OPINION

Lack of equality rife

Sanitsuda Ekachai in her July 25 article, "Ministry's power trip bad for people's health", points out that government officials and their families get four times the budget for their health programme than ordinary people, a situation that she sees as profoundly unequal.

Arfan Wattana once again questions the deaths of people of ethnic minority at the hands of the military, something the southerners share with the northern Lahu, and suggests there is a massive inequality between this and the treatment of the rest of Thai society.

Which brings us to how the legal and justice system works in such different ways according to your wealth, status and political leanings. Defamation gets harsher treatment than forcing airport closures, and driving offences can quite simply be deferred.

Equality, or the lack of it, appears to be at the root of many of this country's problems, but not at the top of any list I have seen for "things to fix". With politicians of all stripes being so much wealthier than the general population there seems little chance of getting this changed.

Two articles, "Fishing feels pinch of migrant squeeze" and "Labour recall costs hit home", (BP, July 26) illustrate a failure to accept that actions have consequences. You cannot have your cake and eat it.

If workers are employed illegally by their employers then the chances seem high that those employers are also not following the laws on minimum wages and proper employment conditions. The outcry about fishing industry conditions clearly showed that to be the case. Too often migrant workers are used to keep down costs by undercutting adequate wages and conditions, even though the current minimum wage is barely above subsistence.

Those complaining have failed to take a stand on whether employing workers illegally and often in poor conditions is right or wrong. The answer seems to be that it is OK so long as we benefit. This is not the right path for a civilised country. We should all be against human trafficking and its sister evil, the exploitation of migrant (or indeed local) workers. But that means we have to accept the consequences when we start to put that right.

As both articles indicated, the consequence of employing workers legally on proper terms and conditions is that costs rise, which the consumer must bear. There is a price for treating one's fellow man properly when he is employed to grow, catch or cook your food or provide any other service. It is one we should be willing to accept in order to support the fight back against trafficking and the exploitation of workers on our behalf.

Re: "BMA proposes 50kph city speed limit law", (BP, July 27).

Is the BMA serious about its proposal to ensure road safety in Bangkok? I dream of being able to achieve such fast speeds when it is reported that the average speed, especially in the rush-hour, is about half of the proposed limit.

If the BMA was truly serious about reducing accidents, a good start would be emulating Swedish regulations for obtaining a driving licence. These include being over 18, undergoing a pre-licence driving course, a provisional licence for one year, and a road test to ensure applicants' abilities. Will this ever happen in Thailand? Fat chance!

I remember being told by my secretary that her husband was about to buy her a car. I asked if she had been to a driving school and passed any test. She just laughed and told me her husband had taken her around the block for a few lessons and then she would just pay someone at the licensing department. Any surprise, therefore, the number of road accidents was so high?

Would whoever is responsible for the swamp that is Sukhumvit Soi 13 please get off their backside and do something about it?

Today yet another group of tourists trudging through the mess with their EmQuartier shopping bags were drenched in stinking grey water splashed all over them by a vehicle passing at high speed. I bet they won't be coming back to Bangkok next holiday.

postbag@bangkokpost.co.th