Published on December 29, 2005
Our thoughts are with those still feeling the effects of the tragedy of a year ago
Re: “Thousands mourn the dead”, News, December 27.
The heartfelt sympathy of my colleagues and I go to those whose loved ones were taken away by the tsunami one year ago. We wish the survivors hope in the midst of sorrow and comfort in the midst of pain. Supong Limtanakool Vice president for external affairs Bangkok University Bangkok --------------------------------------------- Thailand and the world deserve better than this Re: “Thailand’s UN bid: an exit strategy”, Opinion, December 26. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai’s support of the hated Burmese junta, which is notorious for its constant anti-democratic conduct and human rights violations, has been a shameful disgrace and has upset many Thais. Surakiart’s persistently fought bid for the highest post at the United Nations, that of secretary-general, has been a cause for embarrassment. Surakiart is unsuited for the post, which is well beyond his grasp. No one has ever taken him seriously. For the sake of both Burma and Thailand, Surakiart should retire from public service. Prasith Lakrelathsri Bangkok --------------------------------------------- Asean needs to wake up or risk being marginalised Re: “The Asean way vs the Burmese way” Opinion, December 19. Asean’s leaders are watching helplessly as foreign investors focus on China, and increasingly, on India too. Asean risks becoming marginalised. If that is to be prevented, Asean needs to do everything it can to present itself the rest of the world as a group of nations that are democratic, relatively free of corruption, and relatively respectful of the rule of law and human rights. Perhaps Asean’s leaders are finally realising this, and this is why they are beginning to think about taking action against a member which is a worldwide embarrassment. Gregory Spence Daruda Bangkok --------------------------------------------- PM hardly in a position to lecture about ‘sore losers’ Re: “I won’t quit, PM tells taxi drivers”, News, December 26. Far from admitting his own mistakes and shortcomings, the PM just blames his critics, his favourite trick for dodging criticism. “Sore losers?” My question is: who are the “lucky winners”? If those “lucky winners” were exposed to be the PM’s kith and kin, then the “sore losers” did the right thing by bringing the ugly stuff to light and trying to convince the public that we must take immediate, resolute action to stop the PM from turning Thailand into a land for his own clan. Reporters criticise him only because they dislike his face, his appearance? What a ridiculous allegation! Though in a way, one’s appearance tells something about one’s inner world. But it is absolutely not the PM’s appearance that is contributory to the criticism from the reporters. They criticise him because of his poor governance, his crazy ideas, his wild arrogance and conceit, his harsh treatment of the media, which has frequently touched off resentment not only from reporters but from the people at large. How does the PM prove his loyalty to the His Majesty the King when he has forgotten all about His Majesty’s teachings of only three weeks ago? Abee Bangkok --------------------------------------------- Should Bangkok even aspire to be ‘world class’? Re: “How to make Bangkok truly world class”, Opinion, December 24. Veenarat Laohapakakul presents a number of interesting thoughts about quality of life in Bangkok, about Siam Paragon and about public parks and libraries. There is little I can disagree with in her article, but I ask myself precisely what does it mean to be “world class” and is it important for Bangkok? In Singapore in the 1980s, there was much government rhetoric about becoming a regional hub for this and that and about being world class in everything, so what we are now hearing from on high is thus a distant echo of an ageing cliche. From my home in Surin, as I write I can see the wooden home of the old couple next door. Their sons work in Bangkok and send a few baht home, while they earn a few more making yaa kaa roof panels and charcoal, growing betel nut and mulberry for the silkworms and tending their buffaloes. I admire their struggle for self-sufficiency and ask myself what is the relevance to them and the majority of Thais of yet another marble shopping mall in Bangkok. I also greatly admire the immense energy and enterprise that has gone into the creation of Siam Paragon, though I regret the loss of a low-rise hotel and world-class gardens of the sort that Veenarat might see as a public park. I hope the new venture is a huge success and that fresh tourist dollars trickle down to the ordinary workers who built and now staff it. However, watching the hordes streaming through its doors and gawping open-mouthed at the displays of gas-guzzling cars and up-market shops, I fear it may also enflame unrealistic aspirations for more and more consumerism and conspicuous consumption. In her article Veenarat goes on to regret a decline in standards of courtesy in Bangkok, complaining of people pushing to get on public transport. On the contrary, I always find Bangkok exceptional among large cities for the tolerance and fine manners of its people. It can sometimes be tough and you have to push to get off the number 71 green mini-bus, but a nice lady always holds my shopping while I stand bent double, and small tokens of consideration such as this happen to me every day. Other big cities are rarely like that, and in this respect Bangkok is still world class, perhaps because it is still a city with many recent rural migrants who bring with them the dignified manners of smaller communities. The question is whether Bangkok really needs to pursue the goals of glossy modernisation and world-class ostentation to the limit, or is it more important to improve the lives of the majority of its citizens and those of Thailand in general. I fear that unless urban conditions do improve for the ordinary worker as the columnist suggests, an early victim will be the gentle dignity and charm of the populace, which is still the distinctive feature of Bangkok that visitors best remember when the world-class, world-identical shopping malls are long forgotten. Andrew Hicks Surin --------------------------------------------- Suspicious moves over Lop Buri Zoo orang-utans Since my letter was published last week (“After two years, questions about those illegally obtained orang-utans go unanswered”, December 20), the Lop Buri Zoo is alleged to be attempting to exchange the five orang-utans individually or otherwise, with other small Thai zoos, for birds and/or smaller mammals. The timing may be a coincidence. However, until such time as the Thai Department of Forestry and Conservation confirm the original origin of these orang-utans, the suspicion will always be they were illegally imported. Moving them now would only add weight to this suspicion. If the orang-utans are moved before their origin is confirmed by an international authority, we will find them, and hold those concerned personally responsible for the lives of this endangered and internationally protected species. The eyes of the world are on Thailand – and will be until such time as all illegally imported orang-utans are returned to Indonesia. Sean Whyte Editor, Rainforests magazine Bath, England --------------------------------------------- What are the culture police so scared of, really? Re: “An open letter to Culture Minister Uraiwan Thienthong on a provocative book”, Letters, December 19. I’ve lived in Bangkok for four years and had the opportunity to meet Guy Sharett, co-author of the book “Bangkok Inside Out”. Sharett is an articulate, respectful person and his book speaks the truth about Bangkok, in all its funny, sad, beautiful and ugly ways. But none of the subjects were written with disrespect. My Thai husband was the person who actually bought this book for me and he really enjoyed it. I’m saddened that the Ministry of Culture is banning this book because I feel it truly enriches the Bangkok experience for tourists, expatriate workers, and the Thai people who get a foreigner’s perspective. Please encourage the Ministry of Culture to reverse its decision and allow the sale of “Bangkok Inside Out” in bookstores again. Amy Praphantanathorn Bangkok --------------------------------------------- Explanation wanted for banning of excellent read Re: “An open letter to Culture Minister Uraiwan Thienthong on a provocative book”, Letters, December 19. I also want to offer my support for Daniel Ziv and Guy Sharett’s book, “Bangkok Inside Out”, an excellent, fun, visually stimulating and witty collection of thoughts, insights and affectionate humour in regard to our capital. It is absolutely scandalous that the Culture Ministry has banned it. Surely there has to be some accountability here. Can they explain why this book was banned? What laws did it violate? I suspect this banning to be unconstitutional and think The Nation should ask the ministry to explain itself, and if, as I suspect, they are unable to do so, Asia Books should immediately put the book back on the shelves. Pim Kemasingki Bangkok
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