Paddle the right boat
Re: "PM 'won't let anyone off the hook'", (BP, March 11). I agree with those Democrat MPs who hold that the party's members should vote on whether the party should join the opposition or not, saying that the party should stop paddling a boat of "thieves".
Under PM Prayut Chan-o-cha's watch, voters have seen a steady erosion of rule of law: (a) against established procedures, DPM Prawit Wongsuwon wasn't moved to an inactive post while his 21 ultra-luxurious watches were probed, allowing him to influence the outcome; (b) Deputy Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow denies that he'd pleaded guilty of smuggling 3.2 kilogrammes of heroin into Australia and served four years in Parklea Prison, NSW, for it -- despite the Future Forward Party's producing copies of the related court documents to that effect; and (c) Future Forward Party's been dissolved for a loan from its founder -- despite other parties' having done so, without penalty.
Now, an ex-close aide of sinister minister Thamanat is accused of illegally seeking to broker up to 200 million surgical masks abroad despite a critical local shortage. Gen Prayut insists he "won't let anyone off the hook" in this case; but given that Gen Prayut has said that Capt Thamanat's heroin smuggling was "a minor matter", wouldn't he consider the masks be even more trivial?
Why would our longest-established, most prestigious party want to be a part of a government that is so dismissive of rule of law?
Burin Kantabutra
Pretty irresponsible
Trying to promote domestic tourism during a pandemic seem pretty irresponsible to me, unless TAT want to recommend some hospitals and other places we might go if we get the virus.
Failing that, I wish the people at the TAT would go on a holiday themselves.
Observer
Ease overcrowding
As a precautionary measure Thailand must grant furlough to Thailand's massively overcrowded prisoners, before Covid-19 penetrates its prisons. There is an excellent precedent in Iran, as reported in the current issue of eurasiareview.com. The rate of overcrowding of women's prisons in Thailand is highest in the world and the outbreak of infection will be horrendous. In Iran prisoners with underlying illnesses have been prioritised. Iran's Judiciary Chief urges more permissions for prison leave be granted while considering precautions to avoid social security harms.
Danthong BreenUnion for Civil Liberty
Old is better
Re: "Songkran parties in Chiang Mai, Hat Yai cancelled", (BP, March 11).
Coronavirus is a disaster which will deal a heavy blow to Thailand's economy, especially its tourism industry. However, this unfortunate incident is a good chance for Thais to rethink water throwing in the Songkran festival, which has far deviated from being a religious tradition to tourist attraction. Let's bring back the beautiful old Songkran.
RH Suga
CNN contagion
Re: "Fun & games with the Big CV".
I was watching CNN when a big doctor was telling Paula Newton in portentous tones that, in order to avoid catching the coronavirus, people ought to stay at least two metres away from each other. He was sitting about a metre away from her.
Can you catch it from your TV set? I always sit at least two metres away from mine when watching CNN.
If you can't laugh at it, it's already got you beaten.
Ye Olde Philosopher
