POST BAG
Beautiful water with white sandy beaches, a growing economy with smiling friendly people, investment potential beyond your wildest dreams, and a proud royal tradition steeped in rustic folklore. Remember this enchanted place, a place where the world would love to vacation and celebrate? Yes, so do I. It was just last week _ and in less than a week this picture has turned horribly ugly.
THEODORE CARL SODERBERG
San Francisco
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Seeking recompense
Re: the current situation in Bangkok caused by the PAD protests. I write in particular with reference to Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat's announcement that tourists trapped due to the situation would be given 2,000 baht per day for accommodation and food.
After investigating this offer yesterday, it appears things are not as transparent as they may seem. My Thai wife and I visited the TAT offices to get more information. First of all, we were told that this was only available at designated hotels that are members of the Bangkok Hotel Association. Explaining our circumstances, that we have had no support from Etihad Airlines or from the British Embassy _ who in fact told us to contact the TAT offices _ we were forced on Nov 26 to find our own accommodation. In addition, our UK travel insurance would not cover us because this is classed as a civil uprising, protest, etc.
We were told we would have to cancel our current hotel accommodation, which had been paid in full through an online agent, then apply for a listed hotel. However, there is a large demand for those hotels, so we would have to go on the waiting lists. Obviously we would be fools to cancel accommodation that we had booked and paid for, purely because of our cancelled flight on Nov 26 and the subsequent rescheduling of our tickets by Etihad for Dec 2; that is, of course, if the airport situation is resolved by then.
The point is, I cannot understand why a trapped tourist such as myself _ who had no information or support from any of the companies or institutions approached, should not be reimbursed not only for the 2,000 baht per day, which would go a long way to paying for our current accommodation, but also for the loss of income this is causing people like myself.
I am a lecturer at University College in London, where course timetable, student projects, tutorials and major research projects are all being cancelled or rescheduled for next year due to my situation. I also run a limited company in the UK. This protest is causing me major problems with clients and projects scheduled to start this week.
So my question should not be how I go about claiming the 2,000 baht per day, but what legal action should I take against the Thai government for the loss of earnings, loss of business and general inconvenience this situation is causing me through their inability to control a protest which is crippling their economy and causing huge international embarrassment.
In addition, I heard from my hotel desk that even those hotels included on the so-called list either do not know about this offer or will not honour the agreement to guests.
CHRIS JACKSON
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A way out
I have a suggestion for the PAD, Gen Anupong and anyone else who is trying to solve the political crisis: pressure the coalition partners to withdraw support for the present government so that the PM will have no choice but to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections. Will the coalition partners have the guts to make a sacrifice for the Kingdom; that is, abandon the PPP and Thaksin's money influence?
BEELEE
Rayong
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PAD's terrorist tactics
Even the most devout PAD supporter has had time to remove the rose-coloured glasses and take a look at what is actually going on around them. It's hard to justify kidnapping a police officer on live television. The misguided human shields who are being willingly held by the PAD's domestic terrorist division are in harm's way with the direct approval of PAD leadership. The romantic notion of a people's revolution ringing in the ears of all PAD supporters is all pretty sickening, really. Ruining the economy and holding transportation hubs cannot ever be reconciled.
It doesn't matter who you blame or why. The terrorist tactics employed by the PAD, including whipping up popular support for the movement, are classic and are working on the simple minds of the masses. The physiological component foisted on the easily deceived is clearly working.
I hope after this is all over the zealots can reflect on their thoughts, actions and writings. Only through critical analysis will those who were so easily manipulated learn from the experience and not be so easily fooled next time by popular rhetoric from a terrorist organisation.
DAVID BARKDULL
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Stop criticising PAD
I deeply disagree with the criticism of the PAD and with the sensationalistic and catastrophic editorials in your newspaper and others. Furthermore, I strongly categorise the complaints of those people that have been stranded as a consequence of the closure of the airports, as selfish.
Those who travel to Thailand to enjoy the best pleasures in life a developing country offers at the cheapest prices, have no right to complain about the actions of those who live in the country and who are suffering the ongoing unfairness and corruption of an inept government.
The reason Thailand is not prospering economically is not the PAD. The reason is the lack of education of the masses who are swindled into voting for such an inept body of legislators such as those in the PPP, who want to keep the masses uneducated.
The reason foreign companies do not want to invest in Thailand is because they cannot trust the rule of law in Thailand. Foreign and domestic investors cannot rely on a government which tries to change the laws in order to allow its officers to steal with impunity and which, instead of pursuing at all cost convicted fugitives abroad, tries to make them heroes and continue vouching for them.
Yes, the PAD's actions are costing the country and several sectors a lot of money, but to say that it will take Thailand probably years to regain the confidence of foreign tourists is an absolute exaggeration. The tourism sector will recover quickly.
The PAD is composed of people who love Thailand and the monarchy and who are willing to sacrifice months of their private lives sleeping on floors and going to public toilets to uphold the values we all cherish. The PAD stands against corruption. It is accused of disrupting the country. Well, every social movement that has ended tyranny, corruption and despotic rule in different parts of the world has been, by nature, disruptive.
Enough with the selfishness of those who are bothered because they cannot go back to their homes. At stake is the future of the people who live in Thailand, and I can feel no sympathy at all for those who, after a very relaxing, cheap vacation full of all the pleasures they cannot have at home, have to spend a couple of extra days in Thailand.
Enough with this criticism of the PAD!
ALEX RUIZ
Singapore
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Sue the PAD!
I call the PAD ''people against democracy'' for many reasons; the main one is that they have declared themselves against an elected leadership. They would like to ''choose'' the people that govern Thailand but they are not clear who would choose the chosen! They have, however, exercised their democratic right to ''peaceful'' protest, thus crippling the tourism life-blood of the Kingdom and generally damaging the Thai economy.
In my view, the PAD has shown absolutely no compassion for other people's democratic rights and are, therefore, morally bankrupt.
I would urge everybody, be they Thai or foreigner, who have suffered financial loss, directly or indirectly, to contact lawyers with a view to instigating class action lawsuits against the PAD leaders, to seek compen sation. The more complainants the better, to ensure a lower cost base so that even small vendors can join in and exercise their democratic rights.
ALAN
Chon Buri
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A price to pay
Doesn't it just warm your heart to see the smiling faces of Chamlong and the anti-government protesters at the airport? They look so happy. And why shouldn't they? After all, there is always a price to be paid for replacing a one-person, one-vote democracy by a semi-fascist-gerentocracy, and it won't be them who have to pay. It will fall on others, mainly the ordinary working-class person and the rural folk.
GORDON R PETERS
Philadelphia, USA
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Worth it if it puts a stop to 'Thaksinism'
I'd like to offer a different perspective than the generally anti-PAD letters of Sunday. For what it's worth, my connections to Siam are more religious and cultural than economic.
The key question in the current impasse is whether the long-term imperative to keep Thaksin out of Thai politics trumps the short-term disruption of the PAD protests.
Further, given the skill with which Thaksin has manipulated, abused and weakened an as yet incomplete democratic system, could less aggressive tactics that the PAD has employed bring about a permanent retirement of Thaksin?
Many of my Thai friends answer the first question with a conditional ''yes''. They have seen where Thaksinism could take the country. Thaksin's version of ''democracy'' is a sham. His corruption has been unprecedented. He ignores court rulings and lashes out with hypocritical accusations of those who don't do his bidding. His willingness to encourage violence far exceeds that of the PAD. If anyone is responsible for the months of protest and the closure of the airports, it is Thaksin and the gang that works for him.
The second question is open to debate. Nobody can really answer it with certainty. The PAD is doing what it can to effect their goal. The PAD leadership, whatever its weaknesses, has kept its people generally non-violent, despite numerous attacks on it, largely by pro-government rowdies. Violence provoked by govt MPs is worse. Nor do they seek power for themselves. Nobody else has been able to develop a more moderate and successful approach. Such are the realities of Thai society today.
In short, given the Thaksinites' intransigience, the PAD has no better option than what it has been doing. This is most unfortunate, but is a lesser evil than Thaksin returning as Emperor.
SANTIKARO
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