OPINION

Military overreach

The Thai military is staffed and equipped for a single purpose -- to repress its own people. General numbers are skewed relative to other ranks, the police and other military forces, suggesting the Thai military is structured and equipped to be a coup maker and government in waiting rather than a defence force.

Tony Blair calls military governments dictatorships. The military's role is to serve the nation, religions, king and people; not serve and perpetuate its own interests, purchase excessive military hardware and appoint military officers to parliament and public service. Military intervention cannot resolve a political impasse; it can only mask it. Eventually, the Thai people must themselves resolve this impasse even if that process is hard, long and conflicted.

We regularly see and hear analyses of armed conflicts around the world.

However, I have never encountered any concrete arguments as to where the arms, munitions and explosives come from and how they get to, often besieged, forces and how they are paid for. Bullets, guns and mortars don't come cheap and come in bulky containers, yet we see surrounded fighters in places firing off thousands of rounds with impunity.

The narco conflicts in South and Central America are easy to explain regarding provenance of supply, but what about contained fighting such as Islamists in Mosul and Marawi. Somebody must be replenishing their supplies, and how. Also, where do the funds come from?

Perhaps emphasis should be increased on cutting the supply chains.

Re: "Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist", (BP, June 30)

The Koh Tao police couldn't find their way out of a plastic shopping bag. Solve a murder or a disappearance? We've all seen the result of their so-called investigations and "quick" results. The Royal Thai Police should not be further embarrassed by their Koh Tao colleagues.

For this year's Trafficking in Persons, Thailand was retained in the Tier 2 Watch List category (BP, June 29). I have one very simple solution that would surely put Thailand in an excellent light in the eyes of the US State Department and lead to an instant improvement in the ranking -- all the Thai government has to do is to simply whisper to Washington that Thailand is ready to give full cooperation and base access to the US military. Presto!

Just ask Malaysia how it was promptly upgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch List in 2015 and quickly to Tier 2 this year.

Re: "Take the 'Islamic' out of the 'IS'", (PostBag, June 25).

Stuart from Australia has zeroed in on one of the most critical issues related to combating the so-called "Islamic State" (IS). There is an urgent need for mainstream Islam to unambiguously define itself as the peaceful religion it claims to be and unequivocally divorce itself from any and all association with the IS and similar groups that carry out terrorism in the name of religion.

Unfortunately, while Muslim leaders and the general population of the religious faithful predictably mumble disapproval after each terrorist bombing, attack or beheading of innocents, I'm afraid too many are actually "silent cheerleaders" for the radicals. Far too many Islamic foundations and organisations -- and even some countries -- continue to aggressively fund Islamic madrassas and mosques that teach hatred of "infidels" alongside memorisation of the Koran.

Until all such supportive actions are totally eliminated and mainstream Muslims come out unequivocally against violence, the "peaceful" nature of Islam will continue to be in question.

The irony of the Chinese rail project seems to go unnoticed by the present Thai leadership. Long after we are all gone, future generations and the entire country will be part of a non-military takeover of Thailand (it's happening now). This country will be an "autonomous region", like Tibet and Hong Kong. The yuan will have replaced the baht, Chinese will have replaced Thai. An intelligent person can surmise the rest of the story. But then, somehow, this country lives and exists for today, with no ability to see tomorrow. I guess it's all part of the sabai-sanook syndrome.

While the good prime minister is "thinking" about police and military reform, why doesn't he add the immigration bureau to his list of considerations? Many immigration laws are outdated, many immigration officers still on a power trip, and many offices outside Chaeng Watthana still make up the rules as they go along, depending on what they know or don't know. Most times I'll bet few immigration officers ever read the updated bulletins. And, if reform is ever considered, (like other reforms in the consideration stage, but never in the doing), how about eliminating the "tip" boxes in a few upcountry immigration offices that are very visually and strategically located.

I've been to many immigration offices with Thai friends and the rules applicable in one location always seem to be different from the rules in other locations. A visible contribution into the tip box, in front of some immigration officials, always seems to speed up the waiting and hassling process considerably.

There have clearly been signs of intelligent life at BTS management headquarters recently. When the BTS was extended to Samrong, to compensate for a potential reduction in frequency (as the full-line circuit has been increased by five minutes), the turnaround time at BTS Samrong has been minimised by running trains straight into the departing platform and removing the security guard train inspection. This follows months after an inspired initiative at BTS Asok.

Previously, there were long queues to actually get out of the station, as space needed for extra ticket barriers was instead leased out to a small shop that sold women's bras and panties -- but sense finally prevailed. Passengers now leave this BTS station with relative ease. Is it possible that this intelligence could now be applied to providing an adequate number of trains in the evenings, instead of taking trains out of service from 7pm and continuing passengers' travelling misery until past 10pm?

Re: "PM urged to confirm poll run", (BP, June 30).

I agree with the idea that Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha should decide to contest in the next election, if he intends to be leader of Thailand's future government.

Be that as it may, Gen Prayut should be reminded of the two prerequisites for a leader in a democratic environment:

First, he must go through the oftentimes arduous democratic process before making any final decision concerning state affairs -- instead of doing it in an "S44" way.

Second, he must accept criticism rather than stay above it.

If Gen Prayut can conform to these two preconditions, he will have the respect of the majority of the Thai people, as well as be successful in his future political endeavours.

Developing infrastructure connectivity in Thailand could return happiness to the Thai people, but communicating without much connectivity of information is making them puzzle about what is going on.

Over the past one to two weeks, agenda setting by many Thai media companies was prioritised over the use of Section 44 for the Sino-Thai railway project. The framing of the issue was quite clear in that either the project does not have definite details about how Thais would be involved in the project or what they can learn from it. The impact of the project at the individual level is fundamental, but no basic information has been given about the ticket cost, and even the speed of the train.

As an acceleration to start the construction of the Sino-Thai railway project alerted many Thais to the significance of the scheme, efficient political communication and political public relations strategy on mainstream media and social media should therefore be used to manage information on this project, rather than rushing to make progress.

During an academic discussion held by Chulalongkorn University on 22 June, 2017, Associate Professor Nuannoi Trirat raised concerns about the value for money, the worthiness, and the financial management risk of this project. There were further discussions on the issue about the overestimation of revenue and underestimation of costs, who will be affected by the construction and whether the Thai-Sino Railway system is going to be competitive with other modes of transportation in Thailand.

The diversification of the current train system in Bangkok, including the BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link, is making the capital become "United Nations of Rail Systems", a term mentioned by Associate Professor Sompong Sirisoponsilp during the academic discussion. The Sino-Thai railway project will further widen the "United Nations of Rail Systems" concept.

As the debate about this project grows, many questions remain unanswered. Constant modifications of the project and the lack of efficiency in communication raise further confusion over the purposes of the project and who will gain from it.

Of course, there are always objections to the implementation of different policies in Thailand. Although every project has strengths and weaknesses, giving timely and accurate information to the public could gain at least some support, especially from those who will benefit in one way or another.

In general, developing the connectivity of infrastructure in Thailand should be done seamlessly and communication, in all aspects, should be clear.

There is still hope that the speediness of the train, the cost or the immediate start of the project will somehow let Thais appreciate its usefulness, rather than just the risk that the project might cause.

Re: "Burning question", (PostBag, June 30).

As a worldwide standard, buildings subject to inspection are categorised by the fire-prevention rules of each country according to their size and contents (usages), not all buildings, including private housing. Regarding inspection teams, larger fire departments have personnel for this purpose. Smaller departments send a fire truck with a crew for inspection duty and in case of a fire, they respond directly from the inspection site.

Regarding tea money, traditionally fire departments have very good relationships with their local communities, far better than police departments. Many locals donate money/gifts as appreciation for their work to protect local residents and the departments also openly ask donations for special events, such as annual fire prevent week, etc.

Re: "British Embassy shame", (PostBag, June 24).

I am embarrassed and ashamed in regards to the closure of the British Embassy premises due apparently to financial limitations. The island-bound public servants back home have no comprehension of the loss of prestige and status of the United Kingdom that their irrational strategy will have in the fastest emergent economic region of the world whilst countries with foresight such as Australia are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in new embassy buildings of stature in Bangkok.

What baffles me is the fact that the United Kingdom is the second-largest development aid donor in the world (five times as much as Australia and hence is able to afford a grand new embassy in the Thai capital!) and the UK provides very substantial aid to such countries as Bangladesh which have the (aid) funds to maintain a consulate in Chiang Mai which the British cannot! Totally illogical!

Apparently Trump is my karma, my payback, for having once been full of pride and perhaps some arrogance at having been born an American. Now, it seems I must suffer seemingly unending embarrassment and shame because of him.

Please God, I am heartily sorry for having sinned by thinking that I was somehow special or better than others in being an American. Please don't make me suffer any more embarrassment and shame because of him. I know now that I am and never was special or better than anyone else because I am an American. Please God, take away Trump's Twitter account and make my suffering end.