Thai
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday denied being under stress even as
many upstream provinces remained submerged and run-off and dam releases were
besieging Bangkok.
When asked if she was confident that Thai
authorities could cope with the approaching menace, all she could do was give a
deep sigh. "We will do our best," she managed to say meekly.
Reporters noticed that Yingluck looked tense
after being briefed about the latest developments, when the surge from Northern
provinces broke through some floodgates in Pathum Thani, which is immediately
upriver from the capital.
She was monitoring the unfolding situation at
the government's Flood Relief Operation Command at Don Mueang Airport.
She welcomed Thailand's Democrat Party leader
Abhisit Vejjajiva, whom she had sent into the opposition, as he led a visit to
the government centre with some Democrat politicians including Korn
Chatikavanij, Alongkorn Ponlaboot and Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep
Techapaiboon.
Yingluck told Abhisit that she appreciated
advice from all parties and wanted the flood crisis to be treated as a national
agenda item. Abhisit offered to help the government in every way he could.
The prime minister took the opposition leader
and his entourage to a meeting room where they were updated by officials from
various agencies.
Yingluck expressed concern over the speed and
force of the deluge that had flooded many of Bangkok's neighbouring provinces
and was now threatening to engulf the capital.
She said the priority now was to drain waters
out of the affected areas.
Abhisit said later that he offered the
government three suggestions - closely coordinate the work of its many flood
centres to ensure unity, clearly designate areas of responsibility and quickly
evacuate victims from heavily flooded areas, and issue an order to allow
special powers for the government.
In the afternoon Yingluck rode a police
helicopter for an aerial inspection of the flood situation in Pathum Thani and
Ayutthaya.
She also gave out relief items to residents in
areas inaccessible by road.
Wim Rungwattanajinda, spokesman for the
flood-relief centre, said residents of the two areas complained that they had
not received any assistance from authorities for three days.
Earlier in the day, Abhisit went to Thammasat
University's Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani, which has been turned into a
shelter for Ayutthaya flood victims.
He consoled the evacuees, saying the centre
had good management, although there were worries that new arrivals were going
to overwhelm its capacity.
The government should find more large
buildings for new refugees, he said, adding that those at Don Mueang Airport
were also suitable.
Politicians from both the Democrat and Pheu
Thai parties will have to work together and forget about their political
affiliations, he said.
Although the Bangkok governor is from the
Democrat Party, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is not the only agency
taking care of the city, Abhisit said. The key is an efficient system to
release excess water, he added.
News Desk
The Nation (Thailand)
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment