Re: "Senate post for PM brother not a problem, says Prawit", (BP, May 11).
Having kept careful watch over such matters, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is of course perfectly correct to say that "the younger brother of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ... has experience as a lawmaker".
To give such people from Thailand's vast army of generals experience as lawmakers was, after all, the obvious purpose of the latest coup by generals eager to serve as politicians.
How else could such people aspiring to such a high political office become politicians? Are they expected to run for election like any civil politician bound by a constitutional rule of law, so they can at least make a show of respect for the nation, its institutions and people?
Felix Qui
Press the commies
The famed Chinese photographer Lu Guang has not been heard from for many months after making a trip to the Xinjiang region of the country.
He is one of the few independent photographers not under the control of the Communist government. Nonetheless, he went out of his way not to criticise the government for its handling of the Muslim population in that area, saying it is not his job to do so.
He is well known for his realistic portrayals of Chinese people in everyday life, especially for documenting the plight of drug addicts, Aids victims and the environmental degradation that industry has wrought on the nation. Of course, the Communists were not too happy with this, as they would prefer the idealistic portrayals of the nation given by their agents.
Lu Guang had never really taken photos of the Uighurs, as this was the first time that he had ventured into the area. But for whatever reason, the Chinese authorities detained him on this trip, admitting that he was being held for "politically correct" reasons.
In view of the fact that World Press Freedom Day was just last week, now is as good a time as any for journalists of the world to press the Communists for the immediate release of an innocent person who has never even criticised the Chinese government.
Paul
'De-Fox' Trump fans
Re: "Crackpot theories", (PostBag, May 11).
Apparently, Trump supporters have forgotten how truth, facts and logic work. I always wondered how anybody can like Donald Trump, that immature, selfish, dishonest, ignorant, short-tempered, flim-flam man.
Somehow, Fox News viewers see Mr Trump as mature, unselfish, honest, knowledgeable, and an even-tempered man of high morals and integrity. Fox has convinced viewers Mr Trump's bizarre behaviour is just a ruse. He is not a madman. He is actually playing eight-dimensional chess, underwater, in the dark.
In reality, most of us realise Mr Trump is dangerously inept. In essence, he's a buffoon covered in baby oil, playing on a slippy slide. If the USA survives the Trump administration -- an immoral, unethical pack of dimwits -- they will definitely need something like the Germans with the "de-Nazi-fication".
In the 1940s the Germans were schooled to understand their terrible mistakes.
The same will be necessary with the Trump addicts. They need to be "de-Foxed" and get a grip on reality.
Arthur Geoff Blake
Bad news iceberg
Re: "Report reveals Trump's $1bn losses", (BP, May 9).
The New York Times' research into Donald Trump's finances is likely just the tip of the bad news iceberg for the US president.
I have conjectured all along that Mr Trump has four main reasons for hiding his tax returns and financial records: He isn't nearly as rich and "successful" in business as he claims to be; he has paid an embarrassingly small amount of taxes over the past several decades, all the while leading a life of opulence; he has an awkward web of financial connections in Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries with dubious human rights records and lack of democratic values; he has contributed a pathetic pittance to charities.
Of course, I could be incorrect on all four of my suppositions and I would be happy to admit my errors should Mr Trump decide to release his tax returns and prove me wrong.
Samanea Saman
Commit to Asean unity
Kavi Chongkittavorn is right in asserting that certain Asean behaviours and ways of doing things will not change (Opinion, May 7).
However, as in the case of other regional organisations, Asean's progress will be dependent on its capacity to work in a spirit of genuine solidarity in times of need and in speaking with a unified voice in the international arena.
Asean's commitment to the principles and values enshrined in its charter is a condition sine qua non of its success in the increasingly unsettled and challenging world.
Ioan Voicu
Brilliant BMA
The BMA is just overflowing with brilliance. Increasing the garbage collection rate by four times will proportionately increase the amount of garbage tossed onto the streets.
Jack Gilead
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