Re: "Bid to impeach NACC gathers pace", (BP, Dec 31).
The "wristwatch saga" has aroused a new powerful spirit in politics to fight corruption. Change is coming! But sure, it doesn't help if politicians point fingers only when in opposition. To move forward, Thailand needs a huge internal overhaul of the mindset within each political party and a strengthening of the law.
In the West, parties' internal justice mechanism kicks out corrupt politicians, sending them politically adrift for the rest of their careers to avoid losing voters and harming their reputation. But this is not the case in Thailand. Politicians from all parties easily get off the hook, and who escapes the justice system depends on which party is in power at that time. How can such a system of governance be considered democratic?
Thailand's parties have to start by agreeing on how to get rid of corrupt politicians within their own party! After that, they must clearly declare there is no place for corrupt officials in a political democracy. But how far will Thailand get with this?
The country is marred by family-run politics, poisoned by money and money-makers, held back by a patronage system and a deep-rooted history of corruption, in a country that is not exactly the most law-abiding on the planet. Words are not enough. They ought to be reinforced with new laws. Likewise, politicians and civil servants who are convicted of corruption need to be banned from politics and civil service for life, while also being given harsh sentences.
The will for such a turn of events seems to now be in place, so maybe some good did come out of the wristwatch saga after all.
A Johnsen
Nail in the coffin
Re: "Watch ruling a bad mistake", (Editorial Dec 29).
A bad mistake perhaps, but a great decision! I know Thais who are furious about this, and I think it is another nail in the coffin of the PM. The 40 million baht question -- does this regime have any credibility among the voting population? Well we will see, actions like this of Prawit the Watchman, plus Premchai Karnasuta, boss of Italian-Thai Development who allegedly murdered and cooked up a black panther in a national park, are hardly going to help.
Watson
Abhisit gets it right
Re: "Abhisit rejects Pheu Thai coalition offer", (BP, Jan 2).
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was right to reject Pheu Thai's offer to join forces to form a government of national unity after the upcoming election.
It is interesting to learn that Pheu Thai's Chadchart Sittipunt would be nominated as prime minister if a national government was formed.
It is clear Pheu Thai does not want to nominate Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan for the PM post because she is too closely linked to Thaksin Shinawatra -- who is seen as the sole proprietor of that party.
Nevertheless, the choice of Mr Chadchart is not better by much, since he is seen as just another technocrat who has no political base of his own.
Mr Chadchart is not Thailand's "public figure" in its true sense of the word.
Vint Chavala
Make boozers pay
Re: "Boozers see their vehicles impounded", (BP, Jan 1).
Why is so difficult to legislate for the total confiscation of a drunken offender's vehicle, rather than returning it? Why is it so difficult to legislate for a total ban of a driver's license for life? Why is it so difficult to legislate for heavier fines, like 5,000 baht for drunk drivers? Why is it so difficult to legislate for the confiscation of motorcycles in cases where people speed, imbibe or forego crash helmets?
If the punishments were to fit the offences more seriously, perhaps drivers might take drinking and driving more seriously. Slap on the wrist punishments are laughable. The government needs to establish approved driving schools with legit instructors, and sufficient classroom hours and practical lessons prior to taking a strict driving written/road test.
Charcoal Ridgeback
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