OPINION

No proof in pudding

Re: "Bending on S112", (Editorial, July 31).

Your urging on the Move Forward Party (MFP) to drop the steadfast amendment to Section 112 of the criminal code -- or the lese majeste law, in preference to pursuing other declared policies in curing our present social and economic malaise is moving.

In addition, it would be wonderful to test the words of most senators and some parties to determine whether they then would no longer object to the MFP in a coalition government led by Pheu Thai.

It may look academically nice to be dogmatic as urged by his mentor, who is not on the scene, and now has caused havoc in the political scene. It is clearly not pragmatic and not to the MFP's pursuit of change to steadfastly be unbendable though heroic in an academic world.

It now appears obvious that the MFP's leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, is very downtrodden in spirit, as seen when interviewed by CNN's Christiane Amanpour recently.

It is enough and praiseworthy of the last decade in the opposition, but he should, for a change, test his party on whether they are as good as their campaign's words while in government instead of being in the opposition again for the next four years.

So far, the new party, MFP, has not proven their pudding yet, and this is maybe the only and last chance.

Religion and politics

Re: "Monk treated too harshly", (Editorial, Aug 1).

I would respectfully suggest that everything you wrote clearly illustrates the claim by many monks, as I wrote recently, that the teachings of how Siddharta became enlightened had not been brought to Thailand.

Referring specifically to the Thai people's concerns about Phra Phayom's involvement in political affairs, he has not followed Siddharta's teachings which is his obligation as a senior monk. Siddharta established the sovereignty of the individual human mind: that people are individuals, not one of a collective species. This is the very basis of Buddhism.

Promoting any political party or any ideology is surely a violation of true Buddhism. Phra Phayom used to speak for the Pheu Thai Party and now the MFP, influencing the electorate, who should enlighten themselves individually before voting. Phra Phayom has therefore been in violation of both Buddhist teaching and democracy. He has also been very critical of the monarchy and the King. The King is the apolitical head of state of the sovereign democratic nation of Thailand.

Side with elephants

Re: "Court orders DNP to move naughty jumbo", (BP, July 23).

In the past, I've written PostBag letters about the horrible way elephants are tortured so that they would become submissive and give rides to tourists. While I noted many agencies in Chiang Mai that promote elephant tourism now have signs reading: "NO Riding", unfortunately, elephant riding continues at many tourist spots.

Therefore, I'm urging everyone to google: "Stop Starving, Torturing and Beating Elephants for Tourism, Force Change" and sign the petition to the Minister of Tourism, who has the power to end this barbaric practice once and for all.

The fact that this treatment of elephants has gone on for decades shows that every Thai government, past and present, has been beneath contempt.