OPINION

It's not entertaining

Re: "Parents and children explore a maze at 'The Maze Adventure'", (BP photo, April 1).

Seacon Square is currently exhibiting wild animals, and this isn't the first time that the department store has abused animals in this way. Snakes, birds, a monkey, a raccoon, and many other animals are subjected to a constant barrage of unwanted human contact and loud music.

Animals are naturally afraid of humans as well as unexpected movements and noises. They are being exploited for public encounters and used by people for photo ops.

The business model of "interactive" animal exhibitions rests solely on the exploitation of sensitive wild animals for harmful and dangerous public encounters. Never visit one of these attractions. No selfie is worth their suffering.

Vaccination legacy

Re: "Anti-vax downside", (PostBag, April 2).

Anti-vaxxers were vaccinated!

Ken Albertsen makes a valid point in his letter of April 2 in that the vast majority of the Western world population now aged over 65 were vaccinated for polio, smallpox, and other horrid diseases starting from the 1950s. Eric Bahrt and others from this age group must still bear the satang-sized scare on their left shoulder -- as I do.

Perhaps they should be grateful that their parents had the wisdom and courage to ensure they were vaccinated and they did not suffer as others did and they are still able to write letters to Post!

Land bridge pitfalls

Re: "Land bridge petition seeks House's help", (BP, March 7).

Recently, the Thai government introduced an alternative to the Kra Canal known as the Thailand Land Bridge Project. This land bridge concept involves unloading from a cargo ship, transferring the cargo from one port to the opposite port by train, and reloading all containers onto a different ship.

By having to transport the containers by train, only container ships would be able to use this land bridge. This method cannot be used by other vessel types, such as crude oil and liquid chemical tankers, LNG carriers, passenger ships, sensitive cargo, or military vessels. In simple terms, only container ships will be the only customers for passage along this route. With approximately 5,500 container ships, constituting roughly 5.5% of the entire ocean-going fleet, the land bridge's utility is limited to this fraction, leaving the remaining 95% of vessel types unable to use this land bridge.

Further, the unloading and loading of the containers would add at least one day at each end for an average container ship. Many container ships today can carry upward of 10,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). Using the average of a minute per container and four gantry cranes, the time to unload/load these 10,000 containers is 41 hours at each end, adding 3.5 days for using the land bridge. Waiting time to dock at each end would further add to the unproductive time of these costly container ships.

Transportation by train further complicates the process. With 100-150 as the maximum for flat rail cars per trip, it would take 75-100 train trips to transfer containers from these large ships. Even for a small 5,000 TEU ship, it would take 50 train trips. In as much as the most efficient load/unload method for these containers would be to take or place them directly onto the flat cars, this process would not only reduce the efficiency of the rail transport but also cause a train scheduling nightmare.

Container ships operate most efficiently when the time spent at the dock is minimised. Introducing unnecessary loading and unloading steps to today's large TEU ships would only serve to increase time and costs, thereby offsetting any potential benefits of the land bridge. As approximately 50% of incidents occur within the port and terminal boundary, including at berth or using facilities, waiting at anchorage, and during harbour transit, additional cargo handling poses heightened risks for accidents, necessitating added insurance coverage.

Furthermore, shipping companies are inherently disinclined to transfer their cargo to other shipping lines, as it disrupts logistical efficiency and control over their shipments. To utilise the land bridge, a shipping company would essentially require a duplicate capacity ship waiting at the opposite end. It's improbable that shipping companies would expand their fleets solely to accommodate the Thailand land bridge.

In trying to push the land bridge concept, numerous inefficiencies have also been glossed over by the government. One such factor is the unavoidable delay inherent in using ship locks to raise or lower vessels to match the water levels of each ocean. This delay has been highlighted as one reason for abandoning the construction of the Kra Canal. The fact is the Panama Canal utilises three ship locks, with approximately 20 minutes spent in each lock, resulting in a total time of one hour.

The prime minister has actively promoted the land bridge concept on his roadshows. However, it's doubtful that investors will miss the elementary shortcomings highlighted above, leading them to decline involvement. Consequently, there may be underlying agendas at play beyond the surface-level arguments presented in support of the land bridge project over the Kra Canal project.

Unheard voices

Re: "Israel army chief says strike 'grave mistake'", (World, April 4).

While the world rightfully condemns Israel murdering six foreign aid workers, what about the nearly 200 Palestinian aid workers who were also murdered by Israel? Aid workers and journalists are being murdered in Israel at a rate unequal to anywhere else in the world. And America has in the past responded by giving Israel billions of dollars in military aid so Israel can continue to murder aid workers, journalists and thousands of women and children.

Beyond headlines

Re: "US unfazed by murder plot probe", (World, April 2).

Extremely difficult to come to terms to accept the fact that how just an allegation of a "plot to kill" an Indian-born American citizen who was declared a "Khalistani terrorist" by the Indian government becomes global news, especially by US-based news agencies like Bloomberg and Bangkok Post allowed publishing without editing. We need to understand the background of the article's story.

The main subject of the issue, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who was referred to as "Sikh activist" by Bloomberg, instead of referring as a "Khalistani terrorist" (the Indian government designated him as a "terrorist" wanted to face trial in India).

This is just an allegation that has not been proven yet. As per the US envoy to India, Eric Garcetti, the Indian government's cooperation is highly praised.

Readers have to know the background of the story, the timing of bringing up this issue, and the secret game played by deep state US and her allies in suppressing India's rise on the global stage under the 10 years of rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When traditional anti-India Bloomberg and NYT are focussing on bringing down the image of the new India, the US suddenly becomes publicly vocal with the allegations of the Indian government's direct role in plotting to kill a Khalistani terrorist who is a US citizen.

While Eric Garcetti mentioned that freedom of speech in America prevails, at the same time, America protects and does not arrest the same terrorist, Mr Pannun, who threatened to bomb a commercial passenger plane and was involved in attacking and torching Indian consulates in the US. He is enjoying a free ride in the US. But we saw what the US did to whoever harmed the US government, their assets and defence forces.

Smooth sailing

Congratulations to the Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office. It has made the driver's license renewal process extremely efficient, with a dedicated foreigner's counter, helpful and friendly English-speaking officers, and internet-based eLearning at home.

Renewing my car and bike licences took less than 45 minutes altogether. I find this really outstanding.

Calling for civility

Re: "PostBag gladiators", (BP, April 5).

Khun Eric Bahrt is free to think anything about anybody. But to publicly call them "self-serving hypocrites" without proof -- as he did with Khun Songdej Praditsmanont, et al -- is smearing and disrespectful.

By and large, I've agreed with Khun Songdej's letters and regretfully been mainly sharply critical of our governments. But an unbiased critic must give credit where credit is due -- even if one dislikes the person -- so if Khun Songdej praised a deserved act of our government, bravo. Khun Eric, cease and desist smearing, please. It demeans you.

More diverse letters

Congratulations to PostBag for publishing as many as six to-the-point letters on a weekday (April 2) instead of the yawnful letters often published. Let's aim for 10!