Your May 31 editorial "Tickets to ride too expensive" neglects an important consideration. While I have no problem with making the electric trains more affordable so more low-income people can use them, doing so without adding to capacity will only make the city's traffic problems worse.
Right now, trains are filled to capacity, and some platforms are dangerously overcrowded during peak periods. If you add tens of thousands of low-income passengers (who now rely on buses) but fail to increase train capacity accordingly, many middle-class people who currently use the trains will abandon them for private vehicles, thus exacerbating the city's already horrendous traffic.
George Rothschild
Collective derangement
Re: "Set record straight", (PostBag, May 31).
The presumption of innocence is a fundamental aspect of Roman law, Islamic law and many other legal systems in history. It is so important to modern democracies, republics and constitutional monarchies that it is enshrined in their constitutions and is defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 11.
In the US, the presumption of innocence is widely regarded to be derived from the 5th, 6th and 14th amendments to the constitution, yet Eric Bahrt (one of the dwindling few who still watch CNN), whines about President Trump, saying "it's absurd to suggest he's entitled to the same presumption of innocence as the average US citizen".
The genuine absurdity is the effort to legitimise current collective derangement on the left in the form of statements like Mr Bahrt's.
Michael Setter
Just another cover-up
Re: "World of cover-ups", (PostBag, May 30).
Has Samanea Saman forgotten about an outspoken politician who played a key role in the 1976 massacre at Thammasat University? This same politician did worse, but somehow he came out smelling like an angel and eventually became governor of Bangkok. Many sordid events he took part in only came to light after he died. But he was never held accountable. Worry about the dirtiness, corruption, lying, allegations, murders and more in Thai politics instead of worrying about what Mr Trump says or how he goes about doing it. Trump is obviously no angel, but show me one Thai politico, aside from the much respected, beloved Gen Prem Tinsulanonda -- a virtuous light in a somewhat dark sky -- who was or is not now involved in a cover-up.
Please don't forget the five youngsters, related to high-ranking police officers, who were involved in almost killing a disabled bread seller in Bangkok a few years ago. Ever hear anything further about it? No, of course not. Cover-up, cover-up, cover-up.
David James Wong
Dying Thai tourism
Re: "How to destroy tourism", (PostBag, May 26).
Following my previous letter regarding immigration problems, I realised I still had the phone number of the former head of Nakhon Si Thammarat's immigration office, so I rang him for clarification. He said he did indeed remember me and his recommendation that I shouldn't use a tourist visa, and instead arrive for 30 days then extend for 30 more. He was empathetic and offered to get on the phone with his previous office to straighten it out for me. I had already rushed to change my flight plans so had to decline.
Here is the dilemma: the same immigration office gave two very different interpretations of the same law. I made the fatal mistake of telling the second official I thought he was wrong when he said I must go to the Malaysian border to get 30 more days. I said that's exactly what the Thai government said it didn't want people doing. No official will ever admit they could be wrong and no Thai male in general can accept any perceived criticism. Yet, the former boss told me straight out that the official was wrong and I was in the right.
Lastly, when I arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport, I was shocked. The place was empty. Europeans have obviously given up on Thailand. Thirty years ago Phuket was full of Germans, Swiss and Italians. I saw a Thai woman in Nakhon Si Thammarat who went to Phuket to sell fruit near the beach. She said Phuket was dying and even Thais are leaving as there is no money to be made there. I tried to warn people there 20 years ago that if they kept cheating tourists they wouldn't come back, and once they go elsewhere they'll stick to the new place that they enjoy.
So now we have a very low exchange rate and unhelpful immigration who seem hellbent on making things as complicated and difficult as possible for the visitor. Even my Thai niece was threatened with refusal of entry into Thailand as they said she had dual citizenship.
Ex-regular Tourist
Too many fat kids
In his May 28 letter, Baffled Reader notes the international obesity crisis. I remember when I was a school boy there was only one fat kid in each class and the other students would always make fun of him/her. Today I imagine the kid who isn't fat would be laughed at for being so unusual.
Eric Bahrt
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