Uphold law first
Re: "Unholy identity crisis", (Editorial, Aug 27).
Let's expand this examination of identity theft beyond merely camouflaged propaganda in support of digital ID rollouts with a wider view.
Some 5,000 years ago, Chinese jade forgers were hard at work at their considered "honorable" profession of copying jade ornaments (often thought to have spiritual properties).
Today, as portrayed in the online hit The Stone, the Thai amulet trade is rife with forgeries. Just as the Western fine art market is inundated with copies, and some even cast doubts over the most famous image in Christianity, the Shroud of Turin, as to its authenticity.
When it comes to the spiritual value of ornaments and depictions, who can tell if such a concept is real or not when in fact the whole matter is merely a way to prey upon people's gullibility.
Fake IDs and changed IDs are always going to exist. Any gangster worth his salt has connections to get off the hook. The PM and parties are experts in this field. In the US it is easy to change one's name in a court of law and then get a new passport and identification papers; it is considered a citizen's right to do so.
A focus on establishing and enforcing the rule of law rather than obsessing about identity is what is needed.
Michael Setter
Charming ways
Re: "1% GDP growth impacts will be severe", (Opinion, Aug 21).
I had a memorable discussion with a Thai traveller the other day about Thailand's structural economic and political woes.
Topics ranged from low productivity growth, rote learning, steep household debts (90%), helicopter money, a huge gap between rich and poor, a feudal and hierarchical society, corruption (increasing consumption prices between 5-20%), and multinational and family business monopolies (making prices 2-5 times higher than those in other countries).
Other topics were US President Donald Trump's tariffs and military skirmishes with Cambodia, to 30-35% of the total workforce being agricultural workers with low productivity.
His conclusion was that foreigners should take Thailand for what it is, with its unique way of doing things.
Hence, statements such as "This is Thailand", "sanuk" and "mai pen rai" and of course references to the Thai smile.
In his opinion the country has always bounced back from its upheavals. We must give him credit for that. Last, but not least, Thailand offers charm, I guess.
S de Jong
It takes two to tango
Re: "Gaza media spin", (PostBag, Aug 26).
And it was started by Israel in 1948 at Deir Yassin. Since which time they have murdered many Palestinians.
Israel holds more hostages than Hamas ("detained without charge" is the euphemism) and Hamas has hostages only to secure the release of the ones held by Israel, through hostage swaps.
Why else would they go to the trouble and expense?
Some swaps have taken place: there are videos. These show the former Hamas hostages in good health and on friendly terms with their former captors, while hostages released by Israel look to have been maltreated.
Hamas indicated they are ready for more swaps; but President Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to respond.
It takes two to tango.
Colin Roth
