Bangkok: The Deputy Minister of Interior has confirmed to the Ubon Ratchathani Governor that there are no issues with budget disbursement amidst the ongoing tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border. This assurance comes amid criticisms from Sisaket MPs of the Bhumjaithai Party, who have been vocal about the lack of financial aid for the border provinces.
According to Thai News Agency, during a House of Representatives meeting chaired by House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, Sisaket MP Thana Kitpaiboonchai raised concerns about the impact of border clashes on residents in Sisaket, Surin, Buriram, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Thana criticized the lack of central funding and emphasized the reliance on donations and local administrative organization (LAO) funds. He highlighted the disparity in compensation compared to victims in the south, questioning the government’s commitment to the border residents.
Deputy Interior Minister Thirat Samretwanit addressed these concerns, clarifying that the affected areas have been declared disaster zones, which allows LAOs to utilize available funds for emergency relief. She assured that a 100 million baht budget per province had been approved for immediate implementation of relief measures. Thirat also convened a meeting with governors from seven border provinces to ensure budget allocation flexibility and called for regulatory waivers to expedite fund usage.
Thana further questioned communication delays with local residents, suggesting the use of SMS alerts to improve warnings. He relayed the Ubon Ratchathani Governor’s concerns about withdrawing funds due to legal fears, urging a review of the situation to ensure governors can effectively support their communities.
The Deputy Minister of the Interior’s call to Ubon Ratchathani Governor Adisak Noisuwan confirmed that there were no obstacles in budget disbursement. However, this prompted protests from Bhumjaithai Party MP Krawee Prisananantakul over procedural breaches in the meeting. The meeting chair reiterated the budget’s purpose and the need for security clearance before compensating for damaged homes.
In his concluding remarks, Thana warned coalition parties about supporting a government perceived as slow and ineffective, emphasizing the readiness of the people to support each other in the absence of government assistance.