Showing 21 - 30 of 72
Military's shame
News, Postbag, Published on 23/04/2020
» Re: "Seven soldiers on Monday confessed to having tortured two men to force them to admit to drug trafficking. One of the two men died", (BP, April 21). The military’s role is to be a fence, protecting us from external aggressors. Soldiers have no expertise in fighting domestic crime, whether it be drug trafficking or, say, riots or political protests - that what we have police for.
Fuzzy Thai logic
News, Postbag, Published on 19/10/2019
» Historically, fear of communist regimes has been used by politicians to keep them alive, strive and win elections. In the USA, politicians always create a hostile enemy and introduce a powerful fear factor to get elected. For most of the last century, the USA treated China, the Soviet Union, Cuba and Sandinistas as a threat to democracy and the whole world. First, it was Soviets, later China, and in this new century, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State became the new threat. And now they have a new enemy -- immigrants from across the border from Mexico and South America. A whole generation of Americans grew up dreaming about communists taking away their freedom and democracy. Sadly, even today a big lobby of Cuban immigrants in Florida keeps those fears alive.
Who you gonna call?
News, Published on 29/12/2018
» Re: "Who trusts the NACC?", (Editorial, Dec 27).
Slaves in fatigues
News, Published on 21/07/2018
» Thailand's military conscripts being used as "servants" at the generals' homes could be inscribed in the Guinness Book of World Records (Editorial, July 19).
Driving in reverse
News, Published on 28/07/2018
» Comparatively speaking, the conscripts/servants issue in the Thai armed forces is only adding to the military junta's declining image. Its continued existence only benefits a few thousand "generals", not the majority of the Thai armed forces or the country at large. In short, they are driving a car in reverse gear. It is clearly a conflict of interest, an important principle which should be tackled and utilised in the military junta's "reform policy".
Buddhism Lost
Oped, Postbag, Published on 21/06/2018
» I was appalled with the execution of a convict (BP, June 18). I don’t defend in any way what he did and if he murdered my child I would want to kill him. But that is the human instinct. When the state coldly determines someone’s death it is entirely different.
No justifying coup
News, Postbag, Published on 23/05/2018
» Re: "Peace, but poor miss out", (BP, May 21).
Underwhelming taxis
News, Postbag, Published on 05/05/2018
» Re: "B5 minimum taxi fare hike needed, TDRI finds", (BP, May 1). I approve of the TDRI's suggestion for a five-baht rise in the minimum fare and a surcharge for traffic delays, as proposed by the TDRI's Sumet Ongkittikul, who found that taxi drivers earn just about the minimum wage.
Rerun referendum
News, Published on 31/03/2018
» Re: "Charges dropped against Pai Dao Din," (BP, March 30).
Rarefied air
News, Postbag, Published on 03/04/2018
» Re: "Magazine sued for 'blasphemous' kings painting", (BP, March 31).