Laughable justice
Re: "Justice must ditch the glitz", (Editorial, May 13).
The editorial piece on the Thai justice system is as weak as the system itself. It's nothing to do with glitz, it's about loopholes, delays, requests by elite criminals who are treated like film stars, lawyers who know all the scams and a system whereby only low-class dangerous murderers and criminals can be quickly convicted. How many times do we read about refusal to attend, postponement of appearances or warrants not yet being issued? You couldn't devise a system with more chances to avoid attendance. More than 13 years after the Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya hit-and-run saga occurred, he remains at large. It's laughable and pathetic.
Steve Merchant.
LGBTQ+ surprises
Re: "Government banks on rainbow economy", (BP, May 12).
As an openly gay man nearing 50 years old, I patronise almost no LGBTQ+ businesses, refuse to attend pride parades, and do little to no business with most LGBTQ+ organisations and groups.
After three decades of immersing myself in the LGBTQ+ community, I know better.
Walk into any Chicago LGBTQ+ disco/rave and you'll find many, perhaps most of those present are on illegal drugs, and engaging in promiscuous behaviour. Walk into a public school classroom today with an LGBTQ+ teacher, and watch them tell your son that he is a girl and/or should change his gender. Walk into an American LGBTQ+ community centre and you will find highly radical, often anti-government books, seminars and events, frequently conducted by very unstable people whose policies' health consequences tax America's healthcare system and the human body severely.
I wish the Federation of Thai Industries and others involved with their project well, but if they are successful in acquiring large numbers of Western LGBTQ+ tourists, I think they are in for some very unpleasant surprises because all of the problems (and more) which I just wrote of will then be on Thailand's front doorstep.
An economy based on diversity and inclusion is not a driving force for any nation.
Jason A Jellison
Prostitution puzzle
Re: "Russian sex worker suspect arrested on Koh Phangan", (BP, May 9).
One of the conundrums of Thailand is prostitution, a crime under Thai law, as appears from the report of a Russian woman arrested for allegedly providing sexual services at a charge of 11,000 baht per hour.
I could understand if the woman was arrested for working without a permit or for overcharging.
In the street opposite my hotel, there stand dozens of women from early evening till late at night. They're offering services. Let alone thousands of bar girls. I believe they are employed by the bars, but are expected to offer sexual services as well.
All states of Australia decriminalised prostitution because it was a prime cause of police corruption. A second main reason was to promote the health of prostitutes (of both sexes, as is the case in Thailand) and customers.
Joseph Zaresky
