OPINION

Help the poor, PM

If this government is unable to win over the poor, it is almost guaranteed that the "Burn, Bangkok, Burn" party will return to power and who knows what lame brain policies Thaksin Shinawatra will come up with.

I find it hard to believe that this government cannot see the poor. I used to have a friend who was a general and his house was full of recruits waiting on him and his family hand and foot all the time. You probably have the same thing, Gen Prayut, and these people are the poor or come from families who are poor. If you cannot go out on the street, at least take a look at the people waiting on you in your house and have a little compassion for them. Don't you want to help them and their families?

Re: "Subscribing to the truth", (PostBag, May 20).

We all have our favourite newspapers and other sources for news. For me it is the San Francisco Chronicle. Did PG ever wonder why news stories in many international or well-respected papers such as Thailand's Bangkok Post, the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, to name a few, report stories with such similarity? Unless a newspaper has a reporter on the spot, recording and reporting events factually observed in person, not as he imagines he sees it, or embellishes what he sees, then the news is reliable.

Most news reported comes from international wire service pools. I'd say the exception might be the BBC World Service. This is one of the most reliable and trustworthy news services in the world, with reporters in many troubled areas, at great risk to their lives.

I was impressed by Captain Aphichit Phanthaprathip who teaches underprivileged kids (BP, May 21).

Most teachers never say "Dreams come true" in school because students know in reality that the rich become richer.

But the captain's teaching can definitely change the mindset of the underprivileged and the world will change by them gaining knowledge and expertise from education.

I join with Nigel Oakins in his May 19 letter to wish all the Bangkok Post editors the success that strong conviction together with expedient publishing should bring.

A newspaper's role is to deliver plaudits and brickbats to all where appropriate, including the highest levels of a nation's administration. On the other hand, I am surprised at his own surprise regarding "one-sided" reporting/editorial in the UK's The Guardian newspaper; an organ which is widely know for reporting the half of the facts which it (politically) prefers (as are many UK national papers).

I also address the remark of TG Kent who commented that "any hint of political bias" in news reporting is unacceptable. Gentlemen, grow up and live in the real world, read widely (opinions that you both agree and disagree with), and try to balance your own political views yourself.

I do accept that at least in the UK, any publication is free to follow the political leaning which it prefers, and feel certain that Bangkok Post will also always do its best to uphold the torch of free journalism in Thailand.

Police in Chiang Mai have launched a campaign against guesthouse operators which from the information relayed to me sounds like a classic extortion racket. In the latest incident, they appeared at a guesthouse (the owner not being present) grilled the staff, then took them away. Bail had to be paid to obtain their release.

I understand the Thai owners intend fighting back. It seems common that officials focus on their particular money making ventures with no regard to the cost to their fellow Thais and certainly no idea of the bigger picture. This has the potential to seriously damage Chiang Mai's tourist industry.

The internet is an incredibly powerful tool. The police should also be aware that with security cameras in many guesthouses, their image will be there for the world to see.

Contact: Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 fax: +02 6164000 Email:

postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

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