OPINION

Berry-picking woes

Re: "Slim pickings for Thais on foreign soil", (BP, Oct 17).

For as long as I can remember, each year at this time, stories appear in the media describing the exploitation of Thai workers who have travelled to Sweden and Finland to pick berries. The tales are always the same, chronicling misleading enticements and unfulfilled promises of high pay, outlandish fees charged by brokers, exceedingly long hours of tedious work in the forest, and unpaid wages.

The question needs to be asked why this exploitation is allowed to continue. By now, the Ministry of Labour is certainly well aware of the abusive schemes of brokers and employers. The ministry probably even knows the specific individuals and companies responsible for such unfair practices. So why isn't appropriate action being taken to put a halt to such exploitation?

Fruits of labour

Re: "Slim pickings for Thais on foreign soil", (BP, Oct 17).

Australian farmers in Griffith are in despair with unpicked fruit rotting on the ground due to a labour shortage. The minimum wage is A$26 an hour. Surely some diplomatic liaison with the Australian embassy by Thai bona fide labour organisations could be a win-win situation for Australian farmers and Thai workers for next season.

Six of one?

Re: "CBD oil eases meth withdrawal", (BP, Oct 21).

Well, to someone who is sceptical of cannabis products (and probably to foreigners from conservative nations that have not decriminalised marijuana), the very headline of this article begs us to question if using cannabis to cure a different drug addiction is simply six of one or half a dozen of another?

Thailand's recent cannabis/marijuana decriminalisation has left many onlooking nations (and even our own doctors) scratching their heads. Since this is completely irregular for many nations and not considered the best medical practice, I think it is not only fair to ask if using pot to ease/cure an addiction to another drug is simply swapping one addiction for another, but also rhetorically question if there is no condition which marijuana/cannabis does not treat?

Put it in coffee. Put it in tea. Treat meth-heads with it. Maybe use it for an ingrown toenail or, to channel Eric Bahrt, why not use cannabis to treat the hives on your buttocks? Have no fear for cannabis is here! ... but you make sure you wear a mask to keep us all safe, unless you're eating funny brownies, of course.

Beware Xi's gifts

Re: "Another Xi term sits well with business sector", (Business, Oct 17).

The business news article reads like Alice In Wonderland as retold by the Chinese ambassador.

The single reference to reality was a brief mention that China's GDP is at a 30-year low. The rest is a fairytale of utopian nonsense and imaginary prosperity just around the corner.

Given his absolute power, it should be obvious that Xi is the architect of this mess. From the origins of Covid, a behemoth real-estate collapse, the computer chip drought, severe youth disenchantment, and failed foreign policies, China is not the shining stuff of Disneyism.

Thais should be more cautious with their enthusiasm and exercise restraint when it comes to Emperor Xi bearing gifts.

China's stranglehold

Re: "US plans for Pacific misguided", (Opinion, Oct 18).

Kavi Chongkittavorn says that the USA engages other nations with a security mindset of "I win, you lose", but China uses "win-win" policies. Mr Kavi must not have gone very far to see what kind of benefits Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Asean members have benefited from China's dominance in the region. We also know that many South American and African countries have gained nothing from China's "win-win" philosophy.

In addition, the ongoing strife in the South China Sea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and the abuse of resources in the Mekong are other examples of the belligerence of China in the region. If allowed, China will have a stranglehold on the Thai economy also.

Mr Kavi should also know that the USA is one of the biggest investors in China. Yes, US plans for the Pacific may be misguided, but they are needed to curb China's belligerence. Mr Kavi should also note that before China became No 2, Japan and South Korea were great economic powers. They never threatened others the way China is doing now. The USA remains a shining light and hope for countries with all its problems. The proof is in the pudding. The USA is the country with the largest number of Chinese immigrants. What other proof does Mr Kavi need about misguided US policies?

No disabled access

Re: "A bigger role for the disabled", (Opinion, Oct 20).

An interesting article regarding the disabled. It is so true what was posted. More needs to be done to help these people drive around Thailand frequently and see new roads constructed, sometimes dividing towns and villages.

Footbridges only have been constructed but not once have I seen any with access for the disabled. How on earth they can cross a main highway is beyond me. Surely, these footbridges could be built with a ramp instead of steps so that wheelchairs and prams could navigate them.

Mountain B queries

Re: "Pub fire victim dies in hospital", (BP, Oct 17).

Another victim of the Mountain B pub fire of Aug 5 has died, raising the death toll to 25 -- and her family hadn't been given enough funds to even cover her hospital costs. The pub owner's guilt is evidently undisputed. He should have at least been forced to cover all medical expenses of victims as they were incurred -- rather than the victims having to possibly forgo treatment for lack of funds. Also, wasn't the pub required to have fire insurance? If so, why hasn't the owner been charged for not having it?

Aren't the police investigating why the local cops didn't catch the many obvious illegal modifications made that turned Mountain B into a deathtrap -- like using highly combustible materials and lacking wide, clearly marked fire exits? New top cop Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas should dig deep and swiftly punish any corrupt cops to restore public trust in the men and women under his command.

Equipping the cops

Re: "Gun loopholes need plugging", (Editorial, Oct 18).

It was some 40 years ago that law enforcement in Florida, USA, started issuing firearms to their patrolmen rather than having the patrolmen buy their own firearms. Control and accountability were some of the concerns. The training was made easier and more effective when all patrolmen carried and trained with firearms.

When I started in law enforcement, the firearms carried were a mismatch of 38's, 357's and 44's, long-barrel, four-inch or snub. Holsters were worn on the hip, cross draw or slung low on the hip for that Hollywood feel. It was fun for sure comparing weapons and discussing ballistics while shooting out road signs on slow midnight shifts but overall, it was best when the departments issued standardised weapons and accounted for every round of ammo issued.

My firearm was given to me upon my retirement as all the firearms were given to deputies who retired.

It is expensive to outfit one cop -- uniforms, cars, firearms, ongoing training, and whatnot. But that is an expense that government and or taxpayers should provide. The money needed to equip the police in the Land of Smiles should be found and used to equip your police with a heavy emphasis on training.

Drug violence

Re: "One more thing?" (PostBag, Oct 20).

I noticed with enthusiastic agreement Mr Jellison's suggestion of "random drug-testing of state security personnel (with no exceptions), and mandatory psychological tests of armed security personnel".

If the United States did this with its gun owners, they might have many fewer mass shootings. (And yes, I checked that 70%+ of firearms used in mass shootings were obtained legally).

Like it or lump it

Re: "Abortion top of list in midterms", (BP, Oct 20) & "CBD oil eases meth withdrawal", (BP, Oct 21).

More in today's Post about abortion and cannabis. At the individual level (where they belong) these are simple issues. If you don't like cannabis, don't use it. If you don't like abortion, don't have one.

Forget forecasts

I ask again why the Bangkok Post online front-page weather forecast is always wildly different to other publications or sources. In the case of Bangkok, it has published the same figures (22/32) for months. Better not bother at all.

Time for Target

Re: "Back on Target", (PostBag, Oct 21).

The Bangkok Post is to be congratulated for listening to its readers and restoring Target to the puzzle page. When I have gotten used to reading a particular newspaper, I feel it is "my newspaper", and get upset when its mere proprietors change things without consultation or explanation.

Now excuse me, I must finish Target by finding the nine-letter word.

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