OPINION

Government lottery

The current impasse with Thai politics in selecting a prime minister might never be resolved due to the problems with the rules as stipulated in the 2017 charter. Obviously, the rules were inadequate because there is no readily available solution.

Rather than arguing and fighting, the politicians should demonstrate cooperation and get to the business of running the country. A simple solution for the election would be a lottery where every group submits a name and then draws one to be the prime minister.

Then while the government is functioning, work out the rules so that there is no confusion during the next election. Even children understand this form of selection and consider it fair, so how about some of the adults set a good example!

Re: "Crypto pair risk death for new sea state", (BP, April 18).

The government has deemed Andrew Elwartowski a threat to Thai society, citizens and national security under Section 12 of the immigration law because he has anchored a tiny floating structure in international waters off Phuket. He could face the death penalty as a result.

Does anyone notice the extreme nature of the government's response to this situation? How terrifying it must be to have a farang living freely so close to Thailand. Never mind that there is absolutely no shred of legitimacy to the charges brought against Mr Elwartowski. What is the government so afraid of?

If Paul Allen were to sail his mega-yacht, Octopus, in international waters and drop anchor next to Mr Elwartowski, would the Royal Thai Navy sink his vessel (if only they were capable), and hang him from the yardarm?

The navy has been involved in a number of scandalous incidents over the years, including suing journalists, but this latest fiasco may top them all.

Re: "Seastead couple in crosshairs", (BP, April 14).

It might take a bit of time and work for the structure which looks fully completed, or almost. I wonder why the navy ignored the construction while it was in progress and has and only filed the complaint now. Is it that they failed in the surveillance of our territorial waters?

Re: "Trump shenanigans", (PostBag, April 16).

I do not quite understand the fascination with Samanea Saman's need to see President Trump's income tax returns made public. Samanea instead should be interested in the tax returns for people like Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon's returns instead. Add to that, the tax payments of former prime minister Thaksin, Snow White, the Red Bull family and a few others. But that will never really happen, will it? Samanea should go after the tax evaders in this country and let the Americans worry about the tax evaders in their country.

Re: "Saddened by waste", (PostBag, April 18).

How much does all the water that is wasted during the Songkran festival affect the overall water shortage problem in Thailand?

Suppose the money that is wasted on water rifles and pails was spent on educating Thai children. How much would that improve their lives?

What is the intellectual level of people who think it's hilariously funny to do nothing for several days but throw water at other people and cause fatal vehicle accidents? Even at nighttime I saw these barbarians throwing buckets of water at people driving by, which is extremely dangerous.

Before anyone accuses me of disrespecting Thai culture, it is these thugs and hooligans (Thais and foreigners alike) who have destroyed the true spirit of Songkran, which used to be a dignified and beautiful ceremony.

Call it what you wish, Thailand's present governing system may be flawed, but it is working. Perhaps it is not working to the wishes of some, but no government ever does.

Khun Chris in his April 18 letter, "Army is in charge", can call the military's appointees the Thai version of an electoral college, but he and all other non-Thais are not affected in the least. I do not know any Thais who care one way or another, except those who send letters to PostBag. No matter who forms a government, how or whom is appointed, it will always be business as usual. But the country, with its problems, its promises of political reform, corruption, this or that, will still function.

Under this government, more are satisfied than dissatisfied. That should count for something, electoral college or not. My durians taste the same under Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as they did under his predecessors (like Chavalit, Chuan, Thaksin, Snow White, Abhisit), and others long forgotten.

Re: "Special Thai Post", (PostBag, April 19).

I am indeed sympathetic with the writer. However, prior to, during, and after Songkran, the entire country is a bit off kilter. The postal system comes to a standstill, regardless of whether the mail is EMS or not.

Even Kerry Express shuts down, so it would not have done any good to use them to send a key. I'm not a great supporter of post offices worldwide, but in deference to Thai Post, I can readily say it is one of the most efficient I have encountered in my worldwide travels during the years. Who else would use a motorcycle delivery postman to deliver to every nook, cranny, alley, up a dirt path, for a letter or parcel.

In Toronto, a letter addressed to oneself and mailed would take 7-10 days to return back to the addressee. Canada Post indeed does not even deliver mail to new housing developments any more, instead installing boxes a few blocks from one's home. Try navigating to get your mail when the ground is covered with two inches of ice. The famous US Postal system is in a shambles as well -- expensive, but ineffective.

It seems like there has been a severe breakdown in communication between the "concerned authorities" and the local police. I travelled from Bangkok to visit my wife's family in Kanchanaburi during the Songkran festival, and, just like in the five previous year's return journeys, at not one of the 10 out of 12 "police checkpoints" we passed in late morning, then in early evening, was there any indication of interest in vehicle driver checks by the "on duty" police.

As a foreigner, is this any concern of mine? For sure, if one of these alcohol-fuelled drivers hits me head on!

I must say that I am both touched and amazed by the amount of worldwide attention that the fire at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris has garnered. It goes to show that religion still plays an important role in our supposedly "secular" societies.

We constantly hear about how the West has turned away from the Christian faith. While this may be true to a certain extent, as only about 10% of European Christians attend church on a weekly basis, the fact remains that the majority of European people still identify with the Christian faith, as the events of this past week showed. Normal French citizens stood in shock and horror while watching the cathedral's roof melt down.

People in the rest of the world also looked on with horror, watching the historical edifice become engulfed with flames on their TV screens. While I would like to think that all the attention which the church has received is due to religious reasons alone, I realise that something else is at work here.

Paris is the most visited city in the world and the Notre Dame cathedral is on any traveller's itinerary when visiting the French capital. So I think that people became nostalgic when viewing the fire on their screens, remembering what a wonderful time they had had in the city. It is clear that Paris connects with travellers in a way that London or even New York never can.

The April 14 editorial, "Rail crossings remain unsafe", tells a story of more driver stupidity. The van driver in Lop Buri maintains he tried accelerating to beat the train. He did not have enough common sense to stop and check if he wasn't sure, or to let the train pass.

I usually support the SRT in these matters. However, this morning I take exception. There is an SRT crossing in my city where the barrier guards at times not only fail to drop at the approach of an oncoming train, but also drop indiscriminately at any time when there are no trains approaching.

Most drivers who are familiar with this situation simply drive through the gap between the barriers. I have written letters to the SRT management over the years. Obviously I have never received a reply. I have also mentioned it at the SRT info desk in Hua Lamphong countless times, only to be met with blank eyes.

I wonder if the slogan "Amazing Thailand" is still en vogue. A driver under the influence kills another driver. The law stipulates that the perpetrator is tried for murder. Yet the drunken perp got off without a rap. I wonder what the penalty for a westerner in the same situation would be, unless of course he is driving a Maybach, better yet, sitting in the back of a chauffeured Maybach, in which case the police would be groveling.

In my April 14 letter, "Classist prosecution", I maintained that the drunk driver who killed a policeman and his wife would not be prosecuted for murder. A news report the following morning said "Drunk Benz driver escapes murder charges". See? I told you so. One does not need to be a fortuneteller here to predict an obvious outcome.