Re: 'Visa crackdown to stay', (BP, Dec 16).
I would like to commend Immigration Bureau Chief Surachate Hakparn for increasing the enforcement of Thailand's borders in a time where illegal immigration is running rampant around much of the globe. I do not believe that he is a racist. He has also arrested westerners in his sweeps. He is simply doing his job.
When people overstay their visas, they often take jobs at a lower wage in order to continue living here and that depresses the available wages and opportunities for Thai people, as well as those of us who did not overstay. Mass immigration lowers the value of labour. It also tends to increase crime because illegal aliens often cannot be vetted like those of us who are trying to stand properly in line.
Immigration is not a moral obligation to the rest of the world. It is a matter of economic security for an individual country. Illegal, mass-immigration yields devastating blows to economic and educational opportunity. It also causes cultural damage and destabilises neighbourhoods. Thailand is a country, not a charity. It has a duty to provide safety, jobs and opportunity to its citizens first and outsiders second.
Jason A Jellison
Posters an eyesore
How nice not to have to look at 10-foot high poster portraits, the leering, sneering, smiling faces of those running for office. I have rarely run into a live candidate who looked anything like he or she was portrayed.
If candidates cannot make and take the time to make the rounds of neighbourhoods where their constituents live, they shouldn't run for office. I remember Lady Bird Johnson, wife of former President Johnson, who ran a campaign to get rid of billboards along America's highways and scenic routes. Her slogan was not Make America Great, but, Make America Beautiful again. Thailand should follow suit.
Good Riddance
Mirrorless democracy
In the Dec 13 report, "Chalerm says regime leaves 'bad legacies'", two agencies are accused of collaborating to rig the election, and that a centre would be set up to monitor election campaigning and catch cheats. I am sure most of us would agree that people with the best knowledge of cheats should run such a centre.
With the planned centre, Pheu Thai this time sound like they mean Democracy with a big D -- in it's most noble and honest form. But are Pheu Thai finally going to achieve their goal of becoming the Champions of Democracy -- in a centre without mirrors?
A Johnsen
Thai bus nightmare
In the latest horror story from the transportation sector we have a video clip of a woman with an interprovincial bus ticket given a tiny spot behind the bus driver with three other passengers. No seat belts and no proper seat, however it was a prime vantage point from which to film the driver teaching his young son to drive while seated on his lap and simultaneously make a video call.
What would be justice rendered in this case? Perhaps revoking his driver's licence for life and confiscating the bus, selling it and dividing the proceeds among the passengers? The bus company's operating permit should be revoked as well? Not a chance; this is Thailand.
Mr M
Standing up for jumbos
I wish to applaud HHB for his Dec 16 letter on how elephants in the tourism industry are horribly treated. For more information google: "Thailand, elephant crushing". The fact that HHB is very pro-Donald Trump while I'm a Trump-basher shows that the animal rights movement crosses all ideological lines and it welcomes anyone who has the courage and human decency to stand up for the animals.
Eric Bahrt
Madison not Mason
In my Dec 16 letter, "When pleasure becomes a crime", I wrongly labelled James Mason as a Father of the American Constitution. It was of course James Madison, also the fourth American president, who remarked that his insight to democracy was attained while high on cannabis. Google James Madison marijuana for a thorough explanation. Sorry.
Vincent Gilles
Contact: Bangkok Post Building
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
fax: +02 6164000 Email:
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.
