It is good news that the railway project that links Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima is moving ahead in November (BP, Sept 26).
But there is one curious question: If the railway is meant to link the Sino-Lao-Thai railway system in order to increase the flow of traffic between China and Thailand, why don't we build the Nong Khai to Nakhon Ratchasima line first?
If so, Chinese tourists can come down through Laos and open up the unexplored tourism industry for the great Isan area, not to mention that many Isan goods, especially agricultural products, can become competitive by travelling via the new rail line to China.
Instead of shunting the Isan region which is widely believed by the regime to be the political base of their opposition, it should build up credit among the people there by implementing solid projects that can enhance the region's economy, not the other way round.
Yingwai Suchaovanich
Hard to eat healthy
Disgruntled Consumer has a point when he mentioned the shortcomings of Thai products. Thai turkeys are certainly not comparable to Western turkeys, Thai pork has been shown to be riskier to eat than Western pork (trichinosis), Thai jasmine rice has been proven to cause health problems (high blood sugar and diabetes) and the government does not appear to be doing anything to improve the health of its citizens since it fears demonstrations by farmers, yet at the same time promotes eating jasmine rice while complaining about rising health costs. I am sure that someone here can GM basmati rice (far healthier) to smell fragrant. So what is the problem?
Perhaps if the government took measures to show how to produce healthier products, there would be no criticism. And yes, French and Italian breads are healthier than the local loaves loaded with carbs.
And no, I would not go to Central Food Hall just to buy bread. I prefer doing my shopping at Big C or Lotus.
And as for complainers, Jack Gilead is right there at the top. If the shoe fits, wear it.
J James
Blinded by hatred
Re: "Tribalism lets the blind lead the blind", (Opinion, Sept 26).
The writer's obsessive hatred for PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has led her to compare the sex hazing scandal at Silpakorn University with the coup and the seizure of Suvarnabhumi airport by the yellow shirts.
By doing this she diverts the reader's attention about a serious subject that needs a thorough reform and prosecution by those responsible, in order to rant on her favourite subject: a biased negative opinion about this government, which incidentally, has the approval of the majority of Thai citizens.
Clara Holzer
'Dignified' crimes
On Tuesday we were treated to the amazing spectacle of a man who was convicted for intentionally failing to declare assets being handed a jail sentence of 10 months. Supoj Saplom had 64 million baht confiscated according to the article, a huge amount which it has been decided was amassed by corruption. It seems stealing from the state and the taxpayer is not looked on as a serious offence and one can only wonder what his sentence would have been if he had robbed a bank of this same amount.
Lungstib
Cat-and-dog coverage
While we are getting regular updates regarding the student who allegedly poisoned dogs for profit we have heard nothing more about the man in Trang who, as in a Sept 7 report, tied two small cats by the neck to the back of a Mitsubishi pickup and dragged them down the road until one was dead.
This appalling act of cruelty seems to have dropped out of the news even though the time and place of this sad story is well known as is, apparently, the name of the offender, who is a regular customer at the gas station where the offence was witnessed by gas station staff and customers.
Many of us would appreciate it if you would provide further reports as to what action has been taken by the authorities in this case.
Bob Terry
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