OPINION

Party loans nothing new

In response to the Election Commission's action over the Future Forward Party because it borrowed money from its founder, the Constitutional Court has disbanded the FFP and banned its directors from political activity for many years.

But the Bangkok Post (Feb 21) reported: "There are no such rules (barring political parties from taking out loans) ... former election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said that at least four parties had taken out loans in 2013. Poll officials had advised the commission that taking out loans was not illegal because it had been done by other parties and had been allowed in the past."

I respect the court's verdict, but in light of the above, the EC either has consistently practised double standards or has been seriously and continually derelict in its duties.

For that, the commissioners should be impeached.

Also, to maintain a single standard, provided it's within the statute of limitations of a given case, all parties making loans in the past must be similarly punished.

More doom and gloom

Nullifying the votes of six million young people, or around 10% of the population, shows me how short-sighted the old establishment is and how little we can expect them to do what is necessary to help the younger generations deal with the ramifications of climate change among other things.

So for the foreseeable future, it looks like more of the same: bad air, new viruses, drought, floods, increasing heat, a bad education system, high unemployment, large numbers of people dying in traffic accidents, underfunded public hospitals, poor farmers, an expensive military, rampant corruption, huge inequality of wealth and a government of old men devoid of any new ideas on how to deal with any of it.

Loss of a shining light

Having been here for what is obviously far too many years, I have been subjected to opinions and deeds of many parliamentarians whose faces were commonly seen on TV or in newspapers for reasons nothing to do with their brilliance or honesty.

The rogues gallery I have in mind include many prime ministers and several holders of ministerial posts renowned for their frequent outbursts of racial, misogynistic, violent or just plain stupid, comments. Many have passed and some are still with us despite land ownership disputes or records of incarceration in Australian prisons.

With these in mind it has been a revelation to discover a man of intellect and good character who has stood out like a bright star on a dark night. Sadly the Constitutional Court has just red-carded, for 10 years, what has almost certainly been the brightest politician of this century. Piyabutr Saengkanokkul is just the type of person young Thais should look up to; his absence will be Thailand's great loss.

Army chief needs to listen

There are two issues that we, the common people and taxpayers, are familiar with that Gen Apirat Kongsompong ought to seriously consider.

1. The compound of the army's 1st Infantry Regiment on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, which had been open to the public as short-cut route to Phaholyothin and Din Daeng Roads for the past many years, has been closed since Jan 1.

This is sad for residents of Bangkok which is famous for its traffic jams. Asked when the compound might be reopened for public use, a military guard at the compound just smiled and shook his head. The higher authorities ought to be told the closure of the army's compound is not good for the army's image.

2. The army ought to put a stop to the practice of sending "conscripted soldiers" to serve at the home of the generals. To allow this practice to continue clearly indicates conflicts of interest. They're drafted to serve the nation, not the generals. Now is the best time to clean up this shameful and discriminatory practice.

Take some time and effort

Re: "Potato, po-tah-to", (PostBag, Feb 22).

I'd suggest Somsak Pola try harder. I have many Western friends living here in Thailand who speak Thai flawlessly, much better than many native Thai speakers. If one listens to them via a phone conversation, one would never suspect them being non-Thai. Learning a language is not a contest, Mr Pola.

It is a matter of effort and time invested, aside from skill.