OPINION

Crime definitions

Re: "Myanmar concerns" (PostBag, Jan 14).

In response to Than Htwe, the Myanmar Deputy Chief of Mission, who says "...even when many of them are committing serious crimes", referring to those who have taken up arms to oppose the illegal coup.

Does he not think that staging the coup, taking away the vote, and imprisoning people like Ang San Suu Kyi, plus using controlled courts to reach military-decided verdicts, are, to use his phrase, serious crimes?

He also refers to Asean in his comments. It is my understanding that the Myanmar generals had an agreement with Asean, which they have failed to implement. So much for putting down those trying to bring some decency to the Myanmar situation.

Re: "The truth about Thai money politics" (Opinion, Jan 13).

Ajarn Thitinan Pongsudhirak is brave enough to speak up on Thai money politics and related issues involving General Prayut Chan-o-cha's brother and nephews' cases not being properly investigated and no one being held accountable still. He is not afraid of being sent to a junta-run "attitude adjustment centre" inside an army barracks. I salute his fearless attitude.

Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit Wongsuwon kicked out an elected legal government in an army coup, giving the reason that Yingluck s government was corrupt.

Gen Prawit's wristwatch scandal shocked the nation and the common man on the street. Citizens lost trust in our justice system. Even cab drivers and vegetable vendors hate our nation's leaders.

The problem is our ex-junta leaders never tried to learn from history and revolutions.

Ajarn Thitinan. Don't you agree that all this money politics for decades is due to our own lack of interest in being vocal and failing to unite to come onto the streets like Iranian youths who came out in numbers against the killing of a woman who was against wearing a hijab?

The saddest thing is the mainstream media. They never follow up on scandals if the main culprits are the so-called elites. The media should be fearless. We lack patriotism and nationalism. The question is: Who sets the right definition of proper nationalism and proper patriotism?

As long as our kids are kept in the dark and in fear of harsh punishment for speaking up, the future of Thailand is dark.

Re: "In search of respect" (PostBag, Jan 11).

I have sent emails to the editors of The Cambodia Daily and The Phnom Penh Post, alerting them that Eric Bahrt -- the prolific contributor to the PostBag, is on his way (hopefully).

Re: "Evaluating the China effect" (Business, Jan 16).

I have been following the latest news regarding Chinese tourists coming to Thailand without any proof of vaccination. It seems strange to allow this to happen while Covid cases in China are currently in the thousands per day. I realise Thailand needs revenue generated by tourism but at what price?