OPINION

How Belgium does it

Re: "Building roads safely", (Editorial, May 27).

Thanks for this editorial lead. For your information, in Belgium, where I am from, any batch of concrete used in construction has to be tested by pouring one litre of concrete in a cubic form, and submitting this sample, once cured, to tests destined to verify the quality of the concrete.

The results of these tests are consigned in a register, that can be checked any time by the client/owner, as well as the authorities. On top of that, works where safety is primordial are constantly checked by an independent authority, to avoid the kind of accident experienced on Rama II Road.

Re: "MFP, Pheu Thai to huddle over House Speaker post row", (BP, May 28).

One solution to this problem might be if Pheu Thai and MFP come to a gentleman's agreement as to who will be House Speaker with a view to that person resigning half way through the parliamentary term to then letting the other side have the position.

Certainly house speakers can resign but whether this solution is acceptable or legal in the view of the constitutional court or whoever has authority, I would not know. Another problem is that Pita Limjaroenrat may be disqualified as an MP because of the ruckus surrounding his alleged owning of media shares. And the MFP has no other prime ministerial candidate. So if they were to lose the prime ministership and the House speaker, that would be bad news.

Re: "Lawyer group calls to screen lese majeste complaints", (BP, May 27).

The intent of establishing such an oversight body, if made a compulsory entry point requirement in laying Section 112 charges, will surely be a positive step to properly respecting the monarchy.

It would lessen abuse and minimise the use of this law for personal or political purposes, especially if the panel includes at least one prominent and reputable representative of the Crown Administration.

Re: "Novids warned as Covid on the rise", (BP, May 27).

According to the director general of the DMS, Supakij Sirilak, "more than 40% of Covid-19 patients who died had not received any jabs."

What this means is that almost 60% of those who died were vaccinated at least once, with the majority getting the vaccines more than once.

The director general also neglected to warn people that 1 in 13 vaccine recipients had sought medical attention afterwards and many of those had severe side effects -- with the risk of disability or even death. Full disclosure and informed consent are fundamental principles of public health communications.

No public health policy should function as a means to advocate dangerous experimental medical treatments while disregarding public safety.

This policy must be changed. In addition, "Novids" is a disparaging reference to those who have exercised their fundamental human right not to be treated without their permission. Your newspaper should avoid insulting, fear mongering headlines such as this one.