OPINION

A paragon of virtues

As Pliny the Younger noted, "Example [is] the surest method of instruction."

I completely agree with Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda's wise words to Prime Minister Prayut that the latter should be a positive role model, especially in displaying traditional Thai virtues (BP, Dec 29). 

Gen Prayut should start personifying his own 12 Values, and have his Cabinet do likewise. Thus, the police and army should "show honesty" (Value 2) and" respect for the law" (Value 8) by being transparent regarding the tragic on-campus death of the military cadet "Moei" two months ago instead of stonewalling their investigation. To be credible, the investigation must be chaired by an independent third party, with outside experts participating. Another way to follow his Values would be to speed up the chase for Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, the "hit-and-run killer" of a cop years ago; as an example of inordinate delays, the cops couldn't translate the indictment for months, yet a private firm did it in three days.

Gen Prayut should also recognise that DPM Prawit's flashy display of at least 10 super-luxurious watches, some worth millions of baht when his salary is about 250,000 baht, breaks "Living by the Sufficiency Philosophy of HM the late King (Rama IX; Value 10) and display "Strength against greed" (Value 11). This gaudy display also rightfully causes strong suspicion of breaking PM Prayut's Value of "Honesty".

Thus, Gen Prayut should order his direct subordinate to come clean, quickly provide verifiable details as to each watch's provenance, and live in accord with HM's Sufficiency Philosophy.

Gen Prayut, as Gen Prem notes, you can win back your ebbing support -- just set a good example of your own 12 Values, now.

Re: "A need for speed", (PostBag, Dec 29).

Kurt Rudahl, you said, "In China this year I travelled in a prototype 1,800kph train", but you didn't bother to tell us what it was like to travel that fast on land. That's cruel!

I assume it is a maglev train, but was it running in a low air pressure tunnel? If not, there's got to be a hell of air friction at 1,800kph. What's more, at 1,800kph -- which is way faster than the speed of sound of 1,235kph -- how did they deal with the shockwaves and vibration? How long did the trip last and how long did the train maintain the speed of 1,800kph? Was it absolutely quiet during the ride on the supersonic train? What was it like when you looked out the window? I'm dying to hear from you, Kurt.

Unfortunately, all you did was emphasise the obvious, "That's Bangkok to Chiang Mai in 20 minutes!" It's like you went to Mars, came back and said: "It's red and quiet up there."

If the Prime Minister isn't required to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, as shown on the front page of the Dec 27 edition of the Bangkok Post, why should any one else be required to do so?

Being an incurable train romantic for the old-fashioned way of travelling, it is a pity Thailand is plunging into the 21st century without having really experienced the wonders of the last one.

Deputy PM Somkid wants improvements in the transport system (BP, Dec 29).

Well, one transport improvement that would benefit Thai people as well as tourists would be better integration of the BTS, MRT, overground and surface rail system in Bangkok. The system needs a common payment card usable across all lines. At present, we all waste a huge amount of time fiddling with different machines on each line.

Re: "Lighting the way", (PostBag, Dec 27).

Canada made mandatory running lights a requirement about 25 years ago, after studying Swedish statistics which pointed to reduced motor vehicle accidents and vehicle-related deaths, and it worked well. Headlights will automatically come on with the turn of the ignition switch in all vehicles sold in Canada. There is no way to disable this. Most of us baulked at this requirement during the first year, but it worked and continues to be an effective deterrent in lowering traffic accidents.

Coupled with this are some of the strictest laws and strictest penalties for those caught in traffic violations, not to mention the increased insurance rates. Yes, Thailand should definitely adopt daylight headlights, as Kim Johanson suggests, but it must also be serious about stricter penalties for lawbreakers. This slap on the wrist thing simply does not work.

Re: "Visa wait could top 4 hours" (BP, Dec 27).

I found the article in the Bangkok Post appalling. Two things caught my attention: the first being that the deputy immigration police asked for understanding about possible lengthy delays to processing arriving passengers, most of whom will not have heard the statement or would not understand such intolerable delays. It is also likely they will later boycott Thailand as a country professing to welcome tourists.

Secondly, I refer to the statement that the Immigration Bureau "is considering" opening more lanes for visa processing to reduce the lengthy queues. Well, duh! It is way overdue that such measures should have been taken ages ago as the debacle of unacceptable waiting times is well known.

I fully understand that tough screening is necessary to catch undesirables trying to enter the kingdom, but a lack of adequate number of lanes and staff and slow examination of passports is not the answer. Surely better intelligence and proper training of immigration police is. If matters do not improve soon, Thailand's US$50-billion tourist industry is at risk.

Contact: Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 fax: +02 6164000 Email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

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