NACC soft on graft?

I am beginning to think that NACC stands for the "national association for the criminally corrupt".

This supposedly independent body [National Anti-Corruption Commission] sits by and watches the ruling elite get away with anything they wish.

We have government officials who openly declare wealth that would take 500 years of their official salary to accumulate and nobody raises a question.

Is this the real Thailand? If so, isn't it time for the clean and uncorrupted to rise up and announce the changes so badly needed.

Lungstib
Trafficking secret is out

Victoria's Secret Massage may be the undoing of the current regime, at least in terms of their desperate hope for an upgrade in the annual US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. (BP, Jan 22).

It now looks unlikely -- under-age, cross-border girls trafficked into an inner-city brothel cum massage parlour reflects on this trade across the city, and beyond.

Your Jan 16 editorial is correct in saying, "human trafficking is taking place right under our noses". It then seems to be contradictory to say "there are now police and other agencies willing to do something about it".

Perhaps it does reflect some willingness to act by the current regime; however, their record is not strong.

Yes, at the risk of losing their entire seafood exports to the EU they responded comprehensively to a revamp of the fishing industry.

However, it is not out of place to say that some of the worst slavery-like conditions documented in recent decades were virtually happening under our noses. Only outside sources could expose the atrocities that were happening.

The AP and The Guardian broke the stories, and while the EU took 2.5 years to approve the changes made, the news sources are still not convinced.

And it turns out that some of the fishermen were Rohingya, many recruited from the area that unearthed a jungle camp and graveyard of Rohingya in the South, as reported by The Guardian.

Like the EU threat of a ban, the international exposure rallied the government into action and many prosecutions followed in the South, but like preceding governments it was too little too late.

There will be no upgrade for this regime.

Watson
Keeping us sovereign

In reference to Khun Kemadist's Jan 21 letter, "Democracy and graft", what Thailand needs the most is not democracy but to retain its sovereignty at times when globalists will use any tricks to prey on countries to enslave them economically.

Whether democracy in Thailand will achieve this is doubtful in view of its pitiful record regarding the integrity (or lack thereof) of politicians whose populist policies prey on the disillusioned masses.

Clara Holzer
Reciprocal rules

Yes, I fully agree with Monson Marukatat in his Jan 18 letter, "Pathetic passports" -- there should reciprocity.

In a foreign country Thais should not be able to own more than 49% of a company, should not be able to own land and must report to immigration every 90 days, and if they leave the country, even with a valid exit reentry permit they must report to immigration with 24 hours of their return.

I wonder how many wealthy Thais living in England and owing property would stand for that.

Keith Hanks
Bordering on bias

Re: "New minimum wage ranges between B308 and B330", (Online, Jan 18).

It is disappointing that the minimum wage of three southernmost border provinces was approved up to 308 baht, which is the lowest rate compared to the new minimum wage ranges of between 310 baht and 330 baht.

The minimum wage actually depends on each province's economy. Workers purchase consumer products at convenience stores like 7-Eleven, and thus encounter the same prices as are standard nationwide.

This means many of their living costs are no different from other provinces. The new minimum wage should reflect this.

Sutipunt Bongsununt
Spin against Trump

A photo accompanying "The Year of Trump" in the Jan 21 edition was captioned "Close call", suggesting President Trump was sitting in his limo waiting out inclement weather while members of his administration stood outside waiting to board Marine One.

I suppose the caption aimed to make it seem as though the president had left his entourage standing in the rain. But if you look at the photo you can see that standing among the group is none other than Mr Trump himself.

It's obvious those who wrote the caption either didn't look at the photo or they to spin the story to make him look bad.

Fake news observer

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