Bangkok Post Letters

Bangkok Post Postbag

The Letters to the Editor (Postbag) section of the Bangkok Post is always worth a read if only to marvel at the oddball Westerners who write in with their pet peeves about the kingdom, or push their wacky agendas.

There's Eric down in Chonburi who feels compelled to weekly remind the world that he's a vegetarian and that anyone who eats meat is destroying the planet. The so-called Italian doctor who uses such complicated and meaningless English that nobody has any idea what he is writing about. And the Westerner out in Issan who has an overwhelming urge to remind us on a regular basis that Bush is the devil incarnate and the all the world's problems are the fault of Amerika.

Today, however, three decent letters worth your consideration:


Forget marketing Phuket for a while

So the chairman of Orient Thai Airlines is frustrated because all attempts to lure tourists back to Phuket are unsuccessful and he wants the government to subsidize airlines flying to the island.

Perhaps a lack of credibility among Thai government officials is partly to blame. We all remember the government saying there was no Sars in Thailand, no bird flu in Thailand and no terrorists in Thailand. Why should tourists now believe Tourist Authority of Thailand pronouncements that Phuket is back to normal?

As of three days ago (March 8), when I drove the entire length of Beach road in Patong, the area still looked like a war zone. Even an official stated last week that tour agents were reluctant to recommend Phuket as a destination since Patong looked like "one large construction site".

Is it really in Phuket's interest to lure tourists here and then have them find out that much of the most visited area on the island is still in a shambles? I think not.

Instead, the millions of baht being spent on what amounts to false advertising should be used to expeditiously rebuild the damaged areas of the island.

STEVE RUBENSTEIN
Phuket


A transfer is no punishment for rape

Think about it: A young girl is raped, reports the rape to the police, and then is raped by the police. Unbelievable!

Rape is one of the worst crimes perpetrated against a woman/girl, and the punishment must fit the horrendous nature of the crime.

In the latest case, the accused police officers, no matter their rank, should never be released on bail. It will just end again in "transfers" as our government/justice system does most of the time.

How can the public ever have faith in such a system, where the police force stinks of corruption and, depending on their financial/social status, the culprits are never punished fully for their crimes.

I feel for the girl involved in the recent case and would like to thank the Pavena foundation for rendering assistance.

RAWEEWAN


Is this crown worth the effort and expense?

Although, legally speaking, a US museum owns the Ayutthaya crown, Thais have the legitimate right to try to recover it if it is proved to be of Thai origin.

As the headpiece was purchased in the past, it is only fair to the present owner that the Thai government should pay for it. But it will cost the government millions if it is up for sale. So, let's consider if it is really worth the effort, time and money.

We should take all factors into account. The foreign curators/owners have not handled the piece with disdain. Perhaps some kind-hearted, well-heeled Thai corporation could do the nation a favour by forking out most of the money.

We Thais should learn from this incident to value national treasures and avoid their theft and smuggling abroad.

SID TERASON