PostBag
"The great flood," (Bangkok Post, July 20) informs us that a rising sea level caused by man-made climate change is responsible for floods in Bangkok. I have looked at the sea level data for the last 20 years from various measuring stations in Southeast Asia provided by the University of Hawaii, and I have found absolutely no trend that could lead one to conclude that the sea level is rising.
On the other hand, we have very good evidence that the city of Bangkok is sinking due to subsidence. To address the flooding problem effectively we should be true to the real causes of the problem, instead of yielding to climate change hysteria.
CHA-AM JAMAL
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Bangkok not 'the best'
First, let me make it clear as a retiree and frequent visitor to Thailand, that I love Bangkok. A recent letter to Postbag stated that "some residents were shocked" to notice the US magazine Travel and Leisure's recent naming of Bangkok as "World's Best City."
I was not "shocked" but, given my experiences these past several years, was surprised and found this title by T&L magazine to be a bit of a stretch.
With its traffic jams, some air-polluted days, some "dirty" sections/conditions, its international airport still a work-in-progress, recent Thai Airways concerns, political street protests, and overall inconsistent service by some personnel in major shopping malls, hotels and restaurants - a claim to be "best" probably still needs to be earned, in my view.
For those travellers "in the know", may I suggest my home city of Honolulu, or how about Portland, San Diego, Kyoto, Singapore, Copenhagen, Zurich or Amsterdam?
Bangkok is truly exciting and fun overall, with very friendly people. But it does take a lot of "consistent" excellence to be "the best".
FRANK TERRAZAS, JR
Honolulu, Hawaii
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Military brinkmanship
It is a shame that Thailand is exercising gunboat diplomacy to handle a trivial matter. Cambodia had every right to detain the three Thai protesters for trespassing. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej acknowledged as much and even publicly admonished the trio (who have been released since July 15) for igniting military brinkmanship between the two countries.
So, what's with the incursion and subsequent troop buildup? If the disputed 4.6sqkm is Thailand's or "no man's land" as claimed by PM Samak in his recent weekly televised address, why did the Thai government let Cambodians establish a large community and Buddhist monastery in the zone in the first place?
After all, Thailand must come to terms with the 1962 ruling of the International Court of Justice in the Hague, and Unesco's decision to inscribe Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple on the UN World Heritage list. The game is over. What remains now, if any, is an official demarcation of the border; the two neighbours, therefore, must hammer out a consensus once and for all.
VUTH CHANSEREI PHUON
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Arguing with the PAD
I was surprised when PM Samak announced that the government would go on air five nights a week to counter-attack the PAD. People who believe the PAD will always believe in the PAD, and those who don't, won't.
Why give the PAD credibility? Why make a fool of yourself by arguing with a fool?
MEECHAI BURAPA
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Work permits: rules do not apply equally to all
Many thanks to Kobkit Thienpreecha (BP, Business section, July 18) for highlighting the changes in law heralded by the new Working of Aliens Act.
But how he could conclude that it is "positive and more liberal", is beyond me.
Although many foreigners working in Thailand might be aware that they need a visa and work permit to stay and work in the country, the law has always been complicated and difficult to comply with - and the changes will make it even more difficult for foreigners to work in Thailand legally.
The effective removal of all criminal liability for employers means that employees will be in a much worse situation. Employees who work without a work permit will now be subject to the same maximum fine as employers who also knowingly break the law, and the employee is now possibly subject to criminal proceedings which could culminate with a term of imprisonment, whereas the employer is not.
Forgetting that for most companies, getting a work permit takes a long time and most people start working before the process has been completed, this is a clear case of the law not applying equally to all. And this could encourage employers to duck their responsibility of providing a work permit.
This new inconsistency is also coupled with an increase in the price of work permits, which could culminate in an increase in the number of people working without a work permit, despite the draconian punishment for employees (not employers) who fail to comply.
This would be the direct opposite effect of what the government actually probably intended.
It would be more positive and more liberal if there was consistency and equality in law for all parties, where the process was clearly defined and adhered to, and where the work permit was given to the person and not tied to the job, giving people a slightly greater sense of security than they have at the moment.
HARVEY TAYLOR
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