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Published on March 20, 2008

When people of high authority arrive at the scene, this expresses the government's sincerity in dealing with a problem.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung must know that. Since Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin was implicated in a fire-fighting equipment scandal, Chalerm was often seen at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Certainly, he showed Bangkok people how much he cares about a matter that could affect the BMA's operations.

And now there are calls for him to visit the deep South, where violence occurs on a nearly daily basis. Since a bomb exploded at the CS Pattani Hotel, business in the town has declined sharply as people are too fearful to carry on their daily duties.

Chalerm's presence there could help restore people's confidence. Indeed, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej also sees the need for Chalerm to be present, as the chief of civil servants who are risking their lives serving the people in the South.

Chalerm insisted on Tuesday that being at the scene would not help (which is quite contrary to what Weerasak thought).

But now, it seems it's only a matter of time until he'll be there, to show the world the spirit of the interior minister.

Cheap thrills for the gullible

People 35 or older should remember this game. It looked like the Western lotto, when buyers picked a piece of paper from many on a board and tore up the thin paper underneath.

Unlike lotto, rather than figures, the piece of paper contained photos of shrimp, crab, fish and other items.

If the photos were just like what we expected, we would win money. If not, we lost.

Yeah, like any gambling games, mostly we lost.

The game was a hit, particularly among kids in the provinces. Like adults at a gambling table, kids loved the excitement when they won prizes.

It is astonishing that the game has resumed popularity now. Surprisingly, Maew Dam (Black Cat) is the producer of the lotto board, just as it was years ago.

But, then again, nothing is all that surprising.

In a world where people still think that gambling is the cheapest thrill, this game will never die.

The more we think about it, the more we're certain that one day a casino will arise in Thailand.

Achara Deboonme

achara_d@nationgroup.com