn't been visible until that story. The Thai English press is no better. It's difficult to find any evidence of diligence in making the public aware of the dangers, risk, safety, and health issues relating to serious filthy, contaminated flood water flowing through clinics, restaurants, supermarkets, homes, autos, buildings, hospitals..etc. Instead, the Thai press was content for the past three weeks in using headlines of an alarmist nature such as "Thonburi Doomed" or "Thais Flee." Never once in the last three or four weeks since closely following the flood crisis, until the day before yesterday, did I see any indication that the Thai English press was calling into question the role of the top twenty Thai companies or even attempting to inform and educate Thai people on the health and safety hazards, of flood waters and how to protect and minimize sickness illness and death resulting from serious diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, Leptospirosis, Dengue, Malaria, conjunctivitis, and others. It's no wonder that one of a string of many inept governments can't seem to set the priority straight when the press keeps stirring up class issues and political bickering instead of targeting the real monumental disease disaster coming soon. In the same newspaper, the day before yesterday, the newspaper began to discuss in one article, what the top twenty Thai companies have done to "lend a hand" as well as to at least discuss, albeit superficially, some important considerations relating to health, safety, disease, electrocution and other problems. So the purpose of my objective in writing at this point is not to carp about the lack of initiative and action by the top Thai companies and the reprehensible coverage of the flood by the Thai English press, but rather to call attention to the mandate for action and news leadership right now to begin dealing with disease and population dislocation. The magnitude and exposure to disease and contamination is an extremely serious issue for Thailand, and will alter the course of Thailand forever, but it is also a serious disaster for the region and neighboring countries as well as travelers to Thailand as these diseases have a propensity to spread very rapidly unless defended professionally. All Thailand's resources need to be turned toward health, safety, and education immediately in a unified disposition and objective and not toward repressing the voice of the underclass or inhibiting their natural instincts to protect their villages at the expense of the sacrosanct Bangkok.

That is the longest paragraph I have ever seen

"Yes" - a lot of words about nothing, in fact!!!

He misses out all the real issues and doesn't really mention the abject failures, clueless incompetence, apalling publicity stunts and self-promotion (at those suffering's expense) perpetrated by THIS PT government and it's despicabe "red" MP's.

He has clearly thought deeply, but come up with the wrong conclusions and concentrates on false issues with irrelavencies littered throughout his whole diatribe on "the so-called elite" being the root-cause of the problems through their initial luke-warm response to helping out in this dire situation - what is all that about????.

This is one paragraph that should never have been written and has wasted 2 minutes of my life and I really regret now having participated in this thread!!!. Replying has just removed another couple of minutes from my indeterminate existence so I'm off to "go and do something useful" with my life now before its too late, goodbye all!!!:jap:.

Edited October 31, 2011 by SICHONSTEVE

anterian · October 31, 2011

Another wasted thread topic, just the usual mix of sarcasm and back biting.

connda · October 31, 2011

The Thai new corp must be taking lesson from Fox News. Sensationalize everything. One station had their "talking heads" sitting at a table in about ankle-deep water while broadcasting "live". You've gotta be kidding me.

And what I find most offensive (and every station is doing) is the pictures of some well-dress, dry, grinning Puiyai handing some poor, water-logged villager a donation bag that has some corporate logo emblazoned all over the bag.

Now while you're in your boat, Hand the bag to the poor sot who is arm-pit deep in water -- Stop -- Look at the camera -- Smile big so all of Thailand can see the copious amounts of your fake generosity -- Zoom in on the wading village trying to wai while trying to keep the bag dry -- Off to the next Photo Op -- Rinse, Repeat! I've turned off the TV.

I gave money to the flood relief via a bank anonymously. I think a lot (many even most) Westerners are like that. Most of us just want to help relieve the suffer of people we'll probably never see or meet. That selfless giving is generosity.

But these Puiyai helping the poor, photo opportunities are -- I don't know a good word for it -- obscene in a way. And then the politicized redistribution of public resources isn't just obscene -- it's criminal.

Ok -- just had to get that off my chest. I live here. Nothing I haven't see before. OK! Deep breath.......relax........jai yen............accept it and move on.

DocN · October 31, 2011

Actually, I read the long paragraph as well, and don't think it is useless. But that is, maybe, because my answer for everything isn't "It's all Thaksins / Yinglucks/ the Reds" fault.

I myself find it very interesting that all the "elite" and all the rich of the country have been very quiet on this issue, whereas we all know, that some of them could help with a lot of problems, if they would just open their purse. Instead we bicker about Thaksin announcing, he might (or might not) buy some water pumps. Did he? I don't know! But Did we even HEAR anything like that from anybody else? The guys that make excellent money on the poor, with selling them Lipo, Leo or Seangsom...haven't heard a word, haven't seen a baht.

My criticism for the english language press: also jumping the bandwagon too easily. Finding flaws in the management of the government, is shooting fish in a barrel. But why did they spare the gouvenor of Bangkok almost totally. This guy was contradicting himself as much as the government, he was disobeying "orders", he was just trying to protect his little island, with no regards. Maybe, I should be thankful for that, a I am living and working near Sala Deang and I have stayed completely dry. But thinking back two weeks, when there still was a chance to have water running through half empty klongs in Bangkok, which might have saved a few houses from destruction, makes me think a different way.

Also: taking credit for "saving Bangkok"? What about citicising the non existing maintainance of flood gates, klongs and pumps?

My main criticism goes out to the government and FROC of course- still I recognize, that YS inherited a mess from previous governments. It is beyond me, why an agency like FROC -in a country that sees flood situations every year- is not a permanent organisation? Management of reservoirs, damns, klongs...all done more than poor in recent decades.

The worst though, has been communication and information.

Even today, I have not a single clue, where evacuation points in- and outside Bangkok would be and how to get there. English- language updates of the flood situation, scenarios, where to get help...non existing.

And information about what is still to come in terms of flood, infested water, diseases? Nothing heard about that.

You needed to be a survival expert or had to become one, over the internet, to get any help...basically, help yourself with almost everything.

And THAT makes Thailand a 3rd world country, it's media a joke and it's class- divison a desaster.

robertson468 · October 31, 2011

This endless newspaper stirring about Thai political and elite privileged class versus the underclass thing is very tiresome. As we all know, you can't run the clock back and reset all the issues. It's just a tiresome exercise in which came first the chicken or the egg, endless political bickering, and childish payback and revenge and it's really useless journalism to keep rehashing the same old same old. Thai governments through the decades have been extraordinarily inept and have been politically manipulated and they themselves heavily guided by corruption, agenda, and self interest. We all know that. You just need to read Chris Baker's Jungle Book to know how it really works. If there is an answer to reversing Thailand, it certainly is difficult to figure out. The main issue at hand is the management of the flood disaster and the disease, health, and safety aftermath. The contaminated filthy flood water filled with garbage, rat urine, fecal matter, and decomposed animal and maybe human corpses is monumentally expansive in its run over more than one third of the land mass of Thailand and who knows how many millions of this underclass, ignored and neglected for generations by the Bangkok elite minority. Government or no government leadership, the top corporations of Thailand have invested little in preparing and educating their workers on flood safety, evacuation and continuity procedures, and in general nothing to help out over decades. Two days ago one of the Thai newspapers listed a number of companies and what they were doing to "lend a hand." This after numerous letters and posts asking why they hadn't been visible until that story. The Thai English press is no better. It's difficult to find any evidence of diligence in making the public aware of the dangers, risk, safety, and health issues relating to serious filthy, contaminated flood water flowing through clinics, restaurants, supermarkets, homes, autos, buildings, hospitals..etc. Instead, the Thai press was content for the past three weeks in using headlines of an alarmist nature such as "Thonburi Doomed" or "Thais Flee." Never once in the last three or four weeks since closely following the flood crisis, until the day before yesterday, did I see any indication that the Thai English press was calling into question the role of the top twenty Thai companies or even attempting to inform and educate Thai people on the health and safety hazards, of flood waters and how to protect and minimize sickness illness and death resulting from serious diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, Leptospirosis, Dengue, Malaria, conjunctivitis, and others. It's no wonder that one of a string of many inept governments can't seem to set the priority straight when the press keeps stirring up class issues and political bickering instead of targeting the real monumental disease disaster coming soon. In the same newspaper, the day before yesterday, the newspaper began to discuss in one article, what the top twenty Thai companies have done to "lend a hand" as well as to at least discuss, albeit superficially, some important considerations relating to health, safety, disease, electrocution and other problems. So the purpose of my objective in writing at this point is not to carp about the lack of initiative and action by the top Thai companies and the reprehensible coverage of the flood by the Thai English press, but rather to call attention to the mandate for action and news leadership right now to begin dealing with disease and population dislocation. The magnitude and exposure to disease and contamination is an extremely serious issue for Thailand, and will alter the course of Thailand forever, but it is also a serious disaster for the region and neighboring countries as well as travelers to Thailand as these diseases have a propensity to spread very rapidly unless defended professionally. All Thailand's resources need to be turned toward health, safety, and education immediately in a unified disposition and objective and not toward repressing the voice of the underclass or inhibiting their natural instincts to protect their villages at the expense of the sacrosanct Bangkok.

That is the longest paragraph I have ever seen

"Yes" - a lot of words about nothing, in fact!!!

He misses out all the real issues and doesn't really mention the abject failures, clueless incompetence, apalling publicity stunts and self-promotion (at those suffering's expense) perpetrated by THIS PT government and it's despicabe "red" MP's.

He has clearly thought deeply, but come up with the wrong conclusions and concentrates on false issues with irrelavencies littered throughout his whole diatribe on "the so-called elite" being the root-cause of the problems through their initial luke-warm response to helping out in this dire situation - what is all that about????.

This is one paragraph that should never have been written and has wasted 2 minutes of my life and I really regret now having participated in this thread!!!. Replying has just removed another couple of minutes from my indeterminate existence so I'm off to "go and do something useful" with my life now before its too late, goodbye all!!!:jap:.

I agree there are a lot of words (could have been expressed far more succinctly), but I disagree they are about nothing. Water borne diseases are probably one of the most prolific causes of illness and death, However, it would appear he is laying the blame at the press. This clearly is wrong. The lead should be taken by the Ministry of Health, who should not only be handing out decontamination kits etc, but publicising through TV, radio and press the precautions people need to take who are living in the affected areas. Sadly, yet another indication of weak, ineffective leadership, a criticism I would levy at any Party, regardless of colour, who have displayed this level of monumental incompetence, .

allan michaud · October 31, 2011

And information about what is still to come in terms of flood, infested water, diseases? Nothing heard about that.

You needed to be a survival expert or had to become one, over the internet, to get any help...basically, help yourself with almost everything.

And THAT makes Thailand a 3rd world country, it's media a joke and it's class- divison a desaster.

Well said

Edited October 31, 2011 by thaiphoon
Quote repaired

SICHONSTEVE · October 31, 2011

This endless newspaper stirring about Thai political and elite privileged class versus the underclass thing is very tiresome. As we all know, you can't run the clock back and reset all the issues. It's just a tiresome exercise in which came first the chicken or the egg, endless political bickering, and childish payback and revenge and it's really useless journalism to keep rehashing the same old same old. Thai governments through the decades have been extraordinarily inept and have been politically manipulated and they themselves heavily guided by corruption, agenda, and self interest. We all know that. You just need to read Chris Baker's Jungle Book to know how it really works. If there is an answer to reversing Thailand, it certainly is difficult to figure out. The main issue at hand is the management of the flood disaster and the disease, health, and safety aftermath. The contaminated filthy flood water filled with garbage, rat urine, fecal matter, and decomposed animal and maybe human corpses is monumentally expansive in its run over more than one third of the land mass of Thailand and who knows how many millions of this underclass, ignored and neglected for generations by the Bangkok elite minority. Government or no government leadership, the top corporations of Thailand have invested little in preparing and educating their workers on flood safety, evacuation and continuity procedures, and in general nothing to help out over decades. Two days ago one of the Thai newspapers listed a number of companies and what they were doing to "lend a hand." This after numerous letters and posts asking why they hadn't been visible until that story. The Thai English press is no better. It's difficult to find any evidence of diligence in making the public aware of the dangers, risk, safety, and health issues relating to serious filthy, contaminated flood water flowing through clinics, restaurants, supermarkets, homes, autos, buildings, hospitals..etc. Instead, the Thai press was content for the past three weeks in using headlines of an alarmist nature such as "Thonburi Doomed" or "Thais Flee." Never once in the last three or four weeks since closely following the flood crisis, until the day before yesterday, did I see any indication that the Thai English press was calling into question the role of the top twenty Thai companies or even attempting to inform and educate Thai people on the health and safety hazards, of flood waters and how to protect and minimize sickness illness and death resulting from serious diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, Leptospirosis, Dengue, Malaria, conjunctivitis, and others. It's no wonder that one of a string of many inept governments can't seem to set the priority straight when the press keeps stirring up class issues and political bickering instead of targeting the real monumental disease disaster coming soon. In the same newspaper, the day before yesterday, the newspaper began to discuss in one article, what the top twenty Thai companies have done to "lend a hand" as well as to at least discuss, albeit superficially, some important considerations relating to health, safety, disease, electrocution and other problems. So the purpose of my objective in writing at this point is not to carp about the lack of initiative and action by the top Thai companies and the reprehensible coverage of the flood by the Thai English press, but rather to call attention to the mandate for action and news leadership right now to begin dealing with disease and population dislocation. The magnitude and exposure to disease and contamination is an extremely serious issue for Thailand, and will alter the course of Thailand forever, but it is also a serious disaster for the region and neighboring countries as well as travelers to Thailand as these diseases have a propensity to spread very rapidly unless defended professionally. All Thailand's resources need to be turned toward health, safety, and education immediately in a unified disposition and objective and not toward repressing the voice of the underclass or inhibiting their natural instincts to protect their villages at the expense of the sacrosanct Bangkok.

That is the longest paragraph I have ever seen

"Yes" - a lot of words about nothing, in fact!!!

He misses out all the real issues and doesn't really mention the abject failures, clueless incompetence, apalling publicity stunts and self-promotion (at those suffering's expense) perpetrated by THIS PT government and it's despicabe "red" MP's.

He has clearly thought deeply, but come up with the wrong conclusions and concentrates on false issues with irrelavencies littered throughout his whole diatribe on "the so-called elite" being the root-cause of the problems through their initial luke-warm response to helping out in this dire situation - what is all that about????.

This is one paragraph that should never have been written and has wasted 2 minutes of my life and I really regret now having participated in this thread!!!. Replying has just removed another couple of minutes from my indeterminate existence so I'm off to "go and do something useful" with my life now before its too late, goodbye all!!!:jap:.

I agree there are a lot of words (could have been expressed far more succinctly), but I disagree they are about nothing. Water borne diseases are probably one of the most prolific causes of illness and death, However, it would appear he is laying the blame at the press. This clearly is wrong. The lead should be taken by the Ministry of Health, who should not only be handing out decontamination kits etc, but publicising through TV, radio and press the precautions people need to take who are living in the affected areas. Sadly, yet another indication of weak, ineffective leadership, a criticism I would levy at any Party, regardless of colour, who have displayed this level of monumental incompetence, .

Of course the disease aspect is relevant and concerning, but I just see his unwarranted spouting off at the press and seemingly excusing the Thai government of any blame, which is clearly preposterous in itself as they have much to answer for in their abject and irresponsible response, particularly galling.

At times of dire misery and extreme utgency like this - do you not consider it reprehensible that an appreciable number of PT reds are more intent on achieving both monetary and political gain at the expense of those suffering at the hands of this terrible disaster????

Do you, like him, think that reporting matters (even laying a lot of the blame at this government's feet) is NOT the right thing to do, considering that it is clearly warranted and justified????

I just view his "blinkered views" as being simply that, and his "worthless posting" as being simply that as well.

As an example to explain my point of view:

If some gem thieves broke into a museum housing some valuable jewels and stole a rare and priceless diamond. Most people would be questioning things such as how they got away with it, why the security was clearly insufficient and why those people responsible for protecting this valuable asset failed to do their job. OK, thats set the scene now. Lets consider what his response might be - he would be concerned that those police present at the crime scene might cut themselves on the broken glass and deem it irresponsible for the press' reporting the incident and in doing so, embarrassing (or worse still, heaven forbid, "making them lose face") those involved on the security side of things in criticising their failings!!!! Get the gist of my point now????.

Edited October 31, 2011 by SICHONSTEVE

Tanaka · October 31, 2011

Maybe we're missing noitom's point.

I was a little concerned seeing children playing & adults swimming in flood waters. With thousands & more overflowing septic pits mixed with industrial waste, the water can't be that healthy.

As an electrician, it is appalling to see the lack of electrical safety in Thailand, plus electricity and water don't mix. The media has a responsibility to highlight these dangers & each electrical death should be investigated.

You are right of course. But who shall rectify this problem? There are no qualified elctricians in Thailand! People are building new houses without earth connection. Not even in bathrooms or kitchens. "Not necessary in Thailand" is the answer one gets if asked. So now in this flood mess over 30 people have been electrocuted. Deaths that could easily have been avoided.

Sao Jiang Mai · October 31, 2011

Just a quick response to your elite comment. I think that is wrong. As far as I have seen on FB and on Thai media, the 'elite' have been very very active in raising and donating money. Millions and millions have been raised and given, mainly to the red cross or to the royal foundations. I am not sure why you think that they haven't. I didn't vote 1, but I must admit that I do admire the fact that Yingluck has not shied away from her leadership role. OK, she sucks at it, her communication skills are terrible and she should probably resign, but you have to give her points for standing there and taking it all, working hard, putting in the effort. Where are Chalerm, Plodprasop, etc?

Actually, I read the long paragraph as well, and don't think it is useless. But that is, maybe, because my answer for everything isn't "It's all Thaksins / Yinglucks/ the Reds" fault.

I myself find it very interesting that all the "elite" and all the rich of the country have been very quiet on this issue, whereas we all know, that some of them could help with a lot of problems, if they would just open their purse. Instead we bicker about Thaksin announcing, he might (or might not) buy some water pumps. Did he? I don't know! But Did we even HEAR anything like that from anybody else? The guys that make excellent money on the poor, with selling them Lipo, Leo or Seangsom...haven't heard a word, haven't seen a baht.

My criticism for the english language press: also jumping the bandwagon too easily. Finding flaws in the management of the government, is shooting fish in a barrel. But why did they spare the gouvenor of Bangkok almost totally. This guy was contradicting himself as much as the government, he was disobeying "orders", he was just trying to protect his little island, with no regards. Maybe, I should be thankful for that, a I am living and working near Sala Deang and I have stayed completely dry. But thinking back two weeks, when there still was a chance to have water running through half empty klongs in Bangkok, which might have saved a few houses from destruction, makes me think a different way.

Also: taking credit for "saving Bangkok"? What about citicising the non existing maintainance of flood gates, klongs and pumps?

My main criticism goes out to the government and FROC of course- still I recognize, that YS inherited a mess from previous governments. It is beyond me, why an agency like FROC -in a country that sees flood situations every year- is not a permanent organisation? Management of reservoirs, damns, klongs...all done more than poor in recent decades.

The worst though, has been communication and information.

Even today, I have not a single clue, where evacuation points in- and outside Bangkok would be and how to get there. English- language updates of the flood situation, scenarios, where to get help...non existing.

And information about what is still to come in terms of flood, infested water, diseases? Nothing heard about that.

You needed to be a survival expert or had to become one, over the internet, to get any help...basically, help yourself with almost everything.

And THAT makes Thailand a 3rd world country, it's media a joke and it's class- divison a desaster.

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Get The Political Games Out Of Relief Efforts: Thai Opinion

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