Published on January 13, 2005

To begin cleaning up the image of TRT, the members must try to erase all remnants of the old factions that are clinging to power and corrupting others. If they don’t, the party will end up like other smaller parties that have been gathered in to one (like after the coup of 1992) when it disintegrates. Politics should now take a turn for the better rather than stick to the sordid “you lick me, I lick you” political agenda of past king-makers. It’s time to stand your ground, Thaksin, and history will remember you well for that.

Remember that the Democrats, historically, have been adept at survival despite huge disadvantages. The silent majority has had enough of these old-timers, who are sucking the nation’s blood without doing anything for the country in exchange. All they are good for is bestowing important portfolios on their fellow MPs and gaining prakhun/pradet. My advice would be to move quickly on your own suggestion that new blood is required for TRT to gain the upper hand in Bangkok. The foreign press will not label you as another Dr Mahathir or Lee Kuan Yew.

By the way, whatever happened to a Chalerm Yoobamrung, may I ask?

Sakol Mann

Bangkok

An alternative solution

to foster homes

I realise that this will probably sound naive, and is most likely easier said than done, but wouldn’t it be great if, once all the infrastructure has been restored and some sort of system is in place in the villages affected by the tsunami, members of the older generation who’ve lost children could in some way become caretakers or foster parents of sorts for the young who’ve lost their parents? If some sort of system can be set up under which the whole community took care of its own young, because only those who have lost loved ones will understand another in the same predicament?

Perhaps a youth centre with counsellors and the right kind of activities can be put into place to help heal the pain and loss of these children, who at the end of the day would at least get to go to a place they could call “home” rather than an orphanage. It goes without saying that this would probably be a very difficult and complicated task to accomplish, but then again, it is a very unique situation for Thailand, so why not try a unique solution? With financial support and counselling from the government, international aid organisations, etc, perhaps it’s not such a far-fetched idea.

Dharini Divari

Bangkok

No help for Burmese immigrant workers

For the Burmese migrants in the South of Thailand it is as if every day there is another aftershock from the tsunami. Each day they are subjected to another bout of fear and panic, another race against the advancing danger, only these days it is not a huge wave advancing on them, but border soldiers, police or immigration.

As with everyone else who survived the tsunami, they are dealing with their own nightmares, haunted by the images of the bodies of their dead friends who they did not dare to go and identify for fear of being arrested. Now they dare not go to the food-distribution points. There is aid for migrants, the United Nations has funds for affected migrant workers, Burmese communities around the world have made donations, but there is no legal or facilitated way of getting that assistance to the migrant communities. Migrants who have organised themselves into outreach teams are themselves facing harassment and arrest and yet they are the only people who speak the same language, the only people who the other migrants will trust, the only people who could find the migrants to ensure they had food and shelter. But they are not allowed to do that. So the migrants have to live in hiding, continually on the move.

If they are scavenging for pieces of broken down homes to make shelters and food it is because, having already survived a military dictatorship and a tsunami, they must be able to survive this, one more assault on their right to exist. The authorities say they will only arrest those migrants who do not have work permits. Remember the courageous Thai volunteers sorting through the passports of the tourists? How many people managed to hold onto their ID in the tsunami? How many of the migrants being held in the Immigration Detention Centre had spent precious time and money registering for a temporary ID card last July and then again for the a work permit in August, but lost them to the sea?

The employment offices say they will re-issue work permits to migrants who can get to their office and give the correct details of their previous registration. But how will the migrants know that? And if they do know it, how can they get to the employment office without being arrested on the way?

All efforts to normalise the situation for the migrants are being hampered by the insistence on deporting them back to Burma. If that would stop, the employment office could set up some system to re-issue work permits to migrants and employment permits to the employers, the NGOs could ensure the migrants had access to food, shelter and health care, the migrant groups could support their community to heal and the rebuilding of the affected provinces of the South could commence.

Jackie Pollock, MAP Foundation for the Health and Knowledge of Ethnic Labour

Bangkok

Those indirectly affected also need a helping hand

While my business was not physically affected by the tsunami, it has suffered from the major downturn in business. I have had to lay off staff and reduce the wages of those remaining. This is the case for a large number of businesses indirectly affected by the tsunami. While any offer of foreign aid should not go directly to help businesses such as mine, it might serve to “free up” other funds, in the form of soft loans, to help in the economic recovery of the area.

Capt Joseph Harvey, Pegasus Marine Co Ltd

Phuket

If Thailand can cope

on its own, it should

Much has been said about our prime minister declining financial aid. Some say it is arrogance, other say he should not have passed on free money. At first I thought it was stupid to pass on such generous handouts, after all, almost US$4 billion [Bt156 billion] so far has been pledged, right? Thailand is surely entitled to at least a few bucks. But then I thought, do we really need the monetary assistance? We are able to cope well with immediate needs after the disaster, and seem to have a good plan to rebuild the damage.

I came to the conclusion that while it would be nice to get a hand on some “free” money, it is probably better that we pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, especially when we have the strength to do it. If we, as a nation, want to be strong, we have to start by believing in our own strength. Thailand will gain much respect in the international community if we can prevail without outside assistance. Thai people will gain much pride by relying on ourselves and starting to emerge as strong a nation as we can be.

Nai Nilas

Bangkok

Some entrepreneurs are just getting on with it

While the national and local powers that be bicker over the shape and form of post-tsunami building regulations, the local people have just got on with rebuilding. At Nai Yang, Laem Sing and many other places small business that were totally flattened have been rebuilt using a few sticks, thatched roofs and basic kitchen facilities. They are operational now – all they need is customers.

Michael B Way

Phuket

Scientists must not be made to serve outside interests

Stephff’s pointed cartoon of January 9 illustrates the predicament that many scientists have had to face since the 1960s in a world that seems run by Luddites, time-servers and special interests.

Scientists are extolled when their work inspires the public imagination or is exploited to rubber-stamp industrial, bureaucratic or political decisions. Yet, when their findings and opinions run against the interests of these groups, they are silenced and vilified, their careers ruined, stalled or terminated.

In the same vein, when their opinions are confirmed by later events, instead of being vindicated, they are very often criticised for having failed to give a proper precautionary warning of any hazard, natural or man-made. This is only to divert public attention from true responsibilities. The recent cases in Southeast Asia (Sars, bvian flu and now the tsunami) and the Kelly case in the UK are the most publicised stories, but many more – bloodless, maybe, but not less terminal – cases happen too regularly around the world. That is, the right of academic and research freedom is moribund if not dead. Scientists are bound to adhere to rigorous ethics in their work and, therefore, their opinions and actions are genuine.

At the same time, they must obey the regulations of their organisations. If a scientific ethic pervades the organisation, things run smoothly and promptly. If a control-freak bureaucratic mentality or undue outside pressures rule it, then disasters occur and keep occurring. If the tsunami-hit countries want to recover fully and prevent any repetition, they should let their scientists work free, according to their expertise. Likewise, if Thailand wants to be the hub of regional reconstruction, she must show her utmost professionalism in her endeavours.

Dr Massimo-F Buonaiuto

Nonthaburi

A major show of force for the leader of the free world

Imagine this scenario: 6,000 police officers, military and federal personnel, a “no fly” zone specially expanded to three times its normal size, a secret command centre to handle information from 50 law enforcement agencies etc, etc. Is this a major anti-terrorist operation or cover for a major terrorist trial? No, it’s the security needed for the inauguration next week of President George W Bush, who is also known as the supposed leader of the free world and who resides in the land of the free.

James MacArthur

Chon Buri

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