Opposition Leader Abhisit Disappointed Over PM Yingluck's Refusal For Reshuffle

[webfact]

Opposition Leader Disappointed over PM's Refusal for Reshuffle

The opposition leader is disappointed that the justice minister was vague in his responses to accusations against him during the censure debate.

He also challenged the Prime Minister to take responsibility as she rules out a reshuffle.

Democrat Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the censure debate against the Justice Minister and Director of the Flood Relief Operations Center Pracha Phromnok was worthwhile as it became apparent that the damage caused by the recent floods could be lessened if the government managed the disaster more effectively.

He added that the opposition was able to do its job and it will move ahead with its impeachment plan.

Abhisit said the Prime Minister may decide not to reshuffle her Cabinet, but she must accept the consequences, as the opposition has already pointed out the flaws with the government's flood management and conflicts among residents in flooded areas.

The opposition leader added that he is disappointed that Pracha avoided responding to the accusations and tried to discredit the opposition.

He personally believes that the justice minister was trying to create confusion and discredit the opposition that they allegedly blamed the government.

Abhisit further stated that he wants the government to realize that the floods is a universal problem and that the government should not be concerned about winning votes or playing politics.

He added that allowing politicians to interfere with recovery efforts will render them less effective.

The Democrat leader said he expects additional solutions from the government in addition to the existing measures as many people are still waiting for assistance.

He added that he has urged the House committees to strictly monitor the government's implementation of its flood recovery program, especially the allocation of relief budget.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-29

[daiwill60]

I thought she was having a reshuffle in hospital.

[OZEMADE]

It's just Politics, blame you, blame me. The same happens all over the world. In the end they are all bandits.

[Chris Lawrence]

It looks as though he has a got a lot more to worry about then who is sitting where?

[phiphidon]

It's a shame that Abhisit didn't pass on anything he had learned after his mishandling of the 2010 floods - Deja Vu?

Govt blasted for mishandling crisis, lack of planning

By The Nation

Published on October 23, 2010

A flood-management expert yesterday criticised the government for mishandling relief operations and failing to carry out preventive measures before the flooding across the country reached a critical level.

Phornphilai Lertwicha, a Thailand Research Fund (TRF) researcher, said the heavy flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima, which is on a plateau in the Northeast, was a testimony to the government's failures...........

She said some flood management and action plans had been carried out at the national level, "but during this government's term, we have not witnessed any clear-cut action, despite annual flooding in Thailand. We never learn any lessons, and we let it happen, over and over."

Responding to her statements, secretary to the prime minister Korbsak Sabhavasu said the government had thought about setting up a war room to handle flood management. "But we are worried about natural slow progress and red tape through the bureaucracy after it is set up".

"Now we are thinking about how to shorten the process and increase the speed of work. I admit that the problems get worse because there is no host agency to take care of them, which should be directly under the Interior Ministry's supervision," he said.........

Delivery of relief supplies and aid money is continuing, but largely through efforts of the private sector and the media, which initiated donation campaigns before the authorities followed suit. But when it comes to regulations on handling donated money, the PM's Office Ministry is having problems with the Bt90 million it has in hand.

The main responsibility for flood management had been assigned by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, but after his resignation to take part in a by-election campaign, Abhisit was too busy with other tasks. "No one in the government is now dealing with the flooding,"

[whybother]

It's a shame that Abhisit didn't pass on anything he had learned after his mishandling of the 2010 floods - Deja Vu?

Do you mean to say that there were no PTP MPs there at the time? Surely with all their complaining, and even saying that charges should be laid against Abhisit, that they would have learnt something from last years floods.

It appears that they didn't.

[phiphidon]

It's a shame that Abhisit didn't pass on anything he had learned after his mishandling of the 2010 floods - Deja Vu?

Do you mean to say that there were no PTP MPs there at the time? Surely with all their complaining, and even saying that charges should be laid against Abhisit, that they would have learnt something from last years floods.

It appears that they didn't.

Bearing in mind that the levels of rainfall were far less, the dams were not dangerously overfilled, Bangkok wasn't in any danger of being flooded therefore no kiddies political games from the Governer and Abhisit still made a cock of it puts this years events into perspective wouldn't you think?

[whybother]

It's a shame that Abhisit didn't pass on anything he had learned after his mishandling of the 2010 floods - Deja Vu?

Do you mean to say that there were no PTP MPs there at the time? Surely with all their complaining, and even saying that charges should be laid against Abhisit, that they would have learnt something from last years floods.

It appears that they didn't.

Bearing in mind that the levels of rainfall were far less, the dams were not dangerously overfilled, Bangkok wasn't in any danger of being flooded therefore no kiddies political games from the Governer and Abhisit still made a cock of it puts this years events into perspective wouldn't you think?

The levels of rainfall were less, but there were still 6 million people and 38 provinces affected last year (from wiki). This year the dams became "dangerously overfilled" in late September which added to the level of flooding, but the PTP government isn't being blamed for the flooding itself.

But given:

The opposition Puea Thai Party on Friday petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to take legal action against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, claiming he acted too slowly to counter the effects from the recent flooding, resulting in massive damage to property and many deaths.

you would have thought that they would have been on the ball this year.

[Jingthing]

Vague for her is an improvement.

[Chris Lawrence]

They had to use Abhisit and the Governor of Bangkok plan for control of flood mitigation. If you go back you will see that about 2004 the Thai professor in charge of the flood mitigation plan dismissed climate change and believed that what was in place was sufficient. The current leadership could only manage what was already in place.

Due to the nature of the flood I would imagine a committee will review what happened and make changes from there. The biggest problem after that is the suggestion of changes may not suit local business? Any review needs to consult everyone.

Look I think that the flood were just a natural disaster. Its very hard to combat a natural disaster, unless the person in charge acted incompetently. But like everything Thai someone has to fall on their sword. Remember the Tsunami and the official who was dismissed after this natural disaster?

I don't know but is there some relationship with the Bangkok elite as to why these types of complaints filter in to the Thai reporting? And would this in turn affect the Bangkok expats way of thinking who are or want to stay connected to the Bangkok elite?

[ThaiOats]

For those who understands Thai... http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSpokesmandp#p/u

If you don't, get your wife or someone to help you translate. Otherwise, please don't say that it's all just a natural disaster. The Democrats made it very clear why this was a mismanagement on the FROC's part and have evidence, figures and paperwork to prove it.

[Mystory]

It's just Politics, blame you, blame me. The same happens all over the world. In the end they are all bandits.

+1, I didn't know the Thai Government which is in at the time, controls the worlds rainfall as well. That is truly amazing TIT.

[hammered]

It was a boring predictable an ineffective assault on government by a single opposition party, which the government side also managed to underperform on by not bothering to respond much. Nobody was going to change their mind anyway. And any political damage that could have befallen the government has been at least offset by Sukhumband.

[lovelomsak]

I feel it is nice to see politics in Thailand softening a bit. Before everytime Abhisit said anything it was always "he slammed" this or that . Now he is just disappointed. Much less confrontational I feel. Makes for less drama too.

[chuang]

This Abhisit still thinks he is the PM....you do this do that, what a joke..

[hammered]

Abhisits statements about not playing poltics are mildly humorous when his party have been doing exactly that especially in Bangkok even if it has backfired rather badly. And if he didnt want poltiicans palying reelction games to interfere in flood recovery efforts he could have dealt with his own party memeber Sukhumband. However, ever the practiced parliamentarian Abhiis tknows rules iof thehouse didnt allow discussiion of the BMA role in things so his utter hypocricy can be sidestepped this time in a few nicey nicey statements to dem freindly media. Methinks the people outside Bangkok though wont be quite so naive as to not realise. Still guess old Sukhumband kept enough Dem voting bits of BKK dry to guarantee it hasnt damaged his reelcetion chances even if it has maybe undermined thedms hopes a little in some of the other areas. Then again Sukhumband never really cared for Abhisit so guess it doesnt really matter

[hammered]

This Abhisit still thinks he is the PM....you do this do that, what a joke..

Worse there ar eparts of the dem loving media that still treat him as thouhg he is. The sense of entitlement ouzes out. Even his own fans begrudgingly admit to the very sense of privilege that permeates his very pores.

[Payboy]

This Abhisit still thinks he is the PM....you do this do that, what a joke..

Abhisit thinks - nobody acts.

[Buchholz]

.

Unfortunately, it looks like Thailand is saddled with the incompetent "experts" for a while longer....

at least until May when the professional incompetents of the TRT can replace them.

-----------------------------------------------

October 16th

Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut assured Bangkok residents living along the Chao Phraya River that the worst is over

-----------------------------------------------

October 30th

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday urged Bangkok residents to be patient as the worst flood crisis in more than five decades was expected to pass soon.

-----------------------------------------------

November 7th

Transport Minister Sukampol Suwannathat expressed confidence that the floodwater flowing in from the north will recede within two weeks

-----------------------------------------------

November 8th

Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month

http://www.whbf.com/story/15982066/energy-minister-says-bangkok-floods-to-last-month

-----------------------------------------------

November 25th

Defense Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa expects the flood situation to normalize before December 5.

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Edited November 30, 2011 by Buchholz

[hammered]

This Abhisit still thinks he is the PM....you do this do that, what a joke..

Abhisit thinks - nobody acts.

That is funny

[phiphidon]

This Abhisit still thinks he is the PM....you do this do that, what a joke..

Abhisit thinks - nobody acts.

That is funny

Come on Hammered, you're letting the side down - the normal response to something you find amusing especially if it is from one of the cheerleaders about the red shirts or Yinglucks bottom problems or the like is:

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!! +156!!!!!!!!!!!

[Payboy]

This Abhisit still thinks he is the PM....you do this do that, what a joke..

Abhisit thinks - nobody acts.

That is funny

Come on Hammered, you're letting the side down - the normal response to something you find amusing especially if it is from one of the cheerleaders about the red shirts or Yinglucks bottom problems or the like is:

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!! +156!!!!!!!!!!!

What makes you think I am Yingluck's bottom problem?

[phiphidon]

[

Abhisit thinks - nobody acts.

That is funny

Come on Hammered, you're letting the side down - the normal response to something you find amusing especially if it is from one of the cheerleaders about the red shirts or Yinglucks bottom problems or the like is:

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!! +156!!!!!!!!!!!

What makes you think I am Yingluck's bottom problem?

No Offence meant of course.........

[Payboy]

No Offence meant of course.........

None taken, but you know what, it is possible to make fun of Abhisit without being a red shirt.

[Thai at Heart]

Half the problem with Thai politics is the 6 month reshuffle. How one earth is anyone supposed to implement anything properly if the bloody minister gets kicked over to another ministry every 6 months????