Published on May 05, 2005
What a right mess the procurement of airport X-ray machines has turned out to be. Who would have thought it possible in Thailand? Has Thailand’s international reputation been damaged, as stated by PM Thaksin? This is doubtful, since the world well knows already of the extent of corruption in this country. If Thailand’s reputation is so important, why, then, as other correspondents have repeatedly pointed out on this page, have there been no significant actions or outcomes against corrupt government officials and politicians during Thaksin’s term?
What about the damage to Thailand’s reputation done by the generals in charge of mismanaging security in the South? What about the damage done by the officials of the Meteorological Department by not warning of the approaching tsunami? What about the trampling upon the rule of law and human rights during the government’s various so-called “wars”? What about the numerous other corruption scandals and conflicts of interest that continue unabated all around the country?
The Thai government is considering suing the US supplier for damage to Thailand’s reputation. It would be interesting to see what value, if any, the US courts placed on the country’s reputation. I wager the government will be too scared to find out. Imagine the defence lawyers, immune from Thai law, detailing case after case of corruption. It’s hard to see how resorting to the courts will improve Thailand’s reputation. If any, the reputation will be further sullied. Worse is the double standard on display. The Thai government covers up negligence implicated in the tsunami report by not releasing the report to the public because it might lead to lawsuits, even though there has been real and substantive loss as a result. Yet, suing over something as dubious as Thailand’s reputation, to which little or no value can be apportioned, is acceptable. Steve Pedrotta Bangkok Corruption seems not to exist, officially speaking I am sure the US government goes around throwing allegations of bribe-taking all the time without proof. No wonder the US does not do much business in Thailand. Our laws prohibit the very thing that keeps the Thai government officials in Mercedes. Offering or accepting bribes is not a good business practice. But hey, in Thailand they make sure the cost of such business practices is borne by the little people. Not the ones who take the bribes. C Sirin Bangkok This is a good way to announce fresh delays Tuesday’s news is the perfect way for the prime minister to announce the additional delays that everyone connected with the new airport already expected to happen. The PM says that unless GE InVision issues a statement clearing any Thai officials of bribery, he will scrap the deal, which will cause a further six-month delay in the project. The delay would have happened anyway, but this way the PM saves face. I also question how GE InVision can issue a statement of apology. If my understanding of the situation is correct, they have already admitted to bribing Thai officials and have been fined in the US. A concerned visitor Bangkok Cleanliness tends to speak for itself If this government is so clean, why does it care about what others say? Think about it . . . No hard feelings, but this has been going on for a while and will probably continue. Good luck, but be more careful next time. End of subject Bangkok All Thai children should learn to speak Malay I strongly support Gothom’s proposal to promote teaching the Malay language in the Thai education system, both for the Malay Muslims of the South and for Thai-speaking children [“Unity in Diversity: Language remains a crucial issue for deep South”, Opinion, May 4]. Not only would this help Thais better understand the culture of Thailand’s Malay Muslim minority, but it would also open up tremendous opportunities for Thais to engage with the broader world of Indonesian-Malay speakers, which currently number over 250 million people, making Malay-Indonesian one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Dr Patrick Jory Nakhon Si Thammarat Ban loud motorcycles across the whole country This may be coming a little late, but I would like to highlight a report that I read in The Nation on April 21 under the heading, “Traffic reform: Road ends for noisy bikes” [News]. Although this should have been done earlier, it’s better late than never. There are two points that I would like to mention. First, why does the new measure cover only 21 major roads and not the whole capital, or, for that matter, the whole country? Second, does the Pollution Control Department think a Bt500 fine and a temporary ban from the roads will deter drivers of loud motorcycles? If they can afford a bike and to modify it further, what is a Bt500 fine to them? I am sure they are smart enough to avoid the 21 major roads and use the smaller roads or sois to get to their destinations. Although it may take longer, it will be worth it to them. The PCD has to understand that these irresponsible and inconsiderate motorcyclists don’t only travel or live along the 21 major roads. I am awakened on a daily basis between the hours of 1am and 4am by these guys. Apart from having noisy bikes, they also have this habit of speeding and then on jamming their brakes so that it makes a screeching noise at the junction below the condo that I live in. The police don’t seem to be doing anything about this at all, although I see them come for their routine signing of the patrol log. What about cars with modified exhaust pipes? Even taxis seem to be modifying their exhaust pipes now. What about vehicle owners who put the volumes on really high on their car stereos? All these contribute to noise pollution as well. It can be extremely irritating, especially at night, which is when these guys seem to be out driving. I would say that out of the many countries that I have visited, Singapore probably has to be rated best in terms of enforcing traffic rules. Offenders get fines ranging from a of 500 Singapore dollars (about Bt12,000) to thousands of dollars, depending on the offence. On top of that, they may even get their licences suspended for a year or so. Rules like these are what deter people from breaking the rules. Singaporeans are also glad to report such irritating people to the authorities because it is worth it when considering how bad drivers affect the quality of life. Thailand is trying hard to compete with its neighbours on several fronts. It should consider traffic rules and policy too. Being stern on such issues is what makes Singapore a better place to call home. Everyone in Bangkok is well aware of the noise generated by tuk-tuks, motorcycles, cars and buses. Enforcing strict traffic rules and making offenders pay hefty fines would give the vast majority of the public a peaceful night’s sleep. Andrew Thomas Bangkok Here’s hoping for an end to cross-strait tensions More than 20 years have passed since I first predicted the reconciliation between the “White Sun” and “Red Stars”. But it is now happening. This time the flags of the two “sister nations” could change into a “red sun” surrounded by white stars, if they could become one. After all, Chinese are Chinese. They cannot be somebody else. It is to be welcomed that the Taiwanese president has extended an invitation to the president of the People’s Republic of China to visit Taipei. Honestly, I do not even bother to remember their names, and I am sure the readers do not, either. These two places have been bitter enemies through and through – for as long as any one can remember. The Shanghai massacre of the communists in 1927, in which Chou En Lai’s wife was killed, started it all. It is good to think that maybe all the animosity could finally come to an end. A visit by the president of mainland China to Taiwan will be the eighth wonder of the world. The mainland Chinese president must accept the invitation. An offer like this should be too good to resist. Nothing can top it. The world is holding its breath – we all want to see it happen. Prachyadavi Tavedikul Bangkok India shouldn’t get a seat ahead of Japan It appears to be too early for the four allied victors of WWII – America, Britain, France and Russia – and China to think of sharing with the defeated Axis powers – Germany and Japan – permanent status on the United Nations Security Council. The Chinese, for one, have demonstrated that they do not intend to share their permanent status with the Japanese. All well and good. At the same time, however, the Chinese seem to be letting the Indians believe that India, a Third World nation, could get Chinese support for a permanent seat. That will not do. If Japan, a leading industrial nation, is barred from having a permanent seat, then India, which remains for the most part an impoverished agrarian society, should be too. Stanley Kennings Bangkok
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