OPINION

Sense on lese majeste

Re: "Chuvit set for release under royal pardon", (BP, Dec 13).

I highly praise His Majesty King Rama X for graciously including lese majeste prisoners among those granted royal pardons this week.

HM King Rama IX was of course a very prominent critic to Thailand's law of lese majeste. In 2005, after an increase in politically inspired lese-majeste complaints, King Bhumibol conveyed that "charges against those accused of lese majeste should be dropped, and those held in jail for lese majeste should be released. The use of the lese majeste law ultimately damages the monarchy". The late King insisted that when criticism is prohibited and people are jailed for lese majeste, "the damage is done to the king", according to a book by Nicholas Grossman and Dominic Faulder, titled King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work.

HM King Rama IX's graciousness shows, to me, that our beloved national father's opinion on lese majeste is still most suitable for Thailand today. It follows, then, that "when ... people are jailed for lese majeste, 'the damage is done to the king'," we should protect our highest institution by vigorously heeding the royal wishes of both kings and completely reforming our lese majeste laws.

Re: "Careful what you click, but keep thinking", (Opinion, Dec 10).

It seems incredible that someone can be charged with lese majeste for providing a link to a BBC Thai website, even though no charges have been made against the BBC. What's more, as this paper pointed out, many people were linked to the website yet only one was arrested. One can only speculate as to why (nod nod, wink wink).

Of course I didn't read the article. No honestly. What! Get your hands off me. Help, aaaagh!

Re: "Farewell Manuel, the world's worst waiter", (Postscript, Dec 11).

Yes indeed, Roger Crutchley is always entertaining. Postscript last Sunday brought back many fond memories. I was introduced to the hilarious and classic TV comedy Fawlty Towers through Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the US. It was the first non-commercial educational television network founded in 1969 with a huge pool of member stations all across the 50 states. I could not wait for a long night of a few episodes of Fawlty Towers.

I still remember episodes such as "I Know Nothing" and "Manuel Practises His English". It reminded me of the plight of immigrants in America; especially the Hispanics who also struggled to master the English language.

Re: "NGV bus importer hit with customs fine," (BP, Dec 14).

Once again a total lack of due diligence. The NGV bus controversy looks like someone didn't get their due. Surely state and metropolitan agencies should have worked it out prior to importing the buses so that the general public are not inconvenienced by their rows.

We have seen this so many times (fire trucks come to mind).

The left hand seldom knows what the right hand is doing.

Why is everything an afterthought? Does no one ever plan things to their ultimate conclusion?

Re: "CIA says Russia helped Trump to victory", (BP, Dec 11).

The CIA confirms what I've been saying all along that the Russians sabotaged the American elections to help Trump win.

Now as payback Mr Trump is likely to appoint a secretary of state whose business dealings with the Russians are such a conflict of interest that even Republicans are expressing their outrage.

If the Trump-Putin connection blows up into a major scandal, it could lead to the impeachment of Mr Trump.

Re: "Police remove concrete piles blocking a road to Wat Phra Dhammakaya", (BP, Dec 14).

Don't waste your time. If you can't raid the temple, cut all utilities and seal off the temple compound. Leave it alone until those monks and followers surrender.