Rush to please US
Re: “TPP trade talks appeal”, (BP, Sept 14).
It is possible that Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak was appointed Thailand’s new economic czar chiefly to help Thailand regain good relations with the US government. He has paid much interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a US-initiated trade pact which PM Prayut has been pouring cold water on.
The US has also shown it is anxious to have the TPP take effect before President Barack Obama’s term ends in January, 2017.
Hence the rush.
Vint Chavala
TPP secrecy is telling
The TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) trade agreement has been in the making for more than six years, during which time its content has never been made formally available to the public. It reportedly contains 29 chapters, only five of which deal with trade specifics. The remainder concerns such matters as access to medicines, food safety standards and internet freedoms.
It would seem fairly reasonable to assume the reason this proposed agreement has been kept from public scrutiny is to prevent dissent, the dimensions of which are undoubtedly expected to be severe.
Michael Setter
Real forensics lacking
Re: “Blast case throws up probe flaws”, (BP, Sept 14). Pointing out the lack of experience and forensic education of many police investigators, setting up a classroom in a hotel in Pattaya is definitely not the answer. The result will be the blind leading the blind.
The key to good forensic investigation is to send investigators overseas to England, Canada, the USA or Australia to study. When forensic police from overseas offered to help Thailand in the search for clues to the Erawan shrine blast, they were turned down.
Oh, we can handle it ourselves without outside help was the response that was shot back. Now, the police are admitting to their shortcomings. How nice, guys. Close the barn door after the horses escaped.
Jack Gilead
Privatise Airport Link
I feel frustrated to see the Airport Rail Link (ARL) beside the motorway nearly empty. I suggest the State Railway of Thailand transfer the ARL to the business sector to run rather than continuing this burden with poor administration.
Some improvements would be to exploit the Makkasan or Phaya Thai station to be the alternative hub of check-in to Suvarnabhumi.
Make the services faster, reliable, punctual and much more convenient. The flawless services at KL International Airport, Malaysia, could be a good example to follow.
Air-Link
Robbed and left in dark
I was robbed of a large sum of money from a Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) ATM in Phuket in May. When I reported it to the Phuket town police station my case file was handed to Kathu police.
I would like to make it clear that I was looked after in an excellent manner by Phuket town police, and also Kathu police.
Here’s the problem: Kathu police asked the SCB for video footage from the ATM where the robbery took place without success.
Two requests have been made over a five-week period, with no reply. Police have been working hard, and with the footage, progress might have been made.
No response to the police means the bank is holding up a criminal investigation.
Unhappy Tourist
Fracking disgrace
It is sad to read that in the case of fracking taking place in the Northeast of Thailand, the police and the army serve the interests of foreign multinational companies instead of protecting their own citizens.
Clara Holzer
Streets of shame
What kind of populace do we have when you have to grab your children’s arms and make a run for it to get from one side of the road to the other?
Drivers don’t stop in Thailand even when they see someone on a zebra crossing!
I tell my children that pedestrians here never have right of way.
Sharon Tuetell
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