Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra began a five-day trip yesterday to inspect flood prevention work and try to restore confidence in the government's ability to avoid another disastrous flood this year, but she will need much more than charm and a good sartorial sense.

A day before her trip covering half a dozen provinces, Dusit Poll revealed many respondents found the government's handling of flood concerns to be its least competent work so far.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva demanded on the weekend that the government be transparent about locations to be designated as water catchment areas. Abhisit accused Yingluck of being unwilling to reveal details for fear of protests by affected villagers.
Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri has said it would be cheaper and more reasonable for residents in the province of Ayutthaya to accept compensation money in advance, so their homes and land can be designated as water catchment areas - as it will take at least two years to complete any meaningful flood-prevention construction.
There is much different information, plus many activities and complaints swirling in the public consciousness, but no master plan yet that people can pick up and learn the details about short, medium and long-term policy.
Smith Dharmasaroja, a key member of the government-appointed Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) - who arrived at Sirikit Dam three hours in advance of the premier yesterday - was asked about the master plan, but said it's nowhere to be found yet.
"This is what I get criticised for when I speak out, for causing damage, though in fact [my comment] is not criticism but a reminder. We allocated a Bt150-billion budget and there's no blueprint whatsoever yet," he said.
"So what will we say to foreign investors? The [recent] re-flooding of an area in Ayutthaya has people frightened."
Smith said it made more sense, for example, for industrial estates in Ayutthaya be relocated elsewhere on higher ground, such as in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Instead, billions will be spent building dyke walls around industrial estates likely to be surrounded by water from all sides, at the peak of the wet season, with transportation almost impossible. It seems to make little sense.
No matter how reassuring and charming Yingluck's smiles are to the people she will visit in the next few days, one cannot expect her charm offensive will have any impact in holding back the tide. Flooding is indiscriminate and it cannot be ordered around or charmed by a premier's smile, as was proven very clearly late last year.




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