OPINION

Joint solutions

Re: "Abhisit slams govt's unity pact as useless", (BP, Feb 18).

I agree with Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva that the junta should not focus on a unity agreement for national reconciliation, for the military's whole approach to reconciliation is fatally flawed.

I suggest that, as in Aesop's fable of six blind men and the elephant, each task is composed of different valid perceptions -- to succeed, we must welcome and understand the perceptions and concerns of others. On reconciliation, ordering sides to "think, but don't express your thoughts" (Gen Prawit), and banning them from a meeting of the minds is counter-productive to promoting understanding and hammering out overarching joint goals.

We should follow our beloved national father HM Rama 9's legendary approach to national problem-solving, for example, in weaning hill tribes off growing illegal opium. First, we should gather baseline information and suggested solutions from all key stakeholders, especially the grassroots and officials dealing with the grassroots, but also extending to stakeholders in, say, state enterprise and public sector procurement.

We should explore proposed solutions and create new ones, bringing in outside expertise. Solutions would be joint products of all sectors -- not those of a given political sector -- thus promoting widespread buy-in.

Problem-solving would involve many stakeholders. The junta should focus on keeping the peace, empowering opposing sides to form joint teams focused on specific problems, perhaps under NGO leadership.

Each team will include experts from various groups and inclusively represent all major political colours.

Focus on joint solutions to solve the problems that divide us.

I read an international headline this week that said something like "Thai govt approves coal burning plant for tourist area". That should do wonders for the tourist industry.

It was not long ago that this government promised the world to cut back on Thailand's greenhouse emissions by 20% by 2030. It appears that the plan is to wait until 2029 to try to fulfill that promise.

According to articles that I have read in the last two months, wind and solar generated power are both going to become cheaper than coal generated power in 2017, so it seems rather foolish to build another coal powered electricity generating plant anywhere now.

Re: "Ministry targets to reclaim 1.6m rai," (BP, Feb 18).

I could not imagine how so many resort facilities, etc. built during past years -- definitely not overnight -- have now become illegal and subject to removal.

Those places where such facilities were built were very quiet and sleepy environments before construction started.

How did local authorities not notice that such busy activities for building facilities had suddenly started under their jurisdictions and were completed?

Did they sleep as quietly as their environment and were not awakened to the sounds of construction work?

Such consequences need prosecution and removal of derelict authorities.

Does Tony Ash really believe a 70% election turnout is abysmal? Where does he live? North Korea?

The turnout in UK general elections has been below 70% for a decade and a half and has not been above 80% for more than 50 years.

To put this into perspective, the UK turnout in European elections has consistently been under 40%.

To say that a ballot result is invalid because an unseen majority didn't bother to vote is just plain daft.

Re: "Trump's ship springs a leak", (PostBag, Feb 19).

Take out Trump and substitute "Thai government" and you have the same story. It's always Trump, Trump, Trump.

Vint Chavala is going to Trump us to death along with a few others.

Stop tromping on Trump and tromp on your own government for a change.

I'm sure you'll find more leaks than in a sieve.