In the March 13 online news story, "Tycoon must report to cops", the statement by police officers gave an impression that accused leopard poacher Premchai Karnasuta must appear for questioning Wednesday -- or else.
We are curious what "or else" entails. Another postponement? Another trip abroad (like Thaksin, Yingluck, Vatana, the flying monk, the Red Bull scion in the hit-and-run case, and others)?.
Jack Gilead
Disappearing evidence
Re: "Top cop to clear air over 'lost evidence' in leopard kill case", (BP, March 11).
How evidence in the Premchai forest poaching case can be lost is totally beyond all comprehension. In cases with such a high profile, evidence does not "walk away" and disappear. It is willfully removed and destroyed. Not only do "birds of a feather flock together", but lots of "thank you" money also changes hands. It is known in the West as a hefty bribe.
David James Wong
Protect the aged
Re: "Showing our age" (Asia Focus, March 12).
If, indeed, "ageing is a privilege" or even a "most glorious opportunity", because not everybody gets to age, is it possible to extend the privilege of longevity in the future?
While a universally acceptable answer is still on the waiting list, Asian countries could take useful inspiration from the practice of Latin America in this field. The adoption of the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons (2015) might be used as an encouraging model for negotiating a similar Asian-Pacific legal instrument on the matter.
The Inter-American Convention (41 articles), in force from January 11, 2017, defines ageing as a gradual process that develops over the course of life and entails biological, physiological, psychosocial, and functional changes with varying consequences, which are associated with permanent and dynamic interactions between the individuals and their environment. The lifetime knowledge of senior citizens, their talents and competence are an added value for society and should be seriously taken into account and strictly protected by law.
Ioan Voicu
Israel not to blame
The March 9 report, "US Embassy may lie in contested zone", glosses over important historical context.
First, saying "After the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation" obscures the fact that one side acted legally and the other acted belligerently. Israel legally declared its independence in 1948 in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 181. The next day, five Arab armies invaded Israel with the aim of annihilating it. Arab League forces captured eastern Jerusalem, including the Old City's Jewish Quarter, and killed or expelled all of the Jews living there.
Second, the report states, in reference to a disputed enclave in Jerusalem: "When the 1967 war broke out, the Jordanian and Israeli armies fought over it." Again, war did not simply "break out". Egypt evicted UN peacekeepers, blockaded Israel's port of Eilat, and massed tanks and troops in preparation for an invasion of Israel. Israel pre-emptively struck Egypt, but begged Jordan to stay out of the conflict. It was Jordan that attacked Israel and opened the war's Jerusalem front. Israel captured East Jerusalem in self-defence.
Stephen A Silver
Hefty fines at Songkran
Re: "Plan to cut death toll at Songkran", (BP, March 13).
There is no need for additional accident prevention measures, such as increasing check points, loud campaigns, etc, just issue a special order to intensify penalties like extremely high fines for all traffic violations. Let everyone know that violation of any traffic rules will ruin their entire life, and that will scare bad drivers off all roads.
RH Suga
Le Carre mystery
Bernard Trink's review of John le Carre's A Legacy of Spies (Life, March 9) stated that "Peter Guillam, Smiley's protégé at the Circus, is the narrator. At present, both are retired -- Smiley in Cornwall, Peter in the south of France".
From the beginning of the book, we are told that Peter Guillam "has retired to his family's farmstead on the south coast of Brittany", which is in northwestern France. At the end of the book, we find that Smiley had retired to Freiburg in southern Germany.
Tej Bunnag
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