As a way of highlighting the government's commitment to wealth and not health I would like to bring public attention to several recent articles printed in your fine newspaper.
The Klity Creek lead poisoning affair where the Karen residents have had little or no help from government is a good place to start. Followed with not one but two major efforts from the Egat to bring environmental pollution to the land, air and sea in the South despite fierce opposition from the local population who risk arrest and detention for their activities.
Then we have the BMA's negligence in allowing cars to clog the city streets and poison the air causing problems with citizens respiratory systems, hospitals seeing far more cases than they should. More recently we have seen government's resistance to the banning of dangerous chemicals widely used in Thai agriculture which is feared to be causing food and water contamination to the general public on top of serious illness for farmers.
With little public participation in any sphere of government there is little chance of halting this quickening slide into environmental degradation and I feel that the wealth of the few is far outweighing the health of the many.
Lungstib
CDC's latest stunt
Re: "Fresh law sinks Yingluck appeal hope, ends career", (BP, Sept 29).
It is rather amusing to read the pronouncement by Meechai Ruchupan, head of the CDC that under the new organic law Yingluck Shinawatra should be physically present to appeal against the court verdict. Well, knowing what politicians know about the current system, why would they risk going to court to face the hostile settings? Can Donald Trump, the US president, be tried in a court or jailed for his misplaced immigration policies resulting in billions of dollars in losses to American companies? I know, some people will say that all populist policies are not the same! And of course, some others will say, Thailand is different.
The new and unique experimental form of government being proposed by the CDC is nothing more than a well-organised stunt. Any constitution that does not stop the recurring cycle of coups and empower its own people will not have any lasting impact.
Kuldeep Nagi
They don't have a clue
Police have searched the residences of fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her close aide in Bangkok to look for clues about her escape from a five-year jail sentence (Online, Sept 29).
What's there to search for? The world knows she is gone, and the world knows three police officers helped her escape. They admitted it. I'm baffled by the need to "look for clues". Look for police corruption instead. How easily the rich can lead the police along, like a bull with a nose ring.
Charcoal Ridgeback
Empty heads
Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul has to search the house to confirm it's empty and she's gone. Everyone knows she's gone. What a waste of time and money.
MR PETE
Alternative facts
Re: "Blinded by hatred", (PostBag, Sept 28).
Clara Holzer states that Atiya Achakulwisut's reasoning has been so affected by her supposedly obsessive hatred of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that in her most recent article she has illogically compared the hazing rituals at a local university with the airport seizure by yellow shirts and the 2014 military coup. However, it seems to me that, in making this accusation, Ms Holzer is either being disingenuous, or else has misread the article in question.
I understand Ms Atiya was not, in fact, drawing a comparison between these disparate events, but instead between the tribal mentality of the participants which, in each case, led them to excuse their actions in terms which can only be described as delusional or, yes, disingenuous. In particular one could single Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon's claim that the 2014 military coup was not a coup at all, which ranks with the most ludicrous of the "alternative facts" rolled out by Donald Trump and his team.
Clara Holzer ends her letter by observing that the present government enjoys the approval of a majority of Thai citizens, which may or may not be the case. However, the inference that journalists should refrain from criticising a government just because it is popular is the thin end of a very sinister wedge, and is indicative of support for press censorship. I do not know Ms Holzer's nationality, but if her homeland is a democracy, then she should know better.
Robin Grant
Reject time bombs
Another large electricity provider has decided to abandon the nuclear option. Duke Energy Corp announced it was ceasing plans to build a nuclear plant in Florida and instead plans to invest US$6 billion (200 billion baht) in solar panels. It is also going to set up hundreds of electric vehicle charging venues. The new plan involves the installation of 700 megawatts of solar power over four years.
How does that relate to Thailand? Thai electric utility companies have not yet sworn off nuclear. So there's still a possibility of Chernobyl-like or Fukushima-like reactors getting built in Thailand in the future. Who wants those types of time bombs in their villages? Thai people should demand that Egat and other electric providers swear an oath to never build nuclear power plants in Thailand. Anything less is vacillating.
Indeed, all of Southeast Asia should be a nuclear-free zone. It is a relatively small region, so any serious breach would likely adversely affect neighbouring countries. It wouldn't be good for relations if, for example, Vietnam or Indonesia had a Chernobyl-type breach, and radioactivity spread over neighbouring countries. Radioactivity knows no national boundaries.
Ken Albertsen
Divide to rule
I spent over 15 months in India in 1955-56, including three months in Indian Bengal, where the majority of the population are Hindu Bengalis and the minority Muslim Bengalis. Never, I repeat, never did I hear the name Rohingya mentioned at the time.
It is only during the present decade that I heard for the first time about the so-called Rohingya.
During the British Raj or Imperial India, there was only one big Bengal province, which included both Western India with Calcutta as its main city, and Eastern Bengal with Dhaka as its main city. In the early part of the 20th century, the British displaced thousands and thousands of Bengalis from India to Burma, now Myanmar.
As we all know, British India was partitioned in 1947 in two states, India and Pakistan, itself consisting in two parts separated by more than a thousand kilometres. Apart from religion, both parts of Pakistan had nothing at all in common. Exasperated by West Pakistan rule, the Muslim Bengalis rebelled and won their independence war in 1971 and rebaptised their new country Bangladesh.
It is worth noting that wherever Britannia ruled, they brought other races to cohabit with the local population (divide to rule, who knows?).
Michel Muscadier
Flagging a proud idea
How wonderful of Thais to celebrate Flag Day with pride and sincerity. Too bad the Americans do not have the same respect for their flag.
449900
Easy to eat healthy
Re: "Hard to eat healthy", (PostBag, Sept 28).
Thai turkeys may not be comparable to Western turkeys, but then, Thais do not eat turkeys. Thai pork has not shown to be riskier to eat than Western pork (please cite your source), and Thai jasmine rice is eaten worldwide. Perhaps J James would like to ask why. The government is doing a lot to improve the health of Thai citizens, especially the elderly, if Mr James would bother to follow news reports. French and Italian breads are made from the same dough as white breads, only baked differently. Carbs are carbs.
I'd suggest Mr James present a few facts before he blathers on about health, pork, rice and blood pressure. He is welcome to eat potatoes and grass for all anyone cares. As for eating healthy, it is easier to eat healthier in Thailand than in other countries. Try it, you might like it.
Carbo Mango
A few grains of truth
Over the past few days we read letters promoting health benefits of basmati rice and the potential health problems resulting from consuming Thai jasmine rice. Neither writers have provided any factual evidence to back up their claims. It would add weight to their arguments if such evidence, in the form of a list of scientific studies, was provided. Until that happens I regard their posts as purely promotional, not factual, and maybe spurious.
There are numerous scientific studies that have warned of health risks associated with certain foods or ingredients. Warnings about the use of hydrogenated oils, salt, refined sugars, sodas etc, are well noted. There have been many other studies that have warned about the consumption of foods where the dangers exist only if large quantities of the item are consumed over decades, something improbable. Could it be that studies suggesting health risks from consumption of Thai jasmine rice are also based on such an inconceivable circumstance?
I have lived and worked in several Asian countries, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and India, for extended periods, have largely eaten local cuisine, not Western food, and am familiar with the local rice in all except Hong Kong, where I am not aware if the rice is locally grown or imported. My opinion on the rice from these countries is based on a subjective consideration of quality, based only on taste and texture.
Based on my own personal judgement, jasmine rice is excellent quality.
One writer suggested that basmati rice could be genetically modified to add fragrance. Such a suggestion is contrary to his concerns about jasmine rice. Genetically modified plants are recognised as a potential health risk and their use is severely restricted by the EU.
He also compares Western turkeys and pork to similar Thai products and concludes that Western products are superior. While American turkeys and pork may be fatter and leaner, he should be aware that while being raised turkeys and pigs are subjected to doses of hormones and antibiotics. Meat containing these can also be considered a health risk.
So, I will continue to eat Thai jasmine rice and Thai raised pork until incontestable proof is provided that they are a serious health risk. We should all consume what we enjoy, in moderation of course. Life is too short to do otherwise.
Gastronome
Stop tribal ignorance
Re: "Don't be miserable", (Sept 23).
Maybe I did not miss the point. Well, I do not care about bread variety issues. And I strongly dislike "tribal" complainers.
But the "pack up, go away" mentality is an expression of aggressive intolerance waged against people one does not agree with. One can observe it in many parts of the world and the next step is always deliberate harming of other people. That's why it should not be condoned.
Karl Reichstetter
It's time to listen
Re: "Teacher under fire for expelling pre-kindergarteners", (Sept 26).
On 25 Sept, as a high-school student, I was glad to hear many Thai policy makers and experts were discussing a long-term plan to improve our national education system ("Thai education needs 'long-term vision'").
On the next day it was a pity to learn that a kindergarten was going to expel three pre-kindergarteners because they were frequently absent from school. It should be understandable that kids at this age have to be exposed to new germs outside their homes. Being sick is common, and the absence from school is normal. They need some time to adjust themselves physically and mentally at schools.
While such cases come under fire on social media, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Most of our country's education plans are executed without adequate public hearings. While students and parents are those who face the real problems at schools, their voices have been rarely heard. Without these voices, are we going to get pots and pans when we want kitchens?
Chanya Srisurapanont