OPINION

8 years of promises

Re: "Prayut hits hustings as Pheu Thai rules out post-poll deal with PPRP," (BP, Jan 29).

Before jumping too quickly to swallow whole Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's latest round of amazing promises, it would be prudent to look back on the historical record of the past eight years. When he staged a coup, he made another bunch of promises, such as reforming corrupt institutions, returning happiness, and even ushering in a golden era of "true democracy."

Recent headlines confirm what really was clear back in May 2014. The evidence of eight years shows that reform of the Royal Thai Police and the Royal Thai Army, and tackling corruption were not actually among his goals, nor achieved.

What is, on the contrary, all too apparent is that the Thai constitution defining Thailand's form of democratic government was overthrown precisely to prevent those reforms for which Thais continue to call in vain.

This is also why Thai patriots peacefully calling for reform along the lines of openness, transparency and accountability are harassed, arrested and imprisoned.

Thailand has already choked enough on the promises rudely forced down everyone's throats in 2014. Is another dose of the same really a healthy choice?

Re: "Police chief steps in to bribes row," (BP, Jan 29).

I'm glad that RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas has ordered investigators to find the truth about a Taiwanese actress' complaint that police extorted 27,000 baht from her at a checkpoint and has promised that "drastic disciplinary and legal action will be taken against any guilty officers."

But justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. The credibility of the RTP itself is at stake, and the accused cannot impartially investigate itself.

Who can do the job? Ex-graft buster Vicha Mahakun's panel did such a superb job of recommending reforming the RTP and public prosecutor's office that PM Prayut has assiduously buried his report from public view for over two years. Maybe Khun Vicha would step up to the plate once more with transparent proceedings?

Re: "Suu Kyi gets bitten," (PostBag, Jan 28).

While I agree with David Brown's main points in his comments on Aung San Suu Kyi's conduct, I think it is necessary to think carefully on her situation.

One must look at the political situation in the country over the last 15 years at least. In these years, the Tatmadaw (the military in Myanmar) were already attacking the Rohingya, and people leaving the country.

Then the Tatmadaw began an extermination campaign, and almost all of the Rohingya had to flee or be killed.

What was Aung San Suu Kyi to do? So she went along with the general prejudice towards a racial group different from her own, I expect, to save her government from the Tatmadaw.

This worked for only a short period, and then came the coup. Now the "renewed" Myanmar judiciary has sentenced her to long imprisonment. If you play with fire, you often get burned.