Showing 101 - 110 of 130
Fate is in our hands
News, Postbag, Published on 27/03/2020
» Re: "Govt to invoke emergency rule", (BP, March 25). The government has absolute power but it still lacks a clear and comprehensive strategy besides implementing a lockdown. We should follow South Korea, as "(it's) one of only two countries with large outbreaks, alongside China, to flatten the curve of new infections.
Mass testing best
News, Postbag, Published on 21/03/2020
» The most effective and cheapest way of controlling the Covid-19 pandemic will be to conduct mass testing of the population, as urged by eminent French infectious diseases expert Dr Didier Raoult. He has pointed out that cheaply mass produced testing equipment is already available and is being used effectively in South Korea. Countries, including Thailand, should build up this mass testing capability as fast as it can and test as many people as possible. That way it will be possible to isolate only those who test positive and it also makes it possible to treat those who start showing symptoms early which boosts the chance of a favourable outcome for them. This will be far more effective than locking down entire populations of people who are not infected and causing a massive economic dislocation in the process. In Thailand's case, it may cost US$325 million (10.5 billion baht) to test the entire population, but that would be a drop in the bucket compared to the $8 billion cost of a 5% decline in GDP.
Unfounded beliefs
News, Postbag, Published on 22/02/2020
» Re: "Historic ruling offers pro-choice hope", (Opinion, Feb 21).
Time to get tough
News, Postbag, Published on 13/02/2020
» I agree wholeheartedly with the Feb 11 Editorial, "Army security needs review", about abuse of power between the higher echelons and their subordinates.
Constitutional perks
News, Postbag, Published on 04/02/2020
» The recent article re the ombudsmen's perks falls neatly into line with the similar perks granted to the judiciary which are perfectly explained in a very accurate assessment of recent Thai politics by the Cambridge University Press who articulated that "Meechai's constitution is designed to give more concrete power to an unelected elite minority -- the army, the judiciary and 'independent' organisations". It goes on to suggest that " the voters' electoral mandate will be less meaningful in deciding who should govern.
Easy, but dire, option
News, Postbag, Published on 03/02/2020
» Re: "Chinese tourists desert Phuket as virus spreads", (Online, Feb 1).
Deadly indifference
News, Postbag, Published on 20/12/2019
» Re: "Penal system gets it wrong", (Editorial, Dec 19).
Grateful to be here
News, Postbag, Published on 17/12/2019
» New rallies are the worst medicine for Thailand. Tourism and the economy are declining and unemployment is increasing.
Death of democracy
News, Postbag, Published on 16/12/2019
» It seems to me that Thailand and the US have the same problem in that their justice personnel are not unbiased or impartial. Both countries have reached a point where the followers of two political sides refuse to accept any decision made by a member of the opposition. In these cases, where a neutral judicial system is badly needed, we are finding judges that were selected for their party political opinion and owe their jobs to the chief.
Silencing the youth
News, Postbag, Published on 14/12/2019
» Well, let's see. This week we learned that the permafrost in the Arctic is thawing much faster than was anticipated which is going to lead to a faster rise of sea levels than we had anticipated.