Politics Impedes Implementation Of King's Advice: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Politics impedes implementation of King's advice

Avudh Panananda

His Majesty the King has called for concerted efforts to ensure sustainable water management to prevent a repeat of this year's flood crisis.

Given the climate of fractious politics, will politicians of all stripes heed the royal advice?

For the past few months, all television stations have aired a rerun of news clips of His Majesty advising relevant officials on water management in the wake of major flooding in Bangkok in 1995.

The royal advice, particularly on setting aside areas for water retention and the construction of a floodway, has been on the drawing board for more than a decade. But very little has been done.

The country does not lack the technological know-how on flood control. It is the political will that has gone amiss.

Politicians made big pledges in 1995. They are again promising to carry out ambitious plans to prevent future flood damage. It remains to be seen whether the impact of the next big flood, which will recur as part of a decade-long cycle, can be mitigated.

In his birthday speech, the King asked for parties concerned to overcome divisiveness to implement a successful flood-control plan.

The Pheu Thai Party, which thrives on populist policies, should be especially mindful and committed to translate the royal advice into action. Can a populist party withstand the making of unpopular decisions?

As evidenced during the flood crisis, people living on either side of the flood barriers are prone to disagree and fight over how to divert the water.

Flood-control measures are never an easy decision because of vast implications on diverse communities, each with a different agenda and priorities.

Despite its overwhelming majority and popularity, the main coalition party could not make a tough decision in time to save Pathum Thani. It opted for a half-baked decision to appease its MPs who were split between championing the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate and safeguarding the Rangsit farmland.

In the coming months, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will be obligated to make tougher decisions than she did in the Pathum Thani case.

The government will have to strike the right balance between the industrial and farming interests, between the rural and urban areas and between the upper- and lower-stream communities.

To resolve the hard feelings between Bangkok residents and those living elsewhere, the city authorities must change their mindset and overhaul the drainage system. The idea of blocking flood water from entering the low-lying capital has proved impractical.

The capital's flood-control system is designed for storm drainage, but this year's flood happened because of run-offs. Bangkok has to augment its drainage to handle the overland flow.

The challenge is doubly hard because the eastern outskirts, previously reserved for water retention, have been transformed into an industrial zone with key installations such as Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The government will face the monumental task of appropriating land for the construction of a floodway from Ayutthaya to Samut Prakan via Bangkok's eastern outskirts.

Yingluck's leadership style of dodging the issue does not bode well for the full implementation of flood-control measures. The outcome will be a patchwork rather than a sustainable solution.

Since the flood-prone areas are mostly Pheu Thai and Chart Thai Pattana strongholds, Yingluck will have to worry about her coalition MPs rather than her rival Democrats.

It is ironic that Yingluck's success in flood control depends on her ability to call in favours from her friends. Red shirts in Pathum Thani and those in Don Muang have clashed over the water issue, although they still share the same political movement. A misstep might see her political alliance disintegrate.

-- The Nation 2011-12-06

[nong38]

A good and sensible man with good and sensible ideas then the politics get in the way. They all listen dont dis agree and then do nothing. What a pity the politicians dont seem to think of the population the same way the King does.

[sparebox2]

Long live the king.

The king of kings.

[renaissanc]

If lese majeste laws go after people who insult the Royal Family, then why aren't politicians punished for ignoring His Majesty the King's advice? Isn't it equally rude?

[bedouin1990]

The King is a trained engineer, and has over the years devoted much time to trying to show people, especially in rural areas, how to use these principles to better their lives.His comprehensive plan for flood control goes nowhere. Ignored. Just as the advice to the government by water experts who came to Thailand to offer their assistence-free of charge and with no ulterior motive- during the present floods.

It is really a great verity that, the major difference between intelligence and stupidity is that,at least intelligence has limits.

[sparebox2]

To understand our kind king more, Farang may read this book. This one will NOT be banned.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work

Nicholas Grossman (Editor), Dominic Faulder (Editor)

The book's production was overseen by an advisory board headed by a former prime minister, Anand Panyarachun, and written by journalists and academics with decades of experience in Thailand.

Edited December 7, 2011 by sparebox2

[DocN]

To understand our kind king more, Farang may read this book. This one will NOT be banned.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work

Nicholas Grossman (Editor), Dominic Faulder (Editor)

The book's production was overseen by an advisory board headed by a former prime minister, Anand Panyarachun, and written by journalists and academics with decades of experience in Thailand.

Of course it won't....

[FarangKyAy]

One of the first few things they need to do is enhancing water management of the dams that were almost full before the rainy season started : closer monitoring, linked with weather forecast should help.

Then a real national coordination of the flood prevention and flood evacuation is needed : if some changwat just block the water (i.e : w/o setting up ways for the water to flow down), they just make the situation worst for people upstream, and by the way the water will eventually go through the dykes (except some well cared for areas such as Inner Bangkok ...).

[animatic]

One of the first few things they need to do is enhancing water management of the dams that were almost full before the rainy season started : closer monitoring, linked with weather forecast should help.

Then a real national coordination of the flood prevention and flood evacuation is needed : if some changwat just block the water (i.e : w/o setting up ways for the water to flow down), they just make the situation worst for people upstream, and by the way the water will eventually go through the dykes (except some well cared for areas such as Inner Bangkok ...).

Well yes and no.

There was / is a system in place, but freshly minted a politician

has admitted over-riding the organization of this system,

and said "I take full responsibility", and then forgot about it all...

till the dams were close to bursting. At that point

they had to let out more water

So yes improve the system AND more importantly,

remove the possibility of political interference init's functioning.

Edited December 12, 2011 by animatic

[FarangKyAy]

Who's freshly minted politicians are you referring to?

More Water should have been released in June, it was too late to do so in July because there were already floods downstream, there were a few tropical storm in a row (and so flood downstream) that prevented any releasing unless technically forced to do so.

I think the agency responsible for dam management should indeed review its case and "take responsibility".

This event is also an opportunity to assess everybody's role and responsibilities, the strenghts and weaknesses of the system in order to prevent such a mess to occure again