OPINION

Shine a light

Re: "Dept fails noble task," (Editorial, May 6).

It is a sad state of affairs when government officials and those with trusted positions within society are all implicated in the sex trafficking of children.

Who are children to turn to when they are in trouble or traumatised when this type of situation is common? Ever wonder why Thailand is on the ''Tier 2 Watchlist"?

What about going after the people who paid for sex with the children? Should they also be charged? After all, it is their actions that support such activity. In my country, it is common for police to post images of people charged with paying for sex -- and this is with adults. In order to get rid of such a scourge you need "shine light on it" and use it as a disinfectant.

It seems this is another example of the government's promise to end corruption falling flat. We need to do much better for the children since they are the future. If you cannot rely on the government to protect you as a child, why would you expect them to be supportive of society as an adult?

Time to comply

Re: "Panel seeks delay of PDPA enforcement," (BP, May 5).

We shouldn't apply the "mai pen rai" attitude to enforcing the Personal Data Protection Act, which will protect the confidentiality of your name, address, transactions, and so on when it comes into force.

As PDP committee chairman Thienchai Na Nakorn notes, "The PDPA will create confidence among foreign business operators conducting business in Thailand." Singapore and the Philippines already have PDPA counterparts that have jail terms for non-compliance.

Let's allow the PDPA to go into force on June 1 as planned-- but suspend punishment for two years.

If by June 1, 2024 a given firm was still in violation, the punishment would take effect in full.

Thinking cap

Re: "Plug pulled on diesel cap," (BP, April 27).

As a non-native English speaker who had heard before what was going on in this country, the headline looked alright at first glance. But after more thought, it looked wrong.

So I chatted with my English friend living in Thailand who also reads the Bangkok Post daily.

His response is that "pulling the plug" means letting the water flow freely out of a tank.

His first impression was that the price of diesel would be reduced; with the plug removed at the pump much more diesel would flow into your motorcar tank for your money than before.

You cannot pull the plug on a cap!

He went on to say that "too many journalists try to show they are cleverer than the readers by using big uncommon words.

"I have to use a dictionary to read the Bangkok Post sometimes!"

I would go for some simpler headline like "Cap on diesel price lifted".

Learn the ways

Re: "Alpha-male idols," (PostBag, April 29), Never mind Nirvana," (PostBag, April 28) and "Fake faith," (PostBag, April 27).

Many comments made to BP about my submissions about Thai temples have been positive.

Yes, Ken Albertsen, we engage in rituals. Rituals are mainly dedicated to the gods, goddesses and deities we've created. They usually require money.

And Ye Olde Theologian, my friend, the rebirth is just a notion. The reality is that we will not know anything after we are dead.

Consciousness is part of being alive. My thanks to Millie Tan for pointing to S N Goenka's teachings.

I had the good fortune of attending a 10-day retreat with him in Igatpuri, India, and also in the USA.

Yes, money should not be part of rituals.

Mr Goenka fully understood the path pointed by the Enlightened One.

Sadly, every religion now thrives on rituals and money is the driving force.

Therefore people keep visiting temples and so-called holy shrines just like they go to hospitals.

Spirituality has turned into a costly prescription given by monks, priests and pundits.

As Buddha said, this is the main cause of human suffering. We do not spend time cultivating mindfulness and living in harmony with nature.

We need to learn the ways of Buddha to find our bliss ourselves, not by running around to seek happiness.