PM has much to prove
Re: "The omen of Paetongtarn's leadership", (Opinion, Aug 27).
I enjoyed reading veteran journalist, Kavi Chongkittavorn, writing about our fate in having our Paetongtarn, daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, as Thailand's youngest prime minister.
Her father is the most controversial and powerful political leader in Thailand -- rich, intelligent and pragmatic to a fault. Both father and daughter will now have to dance on a thin line of constitutional rule of a young prime minister not being overshadowed by her father's actions.
One can only imagine the faces of the 20 global leaders at the Asean summit in Vientiane in October when Ms Paetongtarn is announced alongside leaders from China, India, the US, Russia, Canada and Australia.
Irrespective of any faults the former prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, may have, one always looked forward to a photo of him towering over those with whom he was meeting.
Return to form
Re: "Minor party leaves govt bloc: Sereepisiuth severs ties with Thaksin", (BP, Aug 30) & "Pheu Thai opens door to Dems", (BP, Aug 29).
Entertaining to watch the politicians jostling for the spoils of office as the Paetongtarn government is formed. Parties are switching allegiance and doing deals and no one can be trusted as it's every man for himself. Disgraceful behaviour, but it shows Thai politics for what it really is!
Short cuts to cheap prices
Re: "Chinese red herring", (PostBag, Aug 25).
New China online retailer ("shop like a billionaire") recently featured parkas for 69 baht and they have a lot of sewn items in their product line.
Colin Roth asks, "Maybe prices are low because Chinese factories are efficient?" and "perhaps the price issue is just an excuse to revive human rights abuse allegations?"
Anyone who understands the textile business will tell you these prices are impossible to achieve in free markets. So, Colin, how do we get a new 69 baht parka in Thailand or a 39 baht wallet?
Forced labour and child labour answer that question, perhaps combined with heavily underwritten fabric costs courtesy of the CCP. Labour only makes up to 30% of costs, fabric 60%, and accessories 8%. Shipping within China, international shipping, packaging, marketing, profit, duties and taxes add make up the rest.
As to Mr Roth's statement, "Reports from people who have been there [Xinjiang] do not support allegations of human rights abuses", a report released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in August 2022 detailed various human rights violations in Xinjiang against the Uyghurs. Let's stop apologising for the CCP, shall we, Mr Roth?
Thailand's Dhammacracy
Dhammacracy – the rule of Dhamma is an ideology that suppresses democracy while justifying an undemocratic regime.
This philosophy influences the political discourse in Thailand in a way that is deeply rooted in the country's culture and history. It promotes rule by hierarchy, where a small group of elites, seen as morally superior, are granted the authority to rule over the majority.
This concept has implications for the political landscape, particularly in the way power is exercised and justified.
In practice, dhammacracy has contributed to the traditional establishment, including the military and nobility, playing a dominant role in Thai politics.
This is evident in the suppression of the democracy movement and the dissolution of progressive parties such as the Move Forward Party (MFP), which were seen as a threat to the nobility.
The dissolution of the MFP and the banning of its leading members from political office for the next 10 years is an example of how dhammacracy is used to marginalise political opponents and strengthen existing power structures.
Dhammacracy has also contributed to the fact that demands for more democracy and equality often encounter a backlash from the state, denying people a say in the running of the country.
The disappointment over empty promises of democracy and the drastic counter-reactions of the conservative establishment have led to a hardening of fronts, with the political discourse increasingly determined by a generational conflict.
In summary, dhammacracy influences the political discourse in Thailand by strengthening the power of the elites and suppressing democratic aspirations, leading to a political culture characterised by repression and a lack of genuine democratic participation.
Dhammacracy, Thailand's political philosophy, is the establishment's strategy for the 21st century and a blatant misuse of Buddhism for political purposes.
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.