Re: "PM lacks backbone", (PostBag, Feb 7).
David James Wong clearly crossed the line when he said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should man up and show some spine in the face of the case in which a Bahraini footballer who travelled to Thailand as a refugee in Australia was caught and detained in Bangkok.
The fact of the matter has been revealed that Thailand arrested Hakeem al-Araibi because the Australian authorities sent a "red alert" notification for his capture. It was days after the arrest of Araibi that the Australian authorities cancelled the notification and informed Thailand.
Conversely, Australia is now turning to pressure Thailand to release the footballer, citing humanitarian reasons.
Vint Chavala
Mulchers & balers
Re: "Fire and pain", (PostBag, Jan 31).
Colonel Thoyts' suggestion that the government invest in mulchers and balers to sweep up agricultural residues instead of looking the other way when farmers burn their fields is a good one. The collected straw, stubble, and other agricultural residues could in turn be burned in biomass power plants to reduce the country's dependence on environmentally damaging fossil fuels and hydro-electric plants.
Current and past Thai governments have never been shy about providing subsidies to farmers for any number of initiatives -- some sensible, some not. A sponsored programme to eliminate burning of agricultural fields seems more sensible than most. That could boost incomes for poor farmers and lessen smog.
Samanea Sama
Time for S44
Thailand has declared that "the government is not in a position to interfere" in the judicial process. Whether that is true is up to everyone to decide for themselves. But I may remind you that the current government of Thailand has a unique tool which they use so often. It is Section 44. Why would they not use it one more time for a good cause in favour of Araibi?
Guena
Respect detainees
Yet again a picture of a person in leg irons who is facing extradition and on remand is beamed around the world (BP, Feb 4). Please note: On remand. Facing extradition. Not convicted of any crime in Thailand.
In a civilised country such persons are released on bail pending the next hearing. If they are considered a flight risk they are obliged to wear an electronic tag (witness Meng Wanzhou in Canada). At most, if they are held on remand they are not subjected to such degrading treatment.
Keith Pople
Death of honour
Re: "'Undemocratic' label caused drop in ranking, Prayut says", (BP, Feb 1).
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's statement that the watch saga is trivial shows the Thai military lacks what other countries military call honour. Is this something not considered important in the Thai military? There certainly seems to be a lack of it.
Ron Martin
See no evil
The rice fields are ablaze in Prachin Buri. The governor of Prachin Buri is a do-nothing, see-nothing, say-nothing, hear-nothing person who needs to be replaced by a see all, say all, hear all, and do all governor … now!
Water Buffalo
The final straw
I love Thailand but I've seen the steady increase in plastic waste along our beaches. So, how to say in Thai: "Sorry, I don't need a straw as I'm not 3 years old and I don't want to kill another turtle."
David Jackson
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