OPINION

Wrong priorities

Re: "Covid strategy needs jabs more than just masks," (Opinion, Feb 16).

The problem is that the vaccine is being turned into a propaganda tool, so public health and the economy are clearly not the priorities. In no other country is that the case and that is the scandal.

Re: "Easter Island begins jab drive," (BP, Feb 10).

My compliments to the authorities on Easter Island for quickly getting out of the gate on Covid-19 vaccinations, despite being one of the most isolated spots on the planet.

Easter Island's initial distribution of 120 doses of vaccine puts the tiny municipality 120 doses ahead of many larger jurisdictions, including Thailand. The island's authorities should also be commended for setting a target of immunising at least 80% of the population, a level that should serve to protect the citizenry well.

The SARS Cov-2 virus (that causes the Covid-19 disease) contains 29 different proteins. Recent studies on new variants reveal as many as nine mutations in the spike protein alone (more could be found by analysing the remaining proteins).

That these new variants are more infectious -- and possibly more lethal -- is very incriminating.

It is statistically virtually impossible that so many mutations could occur in such a short time, all combining to produce a significant gain of function in the five newly discovered strains through a process of random selection.

These strains are laboratory-made, as was the first strain which originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That the WHO claimed Covid-19 did not originate in China merely adds substantiation to my analysis. Is there an economy that is doing well, except for China? Are we to believe this is a coincidence?

It is very dismaying to read about Thai police officers beating a medical volunteer, even if it was under riot conditions (BP, Feb 15).

If the police feel a need to beat people, perhaps they should cross the border into Myanmar where police beating is a common, acceptable action.

The recent acquittal by the US Senate of former US President Donald Trump, against charges of incitement in the Jan 6 storming of the US Capitol, points to the fragility of democracy in our times, even in the United States, which still stands as a bastion of democratic ideals and principles. Apart from being an eyebrow-raising Senate spectacle, the entire proceedings proved to be instructive of one great missing ingredient in healthy democracy today: ethics.

As long as politicians in a democracy are self-centred, place money above civic propriety and at best, seek to feather their own nests, there can never be healthy democracies, and justice, freedom, liberty and equality for all. Politicians need reschooling in ethics.

As the current president pointed out in his reaction to the Senate vote, democracy is fragile and we need to take care not to let our guards down against any of the corrosive elements in bodies politic that would erode democracy.

Re: "Karen need govt help", (Editorial, Feb 16).

Expecting this government to suddenly become sympathetic, caring and understanding is a bit much for people who think threats and intimidation are natural rights for people in uniform. The friendly approach is not their signature style.