Ubon governor axed over allegedly delayed aid to border conflict victims

Ubon Ratchathani Governor Adisak Noisuwan was abruptly transferred from the province, to an ‘inactive post’ at the Ministry of Interior, for allegedly being slow in making advance payments to help people in the province who have been affected by the recent fighting along Thai-Cambodian border.

Adisak’s transfer, which was ordered by Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, is reported to stem from the Opposition debate in the parliament three days ago, questioning why only 55,000 baht in advance payment had been disbursed in Ubon Ratchathani, despite the fact that the Cabinet had set aside a special budget of 100 million baht for each province affected by the fighting between July 24 and 28.

Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Buri Ram provinces were the most affected by artillery shells and rockets fired by Cambodian forces. As many as 300,000 people were displaced and housed in evacuation shelters.

Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich said today that a special meeting was held last night, with governors of the affected provinces, to remind them of the need to issue the advance payments.

Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Comptroller-General’s Department, the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and other relevant agencies, she said.

Theerarat said it was agreed that, to facilitate the advance payments to help the victims, certain regulations will be eased.

Asked why only the Ubon Ratchathani governor was axed, the deputy interior minister noted that there was no problem regarding the disbursement of the payments in the other provinces.