Post Bag
PM Somchai says, ''Resignation is not the solution.'' He remains so out of touch with reality. It is only a matter of time before he resigns or is found guilty of corruption. Unfortunately, incompetence is not a crime, but in his case it is his realm of reality.
The real issue is who will succeed him? Thailand claims to be a democratic society, but that is not the case when prime ministers are elected on the basis of those politicians who follow in Thaksin's footsteps.
Thaksin is the sole individual who is responsible for all the turmoil in the country, and those politicians who think only about their own greed and following in Thaksin's footsteps, should be brought up on corruption and insurrection charges, but we know that will never happen.
Thailand needs a non-political individual to be the next PM, one who has no affiliation with any political party and will only care about the people and the country. Will the real PM please stand up?
DISTURBED
-----
Defying with impunity
It is virtually impossible for the casual observer, especially foreigners, to understand the logic of being a ''serial prime minister protester''. The practice of blockading government buildings, roads, bridges and thoroughfares and stopping both politicians and the general public from going about their daily business is strange enough in itself, but to then expect to defy the law of the land and the policemen trying to enforce lawful instructions and warrants with impunity is folly, indeed!
I can only liken it to the following scenario: An underaged person is allowed by his elders to ride a motorcycle on Sukhumvit road. He has no licence, no insurance and no helmet and he is driving on the wrong side of the road when he is involved in a serious accident. The parents are distraught that such a thing could happen to their child and demand compensation and medical expenses and express their anger at the reckless driver of the other vehicle... Intelligent people would never do this, right?
ALAN IN CHON BURI
-----
Caught on video tape
Many of us may have seen the video clip which showed a police officer, who was identified later as an officer attached to the 191 Special Operations Division. In the clip he is shown in a ready-to-shoot position, with his pistol aimed, during the crackdown on the People's Alliance for Democracy on Oct 7.
He claims that he was aiming his gun at a pickup truck and was going to shoot out the tyres, but that the pickup truck changed course and sped away, and he did not pull the trigger.
The video clip did not show any pickup truck but did clearly show the officer with his gun aimed at something, when another officer evidently told him to put away the gun and they walked away from the scene. At the same time, they seemed to be aware that they were being filmed and were making hand signals at the camera to stop filming.
It makes one wonder whether the officer's side of the story has any credibility and could it be that the filming of the incident was the reason his colleague had gone over to tell him not to shoot (possibly at the people)?
Judging from past police behaviour, it is extremely difficult to believe what they tell us. The video clip and other related clips on the crackdown against the PAD can be seen on YouTube.com.
SUPREECHA
-----
Manipulating people
The techniques of brainwashing, indoctrination, manipulation of people have been studied in great detail since the publication in the year 1895 of La psychologie des foules (''The Crowd: A Study ot the Popular Mind'') by the French scholar Gustave le Bon. These techniques have been used successfully by dictators, politicians of all colours, religious leaders, warmongers, fan clubs and a large variety of interest groups, who either fight for a cause or against something that does not suit their agenda.
Whoever watches the nonstop performance of Thailand's small, Bangkok-based opposition movement PAD on the television channel ASTV with an inquisitive mind, will find all the elements which make the successful manipulation of people possible.
There is a muted audience whose only function is to noisily applaud everything that is said on the stage, whether it makes sense or not, is right or wrong. The same slogans are repeated again and again, so as to make them appear the unquestionable, absolute truth. Questions are not asked, discussions do not take place. Those up there on the stage, the leaders, do not want to be questioned; questions lead to divisions.
The further scenario: once a crowd has been sufficiently ''conditioned'', the individual ceases to exist. He or she has been swallowed up by a dehumanised monster, the mob. And then, those up there, the manipulators, have an obedient tool which they can use for whatever purpose they choose.
The effect of brainwashing is that people who become part of a mob, are not aware that they are being used and will do whatever they are told to do, even things they would never do as single individuals. They have lost control. In fact, individuals don't count, they can even be sacrificed and will then be called martyrs. What counts in a mob are numbers, not people.
MANFRED LIEBIG Mukdahan
-----
A 'kakistocracy'
An interesting recent article on the BBC website listed seldom used or otherwise interesting words. I was struck by one of them, namely, ''kakistocracy'', which apparently means ''the government of a state by its worst citizens''.
I wonder if any readers may be familiar with a country that is often described as a democracy, but for which the term kakistocracy might be more appropriate?
TIM BOYLE
-----
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING, 136 NA RANONG ROAD, KLONG TOEY, BANGKOK 10110
Fax: +02 2403666, email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Next
