Re: “Buddhism reform vital”, (BP, April 1).
This sounded as if Thailand were the sole authority of Buddhism, like the Vatican might be to Catholicism. I think we should consult Sri Lanka, Tibet, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Laos and Vietnam, where most people are Buddhist.
Just because some Thai monks go astray, you want to reform Buddhism. This is ridiculous. All you have to do is defrock them and prosecute if they commit a crime.
Unless you mean you want to reform the authority and structure of the Thai Sangha?
SOMSAK POLA
Cars out of control
Re: “Carnage to come”, (PostBag, March 30).
Brian Forlonge has sure hit the nail on the head with his letter of what we can look forward to over the Songkran holidays.
However, I would correct one statement in which he mentions the “vehicles which drivers control”. These drivers Brian refers to, arrogant, ignorant, and yes, irresponsible, do not in fact control the vehicle. The vehicle controls them, and the vehicle will easily lose control, when in the hands of the wrong people.
CHARLIE BROWN
Charter concerns
Regarding the controversial charter draft, the Constitution Drafting Committee has obviously thought long and hard about the many issues facing Thailand, not just the recent political conflict, but deeper issues such as the economy, wealth distribution, equity, political philosophy, and citizens and non-citizens alike. However, a number of proposals are of concern.
It is stated that citizen empowerment and involvement are currently inadequate and that this gives a power imbalance too much in favour of politicians and the political class.
This is not the case as in this day and age citizens have more access to empowerment and vocalisation than ever before with digital access and so much new and local media.
Further, protesters of all groups have shown immense citizen power in the “mega” protests that have transpired in the last decade.
In fact, citizen empowerment is higher in Thailand than most other polities in Southeast Asia.
As a specific example the proposed National Ethics Committee empowers citizens to recall politicians at the next election if they are dissatisfied with their ethical performance. However, this is unworkable in two ways: Firstly, rural supporters have shown that they are more than willing to vote in those whose ethical activities have been compromised in the past.
Secondly, demonstrators of both sides have shown they are not willing to wait for the following election to recall politicians they do not trust.
Rather, they insist on taking matters to the street immediately and illegally, insisting on not just bringing down individual politicians, but whole governments.
There is a dangerous proposal to allow a judicial review of policies that have detrimental fiscal or financial impact. This allows prosecutions for activity that is not criminal or even unethical. In other words, it allows the judiciary to control government policy.
It is a dangerous breach of the separation of powers as it will empower government officials and judicial officers to embark on purely political prosecutions against those not in their favour, thus giving too much power to the judiciary.
This is exactly what rural supporters, rightly or not, have been railing against angrily for the past 10 years, and could result in the flames of conflict being even more intensely fanned.
Laws against political misdeeds are currently already among the strongest in the world, as has been proved by the prosecution or banning of three prime ministers and many politicians and parties in more recent times.
Lastly, the interim government needs to answer a practical question too. How do they propose to ensure that when the next coloured protests are causing mayhem and gridlock in Bangkok, that the police and army can clear the streets quickly to ensure Bangkok returns to normal without the need for another coup? This is what most Thais would really want to know.
It is otherwise obvious the committee has done well to come up with a painstaking list of issues and ideas for making Thailand better within their influence and mandate. Good luck to them and Thailand.
SIMON WOOD
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