Jawnie

From Wikipedia, regarding the 2010 floods in the south:

Criticism of Abhisit Vejjajiva

The opposition Puea Thai Party on Friday petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to take legal action against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, claiming he acted too slowly to counter the effects from the recent flooding, resulting in massive damage to property and many deaths. The petition filed by Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit accusses the prime minister of malfeasance in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code. Mr Prompong said the prime minister has the administrative power to ensure swift action to prevent and mitigate effects from flooding under Article 4 of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2007, but had not properly exercised his authority.^[61]

So, you see, the blame game for flood management goes around and around.

It should be noted that the current PM has invoked the 2007 Act where the past PM did.

This proves two things:

1. The complaints about current PM are politically motivated, or at least, her difficulties are no worse then the previous PM.

2. The previous administration did not have a plan even though devastating floods occurred during it's time in office.

Blaming the PM whose been in office only a few months is not a credible complaint. It's just transparent political game playing.

Why wasn't there already a comprehensive flood management plan in place? There should have been such a plan to 'pull off the shelf" for a flood such as this. This isn't the first big flood for Thailand/Bkk. As a matter of fact, these floods have very regularly.

You ask why YL doesn't have a plan - why is there not such a plan in existence from the previous administration?

Well, the answer is, they didn't have one, either. Pretty simple to see, really.

Taksin-YL haters are so transparent.

Why wasn't there a comprehensive flood management plan from any previous administration?

The point is, there has never been one. So the government of the day has to deal with the situation as it arises.

Given that there is no management plan, the government should have taken control as soon as they knew that there were going to be serious floods. They failed to do that, and their communication to the public has been as good as non-existent. (announcements, then back-tracks).

Why wasn't there already a comprehensive flood management plan in place? There should have been such a plan to 'pull off the shelf" for a flood such as this. This isn't the first big flood for Thailand/Bkk. As a matter of fact, these floods have very regularly.

You ask why YL doesn't have a plan - why is there not such a plan in existence from the previous administration?

Well, the answer is, they didn't have one, either. Pretty simple to see, really.

Taksin-YL haters are so transparent.

The proof of incompetence is yet to come. Watching the handling of the flood situation should not give one warm and fuzzy feelings how they will handle the cleanup. A friend just went to Nakhon Sawan he said lots of damage to roads and other infastructure.

Alot of critisim can be placed on prior governments for handling many things BUT remember the PTP are in control now she is the PM they are the ones who will take the blame. Red shirt supporters remember this they are in control throwing up the Dems and New Orleans make your arguments appear weak as this government is weak

A State of Emergency would not have been required to stop people from destroying the wall.

A simple, police intervention would have done the trick to stop it.

Not having the SOE is no excuse.

One might rightly ask: where were the police when this was taking place?

They would not have to worry so much about people destroying dykes and levees and what not if they declared a state of emergency.

The state of emergency is all ready upon them now all they have to do is recognize it declare it and act on it.

Not going to happen big brother dosen't want it.

One might reasonably ask: why weren't any of these things you mention already in place? Thailand experiences flooding nearly every year and had very bad floods a few years back?

Other than the fact you a typical trash-talking, Taksin hater, there is no excuse that everything you say was not already prepared.

Taksin-Yingluck haters soooo transparent....

It would not matter who was in power, they were not going to stop this flood.

Thailand, natural disaster, could not stop flooding.

Do you think she is GOD, give me a break.

You cannot stop the skies from raining.

but you can certainly manage the effects and address.

This year is a massive rainfall year, everyone knew that since late July, when July's massive rainfall made it inevitable we would see flooding.

Shortfalls of the current government include:

- not starting to take action from the moment they became the government, as it was obvious this was going to be an issue

- ignoring providing aid from Aug - late Sep when multiple areas were underwater; no aid was provided

- failing to take any action during Sep when it was clear that a large amount of water was headed south; certain government factions also refused to open their areas to allow the flooding to the spread, slowing down the speed of runoff; BMA began preparing in isolation but not much else was mobilised to clear klongs etc

- once flooding became widespread, steady refusal to allow experts to manage relief, and reliance on government ministers who have zero knowledge experience to run operations

- as of today, still not actual relief program; heavy reliance on the private sector to do it; work is patchy and areas are being missed out/over supplied

- as of today, armed forces not fully mobilised nor heading up relief operations

- as of today, no clear single spokesperson explaining what is going on EXCEPT Bangkok where the BMA have now stepped in given the government's failure to do so; rumour control non existant (yesterday I was told variously Kosarn rd flooded; Sukhumvit flooded, Don muang flooded, offices to be shut tomorrow - none are true)

- as of today, no task force maintaining optimum water flow at every bridge/obstacle along the path of the water

- as of today, no clear strategy for compensating the people financially affected

- as of today, millions of baht wasted daily on a scheme to reward boat owners who wish to run their engines all day churning up water and doing not much else

- as of today, no clear strategy for dealing with infection and disease for areas who have been under the water for up to 90 days now

- as of today, no obvious listening to experts or any grand plan to coordinate various agencies; into that vacuum we are hearing loons and idiocy (refer to the point above on the boats)

- as of today a lack of armed forces and police ensuring civil order (up country it is getting 'a bit rough' in some places where food etc is scarce and there is some minor looting - also issues with flood barriers)

It isn't that one government is bad and one is good. But it is pretty simple.

- appoint the right people to administer relief (army)

- appoint a spokesperson to explain what is going on (one person) for both locals and foreign trade organisations who can then disseminate accurate information

- form a task force to address the flood waters and try to take action where it is possible (Thai met, royal irrigation, regional representatives, flood experts, engineers, BMA)

- change govt policy to provide immediate financial and personal relief

- mobilise healthcare and other experts to support people in need

- form camps in all available areas for those needing it; do not rely on private sector only; e.g. there are millions of acres of land in Chonburi available for camps (army to run)

Strutting around in burberry boots and taking pics answering the phone or crying - and waiting for the private sector to solve it with stubborn refusal to bring in the only massive source of manpower with the equipment to solve...can only do so much.

Ecellen post!

No, it's not signs of the public's doubt, it's just one more sign of how biased and mean-spirited The Nation newspaper is.

Shame on you, The Nation, for being so blatantly biased against the current administration.

I agree that Jatuporn was COMPLETELY off-the-wall with his comments. That's what is so completely disgraceful here: grown-up adults who think and act like this during this time.

The game the Dems are playing is to respond to it at all - a Dem response could add nothing. Again, completely irresponsible at a time like this.

Why aren't all of them out filling sandbags?

Both Jatuporn and the democrats are playing wild poltical games at inappropriate times. But neither will stop in case the other side doest too. The blame and popularity game is too important it seems even at a time of tragedy for all.

What are the democrats playing?

Thai people, wake up, rise up...your so-called 'leaders' fail you completely.

This is a complete disgrace...for both shirts.

When I was with a Tibetan center in the US many years ago, women were not allowed to work on certain sacred art projects. Slowly, slowly, though, the Head Lama began to allow them to work on them. He said at that time that it was the first time women had worked on these kinds of art projects in 1,200 years. Now, it's not an issue for that particular organization, women participate fully. Perhaps these particular teachings simply need the light of democratic principles shined on them a little. Those with the right intention and flexible minds will respond appropriately, I think.

The brown-robed Sikkhamart, though inferior to Santi Asoke monks

So, Santi Asoke, which is outside the Sangha and can do what it wants, still doesn't give females equality. No surprise there, this being Thailand.

(From the wilds of Brisbane.) Please note that I was quoting an article by Sanitsuda Ekachai; they are not my words.

I don't know if the sikkhamart are considered as "inferior" in the Asoke sangha. I doubt it, but, as you say, this being Thailand, I believe it takes them longer to be ordained. Women are scrutinized more closely than men in any society. Thailand is no more phallocentric than many other nations. The largest single religion in the world, overseen by a clerical elite in Rome, will not allow women to be ordained at all. Islam is in no hurry to raise the status of women. Protestant Christianity and Reform Judaism are quite radical in appointing women clergy.

Of course you will be penalized for any overstay, don't expect any sympathy or change in immigration requirements because of the temporary flood conditions, especially since the office is open and operating. As I and others have stated, road traffic is affected by parking on roadways only, there is no water or flooding on the road between Mo Chit BTS and the government offices complex. The vans should be operating as long as there is no flooding. Good idea to go on Friday, don't wait, go early. Once inside the offices, things are functioning normally.

Any update on the situation @ Immigration Building ?

I'm going to report to the office tomorrow, drop at Mochit and catch a mini van. Not sure if the mini vans are operating. Normally long is journey from Mochit to Immigration Building ?

And if I'm prevented extending my visa because of flood, will I be penalized for overstaying ?

I just got an extension on my ED visa today, my 2nd.

I attend class regularly but I'm not a particularly diligent or good student. I would not necessarily recommend the school I attend (separate issue) but they provided the correct paperwork for me today.

One person told me the immigration officer had him write his name in Thai, which he was able to do. I think we've all heard the story "big fish eats little fish" and how a guy studying Thai for 7 years did understand that short sentence.

During my processing today, I was not asked a single question about my studies or asked to speak/write Thai language - there was literally no discussion of my Thai language study.

I don't think immigration officers have completely free hands to test and inquire about Thai language skills of visa applicants - they are professionals.

I was there at 10am...it was far from "jam packed". But that's not the issue.

The office is open and functioning well, but traffic could be a problem and floods seem to be approaching.

If you need to renew your visa next week, or need to go to that office, I suggest going tomorrow, Friday, if you can. Three day weekend starts Saturday.

Traffic around gov complexes, Chaeng Wattana, is 6 lanes of barely moving traffic. /via@RichardBarrow

I can confirm it, was out there to get some more food and water a couple of hours ago and it is jam packed with cars. Mainly due to people parking 2 abreast on the bridges and overpasses so only one lane of traffic going over them. It was quicker to use the side roads with the traffic lights than try and go over the bridges. The army barracks across from Tesco is flooding. The klong beside it has come up over night and is now starting to over flow.

The road was still ok, just a big traffic jam.

Lot of people panicing, some standing there watching. My guys have been told that if they need or want to go home it is ok and they can stay there if they need to (same instructions as through the coup, the riots etc) but they are to call in once a day to confirm that they are still safe or anytime if they need help or re-locating until it is over.

I DONT confirm that.

I have leave immigration at about 11h15 after taking some lunch, and i arrived at my Hotel near Panthip Plazza, 40 mn later.

Big traffic for sure, but its ok as usual.

Dont have to panic or to make people panicing.................

It might have been ok then but it was jam packed when I was there at about 10am. Not trying to make anyone panic, in fact the opposite as it is the people that are panicing and parking their cars on the bridges that are jamming up the traffic. People need to stay calm and prepare, if the are going to evacuate, do so early or make sure that they are prepared to defend their homes or ride it out if that is not possible. Just need some common sense.

I give my staff the same instructions now as during the previous problems, personal safety come first, work can wait. They are all capable of making an assessment of their own situation, they all know the options they have open to them should they need/want to relocate for the duration of the floods and I let them decide individually what they want to do.

They just had on the news that Chaeng Watthana is starting to flood and may get up to 1m in the Central Chaeng Watthana area. That is just what they are saying, where I am near Impact there is nothing so I cannot say if the report is correct or not sorry.

Just returned from Chaeng Watthana government offices. I had to extend my ED visa and make 90-day residency report.

The office was open today and this morning was uncrowded and seemingly relaxed. I say seemingly because I couldn't tell how the Thai staff and immigration officers are feeling or reacting to the flood situation. In any case, I travelled by taxi from Mo Chit BTS to immigration by surface streets. The traffic was a medium amount and flowed smoothly. We arrived easily at the immigration office. No water or flooding but parts of the complex are sandbagged.

There was a line of about 30 people ahead of me when the office opened at 8:30. Everything went well and my passport, with extension, was handed back to me by 9:30. I had an additional one-hour plus wait for the 90-report, but that was processed in a couple of minutes when my number came up. I was out of the office by 10:45.

Traffic at that time (11am) on Chaeng Watthana was completely backed up in the western direction (the direction from BTS) but was flowing smoothly going east (the direction to BTS). I again took a taxi back to Mo Chit. There was only light traffic, no traffic jams and no water.

In other words, it was a complete non-event given the general situation with flooding and public concern right now. Jawnie likes it!

Ps. I had all the proper paperwork from my Thai language school. During the few minutes I spent with the immigration officer while she processed the papers and took my money, at no time did she quiz me or ask any questions related to my Thai language studies, nor did she ask me to speak or write in Thai. J.

I'm not saying that. I am saying that this topic has been touched on by other Buddhist schools as well.

So in summary, are you saying that being born (re birth) a woman is indicative of lacking necessary attributes required to become enlightened in that lifetime?

Are you also saying that a man by virtue of being a man is indicative of being endowed with more necessary attributes than a woman for the purposes of enlightenment?

What is enlightenment?

Not to get too far off topic, but the idea that only males can reach full enlightenment is found through all the level of Buddhism. If you think about it, though, as the writer states, it only requires a male body...waiting one more lifetime in a innumerable series of lifetimes. That's not so long and it's not a value judgement. It has to do with being completely sendowed with the necessary attribute. Becoming enlightened is a very long process of 'gathering'. It's just that this idea doesn't sit well with purely democratic ideals...

When asked by a farang woman in our class trip there. An ordained nun answered this question "So, even an ordained nun cannot attain full enlightenment?" thusly: ""Certainly she can, she need only die, come back as a man and become a monk" .....

But I am certainly not condemning them as I am in favor of activism and monks being vegetarians etc .. I am just very wary of that group of believers.

I did love their sesame candy though!

Emptiness, openness, pristine cognition, intrinsic awareness. These are some other descriptive terms.

I'm head there tomorrow, Thursday 20/10, to renew my ED visa and make 90-day report. Will provide trip report.

Not to get too far off topic, but the idea that only males can reach full enlightenment is found through all the level of Buddhism. If you think about it, though, as the writer states, it only requires a male body...waiting one more lifetime in a innumerable series of lifetimes. That's not so long and it's not a value judgement. It has to do with being completely endowed with the necessary attributes. Becoming enlightened is a very long process of 'gathering'. It's just that this idea doesn't sit well with purely democratic ideals...

When asked by a farang woman in our class trip there. An ordained nun answered this question "So, even an ordained nun cannot attain full enlightenment?" thusly: ""Certainly she can, she need only die, come back as a man and become a monk" .....

But I am certainly not condemning them as I am in favor of activism and monks being vegetarians etc .. I am just very wary of that group of believers.

I did love their sesame candy though!

Thanks for this. May I suggest your relative was a bit weak-minded and naive...there are thugs like this in every political crowd, even the government and the military.

Your relative should have moved on up the line in order to get the ID returned, rather than staying on for additional weeks or months. I sympathize with this scenario but somehow I find it hard to believe in full.

Perhaps I'm being naive but I also doubt that staying and participating for an extended period was the only option remaining for your relative.

In the grander scheme, yes, there are thugs like this in every crowd - even the US has them now during "Occupy Wall Street". There are lots of people who go to those things with the primary purpose of venting their cruelty, with the political ideas being secondary or simply the 'kindling wood' for inflaming their cruelty. Sounds like your relative met some of those folks.

This is hardly a good reason, though, to demonize an opposition group whose elected government was stolen by a military coup.

It is possible to be intolerant and right, but it is not possible to be intolerant and a democracy.

Red shirt villages are a living oxymoron the same as "jumbo shrimp" and "military intelligence" are verbal oxymorons. This government sactioned and increasing polarization is scary. I fear for the country and I fear for the very people whose niavete is being used to enslave themselves.

This can only happen because there's a huge difference between what is being said and what is being done. If I could rely on the words alone, I, too would be a staunch Red Shirt. But I have been here long enough to see the actions. I was there when things happened, and I am now listening to the reports of those events and I can see that there is very little connection. The Red Shirt leaders talk a good story, but they live a different one.

I have a relative who joined the red shirt Bangkok rallies. He was politically disinterested, but temporarily unemployed due to the season. He planned on taking the free bus to Bangkok, spending a few days having a good time, and making some money. What could be wrong with that? Weeks later when he asked for his identity card back so he could go home to his family, he was told that if he failed to show up for his daily pay in the evening, his family would all be killed. The red leaders were convincing enough that my relative continued with them and was still there when the army arrived. The leaders, however, were not.

Talk is cheap, and the political leaders evidently feel the gullible are worth about the same. Organizing into permanent polarized settlements is a dangerous escalation.

Another "Fear and Loathing" editorial from The Nation regarding Red Shirts, Taksin, et al.

In a democracy, citizens have a right to assembly and to associate with whomever they wish. If Thailand now has a democracy, or at least espousing democratic ideals, then all citizens have these rights. It's just too bad for those who don't like it. Elections, democracy, etc., have consequences. But, I say IF Thailand has a democracy, because it is not clear that enoughThais understand this.

This editorial is just one more self-serving, 'the people be damned," poor sport, bad loser, cry baby, so-on-and-so-forth diatribes from The Nation.

Your understanding of Buddhist history is very limited.

Regular posters here are generally hostile to any form of Buddhism that is not Thai or Thervadin.

These other schools of Buddhism may have something to offer to those for whom Thervada does not appeal. That is why the Buddha taught Mahayana and Vajrayana - it's for those of differing capacities and intellect.

Sometimes the Thervadins sound like fundamentalist Christians who reject Judaism, Catholicism, Mormonism, and other Christian schools. It's what Tibetans call 'sectarianism', thinking that your type of Buddhism is the authentic one, while others are a perversion or fake. It's not that the others are fake, it's that the Theravadins have missed the point.

It would take only a little study outside typical Theravadin thought and literature to find and realize these other forms of Buddhism were taught by the Buddha and subsequent masters. I don't know why Theravadins don't make the effort.

But, that goes back to the reason the Buddha taught different forms, because of the differing capacities of beings. Hence, the different forms. But, sectarianism should not be practiced related to Dharma.

"There is a common misconception among many non-Buddhists (and even among certain Buddhists) that the Tantras are late and corrupt additions to the Buddha's Teachings. This is false. The Tantras are genuine teachings of the Lord Buddha, and they occupy a paramount position within the overall framework of Buddhist doctrine."

"Some of the misconceptions about the Tantras stem from their esoteric nature. Since the time of the Buddha the Tantras were always taught secretly and selectively. For their correct understanding they have always required the oral instructions of a qualified master; without such explanations they can easily be misunderstood in wrong and harmful ways."

This is just an excuse commonly trotted out to justify teachings that bear no resemblance to the core teachings preserved in the oldest texts, the nikayas of the Pali canon.

I find it very hard to believe that a teacher who taught in such an open way, advised his followers to "be a lamp unto yourself", to not take his word for it but to test and see that his teachings were true and helpful, was also teaching vastly different teachings to a chosen few secretly and selectively on the sly. These teachings to turn up hundreds or thousands of years later in a very different style with a very different emphasis.

It would be better for those that discover new skillful means are honest about it's origins, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and not in the origin of the recipe, this is one of the points the Buddha was expressing in passages like the Kamala sutta.

Tantra is generally considered to have arisen hundreds of years after the Buddhas death and is not specifically Buddhist but present in Hindu, Sikh, Bön, Buddhist, and Jain religious traditions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantra

I don't know enough abbout this practise to be able to judge whether it's skillful or not, but I wouldn't buy a used car from a salesman who's claims about it's history didn't seem to stack up.

Check out the thread someone posted for you. It is not so important how you sit, just sit - and practice. That is the most important. Keep going and don't let the disability stop or hinder you. It is your obstacle to deal with so keep going.

I've attended the Shambala center. No, you don't need to sit lotus style. Just ask for a chair.

Try to approach this as a practical problem and don't make it more than it is.

There is nothing to apologize for.

Say what you will, the fact is that tourist with luggage use both lines. They use the Airport Link (commuter line) much more heavily than the Express Train that stops at only two stations.

What if tourists are going to a stop other than the two served by the Express Line? Well, they take the train going to their stop, that's what happens. And there are alot of tourists doing it.

The fact is that planners 'over planned' the line thinking the public could be parsed so closely, when it can't. People go where they want to go and get off at the station they want. The planners missed this, big time, and now the commuting public is paying for that narrow thinking.

It's been obvious for months that more trains and cars were needed on the commuter line portions of the route. The Express Trains running completely empty during peak hours has been a glaring inconsistency for month also. This, while the other trains are over-flowing with passengers. Thais stuck at the station or crammed into over-crowded trains appear so docile in the face of it all. Perhaps some Thais are complaining elsewhere which I'm not aware of. In western countries (the US), this situation would have be resolved a long time ago because the public simply would allow it themselves to be treated so poorly by their own government. It's a disgrace.

It is so maddening to hear someone suggest the passengers are at fault for taking luggage into a station not designed for people with luggage. It's one of the lamest things I've heard in a while.

Was I suggesting the passengers were at fault? I'm just suggesting that passengers need to deal with the fact that the commuter stations are designed for the tens of thousands of people that carry a small bag, and not the tens of people that carry a suitcase.

Do you complain about how difficult it is to get on a Bangkok bus with a suitcase? Have you ever tried getting from a London airport out into the suburbs?

Do I think that it all needs to be improved? Of course it does. But at least it's a step in the right direction.

You put your finger on the problem: the line is a mix of commuter and tourist passengers. It is foremost a commuter line, with passengers mixed in.

But, rather than saying certain types of passengers should only use certain stations, it means that all stations must serve all types of passengers. Why is it up to the passengers to figure what kind of station they are going to? This is exactly how the passengers got left out of the planning.

Phaya Thai BTS has no escalator or elevator from the BTS platform to the main platform to walk to Airport link. That is the flagship Airport Link station! I've watched families with babies in strollers carry the strollers down from the BTS platform on their way to Airport Link.

Ratchaprarop Station has no escalators from the street to the first platform - incredible. How could any planner ever justify eliminating escalators in a major downtown mass transit station?

It is so maddening to hear someone suggest the passengers are at fault for taking luggage into a station not designed for people with luggage. It's one of the lamest things I've heard in a while.

I have never used the Airport Train and do not contemplate doing so in the future , but I have had two sets of friends who have holidayed recently in Bangkok and both sets complained about struggling up stairs with their luggage - Surely it makes sense to make usage easier if you are trying to extend that usage .

Where did they struggle up stairs? Makkasan has escalators. The airport has travelators. They both have lifts.

If you're talking about having to struggle up stairs at the BTS stations ... , they are commuter stations and are not designed for people with large suitcases.

Some people are okay with "incrementalism" in solving a problem like this. I am not, and I think they need to hear about it. Good cop/bad cop, if you will.

It still boggles my mind that so many design and implementation mistakes have occurred when the world is full of successful and well-run public transit systems as examples. The designers seem to have forgotten about the passengers when they designed Airport Link.

I've been using the line for nearly a year. The "untapped capacity" has always been there as has the over-crowding problem. But, the managers are just now responding to it. Don't you see that as a bit of a problem, also?

This is a disgrace.....

Five years for more trains??? Who are they trying to kidd? That isn't a plan, that is a mean joke, on the riders.

Who cares about more commercial space? Is there a problem with people not being able to find a place to shop in Bangkok? No, I didn't think so.

The problem is the service on the Airport Link and people need a solution NOW, not in five, or more, years.

Since when is development of the surrounding area at Makkasan station a Transportation Ministry subject matter? Why is the transportation Ministry involved in development issues at a particular station? Moreover, if development occurs at Makkasan, it will make the poor service even worse because of the increase in ridership.

It seems to me that the Transportation Ministry still does not understand that the Airport Link line is a commuter line for local workers and residents. The huge majority of riders are local residents going to work, shop, or leisure who need a convenient, predictable, and timely train. Tourist make up less than 10% of the ridership.

If the line becomes more rider-friendly for locals, it will automatically become better for tourists.

Thais: you deserve much, much better than this.

You need to read the article carefully before commenting. There is apparently untapped capacity available at this moment, as they plan to increase frequencies on November 1st (though they don't say by how much.) And why they haven't done it already also is a question. But at least they have a plan to soon move in the right direction. That is part of Phase 1. Later phases will include obtaining additional trains to expand capacity further, and as other readers have noted, that is intended for 3 years from now, not 5. That seems like a reasonable time frame for bidding, budgeting, and building the trains. These trains don't just sit in a showroom like a Chevrolet, waiting for buyers to walk in and say "I'll take that one."

I use the line 3-5 days a week - morning and evening, coming and going. I know how it operates...trust me. I've been crammed into overflowing cars while watching the empty Express Trains whiz by many, many times. I've been left stranded at stations because the trains were too full more times that I care to think about.

Please, I know the system - it is broken for local residents, which I am.

This is a disgrace.....

Five years for more trains??? Who are they trying to kidd? That isn't a plan, that is a mean joke, on the riders.

Who cares about more commercial space? Is there a problem with people not being able to find a place to shop in Bangkok? No, I didn't think so.

The problem is the service on the Airport Link and people need a solution NOW, not in five, or more, years.

Since when is development of the surrounding area at Makkasan station a Transportation Ministry subject matter? Why is the transportation Ministry involved in development issues at a particular station? Moreover, if development occurs at Makkasan, it will make the poor service even worse because of the increase in ridership.

It seems to me that the Transportation Ministry still does not understand that the Airport Link line is a commuter line for local workers and residents. The huge majority of riders are local residents going to work, shop, or leisure who need a convenient, predictable, and timely train. Tourist make up less than 10% of the ridership.

If the line becomes more rider-friendly for locals, it will automatically become better for tourists.

Thais: you deserve much, much better than this.

Just a question: do you actually USE the Airport Link? Because if not, why are you complaining?

And please read the article correctly, since it does not take 5 years before they get new trains (it's now 2011 and new trains will arrive at 2014).

Why doesn't the Ministry take some public input regarding station design? Approaches, access inside and outside of stations is awful - so much walking and zig-zagging up and down stairs, narrow walkways, curbs, lack of defined walkways, foot-traffic patterns that are too long or cross paths with other pedestrian paths, etc. Seems like pedestrians are the last people to be thought of in station design. Plus, if the stations were not so huge and over-built, that would solve some of the pedestrian issues.

Also, parking areas for motorcycle taxis should be designed into the group floor or other convenient area of the stations. Now, the motorcycle taxis are not even considered in station design even though the taxis are key components of Bangkok's transportation system. Currently, motorcycles are consigned to dirt areas, throw-away areas, or must set up on sidewalks and curbs after the fact. The Ministry and designers need to acknowledge that motorcycles will be present at every station and design convenient places for them to gather and pick up passengers.