Re: "Poll uncertainty lingers as count nears finish line", (Commentary, March 29).
Interestingly, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha refused to answer any of what he described as "political questions" when confronted by the press after the election, telling reporters to ask the party (PPRP) as this was their job.
Very peculiar, don't you think, that now he's reclassified himself (conveniently) as a public figure/PM candidate (politician) he still considers himself higher than everyone else in the electoral (political) process and above such issues? Or does he simply not know how to answer?
Isaan Boy
Too early to tell
The Bangkok Post's graphic chart on "Coalition camps" on the front page of the March 29 issue listed the Bhumjaithai, Chartthaipattana and Chart Pattana parties as "Undecided". You should also put New Economics from the Pheu Thai coalition list and the Democrats, as well as the rest of the parties, on the Palang Pracharath coalition list as "Undecided" as well (despite the Bangkok Post's report on the previous day that the New Economics Party leader has affirmed its participation).
This is because none of these parties have expressed, officially or otherwise, their affiliations.
Besides, it's way too early to speculate on any scenarios as the horse trading will ensue up to the mandated confirmation deadline of May 9.
Kantanit Sukontasap
Don't push the army
Re: "No political savvy", (PostBag, March 27).
John Hancock observed that to avoid a future coup, "a constitution needs to be worth more than the paper it's printed on". He did not elaborate how could that sort of a coup-less constitution be written. Britain does not have a written constitution and its democracy thrives even under the current Brexit crisis. The answer is in those political players who do not push their luck too far in giving any excuses to the army to come out of army camps. With social networking, a coup cannot be carried out as easily as before. We should always remind the army of the Tunisian experience with networking on Facebook and Twitter that brought about the Arab Spring.
The last democratic government under Yingluck Shinawatra gave that excuse to the army when her party tried to bring Thaksin Shinawatra back as free of guilt. That pushed their luck and brought out some reasonable men and women to the streets with the resultant impasse. Commander-in-Chief, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, came out and under the pretext of an umpire and asked the government's caretaker justice minister, Chaikasem Nitisiri, whether the government was ready to resign. Bombastically, the reply was "As of this minute, the government will not resign". The reply was rightfully as bombastic: "So, as of this minute, I decide to seize ruling power" with prepared troops outside the Army Club.
What is the lesson one learns from this conversation? It is don't ever give them an excuse to bring out the tanks. Go backwards and wait for a better day in the future!
I hope very much Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the Future Forward Party's leader, remembers when one can push one's luck and when not to push one's luck too far. Like the advice of that great golfer, Ben Hogan, who said that when you hold a golf club to hit a ball, don't hold it too tight as you could choke the club and don't hold it too lightly so that you cannot control the club!
Songdej Praditsmanont
One big coalition
The recent elections are over, with the people of Thailand going to the poll stations and choosing representatives who deserve respect. Most of these elected politicians claim that they want the best for the country.
This is my challenge to all of you. Why not, for once, really show the world Thailand is united and can move forward? Why don't all the elected MPs form one coalition government and show the world how united Thailand can be. There is no condition in the constitution saying there is a need for an opposition. For once, all parties should truly combine and work together and put aside all differences. Forget the past, enough of the bickering. Have a general amnesty for all sides and past politicians.
Let Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha become the next PM. We can have deputy PMs from every party. Maybe Gen Prayut and also the army should also allow all the elected MPs to have a say or just give them the chance to have a say about the Senate's selection, maybe just another 100 or so, etc, just to show the sincerity of a more balanced Senate.
Jakkapong Watcharachaijunta
Dangerous sirens
Re: "Hear no evil", (Life, March 25).
Noise and plenty of it is an increasing yet completely avoidable problem in Thailand, but Thais seem to revel in it and can't get enough. Microphones and speakers are employed at the smallest gatherings, music is played as loud as possible, sports cars and motorcycles have modified exhausts to "sound better", and add to that the diabolical cacophony of roaring bus engines, thundering trucks and ambulance sirens.
Recently, when I was walking on a footpath, an ambulance approached me from a local hospital, ablaze with flashing lights and when abreast of me and no more than a few feet away, the driver switched on his siren at full volume. I felt the shock wave like a blow to the head and later discovered I had lost nearly all hearing in my left ear. Subsequent medical examination revealed a small tear in the eardrum.
Before setting out to walk on the Bangkok footpaths I equip myself with sunglasses, face mask to combat the high air pollution, a stick to defend against uncontrolled dogs and to this list I must now add ear protectors.
Joe Argusoog in his March 28 letter said that "Many Thais don't complain because they don't want to be seen as difficult or outspoken". Well that may be so, but this propensity for maximum volume is so entrenched in the Thai psyche that any complaints would naturally fall upon deaf ears!
TR Moore
Thais deaf to noise
In reference to Joe Argusoog's March 28 letter on loud noises: Over the years I have come to the belief that Thais are not particularly sensitive to the loud noises. They are, however, quite sensitive to smells. If those mentioned noise sources began to stink you would get immediate action.
Frank Lombard
Swimming lessons
Re: "Child drowning deaths hit new low", (BP, March 28).
I would like to add a few more. Child drownings are a worldwide problem. Age 10 is too late. They should start at age four. A few things parents do not know.
1) Water wings are not life-saving equipment. Never use these as life-saving devices.
2) In a swimming pool, throwing your child up in the air is not only stupid but dangerous.
What the YMCAs do worldwide is to get a swimming belt with a bubble for the back and a strap for the front. This way the child learns very fast how to stroke easier.
3.) Teach them never see how long you can hold your breath. There is no warning sign to tell when you should come up. Half of the world's population cannot swim. Only 10% of the remaining population know what they are doing. This is from a planet that has almost 80% water.
Remember the hardest thing in learning how to swim is learning how to breathe.
FROGGIE
Thaksin's 'massacre'
The international media reported that Britain's Prince William would travel to New Zealand to add royal support and sympathy to the victims of the mosque massacre earlier this month in New Zealand. This happened in a western country with the entire world looking on. The irony is that no one raised a voice internationally when the then Thaksin Shinawatra administration ordered the crackdown on the Muslim community at the Krue Se mosque in Thailand's deep South in 2004.
Thaksin walked away free, without any accusation of murder or guilt by the Thais or the international community. I guess events in Thailand do not rate international recognition, except in the event of a coup of course. Then every idiot in every government worldwide shouts to be the first to condemn.
David James Wong
More courtesy, please
Re: "Thais don't hate us", (PostBag, March 28).
When expats use the term, "Thais hate us", it is a reference to the government and the immigration bureau. It is not an overall umbrella statement for Thailand or Thais in general. Would you hate anyone who spends money in your shop every day? I think not. And if you did, it would still be service with a smile, and a wise person would keep his mouth shut. Thais indeed do not hate us. But it would behove most officers and most offices of the immigration bureau to show a bit more respect to older people, the same as they'd do with elder Thais. Being barked at, and treated as if one were a dog is very un-Thai, except of course as practised by the chosen few.
The Immigration Bureau needs a complete overhaul, top to bottom, and mandatory courtesy classes given to all those who serve and deal with others. Commercial enterprises train their staff in customer relations. The Immigration Bureau should be no different.
449900
Golan naivete
Gwynne Dyer in his March 27 article, "Golan Heights show conquest still an option", suggests Israel's conquest of the Golan Heights was "inadmissible acquisition of territory by force" as defined by the UN, and therefore the subject of a UN resolution against it. This analysis is too simplistic.
Israel launched a pre-emptive strike precisely because Egypt, Jordan and Syria had taken every step towards the invasion of Israel possible, without actually doing so. Was Israel supposed to wait for an invasion before having to defend herself against the usual overwhelming odds? So, the question before the conclusion is "who started it?".
The resulting "war" lasted six days only and yielded the prize of the Golan Heights, a hugely strategic location that has defended Israel ever since.
Secondly, to cite any anti-Israel UN resolution as an example of justice is ridiculous.
Gary Fox
Chon Buri
April Fool's on roads
Re: "PM vows no mercy for rogue drivers". Shucks, it isn't even April Fool's Day yet. I've never laughed so much or enjoyed such a silly pronouncement.
Yingeleh
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