Flood Disaster Reveals The True National Spirit: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Flood disaster reveals the true national spirit

The Nation

The cooperative effort, resilience and good humour of the people will all help in rebuilding and winning back the confidence of investors

The government and the public will have to work together to rehabilitate the nation after the flood crisis, to ensure that we emerge stronger. Beneath the lower growth-rate forecasts recently announced by some economic institutes, there are a number of issues that the government will have to tackle to ensure the nation rebounds in the long run.

Instead of focusing on bolstering short-term growth, Thailand should have a comprehensive platform to address future natural disasters, to win back the confidence of investors and to create greater immunity against such shocks. The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) recently slashed its 2011 economic growth forecast to 1.5 per cent from 3.5-4 per cent. What is worrisome is not the lower growth rate but the consequences following the flood and how we will be able to cope with natural disasters in the future.

The government's immediate challenge is how to find or maintain jobs for workers who already are, or will be, unemployed because their workplaces have been forced to shut down operations. The massive flooding has hit seven major industrial estates with more than 800,000 workers. The shutdown has immediately affected temporary or contract workers, who lost their jobs after the factories suspended normal operations.

While job creation will be a big challenge for the government and responsible agencies, there is also the daunting task of restoring the confidence of foreign investors. Many of the affected companies and factories are big employers from abroad. If they don't want to come back to Thailand, these workers will be permanently out of a job and will become dependent on the government's support.

The government has already said that it will win back the confidence of investors. But this is easier said than done. Top economic advisers plan to organise trips to investing countries such as Japan. But these trips alone will not make any dent if Thailand does not do anything to prove that the country has learned from the situation and will improve its infrastructure and preparedness to cope with future flooding or other natural disasters.

A comprehensive plan on how to prevent future flooding should be laid out and executed in earnest. Many flood experts have talked about the necessity of creating zoning for water retention, and waterways to let flood water flow unimpeded. Such a plan is imperative, yet it will be difficult to envisage and execute. Some people may have to lose their property if their homes or workplaces are designated as a waterway or water-retention area. The government will have to exercise good leadership and provide fair compensation to convince people who reside in such designated areas to move to other areas for the overall benefit of the nation.

After the flood, it is expected that a number of projects to help and compensate victims and industries will come into play. The government and parties involved will have to ensure that the money earmarked for these projects is well spent. Again, easier said than done. The flooding, which has been going on for two months, has exposed the same old problem regarding the use of public money. During the recent parliamentary debate, there were accusations about the misuse by politicians of flood-relief money and donations for victims. These alleged abuses of public funds and donations cannot be tolerated; it's an ongoing vicious cycle, with much evidence now coming in the form of video clips taken by members of the public. Taxpayers' money that the government plans to spend to on the recovery effort must fully serve its purposes.

On a positive note, the flooding has shown the spirit of Thais in helping each other, in spite of conflicts between communities in some areas over water barriers. Millions of Thais have directly or indirectly joined the efforts to provide relief to the flood victims, to help compensate for the government's inadequate measures to help. Many people have been involved in some kind of volunteer work, either donating their time, money or goods. Many have offered their labour, filling sandbags, packing relief-supply bags, distributing goods and rescuing victims from flood-hit areas.

Communities have learned that they cannot merely wait for government assistance . The momentum of this spirit should be continued and enhanced. The people's spirit shows how Thais can be resilient. This will be the most convincing element in recovery and in winning back the confidence of international investors.

-- The Nation 2011-11-23

[whybother]

... of mobs breaking down flood barriers and boat owners ripping people off.

[UweSchwarzbach]

... of electing politicians that have nothing better to do than secure a good chunk of relief money for their own pockets while secretly plotting to bring a known criminal and convicted felon back into the country.

[E1717007]

the thais in north and central suffered but never demand for compensation

[toybits]

...of shortsightedness and unwillingness to accept reality?

[DocN]

of not being able to make any plan and just shove around guilt, when damage strikes.

[noitom]

Too bad The Nation didn't do more to help augment this "wonderful Thai spirit from the beginning. The newspaper could have taken the initiative early in the crisis to publish warnings, planning steps, voicing concern about safety, medical, health, sanitary, transportation issues, and in general being more of a spokesperson to sort of rally the spirit instead of engendering constant conflict and publishing virtually worthless stories with vague, inaccurate, and often false facts and news. It became tedious to see daily contradictions by The Nation. The Nation can now look back on the crisis and disaster and do a little soul searching and see what it should do and be in the future for the benefit of Thailand and everyone interested in Thailand.

[DocN]

Too bad The Nation didn't do more to help augment this "wonderful Thai spirit from the beginning. The newspaper could have taken the initiative early in the crisis to publish warnings, planning steps, voicing concern about safety, medical, health, sanitary, transportation issues, and in general being more of a spokesperson to sort of rally the spirit instead of engendering constant conflict and publishing virtually worthless stories with vague, inaccurate, and often false facts and news. It became tedious to see daily contradictions by The Nation. The Nation can now look back on the crisis and disaster and do a little soul searching and see what it should do and be in the future for the benefit of Thailand and everyone interested in Thailand.

Wow! +1

[Logarhythm]

Too bad The Nation didn't do more to help augment this "wonderful Thai spirit from the beginning. The newspaper could have taken the initiative early in the crisis to publish warnings, planning steps, voicing concern about safety, medical, health, sanitary, transportation issues, and in general being more of a spokesperson to sort of rally the spirit instead of engendering constant conflict and publishing virtually worthless stories with vague, inaccurate, and often false facts and news. It became tedious to see daily contradictions by The Nation. The Nation can now look back on the crisis and disaster and do a little soul searching and see what it should do and be in the future for the benefit of Thailand and everyone interested in Thailand.

Wow! +1

Roger that!

[EC225LP]

... of mobs breaking down flood barriers and boat owners ripping people off.

Yes...Im sure there were lots of good examples of the ture 'thai spirit'...

but during the 2 months I spent in Bangkok, mostly what I saw was profiteering, hording and selfishness.

[aaacorp]

Too bad The Nation didn't do more to help augment this "wonderful Thai spirit from the beginning. The newspaper could have taken the initiative early in the crisis to publish warnings, planning steps, voicing concern about safety, medical, health, sanitary, transportation issues, and in general being more of a spokesperson to sort of rally the spirit instead of engendering constant conflict and publishing virtually worthless stories with vague, inaccurate, and often false facts and news. It became tedious to see daily contradictions by The Nation. The Nation can now look back on the crisis and disaster and do a little soul searching and see what it should do and be in the future for the benefit of Thailand and everyone interested in Thailand.

Wow! +1

Roger that!

nice one

[overdog]

"...The people's spirit shows how Thais can be resilient. This will be the most convincing element in recovery and in winning back the confidence of international investors."

Ahem... That is quite a naive assessment of what may or may not woo international investors. I'm sure the investors will want more solid and tangible assurances that their investments will not be washed away again. A resilient spirit would nowhere be "the most convincing element" in considering any country's financial return or risk assessment.

[swisstouristpattaya]

Where are the 20 or 50 millions $ that USA gave?

[wayned]

In the True Thai National Spiirt some of theThai farmers that lived near me in Nakhon Sawan Province packed up their big tractors on trucks and headed off to Bangkok to help the flooded. My friend came back yesterday bragging that he had made over 100000 baht last week helping in the True National Spirit. If it hadn't been him it would have been somebody else!

Edited November 23, 2011 by wayned

[lensta]

... of mobs breaking down flood barriers and boat owners ripping people off.

Yes...Im sure there were lots of good examples of the ture 'thai spirit'...

but during the 2 months I spent in Bangkok, mostly what I saw was profiteering, hording and selfishness.

Yes, that is the true Thai spirit.

[wlcart]

Some comments here are cold a callas.

There a lot of people who have lost everything and still out helping their community. I see people sleeping in the sidewalk that still shown concern towards others. Don't they deserve some credit?

True, there are selfish and unaware folks either taking advantage or ignoring those in need, but not to recognize that some real decent folks have shown very admirable reactions to all this is pretty shameful too, especially if your doing it from your high and dry condo in Bangkok.

[MengWan]

... of electing politicians that have nothing better to do than secure a good chunk of relief money for their own pockets while secretly plotting to bring a known criminal and convicted felon back into the country.

+1

[yoshiwara]

Too bad The Nation didn't do more to help augment this "wonderful Thai spirit from the beginning. The newspaper could have taken the initiative early in the crisis to publish warnings, planning steps, voicing concern about safety, medical, health, sanitary, transportation issues, and in general being more of a spokesperson to sort of rally the spirit instead of engendering constant conflict and publishing virtually worthless stories with vague, inaccurate, and often false facts and news. It became tedious to see daily contradictions by The Nation. The Nation can now look back on the crisis and disaster and do a little soul searching and see what it should do and be in the future for the benefit of Thailand and everyone interested in Thailand.

Wow! +1

Roger that!

nice one

Have Thaksin's promised pumps arrived yet?

[tourismloving]

Announced by: TAT News

Date of published: November 23, 2011

Other Provinces in Thailand

Most provinces in Thailand were not affected by the flood. No provinces in the south, north, and northeast of Thailand are affected by the flood. The flooding has subsided in most of the central provinces including Ang Thong, and Chai Nat. Cleanup operations are underway.

Provinces in the central area not affected by the floods:

Chanthaburi

Ratchaburi

Chachoengsao

Rayong

Chon Buri (Pattaya)

Samut Prakan

Kanchanaburi

Samut Songkhram

Lop Buri

Sa Kaeo

Nakhon Nayok

Saraburi

Phetchaburi (Cha Am)

Suphanburi

Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin)

Singburi

Prachin Buri

Trat (Ko Chang)

[lounger]

Announced by: TAT News

Date of published: November 23, 2011

Other Provinces in Thailand

Most provinces in Thailand were not affected by the flood. No provinces in the south, north, and northeast of Thailand are affected by the flood. The flooding has subsided in most of the central provinces including Ang Thong, and Chai Nat. Cleanup operations are underway.

Provinces in the central area not affected by the floods:

Chanthaburi

Ratchaburi

Chachoengsao

Rayong

Chon Buri (Pattaya)

Samut Prakan

Kanchanaburi

Samut Songkhram

Lop Buri

Sa Kaeo

Nakhon Nayok

Saraburi

Phetchaburi (Cha Am)

Suphanburi

Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin)

Singburi

Prachin Buri

Trat (Ko Chang)

So why in Singburi and Lopburi are displaced people living on the main roads. I assume other provinces are similarly misrepresented.

I guess what the report is trying to say is that if you stick to main roads you have a good chance of arriving at main road destinations. The locals? Maibenrai. They dont count.

[Thai at Heart]

How do you translate NIMBY into Thai?

I thought it normally took a little time for the dust to settle (or the water to disipate) before the rose tinted specs were brushed off.

[satiariyan]

"Communities have learned that they cannot merely wait for government assistance. The momentum of this spirit should be continued and enhanced."

Doesn't 'expect' fit better than 'merely wait for'? ... Is Nation suggesting revolution?

[monkfish]

Too bad The Nation didn't do more to help augment this "wonderful Thai spirit from the beginning. The newspaper could have taken the initiative early in the crisis to publish warnings, planning steps, voicing concern about safety, medical, health, sanitary, transportation issues, and in general being more of a spokesperson to sort of rally the spirit instead of engendering constant conflict and publishing virtually worthless stories with vague, inaccurate, and often false facts and news. It became tedious to see daily contradictions by The Nation. The Nation can now look back on the crisis and disaster and do a little soul searching and see what it should do and be in the future for the benefit of Thailand and everyone interested in Thailand.

Wow! +1

Roger that!

nice one

+4 that!

the media went out of its way to publish no information

[ratcatcher]

To all those poor citizens who have been affected deeply by this disaster, rest assured that the military will not have any problem with their repairs and clean up.

Post-flooding military repair to cost Bt12 billion

The Nation November 23, 2011 10:56 am

The Defence Ministry will next Tuesday seek the Cabinet approval to earmark Bt12 billion for the repair of military equipment damaged by the flooding, permanent secretary General Sathien Permthong-in said on Wednesday.

"The Air Force will require a most costly repair for flood damages of more than Bt10 billion," he said.

Regular citizens please take a number and be seated.

[jombom]

To all those poor citizens who have been affected deeply by this disaster, rest assured that the military will not have any problem with their repairs and clean up.

Post-flooding military repair to cost Bt12 billion

The Nation November 23, 2011 10:56 am

The Defence Ministry will next Tuesday seek the Cabinet approval to earmark Bt12 billion for the repair of military equipment damaged by the flooding, permanent secretary General Sathien Permthong-in said on Wednesday.

"The Air Force will require a most costly repair for flood damages of more than Bt10 billion," he said.

Regular citizens please take a number and be seated.

So, 2 billion baht has gone missing already ----- Is This correct?? ---- like 12-10 equals 2.

Numbers seem to be a problem in this country ---- could be the 12 times tables, I suppose.