OPINION

Flawed democracy

There are not many letters from readers about democracy now just ahead of the Thai election. Nor did the Democracy Index 2018 get any attention in Thai or world corporate media when released a short time ago. Could it be because the country now teaching the world about democracy is not regarded as a true democracy, but ended up at 25th place as a flawed democracy in the same league as some African countries?

So how will the coming Thai election and assumed democracy be influenced by the money poured in from the flawed democracy of the US through different programmes like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)? ( "...with the stated goal of promoting democracy abroad"). Alternative media claim different Thai media fronts are funded by NED including Prachatai, iLaw, Isaan Record and Benar News. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT) is also NED funded. Does Thailand really have anything to learn from a flawed democracy on the other side of the planet, a country which itself doesn't like foreign interference in its own elections and politics but finds it appropriate to do so to others -- worldwide? Why not learn about democracy from the countries on the top of the Democracy Index?

Re: "Highland students' hopes for new school building gone", (BP, March 21).

This is a classic example of political bravado and hot air, all talk, no action. If those mandarins sitting in the Education Ministry would get off their Bangkok duffs and go to personally have a look at the conditions of some schools, things might be different.

Recently, two Thai colleagues of mine were questioned about why they deserve to teach English despite their lack of teaching degrees. These two colleagues' English proficiency is second to none; in fact, one obtained a bachelor's degree from a renowned Canadian university and a master's degree (summa cum laude) from a Thai university; the other obtained an MA (Honours) from a Thai university. Most importantly, the former's English proficiency is exceedingly outstanding, the latter, excellent.

The persons who questioned them thought that only those trained by a teacher's college are qualified to teach English. In my opinion, when it comes to English proficiency, a teaching degree never guarantees that the person is good at English. Quite the contrary, far too many Thai graduates with English teaching degrees could be the least qualified because of their dismal English skills. This overly simplistic view that an English teaching degree automatically means a person is naturally qualified to teach is plain wrong, if not ridiculous. Instead of fixing their minds on a degree, they should focus on real proficiency.

This week, my husband went to the Chiang Mai immigration office to get a letter of residence. All of the necessary forms were completed and submitted. But, the immigration officer then said the passport-sized photo is no longer accepted, and that they want an 8x6 photo. No warning, no public announcement. The officer even refused to process the application unless we complied. I am now becoming convinced that we expats are not wanted.

The Bangkok Post published two wire agency articles on March 19 and 20 regarding the fifth anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia. There are several things that need clarification.

On March 18, 2019 we in Russia celebrated an important event -- the fifth anniversary of the voluntary reunification of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol with the Russian Federation. Five years ago, soon after the 2014 anti-constitutional coup in Ukraine, when raging nationalists seized the power in Kiev and began demanding the extermination or expulsion of Russians from Crimea, the peninsula resorted to proclaiming its independence and held a free and peaceful referendum in line with all international standards, with 97% expressing their will to reunite with the Russian Federation.

In spite of the fact that people of the peninsula enjoyed the right to self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter, the West prefers to label it as "annexation". The anti-constitutional coup in Ukraine was directly orchestrated from Washington and Brussels. There are numerous examples that show the US and its allies have interfered in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. Have AFP, AP and others ever called those actions illegal?

I just wonder if the journalists in the US or Europe have ever visited Crimea after 2014. Only the Crimean Bridge is mentioned in the article to illustrate modernisation efforts of Russia on the peninsula. Since 2014, Crimea's gross regional product grew by 55%, thousands of working places were created, actual wages of people working in the public sector as well as pensions and allowances in Crimea have increased by 2-2.5 times and approached the average country level. The infrastructure, which used to be neglected by the Ukrainian authorities, received major investments. In 2018, the Simferopol International Airport came into operation and can accommodate up to 7 million people annually.

In 2015-2016, 520 kilometres of Crimean roads were repaired, while 700 more kilometres of roads are going to be upgraded by 2021. Additional impetus to the region's development is expected to be given by the construction of the four-lane federal highway "Tavrida" stretching across the entire peninsula from east to west (Kerch-Simferopol-Sevastopol, 250km long, total cost -- more than US$2 billion), as well as by the establishment of a railway link through the transport passage across the Kerch Strait (planned for this autumn).

To ensure stable water supply for the population of Crimea, 100km of new water pipelines have been built, and the creation of a multi-pipe water conduit for the replenishment of the North Crimean Canal, which was blocked by Ukraine to demonstrate its "love and concern" for Crimeans, will be completed by 2020.

Due to Ukraine's energy blockade of Crimea in 2015, interim schemes were promptly established to supply power via an "energy bridge". On March 18 two huge thermal power plants were opened near Simferopol and Sevastopol. Plans to further develop green energy in Crimea are being expanded with solar and wind energy as the primary focus.

The public health sector is also rapidly progressing. A huge hospital is set to be opened in Simferopol soon and smaller hospitals with modern medical equipment are being built.

In addition, the articles state that the Crimean Tatars "are facing pressure from Russian authorities" with their "rights abused". Here are the facts: Along with the Russian language, Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages were recognised in 2014 as state languages of Crimea. The multi-ethnic population of Crimea fully exercises its rights to freedom of speech, assembly and native-tongue medium education. Religious freedoms are ensured and protected. A cathedral mosque is being built in Simferopol for the first time in Crimean history (this project was cancelled and postponed by the Ukrainian authorities of Crimea several times).

I think the Ukrainian Foreign Minister who was quoted in the article as mentioning "open and hidden terror against the people of Crimea", should look at the actual state of affairs in Ukraine, especially on the eve of presidential elections. This is how the real government-incited terror against its own people looks like. Of course, the US and politicians in the EU who tend to qualify Ukraine as "one of the most democratic countries", do see everything unfolding there, but will they speak on that openly? I doubt that.

To conclude, I can only repeat the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin: The question of Crimea is closed once and for all. We invite everybody to visit Crimea to see first-hand how things are going there.

I read with interest a March 22 article in the Life section which touts Safari World and all its attractions, making mention of all the fine eateries therein. I also noted that it is a privately owned establishment and is not affiliated with any form of government entity in Thailand. So, that leads me to ask: Why do they proudly advertise the fact that the entrance fee for farang is ~2.5 times the charge for Thai nationals?

It is understandable to have a two-tiered pricing system for government (taxpayer supported) venues as most farang don't pay Thai taxes, but it is simply price gouging when done by private companies. Does the Bangkok Post endorse this xenophobic two-tiered pricing?

No wonder the world thinks Thailand is a joke. Construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta was sentenced to 16 months in jail and then gets bail. He was lucky he didn't pick mushrooms.

There is a simple solution to the scofflaws who insist on burning the rice fields regardless of the consequences. Section 44 should be invoked to confiscate the land immediately. The land could then be sub-divided among poor farmers who have little to no land, or become provincially owned land, leased to others.

Section 44 has been used for more draconian measures. Why not rice field confiscation as well? Threaten and the threat is ignored. Act, and the message sinks in for all.