OPINION

Red-light menace

Re: "Govt strives for trafficking fight lift", (BP, Jan 22).

I am not sure how the government can stop the sexual exploitation of young women when it allows massage parlours to operate legally. In many ways, human trafficking has become an integral part of Thai industry and directly contributes to its GDP.

According to well-known sources there are more than 2.5 million women involved in the sex industry and other related entertainment services in Patpong, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani and several other towns. Pattaya alone has more than 50 massage parlours, many of them disguised as entertainment centres and beer and sports bars.

Such a lucrative business can't be run without the involvement of police and other agencies. Since it is one of the main attractions luring travellers to Thailand, I do not see any way to eradicate this menace.

There is abundant evidence suggesting that many members of the Royal Thai Police are corrupt, and that they are simply not interested in enforcing the laws of this kingdom, assuming they are even fully knowledgeable of what constitutes the law in the first place.

It occurs to me that given their regal title, then failing to do their job as they are required to, they are effectively taking advantage of the King's authority and good name purely to enrich themselves. Does this not constitute lese majeste in its most blatant form, or am I missing something?

Dual pricing may seem unfair, but such policies and others with similar effects are not unique to Thailand (PostBag, Jan 21). Foreign university students in some countries (Australia is one) have for many years paid far more than local students with subsidies. The scale of the cost differential is huge compared to street vendor meals.

Then there's the effective cost of entry to a country itself. Compare the difference in cost, time and difficulty of a Thai seeking to enter the US for a two-week holiday, versus a US citizen doing the same in Thailand. Then compare the same thing for a Thai (residing in the US) entering Thailand for a two-week holiday, versus a US citizen doing the same.

Those who pay taxes in a country (including foreigners) ought to have preferential pricing for facilities paid for by those taxes, including public transport.

Re: "Mirror, mirror who's the fairest PM of all?", (BP, Jan 22).

I'd advise Prime Minister Chan-o-cha to go ahead and adopt a few dogs or keep those he bought. As one reader wrote a few months ago, man's best friend might be all he has left when one day he finds himself out in the cold.

While Gen Prem Tinsulanonda is considered a revered person and a Thai icon, Gen Prayut is far from it. He is surrounded by too many "yes" men.

It is all turning into the story of The Emperor's New Clothes.

Don't listen to those telling you how the flowers smell. Go out and smell the flowers yourself.

Mr Nagi in his Jan 20 letter argues that US President Donald Trump is an example of how in a democracy the wrong people can be elected to office.

But may I remind him that the two most horrible presidents in recent history, George W Bush and Mr Trump, were elected with fewer votes than their opponents but "won" because of the electoral college. The electoral college means America is not a real democracy.

So one could argue that a real democracy would have prevented both Mr Bush and Mr Trump from becoming president.

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

All letter writers must provide full name and address.

All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.