Re: "Defence insists it is a lean outfit", (BP, Feb 21).
It pains me to see soldiers in the South were ambushed while on patrol riding in the back of standard pickup trucks.
Surely, the army must have hundreds of armoured personnel carriers idling somewhere in Bangkok. Send them south along with the Black Hawk helicopters to chase the ambushers. Sadly, soldiers there still rely on public donations for bulletproof vests and personal hygiene items. They are the only soldiers who know what gun smoke smells like and I think they deserve better than this.
If the army can afford a huge fleet of big, black, gas-guzzling Mercedes-Benzes to accommodate the generals in Bangkok, surely it can afford to take better care of those poor soldiers.
Somsak Pola
Kudos to Kongcheep
The reasonable proposals put forward by some political parties for a cut in the defence budget have now been met with a well-argued and detailed response from Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich.
If this had been the military's first and only response to these proposals, then I think all would have been well, irrespective of people's views on the subject. Indeed, his response throws the army commander's ill-considered and possibly dangerous outburst into an even worse light.
When the time comes to appoint a new army commander, I am sure Lt Gen Kongcheep will be a worthy candidate.
Robin Grant
Screening for monks
Being in a garage doesn't make you a mechanic any more than being in a temple makes you a saint, it is said. Cracking down on rogue monks -- who employ saffron robes as shields against arrest warrants and the law -- struck a chord with readers. Buddhism is one of the pillars of this country that most Thais, including myself, hold dear. Its temples draw huge throngs of foreigners to the kingdom who want to explore Thai culture and tradition. Therefore, it is crucial we get it right. Temples as seen today in modern Thailand should be more than just "Bed and Breakfasts" for monks.
One way to bring greater understanding on this is seeing monkhood like any other job. And it starts with recruitment. What kind of "candidates" should Thai temples seek? An alcoholic, divorced father on the run from alimony or an educated middle-class man who wants to learn Buddhism? To be sure, I'm not discriminating against class, but wish to illustrate a stark contrast to make a point. Moreover, their job descriptions must be clear. To pray, meditate, and do chores? Smoking and using donated funds for personal gadgets, I hope, are not on the list.
The second stage is the job interview. Those in charge must rigorously assess each "candidate" as to his suitability through due diligence. Does he have a criminal record? Outstanding debt? Any kids or parents to support? Referral letters? These questions may seem crude and controversial as applied here, but it is the lack of screening that got us into this situation.
Third is on-the-job performance. Monks must be accountable for their actions. Any transgressions on their part will be met with a warning from head abbots. Three strikes and the monk in question will be asked to leave or be disrobed, freeing them to find employment elsewhere. The private sector certainly needs more workforce.
What then is the difference between Google and Thai temples? Screening. Google hires the best engineers. Thai temples accept (almost) everyone. Hence, raising the screening bar will attract only the serious men devoted to Buddhism. There will indeed be fewer monks as a consequence. But isn't this what this country needs? Quality over quantity. High-quality monks, high-quality teachers and doctors, high-quality products and places, and above all else high-quality leaders?
Edward Kitlertsirivatana
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