OPINION

Gracious in defeat

Somsak Pola in his PostBag letter on Tuesday noted Taiwan election loser Eric Chu conceded defeat graciously. Then he said Thais won’t do that. He is wrong.

The last two big elections show that clearly. I quote reports from the Bangkok Post.

On the evening of the March 3, 2013, election for Bangkok governor, runner-up Pongsapat Pongcharoen and then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party gave concession speeches to the media.

Pol Gen Pongsapat congratulated winner MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, thanked those who voted for him, and said he would be “willing to support Bangkok people in the future”.

In 2011, on the evening of the July 3 national election, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva appeared before the media.

He announced the defeat of his party, conceded the victory of Pheu Thai Party and congratulated its leader Ms Yingluck.

He said, “It is clear the Pheu Thai Party won the election, and we accept the defeat.”

He specifically congratulated Ms Yingluck on the likelihood she would become the country’s first female prime minister.

Somchai Veerasakul

Re: “Conflict brewing over Buddhist park in South”, (BP, Jan 18).

Pattani is a province which I understand is 80% Muslim, 15% Buddhist. Yet local authorities propose spending public money on a Buddhist park in the midst of a Muslim neighbourhood.

How many ways can this be condemned?

1. Who do the provincial authorities represent?

If they represent their local population then I assume they will devote a proportionately greater sum in consultation with the Muslim community for an Islamic mosque or park.

2. Knowing that the above won’t happen, there’s no hope for peace in the South.

FarangChiang Mai

An excellent article on changing your view on education by Pattamawan Jimarkon Zilli (Opinion, Jan 18). Yes, it’s been said many times, but a huge paradigm shift and a change in culture is necessary if there is to be progress in education here.

But first, remove the fear element. The fear of being wrong, the fear of offending, the fear of challenging, the fear of independent thought.

I doubt it will happen in my lifetime or that of my children. But only once the fear element is gone will change come and change will benefit all.

FantiaHua Hin

It was so touching to see a picture in the Bangkok Post Sunday of Gen Prayut’s grade school teacher hugging him. She spared the rod and spoiled the child.

Only kidding, Mr Prime Minister. Please don’t send in the troops to get me.

Golani

There are many ways the military-led government could bring more happiness to the people.

I, for one, would certainly be happier if more of the proliferation of potholes in Bangkok streets and roads would be filled.

Just a small measure perhaps, but it would make driving more enjoyable and save me and others lots of money on car-suspension repairs and wheel alignments.

Samanea Saman

One of the basic necessities of today’s world is a bank service. However, I have realised that foreigners often have to struggle while getting service at banks in Thailand due to the limited English skills of the bank staff.

Simple bank services such as transferring money abroad or getting printouts of bank statements can be difficult to explain to bank staff.

Each branch should have at least one staff member who is able to communicate with foreign customers.

Shying away from learning to communicate in English is hurting Thailand as many tourists are visiting other countries in Southeast Asia instead of Thailand because of the limited English communication skills of the Thai people.

To learn English, one certainly does not have to rely on a native English speaker.

In this age of internet and YouTube, one can easily acquire basic English communication skills.

Ridwan Quaium

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