Test of justice
Re: "PM urged to track down defendants", (BP, Oct 22).
How Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra acts -- or doesn't act -- to bring the seven defendants to trial before the Tak Bai case's statute of limitations expires on Friday goes to the heart of national security in the South.
At Tak Bai, 78 protesters, hog-tied hand and foot, suffocated to death while being transported in trucks to be detained. Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri ordered the move yet has never been held accountable in a court of law. "The perception that the government is unwilling to hold security forces accountable reinforces a sense of alienation among the Malay Muslim community.... If the Tak Bai case is allowed to lapse without accountability, it could fuel violence and undermine ongoing peace negotiations." (newmandala.org, Oct 21).
It was reported that Gen Pisal was granted leave by Deputy House Speaker Gen Pichet Chuamuangpha from Aug 26 to Oct 30 to undergo medical treatment abroad. Few believe Pheu Thai is in the dark regarding the seven defendants' whereabouts. To show that rule of law has arrived under her watch, PM Paetongtarn should ask Interpol to issue Red Notices for all fugitives' immediate arrest and deportation so they can be arraigned well before the statute of limitations expires.
Impunity should no longer trump justice.
Cashless society
Re: "Thailand leads march towards cashless society", (Business, Oct 3).
I read the article above, somewhat incredulously, in early October before leaving a couple of weeks later for a short five-day trip to Singapore.
As I suspected, the boat had already left when it came to a cashless society, and Thailand wasn't even on board. As a backup, we withdrew $100 Singaporean (2,550 baht) from an ATM on arrival, which my Thai bank rejected, so I had to use an Australian card. After five days in the Lion City, we still had $60 left! Everything from the hotel bill to a single coffee was cashless.
The only cash transactions were a hole-in-wall eatery in Chinatown and some cheap souvenirs.
In fact, the only glitches came from my Thai bank (one of the biggest), with responses ranging from "no response from your bank" to "exceeds your limit" for an 800 baht purchase.
Thailand may possibly be approaching such a transition by 2028, but it will be playing catch-up rather than "leading the march".
McDonald's moment
Re: "Trumps serves fries, Harris visits church", (World, Oct 22).
Some extra information has been discovered about the recent event where Donald Trump served some selected, and security-checked, customers at a closed McDonald's restaurant.
On the odd times I go to one of their restaurants, I am only able to buy food from an open one. Was this some special ex-presidential privilege or just a stunt? I am not sure what this symbolises.