Protesters take action

The Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway and the big-bag barrier were targets of flood-weary protesters yesterday. More action seems likely as some residential areas have been swamped for over a month.

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Residents of swamped communities in Pathum Thani clash with motorists during the blockade of the Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway in front of Zeer Rangsit department store yesterday. The flood victims set up a roadblock to demand the government speed up flood relief operations after being hard hit by deep floodwaters for about a month. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

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Flood-weary residents vent fury

Road blockade group clashes with motorists
  
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Hundreds of flood-devastated residents in Pathum Thani yesterday clashed with motorists during the Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway blockade to pressure the government to accelerate assistance and the drainage of deep floodwater.

The residents from several flooded communities in Rangsit and Lam Luk Ka areas, led by former election candidate Kiattisak Songsaeng, set up a blockade on the entrance of the inbound tollway in front of Zeer Rangsit department store at about noon.

The residents demanded the government's Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) accelerate drainage of floodwaters which had affected their livelihoods for a month.

A protestor confronts an angry motorist after her car was badly damaged during clashes near the Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway yesterday. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

The road closure caused heavy congestion, prompting motorists to negotiate with the protesters. However, the talks failed and both sides clashed at about 2pm before police from Vibhavadi station and Pathum Thani intervened.

Almost simultaneously, nearly a thousand residents in Bangkok's Sai Mai and Don Muang areas yesterday dismantled a massive sandbag dyke at Don Muang's Directorate of Air Operations Control intersection on Phahon Yothin Road.

The villagers, equipped with knives and sharp objects, waited for Froc representatives to negotiate. They had been asking the Froc to widen a drainage gap. However, they decided to remove the barrier after talks with Pol Maj Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, failed.

After the flood barrier was removed, large amounts of water rushed towards Saphan Mai area.

More protests are imminent as Arthit Ourairat, rector of Rangsit University and a former House speaker, is urging residents in Pathum Thani to step up pressure on the Froc. Rangsit University is situated in the heavily flooded Muang Ake housing estate, which lies north of Don Muang.

On his Facebook wall, Dr Arthit suggested blocking Vibhavadi Road and Don Muang tollway.

"If the authorities do not take action I suggest that we take a step. That is to close down inbound and outbound Vibhavadi road and Don Muang tollway," Dr Arthit said.

"And I'm asking Don Muang people to join us. We are in the same boat."

He said the floodwater may recede, but the level is still high in many areas.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday pleaded with Bangkok residents to let some floodwaters flow into the area to ease the hardship of others.

"The flood barriers could just slow down the run-off into the city. The areas which have dried out should open the way for the water to drain into the sea," she said.

"Holding off water is never a solution. Some areas have to let water flow past," Ms Yingluck added.

residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
swamped – covered with a large amount of water ท่วม, จมอยู่ในน้ำ
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
clash – to fight ปะทะ
victim – someone who has been affected by a bad situation, such as a disaster, illness or an accident เหยื่อผู้เคราะห์ร้าย
relief – help; assistance การช่วยให้พ้นภัย
operation – an activity which is planned to achieve something การดำเนินการ
weary – very tired, especially because of hard work or activity เหนื่อยอ่อน, เหน็ดเหนื่อย
vent – to express your feelings of anger very strongly แสดงออก, ปล่อยอารมณ์, ระบายอารมณ์
fury – extreme anger ความโกรธจัด
blockade – an action that is intended to prevent people or goods from moving from one place to another การกีดขวางการจราจร
devastated – badly damaged or destroyed ถูกทำลายล้าง
pressure – to try to make someone do something by forcing, threatening, or persuading them in a determined way กดดัน
accelerate – to cause to happen more quickly เร่ง
drainage – the process of taking away of water or other liquids from an area  การระบายน้ำ
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
inbound – travelling towards a particular point, particularly into a city ขาเข้า (opposite of outbound ขาออก)
demand – to ask for something very firmly เรียกร้อง, ต้องการ
Flood Relief Operations Centre (Froc) – the government's centre for assisting flood victims ศูนย์ปฎิบัติการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบอุทกภัย(ศปภ)
livelihood – (the way someone earns) the money people need to pay for food, a place to live, clothing, etc การดำรงชีวิต, การครองชีพ
confront - to stand in front of someone in a frightening way เผชิญหน้า
(traffic) congestion – roads that are very crowded with vehicles รถติด
prompt – to cause someone to take action กระตุ้น
negotiate – to try to reach an agreement by discussing something in a formal way เจรจาต่อรอง
intervene – to become involved in a situation in order to try to stop or change it  แทรกแซง
simultaneously – happening at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน,ที่พร้อมกัน
dismantle – to take something apart รื้อ
massive – very large in size, amount or number ใหญ่โต
dyke – a wall built to prevent the sea, river of flood water from covering an area เขื่อนกั้นน้ำ
directorate – a section of a government department in charge of one particular activity หน่วยอำนวยการ
intersection – a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
gap – a space or opening in the middle of something or  between things ช่องว่าง
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
metropolitan police – the police in responsible for a city ตำรวจนครบาล
remove – to take something away เอาออกจาก
rush – to move very quickly รีบเร่ง, วิ่ง
imminent – expected to happen soon  ในไม่ช้า จวนเจียน จวนตัว
rector – the person in charge in some universities, schools, colleges and universities อธิการบดี
House speaker – the person who is in charge of most of the activities of the House of Representatives ประธานสภาผู้แทนราษฎร
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
step up – to increase เพิ่ม
situated – located ตั้งอยู่ที่
housing estate – residential estate; an area containing a large number of houses or apartments built close together at the same time บ้านจัดสรร
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
in the same boat – in the same situation
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
plead – to ask for something in an emotional way ขอร้อง, วิงวอน
flow – (of a liquid) to move continuously in one direction ไหล
ease – to make a problem, situation or pain less severe or serious บรรเทา
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก