OPINION

Where's my refund?

Re: "Hotels, hospitals urged to give travellers refunds," (Business, March 1).

Whoever is in charge of tourism doesn't seem to understand that when you blatantly defraud tourists, they will spread the word far and wide across social media, comment pages and so on, and the resulting negative publicity will only deter more wavering travellers.

The news that the government has eliminated the second PCR test for tourists should have led to good headlines. Instead, we see many, many people complaining because hotels and hospitals are refusing to give refunds even though they have, in many cases, had the money for weeks.

The hotels' excuse is particularly feeble: "Some hotels said that without a legal order from the government, their cancellation policy cannot allow such type of refund."

Do they believe that we are stupid enough to believe this nonsense?

Re: "Ultra-royalist pro-Putin stance a worrying sign," (Opinion, March 1).

I agree with Atiya Achakulwisut that war is an atrocity and should not be used in social media posts to glorify dictatorial power or stir up extremism.

However, I think for Khun Atiya to claim that Thailand's "ultra-royalists" have sided with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine is an overstatement. Ultra-royalists in Thailand are a tiny minority now. And they are becoming more so.

I, for one, haven't heard or read any posts on the internet that Thais are taking sides in this ongoing war.

The conflict between Russia and Western countries is too big and has been going on for too long for Thailand and its people to get involved.

In the 1960s, the US accused the then Soviet Union of aggressive conduct when the Soviets built nuclear facilities in Cuba. The US claimed that since Cuba is situated in the "backyard" of the US, and such act was a threat to US security. In the end the Soviets relented and removed their facilities.

Now, part of the problem between Western countries and Russia is because Russia has accused the West -- particularly the US, Germany and UK -- of reneging on their promise not to include any Soviet break-away countries, including Ukraine, into Nato. Be that as it may, any disagreement should be settled at the negotiating table -- not with guns and tanks.

Therefore, since this conflict is too far away and too complicated, Thailand should stay at arm's length.

Re: "West's unkept promises the problem, not Russia," (Opinion, Feb 26).

Thank you for sharing this view. What does that tell us? The whole West including Japan, Australia, South Korea, the US, the EU and the Ukraine etc don't know history? And that's why right at this moment Russia can invade a whole country, bomb it, turn hundred of thousands of Ukrainians into refugees and make children grow up without their fathers. But that's not all, sadly it will also take the future of many young Russians, peace-loving young Russians. Your country seems to be so afraid of the young protesters who protest against this war in Moscow and other cities that they have to be arrested.

Thank you again Russian ambassador to Thailand for sharing your view! It seems that not even many Russians believe this view anymore.

Re: "Not all Russia's fault," (PostBag, Feb 28).

Although I have spent several decades writing fiction, only one of my books was a fairy tale for children. I believe I can honestly say it was very well received. But after reading Jensen K's letter on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and his excuses for it, I realise I cannot hold a candle to his ability to write fairy tales. A truly amazing talent.