Foreign Press Reports Flood Management Rift

The foreign press is reporting on a rift between the national government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration over flood management as the public is growing increasingly dissatisfied.

The foreign press has reported on the disputes about how the floods are being managed.

Some locals have even organized protests, believing that authorities have intentionally sacrificed their homes to the floods in order to save Bangkok’s inner area.

Many press agencies have also disclosed that there has been a rift between the national government, led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration over the control of the sluice gates in the northern part of the capital amid growing pressure from the communities in the affected areas.

The BBC, AFB and Reuters have all pointed to Kong Samwa floodgate as the flashpoint of the dispute as local people there angrily demanded that authorities raise the gate in order to drain the water from their flooded communities.

This has led to some clashes between law enforcement forces and the local residents.

On Monday, Yingluck gave in to the demand and opened the gate an additional meter.

However, the next day, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra openly warned that this would put all parts of the capital, including major industrial and economic zones, at risk.

The Bangkok governor expressed sympathy for the people who have been suffering from floods but reiterated that they need to protect the capital as it is the political and economic center of the country.

He asked the BMA and the government to find a common ground.

The Bangkok governor also said that despite the BMA's opposition to raising the foodgate, it must comply with the government's order.

At the moment, Bang Chan Industrial Estate is at risk of being flooded.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-02

Yes and?

Why are they just focusing on the foreign press....the local press has been reporting this for days...??......they way this article is written is making it appear this has only just come to light ...!!!

Shock horror, foreign journalists understand the "unique" Thai culture.

How can the politicians openly lie anymore if they can't rely on the statement that "Oh foreigners, they don't understand Thailand".

Why stop with the BMA, Government rift. Sounds/looks like there are several groups who think their way of doing things is the only way and thus the massive flood has been approached from a dozen or more perspectives, with seemly no strong, informed, central leadership nor coordination.

This could be a textbook example of how not to handle this, or any type of natural disaster.

It started with EGAT not wanting to get rid of the water, it will end in utter chaos.

The foreign press just doesn't understand Thainess.

The foreign press just doesn't understand Thainess.

I dont think the vast majority of Thai understand Thainess either...

The foreign press just doesn't understand Thainess.

I dont think the vast majority of Thai understand Thainess either...

Do you all think that Thai's give a dam_n about falang!! Come on they don't care about falang let alone read newspapers both in Thai and English.. Too busy watching Thai soap.

The foreign press just doesn't understand Thainess.

I dont think the vast majority of Thai understand Thainess either...

Do you all think that Thai's give a dam_n about falang!! Come on they don't care about falang let alone read newspapers both in Thai and English.. Too busy watching Thai soap.

Well then with all that "soap" and all that water they should at least all be clean.

It all is a case of sacrificing the many for the few? Or a case of sacrificing the poor for the rich? or the disenfranchised for the powers that be?

I personally vote for all 3!

One can never build a system where the care of the few is built on the backs of the many, for to do that is to be assured that as the backs of those under stress and weight breaks, it will also bring all the structure which is built on it tumbling down.

This is not a unique problem to Thailand but rather a mental construct that most people in the world have............. Get mine at the expense of the other! It manifests in different ways depending on the culture of each place.