Re: "Cops crack down on 95 'bad' monks", (BP, Dec 4).
It is rather surprising that it took so many decades for the Thai establishment to do something about corruption in Buddhist temples. The government and the Central Investigation Bureau should be given credit for this courageous step.
Next step for enhancing the spiritual role of temples in the Thai communities is to only allow selling of books related to teachings of Lord Buddha. Books should also be made available in English and Chinese language to help tourists learn more about Thai society and culture. Sale of all other items, such as lottery, jatakas, birds, fishes, turtles, etc. should be banned. Rites and rituals involving cash should be curtailed. Monks' addiction to cash is the main cause of all the ills of Thai temples.
In addition, as part of ordination the monks should be periodically given knowledge tests about key precepts and practices of Buddhism. Comparative studies of other religions should also be introduced as part of curriculum and training to avoid the kind of catastrophe that we are witnessing in Myanmar. Educated and enlightened monks can only enhance the charm of Thai Buddhism.
Kuldeep Nagi
Sinking cement city
"Bangkok needs a smarter plan", (Opinion, Dec 4), written by commentator Sirinya Wattanasukchai, is worth the read.
Prior to putting up those ugly grey cement pillars and massive but ugly grey elevated stations throughout Bangkok, causing more traffic congestion as well, I wonder if anyone studied the feasibility of the light rail transit systems from Berlin to San Francisco. (The current elevated line looks like a deformed version of Stonehenge, as it snakes its way around the city).
Many Bangkok streets would have had lots more sunlight, much less pollution, and the system would have been a lot cheaper to build, easier to maintain, and provided easier access to riders. But nooooo, it never happened -- probably was never considered.
As Bangkok sinks its few centimetres a year, perhaps it will take that elevated line along with it.
Fair Dinkum
Arms need control
With all the confusion over the recent discovery of a cache of arms and the discussions of whether they were to be used by "political" adversaries or just planted to delay an election, one thing seems to have been overlooked. The army's inability to keep their munitions safe and under close guard. Why is it that weapons of war have ended up in the wrong hands again? Just what sort of safety and security are these people offering? Surely it's time for a serious investigation into this shoddy system.
Lungstib
Taxed by taxi troubles
When is the government going to regulate and control taxis operating around inner Bangkok? At night when traffic is expected to be light, Sukhumvit Road is a car park. The majority of the vehicles are empty and taxis are trawling for customers. When you ask to go somewhere farther than Sukhumvit Soi 2 to Soi 24, you get the common reply, mai bpai (not going).
You go through four to five taxis with this answer and a couple who want 200 baht for a normal 60-baht ride. When you finally get an obliging driver, you sit in traffic caused by empty taxis, which are doing laps of Sukhumvit tourist areas hoping they can pick up a couple of 200 baht, no-meter fares.
There needs to be a strict taxi control board run by the Department of Transport. Taxis operating around inner Bangkok should pay an extra fee to do so. These approvals should be limited and controlled, ensuring taxis are in good condition and the drivers appropriately licensed. The drivers should pass safety checks and street or area knowledge tests. The fares should be increased, the 35-baht flag fare has been the same for the past 20 years.
Maybe if the driver can make a bit more, then it might reduce the likelihood of drivers asking for exorbitant fares.
David Sheehan
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