OPINION

No to dictatorship

Re: "Thailand's policy on Myanmar stinks," (BP, June 23).

PM Prayut and FM Don seem to believe that "might makes right" in dealing with the Tatmadaw -- but the Myanmar's State Administration Council (SAC) lacks legitimacy and can in no way be considered as the international representative of the people of Myanmar with whom it is embroiled in a deadly civil war.

For example, Prayut let the SAC -- not the NUG -- run the Myanmar embassy here, even though the question of representation is still in abeyance at the UN.

Gen Prayut's evidently not even invited the NUG to any Thai-hosted informal talks on Myanmar. Foreign minister Don insists such meetings have been productive -- yet cannot specify any positive results from the three prior talks, and the SAC's been unresponsive to making Asean's Five-Point Consensus a reality.

Further, the SAC knows full well that in last month's elections, Thais made history and turned their backs on military dictatorship.

As Les Miserables would have put it, voters heard the song of angry men who would not be slaves again. Gen Prayut's is a caretaker government, without the right to make policy changes.

Gen Prayut and the foreign minister Don should follow international practice and recognise legitimacy.

Involve both SAC and NUG on an equal basis in any acts affecting Myanmar. Be neutral in word and spirit, whether it be at the embassy or talks.

Re: "Keeping it nice", (PostBag, June 22) and "Climb that tree!" (PostBag, June 19).

My sincere apology to Eric Bahrt if he finds the "monkey" article offensive. It was written for fun and never meant to belittle Eric as Michael Setter said.

Michael's recall is on the wrong track.

I went to the same boarding school in England as the late ML Kukrit Pramoj, nothing close to a Chinese school kid indoctrinated into communist culture as Michael is saying.

When Michael alleges that my article seeks to demean others, he should look in the mirror and control his baseless anti-Chinese rhetoric.

Like it or not, the Communist Party of China is leading China, which in turn is leading the world economy into the future, for the mutual benefit of every nation.

Re: "New PM likely on July 13", (BP, June 21).

Well, lets hope so, and let's hope its Pita Limjaroenrat -- as it's been well over a month now since the election was contested, and a new PM has still not been installed!

Most democratic nations in the world have been impressed both with the Move Forward Party leader's intellectual aptitude and his ability in speaking English. I don't recall a Thai political leader speaking English as well as him. One can easily be persuaded that he is an English native speaker, just by listening to him speak.

The fact of the matter is that he spent time living in America, studying at Harvard University, and it shows.

While speaking English well may not be a prerequisite in becoming the leader of the kingdom, winning a general election most certainly is, and on both accounts, Pita comes out on top.