Amidst a tempest of criticism, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra finds herself steering a ship rocked by one of Bangkok’s most ferocious earthquakes in years. Her leadership, already on shaky ground due to prior natural disasters, is now under an intense spotlight as she faces censure for not mustering a robust response to this latest calamity.
The reverberations of natural disasters have consistently rippled through Ms. Paetongtarn’s tenure. Shortly after stepping into her role as prime minister on August 16 of last year, a baptism of floodwaters swept through Chiang Rai, thrusting her into the deep end of crisis management. Her absence from the front lines of the flood-stricken province, excused by her need to await formal royal endorsement, left many murmuring about a “vacuum in leadership,” underscoring a perceived need for swift national mobilization.
Although the severity of the Chiang Rai flooding—a catastrophe peaking with 16 fatalities and devastation over vast tracts of farmland—could have drowned her nascent premiership, leniency was extended due to her newness to the role. Observers then issued a clarion call: learn from this watery grave to brace for future storms with decisive plans at the ready.
Unfortunately for Ms. Paetongtarn, the elements did not grant her reprieve, striking again with a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that jolted both Myanmar and Thailand on March 28. As Bangkok’s skyline teetered and the State Audit Office (SAO) building crumbled, chaos erupted on the streets. Residents, displaced and anxious, looked to the government for sanctuary as they were barred from their now precarious homes due to safety concerns over widened cracks snaking through their buildings.
Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, perhaps quicker to respond, opened the city’s parks relentlessly wide to house those suddenly without homes. Yet, critics jabbed fingers at the absence of formal shelters from City Hall, leaving volunteers to spearhead efforts with pop-up kitchens feeding those toiling at the wreckage site.
As bureaucratic gears slowly turned, designating Bangkok a disaster zone allowed a flood of emergency funds, albeit with a downstream trickle that left search and rescue operations at the collapsed building grasping for direction. In the cacophony of criticism, the Senate orchestrated calls for accountability, scrutinizing government shortcomings in a situation demanding swift, coordinated hands.
Senator Romsit Wiriyasan’s urgent motion for a debate highlighted inefficiencies in evacuations and traffic gridlock that hamstrung rescue efforts, alongside tardy text alerts that left citizens in the lurch. Major General Pol Gen Romsit bluntly stated, “Immediately after the earthquake, no one saw the government’s leader step up and take command of crisis management.”
Lt Cdr Wutthipong Pongsuwan backed calls for expedited deployment of the cell broadcast service (CBS) system for real-time alerts, a technology sorely lacking during the earthquake. Senator Nantana Nantavaropas, too, chimed in, pointing to Thailand’s haunting memories of past catastrophes—2004’s tsunami and 2011’s deluge—as missed lessons in emergency response and communication.
In belated damage control, Ms. Paetongtarn convened meetings to address the tardy warnings, with mobile vendors such as Advanced Info Service and True Corporation at the table. Yet this seemed like a band-aid on a gaping wound, detractors claim, as missteps continued. Her declaration on March 31 that the emergency was under control stood undermined by further evacuations from tremor-feared offices, sparking another wave of criticism over downplaying ongoing risks.
Moreover, confusion was sown by her handling of responsibility for damage assessments, implying a disconnect in crisis readiness. She candidly admitted, “To be honest, I, like most other people, have no idea how I should conduct myself when an earthquake strikes.” Such stark vulnerability in a leader tasked with navigating national emergencies left the public—and critics—searching for assurance amidst aftershocks.
Meanwhile, related political tremors reverberated as Bhumjaithai Party’s secretary-general, Chaichanok Chidchob, delivered an emotional jolt by opposing casino legislation backed by the ruling Pheu Thai Party. His unexpected stance delayed the bill’s passage, prodding calls for compromise and possibly a referendum to bring clarity amidst contentious debate over legalizing gaming in an entertainment complex.
Inside political circles, strategic calculations abound. Observers like Stithorn Thananithichot suggest the complications could be Pheu Thai’s Achilles’ heel unless a public survey—already under scrutiny for its statistical anomalies—redirects the winds against growing opposition.
With the push-and-pull on this legislative roulette wheel, the government faces a critical decision: double down on debate or hedge its bets through public referendum, potentially aligning with broader reforms to soothe skeptic voices and salvage political capital.
I can’t believe the lack of preparation from the government this time! An earthquake in Bangkok and no proper shelter arrangements?
You’re right, Jenna. It’s a disaster management scandal, but remember politics often gets in the way.
Indeed, Pete. But these are human lives at risk, politics should come second.
I think Paetongtarn is doing the best she can in a tough situation. These natural disasters are unpredictable.
Unpredictable, yes, but that’s why we need a better system in place. We can’t just react after the fact.
Agree, Carlos. People need to cut her some slack. She’s trying to address the issues.
These crisis management failures just show a lack of leadership. It’s embarrassing on a global stage!
Honestly, Malaysia handled its crisis better recently. We should be looking at their playbook!
But blaming only the leaders is not enough when the entire system is flawed.
True, Sandy, but leaders are crucial to set the tone and direction for improvements.
Wasn’t it predictable though that an earthquake can happen? Why wasn’t there a better emergency response prepared?
That’s the question the government needs to answer, Kobby.
Reading this article made me worry about what other issues were being neglected because of political squabbles.
Interesting point about the casino legislation. Could this political infighting be contributing to delayed responses in crisis situations?
Definitely, Geoffrey! When politicians are more concerned about legislation than human lives, this is what we get.
Let’s be honest, earthquakes are less predictable, but crisis handling is not. The real issue is the slow bureaucratic response.
And that’s the thing, Larry. Other countries have shown us good examples of fast responses.
Exactly, Anna. We need to learn from them, not just continue with ineffective practices.
Why is there not a better communication system in place yet? This is not the first disaster Thailand has faced.
It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Communication is key in these situations.
At the end of the day, it’s the regular citizens who suffer the most. Politicians will always have a safe place to go.
One thing I wanna know is how the governor managed to open city parks for shelter so much quicker. City Hall needs efficiency lessons from him!
I feel like the media is adding to the panic by focusing on missteps. We need more constructive discussions.
That’s true, Liam. Problem is that sensationalism sells better than practicality.
It seems there are lessons unlearned from previous disasters. It’s not like Thailand hasn’t seen natural crises before.
Exactly! Repeat disasters without evolving shows a lack of accountability.
On the casino issue, it’s amusing how opposition changes when personal stakes are involved. Pure politics.
Isn’t there an international protocol these leaders can study to improve their response?