HANOI FLOODED, GOVERNMENT RESPONSE CRITICIZED

UNCLAS HANOI 001230 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL VM SUBJECT: HANOI FLOODED, GOVERNMENT RESPONSE CRITICIZED REF: Hanoi 1227 ¶1. (SBU) Major dailies, online news services, and popular blog sites criticized Hanoi city officials for what they described as an inadequate response to the severe flooding that hit much of northern Vietnam October 31 - November 3 (reftel). As the deluge became more serious, news outlets criticized the government for not televising a warning and for failing to update Hanoians on the status of flooded streets. One particularly acerbic article on Saturday, November 2 claimed that city officials were missing in action, and concluded with the line, "Where are all the city officials? They left before the floods!" The online media service VietnamNet archly posted a picture showing people fishing in what appeared to be the middle of a flooded street. By contrast, the Communist Party's mouthpiece in Hanoi, Hanoi Moi, only had one article on the flooding Saturday. ¶2. (SBU) As the government stepped up its public response to the floods Sunday, authorities also sought to take control of the story and instructed the dailies on the proper attitude to take. By Monday, the angry tone had all but disappeared. Hanoi Moi newspaper had at least 12 articles with extensive coverage on the first three pages highlighting the city government's efforts to drain the waterlogged city. For its part, VietnamNet was rebuked for poking fun at what the government said should have been covered as a serious story. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Hanoi city officials are evidently feeling defensive -- and embarrassed -- after a delayed initial response to what turned out to be a significant weather event. With major parts of the city still under water, the government is eager to be seen as proactive and responsive.