Former Democrat Party MP for Songkhla Thaworn Senneam has refuted a government spokesman's claims that some politicians in Songkhla were behind a move to stir up dissent against the government.
Mr Thaworn, a former deputy interior minister, on Saturday took to Facebook, rebutting the accusations made by regime spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
Lt Gen Sansern said on Friday that the anti-government move was politically motivated, with certain politicians in the southern province taking advantage of a shortage of crop seeds brought on by the floods to drive a wedge between local farmers and the government.
Mr Thaworn said the floods have affected more than 5,000 rice farming families and damaged more than 100,000 rai of farmland in Songkhla's Ranot district.
He explained that the affected farmers asked another Democrat MP for Songkhla, Chaiwuth Phongphaew, to relay their complaints to state authorities, but the state falsely accused politicians of trying to instigate dissent.
"Do not listen only to reports from officials. Hear the voices of ordinary people like us," Mr Thaworn said, adding that all former Democrat MPs for Songkhla are still ready to serve the people. "But the government overlooks our good will."
Mr Thaworn said that the former MPs have stood by the people and only want the government to ensure flood victims receive the help they need as quick as possible.
Former Democrat MP for Songkhla Wirat Kalayasiri also explained that farmers who were facing shortages of rice seeds as a result of floods gathered to call for help from the Songkhla governor, but little progress had been made in addressing the problem.
Therefore, they had to bring the matter to the attention of Mr Chaiwuth, asking him to relay their complaints to the government, Mr Wirat said, adding that the former MPs had no intention of inciting any public disturbances.
The government is duty-bound to look after people who are in trouble rather than being wary of politicians, Mr Wirat said. "We allow the government to run the country and it should not slander us without verifying the facts. No Songkhla politicians were involved in inciting unrest,'' Mr Wirat said.
However, Lt Gen Sansern said yesterday he would want to have an understanding with Songkhla politicians that the government is ready to solve the problems of farmers and the people. So they should not be worried about this matter.
He said that Agriculture Minister Chatchai Sarikulya is also closely monitoring the matter and has cooperated with provincial agencies to solve the problems of farmers. He said earlier that the government has already provided initial assistance to farmers affected by the floods and was working to ensure they receive all the help they need.
Several local administrative officials reported back to the government that most farmers did not agree with the anti-government rhetoric as they knew the politicians pulling strings were only attempting to show off their influence over them, Lt Gen Sansern said.
In each province affected by the floods, 3 million baht of money donated by the public to help flood victims has been spent buying crop seeds for farmers, he said.
Households in flood-affected areas have received initial financial assistance of 3,000 baht, plus compensation of 1,113 baht paid per rai for farmland damaged in the floods, he said.
But Thaworn Sae Eiw, the president of Songkhla Farmers' Club, said that farmers need rice seeds to plant crops after the floods have receded, though state authorities were slow to get help to them.
He said the money donated to buy 170 tonnes of rice seeds for affected farmers is not enough, given that at least 100,000 rai of farmland has been damaged by floods and more than 2,500 tonnes of rice seeds are needed, he said
The prime minister and Lt Gen Sansern should visit the affected farmers and listen to their concerns for themselves, Mr Thaworn added.