OPINION

History distorted

"Observer's" observations about the future judgement of Prayut Chan-o-cha in Thai history books demonstrates a touching, but almost certainly misplaced, faith in the truthfulness and objectivity of written history in this country.

As anyone who has ever perused a Thai history book could tell you, whether aimed at kindergarten children or university undergraduates, you would search in vain for anything that even vaguely resembles a truthful account of Thai history contained within the pages of the editions readily available to the public.

Sadly this is the case in relation to events and characters from the distant past where fantasy largely constitutes the national narrative.

But far more damaging in relation to the events of nearly 90 years, during which autocrats and dictators, among whom Gen Prayut is only the most recent example, is that they have seen to it that history is written in such a way as to whitewash their relentless attack on the development of true democracy now being rightly demanded by today's student generation.

But don't bother to thank the history books for the greater political awareness of today's generation. They know only too well that the history they were taught is largely nonsense. Thank the internet revolution and the free availability of more objective information for their rapidly developing political consciousness.

Experiencing poor road surfaces on many of Thailand's roads is nothing new, but one doesn't expect to encounter large holes in the surface of freshly laid roads.

I was returning to Korat from Saraburi on Saturday afternoon; the weather was rainy, traffic was heavy and visibility was poor, so the majority of vehicles were moving at about 70-80kph. On the downside of a new bridge on the Friendship Highway a few kilometres short of the Lam Takhong dam going northeast, I was unable to avoid a large hole without swerving into cars on my right. My front left tyre burst and I was lucky to be able to move to the left of the road and limp the 100 metres or so to a lay-by at the end of the bridge where a kind ambulance driver helped me change the wheel.

An unfortunate accident, of course, but there were two other cars in the lay-by also changing wheels and the noodle seller there told my wife this had been happening all day.

Indeed, as we drove away up the road within the next few kilometres we came across some 10 to a dozen cars and vans all doing wheel changes. I appeal to the road maintenance authorities in the Lam Takhong area to sort out this appalling state of affairs without delay.