OPINION

Dems can do better

Re: "Can Abhisit help the ailing Democrats?" (Opinion, Sept 22).

The first time I knew about Abhisit Vejjajiva was when he gave an interview with TV talk show host Bernie Lo decades ago when he was a rising star in politics. Like many of Mr Abhisit's rhetorical speeches in the years to follow that eventually landed him the post of prime minister in 2008, he would promise lower inflation, reduce the cost of living, and reform the education system and so on. But in practice, there was no meat on the bone.

Mr Abhisit would present himself as someone who toes the line of democracy and abides by the rules of the international community.

There is a joke that whenever Mr Abhisit or his mentor Mr Chuan encounters questions from reporters the answer is there is always a committee to be set up to look into this case. What follows is anyone's guess.

In an interview with international media shortly before the snap election that Mr Abhisit called for 2011, he said he was confident of winning, but then lost.

Like many others, I believed it was a political suicide for Mr Abhasit to dissolve parliament, as the party led by Mr Thaksin would win the election and return to power.

Some would argue the violence and death tolls caused by the red shirt riots, the downturn in the economy, and even the difficulty of installing Gen Prateep Tanprasert as police chief was too much for Mr Abhisit to handle in his two years as prime minister.

Since leaving politics, Mr Abhisit has chosen the right path by engaging in teaching, to educate the young generation about righteousness and ethics.

With due respect, Mr Abhisit is not suitable or qualified to return as the leader of the Democratic Party. He does not engage in political powerplay or intrigue. The Democrat Party needs another person to save it from collapse.

I bring you peace

Re: "A Nobel Prize for band-aid peace deals?" (Opinion, Sept 5).

Cambodia and Armenia are not at war, have never been at war, and hopefully never will be despite President Trump's claim that he stopped their war. Is it just a matter of a poor knowledge of geography or something worse?

There are sadly many, mostly older, people whose minds are starting to fail them. With care and family support they can live out the rest of their lives as well as possible but the problem must be recognised. An unsound leader could cause untold damage, we all hope this never happens.

All in a name

Re: "Activists demand appeal in Thaksin's lese majeste case" (BP, Sept 23).

Their names, freely chosen by themselves, of the two groups pressuring the Office of the Attorney General to "appeal Thaksin Shinawatra's acquittal in the lese majeste case against him" are irresistible.

Take the hilariously misnamed People's Democratic Reform Committee -- that group, also known as the PDRC, whose antics heralded the coup of 2014.

And for the Dharma Army, who would have thought the Buddha endorsed armies and street action for political agendas? I've somehow missed that sutta in my exploration of the Buddha's teachings.

But seriously, there are sound reasons for Thaksin Shinawatra to be in prison, albeit for a sentence not nearly so long as he richly deserves.

But even Thaksin no more deserves any prison sentence under S112 of the Criminal Code than does Arnon Nampa, a human rights advocate imprisoned for peacefully advocating for human rights in Thailand.

Thaksin arguably deserves a long prison sentence for many killings which took place under his war on drug policy.

That policy and his handling of the southern violence culminated in the bloody Tak Bai crackdown in 2014. Silence, even unto oblivion, might be a more ethical course for the PDRC and Dharma Army.

Gorilla blues

Re: "Great apes", (BP, Sept 24).

I was delighted to see the photograph of chimps looking well and interacting outdoors in Khon Kaen Zoo. This a big step in the right direction.

I would be even more delighted if the egregiously imprisoned gorilla Bua Noi could join them.

However, this is unlikely to happen, and as other readers have noted, she would probably be unable to cope with new surroundings having been locked up in her cell for so long. Deplorable.