Re: "Oil spill last straw for Rayong tourism", (BP, Jan 30).
Your photograph illustrating the story of the tragic fouling of Mae Ram Phueng Beach by Star Petroleum Refining Plc shows one lone environmental scientist from Burapha University collecting crude oil samples.
There is not another person to be seen the entire length and breadth of the beach, which raises the question: "Where is Star Petroleum?"
Star Petroleum's website says: "'One Family' culture is part of everything we do. Our family consists of our staff, our contractors, our communities and all our stakeholders.
The 'One Family' culture builds industry leading performance in safety and operational excellence."
So here is a suggestion for Robert Dobrik, chairman of the board, and Mr Brant Fish, chief executive officer: Get you gum boots on and lead your "One Family" down to Mae Ramphueng beach and start cleaning up this appalling mess. You created it; you clean it up.
DAVID BROWN
Controlled spill
Re: "'Disaster area' slick drives away visitors", (BP, Jan 30).
This article says, "The leak from the pipeline ... started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later." But three days later, Rayong governor Chamna Ieamsang declared Mae Rampheung beach a disaster area after a 2-km stretch was blackened by the oil slick. What exactly does "under control" mean to government officials: that no disaster could occur, unless something happens that they did not foresee, for which they did not plan, and against which they have no defence? That does not sound like "under control" to me.
TOM PARKINSON
Left to languish
Re: "Not disregarded", (PostBag, Jan 30).
Unfortunately for Thailand's reputation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman has scored an own goal in his letter to Postbag.
Some 90,000 Myanmar refugees who fled fighting decades ago today remain in nine temporary shelters which have existed for decades.
These are the spokesman's own words. These unfortunate refugees should have been resettled out of these detention camps, for that is what they are, a long time ago. Khun Tanee, would you care to respond and inform us when these people will be free to live normal lives?
SIBEYMAI
Roaming the streets
Re: "Draft law targets repeat offenders", (BP, Jan 29).
Can anyone explain to me why a double murderer is still walking the streets. Preecha first killed his brother-in-law and then three years after being released from jail he killed his nephew.
He is now back on the streets and his family is scared he will kill again.
What on earth is he doing out of prison?
T A GRERORY
Time for a reset
Have we been making much ado about almost nothing by keeping classes online for so long and now vaccinating children against Covid-19?
The US CDC reported that the chance of an under-18 year-old dying from Covid was just one in 300,000.
Our MOPH reports that as of 19 July 2021 we'd suffered 3,422 Covid deaths, of which none was in the 1-14 age group.
I suggest that Prayut/Anutin were right to push for vaccinating/boosting adults, but we're now overreacting by vaccinating children and keeping some classes online.
The Thailand Research Institute noted that 16% of Thai youth were malnourished, affecting mental development.
Let's go back to on-site classes and shift our scarce resources from vaccinating youth to giving them healthy food.
BURIN KANTABUTRA
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING
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Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
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