Stark contrast
Re: "Panel to revive economy", (BP, Oct 29).
What an interesting juxtaposition of images on the front page of Tuesday's Bangkok Post, with one photo showing two outstanding Thai women executives atop a photo of no less than 15 men from the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking, who met the prime minister to advocate for the creation of a new panel to draw up measures to stimulate the economy.
Let's hope the proposed panel will be a bit more inclusive of women, who in reality are major drivers of the economy and undoubtedly have some of the best ideas for how to move the country forward.
Samanea Saman
Far from the truth
Re: "Naughty Nato", (PostBag, Nov 2).
I'm wondering if Nick Ferriman has bought a Vladimir Putin-era Russian history book, as this can be the only reason he could claim that Finland ever invaded Russia.
However, he does seem excited Mr Putin has invaded not one, but two sovereign countries, forgetting perhaps that Mr Putin has also supported dictators in Kazakhstan and Syria, not to mention his illegal incursion into Moldova.
But no matter how many journalists Mr Putin bumps off, the fact remains that Nato has been strengthened by his warmongering, and he remains too cowardly to ever consider invading a Nato member. So, no, comrade Ferriman, still no "strategic defeat for Nato".
Tarquin Chufflebottom
End graft now
Re: "Cops suspected of B300m bribe bid," (BP, Nov 2).
It is long past time for the government to clean up our police force and the public prosecutor's office. The latest scandal involves at least nine officers, including a lieutenant colonel, in the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, who allegedly extorted B300m from a suspect. But corruption is deeply entrenched in the Royal Thai Police and Office of Attorney-General.
For example, in 2012, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, a scion of the ultra-wealthy Red Bull clan, fled after killing a cop in a hit-and-run accident. Years later, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha asked ex-graft buster Vicha Mahakun why tracking down the fugitive is so difficult -- despite AP publishing the fugitive's photo at his swanky London flat in 2015. Khun Vicha submitted his recommendations for reforming the RTP and OAG in 2020, but Gen Prayut and his successors have not mentioned it publicly since.
Then, we have this year's feud between our two then-senior-most cops, aka "Big Tor" and "Big Joke", each accusing the other of being on the take, with court-quality evidence available. Yet no major reforms have been introduced. Seniority, not merit, for instance, still accounts for a full 50% of the total criteria for selecting a cop for the top job.
PM-cum-Police Commissioner Paetongtarn, the longer you put off the major reforms needed, the harder cleaning the cesspools will become. Your best legacy would be to have introduced the rule of law in our beloved country -- by sending Khun Vicha's report to parliament for urgent review and implementation. Do it now.
Burin Kantabutra
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