Promises, promises
Re: "Pro-election protesters dodge anti-unrest group", (BP, Jan 20). Like the promising Thai intellects on the student council of Ramkhamhaeng University, the Facebook group Unity Before Election shows proper Thainess in opposing those actively calling for elections.
Can't these activists be content with promises of an election? Can't they and their ilk be content with promises of unity? Can't they be satisfied with promises to end corruption?
Why can't they be happy with promises to respect human rights? Why isn't a promise to return happiness already happiness returned? Why, why, why must they keep asking for more than promises?
The counter groups from Ramkhamhaeng University and Unity Before Election on Facebook understand the prime minister's wisdom pronounced last week advising teachers to lead childish students to think out of the box in a sufficiently structured way. They appreciate that good Thai citizens will structurally close their mouths, ears, eyes, and minds to anything not condoned by their superiors.
What, after all, is so good about good morals that good people should care for them more than promises of them?
Felix Qui
Set al-Araibi free
Hakeem al-Araibi, a refugee and permanent resident of Australia continues to languish in a Bangkok jail in appalling conditions.
It is now 56 days of illegal detention, which contravenes international law. This talented footballer, who once played for Bahrain, and his wife were on holiday in Thailand via legal visa entry when he was arrested.
The silence of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been shattering along with Asian Football Confederation President Salman Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa.
Many Australians are outraged by the situation and unless Araibi is released then the relationship between our two friendly nations will be damaged.
Time for the Thai prime minister to show his leadership and human rights credentials.
Pablo Bateson
Dust busters no fix
Regarding "Korean dust buster", (PostBag, Jan 19), by Michael Setter. This is a good idea. Just think about it.
If these Korean devices were to be installed on all the buses and trucks in the Bangkok area. All the diesel black smoke would end up falling to the roads rather than suspended in the air. The roads would build up with unburnt diesel oil. Then when the rain comes the roads would turn into major "Slip and Slide Parks". This could be a two-fold win. With all of the buses, trucks, cars and motorcycles crashing into each other. The pollution levels would drop and the traffic would reduced as a result of all of these buses trucks cars and motorcycles in the repair shops.
Enough of the humour and on to the serious side.
If this type of device was to be installed with the current condition of the buses and trucks in Bangkok these devices would fail in a very short time. They would become completely covered with unburnt diesel and fail to work.
The black smoke problems are all about "money". It is more cost effective for the owner-operators to pay more for diesel fuel and the petty fines at roadside checks than to pay for sound proper engine maintenance. Until this changes nothing will improve.
Rob
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