Re: "Nagging conscience spurred whistleblower", (BP, Feb 26).
I was actually appalled to read the article regarding the treatment of Panida Yotpanya for exposing the corruption at Khon Kaen protection for the destitute centre.
Yes, I have made my opinions known before on the apparent lack of good honest people to stand up to the systemic corruption in this country and now find that when one good citizen did she was fighting alone. Her university suggested she just find a position somewhere else and the officials involved forced her to grovel and apologise for her outstanding commitment to honesty.
With just her family to back her up and that rare belief that evil should not triumph she had to fight to get the right thing done. One lone young woman taking up the fight when everyone around just wishes it would go away. What chance ever in Thailand that a proper anti-corruption outfit working on its own initiative announces that a scheme of this magnitude has been discovered due to their independent investigation?
Ms Panida needs to be publicly applauded and offered a decent long-term job and the officials she exposed should be publicly shamed, humiliated and stripped of all wealth they have illegally obtained and never allowed back into public office.
Lunbstib
Netting the big fish
Twenty-three year old Panida Yotpanya, the intern in this case, deserves accolade for the fact that, despite still being under training prior to her graduation, she refused to follow the order for her to partake in a corruption-related activity.
The director of the Khon Kaen centre where this controversy took place, Phuangpayom Jitkong, has been transferred to an inactive post as a result of Ms Panida's rebellion.
In Bangkok, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered the transfers of the permanent secretary for social development and human security, and his deputy.
Investigations are to be carried out at welfare centres across the country. More culprits are expected to be caught as a result.
That being said, Ms Panida should be decorated with the country's highest honour: for the incredible load of big fish she has netted -- despite being just an undergraduate!
Chavalit Wannawijitr
Chiang Mai
The SRT's 'boondoggle'
Re: "SRT lays down Japanese model for tourism trains", (Business, Feb 26).
The State Railway of Thailand has apparently taken up the pipe again and now dreams of emulating a seven-star rail tour service from Japan.
Imagine all that new superbly fitted out rolling stock occupied by hordes of zero-dollar Chinese tour groups (a concept recently endorsed in the lower courts) and serviced by the SRT's renowned maintenance team?
In short, it's a recipe for disaster, conceived as a face-making fix, but destined to become another bottom-line boondoggle to hang around the necks of taxpayers.
Why not try to make the trains clean, punctual and safe?
Michael Setter
Toon bailing out govt
Re: "Hospitals get first slice of Toon's cash", (BP, Feb 26).
I feel great admiration again for rock star Artiwara "Toon" Kongmalai who is starting off on another run to help a hospital, but great anger at the government which seems to have a bottomless budget when it comes to promoting nationalism, but no willingness to properly fund the healthcare system at all.
My impression is that the leaders of this government value more the abstract concept of country than they do the people that actually make the country what it is.
A Reader
'Big Issue' obscured
I thoroughly enjoy reading Alan Dawson's "The Big Issue" each Sunday. He is highly knowledgeable and writes fearlessly on the shortcomings of the military government and other political and topical issues.
But please do not print his column on a grey background. Black print on grey is very difficult to read, and I can assure you, despite my advancing years, there is nothing wrong with my eyesight.
And if this is the editor's attempt to make the Bangkok Post eye catching and attractive, he needs to recalibrate his aesthetic values.
David Brown
Contact: Bangkok Post Building
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
fax: +02 6164000 Email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
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