Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party, in a recent interview with the Bangkok Post, is quoted as saying "The criminal charges against Khun Thaksin [were laid] under the military government … we are proposing to get him back. Reopen the cases against him, and the judge has to be neutral … he has the right to a free and fair trial."
This is such a tendentious statement. A case is "reopened" when there is new exculpatory evidence which there is not in this case and nor has it been presented. Reopening isn't to shop for a new judge.
Hillary
Killing in the name
The live-streamed evil from the zealously devoted fanatics of their white supremacist ideology says it all too clearly. It is precisely to escape such deadly ideological zealotry at home that many moderate, peace-loving Muslims, Democrats, Christians, atheists, Republicans, Buddhists and others migrate to better countries, such as New Zealand.
It is an ugly fact that religion has always been a powerful force for hate that inspires violence, whether the Christian crusaders and inquisitors, the ideological purists of communism re-educating in their gulags, the Islamic jihadi, the zealous fascism of the Nazis, the toxic nationalist monks of Burmese Buddhism, Maoists disappearing critical thinkers, the hate-filled Hindu nationalists of India and so on.
Atheists and the non-religious can also commit evil, but it takes religious fervour to kill in the name of your chosen ideology that demonises others.
Felix Qui
Chipping away
Every year, farmers throw away their precious resources by burning agricultural waste. If the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives would mount a comprehensive plan to educate farmers in the practice of composting and mulching combined with the provision of chipping machines at the cooperative and village level, the benefits would be profound. No necessity to burn, reduced need for inorganic fertiliser and higher yields of quality produce would result. Farmers would save money and enjoy better health.
Instead of billions for useless military toys, why not mobile chipping machines for every village cooperative? Really, why not?
Michael Setter
Great British bulldog spirit
I am on holiday in Phuket. I had hoped that when I land at Gatwick, I would be returning to a liberated UK, free from those unelected bureaucrats who have constantly insulted our country and our prime minister over Brexit. It is shameful that this great nation appears to be going to the EU with a begging bowl! We have paid billions into the EU budgets over 40 years as the second largest contributor, and this "club" has the audacity to refuse our exit without paying a scandalously large exit fee!
I hope we will at last regain our sovereignty, and our future will be in our own hands. Europe can become a "super state" if it wishes to be under the thumb of Germany.
In my view, this concept of a future "United Europe" is already failing. Apart from Germany, almost every other country in Europe is almost bankrupt. Germany's national debt is a sensible 60% of GDP.
The other countries' figures are: France, 97%; Italy, 131%; Austria, 75%; Belgium 101%; Greece, 190%; Portugal, 120%; Spain, 97%. Only a few minor Euro zone countries, and the Nordic countries are not so indebted. Unemployment in the Euro zone countries is extremely high 10 years after the financial crash of 2009. Ranging from 19% in Greece to 3.2% in Germany. The UK's national debt has dramatically increased from 600 billion to 1.8 trillion pounds from 2009 to 2018 -- 87% of the GDP. But its unemployment figure is just 4% as over 1 million jobs have been added since the 2016 Brexit vote.
Sure, there will be some turmoil for 1-2 years after "regaining independence", but in the long term we will be much better off out of the tyranny of Europe. Don't forget that we are the fifth largest economy in the world, and have dominated the world in many of the innovations in governance, politics, industry, scientific and medical research, sports and numerous other areas that the world takes for granted.
This tiny country has contributed more to the world than any other country in the world. It has survived as a great independent nation for over 1000 years, and will continue to do so in the future. We survived two world wars, the 1930s depression, and the 2008 financial crisis. We can and will survive a hard Brexit. Where is the great British bulldog spirit? After all, it is in the DNA of the British people.
LA Damani
Buyer beware
Dear Chiang Mai tourists,
Concerning our current hazardous level of air pollution, please leave. Your presence helps our economy. But your health is more important.
Come visit us some other time.
A caring resident
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