OPINION

All in the planning

In a Jan 9 report on the withdrawal of plans for a "skywalk" over the Chao Phraya River, Deputy Bangkok governor Jumpol Sampaopol stated that "similar walkways had been built in many big cities including London and Paris".

That is true.

The same may be said of the planned riverside promenade.

However, I would respectfully suggest that, before any of these were envisaged in those places, the city authorities had already established an effective sewerage and waste-water system, a trained and efficient police force, a clean river, a supply of safe drinking water for the populace, a full and integrated public transport system, and possibly a few other things that I have not space for here.

Priorities, Khun Jumpol, priorities!

Two pictures of watches, an Audemars Piguet 15400ST valued at 591,691 baht, and a Rolex Yacht Master listed for 460,000 baht, that accompanied Khun Atiya Achakulwisut's Jan 9 comment, "So what's so hard about transparency?", are so utterly ugly that a person of wealth but no taste would purchase such monstrosities.

Both look like something bought at the cheap stalls in Chatuchak Market.

Coupled with this is a picture of a fat, little roly-poly man with a big, ostentatious ring.

The guy looks like a brother of the rotund North Korean "Rocket Man" instead of a Thai political leader, an army man at that.

Is this the best the military could produce, and worse, is this the best the prime minister could give us as a deputy prime minister?

JC's comment in the Jan 10 letter, "Countdown to chaos", is right. What is the Bangkok Post's obsession with elections? It would make sense if the majority of Thai people were complaining about this government and wanted a change, but the ones asking for elections are Thai politicians, foreign governments keen on making trades that will benefit them, and the press that serves them.

Re: "Fifa kerfuffle", (PostBag, Jan 9).

I would like to thank Andy Leitner for putting into words what many football fans have been thinking for a few years. Fifa's decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup is indeed very questionable.

I would add to Mr Leitner's list of problems that there is also a lot of concern with how the stadiums for the event are being built, with low-paid foreign workers suffering in terrible conditions and several deaths being recorded. Sepp Blatter himself admitted it was a mistake but typically passed the buck saying the French were to blame, and both they and the Germans exerted "political pressure" on the voting committee.

Now seven years on from the vote with only four to go I doubt it will be possible to cancel it as the compensation Qatar would claim could be financially crippling to Fifa. I expect the whole thing will be a disaster for all of football, not just the European leagues.

Re: "51st state of America", (PostBag, Jan 6, 2018).

Khun Roger is correct in pointing out the blind loyalty Washington gives to Israel and interestingly suggests the state of Israel is akin to being the 51st state of the United States.

Actually, Israel enjoys greater benefits and has far more influence in Washington than most of the existing 50 US states. Not only does Israel receive billions of dollars in military aid from the US federal budget each year (without its citizens paying a single cent in American taxes, I might add), but the country is also given a free pass to blatantly violate international law, with guaranteed vetoes of any possible sanctions in the United Nations Security Council.

As a visitor to Thailand from South Africa, I've noted with interest the issues surrounding Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his statement that he is now a politician.

I cannot help but draw comparisons with what has transpired in Zimbabwe and the appointment by that country's new leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, of Constantino Chiwenga, who led the "coup" which saw the ousting of Robert Mugabe, as one of his vice-presidents.

Regardless of assertions otherwise, in both countries it appears as though there will be strong military influences for some time to come.

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