No more coups

No more coups

Re: “Bring on an election, not more hot air”, (Opinion, Feb 17).

Unless the CDC writes a law to prevent further military coups there will be no tangible reform or progress. After 22 or more coups, Thailand remains undemocratic.

If the CDC is incapable of writing a new prescription to prevent further coups, all its efforts to bring reform and reconciliation will be wasted. Holding elections is as important as preventing coups.

The country is now looking for an opportunity to assert its leadership role in the upcoming Asean Economic Community.

Thailand will need a clear path to transform itself into a civic government, not the same game of musical chairs.

KULDEEP NAGI


Qualified innocence

May I request Robin Grand and his followers to think again about “Ex-PM is innocent so far” (PostBag, Feb 17). Following his principle might also mean violating at least one other principle.

May I explain this by an actual example, which casts doubts on his opinion “that everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, according to law in a public trial”.

Following his argument the Eastern European ATM-scammers are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. That’s right and okay.

But using common sense, you, I and everybody else would like the public to be protected against any crimes committed by this group.

For two reasons: danger of repetition, and of absconding. Danger of flight is nothing but escaping the law, which is extremely probable in the Yingluck case, too. She already has a role model, her brother.

I don’t know Thai laws. But I guess that it will not be much different from German laws.

For averting the danger of flight the police or the administration has the right (but is not obliged) to impose some restrictions on the suspect.

The presumption of innocence is inferior to the principle of escaping the law, the danger of flight.

Now, would you still like the ATM-scammers to have no restrictions on their movements?

ECKHARD HELBIG


One rule for the rich

Here is a headline which appeared recently on a BBC online news story: “Murder charge for Indian tycoon accused of ramming guard”.

It is so reminiscent of what goes on in Thailand with the so-spoiled offspring of many, rich, famous, influential people.

If this were a Thai headline, the only difference would be the omission of the word “murder”. Look at the Red Bull kid living a life of luxury outside Thailand.

Look at the Mu Ham story. Look at the story of that girl whose car rammed a van a few years ago on a Bangkok expressway resulting in the deaths of so many people.

Were they ever charged with murder, tried or sentenced? Of course not.

These are children of privilege, the heirs of the rich, famous and influential who run around Thailand flaunting it all, getting away with murder, while lesser people wind up behind bars.

JACK GILEAD


Blood on their hands

Re: “Ex-PM innocent so far”, (PostBag, Feb 17).

In my humble opinion, national leaders cannot escape responsibility for the deaths of innocent citizens under their charge as a result of violence that had been ordered, or instigated, by people close to them.

VINT CHAVALA


Sliding into the abyss

If I were a moralist, a prude or religious, which I hasten to add I am not, I would observe that we are sliding further into the abyss when Fifty Shades of Grey can top the bestseller lists for months and now triumph at the box office, as well as generate a surge in retailers for associated bizarre products (as reported in the press) for those who indulge in such practices, or heaven help us, have been stimulated into purchasing them by the publication/movie.

ROBIN


Morning-after day

What an excellent idea to name Feb 13 as International Condom Day (Re: “Condone the Condom”, PostBag, Feb 16). How about following it up with “International Morning-After Pill Day”?

ANOTHER FARANG OBSERVER


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