Veera right about rice

Veera right about rice

Re: ''Lotus leaves will not cover up rice problem'', Opinion, Oct 8.

Veera Prateepchaikul was spot-on in questioning the Commerce Ministry as to why the amount of the second crop of rice for the 2011-12 season, pledged by the government, has ballooned to 10.6 million tonnes, as compared to 6.9 million tonnes for the earlier main crop. Normally, the harvest of the main season of rice crop is much higher than that from the second season.

It is almost certain that the carelessness of the Yingluck Shinawatra government, and rampant corruption among government politicians, may have allowed rice from neighboring countries _ including Vietnam _ to be included in this programme.

Look at the map of Asean and you will see that the borders between Vietnam and Thailand are separated by Laos by only 200km. Travel time by road is less than four hours. The distance is just one-third of that from the closest northeastern provinces to the harbours of Bangkok.

That is why many people claim the government is using taxpayers' money to support not only Thai farmers, but those in neighbouring countries.

International media such as The Economist, Forbes and Voice of America have spoken of this rice pledging scheme in a very negative and pessimistic way.

We must bear in mind that this rice pledging scheme is a brainchild of none other than Thaksin Shinawatra.

VINT CHAVALA
Lamphun


Easy to rack up debt

Re: ''PM unveils $90bn infrastructure plan'', (BP, Oct 6).

Spending money on populist policies to secure future votes may seem easy to the prime minister, as it is not her money. But this puts the country at risk of bankruptcy. If this were to happen, Ms Yingluck could lose her job or even be jailed, but even then she would accommodated and fed with taxpayers' money. However, what will become of ordinary Thais if the country racks up mountainous debt?

RH SUGA
Lamphun


Asbestos dangers clear

Re: ''Swine industry opposes asbestos ban'', Business, Oct 6. It is shocking that the president of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand states there is no solid proof that asbestos causes illness and death. How is it, therefore, that the respected US Environmental Protection Agency has clearly confirmed that exposure to asbestos leads to lung diseases? Furthermore, asbestos has long been classified as a known carcinogen by the US Department of Health and, as stated in your article, was banned in the United Kingdom in 1999.

I would also like to point out that asbestos exposure-related claims worldwide almost resulted in the collapse of Lloyd's of London, the world's largest insurer (an industry not known for paying frivolous claims). It appears that the swine raisers of Thailand may be putting profits ahead of public health. The general replacement of asbestos use nationwide should, for everyone's sake, be subsidised by the government forthwith.

MARTIN R


No dignity to damage

Re: ''Foreign prostitutes nabbed in Pattaya'', (BP, Oct 6).

I laughed when I read the headline and that the cause of their arrest was due to ''distracting people'' and ''hurting the image'' of Pattaya _ one of the most popular destinations for sex tourism in Southeast Asia.

How much dignity does the unholy image of Pattaya have left to preserve? With the upsurge of go-go bars and prostitutes walking the streets , the image of ''sin city'' is not going to get any better. When foreign prostitutes arrive on the scene, then it makes headlines. What irony! Why are the local prostitutes not arrested on the same grounds?

They too are disturbing to look at (distracting) and are simply a horrible sight (hurting the image of Pattaya).

It all just seems like a plot where maybe some sex business owners don't want competition from outside. Or perhaps the police just had a wicked sense of humour that day.

PATRICIA GEERTS


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