LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thaksin should be forced to return to Thailand, willingly or not, to face the music
Thaksin Shinawatra must not only be allowed to return to Thailand as soon as the political situation is stable enough to tolerate his presence, he must be forced to return if necessary.
He is, after all, not only a Thai citizen but a Thai citizen who has deliberately and systematically caused huge damage to the Thai nation. If indeed Thaksin has not returned before his first indictment in a Thai court of law, the Thai government must start extradition proceedings against him immediately and hang in there as long as it takes to get him back. Then, after the first conviction, and there will be many, he must be denied bail until he has accepted exactly the same conditions that were imposed on Vasana and the other EC commissioners after their conviction for political malfeasance: stay home and be quiet or you'll be straight back in your cell! But it's not as simple as it looks, of course, because Thaksin's very public request to return home is obviously the start of a campaign to gain asylum in the United Kingdom, and thus to block the inevitable extradition process before it gets started. Indeed, the Rakhesh Saxena saga is going to look like child's play by comparison, particularly if the UK government is naive, or cynical, enough to grant him asylum. Make no mistake about it, if in the unlikely scenario Thaksin does return home, just like that, he will only do it to gain advantage over the Thai people in some way, not to sit down with them, sanuk, sanuk, or to dig into some San Kampaeng somtam. Thaksin just wants to get back onto those nest eggs, that's all - he couldn't care less about Thais! Lung Kip Chiang Mai --------------------------------- If Thaksin returns home, the country will be divided again
Do you think it is true that the CNS cannot find any evidence that Thaksin committed fraud? It could possibly be true that Thaksin was a good and honest leader, but he could only give money to the poor. He was correct to act Like Robin Hood to help the poor, but where did the money come from? I do not wish to disrespect the people of the Northeast by saying they accepted dirty money from Thaksin, but the The Thai Rak Thai Party encouraged mega projects because big business means more corruption money. Thaksin should not return because in the long term, under his influence, you will see the cost of living go up and the country more divided. Let other politicians form a new government next year and the country will hopefully enjoy peace and harmony. This is the best way out of the present situation. If Thailand lets Thaksin return, it will cause more disturbances and more hatred among the Thais. Middle Man Bangkok --------------------------------- Bring on the Thai Rak Thai comedians and clowns A couple of days ago it was reported that the new leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, Chaturon Chaisang, very proudly stated that Thai Rak Thai was the only party that did not welcome or want the coup. This statement is worthy of a stand-up comedian. Doesn't Chaturon realise that it was because of Thai Rak Thai that the coup took place? Or was he sleeping at the wheel? Aldwyn Sequeira Bangkok --------------------------------- Western opinions are not appreciated in Asian societies
Re: "Foreigners aren't whining, they're taking an interest", Letters, November 7.This is in response to the riposte from "A Voter" to my suggestion foreigners refrain from criticising Thai politics. First, I agree with Voter that it's a good thing to observe "the bigger picture". Where we differ is my stance that observing and criticising are not the same thing. Unless a development affects you directly and personally, leave your soapbox at home. As a former US Foreign Service officer who has lived in or visited 33 countries, I can tell you it's usually a bad idea to impose Western values on Asia. Does Voter really believe Thais give a damn about foreign opinions on Thai politics? A completely unscientific survey of my Thai friends revealed otherwise. Finally, as regards Voter's suggestion that I enjoy my "small life" here in Thailand, well, that's precisely what I intend to do. Voter might examine the Buddhist concept of sentosa (you could look it up). We in Thailand don't need bigger condos, bigger cars, bigger bills and bigger wives. The Thaksinistas already tried that. Arthur L Gordon Pattaya --------------------------------- Foreign taxpayers should be entitled to some rights
Re: "Asking for the same rights as citizens is going too far", Letters, November 14. "Grandpa" asserts that a non-citizen resident in any particular country should have absolutely no say - indeed, should not be entitled to an opinion of any kind - in the affairs of that country. This might be fair in the case of a person on a temporary visa. However, does it not seem reasonable that a long-term foreign resident, employed in an official capacity, with a valid work permit and visa, and who pays taxes, should be entitled to at least a minimum of rights and privileges? While the right to vote may be asking too much, a tax-paying contributor to the exchequer should at least be afforded the right to own property or an officially registered business. Most other "free" and "democratic" countries grant non-citizens these rights and privileges. Perhaps it is time for Thailand - which nominally calls itself a democracy - to join the modern age and allow those who want to contribute to its economic success a modicum of personal freedom and security. There are many foreigners working officially in Thailand. They pay their taxes (and the higher fees at National Parks and other places). They want to contribute to Thailand's success, but are given little opportunity to do so. A relaxing of certain restrictions would be a welcome move on the part of the new government. L Bolan Hua Hin --------------------------------- Government ought to focus on basics, not alcohol
Why is there so much interest in the consumption of alcohol by the new government? Was the sale and consumption of alcohol a plot by Thaksin's government or family meant to undermine the moral and ethical fibre of Thai citizens? I would submit that perhaps the current regime has more important matters to attend to than the consumption of alcohol: Perhaps the loss of Tesco's financial investment in Thailand; the loss of the Jonnie Walker Open Golf tournament and some Bt5 billion in lost income; fairness for foreign-owned and -managed businesses; the restrictions on foreign ownership of property; loss of revenue in the Tourism and travel industry; adequate medical care for all; a true environmental agency to clean up pollution; a pay scale for police that will not encourage graft; the ending of violence in the South; bird flu in the provinces; food for those displaced by floods; medical support for those in the flood zones; a true value for the Thai baht; and finally a true picture of what this coup will do for Thailand that was not already being done by a democratically elected government? Like It or Not Bangkok --------------------------------- Don Muang airport still has a valuable role to play
The consensus of Thais in South Korea that have not been back yet to see the new airport is that they already miss Don Muang. Perhaps the best use of Don Muang, which may also relieve congestion at Suvarnabhumi Airport, is to move Thai Airways and budget airlines like Nok Air and Air Asia back there, leaving the foreign carriers at Suvarnabhumi. This would retain the convenience of Suvarnabhumi for foreign travellers interested in heading south without having to go through Bangkok, as well as continue to make use of Don Muang which still is a valuable asset for those interested in visiting Bangkok. Brian Elkey Cheonan, South Korea --------------------------------- Pedestrians get no free entrance at BTS stations
I have recently found that entering and leaving the skytrain area when making a shortcut or buying a newspaper at the stand costs the minimum fare, which is 10 baht. A clerk at the window of one station explained to me that a station is not a public place, so one has to pay for entry, even if not taking a train. He also said that the same information is included in the BTS company regulations placed outside the entry gates. Fortunately entering the airport without taking off from the runway is still free, as is window shopping in the department stores. But taking a shortcut by foot across BTS corporate territory is not a free ride - to the applause of its shareholders, I guess. Bangkok pedestrians beware. Jaroslaw Fiutowski Warsaw, Poland --------------------------------- Capital punishment weeds out society's bad seeds
It seems to me these whining, simpering anti-capital punishment folks are rather missing the point of the death penalty. It is not for punishment or revenge or to "balance the books". Punishment is to teach the miscreant that his actions were not acceptable and to not repeat them. The recidivism rates are a nice indicator of the effectiveness of the death penalty as a deterrent. And, of course, the death penalty itself rather obviates any lesson to be learned by the recipient. Rather, the death penalty should be viewed as a weeding of the garden of society. The fewer the weeds, the nicer the garden. Jay Cue Khon Kaen
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