OPINION

Giving us a break?

There were five PostBag letters on June 24. Not one of them was from Felix Qui, Burin Kantabutra, Kuldeep Nagi or Eric Bahrt. Was it because they didn't write any or because the PostBag Editor finally decided to give readers a break from those guys?

Re: "Chaiwut threatens to sue Facebook", (BP, June 25).

It is always difficult to assess the validity of a government charge when the accuser has decided the particular accusations cannot be revealed. Perhaps if I did know I would not find DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamansorn's attempt to close down 54 social media accounts so sinister.

My understanding is much of the "offence" has been caused by the use of photographs. Could this be a reason for Facebook's refusal to "follow orders" and how does this qualify as "dissemination of fake news"?

That Facebook is not reluctant to shut down fake accounts for this very reason is evidenced by their closing down 185 accounts in March, which were run by the …er… Thai military.

Re: "CCSA airs 7-day lockdown plan", (BP, June 24).

The CCSA option to lockdown Bangkok is a loser. The closing down of bars and alcohol restrictions in restaurants and empty hotels have already caused mass unemployment and the return of workers to their home provinces, increasing the threat of spreading Covid-19.

To contain this virus you need to keep people where they already are.

Covid confusion

Re: "Confidence boost", (BP, June 24).

Thursday's Bangkok Post carried a nice photo-op of a taxi driver with a sticker proclaiming "I got my Covid-19 vaccine" and we were told that the stickers are "designed to boost customer confidence". I'm confused. As far as I know, as things stand, a tourist who has been double-vaccinated, tested before they left their country and on arrival in Thailand, is still required to undergo quarantine. If that is the case, why am I supposed to be happy to share a cab with a vaccinated driver, but afraid of being infected by a double-vaccinated foreigner? Just a thought.

Re: "Pandemic has increased trust in media", (BP, June 23).

"Pandemic has increased trust in media", say AFP and Reuters. Here are two of the largest news services quoting each other in offering this opinion piece disguised as journalism.

If this is so why have alternative sources grown so much during the pandemic and big news outlets like CNN and The New York Times tanked so dramatically?

Could it be the public nose knows a stinky rat when it smells one?

Propaganda stinks, and that is a fact international corporate media has forgotten.

Re: "Hung up on gender", (PostBag, June 23).

If I were a female weightlifter I too would be very upset about allowing the gender-transitioned weightlifter from New Zealand in the Olympics. Normal testosterone levels in females are 0.3-2.4 nmol/L. The world athletics limit is 5 nmol/L. The IOC allows up to 10 nmol/L in transgender athletes. The IOC's limit on testosterone is three or more times higher than a normal woman's testosterone level, which would give transgenders a huge strength advantage. Understanding the facts behind this transgender athlete situation can give one a completely different perspective of the situation rather than just the cursory one listed by the press.

Re: "Americans must wait for vaccines", (BP, June 23).

So, the US Charge d'Affaires in Bangkok has made it known that US citizens are on their own as far as getting vaccinated against Covid-19. Did anyone actually expect that the US government would show any real concern about its overseas citizens? The US is donating vaccines all over yet they tell us here to hope that the Thai government will finally allow foreigners to get their shots. We are getting ours through the UN. I am willing to bet that everyone at the embassy is already fully vaccinated.

Try to contact someone at the embassy and all you get is a recording which does not allow you to speak with anyone. You have to email them and hope for more than a bot generated response talking about Covid-19. Or make an appointment in the future and then have to stand outside in the sun and heat until the guards decide to let you in. It seems that the only thing they do now is take your money to stamp a piece of paper. Other services are no longer available -- such as green card questions.

Like I said, do not expect anything from the US government unless you are ready to pay for it.

Re: "Sandbox to draw 600,000", (BP, June 20).

The government is pushing hard to reopen Thailand for tourism. I agree tourism is needed to help the economy recover. I support this action as long as it is done safely and responsibly.

The front page of the Sunday paper shows the government is forecasting 629,000 tourists in the first three months starting July 1 under the Phuket Sandbox plan. Of this forecast 129,000 are hoped to be international tourists. The government is also forecasting revenue worth 15 billion baht to be generated between July and September. If I assume that 75% of this 15 billion baht will come from the 129,000 international tourists, that works out to 11.25 billion baht, or an average of 87,210 baht for each international tourist. So if a married couple comes from the EU they will spend on average 174,420 baht for a one-time visit.

I have lived in Thailand for more than 20 years with my Thai wife of 30 years. For more than 20 years I have paid for private premium health and accident insurance for myself and my wife. I have brought in approximately 1.5 million baht per year for years. Throughout the last year and a half I have continued to spend 125,000 baht every month to support my wife and myself.

Thailand has had a steady flow of foreign money coming into Thailand from all the retired expats in Thailand for the last year and a half. I am more than willing to pay for the five adults in my house to get vaccinated. Now the government is planning to require retired expats to have dedicated Covid-19 insurance of $100,000 or 3 million baht.

So my big question is. Why would a married couple coming to spend a one-time 174,420 baht be treated like gods. And retired expats like me that spend a lot more money year in and year out are treated like chopped liver?

Re: "Plastic, infectious waste surges due to pandemic", (BP, June 16).

It is really strange to watch politicians here put more energy into worrying about rules and gimmicks for retaining political power yet not exercising their position for meaningful change that benefits society. With all of the posturing over Covid-19 mandates and lockdowns, there is scant attention given to preventative measures and general health. The greatest way to prevent any illness is to have a healthy lifestyle. This lifestyle includes not only personal habits but a healthy environment.

Plastic waste importation is truly an issue that needs to be addressed for the health of the people. No health benefit can result from accepting the garbage of other nation. For some strange reason, elected and appointed officials will not act accordingly to stop the inflow of poisonous materials. The amount of waste accepted has increased three times from 2017 numbers. Even the "ban" on plastic bag usage locally has been forgotten. Why does the government allow the poisoning of the people and the land?

Obviously the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), which is operating as the importer and facilitator between the private hospitals and Moderna supplier, is completely unaware that Thailand is in a complete mess and need any vaccine urgently. Preparing purchase documents now for signing in early August is completely unacceptable. Documents today, sign tomorrow would be my timetable. One assumes that Pinocchio and Anutin know about this.

Still unable to get a date for my first jab!

I have been driving happily in Thailand for many years and would like to pass on some observations which might be of use. I would reiterate that these are observations and not criticisms.

My Thai friend can, while driving at 80kph. see a Ferrari parked 100 metres up a side street but he cannot see those helpful signs on the verge of the road. I have tried to rectify this but came up against a brick wall. My understanding -- which may be quite wrong -- is that since these signs and their content are not of Thai origin, they do not exist.

Have you noticed that when, on an intermediate floor, some people have no clue if the lift is going up or down?

Some drivers obviously are not sure how to get to their destination and, like most Thais, are not familiar with maps. They can cause great danger when suddenly crossing many lanes, not being in the left lane in sufficient time to make an orderly turn.

Whilst knowing how to control a car or motorcycle, many have no idea how to drive. Commercial vehicles, for instance, frequently tailgate -- not understanding their stopping distance. That one should take prevailing conditions into account is a non-starter, many accidents occur after rain as drivers do not slow down. Nor are potholes or built-up areas given proper attention.

Careful now, red light...........Red Light.........RED LIGHT !