We Need To Protect Jobs And Estates In Ayutthaya: PM Yingluck

[webfact]

We need to protect jobs and estates in Ayutthaya: PM

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asked for a sympathy yesterday when defending a policy in the flood management plan to build barriers around industrial estates in Ayutthaya - likely to result in nearby farms and homes being inundated.

She denied that the government was more worried about businesses than common villagers.

"The barrier policy does not mean that the government wants to save the estates without caring for the residents. But it's important that if foreign business owners are not made confident about the flood prevention plan, and relocate from Thailand as a result, local residents will not be hired," she said.

"The barrier policy is an immediate solution to prevent flooding, in the meantime while a long-term measure is chosen and put in place. We don't want to keep everyone on edge [by not implementing the barrier policy] while the long-term measure has not come," she said.

The Stop Global Warming Association and locals in Ayutthaya plan to lodge a complaint with the Central Administrative Court, to seek an injunction to suspend construction of flood barriers being built by seven industrial parks in the province. They say the barriers will cause damage to nearby homes in the event of future flooding.

Yingluck said it was important for the government to restore foreign investors' confidence by an overhaul of water/ flood management. On her trip to Japan from today till Friday, many of plans and approved policies will be explained to businessmen and officials to boost their confidence.

She said cooperation from all parties concerned was important to build up confidence among foreign investors.

"They will simply be confused and lack confidence in business opportunities in Thailand if we Thai people differ on our opinions and stance [over flood management]," she said.

PM's Office Minister Niwat-thamrong Bunsongphaisal said he learnt that locals who want the court to stop the plan were mostly employees of factories in the estates. So, the provincial governor had been assigned to negotiate with them over the bid for an injunction.

-- The Nation 2012-03-06

[looping]

If the last paragraph is correct, the employees of the factories are opposing the very flood barrier which will protect the factories??? Sounds unbelievable, then again...

YL Asks for A sympathy... Not the best start to an article.

"She denied that the government was more worried about businesses than common villagers."

GENERALISATION:

"She denied that... Add true statement"

[marquess]

Yingluck is an inexperienced puppet who can only roll with the waves, she has no vision or any real credible management skills. Sound bites, smiles, and extremely shallow thinking.

[Brucey7]

A dry factory that is an island in a flood, will have no deliveries/collections, and no workers arriving ("swimming") to work. It will simply close until the labour force and transport links can be restored.

[Alaaan]

As someone living near the barrier has remarked "It looks like the Great Wall of China going up!" There again Its primary purpose is quite simply to protect at all costs the industrial estates at the expense of the poor people's houses outside of the barrier. These unfortunates are the same people that voted this government into power last year. It seems they are being repaid for their vote by having their houses inundated when the next flood arrives.

Most foreigners perception of Thai's is that they care for their own against the foreigner when something goes wrong. Not in this case apparently, maybe someone should have a word in Yingluck's ear, of course the only person she is likely to listen to is the man that 'cloned' her.

As I understand it a lot of these industrial estates are actually built in the wrong location and that is the real problem that needs to be addressed. Turning them into fortresses may not be the answer.

[Nisa]

Without the factories most of the residents would be screwed.

[happysoul]

As said above, how can factories function on an island ? Make a canal to have the container carrying ships up to Ayutthaya ? And ya, the workers will enjoy to have a swim to go to work, as all Thai people love to swim ! I understand why a guy in Ayutthaya wattoom modifies old buses to boats (but also keeping the wheels) !

I don't see any factory manager believe that a wall is the solution. Well at least with a wall, once it breaks you are 100% sure you will not be able to save anything as the water will rush in the compound !

Please government, find a long term solution to avoid the hole country to be badly flooded... In that only case you will earn the investor's confidence. Unless they like tea too much !

Edited March 6, 2012 by happysoul

[Thai at Heart]

Love it. The barriers will cause damage to neighbouring houses if there is a flood.

Central Thailand is covered in 2 metres of water for approximately 200 square kilometers. Someone erects a wall to cover 2000 rai of land.

How much will the water level be reduced by removing the barriers?

a. A lot

b. A little

c. ...............

Mai bpen arai, beau laeow.....

[marquess]

The simplest long term solution is to relocation the factories to an area that is not prone to annual flooding. Some kind of government grant would be an incentive for this. Yingluck glove puppet!

[sparebox2]

The govt is protecting the interest of the rich factory owners, at the expense of the surrounding poor farmers.