Still hope for change
Re: "Dodging S112 debate", (PostBag, Nov 9).
Burin Kantabutra -- a prolific contributor to the PostBag forum -- rightly questions why the draconian lese majeste law runs counter to the advice of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.
This could lead an observer to assume that, despite its claimed intention of protecting the monarchy, Section 112 was designed by the military government to provide it with an extra-constitutional means to retain its hold on the levers of power.
The observer would also see it as convenient that anybody can file a charge under this section, thereby distancing the string-puller from the puppet.
If this were the case, the only hope for amending this section is when the institution of the military gives way to younger leaders more in tune with the times.
As another regular PostBag contributor, Felix Qui, said in one of his typically cryptic comments in the Nov 8 edition: "It is the case, however, that Thai reptiles of dinosaur bloodlines do not evolve, let alone be revolutionary."
Re: "Drug war beckons", (Postbag, Nov 10).
If one engages in war, militarily or otherwise, one must possess the resources to win and commit those resources to win unconditionally.
In June of 1971, the "War on Drugs" was declared by US President Nixon, rather ironically given that at the time the American CIA was busy ramping up the production of drugs in SE Asia, and later continued to do the same in Afghanistan and South America.
Our writer hopes for "a definite all-out war on drug cartels." For more than 60 years the drug war has been waged. Billions of dollars have been spent for little or no result, and not only by the US.
Since the beginning, authorities have lacked the commitment to conduct an all-out war. Apart from that, the monetary value of the drugs ensures power, influence and protection far exceeding what the money to fight the war buys.
Until the monetary value of these drugs is significantly diminished, which only a form of legalisation or regulation can achieve, talk of a decisive victory in the war on drugs is just talk and will amount to nothing, the same as the last 60 years have.
Re: "Hub hype", (PostBag, Oct 31).
I had to smile while reading David Brown's letter, about Thailand's pie in the sky aspirations to be a regional hub of this, that or the other.
Worry not!
Thailand is an existing hub in numerous fields, including the following (all of which get a mention in the Post from time to time): military coups, inactive posts, government policy U-turns, and corruption or graft.
Queues at immigration. Fact: I have visited all but one Asean, country, so I know the queue at BKK is the slowest.
I could add to the list, but maybe your readers would wish to do so?
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