OPINION

Keeping art alive

Re: "Gatekeepers of history," (Life, June 7).

Thanks to Suwitcha Chaiyong for such an informative and well-written article on art conservation, and bringing attention to the need for more art conservators in this country.

I would think Thailand -- with many opportunities and a potentially rich supply of skilled, patient practitioners -- could become an important international player in this field.

For this to happen, the government should recognise its importance and actively promote and support entry into specialist training through university programmes.

Re: "Police seek arrests for seniors who beat student to death," (BP, June 9).

It was both depressing and somewhat encouraging to read that headline and the accompanying article.

Depressing, albeit not surprising, that such evil continues to be rampant in Thai society; encouraging that the police are taking action in this instance.

If proven to be killers, even if that was not their intent, they should be in prison. Beating a fellow student to any extent already deserves prison, irrespective of whether it is part of some brutish hazing custom or not: acting out violent urges sanctioned by a sick cultural tradition is morally repugnant even if that is the example set by those who have set themselves up as examples by the use of violence.

Re: "Disparity worsens ocean pollution," (Opinion, June 9).

I fear the second paragraph of this timely analysis was marred by a severe understatement of the amount of plastic waste dumped into Thailand's coastal waters each year.

The 0.41 tonnes quoted is literally a drop in the ocean. A more likely figure, I suspect, would be 41,000 tonnes.

It's bad enough to mismanage the waste on such a horrendous scale, without mismanaging the statistics.

A waste of time

Re: "Prawit tells officials to clamp down on fake news," (BP, June 10).

There is no way that the government, or anyone for that matter, can expect and demand truthful "news" or information on a social media platform. These platforms are just a technological expansion of human conversation. Nobody speaks with perfect knowledge due to ignorance, stupidity, and bias.

You cannot stifle or limit speech without becoming more totalitarian as it progresses. When governments controlled the media through licensure, there never was a push for "truthfulness".

Re: "Order for prosecution in WEH share dispute issued," (BP, June 10).

Ever since the 1990s I have read the social pages of the Bangkok Post, often accompanied by photos of events, attended by "high society". Many are reported as being "Khunying". My studies show that this is an honorific title. In the news Khunying Korkaew Boonyachinda is alleged to have falsified signatures and allegedly used forged documents for the transfer of shares. I am curious to know if these titles get revoked if the individual is found guilty?