OPINION

Use of force a no-no

Re: "South trip backfires on government", (BP, Nov 29).

The problem of citizens protesting against new power plants -- be they coal, hydro or nuclear -- happens in every country.

It is the job of the standing government to seek an agreement with protesters -- who often are the inhabitants of the project site -- before it makes the final decision. If an agreement cannot be reached in a peaceful way, the project must be put on hold for the time being.

That is how it is done in every country in the world.

In the US, it is a common sight to see protesters lying on the thresholds of buildings where meetings on a new power plant take place -- to obstruct the proceedings.

Hence, despite his adamant claim that he and his government listen to the people more than any government did in the past, it is still possible that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has not heard enough of his own people's abject plight.

The PM should be reminded that he has two options to decide on this issue: To listen to the protesters with an open mind before he proceeds to the next step; or leave this Thepha, Songkhla coal-fired power plant decision to the next elected government to deal with.

Any use of force should be regarded by the PM as a no-no.

I had to read Nov 29 edition's "InQuote" -- "This government and I myself listen (to the people) more than any government did" -- several times to make sure you had given it correct attribution to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. I sounds more like Donald Trump to me.

I'm sorry, but I couldn't help being amused on reading the story of five Chinese tourists being slightly injured after ignoring a Chiang Mai hotel lift alarm indicating it was overloaded (BP, Nov 29). The lift fell a few inches and the tourists were hurt after pushing and shoving each other to get out. I dread to think how they would react in a plane's emergency landing -- I would probably be crushed to death.

The editor of Guru hit the nail on the head when saying in the Nov 24 issue: "the next step: fixing loose pavement tiles please". I would go one step further and ask for the removal of all tiles (pavers). Being a regular pavement user in the Sukhumvit/Asok locale the pavers are in a shocking state. To put it bluntly, regardless of the cost, pavers are not ideal for continuous pedestrian traffic.

Simple concrete is used in most walkways in other countries unless some kind of decorative or commemorative motive or motif is required. We are all aware of the pitfalls of pavers; viz, twisted ankles, footwear damage and the water-jet effect on the back of our bodies. On Koh Larn, where we holidayed recently, all narrow streets and the "main roads" were paved with smaller pavers. As soon as one was disrupted a multiplier effect occurred rendering large sections dangerous to both pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Pope Francis's hand washing in Myanmar, witnessed by the world, makes him the worthy successor to Pontius Pilate rather than St Peter (BP, Nov 29). No mention of the word Rohingya, nor even a reference to the ethnic cleansing now so well documented.

Like St Peter, who thrice denied Christ, the Pope's silence and failure to acknowledge the Rohingya, further marginalises these most brutalised people. And the photographs and news video footage shown around the world of him cordially greeting Aung San Suu Kyi gives tacit support to her government and its inhumanity.

While I fully understand the needs of diplomacy, there are times when spiritual leaders must be stand up and be just that -- leaders. History may well record Pope Francis alongside the World War II pope, Pius XII, who was widely condemned for failing to speak or act against the atrocities being committed by the Nazis.

The forbidden R-word. This essential, meaningful word, forbidden even for the Pope himself to whisper in Myanmar, I will shout here:

Rohingya! Rohingya! Rohingya!

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