Re: "Cops out of bounds", (PostBag, Sept 15).
Eric Bahrt is correct in stating that the Thai police overstepped their bounds by cancelling the forum organised by the Foreign Correspondents Club. It would have been better for the police to have at least asked the forum organisers to tone down their comments concerning the Rohingya, instead of ordering them to cancel the meeting. What's worse is that the Thai police have forced the FCCT to cancel a meeting on at least five other occasions.
Is it any wonder why it seems as if less and less tourists from developed countries are coming here? People living in other countries largely rely on the foreign press to gather information on Thailand. So what do you think that foreign reporters who work here are going to say about the country after being barred from holding a meeting in the capital? It surely is not going to be something positive!
If it is the goal of the Thai government to discourage Western tourists from coming to Thailand, then they surely are achieving this aim by continually berating the members of the foreign press who are here.
Paul
Khon Kaen
Human wrongs
Re: "UN report puts regime on defensive", (BP, Sept 15).
Let's get something straight. The government suggested a UN report on Thailand's human rights record might be used by some to discredit the junta.
No, the United Nations has officially and very directly called Thailand "shameful". Time after time any number of international bodies including the UN have painted a bleak reality picture of what goes on here for all the world to see, and every time it happens the generals pretend it hasn't.
Desperately trying to save face by pretense, deflection and denial is what children do. This nation urgently needs true and mature leadership capable of taking responsibility for the present state of affairs without requiring everyone to wear rose colored glasses and march in line.
Mr M
No free Brunch
Re: "Strays need homes," (PostBag, Sept 15).
I agree with Jack Gilead's question with regard to the disappearance of the Pic-A-Pet4Home page following the discontinuation of Brunch magazine. Khun Tharinee Wipuchanin is doing a wonderful job in finding homes for the stray cats and dogs rescued and given a temporary home at her shelter. She is doing a superb job but she needs all possible support. The inclusion of this page in the new B. Magazine would be a wonderful act of compassion for homeless animals that are unable to help themselves, and would give unconditional love and companionship in return to their adopters.
Tony Oliver
Save paper, save kids
Another boggler for Thai education. "School admin staff to start work next month / Drive to give teachers more time with pupils". The easiest solutions of course, the most logical ones were probably never considered. 1) Reduce unnecessary paperwork. 2) Reduce class sizes throughout the public school system. Thai officialdom is drowning in mountains of paperwork, forms in duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate or more. Examples: trying to open a bank account, buy a cashier's cheque, a visa application at the local immigration office, and more. The government wants to help save the environment by reducing electronic waste.
How about reducing tonnes of paperwork which would also help improve working conditions aside from saving trees. The most satisfying, easiest solutions are in front of the official "nosedom", if they'd only see them. The only people against reducing paper waste are probably at a company up in the 304 industrial complex, and other manufacturers like them.
Paper Mache
No sorry from Serena
Re: "Ugly side of sport", (PostBag, Sept 17).
Unfortunately for Serena, unless she apologises to Osaka she will be remembered as a great tennis player and a sore loser, and not necessarily in that order.
For those who saw their tennis final, Serena is the thief. She robbed Osaka of a "clean" victory. Serena was already losing the game so she used the referee incident to shift the blame.
Shame on her. She is the one who should apologise, but she won't.
Clara Holzer
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