Sakoltee led the Democrat Party team to Rom Klao to listen to flood victims’ problems, urging Bangkok to expedite compensation payments after identifying delays. They are preparing to gather evidence to represent residents in filing an administrative court lawsuit by the end of November.
On 14 November 2026, Sakoltee Pattiyakul, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party overseeing Bangkok, along with Rames Ratnachevong, Deputy Secretary-General and Chairman of the Democrat Party’s Legal Committee, Blue House legal team members, and Dr. Anan Ruedee, local council candidate, visited Rom Klao to hear residents’ hardships caused by severe flooding. They urged Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to promptly implement proactive relief measures and prepare to represent citizens in filing an administrative lawsuit to seek justice and set government management standards.
Sakoltee said this visit was assigned by party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to hear problems and prepare to represent citizens in administrative litigation. He noted Rom Klao was heavily affected, similar to Khlong Chan, with floodwaters reaching depths of 1.30 to 1.60 meters and lasting over half a month, causing massive damage to residents’ property.
“Although most residents have received an initial compensation payment between 5,000 and 9,000 baht, the main issue remains the delayed compensation for professional tools. The BMA must inspect and verify damages in person, but delays persist. There are rumors that this compensation may be insufficient. I urge the BMA to urgently clarify and update the public on progress,” Sakoltee said.
The deputy party leader added that the maximum compensation of just over 10,000 baht does not reflect the reality of severe damage to homes, cars, and motorcycles without first-class insurance coverage. He has repeatedly raised this issue in the House of Representatives, emphasizing that while water management has failed, compensation should not be delayed accordingly.
“Nearly two months have passed, yet damage remains while relief efforts are incomplete and flawed. The BMA should adopt a proactive approach by establishing coordination centers or dispatching officers to visit residents directly instead of forcing victims to travel to district offices on their own,” Sakoltee stated.
Regarding the administrative lawsuits, Sakoltee revealed the focus will be on the two hardest-hit areas: Rom Klao and Khlong Chan. Separate cases will be filed for each. The Khlong Chan lawsuit is expected to begin the week of 23 November, while in Rom Klao, the team will collect additional documents on 22 November and draft the complaint over about one week, aiming to file by the end of November. They are also considering filing suits in Nong Chok district.
At the end, Sakoltee sent a message to affected residents, saying the Democrat Party offers support and is ready to act as an intermediary in seeking justice. He invited interested victims to join as plaintiffs by contacting the party’s complaint center, Blue House team, or legal department at any time.
“Filing lawsuits against government agencies may seem daunting for villagers, but the Democrat Party is willing to represent them to establish a precedent that if the government fails in its duties, it cannot simply pay minimal compensation and end matters. Compensation must be reasonable and adequate for the damage, serving as a lesson to prevent negligent or careless government management in the future,” Sakoltee said.
