Published on November 21, 2005
Alarmed by the intolerance and greed of leaders, which seems to spread by the day
This decision by Thaksin and his associates to take libel action against the press is a disgrace. He must be running scared that at last the people will find out about the corruption within governmental departments.
Hopefully the attention on the issue will make the government explain about all the alleged corruption that is taking place. It certainly appears that Thaksin is aiming to create a dictatorship and making himself and his close associates very wealthy along the way. The Thai people and the press do not deserve this type of dictator who thinks his little handouts will keep him in power. To the Thai press: keep up this pressure and good luck! A Friend of Thailand Bangkok ----------------------- Our armed forces need not be concerned with Sondhi Re: “Collision course”, News, November 19. I am amazed by these calls from the military. This is a nation with laws and appropriate places and roles for everyone. The military’s role is to guard the country against foreign aggressors and those who might harm the nation’s integrity and independence. Whatever Sondhi might be doing, and even if you might consider him to be showing inappropriate disrespect to the highest institution of the land, this is matter for the Interior Ministry, not the Ministry of Defence. Erick Bangkok ----------------------- Protect the nation, don’t meddle in civil affairs Re: “Gagged!” News, November 18. Generals Ruengroj Mahasaranond and Prin Suwannathat should keep in mind that they are paid by taxpayers to serve the people, not to take the side of anybody. If they feel Sondhi is breaking the law they can go to court to file a lawsuit against him as a private person. It is unacceptable that Ruengroj abuses his power as supreme commander to threaten people who dare to speak against the premier. Amun Bangkok ----------------------- Never accept such unjustified restrictions on press freedom Re: “Gagged!” News, November 18. The legal team for Sondhi Limthongkul should file an interlocutory appeal against the gag order by the trial court immediately. The injunction should be overturned on constitutional grounds. If it is left intact, the prime minister could silence any critics by first bringing a defamation lawsuit against them, followed by a restraining order. If the prime minister feels subjected to repeated defamation by Sondhi, he can file another lawsuit seeking Bt1 trillion in damages if he wants. Freedom of expression needs to be protected, and injury to the reputation of a public figure must be only for statements made with reckless disregard of the truth. Sondhi is up against the prime minister, an Army general who was his Army cadet classmate and a police officer who is one of the prime minister’s supporters. Freedom-loving people everywhere should rise in unison to oppose these tactics of raw intimidation. The stakes for the Thai way of life have never been higher. Netirat Intira Bangkok ----------------------- US was aiding Saddam when he massacred Kurds in 1988 Re: “And where were you when Saddam gassed his Kurds?” Letters, November 19. US Supporter asks where was Chemist (“Misuse of chemicals by US military cannot be tolerated”, Letters, November 18) when Saddam Hussein was gassing the Kurds. But where were the Americans? Why, they were supporting Saddam to the hilt. In fact America’s president Ronald Reagan staunchly supported Saddam and even interfered with efforts by the United States Congress to condemn Saddam for his use of poison gas against civilians. The late, great scientist Carl Sagan once marvelled at how America suddenly discovered that Saddam was “worse than Hitler” only after he invaded Kuwait and threatened American oil interests! Quite a fantastic coincidence, wouldn’t you say, US Supporter? Eric Bahrt Chon Buri ----------------------- Cosy relationship with EU is no panacea for Great Britain Re: “EU remains relevant and exemplifies merits of unity”, Letters, November 4. In David Harris’s letter, it appears he wants us to assume that those with views different from full support of the European Union must have “an in-built hatred of our fellow Europeans”! Well, we will leave that one for others to decide, but that sort of comment does rather seem like the utterances made but some EU commissars who cannot brook dissent and refuse to accept opinions that go against the party line. I thought that with the defeat of national socialism and Marxism that sort of idea was no longer around. However the letter ends with the statement that “there will always be arguments in this growing family of Europeans, which is healthy”, so at least in this case dissent is, I suppose, allowed! Although there are many reasons why Britain, and possibly other nations, should seek alternatives to the European Union, these are far too many to list here, but the following will suffice for now. Britain, which has kept the pound, has considerably less unemployment than the euro zone. The countries that are outside the euro zone in the European Free-Trade Association (Efta) have even less unemployment. Britain, free of EU control, could reclaim its fishing rights, take back control of agriculture, abolish damaging EU regulations and create a low-tax, job-creating economy. Many consider that the EU is a top-down, bureaucratic, and over-regulated organisation. A YouGov poll conducted in Britain in July found that 50 per cent wanted to leave the EU. The writing is on the wall. Observer Chon Buri ----------------------- Transform Thailand’s temple ruins into places of worship Re: “A matter of faith”, News, November 13. I read with interest this article on Hindu gods. The Brahma shrine at the Erawan Hotel compound is a standing example of the religious tolerance and the inherent goodness of the Thai people. Whatever prayers you offer, if you give them with faith, they will certainly be answered. This is the message we receive from all gods, and not necessarily Hindu gods. Thailand promotes itself as a tourist destination. We should wake up to this potential to promote faith and religion here. This would help bring more pilgrims and tourists and help change Bangkok’s image of a sex city. Thailand is a treasure-house of Hindu Khmer temples. But these temples are without deities, and no pujas are held there. Installing deities in these ancient temples and restarting the puja rituals will have a dramatic increase in the tourists visiting areas of Nakhon Ratchasima, Phimai and Phanom Rung at Buri Ram, to start with. Within Bangkok you have brahmin temples. Provide permission to the trained brahmins there to perform daily pujas and other rituals associated with the temple. You will see not only a flow of pilgrims of faith to these sites but also a flow of public donations that will help with the upkeep of the temples for the long term. And this would be good for the preservation of tradition and cultural heritages. To me Thailand is a real Suvarnabhumi (“golden land”) awaiting to wake up to its true potential. Gods and their temples were the living entities in this very land in ancient days of yore. Today they are mere stone ruins, lifeless. Get them back to life, reinstall the gods and allow the trained Thai brahmins to perform poojas according to ancient codes of conduct with purity. The surge in the number of visitors of diverse faiths to your various pilgrimage centres (today’s ruins) will surely transform the entire landscape, bringing prosperity to locals. This is also a way to reinstil faith as a panacea in today’s youths and for the future generations. Bring back the glory to the Thai heritage that is lying in ruins in various parts of this great country. Then see the difference. By this, you will see the number of visitors to the nearby Buddhist shrines will also increase. It is the same divine vibration a pilgrim experiences, and in his spiritual realm there are no barriers. Buddha is considered an avatar of Lord Narayana. The dharma preached by the Buddha is universal. Will the TOT pay attention to this? It does not require a budget of billions of baht to attract tourists. Give the visitors to your country a meaningful, fulfilling, ennobling experience. If it is also a spiritual pilgrimage, then they will come again and again to fulfil their vows and to recharge themselves with faith and purity. Make Thailand a mokshabhumi (land of moksha – liberation) through these temples. When spiritual pilgrims start pouring in, your meditation centres all over Thailand can enrol a greater number of members for retreats to enjoy the peace and serenity that goes with spirituality. May this great country become a centre of spiritual renaissance and peace and prosperity. Your country has so much mythology and belief systems that are truly your own. Your Ramakien, your folklore of Hanuman and his heroism are your true national treasures. Give this heritage its true honour, and it will lead to greater prosperity for the Thai people in myriad ways. Just because Thailand is a Buddhist nation does not mean that it has to forego and leave behind its rich heritage of the past. May these temples be the centres of preserving Thailand’s brahmin heritage and folklore and all such treasures of the past. The Thai people in Khorat and other remote parts of Thailand deserve a better quality of life too. A Well-Wisher of Thailand Bangkok
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