The prime minister has ''ordered'' her deputy PM to the South to investigate the latest shooting incident of a government official. What a joke. Chalerm Yubumrung did not go to the South when ordered previously, citing the need to be around to help push through some key votes in parliament.
The truth is, he doesn't want to give up the comforts of Bangkok, or put himself in the firing line. What a police captain, a real shining example for everyone to emulate.
COWARDLY MANGO
Holiday in North Korea
Koryo Tours, partnered with the North Korean goverment, is still happily recruiting prospective tourists for its summer programme of tours to Pyongyang. The groups are quickly filling up although there are still vacancies for the Victory Day City Break and the Mass Games Opening Tour in July.
Americans are welcome, although they have to arrive and leave North Korea by air and not by train. It seems that threatening to turn your enemies into a sea of fire is actually a marketing exercise to promote adventure holidays.
BARRY KENYON
Well-endowed military
Re ''He-man fails medical'' (BP, April 7). I would hope that the army will reconsider the decision to not allow Alongkorn ''Dew'' Tonnuangkoo to join the ranks of what has to be the most physically perfect military in the world due to his ''smaller than ideal pinky''.
As Mr Alongkorn indicated he was disappointed in not being able to serve, I am sure there is a job somewhere in the military that does not require ''the ideal little finger''. I would love to see the physical specifications that indicate the nature of this ideal appendage.
FRED PRAGER
A growing problem
I have just read a most fascinating article in the Huffington Post which claims we grow enough food to feed 10 billion people. How is it possible that we could have starvation and be headed towards a food and water shortage if we have more than enough food to feed every human being on earth?
In the article, Eric Gimenez , the executive director for Food First Institute for Food and Development, claims that we're wasting so many crops on ''biofuel and animal foodlots'' that we don't have enough food for humans. In other words, automobiles and the livestock industries are causing world starvation.
Lester Brown of the Oversea Development Council said years ago that if Americans cut back on their consumption of meat by just 10% we could save enough grain to feed 60 million people.
In his book, Animal Liberation, Peter Singer writes: ''The inefficiency of meat production means that those who eat meat are responsible for the indirect destruction of at least l0 times as many plants as are vegetarians''. So if people really believe that plants feel pain, they are not helping the plants by eating meat.
I know my critics will again complain that I'm imposing my vegetarian philosophy on them. It's always about ''them'' _ and not about the animals, the starving children or even the plants that my critics claim to care so much about.
ERIC BAHRT
Let charter 'mature'
In the US, the tradition of having senators chosen by state legislators was conserved for more than a hundred years before it was changed in 1913, and they were to be chosen directly by popular vote.
Here in Thailand, our constitution has been in use for only five years. To have senators elected directly by the people at this juncture would be too risky. Thailand's democracy _ as was the case of the US _ needs some time to grow and mature.
If we rush the process, legislation risks being based on partisan interests rather than philosophy and expertise.
The Senate will become a rubber stamp for some person or group only. Bicameralism, which is essential in every democratic system, will become useless.
Hence, Thailand, like a toddler, must learn how to walk before it learns how to run. To rush would be foolhardy.
VINT CHAVALA
Lamphun
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.