OPINION

Junta has it wrong

Re: "Thai MPs hold Myanmar seminar over junta's objection", (BP, March 2) & "Myanmar now an 'endless nightmare'", (BP, March 3).

Thailand's parliamentarians, including House committee on national security chairman Rangsiman Rome (MFP), should be lauded -- not deplored -- for seeking to work with all parties to end the Myanmar conflict. Myanmar's junta objected to exploring such avenues at parliament's "Three Years after the Coup" seminar, saying it would "create negative impacts" on bilateral relations. The junta asked the government to tell our parliament not to hold "any activity that could hinder cordial ties."

But the Tatmadaw's overthrow of Myanmar's freely and fairly elected government at gunpoint and as UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk said "three years of military rule have inflicted -- and continue to inflict -- unbearable levels of suffering and cruelty on people in Myanmar".

Myanmar men and women are increasingly fleeing there before they're drafted and forced to kill their fellow countrymen. Thus, our parliamentarians are duty-bound to seek and solve the root causes of the problem together with the main parties to the conflict -- including the Tatmadaw -- and for this, the peacemakers should be highly commended. The Tatmadaw is in error in decrying our efforts; in fact, it should work with us to bring peace and prosperity to our peoples.

Also, the Myanmar junta misunderstands the role of the various branches of a democratic government. The executive branch cannot order the legislative branch, though of course any branch may and should seek the cooperation of its co-equals.

Racial overtones

Re: "Locals to rally against Swiss man", (BP, March 3) & "My nation, my voice", (PostBag, March 1).

While condemning the actions of the Swiss man and his wife, it would seem that every Tom, Dick, and Harry is getting into the act. It has become a flag-waving exercise in the manner of the MAGA pantomime in the USA and has taken on a racial tone and stoked up by the media.

Every day we read of far more brutal assaults, taken as an everyday occurrence. Even our beloved subscriber Vint Chavala has now climbed onto the bandwagon. I expected more from him. But after his attack on the democratically elected MFP, I am not surprised.

First noble truth

Re: "Meaty matters", (PostBag, Jan 18) & "Matter of choice", (PostBag, Jan 16).

In a continuation of my counterpoint to Eric Bahrt's vegetarian crusades, particularly about eating meat, I would like to add in addition to being "plant blind," Mr Bahrt has placed himself in the rarified position from which he feels justified in measuring the suffering of other species as well as his own.

He has said more plants are eaten by livestock than people, so we as a species are guiltier than the members of his cult of veganism because we eat those animals.

It is noteworthy that the teaching of Gautama Buddha is not concerned with the futile assignation of guilt. "There is suffering" is the first noble truth (Dukkha in Pali). We cannot seek happiness and find it, nor does seeking to avoid pain ever ultimately achieve its goal.

And I would add "we" means all living things, not just my tribe, cult, or species. All life is suffering, and it is always a sacrificial process. I leave it to readers to contemplate this message and discover whether unmeasured compassion has value or not.