OPINION

Unfounded beliefs

Re: "Historic ruling offers pro-choice hope", (Opinion, Feb 21).

Sanitsuda Ekachai is succinct and compassionate as always. There is no just reason why a woman should not be able to have a safe, legal abortion on request, without having to justify that often difficult and most personal decision to anyone save herself.

The traditional Thai-Buddhist opposition, based solidly on unsubstantiated superstition, highlights yet again how far from the wise teachings of the Buddha the nationalistic religion known as Thai-Buddhism is. Naturally, those who like to live by beliefs in souls and the like are perfectly free to choose not to have an abortion themselves, but just law will not allow them to force their unfounded personal beliefs on others.

It's up to both parents

Sanitsuda Ekachai makes a Buddhist case for abortion. She says monks do not show compassion for mothers who abort their babies, yet she shows no compassion for the human foetuses found in trash bags.

Ms Ekachai argues that, in Buddhism, foetuses have a spirit or a soul. In Japan, for instance, a ceremony called mizuko kuyo (water child memorial service) allows parents -- not just the mother, because the baby has two parents -- to express grief, desire to comfort the soul of the foetus, guilt for an abortion or even fear of retribution from a vengeful ghost. You can see, in some temple, haunting rows of Jizo statues dressed in red bibs and caps.

Whether one adheres to that belief system or not, it is obvious that it is not compatible with the view that aborting a foetus only has to do with a woman's right over her own body, since it is clear that terminating the body of a separate human being with its now soul or spirit, lies with two parents, not just a mother.

Face up to reality

Re: "GM sells off factories to Great Wall", (BP, Feb 18).

While thousands of Chevrolet employees losing their jobs is unfortunate, it is the reality of globalisation -- the movement and shift of capital, information, and resources around the globe.

The parent company of Chevrolet, General Motors simply could not compete against Japanese brands in low- to mid-segments, and European brands for the high segment in Thailand. This leaves an opening for China's Great Wall Motor to penetrate, possibly with their affordable elective vehicles offering in the future. What's more, the Chinese are increasingly relying on automation and robots to manufacture their cars, which is further bad news for local employment. And this trend is happening across the world.

What is important is that with automation rising in all sectors, how will the government respond to this massive unemployment? They can't simply tell the newly unemployed to "Google and find a new job" or tell a car painter to become an AI scientist in a month.

Unbeknownst to the junta government, real threats will come from "external shocks" (eg, coronavirus, climate change, closing of factories), of which they will have little control, rather than from "internal shocks" (eg, parliamentary no-confidence votes). Consequently, unless the government adapts to and faces the economic reality of 21st century head-on, taking it by the horns, they will find themselves in very shaky ground politically.

Everyone wants a chance to have a decent job and life, especially today's youth. And if the government can't deliver that? I pray for Thailand.

One less form to fill

The scrapping of the infamous TM28 by the immigration bureau is one of the most sensible things it has done in ages. I suspect as well, aside from constant complaints of harassment, it is also a face-saving measure. One doubts the immigration bureau could have kept up with accepting and updating every report that came in.

It would require a Pentagon-sized establishment with a Pentagon-sized staff to do so. The next step should be ridding the bureau of some of the rude, loud-mouthed, foul-mouthed officials who are ignorant of the immigration rules who work there. This might mean a good house cleaning for the entire bureau, and that might be a good thing.

And while the Royal Thai Army has established a 24-hour complaint line for lower members of the armed forces to report abuse by senior officers, it might bode well for the government to establish the same kind of hotline for people to report abusive immigration officers. It should also get rid of the snitch line which I have been told is being used against any foreigner who has ever had a dispute with a Thai.

See English as a tool

Re: "Language barriers", (PostBag, Feb 20).

There have been quite a few excellent letters about improving the English-language skills of Thai students. People growing up in a country where English is not the mother tongue will have an accent. If I were born to an Irish mother, my accent would have an Irish flavour, not Oxford sophistication.

In Thailand, the main focus should be on exposing students to the English language very early. A well-structured curriculum should be implemented from Grade 1. Thais are very good at adapting to new technology. In fact, the number of Facebook and social media users is the highest in Thailand.

Like new technology, a language is also a tool. Yet Thais do not put any effort into learning English because they do not see any tangible benefits. There is no desire, no interest, no incentive, no motivation. Only a small number of young students aspiring to go to the US, UK or Australia will put some effort or a few taxi drivers will learn a few words for farang customers.

So, the government should consider harvesting the talent of the many professionals who have retired here. Also, the immigration personnel should learn to treat these foreigners with respect, instead of seeing them as threats or thugs. After all, most of us retirees are paying for their salaries with the fat deposits we're required to keep in Thai banks.

Drapes or curtains?

AR's letter on teaching English was very interesting. Anybody who speaks English well will understand the many attempts Americans have taken to change the language. My spell-checker is programmed with annoying American-English.

This version of the language was created by Daniel Webster in the early 1800s in a move to keep English as the national language. So, out went the "s" and the "ou" (labor vs labour) and in came the "z" (organize vs organise).

To address AR's query about how well the Scandinavians/Norse folk speak English, both languages are from the Germanic; Old English/Old Norse had a happy marriage. Why, as a bona fide Anglo-Saxon I can't speak their languages as well as they can speak mine is even more annoying than Webster. However, I think AR should be thankful the Vikings were not taught by Americans, otherwise curtains would be drapes for sure.

Unrequited love

"Mister. Why you come my country so much? You come my country too many times."

At a time when arrivals in Thailand have plummeted to a historic low and the impact on the economy is growing daily, I've been asked to leave Thailand and reapply for entry. The reasons behind my eviction are curious and bode poorly for a country in tough economic times.

What law am I violating?

After meeting immigration officials, it still isn't clear. On reviewing my passport stamps, I found that I entered Thailand 17 times in 2019 for a total of 171 days. Tourists can stay for 180 days on 30 days visas, or half the year. Yes, I entered more than six times, but I stayed fewer than maximum number of days, each time arriving and departing by air.

I work for a company based in Hong Kong with corporate offices in Siem Reap. My position requires frequent travel in Asia and North America for meetings, inspections and to attend conferences.

Over the past three years, whenever I have any free time in Asia, Bangkok has been my preferred landing spot -- that is, until now. Looking around the region, Thailand's immigration is years behind its neighbours in efficiency. Vietnam and Cambodia, for instance, both allow simple online processing and payment for a variety of visas. India offers e-visas for up to one year through their internet portal. In each case, payment is rendered electronically -- a small price for fast and efficient service.

On the other hand, Thailand continues to wade in "paperwork-on-arrival" for entry, and as I learned, often at the whim of inspectors. I've also learned that in order to "request consideration" for a multiple-entry visa, I must leave the country, make an appointment at a Thai embassy or consulate, submit documents and then wait, pray, hope.

Like a scene from a movie, I can't get the words or attitude of the immigration officer at Don Mueang last week out of my mind.

"Mister, why you come.. so much?"

If my accountant were with me at that moment, he likely would have answered, "Ma'am, he's here to spend money in your country."

Calculating my average daily expenditure in Thailand of between US$75 and $100 (about 2,500 and 3,100 baht) across every possible sector, he's would be right.

But the diplomat in me came forth with, "I love Thailand".

On reflection, it seems Thailand doesn't love me in quite the same way.

Potato, Po-tah-to

Re: "Never give up", (PostBag, Feb 20).

I can't correctly voice the English sounds: "th", "ch", "sh", "v" or "r" either, but I want to challenge Jack Gilead, a licensed, qualified speech-language pathologist (MD?) to teach westerners to pronounce these Thai words.

Here's the deal. I'll give you three sets of English words and you ask your Thai friend what they mean in Thai and try to pronounce them. 1) a (rice) field, a face, an aunt, thick; 2) to come, a horse, a dog; 3) fishy smell, news, rice and the colour white.

Try them and have fun, Jack.