The management of the storm crises in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla, four southwestern border provinces, has drawn a lot of criticism from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra‘s management.
Evaluations have been made between the South’s delayed response and inadequate support for flood victims and the quicker and more efficient management of flooding in the northern regions in August.
The Bangkok Post questioned whether there is a triple standard in the administration’s flood reaction between the North and South after speaking with political watchers about the disaster relief efforts.
They were asked to explain whether the administration’s handling of storms was politically motivated, given that the decision Pheu Thai Party is known to include a small following in the South.
Setback for Pheu Thai
Previous Democrat MP from Trang Sathit Wongnongtoey claimed that the Thaksin Shinawatra administration’s deep-rooted animosity toward the ruling party stems from his renowned remarks about prioritizing regions that supported his party.
Also, the Pheu Thai-led administration’s lack of attention to the southwestern region has been observed, and the prime minister’s apparent lack of urgency in taking activity has led some people to assume the area is being neglected, he said.
Mr. Sathit criticized the prime minister and said she should be aware of common objectives and be willing to serve all citizens. Mr. Sathit also questioned the premier about her claim that she had assigned her representatives to handle flood control in the South.
The former MP claimed that the coalition government may accept responsibility for the nation’s current status because it has never provided enough hope to the population.
Mr. Sathit claimed that the government’s reputation will suffer as a result of its failure to fulfill its monetary promises.
Sathit: Give monetary guarantees
Previous Democrat MP Phatthalung Nipit Intarasombat reported that state agencies are assisting with overflow relief efforts, despite the prime minister’s recent travel to the four southern border provinces to check on the state’s response to the floods.
According to him, this gives the impression that the government is not paying enough attention and attention to the circumstance. He added that even if the entire case were in town, they wouldn’t have the same morale-boosting effects as the presence of the prime minister.
By the time the excellent secretary makes a visit, the floodwaters in the affected areas will have already subsided, he said, making her unprepared for the full extent of the flood.
When questioned about whether Ms. Paetongtarn has any motivation to travel because Pheu Thai enjoys a limited following in the South, he responded that it is difficult to imagine that the leader of the nation would ignore the South just because it is not her group’s democratic stronghold.
” I don’t want to believe that she is neglecting the South just for that purpose. But the pause has cost her major political goodwill”, he said.
Mr. Nipit added that he thinks Ms. Paetongtarn cares about the well-being of the southern folks, but that their lack of political experience may have caused them to make a wrong decision.
In response to a question about whether the Pheu Thai Party also has a chance to gain a foothold in the South, Mr. Nipit said it is unlikely to gain considerable ground in the three southern border regions of Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala due to a number of factors, including the current flooding and the Tak Bai event in Narathiwat.
Nipit: PM cares about people
Social hole
During last year’s public vote, the Pheu Thai Party did not capture a one chair in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla.
Its partnership companion, the Prachachat Party, then led by Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, won all three votes in Yala.
In Pattani, where five seats were available, the Prachachat Party won three seats in Constituency 1, 3 and 5, while the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ) and the Democrat Party won each in Constituency 2 and Constituency 4, respectively.
The PPRP ( Constituency 2 and 3 ), Bhumjaithai ( Constituency 4), Bhumjaithai ( Constituency 4 ) and Prachachat Party ( Constituency 5 ) all had five seats in Narathiwat.
The Democrat Party won the majority of the seats in Songkhla ( Constituency 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9 ) with the UTN winning in Constituency 2, the PPRP in Constituency 4, and the Bhumjaithai Party in Constituency 7.
Pheu Thai list-MP Chanin Rungthanakiat, who denies supporting the government, claimed the smart case gathering in Chiang Mai, which had taken place weeks in advance and couldn’t be canceled.
He claimed that the primary minister made the decision to ignore the flooding’ worst stages to prevent putting pressure on local authorities who were concentrating on reduction efforts.
Even so, some case ministers were assigned to handle the overflow relief efforts, he noted.
Mr. Chanin emphasized that the Pheu Thai Party is working to discredit the state that it doesn’t prioritize the southern area. Under the Srettha Thavisin leadership, many jobs in the South were given help, he said.
Chanin: Let regional leaders operate
Symbolic sign
However, academics criticize the government for its inability to decentralize power in terms of removal shelters and for failing to do so in order to help local authorities manage the flood crisis more effectively.
In consequence, the general public believes that only the prime minister’s attend and interference can resolve the issue, even if the prime minister’s visit to the flood-ravaged area is more of a symbolic sign than a direct answer.
Srisompob Jitpiromsri, a political scientist at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani school, said that given the size of monetary aid and recovery efforts by the Interior Ministry, the administration’s answer in both the North and South is not much different.
A change to the guidelines for flood compensation payouts was originally approved by the cabinet. Then, all affected families stand to get a one-time transaction of 9, 000 baht.
Under the old standards, families flooded for 30 days or less would get 5, 000 rmb, while those inundated for more than 30 times but less than 60 received 7, 000 baht. The sole recipients of 9, 000 baht were homes that had been submerged for more than 60 days.
Mr. Srisompob claimed that provincial authorities, the defense, the private market, and numerous generosity and save foundations have gathered their resources to assist flood victims.
Media insurance has shown the hardships and suffering of the flood-ravaged areas.
This has caused comparisons to the government’s role, especially the prime minister’s visit, which he said would include eased tension and given comfort to those who have been severely impacted by the flooding, he said.
” Ms. Paetongtarn’s remarks about her husband’s ancestry in the southern area have not been very good.
” She shouldn’t have said it at all under this scenario. She may have talked about plans. When her remarks are seen as out of place, the issue is dramatised, “he said.
The prime minister defended herself against censure from social media earlier this month by allegedly touring the northwestern region while ignoring the flood-stricken southern provinces and putting the emphasis on how providing aid is more important than making common performances.
She responded that her husband and family had ties to the South. Given that my husband and his family are Southerners, how was I ignore the South?
Srisompob: Feedback aren’t good
Weak crisis management
Mr. Srisompob claimed that the southern area has been experiencing a ten-year pain since the government has not yet invested in permanent homes for disaster comfort despite having the resources.
He said,” The government needs to reevaluate its approach to disaster management, especially in the southern region, where rising sea tides cause flooding to worsen.”
According to Nuttakorn Vititanon, a social scientist at Chiang Mai University, the government needs to update its hazard warning and response systems to make sure people are completely informed about dangers and are treated appropriately.
No single evacuated in the dark because the disaster occurred at night. Also, there were no tents for them. Telling citizens to leave… but to where? Thus, they stayed residence, “he said.
He made reference to current flooding in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in August.
Mr. Nuttakorn argued that the government’s attempt to build flood barriers is unfavorable and rather appears to be avoiding confronting neighborhood groups and hotels that prevent water from flowing.
If local officials have the full authority to manage the situation, he claimed, the prime minister doesn’t need to go to any flood-stricken areas to issue instructions.
” But the government doesn’t and he doesn’t instruct other firms like the Department of Royal Irrigation. Remember the time a drawbridge was shut down and the government was held accountable for being ineffective?
” The issue was solved after the prime minister’s attend. As a result, people have become accustomed to the idea that if they want someone fixed, the prime minister has intervene”, Mr Nuttakorn said.
Nuttakorn: ‘ Little tents for them’