OPINION

A failed state?

Re: "Thai police graft highlights bigger issues", (Opinion, April 26).

As always, Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak makes his point trenchantly: "There is no bigger news on the current Thai political scene than corruption among top echelons of the police force... this case has become a mirror and microcosm of structural graft that is corroding the highest corridors of politics, economy, and society."

A damming but accurate indictment. Would it be considered outrageous by many, even impertinent, to go one step further, to suggest that Thailand is actually approaching failed state status? After all, we're not poor, beleaguered Haiti; gangs don't rule our streets, except perhaps some in uniforms. Things work, people go about their business, shops and banks are open, and many millions of tourists are enjoying wonderful holidays. Definitely not the picture of a failed state.

But take a closer at Prof Thitinan's "structural graft", lift that veneer of functional friendliness, and one finds a situation more closely approaching the definition of a failed state: "The characteristics of a failed state include, but are not limited to, the presence of an insurgency, extreme political corruption, overwhelming crime rates suggestive of an incapacitated police force, an impenetrable and ineffective bureaucracy, judicial ineffectiveness, military interference in politics, and consolidation of power by regional actors such that it rivals or eliminates the influence of national authorities."

Measuring up Thailand against these defining characteristics leads to a litany of despair.

The presence of an insurgency: Look no further than the three deep South provinces where a centrist Thai state refuses to acknowledge the legitimate self-governing aspirations of the people of a different culture, resulting in the deaths of many thousands of citizens over the last several decades. Add, if you will, one of the world's largest areas of vibrant criminality, featuring money laundering, unregulated casinos, trafficking and online scam operations, across from the Thai border in Myanmar, aided and abetted by Thai officialdom at all levels.

Extreme political corruption: Electoral results denied, fortunes paid to politicians to switch allegiances.

Overwhelming crime rates suggestive of an incapacitated police force: The law does not rule and both top policemen are under investigation for corruption, which is said to be at its highest level in modern times.

An impenetrable and ineffective bureaucracy: Co-opted by the ruling elites, expert in corruption facilitation, currently incapable of delivering the most essential of public goods, clean air.

Judicial ineffectiveness: No one law for all, weaponisation at the highest levels.

Military interference in politics: We are the most coup-prone country in the world. The military refuses to kneel to civilian government control.

Consolidation of power by regional actors such that it rivals or eliminates the influence of national authorities: Think local patronage politics; look no further than the Bhumjaithai Party and the emperor of Buri Ram.

According to these metrics our beloved country is in urgent need of a radical makeover.

Funny decisions

Re: "Activists defy ministerial pick", (BP, May 1) and "Arnon gets more jail time", (BP, April 30).

Those who have been here long enough have seen some memorable and laughable exclusions from what is jokingly called a justice system. The crime of committing an armed coup has never been treated as such, not only no general being punished for doing so but actually getting installed as prime minister.

We have a lawyer who tried to bribe a court with 2 million baht of cash in a bag get the OK to join the ministers, while another, whose ideas on lese majeste concur with the departed King Rama IX, gets another extension to his long prison sentence over the violation of the lese majeste law.

Key to integration

Re: "Asean centrality in a changing world", (Opinion, April 30).

In response to Kavi's article on Asean's lynchpin known as Asean's centrality, I agree that Asean must remain committed to its declared conviction for bolstering regional solidarity. This commitment is crucial for building an Asean Community that is politically cohesive, economically integrated, and socially responsible, allowing it to effectively address both current and future challenges and opportunities.

EC a failure

Re: "Aspiring senators ask court to relax EC rules", (BP, April 30).

The real question the Election Commission should be asking is of itself. Namely, why had it, the EC itself, failed to already have done what the Progressive Movement did to raise awareness among the nation?

It might not unreasonably be seen by reasonable people that its objections to the Progressive Movement's efforts constitute grounds for thinking that the EC opposes the idea of Thais being informed of and actively participating in the Senate election process. That raises the further question for the EC of why that might be the case.

Is the EC's excuse, that beloved mantra of the enemies of the people, that it is forced to act contrary to justice by the strict letter of bad law made up with that intent?

What a circus

Re: "EC warns of dubious poll site", (BP, April 27).

This relates to the Election Commission's reaction to the idea promoted by Thanathorn Juangroongruankit, an admired leader of a previously banned political party, Future Forward. His suggestion was to suggest that Thais exercise their God-given right to participate in applying for seats in the new Senate by using social media. Just where does the EC think it has the authority to make such pronouncements? The EC was quoted as saying that, also, it could be illegal for Thais applying for senate seats to disclose personal information, when applying. The new Senate is reported to be replacing the one formed by the junta leaders. A Canadian friend who has visited the kingdom many times asked how it felt to be living in a circus. I replied "entertaining and great weather".

Bizarre warning

Re: "Thanathorn defies EC warning on Senate campaign", (BP, April 30).

The Election Commission's warning to Progressive Movement chairman Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to stop encouraging people to stand for senator is distinctly out of place in a democracy -- which we claim to be.

If we are to be a "government of the people, by the people, and for the people", as per Abraham Lincoln, the EC should encourage voters to be politically active, both individually and collectively, while respecting the equal rights of others. In this case, we should urge those whose principles we value to stand for office, and the wider the choice we have the better.

Also, the EC's presented no proof that PM was encouraging only its members and discouraging others. Thus, the EC appears to be out of line.

Never a war

Re: "Netanyahu wows to invade Rafah", (World, May 2).

What right? Israel has Palestine under military occupation. According to international law, an occupying power has no right of defence. In any case, this is not a war: it's a genocide. Shameful to see descendants of the Holocaust generation conducting a new holocaust on the Palestinians.

New conspiracy

Re: "Droning on", (PostBag, May 2).

Mr Setter's latest epic about space weapons causing wildfires states:

"Videos are widely available of the destruction they have caused; satellite views of wildfires geometrically dotting the plains of Canada are well-documented".

It should be corrected to:

"TikTok videos doctored from still satellite images are widely available from well-known conspiracy theorists that claim wildfires caused by multiple lightning strikes during dry storms are actually 'geometric" and are proof to the conspiracy theorist that those imaginary space lasers are real".

Change needed

Re: "Change the record", (PostBag, May 1).

Fully agree with Don McMahon regarding the letters about meat eating and global warming.

The problem lies with the PostBag editor who decides what letters will be published. A change in editorial staff could bring a fresh new look to PostBag.

A quick glance at the page and if Bahrt, Setter or de Jong are featured I head straight to the crossword!

Change constant

Re: "Climate myths", (PostBag, May 1).

Diane Archer asks the PostBag editor to "refrain from publishing letters peddling myths which are clearly contrary to the internationally agreed science of climate change".

Science changes faster than the climate Diane, a lot faster. There is no internationally agreed-upon science of climate change. That is genuinely a myth. A huge number of scientists, including myself, disagree.

Science is far from settled, and that is the nature of science. Until the data consistently fit the hypotheses, science is a continuing logical argument.

Diane prefers so-called experts to understanding. She is incapable of making a persuasive argument and cites the qualifications of others while covering her eyes and crying for censorship.