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Published on January 11, 2008

 She had played a major role in backing a bill which, among other things, would have put an end to forcing elephants to perform unnatural acts such as those which occur at elephant shows and circuses.

The hypocrites in the legislature showed little respect for her by shelving her bill and letting it rot. Perhaps if the public really wants to honour the memory of the Princess they should demand that this bill, which meant so much to her, be reviewed and that something finally be done about this disgraceful matter of elephant abuse.

Eric Bahrt

Chon Buri

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Graduates earn too little to pay back loans

Re: " Student loans need shake-up", Editorial, January 10.

While I agree with your analysis of the problems facing the Student Loan Fund, I was surprised that you did not mention the Thailand Income Contingent and Allowance Loan (Tical) Scheme (more commonly known as the ICL Scheme) that was designed to correct all the faults and deficiencies of the SLF.

It is true that the SLF is not viable because the chance of having graduates earning enough income to start paying back their student loans within two years after graduation is quite difficult in this country. Moreover, instead of providing loans for higher education only, the SLF also gives loans to high-school students as well, causing an even more severe problem of repayment after graduation.

The ICL Scheme was designed to take care of the risk of default of repayment by requiring graduates to gradually pay back their debts only when their future income has reached a sufficiently large threshold level. In exchange for this financial flexibility, however, graduates may have to bear the burden of the interest cost of the loan, which may be higher than the 1 per cent rate charged on the current SLF loan. Even if the government is generous enough to provide interest-free loans, the total value of the loan debt may still have to be indexed to the inflation level to maintain the constant value of the debt until all of it is paid off.  But the merits of the new ICL Scheme still far outweigh the possible demerits.

It was unfortunate that, despite all the faults and deficiencies of the SLF scheme, which should have been allowed to die a natural death two years ago, it was brought back to life by this present government. The current problem of these 90,000 real and potential defaulters should be sufficient for the new government to throw out this SLF Scheme and resort to a better alternative funding model.

Medhi Krongkaew

Bangkok

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It's time for everyone to respect the law

Now, more than ever, the government and the pro-Thaksin group need to respect the rule of law. With Pojaman's return to defend herself in court (as is her right), the political temperature has risen yet again. Her presence will provide a focal point for her and her husband's allies around which to form a coalition government, test the waters for Thaksin's return, and perhaps prod his opponents into decisive action.

What is at stake is the legitimacy of the next government, its sustainability, and the extent to which our fragile and tattered democracy will again be kicked back or be moved forward. 

Both sides should take to heart our King's sage advice: "If the country does not follow rule of law, it will not survive."

The courts must deliberate impartially and with transparency, and all parties must not try to influence the outcome, whether it be Pojaman and Thaksin's corruption cases, those against the PPP itself, or those against its candidates.

As US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay noted, "Justice is indiscriminately due to all, without regard to numbers, wealth, or rank."

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Cops-for-hire turn into loose canons

It seems every year in Thailand we learn of yet another unwarranted murder of a foreigner by a Thai policeman. Regardless of how many Thais are killed by Thai police every year, the murder of a foreigner gets international press. This above-the-law men's club is in great need of reform, retraining, reorganisation, ethical and moral education on the proper use of force. Many of them can be bought by politicians for use as bullies during elections; bought by rich businessmen to strong-arm a competitor; bought to ignore laws on everything from gambling to prostitution; and bought as hitmen at the right price. Many of them can tweak evidence in a crime toward the highest bidder or suppress evidence to protect one of their own.

Everyone knows this is the reality, as it is evidenced by their roadside extortion exercises and by the multi-million baht compounds that the highest-ranking police officials live in - the graft trickles down to all of them.

Is this a police force? Is this an organisation employed to protect and serve the people? Why do the Thai people continue to allow them to wield their power at will with no regard for human life - be it Thai or foreign?

KJ Rosser

Bangkok

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