OPINION

Culprit's ID easy to find

Regarding mobile phone tracking in connection with the Erawan bombing (BP, Aug 26), we know the approximate time and location of the sender. A little help from the telecom operators would reveal the SIM card and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) of the caller and receiver. It would also allow listening in on the recording to reveal nationalities and finally permit tracing the ring of conspirators. If the culprit was so foolish to have a registered SIM and fail to turn off his GPS it would be all the easier. The police should have tried this earlier and saved on reward money.

Frank Lombard

I read with interest that the police have been “forced” to arrest the journalist from Hong Kong (BP, Aug 26).

Perhaps they can now be forced to arrest the Red Bull driver who killed one of their own. And maybe arrest several other high-profile characters who seem so far to have avoided prosecution.

Full marks to whoever managed to force the police to do their job!

Roger Haslock

After the terrible bombing at the Erawan shrine it appears the only “positive” lead police have is the man in a yellow T-shirt. My understanding is that each person entering Thailand through passport control at the international airports is photographed, similarly upon departure. Visa applicants are also photographed at Immigration, Chaeng Watthana.

There is facial recognition software available as it is used by the FBI and police forces throughout the US and Europe. If the police in Thailand had access to this software, and if the man in the yellow T-shirt arrived here by air, the police would be able to ascertain where he came from and, if he departed by air, where he was going.

The man has most likely left Thailand, but that is no reason to give up the chase. If the software was available then it is possible that he would have been identified much earlier on and the police would have had a better chance of catching him before he left.

John Lowndes

Eric Baht in his Aug 23 letter reminds us of Abraham Lincoln’s comment on refusing to call off the 1864 American presidential election (of which he himself was the eventual successful candidate) because of the turmoil caused by the American Civil War.

One has to wonder if Abraham Lincoln would be of the same mind, some 150 years later, if confronted with the reality that democracy, particularly in emerging countries with a largely unsophisticated and poverty-stricken voting base, had developed into a means by which wealthy individuals are able to manipulate the voting public by promises of essentially short-term benefits. The idea is that they may further elevate themselves at the expense of the taxpayer and with insufficient regard for the future impact on the nation’s economy.

Perhaps the alternative may be regarded as the lesser of two evils!

Or am I missing something?

Tony Ash

That personal protective gear worn by a Hong Kong journalist should be removed from the list of weapons, because they serve as devices strictly for protection and cannot be used as weapons. In the meantime, the authorities should enforce the law and ban free sales of military and police clothing, patches, medals and so on (they tried once and failed). Those things have been frequently used by many criminals disguised as soldiers or policemen.

RH Suga

Concerning the recent assault of a student by a schoolteacher, the Post reports that “based on current evidence Mr Isoonpiyathorn is likely to receive a minimum penalty as he admitted to his wrongdoing, and claims to have acted with good intent” (BP, Aug 26).

Upon viewing the clip it was abundantly clear there was no “good intent” whatsoever related to this criminal act.

It is exactly this type of response on the part of officials that makes intelligent and morally responsible people hang their heads in shame regarding the rule of law in Thailand.

Michael Setter

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