Buddhism Lost
I was appalled with the execution of a convict (BP, June 18). I don’t defend in any way what he did and if he murdered my child I would want to kill him. But that is the human instinct. When the state coldly determines someone’s death it is entirely different.
Thailand is estranged from the teachings of Buddhism. Greed and corruption is everywhere including the temples. The Lord Buddha would not recognise Thailand as a Buddhist country and that is the fault of the so called "elite". They are not elite but vultures preying on average Thais.
FarangChiang Mai
Passing the buck
Re: “SET down 1.47% as spat intensifies”, (Business, June 19).
Assertions that a falling local equities market is attributable to such things as a pending trade dispute between the US and China, the US Fed’s policy rates, the plans of the European Central Bank and fears that oil prices may rise, are nonsense.
Responsibility for the economic success of Thailand rests entirely with the Thai government. One could immediately highlight the slow response from the Bank of Thailand regarding its policy rate. Combined with the international reputation of Thailand regarding human rights, the rule of law, corruption, intellectual property, drug crime, prostitution, road fatalities, fraud, human trafficking, the foreign business act, immigration policies, military rule, and many more alarming failures, it serves as a strong repellent to foreign investors.
The first sign of good governance is the public acknowledgement of failed policies by those in positions of responsibility. Absent this we can be sure the government does not have the public’s best interests at heart.
Michael Setter
BYOC or pay for cups
Re: “Famed pad Thai restaurant defends charge for paper cups”, (BP, 17 June).
Most people may not know that disposable paper cups are lined with plastic so that they can hold liquid, and the liquid contaminates the cup, thus requiring special recycling treatment. As a result, even in the UK, only 1% of disposable cups are actually recycled.
To help save our environment, I suggest that famed pad Thai restaurant Thipsamai increase its charge to five baht for an empty paper cup. It should sell multi-use cups as souvenirs and, of course, charge only for the drinks for patrons bringing their own containers.
Burin Kantabutra
History unchecked
Having at last procured a copy of Mr Roger Crutchley’s historical work from Asia Books, I feel obliged to report the first of likely many errors. To wit the title:
“The long winding road to Nakhon Nowhere”.
A thorough examination of maps, both old and new reveals conclusively that there is not, and never has been a Nakhon Nowhere within the Kingdom of Thailand! Mr Clotly is clearly referring to Nakhon Nayok, and herewith lies the second glaring error.
The commonly accepted route to Nakhon Nayok is from Rangsit, and this road is neither particularly long nor winding.
I suggest that Mr Crutchley correct the name of his publication to :
“The short and relatively straight road to Nakhon Nayok”.
Rupert Sedgewich Smedley-Pryce(Col Ret ROPS, OHMS)
Prayer for the dying
Re: "Halal hullabaloo", (PostBag, June 16).
Martin R is unfairly dismissive of my complaint. If people are offered and given the option to eat halal meat on a flight, surely I should have been offered and given the option to eat non-halal meat? It is blatant discrimination and rather than answering and refuting that point he ignores it and goes on to claim that halal meat is healthy because of the method of slaughter.
The argument is not about whether or not halal meat is healthy. I would never knowingly eat halal meat because I object to religious slaughter. The main problem that I have with halal meat is that it is "blessed" by way of a religious prayer being said at the moment of slaughter. As an atheist I find this abhorrent. And many animal health experts and rights campaigners argue that religious slaughter causes animals unnecessary suffering.
With regards to what I ate in Bangladesh, as I could not be sure what was halal meat and what wasn’t, I went without meat for the duration of my trip.
Peter Atkinson
