FLOODING CRISIS PROPELS CITIZENS TO ACTION
Citizens demand a greater voice in flood recovery and mitigation
The 2011 flooding crisis undermined public confidence in the capacity of government to manage water resources, guide responsible development, and tackle recurrent and unforeseen emergencies. While people suffered tremendously, the experience has propelled Thais to take collective action in a manner consistent with traditional values of self-reliance. Through voluntary community organizations, academic institutions, professional associations, and traditional and social media, Thais are pressing government to listen to diverse opinions and to create space for citizen participation. We contributed by supporting the establishment of five flood relief and counseling centers for industrial workers who lost their jobs as a result of factory closures. We helped convene a working group of government officials, environmental specialists, toxicologists, professors, National Human Rights Commission officers, and labor association representatives to plan advocacy strategies to demand safe clean-up of industrial estates and citizen participation in flood recovery and future prevention efforts. The experience will serve as a model for broader citizen voice in governance and rights protection, turning tragedy to greater good.
— RUENGRAWEE PICHAIKUL
Senior Program Coordinator, Bangkok
On March 28, 2011, The Asia Foundation in Thailand released findings from its second national public perception survey of 1,500 Thai citizens. One of the most comprehensive public perception surveys since the tumultuous political events of April-May 2010, the report explores the depth of color divisions in contemporary Thailand. Read the press release here in English and Thai; FAQS in English and Thai; and related In Asia blog posts, here.
On December 15, 2010, The Asia Foundation in Thailand released findings from its first-ever, in-person public perception survey in Thailand's three southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwas, and Pattani. Download the survey here. Read the press release; FAQ; and related In Asia blog posts, here.