OPINION

Acting on reform

Re: "DSI under fire as Chuvit alleges high-level bribery" and "Thailand's untouchables", (BP, Jan 18).

Three chaiyos for those taking decisive action to weed out our all-pervasive corruption, including Khun Chuvit Kamovlisit, Anti-Corruption Division Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, and his boss, Central Investigation Bureau Pol Lt Gen Jiraphob Bhuridej. All of these persons need our full and sustained support.

But rooting out rotten apples is only a start -- for our law enforcement's whole culture rewards corruption and must be reformed from head to toe.

To his credit, PM Gen Prayut recognised that a holistic approach was essential and commissioned crimebuster Khun Vicha Mahakun's panel to recommend how to reform the Royal Thai Police and the Office of the Attorney-General.

Khun Vicha submitted his report over two years ago -- but Gen Prayut has studiously avoided mentioning it to the public.

Now that election time's upon us, we voters -- and all parties -- should pressure Gen Prayut to present the report to us. Moreover, the report must be debated immediately, along with a vow that if elected, he'll vigorously implement its recommendations.

Re: "Prawit vows welfare card boost", (BP, Jan 18).

The number of state welfare cards, designed to pacify people at the grassroots level, is expected to increase from 13.5 million to 18 million this year. That's not good news. But if DPM Gen Prawit retains power after the upcoming election, he promises this monthly stipend will increase from 200-300 to 700 baht.

Recognising this is entirely insufficient and his need to thwart the promised Pheu Thai election tidal wave, might I call the deputy prime minister's attention to a new source of significant tax revenue which would allow him to deliver not just a paltry increase in handouts for the poor but rather the introduction of a comprehensive state welfare system to finally address the kingdom's yawning inequality chasm?

This source of huge new tax revenues is close at hand. All Gen Prawit has to do is to follow the advice contained in an open letter signed by 205 of the world's super-rich, calling on the world leaders and business executives currently attending the World Economic Forum's love-fest at Davos to "Tax us now".

The letter makes an eloquent case for the super-rich to save their own bacon:

"We are living in an age of extremes. Rising poverty and widening wealth inequality...

"Extremes are unsustainable, often dangerous and rarely tolerated for long...

"The history of the last five decades is a story of wealth flowing nowhere but upwards...

"Tax the ultra-rich and do it now..."

Gen Prawit, this is your road to election success and a bright shining place in modern history.

Re: "Myanmar junta chief family assets found in Thai drug raid", (BP, Jan 11).

The photo shows the tin pot general wearing 19 medals. Medals for what? For cancelling a democratic election? Did he get one for jailing an elderly woman? Or perhaps some are for bombing villages composed of bamboo huts full of kids and the elderly. Maybe Myanmar hands out medals for killing teenagers who demonstrate for fair elections.