OPINION

Leave academics alone

The American Anthropological Association (AAA) is extremely alarmed to learn that Dr Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, a very senior and respected Thai academic, and four other Thai researchers recently received summonses accusing them of violating the military regime's ban on political gatherings of five or more persons.

Apparently, the summonses are a response to the organisation of the International Conference on Thai Studies hosted in July by Chiang Mai University and chaired by Dr Chayan. The conference is the main international scholarly forum for presentation and discussion of research on Thailand and Southeast Asia.

In addition to being highly respected in Thailand, Dr Chayan is also prominent in well-regarded international academic circles. He is currently coordinating a large international consortium of academics and civil society groups studying the relationship between climate change mitigation politics, resource grabbing and conflict in Cambodia and Myanmar.

Perhaps more importantly, Dr Chayan is deeply respected within academia, civil society and Thai government ministries and has carried out cutting-edge scientific work on critical rural issues in Thailand that have direct policy implications.

The AAA respects the sovereignty and rights of national governments to uphold the rule of law and serve the interests of their citizens. At the same time, where government policies and practices impose unreasonable limitations on teaching, learning and scholarly research, these policies and practices pose a fundamental threat to the advancement of understanding. Academic freedom is essential for researchers, teachers and students to advance the purpose of institutions of higher education in service of the common good.

In that light we respectfully urge the government of Thailand to immediately withdraw the summonses against Dr Chayan, Pakawadee Veerapatpong, Chaipong Samnieng, Nontawat Machai and Thiramon Bua-ngam. We also urge the government to ease the restrictions on free and open discussion, and support academics/students in their conduct of scholarly teaching, research, public discussion and debate, on and off campus.

Dr Chayan's work and the work of the other scholars summoned is ultimately to the benefit of Thai people and of humankind. We appeal to the Thai government's appreciation of sound scholarship to withdraw the charges against them and secure their release.

The PM is right that a change in the Thai people's mindset is needed: stop respecting groups who overthrow the rule of law; stop tolerating the bad morals of coups; stop blindly believing the lame excuses of those who have broken promises to serve the civilian government; stop accepting the systemic corruption whitewashed by rule of corrupt law that is reflected in the indefensible super-abundance of army generals and their useless toys; and demand reform of corrupt law made up by bad people to give themselves amnesties among other undeserved perks.

I recently visited Khao Lak in Phangnga province and would of course not have missed a visit to the tsunami museum if it had not been for a sign at the door that said: "Thais 20 baht, foreigners 200 baht." That is against my principles.

Is there no shame for Thais? More than 2,000 non-Thais died in Khao Lak because of the tsunami. There was no distinction then, while foreigners constituted the majority of the victims there.

Foreign donations to Thailand amounted to more than US$30 million. Asking non-Thais to pay 10 times the standard entrance fee shows little Thai gratitude.

The sudden departure of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra is a very appropriate ending to a typical, long drawn-out Thai soap opera. Snow White flees the country, leaving the seven dwarfs to fend for themselves. "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to jail we go …"

If only the Shinawatra family had paid more attention to the Red Bull case, they could have at least learned how to provide more convincing evidence of illness to explain a court no-show.

What do Thaksin, the Yoovidhya brat, the monk from Dhammakaya and Yingluck all have in common? Two things: an overabundance of wealth and a lot of help from those somewhere hidden and woven into the mysterious tapestry of power. People do not disappear. They are helped along the way.

As Liza Minnelli sang in the movie Cabaret: "Money makes the world go round."

We sometimes read in your pages of drivers who, having caused a disaster, flee the scene of the crime. Is there any wonder that it is seen as acceptable when even the country's leaders do the same?

Re: "UN alleges NK arms shipment to Syria" (BP, Aug 23).

Interdiction of arms shipments from North Korea bound for the agency accused of chemical weapons development in Syria underscores the real dangers of the North Korean nuclear programme.

It is highly unlikely that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is crazy enough to invite certain destruction to himself and his country by initiating a direct nuclear attack on the US or neighbouring countries.

But it is easy to envision the cash-strapped, heavily sanctioned country selling off a nuclear bomb or two to the highest-bidding terrorist group.

This is the real threat that North Korea poses to world peace and one which must be addressed with utmost attentiveness.