PostBag
Songkran revellers insist on drinking, then driving, and persist in throwing water from trucks (yes, I know this practice was banned, but enforceable in Bangkok only. Here in my area it goes on in front of the local police). Fines are minimal and laughed at, and offenders continue to repeat the same offences. Only death is final. Confiscating vehicles, revoking the driver's licences for life, 5,000-baht fines, and long jail terms might be the only thing many people understand. It might take a while to catch on, but at least my possible solutions offer more than the government's vague Songkran instructions.
OHPCHOI
Thanks for a good read
Re "Songkran _ of wallets and water wars" ( BP, April 14).
I very much enjoyed reading this article. It was the best New Year's gift to me by the Bangkok Post editors.
Thank you, and a Happy New Year!
R H SUGA
Lamphun
Service far from uniform
"It's in the mail" (PostBag, April 15).
Does Yankeleh really live in the same Thailand as the rest of us? Every district is a law unto itself. I deal with the Nakhon Sawan immigration office which I have absolutely no complaints about whatsoever. They are always courteous and helpful and also appear to abide by the Bangkok rules.
However, prior to their opening some three years ago the immigration department I used to deal with were obstructive in every possible way.
They interpreted the rules to suit themselves and I was not the only farang to be treated in this manner.
With regards to the postal service, this also varies considerably from area to area. Yankeleh appears to be one of the lucky ones.
BRIAN STOCKS
Grad student aid welcome
Re: "Brain drain fears spark scholarship plan" (BP, April 15).
While there will be some movement of well-educated young Thais _ those who can critically think their way through problems and then express their solutions in English _ it is highly doubtful that there will be a mass migration to Asean countries that pay much higher salaries for qualified people.
Still though, the plan to be developed by the Office of the Higher Education Commission to provide more financial aid for Thai graduate students is a welcome beginning provided the standards for doctoral degrees granted by Thai universities are brought up to a western standard. Producing more of the same old thing really isn't worth the investment.
BRIAN QUINBY
UN picks well in Brown
Debates have been going on in PostBag and elsewhere over the relative merits and demerits of Margaret Thatcher's political legacy. Just about the only thing people can agree on is that she made a difference, as if that were a worthy end in itself.
So it was heartening on April 13 to read about the conviction and commitment of another former British prime minister, Gordon Brown, in his role as UN special envoy for global education. To the extent that his efforts to secure the rights of girls everywhere to education and empowerment are successful, there can be no question that he will make a difference for the good.
CHRIS JEFFERY
Weather forecasts faulty
This is the second time I have complained about the weather forecast for Bangkok which was completely inaccurate for last Thursday and Friday. There seems to be not even a cloud above Thailand in the accompanying diagram while in reality we had heavy downpours. The second page of the paper today shows the flooded streets after torrential rain fell in several parts of Bangkok yesterday. Still today is supposed to be "hot with haze during the day". Who needs such an inaccurate forecast? Better improve it, as some people want to know what the weather will be like.
FRED
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/04/16/punish-drink-drivers/
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