Burmese migrants live in desperate conditions

Are the police or Thai authorities trying to catch the Thai man who had allegedly held them in slave-like conditions, or will he escape without being held accountable for his alleged inhumane abuse of these three young men?

Perhaps The Nation could follow up on this story, or maybe indifference to the fate of the Burmese is too ingrained in the media as well as the populace at large. As I recall, slavery was ended by King Chulalongkorn well over 100 years ago; it's a shame it still flourishes in Thailand when it comes to Burmese migrant workers.

RD

Bangkok

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Media should play a role in education development

Re: "Quality, not quantity needed in education", Editorial, March 28.

I must say, I was not surprised to hear that Thai students are scoring less than the world average in maths, science and languages. What is surprising is that we are just beginning to talk about it.

I agree that lack of qualified teachers is part of the problem, but it is also the media who are partly to blame. The amount of limited information on science in the media suggests that a career in science is unattractive. The media can act as a mentor by providing sufficient science information on a daily basis so our young generation can see the value and attractiveness of such a career. Various agencies such as the Ministry of Science and Biotec have research output that is readily available for the media. I am sure they would welcome media interest. If we want to improve this scoring average, the media must play a role.

Ramjitti Indaraprasirt

Pathum Thani

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Red shirts have little concept of democracy

Isn't it about time that newspapers in Thailand, both Thai and English, stopped repeating the claim by the Thaksinistas that the present government has usurped power illegally. Newspapers should just cut this out when reporting about them.

Fact is, that if the present government were illegal, the courts would have said so long ago. And even more to the point is the fact that MPs are elected by the people, not by the parties. If an MP decides to vote differently from what his party wishes, then it is his legal right to do so. And it happens all over the world, again and again, that smaller parties or groups within parties are changing sides. That is part of what is called the rule of democracy.

If the Thaksinistas don't like it, then they should say clearly that they want a dictatorship.

I for one am bored stiff of seeing supporters of a corrupt and convicted fugitive clamour for "democracy" as a way to bring him back.

Sam Munich

Bangkok

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No respect shown for the rule of law

Thaksin says he and the red shirts don't want to hurt anyone or cause damage to the country; that they want democracy that is truly for the people. What does "democracy" mean to Thaksin and the reds, that we should follow him?

The red shirts do not dispute that they (a) seek to force a government which just won a no-confidence vote to resign on their say-so.

Thaksin intones, "We must have the rule of law," but jumped bail to flee a judicial system that had previously ruled in his favour, his ex-wife's favour, in Chalerm Yoobamrung's favour (vs. DPM Suthep), and in the red shirts' favour (blocking Gen Prem's home). Shouldn't PM Abhisit be the one complaining that the judicial system is biased, not Thaksin? Democracy advocates like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, and many thousands of others went to jail to show their respect for the rule of law. Why does Thaksin run and run?

Do the red's actions promote democracy - or anarchy? If you believe the former, then by all means join the reds in protests within the law, and give others the same rights that you demand for yourself. But if you believe the latter, then speak out in favour of a government of which everyone feels he is a part, within the law, on issues which you hold dear - and against forcing a government out on a minority's say-so.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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