Dig deeper
Re: "Best when fresh", (PostBag, May 14 ).
Our prime minister and his big boss should have known better than to play around with rice in a country inhabited by 67 million rice experts.
The Bangkok Post's journalists would do the nation a great favour by digging up the answers to the following questions, over and above Simon Collins' big first question: Why was the rice stored for so long?
- Apart from the two warehouses in Surin, is there any more pledged rice stored elsewhere in the country? Who owns the warehouses in Surin?
- What is the total cost of this storage, including regular fumigation? Which agency is responsible for this rental contract? Which cabinet minister is responsible for this agency?
- What is the current cost to the taxpayer of each tonne of stored rice, including the initial pledging cost and the total storage costs to date?
And, perhaps most importantly, what price does the prime minister assign to the damage done to Thailand's international reputation as a major rice exporter, particularly among African countries?
Sad Optimist
Who's in charge?
Re: "Keep quiet on Myanmar", (Editorial, May 11).
Reading about our infamous parolee having talks in Myanmar makes one wonder who is running this country. Is it the government, or any Tom Dick or Thaksin?
What does his parole officer have to say about this when the parolee makes his regular report to him?
Ron Martin
Strange remark
Re: "Hard to justify", (PostBag, May 9); "Thaksin met with Malaysia's Anwar", (BP, May 9) and "Thaksin in Myanmar rebel talks", (BP, May 8).
Comments by Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang that publicly upport Thaksin's move to talk to Myanmar's rebels are shameless.
I found Thaksin to be a second-rate actor.
He should have taken professional training at a proper drama school where they teach breathing techniques, facial expressions, body language, and to act naturally.
What is worse is the majority of the ministers supporting Mr Thaksin in meetings with Myanmar armed rebel groups and Anwar Ibrahim, who is the prime minister of Malaysia. So scary!
Jayut Jayanandana
Better solution
Re: "Fixing Thailand's cannabis regulations", (BP, May 8).
I would suggest, rather than re-inventing the wheel, Thai policy formulators examine these models to save time and gain a thorough understanding of what works and does not, especially regarding the more technical aspects and the health impacts of THC content.
This will also help remove many obstacles in the import-export sector and facilitate international business, an area that is now merely the unattainable dream of local producers.
Above all, if policy is intended to reflect public interest, the wishes of the public must be respected by implementing a representative government at all levels through free and fair elections.
Thereafter the constitution must be revised to enable the reform of the many corrupt institutions which are a cancerous blight afflicting the nation.
Absent such reformation there is no possible resolution of Thailand's pot conundrum in the foreseeable future.
Michael Setter
