Published on January 13, 2006
Promotion of free-trade agreement brings to mind attempts to colonise Siam
Re: “Stumbling block”, News, January 13.
There is an eerie sense of deja vu about the proposed US-Thai free-trade agreement (FTA). In the 1850s, the biggest superpower, Britain, joined the frenzy to colonise Asian countries, geographically and/or financially. All countries adjoining Siam had been colonised. Siam wisely decided it was not up for grabs and resisted as best it could by signing the Bowring Treaty in 1856. Under the terms of that treaty, the Siamese retained most of their territory, their pride and independence and at least some of their national resources. Even so, there was a heavy price to pay in ongoing taxation, in order to avert the British threat of military invasion. British imported goods were hugely advantaged at the cost of Siamese exports. It took many years of financial reform and many sacrifices before the Siamese economy recovered from the bullying trade tactics of the British. A century and a half later, Thailand faces a similar dilemma, a second round of back-door financial colonisation at the hands of the latest superpower, America. FTAs, as history has shown, serve only to widen the gap between rich and poor. To add insult to injury, Prime Minister Thaksin is even welcoming the colonisers, but this time via the front door – and on a red carpet! The so-called free trade pledged by American politicians merely refers to freedom for US corporations to move capital around the planet for their own advantage. Otherwise they wouldn’t do it. Where does a 600-pound gorilla sleep? Answer: anywhere it likes. As in the 1850s, Thailand is still not for sale. These days, Thais are wiser and better informed about the pitfalls of FTAs throughout the world. Thais will surely continue to resist strongly any attempts by their government to reduce Thailand yet again to the status of the “tail on the colonial dog”. Thai big business might stand to benefit from this FTA, but most Thais will not. Peter Gore-Symes Chiang Mai ------------------------ Psychological tactics may help US team in trade talks Re: “Stumbling block”, News, January 13. Some years ago I was asked to coach some Thai international negotiators working with the then-Department of Business Economics. Except for English-language skills, which were good anyway, these civil servants were the smartest people I had met for many years. They were sophisticated, shrewd and resourceful. I expect the Thai civil servants and others who are negotiating the current free-trade agreement (FTA) with the US are similarly skilled at their job. However, I wonder whether they are a fair match for the team the US is fielding. The US negotiators are better trained and practised in the psychological aspects of trade negotiation and surely have access to far greater resources than are available to the Thai team. A level negotiating playing field is improbable. It has to be said that any FTA with the US, however skilfully negotiated by the Thai team, will always see the major benefits accrue to US interests and in Thailand to the business interests of the most wealthy and influential people. The rest of the Thai population will receive crumbs and undoubtedly suffer. For this reason and without needing to peruse the actual terms of the proposed FTA, opposition to this one is both logical and in the best interests of the Thai people. John Benson Brisbane, Australia ------------------------ Offer of ‘gift’ looks insincere, considering giver’s identity Re: “Suchon asks SAC to reinstate Jaruvan”, News, January 7. “The Senate chief had said previously that the Jaruvan case would be resolved as a New Year’s gift to the public.” The man who has deprived the Thai people of the services of the only person protecting their interests has the gall to claim he is doing them a “favour” by now reading the handwriting on the wall? Or is he so clueless that he thinks Thais will wai him for his “generosity”? Justice is not his to “award”. He’s been hanging out with Thaksin too long. John Francis Lee Chiang Rai ------------------------ Contributing factors warrant analysis in Samui murder Re: “Cellular trail leads to swift arrest of Horton’s ‘killers’,” News, January 11. I feel sorry for the families of Katherine Horton and the two men who allegedly raped and murdered her. She is dead, and they may soon be. But what bothers me most about this case is that I have seen very little comment on the fact that these two men were reportedly drunk and had been aroused by pornography before they went on to commit this heinous act. Doesn’t that point to the need for alcohol to be classified and treated as a real, hard, addictive and mood-altering drug instead of a mostly acceptable social habit? How about promoting the fact that women are not commodities, which they are often portrayed as in our “civilised” society? Mirko Sala Bangkok ------------------------ Lax enforcement of laws leads to lower quality of life Re: “Visitors who behave well and respect Thai culture are welcome here”, Letters, January 9. I would like to point out that if the Thai police and other officials did enforce existing laws, many of the social ills Sunida mentions would not be seen. As a foreign resident of Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui, I can tell you that many of the foreigners I know living here would like to see a change for the better from the current party-hooligan syndrome that exists here. A prime example in my neighbourhood is a certain late-night establishment that is blaring loud music until 7am every morning, keeping nearby residents sleepless all night long and making hotel and guesthouse owners lose business, as tourists check out of their establishments because of the unbearable noise. Instead of closing this establishment, which absolutely promotes what Sunida calls the “domain of intoxicated tourists” and the “underworld of sex and drugs” and makes life miserable for decent people, the local police have chosen to ignore the complaints from residents and tourists. There is big money in any after-hours establishment that is allowed to operate after the 2am closing hour in Samui. So before visitors are told to behave well and respect Thai culture, the Thais should get their own house in order and make sure police and other authorities are enforcing existing laws, rather than cashing in on illegal activities. UK Citizen and Samui Resident Surat Thani ------------------------ Treatment of animals here leaves much to be desired In travelling around beautiful Thailand for more than three months, I was continually disgusted by the way I saw animals being treated. With huge amounts of money being absorbed into projects such as the Night Safari in Chiang Mai, the everyday truth of stray dogs with open wounds not being taken care off really disgusts me. I visited the Chiang Mai Zoo and was absolutely chased out by the heavy petrol fumes: this is not a zoo, but one big car park! As disturbing as it might be for people walking around there for people, it must be more horrifying for the animals. I saw ostriches that had picked themselves half-bald, elephants with open wounds, completely stressed chimpanzees. Animals should live a reasonable life, as well. Charles Kuipers The Netherlands ------------------------ In historical terms, war on terror going quite well for US Since the beginning of the “war on terror”, contrary to the assertions made by politicians, many in the media and letter-writers to your paper, US and allied military actions have been an amazing feat of arms. Much was made of how US casualty rates [in the war in Iraq] recently rose above the 2,000 mark. Yet you would be hard pressed, in the history of war, to find an instance when two belligerent nations were taken off the enemy ledger, low-intensity guerrilla action aside, with so few casualties. The single-day attacks on Pearl Harbour in 1941 and the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001 each produced more American deaths than the combat casualties suffered by the US military in all theatres of this war. To give some insight on the current state of battlefield affairs versus history, I offer a first-hand perspective. In a two-and-a-half-day battle in 1972 at Loc Ninh, the Vietnamese forces I commanded suffered nearly 1,000 casualties. The opposing commander, Lt-General Tran Van Tra, told me in the early 1990s that he had lost nearly 10,000 soldiers in that battle. This in a battle for one small town! In the seven months after the Loc Ninh battle, many more thousands died on both sides in the battle for An Loc, just to the south. Two major wars have been fought in two entire countries with far fewer casualties than suffered in one single province during seven months in 1972. Those who describe the war on terror as a “military failure” know nothing of war. Rudyard Kipling gave voice to some British frustrations during past history in one of the theatres of this present war: When wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll on your rifle and blow out your brains An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier. One will not see that level of frustration in British and American forces today. Though it is rather evident in many of the letters from “experts” to your newspaper. Major Mark A Smith US Army (retired) Bangkok
Post your comment to this story here