OPINION

Soft power needed

Re: "Thammasat bans Sept 19 rally", (BP, Sept 11).

To win over the public, protesters should use logic -- not force. Brute force doesn't bring lasting change, as shown by our 19 coups d'etat, the PDRC's Bangkok Shutdown, or the red shirts' occupation of Ratchaprasong intersection. In contrast, by peacefully applying intense, sustained pressure, the public is slowly forcing PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to clean up our judicial system as the rampant corruption in the Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhaya case is revealed.

Protesters, create and apply public pressure as in the case of Boss to other issues. Take and hold the high ground. Ask universities to allow debates/panel discussions on issues of the day, giving equal opportunity to each side and moderated by experts acceptable to the university and participants. Win where it counts ... in parliament and at the ballot box!

Tom Corcoran in his Sept 11 article, "After Covid crisis, time for learning emergency", has some good ideas about how to improve our education system. The problem is that we have seen that military governments don't really want educated students/citizens -- they want loyal ones. So I would say the chances of an improved education system are close to nil, especially given that most teachers seem to prefer submissive students too.

Perhaps if the "bad students" and the pro-democracy demonstrators had enough power to change the education system, it might get changed. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are also pretty low.

If people in our country really want an education, they had better learn how to educate themselves ... or go abroad.

With all the business disruption due to Covid and the job losses connected with the tourism market, I find it hard to believe that Thailand needs to use police training camps to quarantine migrant workers.

Thailand does not "need" these workers when there is so much local unemployment. Importing workers at a time when citizens need work is not prudent. Migrant workers such as these also drain the economy by sending their money back to their homeland and this further erodes economic stability. Exploitation of these workers is another issue. Are they all paid legal wages? What about healthcare? If they are injured working does the government or employer provide medical assistance? I believe this issue needs more consideration in these times.

When the looming spectre of Covid is eliminated, then maybe migrant workers will be required.

Re: "Thammasat bans Sept 19 rally", (BP, Sept 11).

I find it sad that a school known for producing socially aware students is allowing itself to be bullied by a group of reactionary alumni into trying to close down a student demonstration. It seems to me that if there is any hope for change and progress in this country, it will come from students and given what we and they are facing in the near future, we should be doing everything we can to encourage them, not trying to shut them down.

Re: "More of city soul     falls victim to 'gentrification'", (Opinion, Sept 10).

Sirinya Wattanasukchai is so right. I have lived in a housing estate moo off Ram Intra Road for 30 years. Before the flood, large parts were surrounded by wetland, which hosted interesting flora/fauna and provided "space". All gone now, replaced by the gentrification she refers to.

The old wet market was a somewhat shambolic and chaotic place but my goodness it was lively and had character. Now it's been bulldozed to make way for soulless venues that don't seem to do much business anyway, given the plethora of competition.

The same applies to colourful local eateries that have been consumed voraciously by the awful franchises and other transportation "developments". Most locals don't seem to care as they are glued to their mobile phones. Very sad.

The US was to remember the 3,000 or so people who died on 9/11. Sadly, roughly the same number of people will die in the US in the next three days from Covid-19 because Trump is incapable of helping anyone but himself.

I read on Thaivisa that the cabinet is considering a new tourist visa. There is a brief description given but let me advise members of that cabinet that it solves nothing.

Long-term travellers to your country, like myself, have relationships here, not in Phuket or any of the other resorts, who we wish to see and nobody wants to spend two weeks in a hotel under quarantine.

You really need to think again and find a more workable plan.

Thousands of foreign students, who have taken up studies in universities, colleges and schools in Thailand from March of this year, are stuck in the kingdom with tourist visas and no chance of going back to their respective countries due to the worsening Covid-19 situation.

The courses have already started and if the government asks them to leave the country by the end of this month, they will be put in a difficult situation of missing out on classes due to strict quarantine rules at both ends.

Therefore, the government should give the students some kind of unprecedented immunity by granting them student visas here itself instead of in their respective countries. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I hope the foreign ministry listens to the cries of the foreign students.

Re: "Losers all round", (PostBag, Sept 10).

Kuldeep Nagi exuberantly sympathises with Trump's potential policies towards Thailand and Biden's promise towards regional relations. However, his take on the pitfalls of Thailand's international and regional diplomatic finesse is at best misinformed, or bigoted.

Thailand was a pivot in the 1967 Bangkok declaration which gave rise to the present-day Asean and which was modelled on the European Union.

The United States' engagement with China in the mid 1970s was through the careful chaperoning of Thailand.

Thailand's role in balancing power through soft diplomacy gained new highs in the early 1990s when the then-Thai ambassador to the UN proposed multilateralism as the way forward.

The essence of Thailand's regional and global diplomacy is never to poke its nose into other countries' internal problems and in the spirit of Asean, it lets neighbours deal with their internal problems because it knows that getting involved might also spite your nose.

Thailand still remains skilful in walking its talk and will, we are assured, stand its ground whether Trump or Biden wins.

Thailand has the ability to live and learn in its "middle path" approach to solving international problems. It is more prudent to live and learn than to wallow in imaginary miseries.

From December it will be illegal to have alcohol delivered. It will have to be purchased in shops, restaurants, pubs and bars. All because the government wishes to control aspects of our lives that should be none of its concern.

Several online businesses will close and their employees will join the millions already unemployed. In the age of social distancing we will have to go to retail outlets, pubs and bars rather than drink at home.

This law make no sense.

Why is the government wasting time on this sort of petty interference when it should be concentrating on getting the country off life support.

Uncle fiddles, while the economy burns.

Re: "What if Trump triumphs again?" (Opinion, Sept 11).

Gwynne Dyer is so right that Trump is not a new Hitler. Trump isn't so stupid as to cause his own downfall by invading Russia.

Re: "Divine inspiration", (front-page photo with caption, Sept 11).

Greetings. I am the assistant deputy fourth secretary to Lord Rahu, who is sometimes erroneously called the "god of darkness" by uncomprehending humans. I am writing not in any official capacity, but only to express my personal views.

For some time the devas (Thai: thewadaa) have been locked in conflict with malign demonic forces. These forces have been collectively branded the Dark Side by your amusing cinematic series Star Wars. We call them asuras. Currently they are winning on many fronts.

The political struggle in Thailand, the ascendancy of Donald Trump in the United States, the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing global warming are all symptomatic of the conflict and of the current asuric dominance.

I wish to assure the people of Thailand and of the world that the devas are doing their very best to bring about victory for the forces of righteousness on all fronts but, contrary to popular belief, we are not omnipotent.

In brief, we ask you to think deeply about what is right -- and, when you know it, to strive for it. Thus united in partnership, human and divine forces may yet prevail against the forces of darkness that afflict us all, and that currently dominate your planet.