The refusal of the Thai authorities to take the matter of the smuggled orang-utans from Safari World has not gone unnoticed internationally. As I write from the Nyaru Menteng Orang-utan Reintroduction Project in Kalimantan, I look out over the cages we have specifically built to receive these orang-utans, as well as 50 hectares of forest in which it was hoped they could have a chance to relearn the ways of the forest.

Our highly-skilled staff has been anxiously awaiting their arrival since it was revealed that they were illegally procured, believing that the orang-utans would be promptly returned as is stipulated by CITES.

Instead, the surviving orang-utans continue to languish in sub-standard conditions, or have been sent, illegally, to Cambodia and to the Lop Buri Zoo. To add further shame, we now discover that five orang-utans have been lent to the Chiang Mai Night Safari to lure tourists.

 Such blatant and continuous disregard for the laws that protect wildlife is bringing disgrace upon Thailand.

Indeed, for a country and a people who so depend on tourism, I am disheartened to receive many letters and e-mails from my supporters saying they will no longer travel to Thailand until the matter is settled satisfactorily. We have not called for a boycott of tourism to the country, but this has been their personal choice.

The claim by the Thai government that they have yet to ascertain the country of origin of these orang-utans, and cannot return them until this is done, is outrageous. There is no justifiable reason why, for the past 30 months, there has not already been any DNA tests done to resolve this.

We call upon the Thai authorities to resolve this matter immediately, and to bring no more shame onto the beautiful people and country of Thailand.

Michelle Desilets

Director, Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation

BORNEO

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Ousting PM won’t rid us of entrenched societal ills

The public cry to oust the PM gets louder as different groups of people join the chant. It is especially welcoming to see students who can bring fresh air to the wind.

However, there seems to be no clear agenda as to what we are going to change besides the dubious PM. What follows the slogan “Thaksin auk bpai”, (Thaksin get out) I am still waiting to hear.

We can’t expect that by changing one person’s job, we can make all societal ills go away.

There will still be random shootings by vocational students and gang rapes by roaming bands, not to mention daily beheadings and bombings in the South.

There will still be mafia-like police and police-like mafia. It just won’t stop.

Even without the prime minister, Thailand would still suffer from the arrogance of a few “privileged” people who will find all sorts of excuses to abuse their powers.

Thailand will still be full of “average businessmen” who will cut corners and pull strings to serve their business interests at all costs. Even if it costs them their morality, dignity and honesty. Actually, I’m not sure if they have these qualities to begin with.

 We will still see selfish people on the road and in public spaces, who think that the rest us are here solely to serve them.

And their children, who won’t hesitate to bribe, cheat, lie and manipulate whatever, whomever, whenever they can to reach their goals. No surprise there since that’s what they’ve learned from their parents.

All the ills of the society we see today that I am so fed up with do not come from the PM, but from PM-wannabes who elected him. Unless these people change their minds and attitudes, and unless the youths of this country are educated on correct morals, values and ethics, Thailand will again end up with a PM just like the current one.

Chul “Cho” Chang

Nakhon Pathom

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Court’s verdict a blow to the public’s good faith

Re: “Thaksin off the hook”, News, February 17.

The degree to which the Constitution Court earns the public’s confidence that its verdicts are without fear or favour is far more important than a particular verdict.

The Court is a key checks-and-balance organisation, and its being seen to be impartial encourages protestors to follow the law – by reassuring them that even the high and the mighty must bow to rule of law.

As William Cohen put it: “The appearance of justice is just as important as justice itself in ... maintaining public confidence in our judicial system.”

So though I respect the Court’s verdicts, I am deeply concerned about its credibility.

When PM Thaksin was previously in the dock, the verdict was seven guilty, four not guilty and four abstaining.

Also, an acquitting judge admitted that he had to consider that the defendant had won an election – as if that fact had any relevance to the defendant’s guilt or innocence.

As a layman, I do not understand such verdicts or explanations. In the Shin case, one judge shy of a majority held that the case met every admissible criterion. The majority thought that the petition failed to detail evidence that the defendant was guilty as charged.

If I thought that the case was unclear but so many of my fellow justices thought it was fully admissible, I would have voted to bring the case to trial – so that, as Thammasat University Rector Suraphol Nitikraipoj put it, the truth could be laid bare for all to see, and the defendant be given a chance to defend himself. Again,

I do not understand the Court.

The Constitution Court judges should do a better job of ensuring that not only is justice done, it is seen to be done.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Profits have surged for many mobile firms, not just Shin

Re: “Former supporters jump ship as PM sells off Thailand”, Opinion, February 17.

I was very surprised by this point: “Five years ago, [Thaksin’s] family’s combined holdings in Shin Corp were worth about Bt20 billion ...” and now they are worth Bt73.3 billion.

The cellular market in Asia boomed over the past five years as the market moved to almost 98 per cent prepaid.

It’s a new phenomenon.

Most listed mobile companies in emerging countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, India and others have enjoyed over 500-per-cent growth in profits and market capitalisation.

This is a fact. Look at Smart and Globe Tel of the Philippines, Telkomsel and Indosat of Indonesia, Maxis and Digi of Malaysia, Bharti and Hutchtel of India.

In fact the market cap of all these listed companies grew 150 per cent more than Shin Corp during this five-year period mentioned in the article. So the real answer is that Asian mobile-phone markets grew, not just PM Thaksin’s.

All of these Shin Corp peers grew as much as Shin or more.

Suchart Meemom

Bangkok

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Trash fires threaten public health in beach-resort areas

Here in the Krabi resort of Ao Nang, just 100 metres from the beach and close to luxury resorts such as Ao Villa, the Golden Beach Hotel, the Pranang Inn and Somkiet Buri, are illegal garbage dumps whose fires and toxic smoke rage daily across the beach and pollute the atmosphere.

Of course, such activity is ignored by resorts and the authorities, despite the fact that it poses a serious health hazard to tourists and staff alike. It’s a nice little business going on, and there is always someone on the site taking the money from the numerous pickups with their cargoes of rubbish, including highly toxic plastics.

All this because businesses are not prepared to pay Bt2 a bag for proper rubbish bags and have them collected by the official clearance services.

I am told that three years ago the prime minister spoke of the need to provide facilities for high-end tourists in Thai resorts. This just shows how out of touch with reality the government in Bangkok really is.

Not to worry; once it finds it’s way into the “Lonely Planet” guidebook, tourists will be able to make a judgement.

David Prescott

Krabi

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‘Quantum touch’ might just stave off boy’s blindness

Re: “Vision fading fast for tragic 10-yr-old”, News, February 11.

In regard to the 10-year old boy who is going blind. According to the article, the doctor who recently examined the boy said that nothing could be done to prevent the blindness. I know of an alternative medical treatment that may stop and reverse the blindness.

 It is called “quantum touch” and can be quickly learned and done by anyone.

No medicine is involved, simply touching the body at the effected part results in helping the body effect a cure.

I use the technique when needed on other persons and it does often result in improvement of the body.

There is a book that explains the technique, though the doctor may not be willing to consider using it, being a practitioner of traditional medicine. Quantum touch is painless and cost-free – and is worth a try.

All it needs is a bit of time on the part of the practitioner, a few 10-minute sessions usually.

Nena Rieb

Bangkok

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