Terminal blues
Re: "Engineers join airport terminal row" (BP, Oct. 11).
It seems everyone has a different idea about the design and expansion of the second terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport. In the meantime construction will be delayed and doubtlessly costs will rise.
Every megaproject in Thailand has this same problem caused by people with different and often vested interests: Think high-speed rail to Rayong (I worked on the tender documents over four years ago and still it has not started!)
Suvarnabhumi airport, to my knowledge, was a matter of discussion for many decades before it became a reality. I also understand a master plan was made by international consultants around the mid-90s; the latest is now the fifth such plan.
An idea, which will go down like a lead balloon, is to have an international competition on the design and location of the new terminal and immediately award contracts for its implementation. But, of course, Thailand is too proud to admit it has insufficient wherewithal or experience to do this by itself. I foresee further long delays and rising costs as bickering continues to complete this much needed project -- as usual.
Martin R
Unprofitable icon
Re: "THAI's troubled skies", (PostBag, Oct 11).
What is wrong with Thai Airways is that it was established solely to be a national symbol. Because most countries have their own national carriers, we've got to have one too.
THAI never was meant to be profitable and the recent mishap news report emphasises that. The airline used a Boeing 747-400 to carry only 97 passengers with 18 cabin crew. A five-year-old kid can figure that the flight would incur a huge loss.
It seems management and employees think the airline is a non-profit organisation. They know the government will always take good care of them, cleaning up their mess and talcum-powdering their behinds no matter how badly they perform.
Somsak Pola
Koh Tao Ripper?
Another suspected murder on Thailand's Koh Tao, (BP, Oct 11). Has anyone ever discussed a conspiracy theory? I'll bet there is a Thai Jack the Ripper living on Koh Tao, and he just might be a police investigator. It is as feasible as any other explanation.
Murders and rapes continue, all of them unsolved, except one, where two Myanmar boys were convicted of murder, because the police had to safe face. Ahhh, it is not solving the crimes that are important, but the same explanation that it bodes ill for the tourist industry. Yes, reputation before all else. How typically Thai. Relocate the inhabitants, shut down the island, let nature overrun the place and reclaim it. In 50 years, rediscover Koh Tao as a pristine tourist destination.
David James Wong
Non-aligned power
Re: "Iran seeks to reclaim frozen assets", (BP, Oct 10).
The decision of the ICJ in favour of Iran in its dispute with the US demonstrates that international legal bodies do not always side with the US, as some critics suggest. Superpowers like China in the case of the West Philippines/East China sea, persist in ignoring -- hidden behind lip-service -- international law. Or in the case of the present US government bluntly "tear up" treaties and threaten to chase out persecutors to evade justice.
The Non-Aligned Movement may use international law to empower its alliance of responsible sovereign nation-states and together strengthen a legal immune body against political and economic war, as well as to further prevent, and rehabilitate damage done to nature.
Instead of following the example of President Duterte who exchanged rights for short-term financial favours, the Non-Aligned Movement may champion international law, including peer-to-peer maintenance of state integrity towards citizens and stateless people. When real justice is co-created there are only winners.
Hans Van Willenswaard
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