PM tries to ease concern over 'rift' with the BMA
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Embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday sought to ease concern over perceived conflicts between her flood operations centre and the Bangkok authorities, but said the government's fight against the natural disaster had been hampered by "ne
The collective presence of Yingluck, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha, Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva at a pumping station in Phra Khanong followed a day of political tension.
Yingluck and Sukhumbhand both sounded in appeasing mode, with the latter vowing his agency would do its best to protect her Don Muang-based Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC), which is located in one of the Bangkok districts under threat of inundation.
“Let me assure the public that the government is always willing to work with the Bangkok Metropolitan Admin-istration [BMA] and provide the agency with any help it needs,” Yingluck said.
Sukhumbhand’s unilateral warning on Sunday that six Bangkok districts were under immediate threat of indundation, which could come within 24 hours, raised fresh doubts about working relations between the BMA and the FROC. Unlike the FROC’s daily updates, the warning was not broadcast on state television, and it followed Yingluck’s decision on Friday to invoke an Interior Ministry disaster regulation that toughened her legal leverage against the semi-independent BMA.
The premier yesterday said the government and the BMA were doing their best to enable Bangkok to survive the flood crisis with minimal damage, but efforts were being hindered by unexpected elements that presented themselves on a daily basis.
She said her meeting with Sukhumbhand had addressed emergency plans for the six districts under threat, as well as how the armed forces could help with possible evacuation.
She continued to resist growing calls for extra public holidays during the crisis, citing fears that there would not be enough state manpower to help people in distress.
However, the PM urged the private sector to be lenient toward employees by allowing those affected by the floods or facing threats to go on leave and take care of their homes.
She was non-committal toward a proposal that the Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road be used as a “flood highway” to speed up the push of flood water toward the sea.
“I would like to thank all officials, who I know are tired as a result of having to work overtime. This is no time for finger-pointing. This is a time for everyone to join hands,” she said.
Asked what problems remained unsolved in the city, Yingluck said it had proved more difficult than expected to push flood water towards prepared canals, due to the level nature of the terrain in the targeted areas.
There are also growing worries about the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya River, she added.
