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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
Comment

Weed out bad actors

Re: "Lawsuits aggravate forest poor's plight", (Opinion, July 23).

Thanks to Sanitsuda Ekachai for continuing to shed light on the plight of marginalised forest dwellers in Thailand. While some government officials are undoubtedly well-meaning, albeit misguided or misinformed, in their belief that the best way to protect forests is by removing all people from them, many officials are instead motivated by other vested interests.

The simple fact is that there is no money to be made by officials championing the just cause of traditional forest dwellers maintaining their lives in designated forest areas. Far more opportunities for personal gain exist from issuing leases for "reforesting" degraded forest land, promoting tree plantations or turning a blind eye to forest encroachment or illegal building of resorts.

It is a sad reality that many officials entrusted to manage the country's forests are motivated more by opportunities for personal enrichment than in actual protection.

Samanea Saman


Respect to Thai media

Re: "Media disgrace over cave boys", (PostBag, July 22).

One has to laud the local media for leaving the cave boys and their coach alone despite the earlier broad-brush press conference of the kids/coach, psychiatrists and the Navy Seal rescuers. The one-hour programme was flooded with "irrelevants" but viewers wanted to hear the inner thoughts of the victims and professionals. It was more like an entertainment show similar to Britain's Got Talent with goalposts as a preamble.

Fortunately, it was foreign correspondents who broke the rules of "human rights" and their news was least viewed locally even via social media because it was relayed in English without Thai subtitles.

The bad effects would not have been that large as the news was not broken by any member of the Thai media. This is even more laudable as, for the first time, the Thai media uniformly obeyed the request.

However, to my simple mind, I simply cannot see how their privacy was invaded when the victims and their families were merrily telling tales about the boys' experiences to foreign media, meaning that the victims themselves ignored the advice dished out by the state.

Songdej Praditsmanont


Origin of the cosmos

Re: "Sometimes you just can't win", (PostBag, July 22).

As always, Eric Bahrt makes an excellent point that "If someone believes so much in science can he show any scientific literature that explains how unconscious matter evolved into intelligence?"

Just like the origin of the cosmos, not much is known about our own evolution, excepting some theories.

The distinction between human beings and other creatures is that during our journey on this planet we have cultivated all kinds of concepts and constructs that based on our beliefs. Religions, gods, faith, superstitions, ghosts, angels, paradise and Hell have become an integral part of our existence.

We created them; hence we are the only consumers. And we are also the victims of our own creation.

Consciousness is also a part of the conundrum we have created. Following the laws of nature, all these concepts and constructs disappear when we stop breathing.​ ​

It happens to all creatures, not just mankind. The only difference being other creatures do not suffer from the burden of faith and all other misconstrued notions of being superior.

Kuldeep Nagi


​Conscripts for sale

Re: "'Slavery' in the military rife", (PostBag, July 22).

The letter explains that officers in the British army have a batman. However, that is not how it works in Thailand.

Some years ago, a friend and I went to view a house which an army officer wished to rent out. As we viewed it, there were five conscripts working in and outside the house.

I told the officer I thought the rent he wanted was too high. He agreed that it was high but said if we agreed to pay it, the conscripts would all come with the house.

Pen or sword


Contact: Bangkok Post Building
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
fax: +02 6164000 Email:

postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

All letter writers must provide full name and address.

All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.

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