Both the government and anti-government protesters should focus on being constructive, rather than seeking to beat the other side into dust. Both agree that reform is badly needed. Each, then, should propose key draft changes for discussion and debate, first among their own colleagues, then among the public at large, professional organisations, universities, etc.
For example, anti-government protesters insist on reform before elections. But BlueSky speakers give many proposals on myriad topics — is all that they propose backed by the majority of protesters, even though I’ve never seen or heard in-depth, two-way discussions? Must all proposals be implemented before elections — or which ones are key? To what extent does caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra agree/disagree with each key proposal?
During the past five months of protests, reform where there was common ground could have taken place, instead of the non-constructive marches and counter-marches and outpouring of vitriol.
Not only that, we could have had a demonstration of democracy at its finest, reaching out to all, getting a buy in to whatever reforms were implemented.
Let’s get on with nation-building, instead of drifting aimlessly with the tide.
Burin Kantabutra
Prisons need overhaul
Re: "Execution irreversible" (PostBag, April 4).
I totally agree with David Brown on the death penalty.
In the USA it is even worse. Politicians get elected on the cry: “We need tougher laws on crime." In the US many people have been given the death penalty who where found later to be innocent.
The reason is they could not afford the cost of the high fees the best defence layers command.
Also, there are no job training programmes for people who are there for lesser crimes.
It is cheaper to educate them in prison and help them get a job when they get out than it is not to. Prison systems around the world need a major overhaul.
Brian
USA
Graft nightmares
I was astonished, flabbergasted actually, to learn the National Anti-corruption Commission (NACC) is only authorised to investigate state officials and not private individuals and organisations. Especially those involved in corruption concerning state procurements (BP, April 6).
What NACC member Vicha Mahakhun exposed and argued confirms that the NACC is basically a toothless, if not useless, organisation.
It seems it is “functioning” just to camouflage the real extent of the massive, entrenched and ingrained corruption in Thailand. A scourge that, according to Mr Vicha, will never be conquered in this country, especially if there is such a strong incentive to maintain the status quo.
There just isn’t an institution, let alone an individual, in Thailand that can tackle this nightmare situation.
Isan Proofreader
Let sleeping dogs lie
Both my parents and grandparents were voracious carnivores and lived well into their 90s, whereas a dear friend who was a devout vegetarian died of breast cancer in her early 40s.
The boring debate on the rights and wrongs of vegetarianism and related studies continues like no other subject in PostBag. So who is right?
I can only refer to the saying commonly attributed to the 19th century British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli: "Lies, damned lies and statistics." But I suppose someone out there will also dispute that.
Martin R
Going off the rails
The Express Airport Rail service will be suspended from Phaya Thai for one year due to maintenance is the amazing message from SRTET CEO Peerakan Kaewwongwattana (BP, April 6).
A pity Thailand doesn’t have a proper railway regulator who would have stopped the mismanagement of this important rail operation.
No professional rail operator would stop operations just because of maintenance, which is a normal part of maintaining a train fleet.
Proper planning is the issue here, so passengers will not be the victims of bad and decreased services.
It sounds very much the SRTET top-level management also needs a very heavy overhaul.
Poul Rich
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