OPINION

Conspiracy targets poor

It’s not that I don’t admire Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. However, when considering the problem of income inequality, he is quoted in the Nov 1 edition of the Bangkok Post: “It’s not the mistake of this government but governments in the past, which were not seriously dedicated to tackling the problem.”

The most effective solution to income disparity is excellence in education. The junta has completely failed in this regard. Another key factor is to firmly establish the rule of law and its result, equal justice for all. Another total failure. Promised police and judicial reform is not even under consideration by the generals.

Need we mention the economic elephant standing on the kill switch of every average Thai citizen — military reform? No, that is impermissible.

Yes, the Eastern Economic Corridor and other development initiatives are good for the middle and upper classes, but will, of necessity, only further exacerbate the class and economic divide. The bottom line is that this, (and most likely many successive governments given the elitist constitution under which they must operate), will do nothing to help those who need it most.

Why not be honest and simply say the government wants rural people to remain ignorant, subservient and poor since it furthers politicians and coup makers’ self-interest?

Surely General Rolex and friends privately work to refine this strategy while often inadvertently confirming it in public. But placing blame on previous administrations does not equate to sincerity about these issues. Nobody would believe it anyway.

Michael SetterBang Saray Scientists aren’t joking

Living in the mountains of the far North I don’t get to see the worst of human activity on the elements in Thailand but with a habit of watching YouTube I have become a great cynic and pessimist. Recent news reports and events have accelerated that downward spiral leaving me feeling we are committed to the destruction of our own planet.

Scientists spend years investigating one subject and are dedicated to the truth and facts, while politicians see little more beyond re-election and staying in power, leaving me in no doubt who to believe. And recently the scientists are scaring the skin off me.

Climate change hasn’t been enough, now automobile air pollution is doubling the problem. Our water is contaminated by dangerous pesticides, our food is poisoned by them and the rivers take it to the sea. A sea already suffering from plastic pollution, oil spills from tankers and acidification from warmer waters. We overfish, the corals are bleached and seabirds are dying from eating plastic. Land animals are going extinct in massive numbers, forests have been decimated and we farm with little concern for soil or insects.

When I shop I feel guilty for the waste I will have to dispose of, when I eat I worry about its safety, when I drive I know I’ve added to pollution. Our lifestyle is killing us and harming our only habitable planet. Meanwhile, politicians around the world do virtually nothing and dismiss the problems as fake news. When I leave this Earth it will be a much worse place than the one I inherited from my grandfather and for that I am truly sorry.

Lungstib

Re: “Prayut eyes global start-up hub”, (BP, Nov 2).

If Thailand is to stimulate start-ups it will need, in addition to creating an environment that stimulates innovation, financial support. It has always struck me as odd that marriage and retirement visa requirements stipulate substantial sums to be held in Thai bank accounts. These funds are not working. Perhaps explicit investment in the Thai economy (including start-ups) should be included in financial assessments for such visas. This could unleash substantial foreign financial support, potentially harness expatriate expertise, and enhance commitment to helping to grow the Thai economy.

Richard Coker

Re: “Minister mulls taxi fare hike proposal”, (BP, Nov 2).

It is time the Transport Ministry and the Department of Land Transport overhaul all laws/rules of taxi services, not only small fare adjustments. The current fares are too low compared to inflation rates. I think most consumers can afford higher fares if they receive a good service.

RH Suga

Thailand does, after all, have one realist, Mr Dusit Thammaraks. In his letter, “Different Visions”, I think it is safe to assume that this gentleman speaks for many Thais, both in Thailand and abroad when he says that the present government under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has brought peace and stability. Some Westerners living in Thailand who continually advocate democracy, democracy, democracy, and a few Thais as well, are so caught up in Western-style democracy, who live in realms of fantasy, who are over-emotional, who spout the same clichés, day in, day out, need to read Mr Dusit’s letter and understand the reality of “democracy” in Thailand.

It is time to stop trying to coerce, impose or superimpose or hoping to introduce Western standards of democracy in Thailand. Thailand does have peace and stability. Democratic United States should only have it so good. At the moment America is going through hate crimes, racist and religious massacres, pipe bomb threats, and white supremacy is on the rise. Americans need a Gen Prayut to straighten things out. Oh, if only “democracy” was as simple as those simple-minded who think it is a cure-all, a band aid for all woes.

David James Wong

President for life Xi Jinping has significantly intensified the campaign to suppress and indoctrinate Muslims in Western China. Reminiscent of the ruthless pogrom unleashed against Tibet, the detainment of Uighurs in Xinjiang and ensuing human rights violations there are reaching horrific proportions.

Let us not forget the Thai junta’s obsequious response to China’s demand to repatriate 109 Uighur men last year. One wonders what Thailand will say about these new developments inside its powerful northern neighbour?

Mr M

An American Embassy notification as quoted from ThaiVisa.com reads as follows: “As of January 1, 2019, the US Embassy in Bangkok and the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai will cease to provide the income affidavit for the purpose of applying for Thai retirement and family visas and will not notarise previous versions of the income affidavit.” The British Embassy and consular service in Bangkok has, I believe, also come out with a similar notice a short while ago. Both embassies and consular services seem to provide fewer and fewer services these days for their citizens abroad. However, they gleefully collect high fees for passport renewals with no problem. I wonder if the Thai Immigration Bureau is behind this move. The bureau seems to place more obstacles to retirement visa renewal as well as other services. In short, most Westerners, unless they can bring in large investments, are less and less welcome.

Ming Yan

Dusit Thammaraks’ claim that the country would have ended up with a civil war if not for the coup is not true. As I’ve noted before, the military could have stepped in at any time and stopped the insurrection that was started by Suthep Thaugsuban and other clowns that I’m sure Dusit supported.

People like Dusit are the Thai elitists who care nothing about the oppressed people in their county. We don’t read PostBag letters from the poor and downtrodden who now could even go to jail if they complain. This situation is a disgrace.

Eric Bahrt

Re: “Question of honour”, (Postbag, Oct 28).

Vint Chavala and I always disagree on every subject, but we have found common ground, finally. We both revere Pridi Banomyong, former prime minister, statesman and the man who shaped democracy in Thailand.

As always the case in Thailand, great men don’t last — Puey Ungphakorn, former rector of Thammasat University, met a similar fate. Pridi had to seek an exile, first in China and then France.

But let me correct Vint. Unesco never commemorated the centenary of Pridi’s birth because the Democrat government under Chuan Leekpai did not submit his name (no surprise). It submitted the Princess Mother’s name to be commemorated on the centenary of her birth in 2000 (both were born in 1900).

Pridi died of a heart attack in Paris in 1983. He was cremated there and his ashes were brought back and scattered in the Gulf of Thailand. Sadly, his death was not acknowledged by the then government under Prem Tinsulanonda.

No recognition, no state funeral rites, no moment of silence observed in the parliament, no tribute, no half-mast flag flying, only a brief single column news buried in the corner of a newspaper. 

Somsak Pola

It is beyond anyone’s comprehension that THAI’s delayed flight of two hours (Zurich-Bangkok) could have brought about so much commotion. A delayed flight is normal for seasoned travellers.

However, the responses from all concerned indicate a sense of importance of all individuals of the national carrier rather than the motto of “Customers First” and not “Thai First”. Therefore, it is not surprising that the national carrier has suffered mammoth yearly losses between 2013 and 2015: 12-billion baht, 15 billion baht and 13 billion baht. It recovered with a profit of 15 million baht in 2016 but saw another loss of 2 billion baht in 2017. For the first half of 2018, it incurred a smaller loss of 352 million baht. The losses were commonly attributed to high oil prices.

However, the results of Singapore Airlines indicate reasons other than oil prices. Between 2014 through 2018, Singapore Airlines enjoyed profits of (Singapore dollars million): 360, 367, 804, 360, and 892 and for the last quarter 139, (yearly profit between 9 billion baht to 21 billion baht). This airline is one of the best in the world and very much a “Customers First” airline.

Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak, known as the economic tsar, gave a warning to this corporation in stating that one should not believe that being a national carrier, one cannot be bankrupt. Sympathetically, THAI may have a hard time in trying to please Mr Somkid because of established elitist attitudes and a great sense of self-importance.

Worldwide, only a handful of “flag” carriers have been allowed to disappear (normally small countries) and many merged with successor carriers. Airlines such as Air Canada, Alitalia, Austrian, Delta, Japan Airlines, Olympic, Northwest, Swissair, TWA, United and US Airways were given lifelines by their respective governments.

One should thank those passengers, a former deputy permanent secretary for industry and his wife, for being considerate enough to give up their seats so the pilots could have a good sleep. Once back, being patriotic he wrote a letter to THAI’s call centre to question the logic of our sovereign airline. He was not sympathetically received and blamed for ignorance in not knowing the rules about sleep for pilots. I wanted to weep when I read that statement.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Re: “Regime vetoes recreational weed use”, (BP, Nov 1).

I will contend that there is far more loss of productivity and physical harm done through video game addiction than with marijuana usage. That the regime stated that it did not want people to smoke pot and laugh all day demonstrates its ignorance of the situation. Pot can make some people giddy, that is true. But how is “happiness” a bad thing? I thought that the regime leader said his overthrowing of the elected government was to bring happiness to the Thai people?

Darius Hobe

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