OPINION

Out with the old

The media report of a group of former MPs from the Northeast paying a visit to three of their party's "respected elders" should be a cause for concern for democratically minded Thais.

The first "elder" is Thailand's former prime minister and former army chief. This man is now 86 years old. Some 20 years ago, the government under this PM was responsible for the 1997 economic crisis that affected many countries across the world. Many blamed him for the tumult that took place in Thailand in the 1990s.

The second "elder" (85), is the caretaker leader of Thailand biggest party. He is another elderly Thai who cannot say with pride that he has done anything good for society. The last is a notorious politician (84) who came to prominence by acting as a local boss in the Northeast -- after becoming owner of a fleet of transport trucks operating in the region.

During his time as a cabinet minister in the early 2000s, this person was alleged to have ordered for a piece of land that belonged to a Buddhist temple to be transformed into a privately owned golf course. Be that as it may, he could not be brought to trial because of a lack of evidence. It looks like Thailand's road to democracy is doomed as long as these three octogenarians keep interfering in politics -- instead of taking care of their great-great grandchildren!

Clara Holzer in her Jan 11 letter complained about the Bangkok Post's election obsessions.

Madam, you do not hear of Thai people publicly complaining about this government, because it is against the law so to do.

Furthermore, unless you have managed to canvass the entire population of Thailand, you do not have any basis on which to claim you know the views of the majority of Thais.

I trust that you accept that it is the duty of a government to keep its promises to the people, hence the countdown on the front page of the Post reminding the government of its responsibility to arrange for the elections to take place in November.

Re: "Somkid scolds science ministry as kids lose interest", (BP, Jan 9)

It would certainly be encouraging to see it take hold, but the trouble with science is that it's very much like democracy: It only works when old ideas inherited from tradition, every last one of them, can be openly called into question and be constantly pushed to defend themselves, sound approaches that are too often criminal under Thai rule of law.

Nor does science obediently respect authority, flatly contradicting the prime minister's reform of education with his 12 Values of Thainess.

Oprah Winfrey for US president? Right on! One thing I always admired about her was when she had a talk show in America she showed a tremendous ability to communicate with all kinds of people and respect them.

There is no way a President Oprah would send out tweets insulting everyone -- even members of her own party or cabinet -- who disagreed with her. One time on her show there was a blatantly racist man and Oprah said to him: "You're a racist. But I'm enough of a Christian to respect your right to be one." What a classy contrast to that vulgar sociopath currently in the White House.

Indeed, let's make America great again. But first we have to change its leadership.

I don't quite understand Interpol's position on the matter of arresting and repatriating former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

They have the means and ability to locate and arrest the fugitive and proceed with her extradition. Suggesting they don't have sufficient evidence sounds ridiculous. I am sure they have official copies of the court order sentencing her to five years in jail and the arrest warrant issued for leaving the country without the court's permission.

We will hear more about this in due course, no doubt!

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