OPINION

Hollow promises

Most Thais see the ubiquitous rampant graft, but say that they have to accept this plague because they cannot improve things -- and so do nothing.

But one solitary youngster, Panida Yospanya, a brave 23-year-old undergraduate, fortunately differed.

She blew the whistle, uncovering massive graft that has been going on for years.

She was an intern at the Centre for Protection of the Desitute, in Khon Kaen.

Her moral courage was the spark for an investigation by authorities, including the PAAC.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, you grabbed power to cleanse us of corruption (as well as promising other reforms).

You should take this youngster as your role model and courageously investigate corruption in your own house, for the military has used taxpayer money for such "necessities" as an aircraft carrier without combat-worthy aircraft, an observation balloon that can't sustainably fly at combat heights, and bomb detectors that are less effective than flipping a coin.

What better case to start with than probing the provenance of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon's 25 ultra-expensive watches, allegedly costing up to 39 million baht?

The investigation is going at a snail's pace, as the NACC's head is a junta appointee.

Move it to another investigative agency and light a fire under it.

Show leadership and moral courage, PM Prayut.

Cleanse us.

Re: "Tycoon must report to cops Wednesday", (BP, March 13).

It is nice of the deputy national police to admit that "The rich and the poor must be treated equally under the law".

It must be an accident beyond his control that this is not what happens.

United Airlines strikes again. This past week a dog died during a flight after a flight attendant stuffed the poor animal into an overhead bin even though the owner had a pet approved carrier and was permitted to board.

United Airlines seems to employ morons. Aside from bumping more passengers than other airlines, and beating up a passenger who refused to de-plane when bumped, they now stuff dogs into overhead bins.

Be careful, those of you who fly with babies. United staff might soon require the babies to be stuffed into the overhead bins as well. Every time I read a United Airlines story, it nauseates me.

Despite approval from Thai and Japanese authorities, a Japanese food fair in Bangkok sponsored by Fukushima prefecture was forced to be cancelled due to fierce protests by consumer groups for fear of radioactive contamination.

Thais should make maximum efforts to clean up their own house. I have read so many reports that seafood sold at local markets is tainted with formalin and vegetables and fruits -- even some labelled "safe" -- are not really safe.

I've just been informed that Donald Trump is now allowing imports into America of dead exotic animals killed by trophy hunters. I encourage readers to google: "Trump tricked us -- oppose his quiet plan to allow trophy hunting" and then sign the petition.

As a father of a nine-week-old baby and user of prams and the BTS system, my heart goes out to Khun Manit Intharapim. I live near Nana BTS and have no lift to travel to get to the station and so use Asok.

Many times I have wanted to smash the door because I stand there and wait for a security guard to come and unlock it. Does the BTS not recognise that we use lifts in shopping malls, condominiums and office buildings? Why does someone need to come and unlock it? All of us can use an elevator.

Contact: Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 fax: +02 6164000 Email:

postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

All letter writers must provide full name and address.

All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.