OPINION

Creepy toys

Re: "Doll seller faces charges over undelivered orders", (BP, June 11).

Legit or not, these Labubu things are creepy, like the disturbing luk thep craze of a few years ago, which mercifully seems to have disappeared. Thankfully, Paddington Bear has a much bigger fan base.

Good perspective

Re: "Know your history", (Editorial, June 8).

Praise for this editorial piece for taking on Thai history education. Despite Thai history and culture present its people as warm and polite, the static, top-down and authoritarian attitudes which underscore the study of this subject stifle its creativity and academic innovation. Teaching needs reforming to imbue young students with critical thinking skills.

Measure of strength

Re: "MFP launches new agenda despite court threat", (BP, May 19).

Allow me to paraphrase this comment from Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader of Move Forward, that "The strength of democracy is not about how robust the government is, but how fair and active the opposition is."

Review tax reform

Re: "Changing the Tax Act", (PostBag, June 10).

It has been interesting to see so many opinion pieces appear in the media that attempt to normalise the plan to move Thailand's taxation system to a worldwide principle. Such a plan should not be normalised. It's far too important to the nation.

No one should be left in any doubt about how monumental this proposed change is. Not only will it fundamentally change the way Thailand's tax system has operated for decades, but it has the potential to cause serious, long-lasting damage to the Thai economy.

Most worrying is the speed at which Revenue Department Director-General Kulaya Tantitemit is moving ahead with these critical changes. In less than a year, two seismic changes have been announced, each heralding a profound change to Thailand's taxation system -- it should be viewed as seemingly reckless.

The silence of Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, no doubt a wise political operative, is likewise not encouraging.

The tax system proposed by Khun Kulaya seems wholly unsuited to Thailand's open economy, which is far removed from the economies of developed Western OECD nations. What's more, the changes go far beyond what is being asked of Thailand under the OECD agreements.

What is urgently required is for Khun Kulaya to stop and reflect carefully on what she is proposing. Take time to hold broad public discussions. Consider carefully what other regional economies are doing, specifically the regional hubs of Hong Kong and Singapore, and whether their tax codes, which promote inflows and trade, are more appropriate for Thailand. Consider why Malaysia, despite complying with the OECD, froze its proposed tax on foreign income until at least 2026 and has no plans to move away from remittance-based taxation. Consider why El Salvador recently moved to scrap tax on foreign income remitted to encourage investment.

It is not what Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin claims Thailand desperately needs, and it is the reason for his endless travels. Consider why the Philippines exempts non-citizens from a tax on foreign remittances.

Could it be because they realise how much taxes would adversely affect their long-stay retirement/tourist hub? Look carefully at Western OECD tax systems and how they compare to Thailand, especially in terms of the generous tax credits, tax bands, and the exemptions they offer, and the blanket tax exemptions they liberally use to lure long-stay tourists/retirees and investors.

Could it be that Thailand will become uncompetitive relative to Western OECD countries, never mind its neighbours?

Success story

Re: "China's issues", (PostBag, June 12).

Michael Setter opined of having science, technology, commerce and infrastructure in China as not important when the country is spiritual-less. That is great when one is self-sufficient in material wants.

According to the World Bank, almost the entire population of China has moved out of extreme poverty, which was a spectacular, unprecedented feat.

Undeniably, her records on freedom of belief and speech are appalling and have yet to reach an acceptable standard. But when one is less hungry, based on history, those shortfalls will be rectified, pressuring by incessant criticisms.

China's spectacular success was first ignited by Deng Xiaoping, who brought China to capitalism with his popular quote, "No matter if it is a white cat or a black cat, as long as it can catch mice, it is a good cat."

That one-track mind in curing hunger led China to be a force to be reckoned with. China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.

With her achievements to date, one can only wish her well in our modern world.

Finish off Hamas

Re: "Biden sticks to his 'tightrope' Israel policy", (World, June 2).

The fate of the Middle East rests on the shoulders of the President of the United States, not on the United Nations.

During the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, President Joe Biden has kept a knee on Israel's neck.

He supplied Israel with weapons but restricted delivery when they would not agree to a ceasefire. He chastised Israel in the media, accusing it of "indiscriminate" bombing and not taking enough care to avoid civilian casualties.

These were libels against the most compassionate military force the world has ever seen.

Mr Biden wants Hamas to remain viable and insists on a two-state solution. He turned Afghanistan over to the Taliban and wants to turn "Palestine" over to Hamas. The results would be the same.

Mr Biden's new peace proposal is brilliant. He seeks a security pact between the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel. This would check-mate Iran's planned hegemony over the region and solidify the Saudi role as the prime defender of Islam. It would lead the way for others to join the Abraham Accords. Trade would flourish.

Unfortunately, the plan has problems. Neither Hamas nor Israel will accept it.

Hamas will not abide with less than "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be Jew-free". Israel, too, will not buy into the plan as is.

Most Israelis understand the Arabs better than Americans do. Having lived as Dhimmis for centuries, they know what to expect if they become vulnerable.

Mr Biden should stop equivocating, support Israel unconditionally and allow it to finish off Hamas.

Then his plan can be put into action, and he will win a Nobel Peace Prize and maybe the November elections.

Knowledge saves lives

Abortion is one of the most controversial and emotionally motivated discussions in society. It intersects between ethical morals, medical issues, and the safety of the mother while affecting the lives of families and individuals. This issue is gaining mass awareness with protests, strikes, and changes of laws, from Roe v Wade in the States to the changing of laws in Thailand. The world changes every day, as does the law that governs our everyday lives; therefore, knowing the law is crucial in endless ways.

Abortion is the act of terminating or removing a foetus or embryo, which can be seen as a criminal act (pro-life) or a lifeline for a woman bearing the child (pro-choice). Abortion in Thailand is currently not "free" to the public, like in some states in America. However, the country is working on diminishing the use of unsafe abortion, which may harm both parties. Before 2021, abortion was illegal during all stages of pregnancy, with, of course, the exception of cases such as rape, sexual assault, etc. However, by 2021, Thailand's constitutional court of law will have drastically changed to decriminalise the action of aborting and support the rights of women by deeming that abortions under 12 weeks can happen without any specific reason.

However, the Ministry of Public Health will still maintain control over accessible private and public healthcare services to guarantee a safe and sanitary procedure. Although the law has changed, many citizens, including myself, didn't realise that before 12 weeks, abortion would even be open for women to reach out for, and I passionately feel that with this new knowledge, people would experience unsafe procedures to remove the foetus.

If abortions are now legal under 12 weeks in 2024, how many healthcare facilities are willing and able to carry out the procedure? The answer to that is that 110 services are littered around our regions.

However, the main problem is that most clinics or hospitals are not fully open to abortions upon request and may only allow them under circumstances such as incest or rape, even though by February 2021, the law permits abortions if the pregnancy is under 12 weeks. In most cases, this is either because of reputation or a fear of harming the patient.

Their reputation may be damaged if they advertise the procedure due to ongoing disagreements between pro-life and pro-choice groups. This further discourages women to find out the steps to get an abortion. Many feel like they can't reach out to services that could provide them with relief. While the law is now on their side, most are often unaware of the law.

Raising awareness of abortion's legal status can potentially save many people's lives by preventing deaths from unsafe procedures. Raising awareness about abortion allows citizens to make informed choices without criticising others' values. By educating ourselves and advocating for safe abortion, we can create an understanding society where each individual is empowered to make their own decisions.