Re “Sihasak assures US on trafficking fight”, (BP, June 9) is an irony. In the last few days, several PostBag letters and articles have complained about the US and Australia speaking up with unwelcome advice regarding the military coup. Great, I agree!
The irony is that I wonder who will speak up about the Thai capitulation to America’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) programme. US TIP programme demands include changing Thai laws, speeding up prosecutions, providing special welfare benefits for a few, and Thai police reporting to the American embassy.
I urge everyone to read a TIP report. On Sunday, the Post wrote about Cambodian Somaly Mam. The report showed the issue of trafficking has been distorted by media exaggeration and celebrity involvement.
America’s TIP programme is modern day imperialism and should be challenged. Thailand should just say "no" to America’s TIP programme, as many countries are starting to do.
John Kane
Take the wider view
I refer to numerous letters and articles criticising “foreign” commentators on the current situation in Thailand. Nearly always, the point made is that the foreign media is “inaccurate” in its reporting.
Media outlets are not perfect, because of course reports are created by people and there is pressure to get a story. They are, however, professional news gatherers and are trained to take into account conflicting points of view. They are not required to report every detail that one side or the other may deem essential, but the fact is, they are more impartial than some would have us believe.
I am reminded of the story where a daughter calls her grandfather in his car. “Grandpa, are you OK? The news says there is a guy driving the wrong way down the freeway.” “One guy?” replies the grandfather, “There’s hundreds!”
The fact is, having a mirror held up to you can be an uncomfortable experience. What you see in the mirror is never quite the way you see yourself. I know from my own experience, that too many people in Thailand have been blinkered when it comes to the other sides’ opinions. A wider view is definitely required.
Alan Mehew
Forget the salute
Re: “7 held for giving 3-finger anti-coup salute”, (BP, June 9).
In an ideal world I would be opposed to any coup but being a realist I accepted the necessity of the latest coup to restore some sort of order to a situation that for too long had been out of everyone's control.
However, reading about the latest crackdown on three-fingered salutes and the arrest of seven people I may have to rethink my position. This is a gross over-reaction, and Gen Prayuth should be big enough and man enough to accept that some people are opposed to his seizure of power. Peacefully demonstrating this by a harmless gesture is hardly threatening the regime. They only have their fingers; he has the guns.
Gen Prayuth and the army have better things to do. Please get on with the real job at hand.
David Brown
Curfew confusion
Re: "Junta touts tourism splurge, eases curfew further", (BP, June 7).
There was chaos, confusion and confrontation on the streets of Hua Hin on Saturday night. Hundreds of tourists and locals alike were thrown out onto the streets as bars and restaurants were forced to close at midnight by police imposing their own self-styled curfew in defiance of Friday’s announcement that the curfew had been lifted. People cannot be blamed for thinking this is just another opportunity to squeeze more money out of local businesses and the Hua Hin curfew will stay until people pay up.
Gen Prayuth tells us the curfew in Hua Hin has ended but the local police choose to defy that. The people of Hua Hin deserve an explanation and some clarification.
William Walker
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