Common sense needed
Re: "Nothing sinister here", (PostBag, Dec 10).
"Sinister" can be used to describe oppressive laws themselves or the manner in which laws are enforced. Duncan Riley correctly points out that the Immigration Act of 1979 requires owners or managers (think hotels) of dwellings where foreign "aliens" temporarily take up residence in Thailand to report such to immigration authorities within 24 hours of the foreigner's arrival (currently accomplished through filing the infamous TM30 form). It is particularly worth noting, however, that the act also clearly states that the notification, "… shall be made in accordance with the regulation prescribed by the director-general". This obviously allows for flexibility and common sense in applying and enforcing the law.
Pragmatism would call for an integrated system whereby foreign visitors and temporary residents "report" where they are staying on their arrival cards (in fact, this is already the case) -- or perhaps alternatively through a separate working electronic reporting system -- rather than requiring physical reporting to local immigration authorities as currently demanded by some immigration offices.
The extent and approach that authorities take in enforcing laws of various types says a lot about a country's psyche and view toward rule of law. Some poorly crafted or outdated laws are best ignored, flexibly enforced, or repealed entirely. Others, which are more critical for the welfare of society (e.g., highway speed-limit regulations, drunk-driving restrictions, etc), should be enforced with rigour.
In the case of reporting alien residents, existing Thai law already prescribes the avenue for common sense implementation by authorising the Director-General of Immigration to decide on appropriate approaches for applying the law. I'm sure most temporary residents in Thailand would welcome the director-general providing practical and sensible guidance to all immigration offices on this matter.
Samanea Saman
Equality a pipe dream
Re: "Sheer happiness for the 1 percent", (PostBag, Dec 9).
Comrades Marks, Engels and Lenin decided that there should be a distribution due to uneven wealth in the old Russia, so there was a coup, or revolution by another name. The Tsarist regime was overthrown, replaced by a government of the people. Moscow Russians are perhaps better off but Russian peasants still are still where they were.
Comrade Mao decided to follow Lenin with a redistribution of wealth in China. So the army took over, and Mao incidentally was able to live in great luxury. Are rural Chinese peasants any better off today?
Fidel Castro staged a coup to redistribute wealth in Cuba, and he became a billionaire.
Both Russia, China, and of course Thailand have their oligarchs, the super rich. But then, the United States has Bill Gates, the first name that comes to mind, among other billionaires. There will never be equality when it comes to wealth, nor any kind of distribution. Wealth means power. No one relinquishes either willingly. It was, is, and will always be. Why should it be any different in Thailand?
Jesus gave it a try some 2,000 years ago as well. Look where it got him. No one is going to nail the world's super rich to the wall, like it or not, and that's the reality of life. We buy our lottery tickets and live in clouds of dreams.
Millionaire Mango
Brexit like Munich deal
Today, the British Parliament will vote for or against an agreement that has been negotiated by the UK government.
It has undoubtedly been negotiated to the best of the abilities of the people involved, however I am reminded of an acerbic comment on a similarly heralded agreement 80 years ago, also by the best negotiators we had to offer at that time. The Munich Agreement.
The withering judgement was: "Under pressure from the ruthless, the clueless combined with the spineless to produce the worthless."
I have faith that those held responsible for the protection of Britain will vote accordingly.
Perfidious Albio
Hitler would be proud
It is amazing. What Hitler failed to accomplish with his order to destroy Paris during World War II, the Parisians themselves are now managing to achieve.
General Von Choltitz
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