OPINION

Put people before military

Over the past few years I have noticed some nice developments in Bangkok, such as repaired sidewalks, reduced amount of sidewalk clutter, and more green spaces.

But other issues that still need to be addressed by the authorities are stray dogs, garbage in and around the live animal section at Chatuchak market, and overcrowding on the mass transit systems.

These issues (and I'm sure your readers can think of others) affect the health and well-being of residents.

They can also give tourists a negative image of the capital.

Would it not be better value for money to invest even a small fraction of the billions of baht that are currently spent on military hardware on dealing with these issues?

Mr Batchelor in Thon Buri is affected by Chao Phraya Express Boat noise pollution (PostBag, Oct 20).

Up here in Nonthaburi where the boats start, the noise is generated by the relatively new air horns which these boat drivers use like children on Christmas Day.

From Ta Nam Nonthaburi, Rama V Bridge and Wat Kien down to Rama VIII Bridge, the orange and green flag boats blast their air horns to announce their arrival long before each stop.

In effect, that is every 20 minutes, unless they actually see a customer standing at the edge of the floating platform.

The reader's comment on noise coming from the Chao Praya River prompts me to draw attention to a lot of unnecessary noise coming from the streets.

Not seldom does a motorcycle speed by on Sukhumvit Road with the blast of a jet fighter.

Other than drawing attention to an obviously undersized part of the driver's anatomy, the noise serves no purpose and can -- and should -- be avoided.

The same goes for the extra exhaust pipes that are fitted by tuk-tuks, seemingly to enhance the pleasure of the ride but spoiling anyone else's pleasure.

Not to mention the blasting loudspeakers that are considered necessary entertainment. Take an example from China. In most cities the motorbikes are electric. Quiet and clean. When will Bangkok learn and change?

Authorities have come up with rules to register non commercial drones, yet they don't seem to understand that what they want is not available and their rules are contradictory.

They want me to have a million baht insurance policy so that my 900-gramme drone won't hurt someone. I will be happy to buy insurance if there was a company in Thailand that offers drone insurance. This is something that our minders forgot.

But I hope the government will make those who release flaming flying lanterns have the same insurance for those uncontrolled fire starters that are more likely to cause property damage than my 900g drone.

It seems to me that Mark Zuckerberg would have been in legal jeopardy had he come to Thailand.

As I recall, a webmaster in Thailand received a five-year sentence in 2013 for not removing a comment on her website that was deemed critical of the monarchy.

What would have stopped some royalist zealot from swearing out a complaint against Mark Zuckerberg as the CEO of a website that is constantly being criticised by the government for hosting similar posts if he had come here? Or maybe a complaint has been filed against him already?

Since Thailand is No.1 or No.2 in the world in regard to coup d'etats, may I make a suggestion? Put a provision in the constitution that every time there's a coup, there must be national elections within eight months.

Because mere words don't have much meaning, even in a document like the constitution, back it up with penalties.

If there is not a nationwide election within eight months from the day the coup was instigated, then each person in position of power (top brass) involved with the coup will be subject to five to 15 years in prison.

There could be some other provisions in the constitution (but who abides by it, anyway?), such as no big-ticket government/infrastructure items be allowed to be proposed or implemented by the coup makers.

Also, the existing constitution shall not be altered or rewritten during the time of a coup. After all, let's not forget, the coup makers are usually elder military men who have never been elected. Yet they have the most firepower.

Re: "Blessed in junta land", (PostBag, Oct 20).

I am also fed up by the readers' junta bashing and it seems that the majority of them are foreigners. Many better governments in the past came from non-elected prime ministers. Since the last coup, or could we call it regime change, I hardly ever see a military checkpoint or any signs that we are in a military regime. Many crimes, which would have never been exposed in former times, are now being exposed and prosecuted regardless of the wealth of the culprit.

As a foreigner, I am subjected to certain rules that I find perfectly acceptable, especially when we look at the mess resulting from indiscriminate immigration rules and unrealistic welfare systems in Western democratic countries. Thailand, with its strategic position, is coveted by the neocons and it needs an honest but strict leader to protect its independence. I doubt that a democratically elected person could do the same.

On several websites people suggested that instead of experimenting on dogs we should experiment on murderers and rapists. In my opinion, criminals would make tremendously better research models. If people are going to argue that we have a right to torture some for the hypothetical benefit of others, then they have a moral responsibility to explain who deserves to be tortured and why.

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