Appropriate jailings
Re: "PAD protests went too far", (Editorial, Feb 14).
The comment on the lawlessness of both sides, the PAD and UDD (so-called yellow and red) was most appropriate. The jail sentences imposed by the Supreme Court against all perpetrators trespassing on government properties and disturbing the peace of others have shown to the world our strong respect for the rule of law with no exceptions.
All credit goes to all civic-minded policemen, prosecutors and judges who have upheld the rule of law so religiously.
Our justice system favours lopsidedly the presumption of innocence, thereby delaying sentencing unduly, as exemplified in the latest case of the seizure of Government House for more than three months in 2008.
The Supreme Court's sentencing only took place this week. The seizure of the airports in 2008 has now only reached the civil court over the damages. The memories of the two cases has now become hazy. The deterrent effect is not that strong now as they say "delay in justice is injustice".
However, the memory of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) in 2009 storming the Asean Summit at the Royal Cliff Hotel in Pattaya still remains with me vividly with a group of Muslim ladies in hijabs either from Indonesia or Malaysia huddled in a corner of the hotel lobby shaking in fear for their lives while nearby a UDD leader was shout about the whereabouts of PM Abhisit Vejjajiva. I hung my head in shame. The words of Aristotle then came to my mind: "At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst."
Songdej Praditsmanont
State of confusion
Re: "Thaksin's TV channel gagged", (BP, 13 Jan).
So the NBTC suspends broadcasts by Voice TV for 15 days, citing programmes that cause confusion and social division. So I guess Thais are not confused by a politician who cannot give a credible explanation for why he can afford expensive wrist ornamentation. They are not confused by a government that doesn't hold said person to account.
And I suppose a new constitution that brings in an era of pseudo-democracy, where the military still holds ultimate power, is not divisive. And they are not confused by the government being able to invoke Section 44 any time it wants to do anything it feels like. That's right, it's only news media that confuse the Thai public!
Howard Stark
Bring back the air app
Ironically, the Bangkok Post once provided an air quality index for the city years ago that accompanied the daily weather forecast. Despite the apps that are now available in this respect, would it be an idea to resurrect this service to give an early alert to readers who like their printed "fix" with morning coffee but tend to lapse with said apps after the all-clear is given.
This happened to me this evening, somewhat to my alarm, thinking that the PM2.5 levels for Bangkok had returned to normal. According to Air4Thai as I write, they have not.
Being a long-term expat, I returned from three months in wintry Scotland last week, where the air was beautifully clean (as well as the drinking water), so I am more than aware of this issue, having tracked the situation in Bangkok while I was away.
Robin
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