Villagers Decline Blankets, Fearing Dirty Tricks

[Lite Beer]

Villagers decline blankets, fearing dirty tricks

Warattaya Chailangka

The Nation on Sunday

PHRAE: -- Residents of tambon Sa Iab in Song district who oppose the government's plan to build the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam have refused to register for government-supplied blankets ahead of winter, for fear their names and 13-digit ID card numbers will be secretly used to back the project.

Seng Kwanyeun, kamnan of tambon Sa Iab, said yesterday that residents of Ban Don Chai Moo 1, Ban Don Chai Sak Thong Moo 9, Ban Mae Ten Moo 5 and Ban Don Kaew Moo 6 had discussed the government's annual blanket handout, as the weather was getting colder. They agreed not to take the blankets this year because the process requires submitting a name and ID card number, Seng explained.

The villagers fear that the state agency involved might use their names, ID card numbers and signatures to back the construction project, which they have long opposed, the kamnan said, adding that he had notified district officials and related agencies.

The residents want the government to stop pushing for large-scale dam construction projects including Kaeng Sua Ten, Yom Bon and Yom Lang because building one such dam would cost the country Bt12 billion-Bt14 billion, but in the end might not be able to prevent flooding, he said.

The proposed Kaeng Sua Ten and Yom Lang projects are located on the Mae Yom fault line. If a disaster occurred, it would affect Phrae, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Phichit provinces, Seng said.

He said he had suggested community management, watershed rehabilitation and deforestation prevention, so the forest could serve as a natural and sustainable dam, as well as absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Community forests should be promoted in each and every community so that locals could collect herbs, bamboo shoots and mushrooms, while each home should grow plants, he said. Communities should be encouraged to conserve the environment and construct check dams, while the better-equipped communities should also help their lesser-equipped sister communities, he added.

More mid-sized and small reservoirs should be built on the 77 tributaries of the Yom River, and each community should have a "monkey-cheek" area, Seng said. Together, these would be able to store three times more water than Kaeng Sua Ten Dam, he said. He cited a Water Resources Department survey that found that 395 such sites could hold 1.5 billion cubic metres of water, compared to the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam's projected 1.175-billion-cubic-meter capacity.

Developing such sites would cost just Bt4 billion - a third the cost of the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-11-04

[lizardtongue]

Whilst I can see where they are coming from in refusing this years blankets, but even in Thailand it must be possible to go back and look at last years recipients?

The article suggests that the giving of blankets has been a regular thing which will possibly mean they will have a stock?

The only thing this particular piece of reporting has done is to give the residents of tambon Sa Lab a chance to publicly air their disagreement for the proposed project!

[siampolee]

It seems as if the villagers are rightly concerned as to what the consequences could be.of having all their details registered yet again

Perhaps they are aware of the way certain people and groups here interpret democracy therefore they are looking at the system as it was in Cambodia under the delightful Pol Pot and of course as it has been and still well may be here.

That old situation is perhaps giving rise to concerns that the route followed there regarding opposition to the dam project might be the model for the route in their area as they oppose the governments plans

Missing lawyers, opponents to both government and private projects gunned down, missing witnesses, changed statements etc,

Caution is being exercised as a result of past incidents, indeed an understandable and wise move by those concerned in the opposition of the dam.

A large amount of money on the table and lives are cheap as the past has shown here.

[theblether]

Whilst I can see where they are coming from in refusing this years blankets, but even in Thailand it must be possible to go back and look at last years recipients?

The article suggests that the giving of blankets has been a regular thing which will possibly mean they will have a stock?

The only thing this particular piece of reporting has done is to give the residents of tambon Sa Lab a chance to publicly air their disagreement for the proposed project!

They will have sold last years stock knowing that they are getting new blankets this year.......remember, TiT.

They're gonna freeze now, that'll teach them for being smart

[asiawatcher]

Excellent move. Residents of Phrae are a great example the Govt is being thumbed by lowly people who realise their corrupt practices. And a self sacrifice they see as being more important than receiving a handout. There is a fine example for other Thai's to follow but of course not all Thai's are as principled as Phrea residents.

[philw]

.........."Perhaps they are aware of the way certain people and groups here interpret democracy therefore they are looking at the system as it was in Cambodia under the delightful Pol Pot and of course as it has been and still well may be here"..........

Err....When was Thailand comparable to Cambodia under Pol Pot ???

[Moruya]

.........."Perhaps they are aware of the way certain people and groups here interpret democracy therefore they are looking at the system as it was in Cambodia under the delightful Pol Pot and of course as it has been and still well may be here"..........

Err....When was Thailand comparable to Cambodia under Pol Pot ???

Those are the wishes of the UDD

[rogerdee123]

Villagers are getting smart. I'm curious if this tambon in Prae is a red shirt area.

[noitom]

The blankets were dispersed, but not received. That means that the blankets are on trucks or warehouses controlled by village big men ready to "deal" them off for a quick profit. The villagers in Song will be cold and their names will be used anyway many times to back various schemes.

Why doesn't the newspaper dig in to investigating why the villagers are predisposed to think that there is chicanery around using their IDs and names? The newspaper should check this out if they really cared. Rather than just academic note taking about what they said, the newspaper should set about figuring "why" they feel that way and what happened before.

[asiawatcher]

The blankets were dispersed, but not received. That means that the blankets are on trucks or warehouses controlled by village big men ready to "deal" them off for a quick profit. The villagers in Song will be cold and their names will be used anyway many times to back various schemes.

Why doesn't the newspaper dig in to investigating why the villagers are predisposed to think that there is chicanery around using their IDs and names? The newspaper should check this out if they really cared. Rather than just academic note taking about what they said, the newspaper should set about figuring "why" they feel that way and what happened before.

The same with Tsunami and also the flood relief. The goods donated ended up being filmed and once they moved on, the doors of the trucks closed and the goods taken and warehoused to be sold by the corrupt elements at exorbitant prices. No corrupt opportunity in Thailand is ever missed. Even the opportunity to grab ID's to manipulate voting, nothing is missed by the corruption of Thailand.

[tominbkk]

Why can't villagers ever keep hold of blankets for more than one season?

[Fozfromoz]

.........."Perhaps they are aware of the way certain people and groups here interpret democracy therefore they are looking at the system as it was in Cambodia under the delightful Pol Pot and of course as it has been and still well may be here"..........

Err....When was Thailand comparable to Cambodia under Pol Pot ???

Those are the wishes of the UDD

Can that be substantiated?

[chainarong]

Well done to the people of Prae, after a few centuries of being used and abused, Prae people have the guts to take on the governments tactics to another level, stick to your principals, don't give the buggers an inch, the Government must be bewildered that such kindness could be rejected tut tut.

[johna]

Why can't villagers ever keep hold of blankets for more than one season?

Having seen the quality of government handouts, I'm not surprised they refused the blankets.

[Mitker]

These declaration, apart from showing an understandable distrust toward the current government, are full of wisdom. The idea to rehabilitate the forests and the natural capacity of rainwater retention is the wisest. However, due to the large scale urbanization of significant areas (houses, roads, compounds...) nature alone may not be able anymore to regulate what human activity has perturbed. The idea of small dams can indeed be a solution.

But a large dam on a fault line, if true... (!!)

[stoli]

What am I missing here? Yes, blankets last more than one year. But, new people come into the area, and need new blankets. Politics should not enter the equation here. Take care of the people, if they are being given what they need, and don't object. It is very nice for those of us who do not need to tell those that do what they should or should not accept. Stop that Cr_p and let them get what they need. The needy should come first, and then you can enter th politcal "what if".

[ratcatcher]

Seng Kwanyeun, kamnan of tambon Sa Iab, said yesterday that residents of Ban Don Chai Moo 1, Ban Don Chai Sak Thong Moo 9, Ban Mae Ten Moo 5 and Ban Don Kaew Moo 6 had discussed the government's annual blanket handout, as the weather was getting colder. They agreed not to take the blankets this year because the process requires submitting a name and ID card number, Seng explained.

This is what is commonly referred to as a "blanket statement"

[jerrysteve]

I agree, the Villagers Know the Government's Deceitful Ways Very Well. It is unfortuante that the people who were voted in the voted in the current governments and governments before, aren't as keen as the Villagers who have very be long memories of being Screwed over and over and over again, and who will continue to get screwed over again and again,and again.

Edited November 4, 2012 by jerrysteve

[maidu]

Seng Kwanyeun, kamnan of tambon Sa Iab sounds like a wise leader. A rare breed in Thailand. He advocates and environmentally friendly, sustainable and sane solution. 180 degrees different that money-worshiping power-politicians who outrank him.

If he doesn't have a U degree (and doesn't get the nod from one of the varicosed veined parties), he can't run to higher levels of office. Yet another reason why Thailand has dummies at highest offices, and most of it's intelligent and creative-thinking members are at the bottom rungs of society.

[whybother]

I'm surprised none of the political experts have yet to postulate that the Thai government had taken a page from the European colonial forces in north america. The European invaders had intentionally distributed smallpox contaminated blankets and handkerchiefs to the natives in an attempt to spread a deadly disease during the uprising led by Chief Pontiac..

Why? Do you think it is something that they would do?

Sent from my HTC phone.

[15Peter20]

.........."Perhaps they are aware of the way certain people and groups here interpret democracy therefore they are looking at the system as it was in Cambodia under the delightful Pol Pot and of course as it has been and still well may be here"..........

Err....When was Thailand comparable to Cambodia under Pol Pot ???

Those are the wishes of the UDD

Can that be substantiated?

No, but please believe it anyway as it is part of the majority view in the TV news forum.

[rubl]

Why can't villagers ever keep hold of blankets for more than one season?

A few possibilities there. One might be the onslaught of vermin outside the cold season. Another is Thai attitude on first things first and tomorrow is only tomorrow.

BTW it took me a while to understand why asking for something borrowed to be returned is not polite here. The borrower might no longer have the borrowed item and would be embarassed to be asked about it

[NCFC]

Seng Kwanyeun, kamnan of tambon Sa Iab sounds like a wise leader. A rare breed in Thailand. He advocates and environmentally friendly, sustainable and sane solution. 180 degrees different that money-worshiping power-politicians who outrank him.

If he doesn't have a U degree (and doesn't get the nod from one of the varicosed veined parties), he can't run to higher levels of office. Yet another reason why Thailand has dummies at highest offices, and most of it's intelligent and creative-thinking members are at the bottom rungs of society.

This is what I got from the story, too. A very intelligent man with some sensible ideas. I hope those concerned take note of what he says and act accordingly.

BTW in the mountainous part of Loei province that I visit, I've been to households with cupboards stuffed full of blankets. They do get a free hand out each year, and they do keep them.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Whilst I can see where they are coming from in refusing this years blankets, but even in Thailand it must be possible to go back and look at last years recipients?

The article suggests that the giving of blankets has been a regular thing which will possibly mean they will have a stock?

The only thing this particular piece of reporting has done is to give the residents of tambon Sa Lab a chance to publicly air their disagreement for the proposed project!

"He said he had suggested community management, watershed rehabilitation and deforestation prevention, so the forest could serve as a natural and sustainable dam, as well as absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Community forests should be promoted in each and every community so that locals could collect herbs, bamboo shoots and mushrooms, while each home should grow plants, he said. Communities should be encouraged to conserve the environment and construct check dams, while the better-equipped communities should also help their lesser-equipped sister communities, he added".

and...............they should stop being duped into voting for such a bunch of ignoramuses that haven't got a clue about what they are doing!!!!

[Imkah]

These declaration, apart from showing an understandable distrust toward the current government, are full of wisdom. The idea to rehabilitate the forests and the natural capacity of rainwater retention is the wisest. However, due to the large scale urbanization of significant areas (houses, roads, compounds...) nature alone may not be able anymore to regulate what human activity has perturbed. The idea of small dams can indeed be a solution.

But a large dam on a fault line, if true... (!!)

Absolutely agree, and it is heartening - mee kham lang jai! - that wisdom of this kind (please do not misunderstand: local folks, local wisdom is aboundant!) but here we have a perfect example of "grass-roots" people engaging in a cause larger themselves. Sure, there might be -and probably are somebody with hidden interests in this case, but: rejecting a governmental handout on the reasons given is a big! step in the right direction. And at the same time pointing to other and more sustainable options: Me like too much! Like: hope for the future, whenever that may arrive..

[Pimay1]

Whilst I can see where they are coming from in refusing this years blankets, but even in Thailand it must be possible to go back and look at last years recipients?

The article suggests that the giving of blankets has been a regular thing which will possibly mean they will have a stock?

The only thing this particular piece of reporting has done is to give the residents of tambon Sa Lab a chance to publicly air their disagreement for the proposed project!

They will have sold last years stock knowing that they are getting new blankets this year.......remember, TiT.

They're gonna freeze now, that'll teach them for being smart

You know, you are right. After the cold season they sell them. I remember there was an article in one of the English papers last year about this. It might be wise to change the policy to " if you get blankets this year you will not get another one for two more years".

[nakhonandy]

These declaration, apart from showing an understandable distrust toward the current government, are full of wisdom. The idea to rehabilitate the forests and the natural capacity of rainwater retention is the wisest. However, due to the large scale urbanization of significant areas (houses, roads, compounds...) nature alone may not be able anymore to regulate what human activity has perturbed. The idea of small dams can indeed be a solution.

But a large dam on a fault line, if true... (!!)

Absolutely agree, and it is heartening - mee kham lang jai! - that wisdom of this kind (please do not misunderstand: local folks, local wisdom is aboundant!) but here we have a perfect example of "grass-roots" people engaging in a cause larger themselves. Sure, there might be -and probably are somebody with hidden interests in this case, but: rejecting a governmental handout on the reasons given is a big! step in the right direction. And at the same time pointing to other and more sustainable options: Me like too much! Like: hope for the future, whenever that may arrive..

Have to agree with you there. This is a far more informed view than that of this or previous governments.

If the price difference quoted is also valid then surely it should be investigated.

As of the planned dam being on a faultline (I have no idea but will look) then this is indeed absolute madness.

I wish these protesters good luck.

[hellodolly]

These declaration, apart from showing an understandable distrust toward the current government, are full of wisdom. The idea to rehabilitate the forests and the natural capacity of rainwater retention is the wisest. However, due to the large scale urbanization of significant areas (houses, roads, compounds...) nature alone may not be able anymore to regulate what human activity has perturbed. The idea of small dams can indeed be a solution.

But a large dam on a fault line, if true... (!!)

For God and Buddha's sake don't tell the government it is on a fault line. They will start work tomorrow. with that kind of information.

[khunken]

Yet another example of a person with the interest of his community at heart.

It is people like Khun Seng who disprove the PTP supporters' statements that there is no alternative to the corrupt politicians (of all stripes) who call the shots in this country.

[OzMick]

It's amazing isn't it, how a small village in the middle of nowhere has a head man who just happens to be an expert in hydrology, geology and seismology, ecology and who knows what else, all the result of a Thai education to age 12 (guesstimate!) Either that or he's been fed a lot of greeny pseudo-science.

Not an expert in any of the fields myself, but I do know that fault lines are very common and not usually "active" (likely to cause an earthquake) unless close to the edge of a tectonic plate. In fact, the last movement on this fault line may have been 10, 20 or 100 million years ago, and the next equally distant. Ask the village headman, or a geologist?

BTW is there really an excess of carbon dioxide or a shortage of oxygen in the area?