Udomdej dismisses claim of Rajabhakti statute's foundation subsidence as nonsensical

[webfact]

General Udomdej dismisses claim of Rajabhakti statute's foundation subsidence as nonsensical



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Seetabutr has dismissed the latest claim by red-shirt core leader Natthawsut Saikua that the foundation of the statute at Rajabhakti Park had subsided causing cracks as a nonsense saying that the cracks might have been caused by cement contraction.

He said that the statute foundation was constructed by the army’s engineering corp and they were cautious in doing their job.

The deputy defence minister who is also chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation said he was ready to face the investigation and was able to clear all the doubts that were to be raised. Also, he added that he had never interfered with the fact-finding panel.

Gen Udomdej said he had given his side of the story to the probe panel which was already recorded. He pleaded with members of the public and critics to wait until the probe panel has come out with its findings which will clear up all the doubts.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/general-udomdej-dismisses-claim-of-rajabhakti-statutes-foundation-subsidence-as-nonsensical


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-23

[aussiesteve63]

Yes we've handed over the investigation to the army engineers and they've managed to whitewash the whole thing so I'm not involved

[Seastallion]

The claim that there is subsidence is nonsense. I counter the claim with "it might be something else'

Not exactly a definitive repudiation, is it?

[JAG]

Thats what comes of doing things on the cheap, and not using public funds...

[Reigntax]

The cracks are appearing in everything the military is involved with.

Its also cracking me up listening to the excuses and deflections.

[chrisrazz]

At least we now know where the missing 't' from touris went. Case solved. Where do I collect my reward?

[oneday]

"...which will clear cover up all the doubts wrong-doing..."

[retarius]

I bet the thing falls down in the NewYear.

[Srikcir]

"the cracks might have been caused by cement contraction."

What some might call a defective design and/or substandard cement mix. Regardless of the cause, the cracks reflect a lack of oversight and inattention to detail. Hardly what one would expect with a General in charge of the project.

[sharecropper]

This is fantastic news - it's the first time that someone has broken their own rice bowl in Thailand.

[JAG]

I bet the thing falls down in the NewYear.

regime or statue?

[baboon]

I see the maintenance crew did a top-notch job a few days ago, then.

Egg on their face to go along with chips on their shoulders. Messy eaters, the junta...

[Eric Loh]

I hope the army's engineering corp takes into consideration of the extra weight on the alluvial soil into accounts. The 22 Rais park now have the additional weight of the statues, Plaza, Museum, car park and thousands of visitors. It will be a real disaster if the pilings were inadequate in this weak compressible soil.

[worgeordie]

They could have been like the cracks on the runways

of Suvarnabhumi Airport,which were there,but denied

by everyone connected to the project.

regards Worgeordie

[bkkcanuck8]

"the cracks might have been caused by cement contraction."

What some might call a defective design and/or substandard cement mix. Regardless of the cause, the cracks reflect a lack of oversight and inattention to detail. Hardly what one would expect with a General in charge of the project.

That would definitely be mismanagement, they should be taking random samples (for such a large budget) of concrete during the building to make sure the supplier is not substituting a lower grade of concrete than was called for in the contract. It would be a no better answer than subsidence.

[Seastallion]

Thats what comes of doing things on the cheap, and not using public funds...

...and some of the funds not going towards construction.

[Seastallion]

Thats what comes of doing things on the cheap, and not using public funds...

Well. the project DID use public funds if it used military personnel to do the work...unless all the sappers took leave and did it voluntarily?

[Baerboxer]

Poor foundations and incorrect and / or inferior cement mixes seem to be common issues throughout the building and construction industries here, IME.

But this was the Army Corps of Engineers - working on what they knew to be a very prestigious project. Surely, someone might have considered some quality management and checks? Or is the allure of the skim to great?

Worrying that this is the organization with all that military hardware under it's control if they can't make sure foundations and cement mixes are not prepared correctly.

Still, TiT.

As for the public spirited Nat, seems his public spirit only extends one way. Perhaps he feels his involvement in the rice support scheme, the 2010 terrorist trial etc are all being conveniently forgotten? When the Junta first took power he appeared to loose weight, looked haggard and almost disappeared from view. Now getting back to his old self. Wonder what's really happening behind the scenes?

[Baerboxer]

They could have been like the cracks on the runways

of Suvarnabhumi Airport,which were there,but denied

by everyone connected to the project.

regards Worgeordie

It's always the way. Whatever the problems are simply deny them. No matter how apparent the problem, lie, deny and refuse to recognize that a problem exits.

If the complainers persist hit them with lawsuits, pastry boxes or send the boys round.

[Eric Loh]

They could have been like the cracks on the runways

of Suvarnabhumi Airport,which were there,but denied

by everyone connected to the project.

regards Worgeordie

It's always the way. Whatever the problems are simply deny them. No matter how apparent the problem, lie, deny and refuse to recognize that a problem exits.

If the complainers persist hit them with lawsuits, pastry boxes or send the boys round.

And to add that this shoddy construction vis corruption was one of the justifications for the '06 coup. Several investigations were initiated by the junta and the investigating panels found that the damage was minute and common and cost to fix was less than 1% of the total airport cost. The junta was accused of delaying the repairs and intensifying the airport's problems in order to pin further blame on the deposed government. Sound similar.

[phoenixdoglover]

I would be shocked if there were no cracks.

[JAG]

Still, look on the bright side, it will give them a dandy excuse for short notice closures, should any trains leave Bangkok heading south with a suspicious number of students in the rear carriage!

Won't need to tell the local Divisional Commander and his staff to get into civvies and head down to the station pronto to act as "civpop".

[elgordo38]

They could have been like the cracks on the runways

of Suvarnabhumi Airport,which were there,but denied

by everyone connected to the project.

regards Worgeordie

It's always the way. Whatever the problems are simply deny them. No matter how apparent the problem, lie, deny and refuse to recognize that a problem exits.

If the complainers persist hit them with lawsuits, pastry boxes or send the boys round.

A good defense is a strong offense. I guess this whole project is not what it was "cracked" up to be.

[bangrak]

They could have been like the cracks on the runways

of Suvarnabhumi Airport,which were there,but denied

by everyone connected to the project.

regards Worgeordie

It's always the way. Whatever the problems are simply deny them. No matter how apparent the problem, lie, deny and refuse to recognize that a problem exits.

If the complainers persist hit them with lawsuits, pastry boxes or send the boys round.

And to add that this shoddy construction vis corruption was one of the justifications for the '06 coup. Several investigations were initiated by the junta and the investigating panels found that the damage was minute and common and cost to fix was less than 1% of the total airport cost. The junta was accused of delaying the repairs and intensifying the airport's problems in order to pin further blame on the deposed government. Sound similar.

Khun Eric, making of the Suvarnabhumi cesspool 'one of the justifications for the '06 coup' might be 'a bit of a stretch', and lead one to ask you, very much in your style, to bring up proof and evidence to support your allegation...

Also, lifting the cover of that stinking pit might not be the best idea for you, as, one could start reviving the remembrances about some wealthy influential clan you know very well being deeply involved in very 'juicy' land deals on- and around- the, then, future airport, not speaking of another wealthy family which was, for some 'unknown' reason, given free reins in the organisation of the interior of the airport's passengers area, after 'of course' being granted a monopoly on the commercial activities inside it, and even forgetting about the 'men-in-charge' of the construction, like of the subsiding runways, and their 'political leanings', a few of having recently been found guilty of malversations...

But this being 'out of topic', let's cut it short, it will save you from some embarassing explainations.

[MZurf]

They could have been like the cracks on the runways

of Suvarnabhumi Airport,which were there,but denied

by everyone connected to the project.

regards Worgeordie

It's always the way. Whatever the problems are simply deny them. No matter how apparent the problem, lie, deny and refuse to recognize that a problem exits.

If the complainers persist hit them with lawsuits, pastry boxes or send the boys round.

A good defense is a strong offense. I guess this whole project is not what it was "cracked" up to be.

Cracking comment!

[bangrak]

Very generally, it seems in Thailand there would not be 'geological maps' reproducing the nature and characteristics of the upper layers of the 'crust', is it that this has never been systematically surveyed, I don't know, but I am convinced that many or most of, the countless, cases of subsidence of buildings, roads, etc. could have been avoided (when not because of the use of sub-standard materials, of course!)... Even more so with some additional, accurate, hydrographic survey maps, also of interest for flood prevention... But, hey, who am I, but the tolerated Farang here, to comment about that? 'Thais know!'...

[Eric Loh]

They could have been like the cracks on the runways

of Suvarnabhumi Airport,which were there,but denied

by everyone connected to the project.

regards Worgeordie

It's always the way. Whatever the problems are simply deny them. No matter how apparent the problem, lie, deny and refuse to recognize that a problem exits.

If the complainers persist hit them with lawsuits, pastry boxes or send the boys round.

And to add that this shoddy construction vis corruption was one of the justifications for the '06 coup. Several investigations were initiated by the junta and the investigating panels found that the damage was minute and common and cost to fix was less than 1% of the total airport cost. The junta was accused of delaying the repairs and intensifying the airport's problems in order to pin further blame on the deposed government. Sound similar.

Khun Eric, making of the Suvarnabhumi cesspool 'one of the justifications for the '06 coup' might be 'a bit of a stretch', and lead one to ask you, very much in your style, to bring up proof and evidence to support your allegation...

Also, lifting the cover of that stinking pit might not be the best idea for you, as, one could start reviving the remembrances about some wealthy influential clan you know very well being deeply involved in very 'juicy' land deals on- and around- the, then, future airport, not speaking of another wealthy family which was, for some 'unknown' reason, given free reins in the organisation of the interior of the airport's passengers area, after 'of course' being granted a monopoly on the commercial activities inside it, and even forgetting about the 'men-in-charge' of the construction, like of the subsiding runways, and their 'political leanings', a few of having recently been found guilty of malversations...

But this being 'out of topic', let's cut it short, it will save you from some embarassing explainations.

Go crack yourself up.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_the_Suvarnabhumi_Airport_project

[jaywalker]

Poor foundations and incorrect and / or inferior cement mixes seem to be common issues throughout the building and construction industries here, IME.

But this was the Army Corps of Engineers - working on what they knew to be a very prestigious project. Surely, someone might have considered some quality management and checks? Or is the allure of the skim to great?

Worrying that this is the organization with all that military hardware under it's control if they can't make sure foundations and cement mixes are not prepared correctly.

Still, TiT.

As for the public spirited Nat, seems his public spirit only extends one way. Perhaps he feels his involvement in the rice support scheme, the 2010 terrorist trial etc are all being conveniently forgotten? When the Junta first took power he appeared to loose weight, looked haggard and almost disappeared from view. Now getting back to his old self. Wonder what's really happening behind the scenes?

THIS is what often happens 'behind the scenes' in the Land of Oz, aka Thailand, where it's like an acid trip without the acid.

[bangrak]

"the cracks might have been caused by cement contraction."

What some might call a defective design and/or substandard cement mix. Regardless of the cause, the cracks reflect a lack of oversight and inattention to detail. Hardly what one would expect with a General in charge of the project.

Hmm, only some cracks in the cement, no problem then... As long as there have no 'unplanned savings' (the structural engineers didn't know about) been made on the concrete and rebarb, no problem! Oops, what did I say there? Things like that never, ever, happen in the LoS...

[Balance]

The question as to whether or not there has been subsidence is knowable by something called measuring.