Civil society finds outlet on Facebook Social networking aids local crisis recovery

People dine out by the riverbank near the government office complex in downtown Nakhon Sawan. Life has returned to normal for residents as the severe floods which devastated much of the province have receded. 

The 18 days of flooding endured by the town of Nakhon Sawan spurred a powerful movement of social networking and showed that civil society can work well on flood relief operations.

They helped the city quickly return to normalcy in the span of a mere two weeks.

The floods which hit the provincial municipality more than a month ago were so serious that no dry space was left in the town.

The sudden overflow of water over the river embankment forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate to 27 evacuation centres on nearby hills.

The situation in the municipality now has returned to normal. All shops selling moji _ traditional sweet bean cakes _ have reopened and they are teeming with customers buying them as gifts for friends and family.

"We have to give credit to the people of Nakhon Sawan who are business-minded. The faster they can resume business operations, the more they can limit the damage caused by the floods," said Janya Kwangkaeo, a member of Nakhon Sawan Forum, one of more than 10 civil stakeholders that worked on the flood relief operation.

"During the flood crisis, you rarely saw a white collar worker carrying sand bags to fix water barriers.

"We did it in Nakhon Sawan. We have strong cooperation in the community, which is the secret to our success," she said.

The cooperation also extended through social networks. Eleven residents set up a water monitoring group in Nakhon Sawan on Facebook. The number of followers increased to more than 14,000, most of them Nakhon Sawan natives.

Assachai Phitcharoenporn, 30, who helped start the Facebook page, said he initially intended to update and share information about the floods with friends.

He wanted to tell them where the floods had hit and the level of the water in different places and to inform road users how to avoid flooded areas.

Some of them later posted video clips on the webpage, which finally drew the attention of others living in Nahon Sawan.

"More and more people came to our Facebook page and shared information on the flood. We had senior police officers, doctors and officials, including the mayor, join our Facebook. That made our information even more credible," he said.

The Facebook page was finally turned into a portal for rescue operations after members started posting messages for help.

The moderators of the page worked as coordinators to contact people who had direct authority to deal with the problem and most of them were friends on Facebook. As a result, they were able to rapidly send assistance to people in need.

Although the flood crisis is over, the Facebook page is still active as a social media tool, providing useful information for people living in the province.

Political comments are banned to prevent them from muddying the real purpose of the page.

Adisak Chantavichanuwong, a local civil society coordinator, said civil groups from such sectors as community development, business, academic and media also formed the Civil Centre for the Flood Victims to distribute relief supplies, evacuate people and run a hot line service for people to call for assistance and information.

The group measured the level of water using GPS tools, drew up emergency plans in case dykes were breached and provided information to people living in the city.

They also monitored the water level at Bhumipol, Sirikit and Kwae Noi dams on a daily basis.

But, after withstanding the flood for two months, the city's flood barrier finally collapsed in the middle of October, causing the river to overflow and flood the city.

The municipality deployed 700 water pumps and it took 10 days to drain the water from the town and allow people to start the clean up work.

Compared with the government's Flood Relief Operation Command, Mr Adisak said residents were more effective in fighting the flood as there was no politics involved in the operation and they could just get the job done.

He said the group had a well-managed plan. It met twice a day to fix the weak points in their work while the Froc did not seem to have any strategy to deal with the problems.

"In fact, the government should have drawn up plans to fight the disaster before it started. The signs of the disaster were the heavy rains. But the government did nothing and let the disaster take its course."

Nakhon Sawan has reported flood damage of 10 billion baht. Of this sum, 4 billion baht was in the municipality alone.

Furry friends' flood fate

The devastation left by the floods has not just displaced thousands of people but also their pets. Numerous makeshift shelters have sprung up to house hundreds of dogs, cats and rabbits that were evacuated during the rising waters.

As animal abandonment has become pretty much common practice in the country, the big question is whether pet owners will take their animals home when the waters recede.

To get a better idea, I took time out to volunteer at the Bang Prakong Livestock Development Department _ a safe haven for thousands of mutts and felines _ most with owners affected by the floods. 

I was told that while a significant number of pet owners visited regularly, there was no way to determine whether most would bring their pets home when the flood crisis was over.

Even before we entered the barbed-wire entrance to the kennel where thousands of pooches were holed up in partitioned enclosures, I heard their yearning barks for their owners that made my heart melt. 

Their lamenting holler had a painful ring to it. In some ways reflecting their longing to see a familiar face. Many of the pets had a collar with the name and phone number of their owner, but there were also strays among them.

As we fed them snacks, they seemed happy, even though momentarily, to get undivided attention. The one-on-one interaction gave me a better idea of their emotional state. 

While some sat in a corner brooding, others seemed to sleep it off in the hope they would awake at home. There were also many that had not touched their food. 

Among some of the foreign breeds were a baby husky and an alsatian, all housed under a netted covering that served as a roof to shield them from the searing afternoon sun.

After going through the rattling chorus of howling dogs, we went to the cats' enclosure, where more than 200 cats slept in portable cages stacked one on top of the other. 

It was pitiful to watch these cuddly balls of fluff cramped into such small narrow cages, sometimes more than three cats to one confine. 

Quite surprisingly, it was the owners who agreed for them to be put together in this manner, for fear that it would be difficult for them to trace the whereabouts of their pets if they were put in separate cages. 

Still for me, or any animal lover for that matter, it seemed inhumane to subject a pet to that emotional and physical trauma, especially if you profess to love them as family members. There was one cat family where the area of confinement was so small that the newly born kitten was suckling on its slightly older sibling. 

As the cat enclosure was originally a horse stable, it was better ventilated, but the absence of human contact seemed to make already gloomy conditions worse.

The situation at the animal clinic was no better despite the presence of dedicated veterinarians. I found the dogs happened to be more emotionally needy than their feline counterparts, or at least that is how it seemed. But if there is one thing that is for certain _ pets thrive on the attention of their masters.

As the floodwaters begin to abate, it is my earnest desire to see these pets reunited with their owners. The constant fear of them being abandoned makes my heart heavy with anxiety. 

Situations like the floods find people in a bind_ spotlighting the plight of owners leaving their pets due to all sorts of reasons. But I do want people to contemplate their decision. 

Aside from being cute, adorable and talented _ pets are there for us through thick and thin. Regardless of how we look, smell or behave, our furry friends play a therapeutic role in making our journey through life a pleasant one. 

Their reassuring companionship _ best demonstrated with a wag of the tail or a look in the eyes _ is always there when we need to be comforted. The best we can do to reciprocate their unconditional love towards us is by caring for them when they need us most.

Pets, unlike strays, are more vulnerable when they are forced to fend for themselves. This is why my blood boils when I come across unscrupulous pet owners abandoning their charges in the most unheard of places during the floods. 

One story on the internet involved a family that had deserted 14 poodles, of all ages and sizes, in an elevated open-air shed, inches away from the murky waters. 

Neighbors had to rescue the mutts, who seemed weak but in glee to be freed. Others, such as a family of dogs that were found dead in the back of a vehicle at Don Mueang Airport, were less fortunate.

No reason is good enough to reject your responsibilities towards your pet. Just remember that the trauma of undergoing one of the country's worst floods for our four-legged friends must be just as stressful for them as it is for us. 

The day people start having a deeper appreciation and genuine love for their pets will be the day we can expect fewer animals to be discarded like old furniture. 

Just remember that there is a greater chance of your child leaving you when you're old and grey than your faithful furry companion that will stand by you come rain or shine.

Flood-hit areas escape disease outbreaks

No major disease outbreaks related to the flood crisis have been found, though risks still remain for residents returning to their homes, say health authorities.

Months of flooding had not caused harmful waterborne outbreaks and the incidence of post-flood diseases was not as high as anticipated, said a joint statement released by the Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Thailand MOPH-US CDC Collaboration.

Disease surveillance data showed most common illnesses in affected populations were minor such as athletes foot, upper respiratory tract infection, conjunctivitis and food poisoning.

These illnesses were mostly found in shelters and were quickly managed. The overall rates for these health conditions were not much different from seasonal incidents.

Most deaths associated with the flood were due to accidents, especially drowning and electrocution. The Flood Relief Operations Command reported a total of 675 deaths, three people missing and more than 4.7 million people affected.

International communities were concerned over the post-flood outbreaks while local health experts also warned that a leptospirosis outbreak could also re-emerge through the lack of good sanitation and garbage management.

People were also advised to be aware of the risk of fungal-related and water-borne diseases when returning to their houses after the floodwater has receded, as the risk period had not yet ended.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Paijit Warachit said much support from the WHO and Thailand MOPH-US CDC Collaboration and many other countries in terms of providing medical equipment, 

supplies and technical cooperation enabled the country to carry out disease surveillance and run control systems effectively during the emergency situation.

Activities included sending hundreds of mobile medical units to provide health services in temporary shelters and flood-affected communities as well as sending rapid response teams to monitor the health situation.

They also investigated reported outbreaks and improved sanitation and food safety at shelters and communities.

Rubbish cleared by New Year

City Hall expects to finish disposing of rubbish flushed out by the floods before New Year.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is collecting about 11,300 tonnes of rubbish a day from the city's 50 districts, said Kriengpol Padhanarath, a deputy director of the BMA's Department of Environment.

Rubbish collectors are picking up only 90% of what they could be taking because some rubbish is left behind in areas that are still swamped such as Sai Mai, 

Don Muang and Bang Khen districts."Normally, we collect 8,500 tonnes of rubbish a day, but the floods have caused the amount of rubbish to surge by two or three times, including that which is uncollected," Mr Kriengpol said.

The additional garbage came from consumption of food, damaged furniture, and other materials such as wood discarded after the floods.

When the flooding was at its worst, the BMA hired private rubbish collectors to collect and move rubbish out of inundated zones by boat.

Most of the hired rubbish handlers were actually residents of those areas, Mr Kriengpol said. Ten districts were still regarded as flood zones with certain parts of them still under water.

The BMA wants to hasten efforts to collect rubbish from those areas, so it has rented 10 10-wheel and 10 six-wheel trucks, two backhoes and two wheel loaders to add to its fleet of vehicles used to handle rubbish in the city.

Although rubbish management stations survived the floods, the transport of garbage to them was interrupted during the floods, as connecting roads were inundated, Mr Kriengpol said.

As for sand from sandbags left over from the floods, deputy city clerk Sompob Rangabtook said bags would be moved to each district office for temporary storage.

If anyone wants to make use of them, they can contact the BMA and staff would deliver the bags to them.

Froc downsizing starts today Worst of flood crisis now over, Thongthong says

The government will downsize the Flood Relief Operations Command from today as the worst of the flood crisis is now over, said spokesman Thongthong Chandrangsu.

The decision was taken yesterday after Froc director Pracha Promnok met the governors of seven provinces that are still flooded and Bangkok's city clerk.

He said that although water drainage and restoring the livelihoods of those affected are now the top priorities, the Froc's command structure will remain unchanged.

The Froc's headquarters will remain at the Energy Ministry but all functions are to be consolidated in different offices. The meeting did not cover how long the Froc would continue.

Outside Bangkok, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Chachoengsao, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon provinces are still under water. 

There should be a clear improvement of the flood situation in those areas in 10-15 days, Mr Thongthong said.

He added the Froc would also focus on treating fetid water with effective microorganism balls, eliminating mosquitoes, providing health care, and removing rubbish and abandoned flood-damaged goods.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said the Froc has tried to speed up water drainage in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom.

Pathum Thani will be dry by Dec 15, Nonthaburi by Dec 16, and Nakhon Pathom by Dec 20. The government is also working on getting cash assistance to flood victims, said Mr Yongyuth.

Anond Snidvongs, the Froc's water management adviser, said Bangkok still has around 8 billion cubic metres of floodwater but no more is expected.

He added there was around 8 billion cu/m of floodwater still in some central provinces north of Bangkok. Half of the floodwater must be stored for farming, while the other half can disperse naturally without affecting the city.

In Bangkok and nearby provinces, the flooded area has shrunk from 2.7 million rai on Nov 12 to 1 million rai, mostly paddy fields and grassland in western districts of Bangkok.

There is only a small volume of floodwater on the eastern side of Bangkok as it drained out faster than expected through the Bang Pakong River.

Mr Anond said the strategic committee on national water resources management must now propose new facilities for both the western and eastern sides of Bangkok.

He expressed concern that many people would try to build their own floodwalls and barriers.

The strategic committee is expected to set out criteria and regulations to ensure all floodwalls and land elevations are up to standard.

The criteria will be in line with the Environment Act, while the committee will monitor the erection of floodwalls and land elevation through satellite photos, said Mr Anond.

Meanwhile, residents of Thatcha Villa on Phaholyothin 73, where floodwater has not yet subsided, threatened yesterday to block off Vibhavadi Rangsit Road if they do not receive help soon.

A group of 20 representatives from the housing estate submitted a petition to the Froc assistant secretary Pol Maj Gen Surasit Sangkapong.

The villagers said they had been under water for 45 days and demanded the Froc swiftly drain the water and compensate them.

Pol Maj Gen Surasit said he had surveyed the area and had notified the Froc's Water Draining Committee. He promised they would proceed with the draining as soon as possible.

Suthep won't seek amnesty in deaths case Will fight on rather than be used as 'tool'

Former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban has vowed not to negotiate for amnesty if he is charged in connection with the red shirt protests.

Mr Suthep said he would report to police today and give a statement about the Democrat-led government's handling of red shirt protests last year.

Mr Suthep said he would not allow himself to be used as a political tool amid speculation about attempts to turn him and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva into suspects to negotiate for an amnesty law.

Some observers believe that if the pair are charged in relation to the violence, they may become adherents of an amnesty law which the government is thought to be pursuing separately to obtain an amnesty for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from an abuse of authority conviction.

"I won't fall for it [an amnesty attempt]. I'm not afraid to speak the truth. I believe the public is aware of the truth and what happened in 2010 and 2009," he said.

He would fight against any charges laid against him and would not flee overseas.

The former deputy prime minister was in charge of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) set up to quell the protests that resulted in 92 deaths.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), which is investigating 16 of the deaths, has summoned Mr Suthep and Mr Abhisit for questioning.

Mr Suthep said he is not intimidated by the prospect of being charged. He has complete confidence in the judicial system and respect for those who do their jobs honestly.

He shrugged off Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung's claim that the Pheu Thai government had received a Reuters investigation report into the political violence.

"I never take what Mr Chalerm says seriously. And I don't think most people will take it seriously either," he said.

He also lashed out at Mr Chalerm's comments that no "men in black" were involved in the political violence, saying the deputy premier was trying to distort the facts.

Mr Suthep said national reconciliation remains a distant hope as long as deposed prime minister Thaksin stills pulls the strings behind the Pheu Thai Party.

Mr Suthep said Thaksin wants his power and assets back and his methods are against the rule of law.

Mr Chalerm said the investigation into the 16 deaths is being conducted in a straightforward manner.

Mr Suthep and Mr Abhisit would be questioned based on statements by army officers who claimed they were following CRES instructions.

"There is no ill intent. Police want to question them because the officers insisted they followed CRES orders which came under their responsibility," he said.

City police commissioner Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongsong confirmed yesterday Mr Suthep would report to police for questioning today at the MPB headquarters.

He said Mr Suthep would be questioned as a witness, not a suspect.

Asked about the Reuters probe, he said police have received the report which is pending translation.

He added Mr Abhisit was ready to meet police investigators tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Mr Chalerm said police have identified the shooter in the murder of Maj Gen Khattiya Sawatdiphol.

The army specialist was shot and seriously wounded while giving an interview during the red shirt protest on May 13 last year. He died days later.

Mr Chalerm said that the shooter is a senior police officer, but noted there was not enough evidence to proceed.

Xayaburi dam fight stepped up Protesters ask for public hearing on the impacts

Xayaburi dam protesters in eight provinces plan to petition the Administrative Court to revoke a Thai-Laos contract on joint usage of electricity produced by the dam on the Mekong River.

Calling themselves the "people network" in the Mekong basin, the group took to the streets after the Mekong River Commission (MRC) began a three-day meeting in Cambodia yesterday to discuss the controversial project.

The network said it disagreed with what it claimed was a "non-publicised" cabinet resolution in June that allowed the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to sign a contract with Vientiane on electricity usage because the project has yet to go through a complete public hearing process in Thailand.

"When we learned the government had Egat sign the joint contract without announcing it, we decided to petition the court immediately," said network leader Itthiphon Khamsuk, who was informed of the resolution yesterday morning as his group was petitioning the government to hold a public hearing.

He blamed the government for pushing the project ahead without listening to input from people in the provinces that would likely be affected by the dam. 

The public hearing did "not follow the correct and complete procedures" as required by the Constitution, he said.

Although environment ministers from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam will discuss the dam at the ongoing MRC meeting, Mr Itthiphon said his group would not wait for the results because the project should be stopped.

The network yesterday petitioned two Senate committees to support a proposal to delay the project for 10 years.

Senate natural resource and environment committee chairman Surachai Liaobunloetchai said his committee and the Senate committee on education and corruption scrutiny will ask the government to clarify project details.

Although the dam will be built in Laos, the project should follow Thai laws, including a mandatory public hearing because Thailand will be the main beneficiary of the project. 

He said Laos had contracted with Thailand's Ch Karnchang to build the dam. Four Thai banks are the project's financial sources and Egat would buy 95% of the electricity produced by the dam, Mr Surachai said.

The 1,260-megawatt dam's future is uncertain. Officials at an April 19 meeting of the MRC approved a resolution requiring further study of the dam's potential impact on the Mekong River.

Vietnam and Cambodia are worried about the dam's impact on their crops, especially rice, because of fears over reduced water flow into the two countries.