PM Yingluck urges collaborative decision on Mae Wong dam
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 25 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced today that construction of the controversial Mae Wong dam would not begin unless a joint decision is reached between proponents and opponents.

Referring to a protest against the dam in Nakhon Sawan province, she said the government and the Water and Natural Disaster Management Committee (WNDMC) would adhere to the national interest while opponents would be invited for talks on problems and facts concerning the dam.

According to the government’s water management plan, Mae Wong national forest in the lower northern province of Nakhon Sawan would be divided to build the dam, believed to serve as a prevention against flooding in the central plains.

Opponents argued that the dam would not help relieve floods but that national treasures including trees and wildlife would be destroyed.

Ms Yingluck said the issue should be addressed on the whole while the government’s objective was on water management and prevention of waters from flowing down from the North.

“I believe everyone is possessive of our natural resources. The WNDMC must look at the matter from every perspective,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is WNDMC chairman, has publicly thrown his full support to the dam and said the government had made a decision to go ahead with the construction.

Regarding Mr Plodprasop’s stance, the premier said the water management plan advocated a dam and the project was on the agenda but, practically, the government must listen to the people’s opinions and weigh the impact of the dam and possible solutions.

Asked if the government would withdraw the project if it is found to create more harm than good, Ms Yingluck said she was uncertain about the technical aspects and wanted the technical side to give its solutions, adding that the construction, if agreed, would have to be approved by the Cabinet. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-25

Nice to see Her Excellency say that she believed in waiting until the proponents and opponents of the dispute were in agreement on a decision.

Now if she could just apply that thinking to other disputed matters too that would be a huge step in the right direction for Thailand.

How about instead of just 'urging', she does her job and takes part in making a collaborative decision.

If the government objective is to prevent water flow from the north down toward the south, those with this thinking might have a better chance of sticking a wet noodle up a wild cats arse. The present dams, canels, dykes, and other man made barriers only divert or in some cases (if managed properly) slow the flow of the runoff.

The PM needs to find some qualified non political group who can speak to the subject of flood/water management on board and send the cronies who provide her speeches and their content, on a middle east self paid extended holiday.

The lady and most of her cabinet need a massive damage control effort after every press release they make, due to their total incompentance, inexperience, inflated self esteme,and borderline stupidity.

But in the end it will still go ahead,as its a nice little earner.

regards Worgeordie

Nice to see Her Excellency say that she believed in waiting until the proponents and opponents of the dispute were in agreement on a decision.

Now if she could just apply that thinking to other disputed matters too that would be a huge step in the right direction for Thailand.

Stop, stop, wait for me. The picture is already taken. Then we have to have another news article and I have to be in the picture. Her puppetship knows what really makes the people proud. Her picture in the paper.