Schemers come out top

Schemers come out top

Re: "The story of a lese majeste prisoner" (BP, July 21, 2013). Voranai Vanijaka's revelation of the hard truth of how red shirts and red-shirt lese majeste convicts suffered physical abuse in prison only shows how dirty Thai politics is.

There are only two groups of political actors in Thailand - the manipulators and the manipulated. While the manipulators earned their political rewards for what they did, the manipulated were maltreated while serving their jail terms.

And famously amid all this, a top contender arises using her big brother's manipulative scheming. All she has to do is look as immaculately clean, and smile as sweetly as possible. That's all.

VINT CHAVALA


Look both ways in market

Songdej Praditsmanont enjoyed the article (BP, Opinion, July 20) by Anatole Kaletsky suggesting that a long-term bull market is under way because it basically was full of positive news for potential investors.

However, one can turn to other sources who put forward convincing arguments that in fact the opposite will shortly be the case and we could well be in a bubble that will shortly burst with unpleasant consequences.

Perhaps the key here is to carefully weigh up both sides of the debate before rushing into anything which might end badly for ordinary investors.

JOHN WELLS


False equivalents

People are clamouring for the government to treat Thaksin Shinawatra the same way it has treated defrocked monk Wirapol Sukphol, i.e. revoking his passport and demanding the country that hosts him send him back.

I think the public knows full well each case is different, but they pretend to be naive.

Mr Wirapol is accused of statutory rape, tax evasion, embezzlement and money laundering. The charges are brought under normal circumstances. No coup, no hidden agendas, no political motives, just plain justice at work.

By contrast, Thaksin was elected to office, endorsed by royal command to run the government, and illegally toppled by the coup. The rest is history. The coup was irreversible; the damage was done, the constitution was annihilated. Imagine what would happen if the court acquitted him? Big mess. Can't be done.

As I have said before, if you fasten your first button of your shirt wrongly, the shirt will end up crooked. You have to unbutton them all and redo it from the beginning.

SOMSAK POLA


Too much value on paper

Re: "Fake uni closes as DSI looks on" (BP, July 22).

In a country where anyone can get a fake alternative for almost anything, why would you not expect fake university degrees here as well?

Anyone who has ever interviewed Thai employees or applied for a job in Thailand knows the the main thing required (in their minds) is that piece of paper.

No amount of common sense, prior success or experience will make up for that, in their minds.

Foreigners who apply for jobs are also subjected to this "degree syndrome".

For any foreigners looking for work in Thailand, get yourself a lovely looking masters' degree, fake or not, no problem. It's all about who you are and who you know, not what you have achieved.

PERRY, Chon Buri


Govt shows true colours

The "people's amnesty bill" has been presented by a bereaved mother on behalf of all relatives of the people who died in the "political" rallies in 2010.

However, the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the red-shirt leadership now show their true colours by opposing the bill.

The people's bill, if passed, would be the first true step towards democracy and reconciliation.

RICHARD BOWLER


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