OPINION

Handling refugees

Re: "Refugees 'voluntarily' go home", (BP, April 8).

Thailand must keep its public commitment to humanitarian values if we are to remain credible. Just last year, FM Don and US Secretary of State Blinken signed an agreement that, among other things, we would jointly strengthen our commitment to humanitarian values -- specifically including nonrefoulement. Tak government officials heard and acted accordingly.

But at Mae Sot, on April 1, our immigration police arrested three unarmed resistance fighters seeking medical treatment, according to an Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) press statement. Instead of following Tak's example and returning them to a safe area, Mae Sot police are accused of having the trio shackled and handed to their deadly foes, the junta-allied Border Guard Force, on April 4 despite the Karen National Union's efforts to get us to adhere to our public commitment to nonrefoulement, APHR stated. NUG spokesperson U Nay Phone Latt correctly told the media that "This action (handing over the detainees) is not in line with international police procedures. They will be tortured and perhaps even killed".

The actions of rogue officials harm all Thais, for they show that Gen Prayut cannot control his officials. On top of that, who will dare trust us with their safety? Instead, they'll stay in refugee camps, which nobody wants.

Follow Tak and boost our credibility.

Re: "Past expiry date", (PostBag, April 12) & "Dalai Lama regrets 'kiss' with minor in viral clip", (BP, April 11).

The Dalai Lama is a practitioner and teacher of Vajrayana Buddhism, the third vehicle and tantric form of Buddhism. As such, he is not confined by the Judeo-Christian tradition, which remains the dominant influence upon the philosophy of the West. He embodies conspicuous freedom from the noxious morality of conventional thinking, which has caused Miro King, despite his professed atheism, to exhibit moral outrage and condemn the Dalai Lama for his spontaneous and playful behaviour.

Tibet's most famous Vajrayana Buddhist saint, Drukpa Kunley, was renowned as a scoundrel and habitué of brothels and Tibetan beer houses. To this day, his profoundly enlightening songs, poems, and biography serve as a guide to the freedom and happiness this true realiser and great adept enjoyed.

Miro King, the non-sucking atheist, is, like all atheists, unknowingly complaining and crying to God, "You don't love me!" Fortunately, since Buddhism does not require belief in God, he may find respite in the teaching of Gautama Buddha if he simply applies himself to it.

Re: "Rangsiman: Pirapan doesn't own country", (BP, April 11).

Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, UTN leader, is to be thanked for recently raising public debate about what does and does not count as a Thai patriot.

Paramount among these is that citizens be open to their fellow citizens holding and peacefully expressing radically different ideas on what matters, irrespective of how strongly some will disagree.

Thanks to Mr Pirapan's outburst about "nation haters", the general election will serve as a useful proxy poll on what percentage of the Thai nation shares UTN's articles of faith. It will be most interesting to see how the polling goes on May 14.