If the junta's soiree to the Northeast is not blatant touting for popularity and eventual votes, I don't know what is.
The only difference is it used to be plastic buckets and washing powder. Now it's the promise of a few new multi-billion-baht projects.
As the man said to the Devil at the entrance to Hell: "You promised me Heaven". The Devil replied: "That was when I was touting for followers. Now I have them."
Ron Martin
Justice for all
Re: "Chalerm's son surrenders to answer assault charge", (BP, July 23).
Wan, son of politician Chalerm Yubamrung, turned himself in and was charged with injuring Panuwat Punnarattanakul in Soi Thong Lor, Bangkok.
Allegedly, Wan and four friends kicked and punched Panuwat, who had quarrelled with Wan's son in Singapore, and one of Wan's friends warned Panuwat's friend off with a gun, firing shots into the air. Mr Chalerm has been a leading light of the Pheu Thai Party.
Flashback to 2001: Wan's elder brother, then named Duangchalerm, was accused of shooting dead an on-duty police officer in a Bangkok entertainment place. He fled to Malaysia, turning himself in after 182 days, during which time the CCTV video of the incident became lost and witnesses' memories grew foggy. The case was acquitted due to insufficient evidence and conflicting witness accounts.
PM Prayut, you grabbed power allegedly to cleanse us of corruption and enforce one standard for all. Yet, for example, the rich brat Vorayuth, wanted for the hit-and-run killing of a cop, remains at large after many years, and the investigation into the true owner of Deputy PM Prawit's ultra-expensive watches is going nowhere. This is an opportunity to show that you put the country above vested interests, and deserve to lead us after elections.
Will we see justice done, or old-style cronyism and double standards? PM Prayut, the choice is yours.
Burin Kantabutra
Tramming the cave
After the heroic rescue of the boys and their coach from Tham Luang cave, much is being said about turning the cave into a major tourist attraction.
I have been visiting caves in many countries for well over 60 years, starting as a member of a caving club and now confined to doing the best I can to tour "show caves" (those with a path and lighting). I would like to share some thoughts as to how Tham Luang might be developed with minimum disruption to those who reside in the area, once the system is in operation.
One possible solution would be to use a custom-designed electric tramway. The starting point would be inside a museum/tourist complex at least a couple of kilometres away from the cave. The tram cars could carry up to 20 people each adding units as required. This would be an all-weather system and give cave access to the disabled and elderly. Advantages are that tourists would have to remain in the cars and thus not get lost, create litter, damage the formations or take souvenirs.
The tramcars would have transparent roofing and to avoid unsightly lighting cables in the cave, the light sources would be on the tramcars themselves -- all sorts of effects possible. Continuous communication with the operator would be available for safety. Assuming that the length of time actually inside the cave is not longer than 25 minutes, two tours an hour could be undertaken.
The cave should also remain open to those properly equipped and experienced to explore it on foot.
Crustasian
Empty bullet trains
Re: "Losses predicted for high-speed railway", (BP, July 25).
At last, the SRT management is beginning to think with its brain instead of thinking only hi-tech. The loss of ridership on many of the high-speed lines will plummet due to high ticket prices, and fewer stations will mean fewer passengers as well. I would not pay 1,000 baht for a ticket from Bangkok to Phitsanoluk no matter how fast or convenient it might be. How many other travellers would fork out big money?
The SRT is better off modernising its rolling stock, acquiring new engines, completing the dual-track system, and adding non-stop express trains between long-distance destinations.
What profit (and to whom) are bullet trains if they run nearly empty?
Casey Jones
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