Surasak Glahan in his Feb 7 commentary, "Justice system still shackled by politics", hit the nail on the head. Thailand as we all know has a bad human rights record. I can only blame the people who are handling this case, which I am sorry to say will harm Thailand in the long run, with a loss in the number of tourists. I would like to know the number of Bahraini tourists versus Australian tourists coming to Thailand. I would dare say there are more Australians.
Barry Wallace
PM's one-man show
First, Mr Chavala, please note that Interpol issued a red alert. A country itself cannot do it. Next, kindly note that the red alert was cancelled and a standdown was issued afterward. Note that the Thai PM does indeed lack the backbone to intervene. He is a one-man show who invokes his famous Section 44 any time he pleases. It is really so hard to do a friend a favour? Australia is considered a close friend and ally of Thailand.
Notice how Section 44 was not of course used when Deputy PM General Rolex was accused of corruption. To say something would have taken backbone. Some have it, others lack it.
David James Wong
Not our 'red notice'
Due to misreporting on the matter, the Australian government would like clear up confusion regarding the Interpol "red notice" issued against Hakeem al-Araibi.
Australia never issued a red notice against Araibi.
This red notice was issued by Bahrain on Nov 8, 2018, shortly before Araibi travelled to Bangkok.
The red notice should never have been issued because of Araibi's status as a protected refugee. This was a breach of Interpol's regulations.
The Australian government was not initially aware of this and in line with Interpol procedure notified Thailand of Araibi's travel.
When the Australian government became aware of the situation, we ensured the red notice was rescinded. This happened on Nov 30, only three days after Araibi arrived in Bangkok.
Australia is reviewing our procedures so that this does not happen again.
The Australian government has said unequivocally on many occasions that Araibi should be returned to Australia, where he is a permanent resident with protected status, as soon as possible.
James Fettes
Public Diplomacy Manager,
Australian Embassy, Bangkok
Highway travel woes
I often travel on motorway between Bangkok and Pattaya. The speed limit for cars is 120kph and there are numerous signs indicating this. There are, however, even more numerous electronic signs (some of which have malfunctioned) indicating the number 90 which I take to be an indication of the speed limit. I am wondering how many more years it will take the authorities to sort this out.
If I really wanted to nitpick, I could also mention that there are at least two electronic signs advising to reduce speed before tollgates that no longer exist.
We all know how Thailand prides itself in having very clean public toilets, but the highway authority (if it is responsible for the well-used services at Km 49/50) doesn't seem to have got round to this yet. especially the toilets for the disabled in particular. One might perhaps be forgiven for thinking that they have not been serviced since they were opened. The walls and floors are grimey, there is insect infestation, and much of the equipment is either missing or broken.
Considering the amount of cash which pours into the tollbooths is it too much to ask that some of those giant toilet rolls be installed where they would do the most good?
Crustasian
Praise be to Prayut
Say what you will about Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha: good, bad, indifferent. He deserves praise for the army and navy helping to rebuild the destroyed Moken community that was wiped out in a fire a few days ago.
Moken Mango
Who needs a system?
I heard this week that the new top dog at the Immigration Bureau, aka "Big Joke", has issued a Police Directive (35/2561 effective on March 1, 2019) that requires expats to virtually have a continual amount of 400,00 baht in a Thai bank and (as before) 800,000 baht three months before applying for a visa extension on a retirement visa. Since several embassies have stopped income validation, this will likely affect many expats.
The details are not the question though. How is it that a police directive can become law without it being duly ratified by government? Local by-laws are not the same, as this is an international requirement for any foreigner living in or wanting to retire in Thailand. It is not about dropping a cigarette at the ends of streets either. This seems to be a diktat imposed by a high-ranking official.
With the election on the horizon I suggest voters should consider that in Thailand apparently not all "laws" are made with due process by politicians.
Fireman Sam
Excuse my English
Alliance Francaise, created by Francophiles at the end of 19th century, is present and well-known in more than a hundred countries around the world.
Since it's duty is to spread and protect the French language, it is extremely shocking that a conference on the famous French impressionist painter Claude Monet was held at the Alliance Francaise in Bangkok, on Feb 2, in its main amphitheatre … in English.
This begs the obvious question: has the Alliance Francaise in Bangkok been changed into the Alliance Anglaise, and if so, why?
Michel Muscadier
Some uplifting news
A local newspaper last week ran some excellent news from Thailand that I hadn't seen. A farmer from Ubon Ratchathani was pictured standing in his rice field with plants taller than himself, multiple stalks on each plant, and large grains in great numbers. And all this was accomplished with less water, less methane production, and with no chemicals. The seeds are planted further apart, organic matter used as fertiliser, and then the crop is subjected to alternate wet and dry periods instead of constant flooding. Yields were doubled, water use halved and all at no extra expense. The increase is put down to more oxygen and less competition from neighbouring plants.
Brought by Thai-German cooperation, it is a great example of international knowledge helping local people to improve their lives. Good news indeed.
Lungstib
A silent New Year
I was amazed by the quiet Chinese New Year day celebrations. The deafening sound of firecrackers was almost totally absent here in Pattaya. Was there a reason for this? Mind you, I am not complaining!
Oliver Minto
BTS signs go nowhere
Letter to the BTS: First let me say that I've used the Skytrain since day one and found it to be the most reliable train service I've encountered. But nothing is perfect -- may I point out the silliest change I've seen since the new banknotes have moved the value to the bottom right hand corner.
These are the new platform signs along the platforms. This is particularly silly and unhelpful at Siam station. Let me elaborate -- the signs now say "SIAM" in large letters. These are only visible from the platform, not from the train, as the sign is a level above the train.
I must point out that if I'm standing on the platform at Siam, I know I'm at Siam! What I need to know is the final destination (or direction) of the train.
The previous signage was perfect -- why change it? Please think again.
Then again, there's also the unnecessary deafening whistling by the station attendants -- but that's a story for another day.
Patanawet
White migrants only?
Re: "Trump wants more legal migrants", (BP, Feb 8).
The statement made by US President Trump in his State of the Union address that he wanted people to come to the US "in the largest numbers ever" seems highly incongruous given his track record. So far in his presidency, Mr Trump has done everything in his power to reduce or eliminate immigration by eager migrants from most countries of South and Central America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Presumably, what Mr Trump really means is that he'd like to increase the number of white European entering the US. This would be consistent with his well-publicised statement made in January 2018 that he wanted to see more immigrants "from places like Norway".
When the real intentions of Mr Trump are revealed, it is likely that he is spouting the same bigoted, divisive, racist perspectives that he has always held. Nothing incongruous at all!
Samanea Saman
Meaningless tests
How can so many vehicles spewing out black smoke drive around on the roads? The annual vehicle inspection for motorbikes over five years old and cars over seven years old, carried out by private inspection centres, is an exercise in form. In most cases, no actual testing is carried out and only the frame or chassis number copied in order to fill out the form.
Why bother with actual testing (substance) when all that is actually needed to pass the test is correctly filling out the form? When you then get the certificate (form) to submit to the Land Transport Department to pay your annual road tax and ask the inspection centre to actually inspect (substance) your car, all you get is a blank stare. Yet another everyday example of form equalling substance and substance being attributed to form.
Jan Schauseil
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