Big bag barrier under threat

News > Local News

Residents threaten protests, force open wall to release water

Published: 13/11/2011 at 01:43 PM
Newspaper section: News

The government's big bag barrier, credited with sparing inner Bangkok from flooding, is under threat.

A workman wrestles one of the huge Big Bag sandbags into line.

Residents of Don Muang district say the barrier is prolonging flooding in their area, and are threatening protest action.

Relate Search: flood, Bangkok

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Writer: Kamolwat Praprutitum & Amornrat Mahitthirook

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Laurent Robin

Discussion 16 : 14/11/2011 at 11:45 AM16
Living in rangsit area , my house and office is underwater for the last 3 weeks, I never seen any official from government in our area, except the PM for a few minutes with the press ... Nothing has been done . I understand the anger of the people as I am myself very angry about this situation. What the government will propose ? Who will pay as they block the water on purpose to avoid Bangkok to be flood , in my opinion the government is totally responsible for all this.
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abbub
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Discussion 15 : 14/11/2011 at 11:23 AM15
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D15: I am sorry but I am adamant IANPRINCE's D15 is totally unacceptable within the context of this article. It has no relevance whatever, is inflammatory and totally biased as del as lacking in foundation.

Please take it down. Thanks you.
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abbub
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Discussion 14 : 13/11/2011 at 07:35 PM14
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HEARTIE D13 you are absolutely right. The people who have been sacrificed have everything right to be upset. Bangkok keeps referring to its own importance, in particular as a business hub but in the meantime, how many companies have been flooded in the surrounding areas? How many small businesses suffered?

Bangkok has what to protect? Banks and "important" institutions? People should come first.

The met ridiculous thing is the this whole thing has only been a postponement of the water flowing through Bangkok. It is so idiotic on the part of the government one has to wonder who has been behind this and why.
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heartie
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Discussion 13 : 13/11/2011 at 06:17 PM13
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Why shouldn't the people get upset? The government's plan has been to build sandbag barriers to protect what they feel are 'vital areas' while keeping the flood water in the areas they don't seem to care about. This is not acceptable! If the government had had a plan to pump the water out of these flooded areas, instead of letting it sit there for so long, the people would be supporting the government instead of fighting.
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nullx8
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Discussion 12 : 13/11/2011 at 05:09 PM12
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as long everyone keep relaxing ... nothing will change !
the opposite happens ! instead of firing to jail the responsible peoples of the agency fu...d it up get's now rewarded with 800mb ... great move
lots of BMW's gonna cruise vhiphavadi soon ... nothing will be done after the water is gone ... (out of sight - out of mind)
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abbub
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Discussion 11 : 13/11/2011 at 04:59 PM11
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I protest against T'LEE D5's comment. It is inflammatory and out of context. What do the red shirts have to do with this? Not at all within the context of this article.

GOLF D10: "The problem is not the big bag. And the problem is not that the people on the "other" side of the big bag are not willed to protect their fellow thai brothers and sisters - rich or not - from getting flooded."

It is funny you speak about the people on the "other" side of the bag not willing to protect their fellow brothers and sisters. In fact, it is those "brothers and sisters" that willingly allow them to be up past their necks in water to save themselves i m Bangkok!

You have got it backward.
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golf
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Discussion 10 : 13/11/2011 at 02:57 PM10
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The problem is not the big bag. And the problem is not that the people on the "other" side of the big bag are not willed to protect their fellow thai brothers and sisters - rich or not - from getting flooded. The article says it clear: they just only want to know how long they have to carry on. The only problem is the lack of information and help for those carrying the burden for others. The PM should clearly address to those people, thank them for their sense of solidarity, take care that they get all aid they need and offer them a higher amount of compensation.
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factspeak
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Discussion 9 : 13/11/2011 at 01:45 PM9
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"He and about 200 residents worked to open the gap back to six metres again with their bare hands yesterday in the presence of police and soldiers."
Well, if the police/government had taken decisive action when the first small group decided to take the law into their own hands, they would not be dealing with 200+ people now.

As for reparations, it is true that 5000 bhat seems a rather small amount compared to the money which is saved by those same flood protections.
Should those whose situation is made worse by dykes be compensated more? Quite possibly.
Should those that make the army and police stand guard (instead of providing help to others) be punished for their actions, certainly.
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peterl
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Discussion 8 : 13/11/2011 at 12:43 PM8
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The longer the big bag barrier stays there, the longer upstream communities have to wait for water to drain out of their areas, not to mention the communities in eastern and western Bangkok.

Are the drainage routes through east and west Bangkok to the sea far slower than the more direct routes? It certainly seems that way right now.

Are the authorities ensuring that all more direct drainage routes are being constantly kept at maximum capacity consistent with a reasonable level of protection of high value assets in central Bangkok?

These are reasonable questions and convincing evidence based answers should be provided.
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dao
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Discussion 7 : 13/11/2011 at 11:54 AM7
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Stereotypes like everyone in Bangkok is an elite paragon shopping snob are really futile not to mention wrong .Bangkok has roughly 12 000 000 and they are far from this cliche .Thaksins house is in Phuttamonton and is flooded out .Does that mean he is the rural poor ? Stop with the cliches .They are boring in incorrect .Your average Bangkokian works everyday to try and make ends meet just like everyone else .When the Bangkok flood barrier was build an area was left outside the barrier for flood water .This area is now full of Moobans and factories that never should been built there .Why are they there .Ask the department that approved the building .
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