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Pure lunacy at traffic light junction
Dear Editor,
Re: incident 12th September, Sukhumvit/ Wat Boom traffic lights.
At approximately 1-45 pm I was turning right from Sukhumvit into Soi Wat
Boom. The lights had turned green and when the green right turn arrow light
came on I proceeded to drive slowly towards Soi Wat Boom.
The traffic in Sukhumvit had stopped when suddenly in the left lane a line
of seven to eight large tourist buses hurtled through the red light, which
had been red for a good 30 seconds, within a few yards from my vehicle.
If I had not been cautious as I usually am at busy junctions such as this I
would not be here now writing this letter to you. No police were around (as
usual) and the lights were functioning as usual and no warning of any sort
was given. I shudder to think what horrors would have ensued had the buses
hit me as there must have been only a few feet between each bus which were
going at least 60 to 70 mph. What sort of civilised country allows this sort
of thing to happen? I know that train passengers take high risks when
travelling on trains here but this driving is gross negligence from which
Thailand authorities never seem to learn.
It is bad enough seeing families with young children, 5 on a motorbike. I
have been driving for over 20 years on Thai roads and every day I see the
most moronic incidents of bad driving which, with the increase of motor
vehicles on the roads, are happening more and more often. The Thai people
deserve better; much better!
Needless to say I did not sleep well last night and can only thank God again
and again for looking after me.
Yours sincerely,
Stanley L Feldman
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Who’s at fault
Editor;
Is it true that no matter whose at fault in an accident, the foreigner has
to pay?
A friend of mine had a motorbike accident Sunday night: a kid driving too
fast cut in front of him and they both were hurt, but luckily, not too bad.
The kid had no license. The police made my friend pay 14,000 baht, why?
Driving here, we must be crazy but for most of us its necessary and we would
be lost without our cars.
I believe that if the Thai government allows us to live here and we abide by
all their laws, we should be treated the same. Maybe this should be
something for the new Friday night court could answer.
JB
Ed’s reply: The answer to this is long and complicated. The short answer is,
no, the foreigner is not always found to be at fault. I know this from first
hand experience. But there are many inconsistencies, and unless you’re
willing to drag out the affair and possibly go to court (the new “tourist”
court would be good for this), you’re pretty much at the whim of the
attending officer. Some are good, some not so good.
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Aussie expats refused pension
Dear Editor,
Re: British Expats complain because their incoming age pension is not
indexed due to their living in Thailand. The Brits living here in Pattaya
should be happy with their lot. Consider us Aussie expats (of pensionable
age) who cannot get the age pension at all from the Australian Government.
If you are an Australian Citizen, 65 or above, you can apply for the age
pension from within Australia (application is also means tested). However,
if you have lived here in Thailand and have not returned to Australia within
the last two years you cannot get the pension at all. You are considered a
“non-resident of Australia”.
I was born in Sydney and spent my entire professional working life there and
paid taxes all that time from age 18 to 60, before I retired and moved to
live in Thailand, assuming I would be able to get the age pension when the
time arrived.
I have now been advised in writing by the relevant Ministers Office, that to
apply, I must return to Australia and live there full time for two years to
become eligible. If successful, I cannot then leave the country for the next
6 months and if absent for more than 13 weeks after that, I will lose the
pension.
That scenario is out of the question as my home, family and life are all
here in Thailand and I have nothing left to return to in Australia.
Shame! Shame! Shame Australia!
Signed “Jingjo”
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Run but can’t hide
Editor;
Re: Dark irony as Pattaya, Marine Department lecture 100 boat operators on
safety 24 hours before deadly speedboat crash (PM Friday, 13 September 2013)
- Run & Hide - The great Joe Louis, a famous American heavyweight champion
said these famous words before a bout in 1941, “you can run but you can’t
hide”. Sadly, here in Thailand we see many instances of the “run & hide”
strategy. Apart from the horrific boat accident where two tourists died, a
few months ago in Pattaya two speedboat drivers crashed causing injuries to
a boatload of Chinese tourists, one lost his leg; naturally they used the
“run & hide” strategy. Then we see the Red Bull heir brutally run down &
kill a Bangkok policeman, then use the tried & true “run & hide” strategy.
Recently four senior Bangkok policemen kidnapped two Italian tourists and
when apprehended, two of them apply the “run & hide” strategy.
We all shake our heads on seeing this cowardly behaviour then applaud when
the perpetrators are brought to justice. We also hope after seeing justice
applied that young Thais receive a positive lesson in life showing that
running away from problems is not the answer. Any and all lessons, however,
go down the drain when front pages of newspapers all around the world show a
Thai Airways plane had skidded off the runway at Suvarnabhumi late last
Sunday night which left 14 people injured, then some foolish executive
decided to have workmen paint over the name and corporate logo on the
aircraft in an effort to use the “run & hide” strategy. Now of course you
can’t run with a damaged Airbus but you can try and hide. That single stupid
reaction has sent one of the most negative messages about this wonderful
country, not only to Thai youngsters who learn from their elders, but to
people and businesses all over the world. The idiot responsible should be
made to write 1000 times on a blackboard on a footpath beside the busiest
intersection in Bangkok, “you can run but you can’t hide”.
David Herd
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Big bust
Editor;
I read with interest an article about the cops busting two women for
trafficking sex. They seized condoms and B1800. Wow, since when is money and
condoms illegal? The one lady was going ‘in the hole’ with her restaurant
and supposedly that is why she rented girls. Nothing new.
Singha Jerry
Eat pineapple
Editor;
Re: Gout and your diet (PM Friday, 13 September 201) - Eat pineapple!
Pineapple contains Bromelain which is a natural and safe anti-inflammatory.
I had gout and after a week of pineapple morning, noon and night, my gout
went and has never returned. So ditch those expensive tablets and go and buy
some fruits of which we are plentifully blessed here.
Stephen
Same old horse
new jockey
Editor;
Re: New Aussie government (PM Mailbag Friday, 13 September 2013) - Barack
Obama rang to congratulate Tony Abbott on his becoming the new Australian
Prime minister. During the conversation Mr Abbott stated that it would be
nice if a solution with the Syrian crisis could be found without military
intervention. But said as Australia considers itself as one of America’s
staunchest Allies, we would back the US whatever they decided to do (Daily
Telegraph 13/9/2013). Same old horse new jockey.
Bill
Growth does not
come from stimulus
Editor;
Re: State’s mammoth investments vital to Thailand’s economic growth (PM
Wednesday, 11 September 2013) - You can always tell when a country is in
deep trouble, when some “expert” says the only way to “stay rich” is for the
government to borrow money. (Which is exactly what this tool is saying.)
Growth does not come from “stimulus”. Debt comes from stimulus. There are no
examples (anywhere) to the contrary except in the minds of bookish
economists cum policy wonks.
OB
Leave Ling Ping in China
Editor;
Re: Countdown for Lin Ping’s mating trip back to Chengdu planned (PM
Tuesday, 10 September 2013) - I love Ling Ping dearly but hope that she
won’t return back to Thailand ever. Her homeland is China and that where she
should spend her future and the rest of her life there among all the pandas.
For those who try to bring her back, they are so ignorant and selfish.
Rin
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