Unbelievable - Politics During The Floods

[kamui]

FROC draws flak as civic network quits; supplies remain untouched

The Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) now does not just have to handle the flooding situation, but it has the additional task of managing the donated supplies.

 

Now that ThaiFlood, a large civic network, has pulled out, the media and the public are left wondering what will be done with the donated supplies.

 

Paramate Minsiri, chief of ThaiFlood, said his group had pulled out because FROC was refusing to tell the truth about the situation. FROC, on the other hand, said in a statement that ThaiFlood pulled out because its representatives were not allowed to take part in all the meetings.

 

However, Paramate countered that ThaiFlood was being discriminated against when it came to distributing supplies. He said that his group of volunteers did their best to hand out flood relief items to victims, they had to queue up for a long time, while the red-shirt groups were able to get their supplies much faster.

 

Sombat Boonngam-anong, leader of a red-shirt faction which, is helping distribute supplies, said his group would continue helping people regardless of their political affiliation, adding that the blame game should be set aside until the crisis has passed.

 

Meanwhile, many people have turned to members of the media like the Nation Group, Thai PBS and Channel 3 to either make donations or ask for necessities instead of contacting FROC.

 

One volunteer contacted an editor at The Nation asking for flat-bottomed boats.

 

Yesterday, a reporter publicised photographs of unused boats and piles of stocks being kept at the FROC headquarters in Don Mueang Airport. In response to this, a volunteer, who owns boats and trucks, contacted FROC offering to distribute the items to victims in hard-to-access areas. Initially, the volunteers were only given 100 sets, though more items were released after some strings were pulled.

 

In addition, people have also been questioning the morals of Pheu Thai politicians, after photographs showed trucks carrying banners promoting certain politicians and implying that the supplies had come from them and not the people.

 

However, MP Karun Hosakul, who is in charge of distributing the supplies donated to FROC, denied that any such banners had been put up. He said the distribution operation was transparent and simple, and that the distributors only had to identify the area and the group of recipients.

 

However, the media will continue to keep a close eye on the flood-relief process for as long as such banners are seen and the donations remain untouched.

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/FROC-draws-flak-as-civic-network-quits;-supplies-r-30168563.html

[Julian2]

One side accusing the other of trying to get political gain out of the floods is the pot calling the kettle black.

Everywhere flood aid goes there will be a politician trying to take credit for it.

And... wait for it... it doesn't only happen in Thailand.

[Flashermac]

Interesting comment posted on the Bangkok Post site:

 

"Whats with these red shirts parading up and down Tiwonon Road? There was about 30 of them in a caravan waving their red flags around some waving #1 posters while escorting a truck full of supplies going up into Pathum Thani."

 

Maybe Thaksin finally called and told them what to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vintage_Kwai]

Flash, another group spotted out near Bobey in their truck waving the flags as well.

[kamui]

Flash, another group spotted out near Bobey in their truck waving the flags as well.

 

A shake up at the FROC shows that all accusation are true:

 

 

FROC complaints bring shakeup of handout system

The Nation October 27, 2011 3:07 am

From now on, only government officials at provincial or district level will be issued donated supplies at the government's Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) for local distribution.

Volunteers wishing to help flood victims must request and collect the supplies from provincial offices, PM's Office inspector Chamroen Yuttithamsakul said.

 

Chamroen was assigned to be in charge of the FROC-donated supply distribution after heavy criticism of the agency's management.

 

The donation centre has been moved from FROC headquarters at Don Mueang Airport to the national stadium. The FROC venue was too small to deal with the large amount of donations and visitors.

 

The media over the past week published pictures of large amounts of donated supplies retained at the FROC depot while flood victims were crying for essentials.

 

The media also criticised Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul who was in charge of releasing the FROC's donated supplies. FROC spokesman Wim Roongwattanajinda said later Karun was no longer in charge and the operation was under PM's Office Inspector Chamroen.

 

The FROC had been accused of selective donation management that favoured the pro-government red shirts and allowed Pheu Thai MPs to promote themselves through the people-donated supplies.

 

Pheu Thai MP Chalong Riewrang on Tuesday said he wanted to deliver the supplies to troubled people in his constituency but the donated items were reserved for the red shirts, resulting in a shortage of donated goods.

 

Earlier, Thai Flood, a major civic group of volunteers withdrew from FROC's operations, citing such discrimination and a lack of information released to the people.

 

Pheu Thai MP and red shirt leader Natthawut Saikua - speaking at the FROC office at Don Mueng Airport - denied yesterday the red shirts had received privileges with donated flood relief items.

 

Natthawut said some red shirts had raised funds and donations as well as delivered the kits to the victims themselves and had not collected supplies from the FROC centre. Others had distributed needed items by truck. Chalong might not have clearly understood the red-shirt's actions.

 

"Some donated packs were labelled with the name of (Pheu Thai MP) Jatuporn Promphan as the red shirts wanted donations to be made through their leader Jatuporn. We passed on the packs and there was no need to declare for them for political popularity," he said. His group never thought of labelling MPs’ names to make people feel like they owed them something.

 

Natthawut also denied reports that another red-shirt leader Yoswarit Chooklom, assistant to the secretary of the deputy interior minister, abused his power by saying he wanted to get two donated boats and told reporters to carry the boats for him. Natthawut said it must have been a misunderstanding.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/FROC-complaints-bring-shakeup-of-handout-system-30168645.html

 

 

 

[cavanami]

It was some azz wipe politician is the USA, me thinks, that said, "...never let a good disaster go to waste..."

 

So, no surprises here in LOS

[Flashermac]

I was on Sukhumwit Monday night - the streets were bone dry. No traffic to be see. It would be a great time to bring back pedal samlors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cavanami]

The Japanese gov offered pumps and other equipment to help with the flood. The Thai gov declined the offer (loss of face). The Japanese gov said, "...you will ACCEPT this equipment...".

 

Thai gov accepted the equipment!

[Flashermac]

The Japanese pumps are easy to find too - glow in the dark.