Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand is very very upset by a 10pm letter.

Thailand’s ongoing floods has been one of the region’s high-profile news stories over the last weeks.

One of the strongest messages resonating throughout the international media is the claim that Thailand’s inexperienced and recently elected Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has not been up to the task.

What has not gained so much attention in the international coverage is the behavior of the Democrat Party’s Bangkok Governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra. 

It began back on October 31st when the Governor was asked to open a water gate at Klong Sam Wa after receiving a request from the Yingluck government.

Sukhumbhand is quoted on Nation editor, Suthichai Yoon’s blog as saying (translated from Thai)

If [she] wants the Klong Sam Wa water gate to be opened 1 meter more, [ she has to] put the order in writing as well. It doesn’t matter how much pressure I receive, I do not care, I must only follow the clear written order.

So, following Sukhumbhand’s own request, on the 13th November Pol.Gen.Pracha Promnok, Minister of Justice and Director of Flood relief command operation sent an order in writing to Sukhumband. 

The letter was delivered to the Bangkok Governor at about 10pm and asked him to prevent the destruction of an essential flood wall at Don Muang to the north of Bangkok city centre.

The response to this request was extraordinary.

That night Sukhambhand appeared on TV (see from 1min 23secs), his voice breaking with emotion. He complained about losing sleep and about receiving the letter at such an “uncivilised hour”. 

He also said that the government should have spoken to him first in an “unofficial” capacity.

One could understand if he’d been awoken at night and made a grumpy comment but to host a press conference and then to spend a considerable amount of time just whinging about doing his job seems, when compared to the suffering others are going through, not only insensitive but also absurd. 

Furthermore Sukhumbhand’s contradictory requests make him appear obstructive and uncooperative. How behaving in such a manner helps the people of Bangkok has yet to be explained.

Next year Sukhumbhand faces re-election. The Democrat Party have already proved they are unelectable nationally – maybe they are trying to prove it in Bangkok as well?