Why is the BMA exempt from complying with pollution laws?
A new retaining wall is being constructed along the south side of Klong Phra Khanong by the BMA, downstream of the flood control station, near Soi Phum Chit. This is the result of constant flooding into the adjacent Waterford Rama 4 condominium building. It has been going on for several months, and evidently will take some time to complete. Part of this construction involves driving steel forming sections into the side bank. This week, a huge tracked excavator mounted on a floating barge was being used as a "hammer" to drive the steel sections into the ground.
Apart from the deafening noise caused by this procedure, the diesel engine of the excavator was emitting so much thick black smoke that at times the machine itself was barely visible! As this is happening less than 10 metres from the condominium building, the smoke is being blown straight into the building. Why is this allowed to happen?
Old Farang
Guilty as charged
Thailand's move to become the world leader in EV battery production is not a good thing (Business, Feb 5). The pollution associated with manufacturing batteries is staggering and detrimental to the local environment. Two countries with major pollution issues on multiple levels, China and Thailand, are the two competing for market dominance.
Thailand is not known for regulation compliance and is one of the more corrupt countries, so how will environmental regulations concerning battery production be drafted and enforced? If making batteries is such a great money-maker, why are the batteries not produced in the countries that demand them? Would make fiscal sense if the most expensive component of a product was locally sourced. They are not manufactured in first world nations because compliance with environmental standards makes the venture cost prohibitive.
Darius Hober
PM lacks backbone
It is said that former US president Richard Nixon faced impeachment because he was … well, Richard Nixon, and the public could not stand him anymore. It is said of the American public that if they do not like a president, he could be ticketed for jay-walking, but, if he was liked (like Ronald Reagan), he could get away with almost anything.
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is teetering on the brink of his popularity now. He is alienating the Australians and many Thais, over the extradition issue of the Bahraini footballer.
Thailand is such a sudden adherent to a red Interpol notice. Did Gen Prayut notice how other countries have ignored his requests for the extradition of "fugitive" Thai nationals abroad? Like the Thai baht being worthless outside of Thailand, Gen Prayut will soon find himself obsolete and redundant, unless he shows some backbone.
David James Wong
Australian ignorance?
Hakeem al-Araibi received advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia, which based its decision on an international convention before travelling to Thailand. The Australian Home Affairs Department seemed to be ignorant of this convention.
Australians have seen similar matters occur before and lament that it caused the death of young citizens and consigned others to languish in an Asian jail for decades. Thailand should feel in no way embarrassed or be criticised for following Interpol protocol. Given time Thailand will right this wrong and hold its head up high. It's a shame Australia will not be able to do the same.
Bali Bob
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