OPINION

Prayut's promise

Re: "Prayut apologises for snubbing Ayutthaya villagers", (BP, Sept 3).

The suspended prime minister has been engulfed in his own ego. Remember when he took over Thailand with a coup and told the people of Thailand that he would only stay in power for 12 months so Thais could vote for a new PM? Alas, greed and addiction to power have replaced this promise.

Tories in trouble

Re: "Could Boris Johnson make a comeback?" (Opinion, Sept 3).

The answer is yes; maybe, after 2029. With the appointment of Ms Truss, the Conservative party is ready to implode from within. Her party will surely lose the next election, no matter how many party leaders supported her election. Of course, Mr Sunak will also play his cards in bringing down Ms Truss.

However, Mr Johnson's chances and Mr Trump's return to power have nothing in common. The ongoing war in Ukraine will continue to bog down EU countries and their economies. Brexit will also remain a thorn that will continue to bleed UK's status and economy.

If Mr Trump can come back, he will have the upper hand in ending the Ukraine war. He will surely try to reset ties with Russia ignoring all the noise about freedom or sovereignty. It is certain that Mr Johnson and his Conservative party will have to sit in the opposition benches for years to come.

It's not censorship

Re: "Just a quick check", (PostBag, Sept 4).

I was very amused at the accusation by Mr Hober that I showed a "sign of intellectual laziness". I sincerely hope that he has authored more books and scientific papers than I have and has edited/peer-reviewed more publications of other scientists than I have ... oh well.

Mr Hober seems to have missed my point that many readers of published "misinformation" unquestioningly take what they read at face value, which could have severe consequences for their health. I would certainly not call fact-checking by any responsible publisher "censorship". Mr Hober is probably perfectly able to make responsible decisions about whatever he reads, but very many people in this world are not.

Eating rule wisdom

Re: "End eating rule", (PostBag, Sept 3).

Felix Qui's letter "End eating rule" is an example of an unfounded and uninformed irrational response to Buddhist practice. The assertion that eating rules for monks cause obesity is simply wrong. Dietary discipline regarding when to eat is as important for health as what to eat. Many studies have confirmed that the best counter to obesity is to limit sugar and starch intake and limit the time when eating to a few hours per day. This "when" discipline is called intermittent fasting by science and is a relatively new subject of investigation. Buddhist monks have been observing their dietary rules for 2,500 years with tremendous success.

I have visited and resided in numerous monastic complexes throughout a lifelong practice of Buddhism and have observed that those where the dietary disciplines are observed in a more rural setting are populated by monks who are quite obviously healthy, happy and energetic. This was especially evident in Myanmar and in the forest monasteries of Northern Thailand. The wisdom of Gautama Buddha's teaching will not be improved upon by arrogant dilettantes and academic commentators.