Postbag: Forget compromise

Postbag: Forget compromise

Thitinan Pongsudhirak asserts, “A ‘third-way’ compromise is imperative”, (Opinion, Jan 23). The law cannot be compromised to appease certain parties.

The writer also states: “Part of the difficulty in defending Thailand’s democratic process and principles ... is that it favours the Thaksin side with the attendant risks of being smeared and attacked by his opponents.”

The writer relates Thaksin’s remark at his trial in 2001, when he famously questioned how 15 judges can decide against him when 19 million people voted for him.

Contravening the law is not a political issue and should not be construed as such. The paramount laws are the principles of democracy and above politics. Every person is accountable under the law regardless.

All this brings into question the writer referring to “Thailand’s democratic process and principles”. The article, as does Thaksin’s remark, suggests that the vote and political considerations are above the law and sees the current situation only as a political issue with political ramifications. It also clearly illustrates that democratic principles are not established in Thailand. Thailand cannot therefore claim to be a democracy.

The writer further says: ”If she [Yingluck] has done no wrong, the coup-making rationale for seizing power would ring hollow.” The reason for the coup d’etat was to prevent a violent civil war. Supporters of the Yingluck government resorted to the use of military weapons against innocent people, murdering several in the process. That could hardly “ring hollow” when it prevented the country becoming a totally failed state. Thailand is currently more peaceful than for some time.

JC Wilcox


Double standards rife

Re: “A time for the rule of law”, (Editorial, BP, Jan 23).

The sanctity of the rule of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people. The current impeachment proceedings against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra are not endorsed by the Thai people but by those who toppled her elected government. In politics, providing subsidies to constituents is not illegal.

Unfortunately, in Thailand all opposition forces are now aligned to make sure that a political party that keeps winning elections is completely uprooted. It does not mean that corruption and other acts against the interests of people should not be dealt with. Those who profited from the rice-pledging scheme should be brought to justice.

No one in the NACC and NLA is talking about losses brought to the Thai economy due to the shutdown of businesses in Bangkok and blockades of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports by the PAD (yellow shirts) in 2008.

The PAD's seizures of the airports is estimated to have cost the Thai economy at least three billion baht a day in lost shipment value and opportunities.

So far, none of the key players from that era have been impeached or gone to jail. The story with the PDRC is the same.

Kuldeep Nagi


Disabled access queries

It is about time disabled access to the skytrain system was provided but before installation the designs and accessibility must be carefully thought out regarding ticket purchases/payments and wheelchair access to the carriages. Will the lifts go from street level to the platforms and will they be large enough to carry more than one wheelchair at a time? Will the lift access be built at all stations on the new lines currently under construction?

John Lowndes


Stop dog menace

Not long ago I raised my deep concerns regarding the half-baked animal rights bill in this country.

We have the proof that dogs, especially the stray ones, are very dangerous animals that do, and will harm and even kill humans (BP, Jan 22).

I reiterate, the dog menace is out of control in this country. Some law, eh?

Isan Proofreader


Defence isn't cruelty

Re: “Animal law fails humans” (BP, Jan 22), the report distorts the meaning of the Animal Welfare Bill. The law doesn’t say you can’t harm an animal in self-defence.

I love dogs. But if I saw a dog tearing apart a child I wouldn’t hesitate to harm the dog to save the child. And there is not an animal rights activist in the world who would call that cruelty to animals.

Why is it assumed that if you’re pro-animal rights you’re anti-human rights when in reality I’ve been a champion of both causes my entire life?

Eric Bahrt


Time to legalise drugs

Writing as a retired police detective, I heartily concur with your analysis of the drug war/drug prohibition. The smugglers ship a little extra toward  their markets, knowing the authorities will confiscate maybe 20%. They also know when their mules are caught, they are easily replaced by men and women desperate for money. You must know that criminals love drug prohibition, since it guarantees them millions and billions in profits. If Thailand and other Asian countries want to strike fear and dread in the hearts of drug smugglers, join the growing number of voices across the planet that call to legalise/regulate all drugs. The Mexican drug cartels are already vocal about how cannabis legalisation in Colorado is hurting their profits.

Howard


Influence at work

One statement by Simon Wood in his letter, “Rice saga nothing new,” (PostBag, Jan 23) needs a bit of thought. There may be other “rice saga” types of events in other countries, agreed. But Khun Simon writes, “…that cannot be cured by the normal, legal and political process.” This too is true. But the main point is that this is not any other country in the world. This is Thailand, where the normal political and legal processes are controlled by “influential people”, (who are never of course named as they appear to be so highly influential), or the army.

Cha Dam Yen


Objectivity needed

Journalists should make a clear difference between reporting and their personal columns and opinions. They should stop referring to anti-Thaksin or pro-Thaksin NLA members in their columns and opinions about the impeachment on the rice-pledging scheme of ex-premier Yingluck and some of her cabinet ministers and keep this information exclusively for their reporting.

The press shouldn’t get caught in the trap of the politicians who still don’t understand what democracy and the rule of law are, and who refuse to ditch their blinkers for their own survival and financial interests instead of the public interest. It confuses the reader and doesn’t tell us what’s really at stake here: Was the rice-pledging scheme corrupt and who are the culprits, regardless of what political party they belong to?

Based on what I have read in recent weeks in different newspapers, and assuming the information is correct, there is no doubt about it that this is an “exemplary” case of massive corruption that cost the poor, the taxpayers and the country dearly.

VL


Stalls back on beaches

Recently some writers have expressed their disappointment about the lack of deckchairs and vendors on Phuket’s beaches.

However, I disagree. I am a regular visitor to Bang Tao Beach in Phuket. What a wonderful improvement to the environment the clean-up organised by the military has made. Now there are large expanses of open, clean sand and, where the restaurants used to be, there are now manicured lawns of sand. The sea is also clearer as restaurants no longer dump their effluent in the water.

I don’t miss having to navigate between tailor shops, tour agencies, stalls selling textiles and trinkets, or ladies offering sandy massages. Nor do I miss being accosted every five minutes to buy drinks or take a speed boat trip to nowhere.

However, this vast beach facelift is at risk. Creepage is occurring. Already stalls are re-establishing themselves on the edge of the beach and the jet ski mafia have definitely not gone away.

I do hope the military will keep an eye on things and revisit as necessary.

David


What media exodus?

I did not know my compatriot Nikolaus Freiherr von Nostitz personally and after reading Achara Ashayagachat’s “Documenting the Eye of the Storm” on Jan 21, I must say − this is unfortunate. However, she writes “another journalist quitting Thailand”. Who were the others and why did they quit? Is there more information about this media exodus ?

Hans U Luther


Rules out of control

Every day at the end of newscasts we hear that another rule or law has been introduced. Prime minister, it’s time to stop introducing newer and newer rules and regulations. How about enforcing some of the old standards such as strict traffic control, strict traffic violations, strict noise control regulations and a few more. At the moment no one listens to you, and in fact, many people are beginning to just ignore you and take you for another paper tiger. It is time for you to get back on track, and not the Chinese railroad track scheme either. It may turn out in the future to be yet another big scam.

Golani


Speeches start to grate

While I appreciate the good efforts the general and prime minister is doing to make Thailand a better place to live and visit I do not appreciate him invading my home every Friday night with his policy speeches. Whilst I pay taxes I am not allowed any input into the running of the country or allowed to vote.

Please, Gen Prayut, could you alter your speech times or simply just broadcast them to Thai-speaking viewers.

Brian Forlonge


Why is baht so strong?

If you see an old farang sitting on a footbridge at Lad Phrao or Central rattling a tin cup, it is probably me.

The Australian dollar was at a high of 32 baht last year, but since has been in free fall and today is quoted at 25.7 baht.

I’m no economist, so can someone please explain to me why, with all of Thailand’s woes, the baht defies the laws of gravity and remains so strong?

David Brown


Korean justice works

Re: “Nut rage heiress trial begins”, (BP, Jan 20).

The Korean Air heiress indictment sets a good example for wealthy people’s wrongdoings. The court trial begins later this month regarding her charge on aviation safety violations. This incident has proved the efficiency of the South Korean courts having justice as their first priority. The point is that any wrongdoer should be given a verdict or handed a sentence without prejudice regardless of how rich he or she is. For wealthy people committing crimes in Thailand, the judicial process has to be restructured and “nut rage” used as an example. I hope that one day justice will claim victory over money in this country and prioritise justice above all, just like in South Korea.

Supharoek Yavichai


Good service for all

In response to Patrick R Scheibli in his “Get a proper visa” letter on Jan 21, I would like to ask the following: What does improving the process of obtaining a visa at the Thai consulate in Phnom Penh have to do with “foreigners living in Thailand semi-illegally”. If a consulate is not providing a satisfactory service, then should it not be brought to light and hopefully improved as a result? Is that not the same for any service? Does he forget that there are indeed genuine tourists travelling in the region who would — God forbid — expect consular staff to turn up on time and to treat visitors to Thailand with a degree of politeness and respect? What’s wrong with expecting that?

Stephen Tracy


Listen and learn

Why does the Education Ministry which approves curricula from kindergarten to university fail to promote, practise and measure Thai students’ English speaking and listening skills?

It’s incomprehensible why, of myriad exams, Thai high schoolers are forced to take Onet, GAT, PAT, and uni entrance exams. None seek to test and measure listening and speaking; only reading and writing. Why? The answer is that curricula are written by ancient ajarns and then approved by bloated bureaucrats who themselves struggle to put a few words of English together. In their youth they were required to spout grammar rules in school and they seem hellbent on ensuring that every subsequent generation of Thai students does the same. There is a lot of lip service paid to the importance of the AEC and Asean but sadly Thailand languishes lower than Laos and is a lifetime away from Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia in the tables of its population’s relative fluency in English. I suggest that in order to redress this fact, Thai schools adopt Cambridge ESOL exams as their measure of Thai students’ overall competence in English, as is the case across Europe, South America and Africa.

James McNamara


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