OPINION

Train wreck

Re: "Bullet train project set to cost B420bn", (BP, Dec 16).

Whoever thought the project was feasible, let alone necessary with budget airlines costing little more and certainly quicker, might like to think again.

I was sitting in my lounge watching television with some Thai friends when a news update on Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon's "bling" problems came up.

"What do you guys think?" I innocently asked.

They looked at me incredulously. "What a silly question. Do you think Thais are stupid? You know what we think."

So it would seem that whatever excuses he comes up with to try to squeeze out of this situation, DPM Prawit has a credibility gap -- nay, a credibility chasm -- to cross.

Fake luxury goods are very popular and many people borrow or rent luxury clothes, accessories for attending a party/meetings to show off. They believe they can cheat others just in a glance or a short time. However, borrowing very expensive items for a long or unlimited period is not convincing. He could have come up with a better excuse for his watch.

One can always count on Robin Grant ("Undiplomatic gibes", PostBag, Dec 15) for some morning mish-mash. First of all, Mr Grant, you are not a British citizen but a British subject. Let's look at what's been happening. "Pro-American" Thailand is now buying its military equipment from China, the high-speed rail system is being built by the Chinese, as well as more and more Chinese investment in Thailand. Do you know why, Mr Grant? It is because China restricts its meddling in Thai political affairs, or so it claims anyway. The United States must have a finger in every pie, dictating its own policies, thus alienating its client countries.

Charlie Brown in his Dec 16 letter is right in writing that an ambassador is entitled to his or her opinion. But that opinion should be a personal opinion, which may or may not be different from his government's opinion. When an ambassador makes a public statement, that statement is made on behalf of the government the ambassador represents, as so instructed. If any ambassador feels his government's position is very strongly contrary to his own, the ambassador should simply resign as a matter of conscience.

In his letter of Dec 16, "Big money evils", Mr Johnsen states that "what we see, read and hear now is a power struggle between the military and big money". If he would care to look at Forbes' list of the wealthiest billionaires in Thailand, he would find that the top nine on that list quietly accede to whatever the NCPO desires and are never heard to protest over any law the government wishes to impose on its poorer citizens.

The real truth is quite the opposite -- big money and the military have long had a cosy relationship that has resisted any major changes for several decades and which they hope will continue for several more.

Eric Bahrt asks in his Dec 7 letter: "How much longer is the rest of the world supposed to suffer because of America's support for Israel?"

Well, Mr Bahrt, let me answer you with a question: How much longer is the rest of the world, including Israel, supposed to suffer if the US stops its support of Israel and allows the Muslim extremists to continue their hate campaign against the Israelis? Jesus Christ, a Jew, was born in what is still Israeli territory some 600 or so years ago before the Muslim religion was even born. That's why the Muslims are still living in the 1400s today, and not 2017.

It is a huge relief to see that after the hacking of the Bangkok Post's website a few days ago it has returned but without the facility for readers (a term that I use very loosely) to leave comments on the news reports.

I sincerely hope that this is permanent as it means that normal readers can now just read the reports without the distraction of knowing that under each article will be the inane Thai-bashing and gratuitous whining by a select few about almost everything that happens in Thailand.

Well done, Bangkok Post, just don't let yourself down by reinstating that section, please.

While French President Emmanuel Macron was lukewarm in his denouncement of Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, he was vehement in his condemnation of the Palestinian "terrorist" response. Where is it written that when a country conquers territory, builds illegal settlements and sets up an illegal capital there, demolishes the homes of the locals and commits endless atrocities (for example, even the Israeli human rights group T'Bselem admits that none of the numerous Palestinian children in the past who were slaughtered or wounded by the Israeli Defence Force were endangering anyone's life) that the inhabitants have to respond non-violently?

Are America, France and Israel pacifist countries? Why are the bullies allowed to use violence but not the people they are beating up?

Re: "Experts back move to buy speed cams", (BP, Dec 16).

According to one of the experts, we need to "improve police capabilities to serve traffic law offenders with legal documents ... as only 20% of them are given tickets due to constraints on resources". With such a clear grasp of the problem. we have the obvious candidate to head the police reform commission!