Now that his “mentor” is turning on him, Thaksin should be contemplating his future after a dismal two terms in government. But let us be fair, his mentor did not teach him too well, did he? Our esteemed PM has not kept to any of his election promises, but rather embarked on mega-projects that to date have only benefited certain people. Poverty levels have actually increased during his terms, traffic conditions have not improved, but we have some “fake” plant animals everywhere under the expressways! Corrupt practices have been at an all-time high. Overall costs have increased significantly, but salaries have remained stagnant.

Then to top it off, Shin Corp is sold off shore and now in the hands of a foreign power. Where is the “positive” he claims to have achieved? When you assume this high office, you owe the nation and its inhabitants a duty to care. You, Thaksin, have shown yourself to be a clever man, but instead of using this to the benefit of our people and our nation, you used it to your personal benefit.

I always like to pose the following question to people like you: how much is enough? You can’t take it all with you, and believe me your time is not far off when you also have to answer to a higher authority.

We are and have been for many years like a ship without a captain.

A Bitterly Disappointed Citizen

Bangkok

-------------------------------------------

Protesters have a duty to remain peaceful at all costs

Re: “Chamlong tightens noose on PM”, News, February 20.

I fully agree with Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang that democracy is not a question of simply being elected and then doing whatever you please, that people remain the master of democracy and not just on election day.

Thus, I agree that the general – and his followers – have the right to join in the anti-Thaksin rally on February 26.

However, I partially disagree with the general that if violence happens, the government must be held responsible, because it is the government’s duty to maintain order. The government must make sure that counter-demonstrators, or “third hands”, do not instigate violence against those exercising their constitutional right of free speech. For this role, police, especially riot police, are far better trained than the military, who are expert at kill-or-be-killed situations.

For their part, protesters must be peaceful and fully respect the rights of others. As a major organiser, it is Chamlong’s duty to ensure that they remain so – however trying the circumstances. Thus, for example, when the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr organised his Million-Man March on Washington DC, he had many easily visible, unarmed security personnel for this purpose – and such lack of violence was a major reason why the historic March was highly effective.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

-------------------------------------------

Thaksin needs his PM job more than the job needs him

The ever-louder claims from the Thai Rak Thai Party, that if Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra decided to relinquish his position now, then Thailand would face a leadership vacuum, that there is no one half as capable as their billionaire party leader as our prime minister, are laughable.

Thailand, as a resource-rich country, is attractive to business-minded politicians like Thaksin. Thaksin’s oft-repeated reference to Singapore as a model for Thailand’s economic development is also off the mark, as well as misleading.

Singapore, as a tiny island state with a small population of 4 million people, cannot match Thailand in terms of either natural resources or consumer markets. It is too tiny for its citizens to travel domestically by air; thus, nearly all of its airline industry’s income comes from abroad. The same scenario holds true for all of its other industries, be it oil, banking, computers, retail sales, real estate, etc.

Our country, in contrast, is rich in terms of natural resources, land, government-controlled utilities and a larger-than-average consumer market. We do need capable political leaders just like any other country, but with ethics and morality, as well – or even more so than most others.

In its first stage of economic development, Singapore didn’t have much for any greedy politicians – if there were any – to plunder. Being so small and resource-poor, Singapore doesn’t have much for politicians to introduce as populist policies to her citizens, which will pose long-term social and economic problems.

But she has a population determined to do well in the business world at large. The people of the island-state are also lucky to have had such a good and capable leader as Lee Kuan Yew, who revolutionised its education system and promoted entrepreneurial competency among the populace.

Thailand, with so much advantage over Singapore in almost every count, needs only half as capable leaders as Lee to do just as well, but otherwise with much greater-than-average ethical and moral qualities.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

-------------------------------------------

Little choice left but to call a fresh round of elections

Re: “What is Chamlong really up to?” News, February 20.

Purachai Piumsombun has left; Chamlong Srimuang has turned against him. Which men of honest name does Thaksin still have?

It is time for Thaksin to come down to earth and consider his own mistakes, which have eroded his legitimacy to nil. If he wants to remain prime minister, he has to call a new election, with its risk of be “de-elected”.

At present, he is only reviving one of his earlier political nicknames: Thaksin the Destroyer.

Krabong Kuverakorn

Singapore

-------------------------------------------

Orang-utans belong in the wild, not as zoo attractions

Re: “King asked to intervene in orang-utan case”, News, February 17.

I am appalled at the behaviour of the Thai government in the treatment of these critically endangered and beautiful apes.

Who are they to choose whether these animals have the right to freedom or spend the rest of their lives in small, cramped and appalling conditions, being tortured and terrorised? They are sentencing them to an early death. They are our closest cousins. They wouldn’t treat a human in this way, so why do they feel it is okay to treat an orang-utan like this? They think, feel and have emotions just like us. It’s cruel and barbaric that the government is allowed to treat them in such an awful way.

It is completely immoral to send five of the orang-utans to the Chiang Mai Night Safari to “attract tourists”. They are not performing animals that are there to please a crowd. Why should they have to endure the torture of being a tourist attraction for hours upon end when they belong in the wild?

Five orang-utans have also been sent to the Lop Buri Zoo, again to please tourists. When will people begin to understand that the majority of the world population would rather see these animals in their natural habitat carrying out natural behaviour, not see them suffer humiliation and degradation behind bars?

The government says that once they have established the orang-utans’ country of origin, then they can start thinking of returning them. Well, why after 30 months of having the orang-utans in their care have they not been DNA tested? If they were really intent on returning these animals, then DNA tests would have been one of the first things they would have carried out. More lies and cover-ups from the government, maybe?

This is a complete scandal that is bringing disgrace upon the country of Thailand. It portrays the image of an uncaring and uncooperative nation to the rest of the watching world.

It is undoubtedly affecting Thailand’s tourism industry, with many people across the world refusing to visit the country until this disgusting situation the government has put itself in has been rectified.

Nobody should have the power to sentence these animals to a life of imprisonment. They belong in the wild. Orang-utans need all the help and compassion they can get; otherwise, they are going to be another wonderful species wiped out by the most selfish and stupidest ape of all: Homo sapiens. Why is the Thai government not willing to give that support and do its bit by returning these animals to their rightful home?

The people who have been campaigning for the release of these orang-utans have so far been polite and reasonable in their requests to have the animals released. But patience is beginning to wear a little thin, and we need positive answers. And we need them now!

Kirsty Lynas

England

-------------------------------------------

Common sense dictates removal of all zebra crossings

There are too many naive individuals in this city who still suffer from the delusion that pedestrian crossings are safe havens designed to assist people who need to cross the road. These people are placing themselves in significant danger until they finally realise that Thai drivers, particularly motorcycle riders, would rather knock them over or kill them rather than slow down or stop at a pedestrian crossing. This being Thailand, it is silly to expect the authorities to be at all interested in trying to change driver behaviour; thus, the obvious answer is just to remove all the pedestrian crossings. People will still not be able to cross the road safely, but at least it will be obvious that nobody really cares about their plight!

Bkk Guy

Bangkok

-------------------------------------------

Different foreigners have their murders treated differently

Am, I correct in saying that my observation (“Murder probes require a disinterested party”, Letters, January 28) in regard to the investigation of the Lao-American couple murdered in Nong Khai has been relegated to File 13, which is the waste-basket?

So much for senior Thai police generals being impartial if the suspects are wearing the identical brown uniform of the Royal Thai Police.

Observer No 2

Bangkok