PostBag
Re: Bangkok Post editorial of May 13, "Gangs which enable crime." Yes, Bangkok has for years been known as a centre for false documentation. But there is one aspect of this which the editorial missed, although it is secondary.
Along with the Jemaah Islamiyah figure mentioned and others in the criminal mainstream, so to speak, there are about 3,000,000 British National (Overseas) Hongkongers slopping about all over Asia, who are formally allowed entry to all the Asean countries on Hong Kong civil ID only. This is a farce, however, because they rarely have to use this ID (or the BN(O) passports issued by the British government). They can bypass immigration controls all over Asia.
These are the people who didn't get residency in the UK after 1997, and were sent back to Hong Kong. Most found they were unemployable and unwanted there and spread out all over Asia. A fellow I met recently here, said: "It's funny, you know. Thailand is crawling with English people now, isn't it?" I agreed and told him who they were. Any English traveller with his ears on, notices these people all over Asia.
Why should these people be able to sidestep the economic laws that bind the rest of the world? Now back to your point: these people have travel privileges that any alert terrorist would give his eye-teeth to get hold of. A terrorist would only need good English conversational skills, a nodding acquaintance with some part of the UK and Hong Kong. If you don't need to go through immigration controls anywhere, then, to pick up all the illegal ID you need in Bangkok is very easy.
Surely these BN(O)'s represent a worrying threat to any country's national security since there are so many. How is it that there is never any spoken or printed reference to these people in the media?
Let's not get started on the Hongkongers who are dual nationals (or purport to be), or the human rights issues that accrue from the deportation of so many aliens from so many countries, while these people remain immune.
N AGNEW
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Service much improved
Service at the Immigration Dept these days is a million times better than in the mid-1970s. Then you could be waiting all day and if your name is not called, tough luck and come back tomorrow.
I have seen a big change and can tell that whoever is in charge is trying to find ways to even accelerate the service. Suan Phlu right now offers you air-conditioned rooms, friendly staff, etc. I was there yesterday for my 90-day notification and was done in three minutes when my number was called.
To the Immigration Dept at Suan Phlu, you are doing a very good job.
CHRIS
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Disgraceful behaviour
Re: "MP refuses to resign over alleged assault," BP, May 13. It is breathtaking, the arrogance of males in positions of authority in this country. They believe that by simply uttering something it becomes absolute fact regardless of reality and the size of the body of evidence to the contrary.
The behaviour of disgraced MP Karun Hosakul is a classic example of this, but similar conduct runs like a rich vein through the government as well. By refusing to resign and condescendingly dismissing the judgement of his peers, he has shown his utter contempt for parliament and the electors. Thuggish behaviour is not what is expected of legislators.
It will be interesting to see what punishment is meted out by the PPP to this delinquent MP. If they do little, which is most likely, it will show that the party as a whole can be seen to have similar values and to condone this unacceptable behaviour.
DR JOHN PATTERSON
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Man City players' coup
According to reports, Sven-Goran Eriksson recently persuaded the Manchester City squad not to go on strike; in fact, Eriksson has been ethical and professional throughout the current shenanigans taking place at East-lands.
However, an 8-1 drubbing at Middlesborough raises a big question mark; the red-carded captain raises another, particularly as his actions may have jeopardised City's Uefa Cup place via the fair play league.
Clearly, this was no "bad day"; this was a well-planned clandestine operation, a players' coup, a unique and risky demonstration of loyalty to their manager, whose fate had probably already been decided prior to the match.
I applaud the Manchester City team for playing their last game of the season in a manner that was totally "their way." I imagine that the furious Thaksin Shinawatra will soon attempt to declare a state of emergency in the north of England, appoint himself team manager, and matters will go from bad to worse. Deja vu?
JOHN SHEPHERD
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No UNHCR rice
Contrary to the statement in a New York Times story reprinted in the Bangkok Post on May 13 ("Junta monopolising relief aid"), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has not delivered any rice to Burmese military leaders. The UNHCR has not distributed any rice at all inside Burma.
On May 5, just two days after Cyclone Nargis struck, the UN refugee agency distributed canned food, biscuits and plastic sheeting in affected areas. Since then, we have brought in a truck convoy from Thailand and two planeloads of relief supplies from our stocks in Dubai, and are working through NGOs to distribute 79 tonnes of tents, plastic sheeting, blankets and other relief items to the cyclone victims.
We would be grateful if you set the record straight. MARC RAPOPORT Officer in Charge, UNHCR, Rangoon Going after the news When the PAD rallied at Thammasat University, there was a disturbance from hecklers, which led to a TV cameraman being hurt. He was hit by a bottle on the eyebrow and his bloody face was on every TV channel. He was made an instant hero, a man who risked his life to bring news to consumers!
Now I've just read about a CNN news reporter who tiptoed past a police checkpoint into Burma and came back with footage showing what was really happening there. God knows what would have happened had he been caught.
Now I can see clearly the difference between Thai and farang media.
MEECHAI BURAPA
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