OPINION

Not seeing the truth

Re: "Thailand needs more 'wonder women''', (Opinion, Aug 7). If the concern is how women's dress codes in Thailand reflect their submissive or inferior role, how can Ms Pannika and Ms Pattamawan not see the more and more strict forms of hijab women in southern Thailand have to wear? How can they not see and protest against the state imposing the hijab on primary school girls in the country? A few weeks ago, this newspaper had an article about a recycling shoe workshop showing, without comments, a woman in a burka. A burka, in Thailand!

If they are looking for serious gender equity issues beyond the pant suit, how about systematic female genital mutilation in southern provinces? Published literature exists on the topic. Ms Pattamawan apparently prefers to not refer to it. Why this indifference? Blindness, political correctness, or simply racism?

Condoning graft?

Khun Vint Chavala in saying that "politicians can minimise the chance of future military coups by not involving themselves too deeply in corruption" ("Don't fear illuminati", PostBag, Aug 7), appears to condone corruption if is done to a lesser degree. And does he really believe that cutting the military's budget will hamper its ability to defend the country? I would guess that a large part of the military's expenditure is on an over-inflated number of commissioned officers, not-needed other ranks and the purchasing of not-needed toys for the boys.

End TM30 madness

Expatriates, foreigners and long-term residents, unite!

The Thai Immigration police are waging a war upon us.

Let us respond with flowers, smiles and patience, as maybe, just maybe, some people in high places may come to their senses and recognise the futility, the uselessness and complete ineffectiveness of ill-thought rules and regulations put in place over a half century without any concern for efficiency or integration.

Sign the petition! No more TM30! Enough with the TM6.

Abolish the 90-day reporting, put the TM28 to sleep and establish a streamlined process requiring from us a single yearly visit to our beloved provincial immigration office covering all of these aspects.

What?

Does it smell like a pipe dream? Oh sadness.

Speed kills

Re: "Charter van operators want 110km/h limit, not 90", (BP, Aug 6).

Before the van operators make demands about this, they must review their past troubled history regarding high accident rates. Their speed limit should come down to 80km/h rather than 90km/h. I wish the authorities imposed higher fines for speeding.

Stop picking on us

Why, when the Thai baht is so strong, has it not been reflected in the price of imported foodstuffs? In fact some have gone up. A tin of corned beef was 185 baht at Christmas -- but at the same shop today, 250 baht!

Come share the love. You are doing well, so stop picking on us foreigners.