OPINION

Beware the knock

Re: "Philippine's Duterte personally ordered arrest of Australian nun", (Online, April 19).

This online report concerns the increasing crackdown in the Philippines by President Duterte to any opposition to his increasingly dictatorial and arbitrarily assumed powers.

He personally ordered the arrest of a 71 year old Australian nun and long-time Philippines resident, Sister Patricia Fox, with the warning that any foreign critics of him or his government face deportation.

I hope General Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha doesn't read this. It might give him ideas. Then where would that leave many of your expatriate contributors to PostBag, including me?

Excuse me. I have to keep this letter short. There is a knock on the door.

Re: "Act of forgiveness", (PostBag, April 21).

Zafar Bhatti talks about the forgiveness, the mercy and the compassion shown by the prophet Mohammed (the founder of Islam) in one particular instance after Mohammed had 'gained victory' over his persecutors, when he could instead have punished them. Forgiveness, mercy and compassion are indeed admirable qualities, whatever your religion, beliefs or lack of religious belief.

The same day the Bangkok Post published a story 'Indonesia's Aceh canes couples for public shows of affection' about the public whipping and caning of several unmarried couples in this Muslim majority country for the crime of showing affection in public and two women for the crime of prostitution. This was carried out before an enthusiastic audience of hundreds. Those convicted were found guilty under Sharia law (or Islamic law, the religious law forming part of the Islamic tradition) and the punishment was carried out in the name of Allah.

Does showing affection in public or being a sex worker warrant being whipped and caned? This also begs the question, where was the forgiveness, mercy and compassion for these people? If the founder of Islam can show these qualities why can't the followers of Islam do the same?

Re: "Act of forgiveness", (PostBag, April 21).

Zafar Bhatti, in his reply to my letter, does not dispute the key facts I have highlighted: Islamic rule was expanded mostly through war and conquest of vast territories after which followers of other religions, far from being respected and protected, were subjected to an inferior 'dhimmi' status imposed by violence. This is simply the historical record of Islamic rule and not a matter of opinion.

Now, it is clear from Mr Bhatti's reply that he is a zealous member of the Ahmadiyya community. This is of course very respectable, and so is this message of peace. Nevertheless, his article is not journalism but a piece of PR.

Re: "Slaughterhouse shock", (PostBag, April 18).

Bob Terry brought back a memory I'd soon rather forget. I too am 77 years old. In the '50s, I visited Chicago, at that time the meat packing centre of the United States, with Armor and Swift meat packers, the largest meat processors in the nation. My relatives insisted I visit the pride of their city and took me on a guided tour as provided by these two facilities.

The trains rolled in and out of the slaughterhouse compounds on 24-hour schedules, reminding me of the trains bringing humanity to Auschwitz and other German concentration camps to be slaughtered and extinguished. The tour guide pointed with pride to the bolt and hammer method of killing cattle, and with the same pride told us that by the time the tour was over, we'd have free hamburgers in the tourist cafe from the very animals we watched being processed.

Needless to say, that cafe was continuously empty. Many people barfed on the way out, many became vegetarians. I swore off meat for a year, but, gradually returned, the allure of the prime rib and hamburger drawing me back. Still, the memory is shocking all these years later. I feel the same way as Bob Terry. Some things are so shocking, the memories remain forever.

Re: "Doi Suthep meeting ends without deal", (BP, April 21).

This is nothing but a ridiculous talk and a waste. This is no exit because both the government and civic group sides were at fault. Even if the project met all rules, it was not appropriate to build this facility. And, the civil groups were somehow ignorant and failed to raise opposition in a timely manner (prior to the construction of the houses and the offices).

It is obvious that the government can't restore the place to its original status. Using more tax money for this work as the civil groups demand is just like an octopus eating its own leg. It seems definitely impossible for the civil groups to raise enough funds for the whole restoration work.

The only possible solution is for both sides make a sincere apology and leave everything alone as it has been done.

Re: "Humanity forgotten", (PostBag, April 20).

David James Wong seems to think that people who care about animals rights are insensitive to human rights and gives the suffering of the Rohingya as an example.

Yet, I, as an animal-rights activist, wrote more letters condemning the atrocities against the Rohingya than probably anyone else. In fact, I was involved in human rights long before I ever even thought about animals rights and vegetarianism.

But at some point, I came to the conclusion that since animals can suffer as much as humans torturing them physically or psychologically was just as cruel as abusing humans. In fact, I don't see any moral difference between torturing someone just because he was born into a different religion or race or torturing a pig just because he was born into a different species.

There is no reason we can't follow the example of Gandhi and condemn all cruelty regardless of the species of the victim.

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.