OPINION

Take the guns away

Re: "School shooting suspect arrested", (BP, Feb 12).

And so, yet another gun crime with a school principal fatally shot.

Why can't Thailand follow the example set by Australia after the Port Arthur, Tasmania, mass shootings in 1996 and arrange an amnesty for all to hand in their guns?

There are some who need them for legal purposes perhaps, but I suspect the majority do not. Time to move up the civilisation rankings.

For a better Thailand

Re: "Implications of conservative triumph", (Opinion, Feb 13).

Thitinan Pongsudhirat's opinion piece merits close reading. He suggests the triumph of conservatism is the death of the neoliberal platforms, which we have witnessed in the country over the past 26 years, offering no substantial benefits but reeking of cosmetic political gimmicks.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has tacitly moved Thailand to be better guided by technocratic efficiency, which might not be conducive to shallow personality-led politics and pie-in-the-sky aspirations, which at best corrode the fabric of Thailand's identity and its significance in the world.

For the betterment of Thailand, we wish Mr Anutin the best.

Rules for thee

Re: "Man sentenced to 30 years for lese majeste", (BP, Feb 10).

If true as reported the Constitutional Court had ruled that "a court can conduct trials and examine witnesses in the absence of the defendant if they fail to appear without reasonable cause", we must then ask why it hasn't been done in the case of Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, who rammed his Ferrari into, and killed, a policeman.

Has Boss provided undisclosed "reasonable cause" to the courts for his persistent absence from justice? Or is it simply because of family of money and influence?

Capacity matters

Re: "Reinvent Thailand to revive growth", (Opinion, Feb 12).

Despite enjoying Boonwara Sumano's recent article, and given Thailand's deep sense of identity and strong sense of independence, is reinvention really needed? Are smaller nips and tucks a better fit for Thailand?

Could Thailand moderate and control the massive tourism industry, and would a weaker baht actually help the government effectively manage the rapid improvements that are needed in enforcement and policy implementation at all levels?

Has the massive growth in tourism been a blessing, but also a curse in some ways?

Certainly, Boonwara's strong and reasonable suggestions, supported by the sound and rational theoretical ideas of Francis Fukuyama and his notions of state capacity, should be regarded to improve Thailand not only for Thais, but for foreign visitors as well.

It's important to note that many of Boonwara's suggestions and serious questions of "state capacity" not only apply to Thailand but seem to be relevant to countries like Canada and South Korea, where building state capacity would work to improve the lives of regular folks.

Thank you for this article. It is necessary and totally applicable not only in Thailand.

Waste not

Re: "Phuket looks to resort model to tackle waste", (BP, Jan 18).

I dine from time to time at the food court of one of Pattaya's top malls. I'm astounded at the amount of food people waste. Thais, other Asian tourists and farang often eat half a meal and leave the rest. They don't ask for a takeaway box. It's just a total waste.

Is this wasted food fed to animals or used as biofuel? Is there a social service agency that can mount a campaign to stop this food waste or find a use for the huge amount of wasted food?