OPINION

#Cavesearch lessons

Twelve boys and their football coach took an unplanned hike just for fun into a Chiang Rai cave six days ago, and haven't been found yet.

 Out of this possible tragedy, these lessons stand out:

1) Take warnings seriously. The cave has been clearly marked as: "Dangerous! Closed!" yet the students and their young coach still went in.

2) Take your responsibilities seriously. How could the coach take his young charges into a dangerous area?

3) Use your own judgement instead of blindly following your leader. The boys were all locals, knowing the dangers well -- and could read the sign closing off the cave.

4) Keep your parents/boss informed of unplanned events, eg, going into a cave.

5) Be prepared for unexpected events, eg, water, food and light.

6) Signs warning of danger and closings must include a physical barrier as well, eg, barbed wire.

Let's learn from this potential tragedy, so that it won't be repeated.

As the nation stays glued to its televisions and internet following the valiant efforts to rescue the boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, it occurred to me that among all of the internecine bickering and backbiting that is the hallmark of so much of Thai politics and society, when the chips are down, Thais join together in unity for a common cause.

I am an atheist, but somewhere deep down, even I offer up a prayer for the safe delivery of these boys, and lie awake at night thinking of the horror of being trapped in a dark, cold cave with rising flood waters.

The Herculean efforts of the Thai Navy Seals and other volunteers is to be applauded. Even more, Thailand is accepting help from US Navy Seals who are reported to be on their way from Hawaii. And it seems every stop has been pulled with government resources, such as helicopters, on standby.

Let us all hope for a breakthrough with the safe delivery of these young boys to their families.

For those who oppose the death penalty, I admire your high morals and kind hearts, but you are unsympathetic, almost cruel, to the victims of severe crimes and their families.

Those who were recently condemned were tried and convicted by a three-tiered judicial system for vicious crimes. Moreover, they were not executed but euthanised, and they died with dignity. They had time to prepare for their death. They had time to give away their belongings, to say goodbye, to talk to a clergy of their faith, and they died peacefully.

You can't say the same for the murder victims. Imagine what they went through before they died. They were probably cowering, begging for their life, screaming, writhing, gasping for breath, wondering what they had done to deserve this.

I suggest adding two clauses to the death penalty law: Giving the victims' families the prerogative to commute the death penalty to life imprisonment; but, if they want the execution to go on, allow them to watch it.

Keep the death penalty alive and let it die by itself when our society is civilised to the point that some of us stop behaving like savage beasts.

Stephen Fry's productions for BBCEarth on his travels through Central America are highly entertaining. His latest episode saw him climbing a volcano in Costa Rica. He asked his guide why the country, located in such an unstable region geologically, was so stable politically and economically. The guide simply replied "we don't have an army". (Following a brief civil war the army was abolished in 1949).

Without the financial drain of supporting tens of thousands of soldiers, purchasing expensive toys for generals, the wastage, the corruption, and without any apparent enemies, the massive savings are spent mainly on health and education. Costa Rica is now known for its stable democracy and is one of the most progressive nations in Latin America. Most of the population speak English and the country is now an important hub for medical tourism.

A good example to follow?

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