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Bangkok Post

Comment

Might not right

Re: "Thousands join Chiang Mai rally", (BP, April 30).

Authorities responsible for the outrageous forest destruction caused in the process of building housing for judicial officials are quick to point out that the land involved "belongs to the military and is supervised by the Treasury Department" and thus the construction is "legal".

But as most people recognise intuitively, just because something is legal doesn't make it right. Prior to 1865, slavery was legal in the United States, but that didn't make it "right". Donald Trump brags about legally taking advantage of loopholes to avoid paying taxes, but that doesn't make it "right". Administrative authorities may legally strip trees from a sacred mountain for the comfort of a few judges and judicial staff, but that doesn't make it "right".

Samanea Saman

Protests till the end

The following information is for those who want to know why it took so long for the citizens of Chiang Mai to come out to protest against the judicial housing project on Doi Suthep.

In April 2015 (one year after the 2014 coup), the Paragliding Club of Chiang Mai reported to authorities that it had found what appeared to be a clearing of a land deep into the Doi Suthep-Pui Sanctuary.

Later, when there was no response from the authorities, an online protest effort was initiated by the people of Chiang Mai, starting from the Facebook page, Raks Mae Ping, and later on the Pantip.com website in June 2016.

Almost immediately, the Judicial Office came out to claim that the project was totally legal and threatened to sue protesters.

In Oct 2016 King Rama IX passed away and the protest was paused to give way to the year-long national mourning period. After the royal cremation had come to pass, there were reports that the project had cut deep into the Doi Suthep-Pui Sanctuary, even more than had initially been feared. Hence, we, the citizens of Chiang Mai, will keep protesting until the end.

Chavalit Wannawijitr

Held to account

Re: "Politically incorrect", (BP, May 1).

Ron Martin in his May 1 letter wrote wistfully that Thailand's politicians should, as elsewhere, be willing to resign to show responsibility. I entirely agree but perhaps a problem is that when they do resign, their noble actions are then quickly either forgotten or glossed over by the general public, perhaps including by Mr Martin.

During the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration in 2008-2011, there were two ministerial resignations, both of them Democrats: Minister for Social Development, Vitoon Nambutr; and Minister for Health, Vitaya Kaewparadai. Both stepped down to allow investigations into alleged malfeasance, and both were subsequently cleared, though neither resumed their positions.

I humbly write to remind Mr Martin and Bangkok Post readers of this, in the hope that acknowledgment of positive deeds will help build the very tradition we all rightly seek.

Korn Chatikavanij
Democrat Party Member

Riding the tiger

Re: "Prayut plays with fire over appointments", (Opinion, April 30).

Given how much Gen Prayut has moaned and groaned about working as prime minister in the past, I wonder why he is working so hard to keep the job? Is he riding the tiger's back and afraid of what will come to light if he gets off?

A Reader

Giving way

Re: "Fine hike call for ambulance blockers", (BP, April 29).

Drivers who deliberately block emergency vehicles should be heavily fined and lose their licences. But here's the problem. In the notoriously bad Bangkok traffic, where can you go when you want to give way and let an ambulance through? And what about making it a criminal offence for drivers who use the emergency hard shoulder on expressways? Aren't these meant for emergency vehicles?

Brian Corrigan