Postbag: We need martial law

Postbag: We need martial law

Time and time again since the NCPO’s May 22 coup and the subsequent induction of Gen Prayut’s government, people have called for a revocation of martial law, claiming that it interferes with their lives and businesses.

However, good, law-abiding citizens see things differently. The record speaks for itself. There have been no serious incidents from either side of the political divide since the invocation of martial law.

We have to be truthful to ourselves and admit that we are not living under normal circumstances. As such, we need martial law as a deterrent for those who are bent on pursuing bad ideas and actions.

Personally, I have no problem at all in living my life or doing business and the same is true for a number of my friends. Things in general are as normal as they can be.

Joe Sirijaraya


Bar the corrupt for life

A recent poll in Thailand showed a majority of citizens approved of the idea of the charter including a clause barring those guilty of misuse of power, fugitives, liars and cheats from ever holding or running for public office.

The current five-year ban is ludicrous. Does anyone want the return of another Shinawatra dynasty? Ex-PM Yingluck has already publicly stated she expects one day to return to power. This should provide Disney with the incentive to make another movie entitled Snow White Returns, surrounded by the seven dwarfs, all of them named Dopey.

David James Wong


Brown saw no justice

R L Holt appears to be upset by the cartoon depiction of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson.

He cites various offences Brown might have committed in support of his view.

However, Brown had not even been charged with these alleged offences, much less found guilty by a court.

When he was gunned down, he was running away and the officer’s life was in no danger at all.

Perhaps it might have been a few minutes earlier, but not then.

It seems to me that a possible petty criminal died while a killer managed to get away with murder.

Colin Carr


Let battle commence

Re: “Brown got US justice” (Postbag, Dec 4).

I’m going to sit back and watch R L Holt get lynched by all the this-world-is-oh-so-beautiful readers.

I can imagine Eric Bahrt scrambling to the keyboard to start clicking and clacking furiously.

Somsak Pola


Light on the facts

Please let me reply with some facts to R L Holt for his letter about Michael Brown yesterday.

The alleged assailant in the Ferguson, Missouri shooting was 10 metres or more away from Ferguson policeman Darren Wilson when he was shot more than once and heavily wounded.

He was 3 metres away when he received a shot to the head that killed him.

For all of the crimes listed by R L Holt the alleged assailant might have got, at the most, 10 years in prison with parole.

Instead, he got the instant death penalty administered in an extrajudicial execution.

As for facts, Mr or Ms Holt, what do you cite to substantiate your claim that most of the blacks in and around Ferguson were no doubt unemployed and on welfare?

Thank you and we look forward to your kind response.

Guy Baker


Aetas is just the start

The incredible Aetas Hotel saga has reached a new level. Upholding an earlier ruling, the Supreme Administrative Court judged that this oversized building should definitely be razed to the ground.

Other Bangkok structures stand on a similarly rocky moral low ground.

Local government officials and certain other business leaders in the construction and hospitality industries should be quaking in their boots.

This is no tall story, just the foundations of a much bigger scandal yet to be exposed.

John Shepherd


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