OPINION

Murderous youths

Re: "Victim of school violence dies after 2 weeks in coma", (BP, May 21).

Powerful stuff is happening among Thailand's youth. It is like in the United States. Murder is murder, whether by knife, gun, or a wooden club. An 18-year old student loses his temper when a 16-year old student refuses to lend him his guitar. The result -- the older boy picks up a club and batters the younger student over the head, to death.

This uncontrollable rage will in the future be translated into road rage or other, possibly resulting in another murder by outrage. I have no mercy for such an 18-year old. He is as crazy as Dylann Roof who was just convicted and sentenced to death for murder in South Carolina. It makes no difference, one murder or more. In for a dime, in for a dollar.

Re: "VAT hike idea shot down", (Business, May 20).

It is refreshing to see that saner heads at the Finance Ministry seem to have prevailed in scrapping the proposal to raise VAT from 7% to 8%. The increase would have generated an estimated additional 70 billion baht in government revenue every year. But, we have ample evidence that the government would simply squander the additional resources in any event (think unneeded tanks and useless submarines).

So much time (and Bangkok Post column inches) seem to be devoted to those imprisoned for things not even considered a crime in other countries, that it's something of a relief to read about the secondary school teacher in Nakhon Sawan. He not only hacked off a pupil's hair for being too long but was so proud of his actions he posted it on Facebook. Finally we are able to say: In any other country this person would be behind bars.

One of the most serious considerations in adopting the policy, in the Philippines now and in Thailand a few years ago, of encouraging police to randomly gun down anyone suspected of being involved in the drug trade, is simply not fully taken into account. I refer, of course, of the effect on the general moral fibre of the nation's police force after several years of being allowed to shoot citizens dead without fear of recrimination.

Re: "Lock up the monsters", (PostBag, May 19).

Eric Bahrt's letter is reliving an idyllic past. Kids in his time had no mobiles, computers, all the modern high tech available today. They did not carry knives, guns, or whatever else. Look at the crap available today to influence kids. YouTube clips with violence, profanity, murder, blood, and parents are oblivious to it all. They too probably view it while eating dinner without a second thought. So Eric, don't be so hard on kids who murder. Blame the media, society and their parents instead. For us it's an outrage, for these teen murderers it is commonplace.

Re: "75% of unis 'at risk of closure'", (BP, May 22).

We have too many universities. This has destroyed the quality of both universities and graduates. At present, the highest unemployment rate is among university graduates, because their knowledge and skills do not match industry demands. I suggest many universities be converted from general academic teaching to a higher industrial knowledge and skills curriculum.

Re: "11 organisations call for "true" police reforms", (BP, May 21).

The government has announced a police evaluation committee will be formed to overhaul the force. It would be a farce if it does not include civilians. Letting it be made up only of police will be akin to house cleaning. Instead of throwing out junk, it is simply moved from one place to another.