OPINION

Doesn't ring true

Re: "Ten to testify in DNP bribery claim case," (BP, Dec 31).

The assertions of bribes demanded by the chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to avoid being transferred to positions far away from home provinces don't quite ring true. One of the most poorly-kept secrets of government bureaucracy is that payments are often demanded in return for postings to locations that offer maximum opportunities to extract illicit payments in exchange for ignoring the enforcement of regulatory requirements.

Border areas, locations through which traded products and undocumented workers pass, and areas of high commercial activities are the usual "plum" assignments handed out by officials in exchange for certain "considerations". Paying to be posted near to home provinces seems a far less likely scenario.

Re: "Gift bust a start," (PostBag, Jan 2).

It came as something of a shock to see Burin Kantabutra extending his "heartiest congratulations" to DNP personnel, such as the former Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn in connection with the bribery for positions scandal.

Has he forgotten the burning of villagers' homes within the park in 2011 -- as the BP editorial of Dec 30 reminds us -- and the unresolved disappearance there of Karen activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen in 2014, both of which occurred on the ex-chief's watch? Personally, I would be a little more circumspect in offering congratulations, hearty or otherwise, to anyone remotely linked to the DNP management, at least until the proverbial stables have been cleaned out a lot more thoroughly.

Re: "Anutin assures Chinese tourists," (BP, Jan 5).

Months ago, when the Covid situation in Europe was more or less as in China now, people could not travel freely between countries. Even inside some countries, there were travel restrictions.

Whether you were a German, British, Swede, a Dane or a Jew was not the question! The restrictions were based on the number of per capita cases in countries or regions. Of course, many countries are much better prepared to handle a rise in cases now than they were. Each country must be allowed to take the necessary steps to protect public health and medical capacity without being blamed for discrimination and even racism.

Re: "In Thailand, 70 is the new 51," (BP, Jan 3).

In 2022, Thailand became an aged society, and by 2031, we're forecast to join Japan as a super-aged society, with over 20% of our population aged 65 and up. We're living longer, with an increasing percentage of elderly persons. As Prof Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai notes, "Without a fresh influx of talent to take the place of the elderly, [we] will be left with low economic productivity, an elderly population, and not enough young adults to care for them."

We should recruit foreign talent we need, including refugees. For example, the Taliban banned Afghan women from helping their economy grow. The 20 years of American involvement there have produced many women professionals who have the science, technology, engineering, and math expertise we need -- and be competent in English.

Also, our top companies will need more world-class young executives to fuel growth. We should target STEM grads from the world's top 150 universities, offering them special visas to relocate.

I open PostBag. I see Burin Kantabutra, Felix Qui and Eric Bahrt. Yaaaawn.