OPINION

Don't pay for garbage

Re: "Engagement needed", (PostBag, Aug 22).

I must agree with Mario that we should do everything to promote open access to new knowledge and research. Sadly, international university rankings have resulted in mushrooming of all kinds of research journals -- the good, the bad and the ugly.

Journal status based on benchmarks, such as indexing, citations, and impact factor has turned into an industry where anyone can pay US$300-$500 (9,000-15,000 baht) to get their garbage published. Anyone with little intelligence will not be interested in paying to access the garbage dumps called peer-reviewed journals. Paid access to a journal is similar to paying for a walk in a red-light district, just for looking around! Or strolling for some excitement.

The main purpose of any research is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of trends, or share improvements in services, or products. Quite often good research also leads to new innovations that can solve problems facing our societies and improve the quality of life.

Regarding the case in point, Covid-19 vaccine research, more people read about new developments through "open access" media channels than subscription-based journals or channels. Open access channels are suitable for broadcasting research work to a wider audience, free of cost.

Thai Ministry of Education and agencies like the Thai Journal Citation Index (TCI) must let go of their obsession with current indexing giants, Scopus, Mendeley, Citfactor, ERIC, and other channels. Thai academia and TCI should promote publications in open access journals or channels which promote the broadcast of one's research work to a wider audience without any charge.

And for the purposes of the promotion of a university faculty, the ministry and TCI should give more importance to publication in open access channels.

Setting stage for bloodshed

National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda insisted that officers had no choice but to enforce the law and arrest those who were peacefully protesting against the government -- otherwise police could be charged with dereliction of duty. As Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said, "If we don't follow the law, how can we live?"

But as John F Kennedy famously said, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable". I fear that with their selective application of laws -- repressing students' freedom of expression -- police are setting the stage for bloodshed.

Pol Gen Chakthip, if peacefully opposing the government is sedition, what was the forceful overthrow of an elected government staged by Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit? Why hasn't the law been applied equally to all, in accordance with Gen Prawit's policy?

Gen Prayut should drop all charges against the protesters and provide a nationwide forum for the peaceful exchange of reform ideas.

Police judgement dubious

In reaction to recent student protests it was reported on Aug 15 that Prayut Chan-o-cha said: "The police simply use their own judgement and carry out their duty to uphold the law."

Perhaps the PM has been so busy that he has missed the rather bizarre investigation into the police and their performance on a well-known case involving a young man with a wealthy family. What the public is learning from this recent investigation is not only that they failed to uphold the law but that their judgement was apparently influenced by others. Hardly a good advert for future performances.

Men playing with toys

Re: "B22.5bn sub buy gets nod", (BP, Aug 22) would the Royal Thai Navy kindly tell the citizens of Thailand how and where it intends to deploy two submarines?

I have a feeling these submarines, to be purchased from China, will lock the military into a deeper hole of dependability on Chinese technicians, trainers and maintenance. I hope the student protesters take this unnecessary waste of money that could be used for the benefit of the country into consideration.

Those who must constantly procure toys to satisfy the needs of grown up boys need to be put in their place.