And so the exodus of quality expats begins. This time it's personal

[webfact]

Yingluck concerned with misunderstanding about southern blackout

BANGKOK, 22 May 2013 (NNT)-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has expressed concerns over the situation in the South after most of the region experienced power outage last night, saying ill-intentioned people were taking advantage of the situation by making rumors of unrest.

A spokesman for the government’s economic policy, Mr. Wim Rungwattanajinda said that following the massive power outage in the South last night, Ms. Yingluck has instructed Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha to quickly raise understanding with residents in the restive region that the blackout was not an insurgent act. He said as soon as the blackout began, a rumor was spread that it was part of the unrest movements.

The spokesman affirmed that the outage was in fact caused by disruption to the power supply. The repairs on the power distribution system in Prachuap Khiri Khan by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) are expected to be completed today.

Mr. Wim said further that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has already been requested to lend more generators or seek help from private power producers to relieve the power shortage while restoration of the damaged transmission cable is underway.

According to Mr. Wim, police officers were deployed last night into the areas affected by the blackout to assure safety and restore confidence of southern residents.


-- NNT 2013-05-22

[webfact]

Gen. Prayuth: Southern blackout not connected with insurgency

BANGKOK, 22 May 2013 (NNT) - Army Commander-in-Chief Gen.Prayuth Chan-ocha has confirmed that last night’s blackout in 14 southern provinces had nothing to do with the southern unrest, saying it was a lesson for all responsible units.

Gen.Prayuth said on Wednesday the army had stayed vigilant since it had received intelligence reports that there might be an incident that would cause a blackout. The prime minister had already instructed the army to talk to governors of the 14 provinces to see if they needed any assistance. The commander of the 4th Army Area Command, who was responsible for the 14 provinces, was in charge of security for the locals, Gen.Prayuth added.

The army chief added that if electricity did not come back quickly, risks of violent incidents would increase, especially in the three southernmost border provinces. As for long-term solutions to power failures, it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.


-- NNT 2013-05-22

[JetsetBkk]

Gen. Prayuth: Southern blackout not connected with insurgency

Absolutely! It was purely incompetency.

[bigbamboo]

Why not just say the truth for once?

The blackouts were the result of what happens in a third world nation where limited resources are diverted away from the people into polticians pockets.

They will understand that.

[Mosha]

"The spokesman affirmed that the outage was in fact caused by disruption to the power supply."

[happynthailand]

the bad part about last nights blackout is we'll never know the real reason for the blackout

[hellodolly]

"The spokesman affirmed that the outage was in fact caused by disruption to the power supply."

[Thai at Heart]

It would be better if the problem was caused by a catastrophic problem.

Nope, get used to it until we build enough power stations to feed the foreigners tourist requirements. Like this shouldn't have come to the fore 10 years ago.

[animatic]

They are really protesting this concept a bit more than necessary... hhmmm.

The lady protesteth too much me thinks.

I wonder what other skulduggery went one while alarms were unpowered,

lights were not working and police and army were distracted from their usual jobs?

Edited May 22, 2013 by animatic

[animatic]

It would be better if the problem was caused by a catastrophic problem.

Nope, get used to it until we build enough power stations to feed the foreigners tourist requirements. Like this shouldn't have come to the fore 10 years ago.

But it gives the Science Minister scope to push Thai Nuclear yet again....

[yoshiwara]

We should look upon the outage as a positive step in the direction of Thailand becoming a green hub.

[Thaddeus]

They need boats there obviously.

A thousand boats to push the electricity down the wires.

Thai electric not same, can push.

[Mosha]

We should look upon the outage as a positive step in the direction of Thailand becoming a green hub.

Hub of Star Gazing, if you can see through the pollution.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

...restoration of the damaged transmission cable is underway.

Funny, still absolutely no explanation from the authorities of HOW the transmission cable got damaged!!!

Maybe they just think that's a detail not worth mentioning... Or, perhaps...

Ahh...wait...the other thread now has the official explanation:

Minister blames lightning strike on transmission line.

Edited May 23, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Payboy]

ill-intentioned people were taking advantage of the situation by making rumors of unrest

Unrest in the south - who would've thought!

[drdoom6996]

Yingluck says; Get this story out about the electricity in the south so every will forget about my speech in Mongolia. And do it now!!!!!!!!!! And everyday until I don't have to answer these questions about the speech while I am shopping.

[sonar6ca]

Mr. Wim said further that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Wow, they sure know how to create moron jobs in this country.

[gemini81]

Her & her party have done a lot of misunderstanding since they got into office. Not sure what they actually do understand other than dishonest stuff.

As far as blackouts, I wonder if Chalerm has one each night!

[BuddyPinkham]

She is always "concerned" about something but does nothing about it!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

...restoration of the damaged transmission cable is underway.

Funny, still absolutely no explanation from the authorities of HOW the transmission cable got damaged!!!

Maybe they just think that's a detail not worth mentioning... Or, perhaps...

Ahh...wait...the other thread now has the official explanation:

>Minister blames lightning strike on transmission line.

I'm just seeing in the different news reports... The only person talking about the purported lightning strike is the energy minister.

None of the comments from EGAT seem to have addressed the specific reason at all, other than saying transmission line failure... Hmmmm....

[bigbamboo]

Mr. Wim said further that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Wow, they sure know how to create moron jobs in this country.

The Thai equivalent of the 'Ministry for Administrative Affairs'? Even Yes Minister's writers would have baulked at creating anything like the 'DDPM'.

[Thai at Heart]

Next she will "mull" a response and "urge" a change.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

or just go shopping!