BANGKOK, Oct 24 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday dismissed allegations that her government has tried to conceal information on the country’s worst flooding in decades.
The prime minister conceded that the floodwaters have arrived Bangkok through varied channels and reasserted that the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) has no intention to cover up information, but that new factors repeatedly occurred during the ever-changing flood scenarios.
Ms Yingluck said she instructed the Department of Irrigation to find ways to reduce the release of water at Klong Hok which is now spilling over into surrounding areas but there are some technical obstacles due to the torrential waterflow.
Regarding the plan to expel the deluge of water which hit Bangkok, the premier said she is holding talk with Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra today to find the solutions.
“We split the operations into two parts, the protection of economic zones and rescuing stranded victims,” Ms Yingluck said.
The premier said the situation is critical. She expressed concern that many officials are fatigued from the operations dealing round-the-clock with flooding in 20 provinces.
Ms Yingluck called on both public and private sectors to allow their flood-hit employees the day-off so that they can protect their homes.
When asked why the government did not declare a national holiday, the prime minister explained the government fears that there will be insufficient government staff to provide assistance to the people.
