Time for PM to come clean
Re: "Heads roll after censure debate," (BP, Sept 10).
When reporters asked why he'd abruptly fired Thamanat Prompow and Narumon Pinyosinwat from the cabinet, PM Prayut said, "It's my reason. It's my business."
Sorry, Gen Prayut, but in a democracy with the King as head of state, the prime minister and his cabinet are accountable to the electorate. To say that the duo were fired "for propriety and interest of administration" says zilch. It was a serious breach of propriety from day one to have an unrepentant confessed heroin smuggler in cabinet. You said then that his criminal record was "a minor matter" -- so why the big fuss now?
If the two were booted as a result of last week's censure debate, shouldn't it have been those earning the most votes of no confidence -- including you?
Come clean, Gen Prayut, and be transparent to keep our confidence. Explain how you misjudged the two so that we may learn from the matter?
Burin Kantabutra
No-laughs saga is a joke
Re: "Drama over monks' giggly live-stream chat show settled," (BP, Sept 9).
Buddha's dhamma was based on doctrines which can be seen and validated. Regardless of religion, dhamma highlights the values of living and can be adapted for daily life.
Dhamma Talk is considered a part of monk's speech which is related to the Tripitaka. In Thailand, when Thais become monks, they are expected to espouse the Buddha's path and his teachings.
To learn dhamma, reading the Tritipaka would be boring to youths and others.
From my point of view, there is no right or wrong in the monks talking on FB live about politics. The Tritipaka does not prohibit the use of media for dhamma talk with the joy of laughing.
Nopporn Yamkate
When satire terrifies some
Re: "Drama over monks' giggly live-stream chat show settled," (BP, Sept 9).
Naturally, the totally serious, benevolent and righteous forces that prop up the traditional institutions of Thainess are terrified of satire.
It is most fortunate for them that Buddhism continues, as in the old days, to be run by powerful political figures.
This ensures unruly monks who might be too inclined towards engaging people with the right understanding and other principles dear to the Buddha can be properly brought to heel.
It is less fortunate for others that such desires to suppress freedom are as undemocratic as they are arguably un-Buddhist.
Felix Qui
Govt must address travel crisis
Re: "Thais lobby to ease UK 'red' travel list ban," (BP, Sept 9).
When the UK demoted Thailand from amber to red on Aug 25 it cited two reasons:
"The increased case rates … and the higher risk that travel from [Thailand] poses to UK public health".
Published case rates in Thailand had fallen two weeks before the announcement. That means the UK does not trust the published case rates, or there is another sort of risk which has caused concern.
The other UK reason: "The high rates combined with lower levels of published genomic surveillance in Thailand than in other countries means that an outbreak of a new variant or existing variants of concern or variants under investigation cannot be easily identified before it is imported and seeded across the UK."
So, I hardly think a visit by a British deputy minister to Phuket is going to remove those concerns.
The Thai government will have to pull its socks up if it wants British and EU visitors to flock back to Thailand.
Michael Winckless
Is this moving forward?
I see Disney has cancelled Fox Sports Asia as it consolidates its streaming platform.
The loss of this international sports broadcast outlet just adds to the frustration of US expats who have already seen the demise of Major League Baseball, Nascar Racing and NCAA college football.
This Fox channel provided coverage of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the F1 racing season and other international sporting events.
Not to worry though, True says we can depend on its eight branded networks for quality sports programming. Currently being shown are the NFL pre-season, which ended two weeks ago, the 2020/2021 NBA season, which ended two months ago, and three tennis tournaments.
In addition, this 76-year-old US expat can look forward to a new Chinese movie station, a new Korean movie station, a new kids station and a new gaming-centred station.
We lost HBO and Showtime for Warner and Paramount.
Anyone see a trend here?
Fred Prager
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