OPINION

Stick to the facts

Eric Bahrt, in his Dec 3 letter, "Stop ethnic cleansing", appears to have got his wires crossed.

He states, and I quote: "For years I've been arguing that Ms Suu Kyi is nothing but a hypocrite, now she is window dressing for a government that is clearly run by a murderous military."

If Myanmar is still being run by the erstwhile murderers of the dictatorial, so-called State Law and Order Restoration Council, or their equally fascist and re-branded successors, how can she be held responsible? She was silenced by these scum before, and now it's deja vu. To fatuously say that Suu Kyi is "window dressing" for these blackguards is an obvious falsehood.

Perhaps Mr Bahrt should spend some time unearthing the background facts, prior to making such baseless accusations. I'd suggest he makes a start with John Pilger's totally verifiable analysis on the atrocities committed by the SLORC, but there's a chance he might demonise him too.

When I was a kid it was very common for my mother and British women, in general, to wear a head scarf, usually when they had had a perm or there was inclement weather (very common).

In fact, when I first came to this part of world it was the first time that I heard the term hijab. Even when I was living in Malaysia and then in Songkhla, it was rarely that one saw females wearing one. Now, the hijab is commonplace in the South of Thailand and Malaysia. Why?

Is this a growing sign of Muslim identity and, if so, what has prompted it? It didn't exist 20+ years ago in this region. Nobody then was slightly interested if a lady was a Muslim or not, because you couldn't tell. So, it may be that it was better off then, as religious identity wasn't such a major consideration then as it appears to be now.

This is how religious conflicts arise and are promulgated.

Perhaps the ladies would be better of with curlers and head scarfs.

Just a question, no offence intended. Why are alms always given to monks instead of to needy, poor people? Many monks have more money than they need, (some including private jets and fleets of Mercedes-Benz vehicles), and many temples are richer than many small countries. Very few monks or temples ever share with the needy. I've known temples to refuse cremation or rites to those too poor to afford the temple's costs.

I like to think of it as the demise of a Bangkok icon. The once iconic Malaysia Hotel in the Sathon area, long a home away from home for many repeat guests who travel to Thailand from colder climes, has gone crazy. Recent renovations have covered the complete exterior with a metal sheeting, painted brown and mustard yellow, giving it the look of the results of a thousand geese doing their thing while flying overhead.

The once white, tranquil, walls of the entire stairwell have been given over to garish, hideous murals, mostly of horses. Anyone with a hangover might either suddenly turn sober thinking himself blundering into a nightmare, or vomit in revulsion. I was told the horses or maa in Thai, were connected symbolically to the hotel owner's name, supposedly to bring the family good luck and greater fortune. To boot, the hotel has raised its rates considerably. There is a lot of competition in the neighbourhood, and the charm of the once wonderful Malaysia Hotel is wearing off.

It is like watching a once famous, yet faded dowager going to sleaze. The only saving grace is the wonderful staff, there for years, who remember each guest personally.