Re: ''Battlelines drawn over Asoke elevated road'' (BP, Oct 26).
This balanced and factual report invites one to ask whether a few _ 415 _ people on Asoke Road should hinder the potential savings of fuel and time for 95,000 vehicles per day.
Arithmetic tells us otherwise _ that the benefit over cost is overwhelming. Furthermore, the reasoning of the Asoke protesters concerning pollution, eyesores and land valuations _ issues previously aired by Sukhumvit shophouses when the BTS project was first proposed _ have proven to be unreasonable.
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
Traffic solution obvious
It is amazing the BMA would hire a consulting firm at a cost of 20 million baht to try to figure out a way to alleviate traffic congestion at the Asoke Montri Road intersection and come up with the idea of building a flyover.
The problem is that the BMA, like all government agencies, tends to know best, know more and spend more, thinking that the more one spends the better the solution.
If cars were rerouted, if public transit were improved, if driving on Asoke were made more difficult, perhaps drivers might find other routes.
If driving in Bangkok becomes uneconomical, impractical, a nightmare, jammed up too often in too many places, perhaps drivers will get the message. Leave the car at home. It will eat out your pocket.
BERELEH
Entry fees excessive
Re: ''Tourist entry fee plan nears enforcement'' (BP, Oct 23).
Foreign tourists who stay for three days or less will pay a 30-baht charge for each day they're here and tourists here for longer will be charged 500 baht. These charges will cover unpaid medical bills.
But, based on the figures I've seen (Pattaya Today, July l6-30), there are 24.5 million foreigners who come to Thailand each year and they run up 70 million baht in unpaid medical bills. That comes to less than 3 baht per person.
Thus, both the 30-baht and 500-baht charges strike me as being excessive.
ERIC BAHRT
A better coverage idea
Tourists visiting Bhutan must spend US$250 (7,500 baht) per day. Thailand would lose 80% plus of tourism and long-stay expats if this were the case here.
Why not have a government scheme for foreigners _ possibly a basic version of the NHS in the UK?
A sensible tiered, pro rata rate that could be offered to individuals. Pay a small sum and get basic health care, or pay a large sum for a private ward. Expats could pay monthly.
I think most foreign residents would welcome a reasonably priced scheme and tourists wouldn't have to concern themselves _ certificates could be issued on entry or preferably in their country of residence to save queues. Private insurance is something I have, but think a government scheme could be far more affordable.
BOB HEYWOOD
Handy German spelling
There is a minor misspelling of a German expression in ''For Germany, America is the spy who didn't love me'', (Opinion, Oct 26).
The German word Handyberwachung does not exist, but there exist two similar words:
A. Handybewachung, which means that you guard your telephone against unauthorised use by someone else; or
B. Handyüberwachung, which means a surveillance of your telephone conversations via the network.
I am quite sure that you meant the latter one, which in English one could also spell handyueberwa-chung, in a very similar way as in the recently changed spelling of Don Mueang, which in German, one could spell Don Müang, although the German umlaut is more open than its Thai counterpart.
PETER KRAMER
Farewell the Patriarch
Re: ''Luminous journey comes to an end'' (BP, Oct 25).
Thank you very much for a great story.
BJORN L ASK
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