Re: "Empire strikes back in Game of Thanathorn", (Opinion, April 30). I agree that the political conflict between the Thai military and the Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit will be a long-drawn one -- and clearly there is no end in sight.
In my opinion, there is only one politician in recent history who knew how to deal with the military: Chuan Leekpai.
When Mr Chuan became Thailand's prime minister for the second time in 1997, he also became the first civilian defence minister who made a tremendous success in keeping the military at a distance from politics. Most Thais at that time believed there would be no coups ever again in Thailand.
Then along came Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001. And suddenly, Thaksin managed to turn everything upside down by his overt corruption and political machinations that caused coups to happen again -- not only once but twice -- in 2006 and 2014.
Thailand needs political leaders who understand that the military can be contained, but not suppressed or eradicated.
They must understand that every country in this world, no matter how big or small, must have a military force in order to protect its interests and sovereignty.
That is why our country needs more politicians such as Chuan Leekpai.
Vint Chavala
Just wondering
I wonder what would happen if the Future Forward Party were in harmony with the Palang Pracharath Party. Or, had it won just a few parliamentary seats, would its leaders be plagued with complaints and criminal charges?
Somsak Pola
Asking for too much
Re: "Hospital hierarchy", (PostBag, April 30).
Somsak Pola obviously lives in a different world to the one which I inhabit. Unlike the 500-baht hotel that he described, my hotel room is moderately large and also costs me 500 baht per night. It includes a private bathroom with hot water, air con, cable TV, fridge, small balcony, swimming pool and ample furniture for storing things. The hotel also provides a free safe box, and in my experience over the years the staff have been extremely honest. Oh, and there are no roaches. What more can one ask for?
As for government hospitals, I have worked in one in Sri Lanka and I can say categorically that there is no comparison with a hospital in this country. Two years ago I was mowed down by a motorcyclist and frequented several government hospitals in Bangkok and Banglamung almost everyday as an outpatient, until I was given a "fit-to-fly" certificate. Not once was I treated like a leper -- on the contrary it was always with care and consideration. Moreover, as a practitioner I can vouch for the fact that both medical and nursing practice were exemplary.
Whilst I fully accept that Somsak prefers expensive hotels and private hospitals, I feel that this has nothing to do with comfort or treatment.
Michael Nightingale
Missed opportunity
If there is such a demand for sea housing as Dusit Thammaraks in his May 1 letter would have us believe, then I think the Tourism Authority of Thailand is missing a good chance of developing a new tourist attraction. However, I believe from what I have read that there only a handful of rich eccentrics who would consider the idea.
In light of the dire warnings I have been reading lately (The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells), about how fast the sea is rising due to global warming, it could be that a significant number of us will be living this way, a lot sooner than we initially expected.
A Reader
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