OPINION

Big step forward

Re: "Actor sued under new harassment law", (BP, Dec 30).

A veteran politician's daughter's decision to sue an influential actor over the inappropriate comments he made about her is a major step forward for victims of sexual harassment in Thailand.

The new sexual harassment law, which deems inappropriate comments as a crime, provides an extra safeguard for all individuals on social media. It is hoped the law will lead to a shift in societal norms, so online harassment will no longer be seen as "not a big deal" but rather completely unacceptable.

Her actions show celebrities are not above the law, and, therefore, must still be held accountable for their wrongdoings.

This case will challenge past attitudes on pursuing legal action against a famous person. Justice must be served no matter who the wrongdoer is.

Overall, this new law demonstrates Thailand's commitment to protecting victims and holding influential people accountable.

Put safety first

Re: "Swiss in shock after bar blaze kills 40", (BP, Jan 3).

My condolences to the families of fire victims. Sadly, fires during New Year celebrations are nothing new.

Some time ago, there was a major fire incident at a pub in Mumbai that claimed the lives of 14 people and injured 55 more on Dec 29, 2017.

In Bangkok, a deadly nightclub fire broke out Jan 1, 2009, in the Santika Club, where 67 people were killed, and another 222 were injured.

As a Mumbai resident, the recent tragedy in the Swiss ski resort town brought up sad memories about the pub fire in Mumbai. While it happened almost a decade ago, it is still fresh in my mind. In fact, similar fire accidents have recently been reported in Mumbai.

True, the city's growing population, rapidly expanding business sector and the large number of corporations it brought, as well as the showbiz industry, all add to Mumbai's charm.

However, at the same time, the basic safety guardrails that should have been in place to prevent tragedies are still nowhere to be seen.

The fact is that safety measures have been put on the back burner for a long time. It is time to make serious efforts to bring about serious safety measures to protect the public.

For instance, firefighters should be well-trained to handle any kind of accident, and the equipment needed in such emergencies should always be available and kept on standby, as immediate assistance is crucial in times of crisis.

Authorities in major cities and tourist towns should understand the ground rules and the realities. They should gear up properly so they can save lives from the clutches of tragedies like this.

What's new?

Re: "Why hold back?", (PostBag, Jan 4).

Jason A Jellison (thank goodness for the "A" to distinguish him from all the other Jason Jellisons who contribute) tells us that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. I would like to add a third: every edition of PostBag will contain a letter from, or reply to, either Michael Setter or Jason A Jellison, or both. Even on a bad day, all four.