OPINION

Not-so-easy decisions

Like a hungry dog at a fresh food market, it requires little imagination to grasp the difficulty government types have in distinguishing right from wrong.

Consider the question of what to do about a police officer who grabbed 100 rai of state land for the purpose of building a mansion. Should the government, which is in the process of reclaiming the land, lease it back to the influential figure who stole it from the Thai people, or should the mansion be torn down and the land then designated for land reform?

Why not ask who will generate more income for the state in the long term, the person who corrupts at a high level, or the many who work for a living?

The senior police officer belongs in jail, right? These questions are rather easy to answer if the rule of law and justice are applied.

Re: "BMA defends B160m payout for fire engines", (BP, July 12).

For about a year, the BMA has been criticised for their budget spending on city light decorations, renovation of the governor's office, etc. Add to that the purchase of fire engines. I think, one reason for those controversies is lack of public participation in BMA. I don't know if it is their policy or just the governor Sukhumbhand who has limited media exposure. If they are more open and inform the public of their intentions, Bankokians can tell them what they want and that can prevent things from going wrong.

It was not surprising to hear Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Thitirat Nongharnphithak, who is in charge of the investigation into socialite Monta "Ying Kai" Yokrattanakan's myriad of alleged legal offences, suggested that the accused woman may have a mental illness (BP, July 10).

Just a few days into this case, the CIB head was quick to conclude that the woman cannot control her behaviour at times; thus he advised that she seek treatment. Such idle comments by the CIB chief makes the Thai police who are investigating into this case look errant and lazy, when they are supposed to be working hard to unearth the truth behind the allegations.

That is why there are loud and derisive calls from Thai people to reform the Thai police force from top to bottom.

Thailand's widespread and controversial dual pricing has been raised to a high art form at Siricha Tiger Zoo. Thai adults are charged 200 baht. Farang adults pay 450 baht.

But this venue really moves into the realm of price gouging when it comes to children's tickets. I took my three granddaughters, who are on holiday from Australia. They are aged 14, 11 and 10.

But Siricha Tiger Zoo has its own arbitrary and strictly enforced definition of who is a child and who is an adult, namely anyone taller than 140 cm is an adult. I was forced to pay full adult fare for my three strapping granddaughters. This height restriction may work for Thai kids, but is highly discriminatory for foreign children who tend to be taller. My other grandchildren will be visiting later this year. I will be giving Siricha Tiger Zoo a big miss.

The noise nuisance in the Bangkok BTS system has just gotten worse. We are already assaulted in the BTS station platforms by the loud commercials blaring from speakers and LED screens. Then they put TVs in all the trains despite public protests and campaigns.

Now, not content with this already dangerous level of noise pollution, the BTS is piping the TV noise all throughout the train through the various internal speakers. Does the BTS have no sense of the dangers of noise pollution especially for children who need to use the train? Seems there is to be no peace for us long-suffering Bangkok commuters.

In his July 12 letter, Vint Chavala rightly advises Eric Bahrt to read two books: The Ugly American and The Quiet American. May I suggest one further book which might benefit Mr Bahrt: How to Win Friends and Influence People.