Re: “Unlike Greece, our ‘corruption trap’ has no end in sight,” (BP, Feb 18).
I fully agree with the view of Boonwara Sumano from the Thailand Development Research Institute that countries can become trapped in corruption, and that a main cause of this trap can be a lack of trust in politicians.
She concludes that “unless there is a change that induces people to have confidence in politicians and democracy, there is no exit from the corruption trap”. Bill Clinton would agree with her, for he said, “The central tenet of every democracy in the end is trust.”
I suggest the change that induces people to trust politicians and democracy is for voters to be consistently politically informed and active, following former prime minister Anand Panyarachun’s 7 Pillars of Sustainable Democracy (elections, political tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of expression, accountability and transparency, decentralisation and civil society). For example, before the question of Scottish independence was put to the vote, the issues were discussed nationwide by all major sectors, following rule of law, with freedom of expression and political tolerance, including by civil groups such as universities and professional societies. Voters cast informed, thought-out ballots, politicians (including the losers) accepted the results as credibly reflecting the will of the populace, and Scots of all political persuasions proceeded to work together to fulfil the national will.
Let’s learn from the Scots and build a strong, credible democracy.
BURIN KANTABUTRA
Let’s get serious
Re: “Yes, let Yingluck go,” (PostBag, Feb 19).
Somsak Pola tells us that allowing Ms Yingluck to skip the country is no more wrong than the military coup last May. John McEnroe invented the answer to that, “You cannot be serious”.
Well, there is a slight difference. Ms Yingluck allowed the country to descend to the status of a failed state whereas the military stepped in to save the situation and prevent a civil war. It is true both issues have a common cause and that is the absence of a democratic form of government. Neither situation would arise in a democracy.
On the other hand, the wisdom of the day came from Eric Bahrt when he claimed, “I was right on milk”. Yes, he was and he is right about diet. His remarks about milk are well documented scientifically but then so are the adverse affects of smoking. Many people know but don’t want to know. The proof of this is the increase in obesity, lung cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis.
But well said Mr Bahrt, I concur absolutely.
J C WILCOX
Plight of rural poor
Re: “In the Thai political rule book, not all crimes are equal,” (Opinion, Feb 19).
As much as I respect Songkran Grachangnetara’s excellent writing, I doubt whether a man like him, who lives in Bangkok all the time, understands the real plight of Thailand’s rural poor.
The problems Thailand faces concern the economics and the politics of things.
Allow me to explain:
First, instead of empowering the rural poor, Thaksin manipulated them for his and his people’s benefits. His healthcare programme might have relieved the poor people’s hardship somewhat — by providing them access to free medicine and treatment. However, that did not help, compared to the household debt that had doubled during Thaksin’s rule.
Second, Thaksin provided state money to the rural poor, and they in turn were allowed to buy mobile phones, motorcycles and pick-up trucks from companies owned by his and his cronies’ families. Thaksin and his sister Ms Yingluck also issued credit cards to the poor — without the recipients having any income money to back up that credit.
He was successful in turning moneyless farmers into big-time consumers!
VINT CHAVALA
It takes time to evolve
The Feb 19 guest column by Khun Songkran makes an interesting comparison of ex-prime minister Thaksin with Simon de Montfort of England in the 1260s. In Churchill’s own words, de Montfort, “though a prince among administrators, suffered as a politician from over-confidence and impatience. He trampled upon vested interests, broke all traditions, did violence to all forms and needlessly created suspicion and distrust”.
The column correctly sees de Montfort as an important milestone in English political history in that future rulers took into account a wider swathe of the British public. But, he hardly heralded the immediate triumph of the common citizen. The next king was Edward I, memorably portrayed as Longshanks in the movie Braveheart.
In England, the political power of the common voter only emerged after many centuries and owed as much to the Black Death a century after (which created a shortage of peasants, thus giving them leverage) than to the self-interested machinations of de Montfort. Thailand’s politics will evolve along its own path. But, such things always take time.
ROBERT FITTS
The trouble with Thai
Andrew Biggs in his Feb 15 article wrote about the difficulty of proper transliteration from Thai to English. I am surprised that he didn’t mention why the Thai letter T, called “To Thahan”, is always written TH in Thai words transliterated in English such as in Thailand or Than (you). This makes me ask the question, why is B-A-TH spelled B-A-HT, baht instead of bath? Perhaps bath would have sounded too watery for English ears.
Even if Andrew Biggs has only lived in Thailand for 19 years and not 50 years since 1964 like myself, he probably knows why the Thai national flag was suddenly changed from a white elephant to the present one at the beginning of the reign of King Rama VI.
I know the reason but perhaps Andrew Biggs could entertain his readers interested in Thai history with that subject?
MICHEL MUSCADIER
Fooled by fiery lies
I am a fool for once again trusting the word of a politician. Every year I regrettably head out of north Thailand in mid-February for two months to avoid the criminal arsonists who cause toxic fumes. This year when the government said there would be no fires I trusted them and delayed my flight until mid March.
After all, they have so far been the best government in recent times, cleaning up many of the country’s ills. But it would seem that nothing at all in regards to the fires has been done as a few days ago the magnificent mountains of Pai district again vanished.
Every day got worse and yesterday the entire Pai valley was engulfed in acrid smoke. These fires can be seen burning on the mountains every night, so if a politician claims the smoke is coming from Myanmar and Laos like a certain unnamed one did a few years ago, I will not be fooled again.
FOOLISH NIK
Power to the people
Re: “Not all crimes are equal”, (Opinion, Feb 19).
Well said Mr Songkran. Your golfing analogy is brilliant. The yellow shirts, Democrat Party together with the “independent” bodies and the PDRC have committed crimes by using the monarchy to protect their own interests and successfully derail elections. It seems as if they have been working like Pol Col Pongpat’s mafia. Unfortunately, the patronage system is alive; you can see it’s manifestation in the web of the NLA, the NRC and the CDC. In the global context, a country is known by its political and military power. Economic power also depends and thrives on these two.
So far, Thailand has failed to cultivate its political power. Except for conducting coups or serving the oligarchs, the military power remains on the fringes. According to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific “good governance” must have eight major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimised, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard in decision-making.
It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Although it may be difficult to cultivate all eight characteristics, ongoing reforms should focus more on empowering ordinary people. New elections may renew the hope for better governance and a brighter future.
KULDEEP NAGI
Suspicion on Koh Tao
Many people have said their gut feeling tells them something is wrong in the case of the two Myanmar men accused of killing two Britons on Koh Tao.
The DNA samples seem to be a trump card you cannot argue with. Or can you? Maybe the defence and the British authorities are keeping their cards close to their chests until the trial starts and will we then get another twist?
There is a long list of accusations against the two men. But we hear nothing about the bar owner who hired them without work permits. Has the bar owner been charged with employing people without the proper papers? And did the police check the other bars and restaurants on the island for violations of employment rules?
Is it really all about greed, and exploiting underpaid immigrants with no papers while police look the other way?
A NORTH COUNTRY MAN
Studies often wrong
Eric Bahrt says that just because he’s a radical thinker doesn’t mean he is wrong. Quite right! However, quoting statistics from milk studies doesn’t mean you are right. Did the studies refer to the fact that many Asians cannot digest milk? Or that milk in the USA is nearly all homogenised?
I’m reminded of the man with the trained spider. He pulled all the spiders legs off and the spider no longer responded to his commands, to which he proclaimed “You see. A spider hears with its legs!”
KEN SOWTON
More than a country
If you ask foreigners why they like to stay in Thailand they may give you many reasons, but one reason comes up consistently — they love the Thai people. And I feel the same.
Then it occurred to me the powers that be always say they love the country. I have never heard them say they love the people. I feel that this is not playing with words but it makes a fundamental difference.
Not a good basis for reform.
KARL REICHSTETTER
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