Monks and politics
Re: "Statue rivalry sows conflict", (Editorial, Jan 25).
Have I understood correctly? Collaborating with the Royal Thai Army, some monks are blessing statues in order to promote patriotism and warring?
I seem to recall some adage having it that such patriotism is the last refuge; I'm sure it wasn't supposed to be Buddhist monks, but perhaps different rules apply for some Thai monks, who continue serving their political masters' agenda in exchange for sufficiently gilded temples with zero transparency in donations. Whatever will Thai Buddhism say next?
It's as disturbing as the Maga version of Christianity in the US, where some actually want to deny the First Amendment to their once great constitution by having the Ten Commandments displayed in classrooms and elsewhere, seeming oblivious (could any self-styled Christian be that ignorant?) to the fact that the first of those divine dictates commands absolute intolerance of every other religion's gods and goddesses.
FELIX QUI
Walk the talk
Re: "Witnesses line up against ex-top cop for 'bullying' antics", (BP, Jan 24).
Our election front-runners each loudly promise that they'll fight graft with all their might --but none have dared back talk with action.
Ex-deputy top cop Big Joke's scandal can show us who will walk their talk. Big Joke accused his then-boss, Big Tor the top cop, of being on the take, and Big Tor returned the "favour". Then-PM Srettha "investigated" the charges in a totally opaque manner that had all the hallmarks of a whitewash.
In another famous case, former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his successors, including recent caretaker PM Anutin Charnvirakul, have avoided and failed to realise recommendations by ex-graftbuster Vicha Mahakun on reforming the Royal Thai Police and Office of the Attorney General.
Party leaders and prime ministerial candidates such as Mr Anutin, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, Yodchanan Wongsawat, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Capt Thamanat Prompow can set a precedent by showing commitment.
They can make public pledges that if elected, they'll re-open the Big Tor-Big Joke cases and send Mr Vicha's recommendations to parliament.
BURIN KANTABUTRA
Kindness in care
With all the chaos, loss of life, and general negativity dominating the world these days, I want to share something positive. I am a retired American citizen living in rural Thailand, but travelling to Bangkok regularly to see friends and get my needed dose of city life. I feel fortunate to be able to live here in retirement, and I am well aware how hard life is for many around me.
I was reminded of that recently when I drove my Thai father-in-law to the rural state hospital to get help for him after food poisoning. It was there where I saw many sick and less fortunate people being admitted, examined, and waiting.
The entrance area was not terribly busy and we were quickly attended to by administrative staff, a nurse, and the doctor. I was the only Westerner and stuck out like a sore thumb, but one nurse took it upon himself to communicate my father-in-law's vital statistics to me in English and explained, as best he could, that he was being admitted.
He did this with great consideration to me, while at the same time giving compassionate care to my father-in-law. I've always felt that nurses and teachers are the most underpaid workers in the world, but what this nurse did showed me that there are people who do care and want to do good, even in challenging conditions and without great financial reward.
Well done, and thank you!
NOKCHRIS
