Snakes on screen
Re: "Thai casinos are looming, you can bet on it", (PostScript, Sept 8).
Serpent tales are rich in Asian mythology, and one notable example is the Thai-Hong Kong-Japan co-production The Lovers and the Python (aka The Serpent and the Lovers), which was released in 1961. While it has been lost in Thailand, it can still be found in the Hong Kong Film Archives, available on Betamax in black and white and in Mandarin without subtitles.
For over seven decades, Bollywood (India) has captivated audiences with its blockbuster Naga (Cobra) films featuring enchanting snake women. A landmark in this genre is Nagin (Snake Girl), a classic from 1976 where a beautiful woman transforms into a mesmerising, venomous serpent.
The fascination with snakes extends beyond Asia. Roger might be familiar with The Snake Woman (aka The Terror of the Snake Woman), a low-budget British horror film from 1961. Directed by Sidney J Furie and starring Susan Travers and John McCarthy, the film is set in a small English village at the turn of the 20th century.
It is quite possible that if Thailand builds a casino, it will have a Naga deity on its premises before the gamblers enter the fantasy land for a big payout. Forget the temples; let us all pray for a casino. Once again, thanks to Roger Crutchley for sharing funny serpentine stories with us.
Tale of 2 convicts
Re: "Was it one big conspiracy?", (AboutPolitics, Sept 7).
If true, who could be pulling the strings? There is great irony in that former prime minister Srettha Thavisin was removed for appointing a "convict" to a cabinet post whose conviction came about because another "convict" had tried to bribe a couple of judges via Pichit Chuenban by handing them a paper bag containing 2 million baht.
Pointing fingers
Re: "Child abuse scandals in East Timor", (World, Sept 9).
Seeing the pope in Timor Leste asking the locals to do "everything possible to prevent every kind of abuse and guarantee a healthy and peaceful childhood for all young people" is extremely insulting.
Instead of apologising and offering compensation to the victims sexually abused by a prominent East Timorese bishop, Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, Il Papa conveniently directs blame on local people. Belo was a prominent East Timorese bishop, hailed as an independence hero, and was accused of sexually abusing young boys in the country during the 1980s and 90s.
Hero or villain?
Re: "PM probe urged over cabinet pick", (BP, Sept 9).
An infamous serial petitioner has accused newly appointed Defence Minister and Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai of opposing the constitutional monarchy in the past.
Phumtham once belonged to a student group that joined the Communist Party of Thailand and took part in anti-government activities following the October 6, 1976, Thammasat University massacre.
Phumtham should instead be celebrated as a hero as he opposed a military dictatorship.