The Southeast Asian Times
NEWS FOR NORTHERN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
LETTERS:


Tak Bai Massacre October 25, 2004
Casts a dark shadow on Thailand security forces
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday October 13, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday October 2024

Re: "Short arm of the law", in Bangkok Post Editorial, Thursday October 10, 2024.
The Tak Bai incident, which led to the death of 85 unarmed protestors during the tenure of Thaksin Shinawatra and Gen Prawit Wongsuwon as the armed forces chief, has resurfaced in public consciousness and casts a dark shadow on the Thai security forces.
Modern Thai history is replete with the violence and utter disregard for civilian lives shown by the country's military, whether it be the massacre of students at Thammasat University or sniper attacks on the general public protesting in the streets.
How do we reconcile this with the image of a non-violent Buddhist society?

Vichai,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Thailand most influential Asean member state
To take initiative to solving Myanmar catastrophe
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday October 12, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday October 9, 2024

Re: "Thailand floats new plan for Myanmar crisis", Bangkok Post, Wednesday October 9, 2024.
Finally, as a member of Asean, Thailand has taken a "soft approach" to address the Myanmar crisis.
It has actually floated the idea of building a coalition of the willing among the Asean member states to attempt to assuage the Myanmar impasse.
This is indeed commendable as Thailand is perhaps the most influential Asean member state to take the initiative to begin solving the Myanmar catastrophe. Hopefully, in the long run, Thailand may also contribute to restoring some order in Myanmar by enabling negotiations and peace initiatives within Myanmar's body politic.
This may be possible by advocating solidarity among all Asean member states, creating confidence in Myanmar's ability to reach amity and peace, creating a shared vision for peace and stability, and ultimately helping to encourage political dialogue towards elections as soon as possible.
Let us remain optimistic that the 2024 Laos-hosted Asean Summit will herald a new stable order for Myanmar and solidarity and unity for Asean.

Glen Chatelier
Bangkok,
Thailand






The United Nations's malign vilification of carbon
Is fraudulent and extremely costly
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday October 11, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Wednesday October 9, 2024

Re: "Exploring Thai efforts to cut carbon", in Bangkok Post, Business, October 5, 2024.
Unfortunately, this article is based entirely upon a false presumption namely, that it is a good idea to "cut carbon."
Since the earth is a closed system, carbon, an element, cannot be removed from it. The United Nation's malign vilification of carbon is fraudulent and extremely costly.
There is no reason to support curtailing carbon emissions.
Our food supply depends upon a minimum level of CO2 in the atmosphere, a minimum which the earth barely exceeds compared to historical levels.
What is clear, however, is that we must limit the production of harmful chemicals, poisonous pharmaceuticals, dangerous plastics, particulates, pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, GMOs, etc., which are destroying all of the earth's living systems.
Although doing so will severely limit certain multinational corporations' extraordinary profits, it will preserve the planet's living beings' right to life and cost the world's population far less than the required capital spending on physical assets for energy and land-use systems in the proposed "net-zero" transition between 2021 and 2050.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand






PM Paetongtarn, past former deputy PM, deputy PM
Declare no more poor in Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday October 10, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday October 5, 2024

Re: "Plan won't end poverty", in Bangkok Post, Editorial, Septeber 30 "Prawit vows to lift millions from poverty", in Bangkok Post, February 11, 2023 and "Grand plans mean little to the poor", Bangkok Post Opinion, November 21, 2017.
In the past, former deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon and then-deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak's declaration that there would be no more poor people in Thailand was discussed. Now, the Paetongtarn government wants to end poverty in three years.
It sounds like a broken record on the same old topic.
Wouldn't it be time for Thailand to structurally overhaul the complete economy and do something serious about household debts of more than 90 percent of GDP instead of throwing 10,000 baht of short-term helicopter money at them?

S de Jong,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Certain Philippines government offices plagued with
Questionable
budget allocations
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday October 9, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday September 27, 2024

The recent budget deliberations at the House of Representatives revealed information on the misuse of funds by some government offices.
The Commission on Audit’s issuance of the notice of disallowance to the Office of the Vice President for the alleged misuse of P125 million in confidential funds left many of us deeply dismayed and concerned.
It is alarming that certain government offices are plagued with questionable budget allocations and mismanagement while other key sectors, such as health, remain underfunded and continue to face many challenges.
This practice erodes public trust in government institutions.
Worth highlighting is the plight of researchers in the Philippines who do not only face insufficient funding, but also deal with a lack of adequate infrastructure and enabling policies.
These issues make it difficult to attract and retain researchers and innovators in the country who are forced to seek better opportunities abroad.
This is concerning, particularly in the context of universal health care and evidence-based policy making, where local expertise is essential to address today’s myriad of health issues.
If the government continues to overlook the needs of researchers and at the same time ignore questionable budget expenditures elsewhere, we risk leaving critical sectors to struggle without the necessary tools for informed decision-making.
It is high time for our policymakers to review research procurement, hiring, and financing policies to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
By reforming these policies, we will create a more robust and equitable research system that will empower our researchers and allow them to contribute meaningfully to national development, without worrying about insufficient financial and institutional support.

Reiner Lorenzo J. Tamayo, Mahps, RN
Manila,
Philippines






Gen Prawit Wongsuwon misses 84 sessions of Parliament
Without a valid reason for absence
The Southeast Asian Times Tuesday October 8, 2024
First published in Bangkok Post, Saturday October 5 2024

Re: "Call to probe Prawit absences", in Bangkok Post, Thursday September 26, 2024.
If we treat the parliament as an organisation, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, of course, would not qualify for the probationary period given that he missed 84 meetings without a valid reason for absence.
Perhaps the fact that he has gotten away with this is because whether or not he attends the meeting makes little difference, or there are no proper house rules to manage attendance.
How can such a hierarchical institution like the parliament have no organised, systematic approach to managing its people or employees?
If Gen Prawit were to be evaluated, who would be his manager?
I can only think of the President of the National Assembly and the House Speaker, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
If we adopted a performance evaluation system in the parliament, it would be ideal to have Members of Parliamentss and senators assessed by the House Speaker.
By paying taxes for the salaries of these irresponsible individuals, shouldn't we have the right to remove them and replace them with someone who truly devotes themselves to working for us?
As of now, despite his widespread absences, he remains in his position and does not regularly attend parliament meetings.
I am sick and tired of this deep-rooted inefficiency.
A broken-hearted boy who has no time to be sad because of politics.

Weerapatr Lokatekrawee,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Thailand Foreign Policy reflects pitfalls of policymakers
Characteristic middle-of-the-road thinking
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday October 7, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday September 28, 2024

Thitinan Pongsudhirak's expert analysis is striking in that it reflects the lack of a cohesive policy direction in Thai foreign policy.
While this may be strategic in and of itself, it reflects the pitfalls of policymakers' characteristic "middle-of-the-road" thinking.
Keeping in mind Thai foreign policy's efficacy in moving the Bangkok Declaration of 1967, which heralded the birth of Asean, and the decisiveness of Thailand's persuasive step in 2006 with which AEC 2020 was moved forward to AEC 2015, Thailand's foreign policy regarding the Myanmar crisis may be possible through applying soft power to build a coalition of the willing among Asean members.
This could bring influence to bear upon the Myanmar military junta and its opposition forces to the negotiating table to begin talking about ceasefire initiatives while, at the same time, buttressing global humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Myanmar people.
A first step through soft power persuasion by a few of the Asean members, with Thailand leading them, may not be seen as "deliberate interference" by neighbours in offering a possible humanitarian panacea to an eyesore of a problem within Asean and to Thailand more so.

Glen Chatelier,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Call for establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry
Into child protection services in Malaysia
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday October 6, 2024
First published in the Star, Saturday September 28, 2024

The ongoing child sexual abuse scandal has shocked the nation.
And, it has shaken many of us working in child protection under civil society organisations.
The duration and scale of the abuse by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) is horrendous.
It will take many months to uncover the full scope of the abuse and the possibility of a thousand children that have been severely traumatised over the decades.
We hope attempts will also be made to identify children who have previously been in their facilities and offer them the support they need.
Of serious concern is the lack of oversight and action by the very agencies that we hoped would be child protectors the Welfare Department and the police.
We now hear that such a vast business infrastructure has not even paid taxes, raising concerns about the Inland Revenue Board’s (LHDN) abilities.
It is as though government agencies have had a decades-long blind spot when it came to GISBH.
A blind spot that placed thousands of children into a deep dark hell. This may also be true for other organisations in the country.
This child sexual abuse scandal, and other incidents before this, highlight the large deficits in our child protection services.
Although this scandal involves a religious body, the issue is primarily one of child protection.
As civil society organizations, we have often been expressing our concerns about our weak and inadequate child protection services.
This scandal has shown that they cannot be allowed to continue as is and need a complete overhaul.
We support the call from Children’s Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki of Suhakam for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).
Only a RCI can restore confidence in our child protection services.
Such an RCI should look not just at the disaster involving our services in relation to GISBH but all aspects of child protection.
Our child protection services require an independent audit, a transparent assessment of weaknesses and limitations, suggestions for reform with a workable way forward.
The RCI should involve civil society and be fully available to the public.
Upon completion of the RCI, the findings must be tabled and debated in the next meeting of Parliament, because the care and protection of children must be depoliticised and requires an “all-of-society” approach.
The GISBH child sexual abuse scandal is a ‘line in the sand’.
This is not a two-week media cycle issue.
Our child protection services cannot continue as they are.
If there is no meaningful action and reform then we will continue to fail our children endlessly.
We appeal to our Members of Parliament to support the RCI and be advocates for our children.
The government has overlooked the calls for establishing an independent Children's Commission accountable to Parliament.
Creating a Children's Department under the Welfare Department does not address any of the existing challenges or concerns.
Essentially, this is merely a rebranding of an inadequate and inefficient service, while children continue to endure hardship.
We also ask that the government urgently relook at the Child Commission Bill.
Any and every space that a child is in must be a safe space. We must restore public confidence in our child protection agencies.
Only an independent RCI with comprehensive reform will do this.

Signatories:
Dato' Dr Amar-Singh HSS, Consultant Paediatrician, Child-Disability Activist.Sharmila Sekaran, Voice of the Children.
CRIB Foundation (Child Rights Innovation & Betterment).
The Talisman Project.
Yayasan Chow Kit.
Malaysian Association of Social Workers.
Association of Women Lawyers (AWL).
Women's Centre for Change, Penang (WCC).
Anisa Ahmad - Child Activist.
Pusat Jagaan Kanak Kanak Vivekananda Rembau NS.
Johor Women's League (JEWEL).
Voice of the Children (VoC).
End CSEC Network.
Protect and Save the Children.
Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia.
Childline Foundation.
Toy Libraries Malaysia.
Persatuan Untuk Anak Kita (PUAKPayong).
Pertubuhan Amal Rumah Melor (Meru, Klang).
Purple Lily Social Association Kuching.
World Vision Malaysia.
Montessori Association Malaysia.
Play Unlimited.
Malaysian Hindu Dharma Association.
Kasthuri Krishnan, Lawyer.
Women’s Aid Org (WAO).
Vanguards4Change.
ReHAK (Reproductive Health Association of Kelantan).
Sarawak Women for Women Society.
Lawyer Kamek.
The OKU Rights Matter Project.
Wong Hui Min, President, National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC).

 

 


Is the Pheu Thai party pursuing plans
To bring about popular reforms ?
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday October 5, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday October 2, 2024

I appreciate Khun Songdej Praditsmanont's chuckling response regarding Pheu Thai's flexibility on ethical issues.
He usefully cites the Machiavellian view that "the ends justify the means, so long as the end result is good".
In Pheu Thai's case, unfortunately, the end appears ethically dubious, albeit not so morally indefensible as overthrowing your own nation's constitutional democracy primarily to achieve the end of entrenching a status quo that is itself intrinsically unethical, a fact increasingly recognised for some decades at least, as reflected in the voting in May last year.
Or is Pheu Thai secretly pursuing some cunning plan that will suddenly bring about the popular reforms that Thailand has desperately needed for even more decades?
I'm not sure that the plight of voters, yet again denied a voice by a greedy minority diligently serving its own ends by unethical law and any other means they can, whose end goal is reflected in Thailand's gross income inequality, is really a laughing matter, or even one to chuckle over.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Kunming, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xian
Are crazy about north-south rail route to ASEAN
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday September 4, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday September 21, 2024

Re: "Locals want SEC bills, Land Bridge axed", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday September 18, 2024.
Why do we need the proposed Chumphon-Ranong Land Bridge?
A faster or cheaper alternative to the existing all-water Malacca Strait Route for Asian shipments to Europe, the Mid East, South Asia, Africa, and vice versa, perhaps?
Let's take a look at the comparative merit of the Land Bridge vis-a-vis the Malacca Strait Route from the users' perspective by comparing the transit time and probable costing between Shanghai and Colombo in Sri Lanka and similarly, Hong Kong-Colombo based on container vessels with a typical average cruising speed of 20 nautical miles per hour.
Their pros and cons would reflect those of other Asia-Europe/Mideast routings.
The all-water nautical distance Shanghai-Colombo via Malacca is 3,804nm against the combined nautical distances of Shanghai-Chumphon and Ranong-Columbo of 3,278nm.
The proposed Land Bridge scheme indeed helps save 526nm or a sailing time of 26 hours.
Similarly, the all-water nautical distance Hong Kong-Colombo is 3027nm; whereas Hong Kong-Chumphon and Ranong-Columbo combined is 2630nm, with a Land Bridge saving of 397nm and 20 hours.
In short, the Land Bridge would cut about one day off the Malacca Route sailing time on these East-West routes.
Nevertheless, the Land Bridge scheme would normally take one day to discharge containers in Chumphon Port, a half-day to load-rail-discharge Chumphon-Ranong and on average 3.5 days to await reloading onto the next connecting vessel westbound based on standard weekly sailing frequency. Crossing the Land Bridge would thus take an average of five days not to mention additional vessel port expenses and container terminal charges at both ends, plus rail freight Chumphon-Ranong and container costs, to name but a few.
The Land Bridge service may end up costing more and taking four days longer.
What commercial entity on earth would opt to pay more?
There are many politically motivated but financially unfeasible projects, especially in developing countries.
After being commissioned, they are invariably plagued by continuous operating losses and are labelled as 'long-term' investments, implying only God knows when investors will see their money again.
Even without mentioning inevitable damages to some of Thailand's best countryside, how would Thai voters and future generations look at this financial blackhole caused by construction and the billions needed for upkeep as a means to jump-start the slow economy?
Surely, there are other less expensive ways to do so.
On the other hand, Kunming, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xian, and most Chinese inland cities are always crazy about a rail north-south route that promptly rails their cargo to/from more Asean terminals and the Andaman Sea.
Does this deserve a higher policy priority instead ?

Y K Chan,
Hong Kong,


 



Southeast Asian countries
Forming a federation-like EU bloc
The Southeast Asian Times Thursday October 3, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Saturday September 21, 2024

Re: "Time to regroup?" Bangkok Post, PostBag, Tuesday September 17, 2024.
Ken Albertsen, Asean has been a paper tiger for decades. So why would your utopian idea of Southeast Asian countries forming a federation-like EU bloc with a common currency work better?
Just look at the EU 27 member states as an example.
It's a bureaucratic moloch, interfering and dictating on many levels of national member states' policies.
The common currency (euro) has been a huge mistake due to the admission of Greece and Italy and huge cultural, historical and economic differences between members.
There is only an economic transfer from the well-off north to the poorer south, mid- and eastern members.
Even immigration problems cannot be solved nationally anymore.
The EU still wants to expand to Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, Albania, and Serbia. But the tide is turning. People have had enough, and Germany is introducing border controls again.
Need I say more?

S de Jong,
Bangkok,
Thailand

 




The latest censorship at Chulalongkorn University
Prompts allegory on freedom of expression
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday October 2, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Wednesday September 25, 2024

Re: "Bangkok's Chula Uni relocates launch of book critical of military off-campus", Bangkok Post, Online, Monday September 23, 2024.
The latest case of academic censorship at Chulalongkorn prompts me to create an allegory about the importance of freedom of expression.
Once upon a time, a wise old farmer lived in a small, peaceful village in the northeastern Isan.
One day, as the sun slowly set and bathed the fields in golden light, he gathered the village children around him.
With a gentle voice, he began his story:
"Imagine," he said, "there is a great, mighty dragon who rules over our land. This dragon only allows things to be said that he likes.
If anyone says something different, he roars loudly and forbids it.
The owl, who writes wise books, cannot tell her stories because the dragon fears that the animals will learn the truth.
"The dragon has many helpers, little dragons, and other creatures who run around everywhere to ensure that no one breaks his rules.
They fly over the land, listen at doors, and watch the animals to make sure no one says anything the dragon doesn't like.
"But the animals at the edge of the field, the chipmunks, the frogs, and the birds, know that they can only be free and happy if they have the courage to tell their own stories and not be intimidated by the dragon.
They whisper their stories into the night, share them secretly among themselves, and dream of a day when they can speak without fear.
"The old farmer looked into the children's eyes and said, 'Remember, children, true freedom comes from the truth and the courage to tell it. Never let a dragon or his helpers silence you.'"

Nang Tani,
Bangkok,
Thailand





 

Ecotourism development on Bugsuk, Balabac in Palawan
Pushed by Philippines subsidiary of San Miguel Corp
The Southeast Asian Times Tuesday October 1, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday September 26, 2024

The National Land Use Act (NLUA), of which a bill had been repeatedly filed since the 9th Congress and declared urgent by several presidents, was closest to becoming law during the 15th Congress.
In February 2013, before the three-month interruption of sessions to give way to the campaign period of midterm elections scheduled in May, then Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was one of three solons who blocked the holding of a bicameral session to pass the NLUA bill, thus reverting it to second reading.
He said he still had 53 amendments to propose.
Yet when asked to present his proposed changes, he said he was not ready to present that day, nor was he prepared to do so during the last session days of the 15th Congress that ended in June 2013.
Such failure to enact the law allowed continuing land conversions and the irrational use of land and water resources.
The worsening effects of climate change, particularly the stronger typhoons and perennial flooding, have exacerbated the loss of lives and damage to properties through the years.
One must only remember Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (2013), Typhoon “Glenda” (2014), Supertyphoon “Rolly” (2020), and most recently, Supertyphoon “Carina” and Typhoon “Enteng,” and the vast destruction wrought by these calamities on lives and properties.
Other land-related issues have caused tensions and increasing injustice to poor communities these past months.
On June 29, 2024, for instance, 16 fully armed masked men came to the island of Bugsuk, Balabac in Palawan, intending to drive away the residents in favor of an ecotourism development project being pushed by a subsidiary company of San Miguel Corp. (SMC).
On June 27, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) officials reportedly went to the area to inform the residents that the latter’s land was unsuitable for crop production, apparently in support of the ecotourism project.
Interestingly, land and water issues in these areas in Palawan date back to the ’70s, thousands were displaced when the late Danding Cojuangco, one of the Marcos cronies during martial law, forcibly took possession of 10,821 hectares of land in Bugsuk, Pandanan, and other islands in Palawan.
An affiliate company called Jewelmer Corp. established pearl farms and closed off two islands, making it difficult or altogether preventing the fisherfolk from carrying out their fishing activities.
Many ended up moving to other barangays, including the mainland, where they could not find regular sources of income.
In 2005, certificate of ancestral domain title applications were filed by the Molbog and Palawan indigenous peoples with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Palawan, but they remain pending to date. In June 2014, notices of coverage (NOCs) were issued to residents of Sitio Marihangin in Bugsuk island under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Nine years later or in May 2023, the director of DAR Region IV-B ordered the recall of the NOCs following a field report that assessed the soil type in Marihangin as not suitable for crop production.
This was affirmed in September 2023 by DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, who then issued an order excluding the lands in Bugsuk from CARP.
A notice from DAR in April 2024 upheld the DAR declaration, and a final order revoking the NOCs was delivered to the sitio in June.
With the help of nongovernment organizations led by Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka, the Bugsuk residents went to Manila to seek an audience with concerned agencies, and with no less than President Marcos himself.
Their specific appeal is to stop the SMC plan to establish the ecotourism project, and instead reissue the NOC to the indigenous people (IP) farmers to allow them to till their lands, and the fisherfolk to continue fishing with ease.
Will the President make himself available to listen to the cries of the IPs of Bugsuk? The Bugsuk folk have endured being deprived of land, water, and human rights for the past 50 years.
Can Mr. Marcos now grant their request, and redeem himself from his past shortcomings?
Will he heed the call of these indigenous farmers and fishers, and considerably uphold the name of the Marcos family by addressing these injustices?

Gemma Rita R. Marin,
executive director,
John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues







Thailand has just shot itself in the foot
Tourists have to pay 20,000 baht cash on arrival
The Southeast Asian Times Monday September 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Saturday September 28, 2024

Re: "Explainer: Thailand's new visas", in Bangkok Post Podcast, August 5, 2024.
Thailand has just shot itself in the foot and lost tens of thousands of baht.
The requirement that every foreign tourist has to have 20,000 baht in cash on arrival has upset my friends who were planning to come here for holidays.
They find this rule insulting and demeaning, to say the least.
They refuse to carry so much cash on them as they have platinum credit cards and special travel cards, likewise top-class insurance and more. So they cancelled their trips!
My friends travel extensively and expensively and would have stayed in 4-star hotels.
They would have been frequenting expensive restaurants and bars plus shopping in high-class shops.
They would have spent a minimum of 100,000 baht.
They are business people who work in communications and advertising, and this ridiculous rule and its negative impact will be widely disseminated in their country and beyond.
Thailand, if you are greedy and insulting, it will cost you in the long run.

Miro King, and his friends not amused,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call for Philippine Congress to enact into law
The Political Parties Development Act of 2015 bill
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday September 29, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday September 19, 2024

This is a reaction to the article by Mr. Segundo Eclar Romero on “Scenarios of the Philippine Future 2050.”
On the Move, August 20, 2024 which, in effect, is a call to action to seriously look to the future in view of the overwhelming problems facing our country.
The initial call to action must first be the need for genuine reform in our political party system, as political parties are the backbone of electoral democracy.
Such parties are meant to build a class of political leaders grounded on vital issues and exposed to governance that is guided by the party’s platform and vision of what it wants to accomplish.
This, in turn, becomes the basis of the voters’ reasonable expectations of what the party’s leaders stand for, and whether the party deserves the public’s trust.
In a commentary by Moira G. Gallaga on “The demise of PH political parties” Commentary, December 25, 2021, she quoted Yale University political scientists Ian Shapiro and Frances McCall Rosenbluth who said: “Political parties are the core institution of democratic accountability because parties, not the individuals who support or comprise them, can offer competing vision of the public good.”
According to Gallaga, political parties should be deemed as essential institutions in a functioning democracy and should be the main avenue by which the collective interests of their leaders, members, and adherents among the electorate, can be represented to the fullest.
They are the means by which competing visions of governance and policies can be pursued and offered to the public.
As it is now, there is no true party system in the country.
Our political parties are not solid organizations steeped in principles, but loose groupings built mainly around personalities, according to Cielito F. Habito in his column titled “The reform we need” No Free Lunch, July 6, 2021.
They exist merely to serve the interest of their leaders, with hardly any platform of governance or principles and policies to serve the citizenry.
The challenge is for us to call on our political leaders, especially the members of Congress, to wake up to the reality that they should be the change they seek, and must have the political will to institute reforms by enacting into law the bill “Political Parties Development Act of 2015.”
The pending bill seeks to strengthen the party system by upholding party loyalty and adherence to ideological principles, platforms, and programs by penalizing turncoatism; reducing graft and corruption by regulating campaign finances through transparent mechanisms, and professionalizing political parties through state subsidies that, in a non-election year, may be used for party recruitment, civic education, research and policy development, and constitutional outreach programs.
Without a strong and principled true political party system, we will remain exactly in the condition we find ourselves today.

Antonio de Guzman,
Manila,
Philippines






Chulalongkorn University cancels book launch on Thai military
Control of TV/radio stations aimed at domestic audience
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday, September 28, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Thursday September 26, 2024

Re: "Chula bars author from using venues", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday September 24, 2024.
By caving in to military pressure and cancelling a seminar and on-campus launch of an award-winning book authored by one of its scholars, our renowned Chulalongkorn University is undermining its 2021-2024 master plan to "position the university as a leader in creating knowledge and innovations from cutting-edge research".
The most effective way to counter misinformation is to prove that what was presented was in error and how it should be corrected.
Thus, the military's Internal Security Operations Command should welcome Puangthong Pawakapan's invitation to speak at a Chulalongkorn University debate and show why her book, Infiltrating Society: The Thai Military's Internal Security Affairs, is wrong and might "stir public misunderstanding and damage the image of the armed forces".
The military's noble mission is to protect us from enemies outside the realm not those within our boundaries. Thus, Thais may ask why soldiers must control so many TV/radio stations aimed at a domestic audience, why they're not stationed mainly at our borders to fight invaders, and why we have the world record for coups against elected governments.
Chulalongkorn University, stand for creating knowledge.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Bank of Thailand (BoT) is a juristic person
What or who constitutes that juristic person?
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday September 27, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday September 23, 2024

Re: "Central bank legacy", in Bangkok Post PostBag, Thursday September 19, 2024 and "BoT urged to reduce interest rates", Bangkok Post Business, Tuesday September 17, 2024.
Khun Songdej Praditsmanont, who has some expertise in the financial domain, gave a useful brief history of the Bank of Thailand (BoT).
The BoT is a juristic person which is a state agency, but is neither a government agency nor state enterprise under the law on budgetary procedure and other laws. The BoT, as a juristic person, also functions as an institutional investor.
Clearly the juristic person which is at the root of the BoT serves as a state agency enjoying the legal protections offered in that capacity.
However, I found it impossible to discover what or who constitutes that juristic person.
Is it a corporation, a group of corporate entities, individuals, trusts or other parties? The 1942 Bank of Thailand Act reveals nothing, nor does the BoT's website or its balance sheet disclosures. Perhaps Khun Songdej could shed some light on this matter?

Michael Setter,
Bangkok
Thailand




Call for Thailand to fence border with Myanmar
With high-teck seismic sensors and high towers
The Southeast Asian Times Thursday, September 26, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Tuesday September 24, 2024

Re: "Solving the Myanmar migrant surge", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Tuesday September 17, 2024.
It's always exciting to read Khun Kavi's articles, which are loaded with information on committees formed and their purposes within our parliament.
With due respect to all the recommendations from Khun Kavi, I would add more to shed light on the root problems behind the illegal migrants in Thailand.
The root cause of the illegal migration from Myanmar, in particular, lies in the weak leadership of our Asean countries, including Thailand.
The Tatmadaw Myanmar's junta remains unchallenged by the so-called world superpowers: USA, Russia, China, India and even the European Union.
None of them has given an ultimatum to junta supremos that democracy must prevail in Myanmar.
The United Nations itself has not taken any realistic action against the junta, aside from issuing warnings.
We must work to reduce inaction on the international stage.
Now we go to the local accomplices in Thailand, who are part of a transnational human trafficking syndicate.
These culprits are believed to be politicians of all levels, officials, law enforcers and security personnel.
We can stop illegal migrants if our government is serious.
For example, after the recent political problems in Bangladesh, thousands fled to India and were shunned at the border as the Indian Border Security Force stood firm and sent them back to Bangladesh.
Our government should fence the border with Myanmar with high-tech seismic sensors and high towers, with security personnel equipped with high-tech night vision tools.

Jayut Jayanandana,
Bangkok,
Thailand




 

US politics raises concerns about whether the values
That once made America a beacon of democracy are fading
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday, September 25, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Saturday September 14, 2024

Re: "West's stealthy assault on democracy", in Bangkok Post Opinion, Thursday September 12, 2024.
In response to the opinion by Indian scholar Brahma Chellaney, it is true that today, authoritarian regimes outnumber liberal democracies.
Unfortunately, the efforts led by American right-wing extremists to promote democracy in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and various countries in South America and Asia have largely failed.
Meanwhile, the state of democracy in Pakistan, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam seems to receive little attention in the United States.
The US also has significant investments in communist China and Vietnam.
A closer examination of US politics raises concerns about whether the values that once made America a beacon of democracy are fading.
The rise of social media, search engines, and mobile apps innovations created in the US has led to an influx of fake news, conspiracy theories, political manipulation, bullying, and shallow commentaries by the media.
The erosion of fundamental American decency is evident, casting doubt on the health of democracy itself.

Kuldeep Nagi,
Bangkok,
Thailand




State of South-South cooperation at 79th session United Nations
Based on South-South and triangular cooperation
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday September 24, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday September 14, 2024

Re: "Time to boost South-South ties", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Friday September 12, 2024.
One of the key topics on the agenda of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which commenced on Tuesday September 10, is the State of South-South cooperation.
The debate on it will be based on a report submitted by the United Nations secretary-general that highlights significant developments in which South-South and triangular cooperation have played a pivotal role.
These efforts have been crucial in addressing the collective challenges of recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic while also building resilience to climate change and other development issues.
However, an urgent warning accompanies these discussions: a rescue plan for both people and the planet is needed.
Alarmingly, only 15 percent of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track to be achieved by 2030. If current trends continue, 575 million people will still be living in extreme poverty by that year.
There is no doubt that South-South cooperation is vital for building capacity and advancing shared development objectives.
At the same time, it must not diminish the responsibilities of the Global North.
It is to be hoped that the upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future in New York will provide a crucial opportunity for renewal and reform grounded in genuine solidarity and justice.

Ioan Voicu
Bangkok,
Thailand




The Malaysian Bar must be applauded
For challenging the King's decision
The Southeast Asian Times Monday September 23, 2024

As someone who keenly followed the Najib Razak corruption and abuse of office case since I first came to know of it from a Southeast Asian Times report several years ago, I was flabbergasted by the news that the King had halved his 12 year jail sentence in February this year. I thought that was the end of that matter.
So I am pleasantly surprised by the Southeast Asian Times report ‘ Malaysian Bar challenges King’s decision to reduce prison sentence and fine for former PM Najib Razak ‘ ( 20 September 2024 ).
That’s excellent news.
The King is the King and he must be respected for his role in Malaysian society. But the King as a mortal being is not infallible .
There is a perception that his decision regarding Najib Razak is wrong and not consistent with upholding the rule of law without regard to the status of a person. That is a cornerstone of democratic good governance.
Now we await the High Court of Malaysia decision on the Malaysian Bar challenge.
The Malaysian Bar must be applauded for mounting the challenge .

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia





Call for members of Philippine Congress to enact into law
Political Parties Development Act of 2015
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday September 22,
First published in the Philippine Inquirer Friday September 20, 2024

This is a reaction to the article by Mr. Segundo Eclar Romero on “Scenarios of the Philippine Future 2050” in ''On the Move,'' August 20, 2024 which, in effect, is a call to action to seriously look to the future in view of the overwhelming problems facing our country.
The initial call to action must first be the need for genuine reform in our political party system, as political parties are the backbone of electoral democracy.
Such parties are meant to build a class of political leaders grounded on vital issues and exposed to governance that is guided by the party’s platform and vision of what it wants to accomplish.
This, in turn, becomes the basis of the voters’ reasonable expectations of what the party’s leaders stand for, and whether the party deserves the public’s trust.
In a commentary by Moira G. Gallaga on “The demise of PH political parties” in Commentary, December 25,2021, she quoted Yale University political scientists Ian Shapiro and Frances McCall Rosenbluth who said: “Political parties are the core institution of democratic accountability because parties, not the individuals who support or comprise them, can offer competing vision of the public good.”
According to Gallaga, political parties should be deemed as essential institutions in a functioning democracy and should be the main avenue by which the collective interests of their leaders, members, and adherents among the electorate, can be represented to the fullest.
They are the means by which competing visions of governance and policies can be pursued and offered to the public.
As it is now, there is no true party system in the country.
Our political parties are not solid organizations steeped in principles, but loose groupings built mainly around personalities, according to Cielito F. Habito in his column titled “The reform we need” No Free Lunch, July 6, 2021.
They exist merely to serve the interest of their leaders, with hardly any platform of governance or principles and policies to serve the citizenry.
The challenge is for us to call on our political leaders, especially the members of Congress, to wake up to the reality that they should be the change they seek, and must have the political will to institute reforms by enacting into law the bill “Political Parties Development Act of 2015.”
The pending bill seeks to strengthen the party system by upholding party loyalty and adherence to ideological principles, platforms, and programs by penalizing turncoatism; reducing graft and corruption by regulating campaign finances through transparent mechanisms, and professionalizing political parties through state subsidies that, in a non-election year, may be used for party recruitment, civic education, research and policy development, and constitutional outreach programs.
Without a strong and principled true political party system, we will remain exactly in the condition we find ourselves today.

Antonio de Guzman,
Manila,
Philippines






New Thailand PM should not be allowed
Anywhere near the Bank of Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday September 21, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Re: "BoT urged to reduce interest rate", in Bangkok Post, Business, September 17, and "Paetongtarn: Central bank independence 'an obstacle'?", Bangkok Post, Business, May 3.
The country's new prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has said that the Bank of Thailand's independence is an "obstacle" in resolving economic problems.
However, the International Monetary Fund describes quite succinctly why the Prime Minister should not be allowed anywhere near the Bank of Thailand, as "politicians face monetary temptations conflicting with an inflation-averse monetary policy".
The very nature of their position makes it impossible for politicians to be impartial to the short-term benefits of an expansive monetary policy. Politicians may also lack qualifications and expertise in the field.
By leaving it to the discretion of an independent central bank to conduct monetary policy, the focus can be on long-term stability rather than short-term monetary temptations.
Although there is no universally accepted legal framework that specifies the independence under which monetary policy is conducted, central bank independence is generally a feature of the bank's institutional structure, ensuring that stable and effective conduct of monetary policy is maintained.
Finally, it must be understood that central banks are privately owned and only nominally controlled by governments.
Thus, the whining by politicians over fiscal policy has little to do with real news and the central bank's policy committee members could care less about it.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand




 

Open Zoo public relations overlook the imprisonment
Of gorilla at Pata Shopping Complex for three decades
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday September 20, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday September 18, 2024

Re: "Lessons from 'Moo Deng'?", Bangkok Post, Editorial, Tuesday September 17, 2024.
The fate of the imprisoned Bua Noi, the grand dowager of animal superstars, who is a gorilla, that has been caged in a penthouse zoo at Pata Shopping Complex for over three decades, is overlooked in this article.
The editorial states that the efforts of Khao Kheow Open Zoo's public relations team reflect the attempt by Thai public zoos to modernise themselves by promoting wildlife, and environmental conservation and education.
This attempt is most certainly not evident in the miserable case of Bua Noi, the gorilla.

Rose Bellini,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Call for Southeast Asian countries
To form a federation
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday September 19, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday September 17, 2024

Re: "Asean's united front amid global shifts", in Bangkok Post Opinion, Tuesday July 30, 2024.
I have had hundreds of letters posted in PostBag over a 20-year period since 1998. I kept a scrapbook of clippings over 1,500, but it burned in a fire. I was giving Burin competition.
Anyhow, here's an idea that's probably not novel: Southeast Asian countries should form a federation, suggested name: SEA.
It would be stronger than the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is basically a business organisation.
South East Asia would be about half as strong economically and militarily as the European Union yet, as it is now, separate Asian nations are about a 10th as strong as the European. South East Asia could have a common currency and coordinated military and economic (and other) institutions.
China would not be as brazen when confronting South East Asia as it is when bullying individual Southeast Asian countries.
Come on, Asians, quit being so provincial. No Southeast Asian country or its people is better than any other. Strength in unity.

Ken Albertsen,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call to allow foreigners to own land in Thailand
To boost productivity and income
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday September 18, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday September 14, 2024

Re: "Thai household debt at record high", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday September 10, 2024.
The average debt per Thai household is now 606,378 baht, up 8.4 percent from 2023 the most since the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce began its survey in 2009.
Ominously, debt owed to loan sharks has soared to 30 percent from 19.8 percent last year as borrowers reached their limits at formal lenders.
Handouts have repeatedly failed to alleviate the situation, yet "Ung Ing" Paetongtarn Shinawatra has blindly pushed ahead with another handout.
We should follow Lao Tze: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
In short, sustainably boost productivity and thus income.
This can be done by allowing foreigners to own land on the same basis as Thais, giving farmers the funds to get productivity-increasing training, equipment, etc, by selling part or all of their land.
Many will say that such a step means many of our poor won't be able to own their own homes.
However, rising land values will boost revenues from land transfer fees, VAT, and sales income as the land develops.
Part of this rise should go to subsidise first-time homeowner mortgages.
If we fear land speculation, then ban selling within, say, 10 years regardless of nationality; target the harmful act, not the actor's nationality.
Subsidise training and equipment that will sustainably boost income and raise living standards, e.g., high-yield seeds or growing organic crops.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok Post,
Thailand


 

 

Movie Television Review Classification Board has no right
To impose ecclesiastical and religious beliefs onstatecraft
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday September 17, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Saturday September 14, 2024

I refer to your news report, “‘Dear Satan’ offends me as a Christian, says MTRCB chief Lala Sotto,” in Philippine Inquirer September 3, 2024 concerning a controversial movie and the alleged offense felt by the head of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
I will argue that her use of religious beliefs in giving “an X-rating or was not approved for public viewing by the MTRCB” by virtue of her being a Christian is illegal and unconstitutional.
This is illegal precisely because nowhere in the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1986, the law that created the said agency, does it deserve that rating.
In Section 3, the board is authorized to delete scenes and disapprove film prints under specific conditions: if they are considered immoral, indecent, contrary to law and good customs, damaging to the prestige of the Republic and its people or its duly constituted authority, or those that have a dangerous tendency to encourage the commission of a crime or violence.
Further, the decision of Lala Sotto as MTRCB chair is unconstitutional because it violates the constitutional provision on the freedom of expression and the aesthetic freedom of our artists and intellectuals.
Sotto cannot use her being a Christian to deny those who are different or not the same as her. As a public official, she cannot invoke her religious beliefs in depriving others who do not subscribe to her views and opinions.
It is well-entrenched in our jurisprudence that the freedom to believe includes the freedom not to believe.
That freedom to have a religion includes the freedom not to have a religion and the freedom against or from it.
She and the MTRCB board have no right to impose their ecclesiastical and religious beliefs on matters of statecraft.
We all know that the separation of the state and the church shall be inviolable as clearly mandated by fundamental law.
Shimenet” like the title of the film, “Dear Satan,” but she and her cohorts have no right to deny it solely on their religious feelings.
Their feelings should have nothing to do with their performance of their task as public servants.
In the immortal words of George Orwell, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
Why it is that we allow rubbish and utterly tasteless movies like “Maid in Malacañang” and deny “Dear Satan”?
Are they implying that our people are so stupid and ignorant that they will fail to discern that the movie title is not the movie itself?
Are they so concerned and afraid that our citizens will not succeed in deciphering the value and message of the film beyond its title?
Do we live in an age where smart people are silenced so that stupid people won’t be offended?
This is a feudal mindset and incontestably antithetical to the vision of modernity and cosmopolitanism.

Jose Mario Dolor De Vega,
Asian Center,
Manila,
Philippines






Call for paid advertisements on garbage bags
Purchased on entry at Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday September 16, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday September 5, 2024

Re: "Popular waterfall reopens after two months of rehabilitation", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday September 3, 2024.
I'm glad that we temporarily closed the popular Thi Lor Su waterfall in Tak to allow it to recover from the damage we've done to it.
But we should do more so that we can enjoy it for decades to come.
Besides limiting road access to Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary to four-wheel vehicles, we should also limit the number of such vehicles and people who can access the falls daily.
Also, require that upon entry, each vehicle's driver must purchase large biodegradable garbage bags, one or more for each type of garbage.
The bags, whether full or empty, can be returned for a full refund at the point of exit.
The sides of the bags should be available for paid advertising.
As the sanctuary is heavily subsidised by our taxes, we should charge for entry to keep it in prime condition. Fee levels should be based on legal residency - not nationality.
Also, teachers of relevant subjects, students in uniform, the disabled, clergy, and the elderly should be given generous discounts.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand





South Korea seeks to establish blueprint
For responsible use of artificial intelligence in military
The Southeast Asian Times Sunday September 15, 2024

South Korea has convened an international summit seeking to establish a blueprint ( read boundaries ) for the responsible use of artificial intelligence ( AI ) in the military, though any agreement is not expected to have binding power to enforce it ( Reuters 9/9/24 ).
That has been the case with existing conventional military weapons and that will no doubt also be the case with AI use in military engagement in war.
Responsible use of military weapons is a myth.
Time and again military weapons have been used irresponsibly and those doing that have got away with it.
It will be no diffent with AI use.
Mark my word on that.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia




Thailand holds the world record
For the number of political parties removed by the courts
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday September 14, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Thursday, September 12, 2024

Re: "Thai politics has turned upside down", in Bangkok Post Opinion, Friday August 23, 2024.
I was more than a little surprised by the idea of Thailand calmly accepting that democracy would one day arrive and that it's getting nearer as time goes by.
Who was following the mentioned "middle path" when 13 successful and nine unsuccessful armed coups took place in Thailand?
With 20 constitutions in a century, this is not a country in any way at peace with itself.
Holding world records for the number of political parties removed by courts and the longest prison sentence for defamation is not a great sign of an improving democracy, in fact quite the opposite.
If an army killing protesters on the streets is the middle path, I'm sure glad you have avoided extremism.

Lungstib,
Bangkok,
Thailand





When Hugo Chavev
Nationalised Venezuela's oil industry
The Southeast Asian Times Friday September 13, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday September 10, 2024

Re: "Viva Venezuela", in Bangkok Post PostBag, Saturday September 7, 2024 and "Venezuelan opposition under siege", in Bangkok Post ,World, Friday August 2, 2024.
A few things Colin Roth might not know about Venezuela.
Venezuela now has a national debt of around US$4.2 trillion (142.7 trillion baht) -- and bear in mind the population is only 28 million because of massive corruption and economic mismanagement.
When Hugo Chávez nationalised the country's oil industry, many thousands of vastly experienced Venezuelan oil workers were sidelined, and most left for better jobs overseas.
Key jobs were given to government-friendly military officers who simply looted the national oil company for their own gain. Most of Venezuela's oil is heavy crude, meaning that a lot of effort and infrastructure are required to turn it into an attractive product.
When food became scarce due to this woeful economic mismanagement, President Nicolás Maduro back then used food as a weapon to force people to vote for him: No vote, no food coupons.
Much of Venezuela's oil production goes to pay off "debts" accrued by Maduro to "allies" such as China.
The last Venezuelan election is widely regarded as being fraudulent. Even former Maduro allies Colombia, Mexico and Brazil have demanded proof that Maduro won, such is his suspected losing margin.
Not only did he jail opposition members and make it near impossible for overseas voters to participate in the election for obvious reasons, he also prevented most independent observers from monitoring it.
"Viva" Venezuela indeed, but for the sake of the Venezuelan people, I hope not "Viva" Maduro.

Tarquin Chufflebottom,
Bangkok Post,
Thailand





Cannabis shops are mushrooming
Like 7-Elevens in Bangkok
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday September 12, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday September 10, 2024

Re: "Anutin sees bright future for cannabis", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday September 4, 2024.
The way Anutin Charvirakul interior minister and deputy Prime Minister portrays himself as a "champion of cannabis use for medical reasons" only raises eyebrows rather than appreciation. Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is banned by 35 countries and in some countries, possession or trafficking of it can even be punishable by death.
Tourists from all over the world travel to Thailand to have a good time there.
Thailand is the 8th country in the world where cannabis is allowed for medical use and, in practice, for recreational purposes. Khun Anutin surely knows Pablo Escobar and Guzman el Chapo started their lives with cannabis, and later, they went on to become kings of cocaine.
Now, cannabis shops have been mushrooming like 7-Elevens, and often, college students have been selling it openly on the streets not far from schools.
Let's take a walk on Khao San Road. There's a primary school over 100 years old, and cannabis shops are right there. Local police officers are patrolling at least 20 times in 24 hours. The police station is located right at the other end of Khao San Road. What about the idea of educating kids in schools on the consequences of smoking cannabis?

Jayut Jayanandana,
Bangkok,
Thailand

 

 


 

What's good for Cathay Pacific
Is not good for Thai Airways
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday September 11, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday September 9, 2024

Re: "No faulty engines, says THAI", and "Cathay halts flights for A350 checks", in Bangkok Post, WednesdaySeptember 4, 2024.
Somehow, THAI's assurances about the safety of their A350 engines do little to instil confidence.
How is it that Cathay Pacific one of the world's best-run airlines deemed it necessary to ground its entire fleet of A350s for safety reasons and has "identified a number of the same problematic engine components that need to be replaced among its fleet", while THAI, operating the same planes with the same engines, has found no reason to be similarly concerned?

Samanea Saman,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Thai politicians hardly use Buddhism
As a means of attack or defence
The Southeast Asian Times Tuesday September 10, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday September 8, 2024

Re: "Thailand's Dhammacracy", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Sunday September 1, 2024.
That is the most thought-provoking of one's views on Buddhism's role in Thailand's politics.
Though not a scholar of Buddhism or a devout Buddhist, one hardly reads or hears of politicians using Buddhism as a means of attack or defence.
It is almost sacrilege to refer to Buddhism in that arena.
It may be that Buddhist tenets that have influenced politics.
One likes to think that the words mai pen rai (never mind) are influenced by Buddhism as things will be corrected.
One doubts Buddhism is a means of suppressing the thought of democracy.
On the contrary, Thailand may have avoided any civil wars because of calmly accepting that a democratic time would come.
Our democracy may not be full-fledged, but we slowly achieve a better degree of democracy as time goes by.
In our democratic movement since 1932 almost one century there has been only one conflict bordering a civil war, in 1973.
It eventually calmed down and returned to normalcy.
One likes to credit that to Buddhism's belief in the middle way.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Papuans trekk rugged mountains to Port Moresby
To see, meet, greet and celebrate Pope Francis
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday September 9, 2024
First published in the National, Saturday September 7, 2024

The streets of Port Moresby will be full of people wanting a glimpse of the head of the Vatican State and the world’s Catholic order.
Over the past few days, critics have questioned the faith, the role and titles bestowed upon the Pope and the protocols accorded to Pope Francis at the political level when he arrives at the Jackson Airport today at about 7pm.
I will not debate the Catholic faith against other denominations.
Catholics don’t waste their time doing so, nor do they debate the Christ’s teachings along with the Bible.
Similarly, let those who are doubtful and semi-illiterate on the Pope’s various titles and attrbutes remain as primitive as they have been; no arguments there.
The arrival of Pope Francis this evening will be greeted by crowds of people, starting at Jackson Airport and along roadsides as he is driven on a route that will eventually take him to his place of residence at the Vatican embassy.
Government protocol will also be accorded to the Pope.
For, he is the Head of the Vatican state, make no mistake about that.
As soon as the Royal Australian Air Force plane that he is on from Indonesia coming enters Papua New Guinea airspace, Pope Francis automatically becomes a guest of the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, and of the Prime Minister.
Upon landing at the Jackson Airport, he will be accorded a 21-gun salute.
Furthermore, the importance and recognition given to the Pope’s visit were evident in the amount of work and preparations that had been ongoing through to last night. Two Government departments, Foreign Affairs and Information Communication Technology, have been heavily involved, and so was Finance and others.
Looking around the streets of National Capital District, one could not help but wonder at how Papua New Guineans can come together, unite and work as one to “really and truly clean” the nation’s capital in preparation to receive such a leader.
From the provinces, people have walked and trekked our rugged and mountainous landscapes and sailed the dangerous oceans to come to Port Moresby to see, meet, greet and celebrate the Holy Eucharist with Pope Francis.
It can be done, and it is the churches that can make it happen.

EastWest 961
Konedobu,
National Capital District
Papua New Guinea




 

Regenerating forests naturally has numerous advantages
Over planting seedlings or dropping seeds from the air
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday September 8, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday September 6, 2024

Re: "Seed bomb threat to forest ecology" Bangkok Post, Editorial, Sunday September 1, 2024.
The Post editorial is spot-on in warning against the simplistic notion of "seed bombing" for reforestation.
Instead, as the editorial urges, the focus should be on the natural regeneration of forests and protecting regenerating vegetation.
Regenerating forests naturally by protecting and nurturing seedlings emerging from seeds and root shoots already existing in the soil has numerous advantages over planting seedlings or dropping seeds from the air, including lower costs, growth of tree species that are better adapted to each site, improved water-retention capacity, and resulting forest ecosystems that are healthier and more diverse.
The survival rate of planted seedlings is abysmal in many locations, including in Thailand.
It's long past time for forestry officials to pay greater attention to the natural regeneration of forests.
In any case, whether trees are planted artificially or regenerated naturally, success in restoring forests is only achieved when local people see the benefits of trees and work to protect them.
Reforestation cannot be imposed from above either by dropping seed bombs from planes or, metaphorically, by office-dwelling officials.
Effective engagement of local people is the key to success.

Samanea Saman,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Dhammacracy suppresses democracy
Responsible for dissolution of progressive parties
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday September 7, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday September 1, 2024

Dhammacracy – the rule of Dhamma is an ideology that suppresses democracy while justifying an undemocratic regime.
This philosophy influences the political discourse in Thailand in a way that is deeply rooted in the country's culture and history.
It promotes rule by hierarchy, where a small group of elites, seen as morally superior, are granted the authority to rule over the majority.
This concept has implications for the political landscape, particularly in the way power is exercised and justified.
In practice, dhammacracy has contributed to the traditional establishment, including the military and nobility, playing a dominant role in Thai politics.
This is evident in the suppression of the democracy movement and the dissolution of progressive parties such as the Move Forward Party (MFP), which were seen as a threat to the nobility.
The dissolution of the MFP and the banning of its leading members from political office for the next 10 years is an example of how dhammacracy is used to marginalise political opponents and strengthen existing power structures.
Dhammacracy has also contributed to the fact that demands for more democracy and equality often encounter a backlash from the state, denying people a say in the running of the country.
The disappointment over empty promises of democracy and the drastic counter-reactions of the conservative establishment have led to a hardening of fronts, with the political discourse increasingly determined by a generational conflict.
In summary, dhammacracy influences the political discourse in Thailand by strengthening the power of the elites and suppressing democratic aspirations, leading to a political culture characterised by repression and a lack of genuine democratic participation.
Dhammacracy, Thailand's political philosophy, is the establishment's strategy for the 21st century and a blatant misuse of Buddhism for political purposes.

Nang Tani,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Crime committed outside one country
Is not prosecutable in another country
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday September 6, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday August 23, 2024

Re: "What do they mean by ethics?", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Wednesday August 18, 2024.
That is an excellent observation on a similar case in which the judgement was not unethical as it was based on the thin line of being jailed abroad, i.e., a person's conduct in life can be separated by territory.
Jailing outside Thailand's jurisdiction is irrelevant to the ethical grounds of the case in Thailand. Crime committed outside one country is not prosecutable in another country.
However, the recent judgement indicates that, in appointing a minister, one has to consider all angles with no excuses, whether not being a lawyer or a seasoned politician.
It should be based on the feeling of a reasonable man to judge another in front of him as being ethical or unethical in his past life.
Impliedly, conscientious considerations should be exhaustive when appointing a man as his minister, especially when the country's fate is at stake.
One likes to think that if that previous case had been brought before the Constitutional Court after the recent case, the judgment could have been different based on the ratio decidendi (rationales behind the judgement) of the current Constitutional Court.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Thai government to be be sued
For failure to take preventative flood measures
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday September 5, 2024
First published in he Bangkok Post, Saturday August 31, 2024

Re: "Chao Phraya River basin raises flood risk", in Bangkok Post, Monday August 26, 2024.
Given the reports of flooding up in the nation's North, which is gradually working its way southward, wouldn't it be proactive for the government to inform Bangkok residents of possible flooding and where it could occur?
Or is it going to be the same old story of dumping large sandbags in northern suburbs and letting the people living in Laksi, Don Muang, and Pak Kret bear the brunt of the flooding as they did back in 2011 so that downtowners don't get their feet wet?
We need to know now so that we can prepare.
No money will be handed out to flood victims unless the water exceeds 30cm, and even at levels below that, extensive damage can be done to homes and businesses.
So, I hereby warn the government that if we are caught off-guard because of their failure to take adequate preventive measures in advance to minimise damage to our homes, then they can expect to be sued for gross negligence.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Get the message?

Laksi resident,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Pacific Island States ready for anything
That comes their way for free
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday September 4, 2024

Congratulations to Australian for assuming the role of the pied piper in the proposed setting up of a Pacific regional policing force with a $400m funding for it.
Wonder what China will come up with in the geopolitical chess game?
Pacific island states will of course be ever ready for anything that comes their way free.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia



Chinese textile prices
Are impossible to achieve in free markets
The Southeast Asian Times Tuesday September 3, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday August 25, 2024

Re: "Chinese red herring", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Sunday August 25,
2024.
New China online retailer "shop like a billionaire" recently featured parkas for 69 baht and they have a lot of sewn items in their product line.
Colin Roth asks, "Maybe prices are low because Chinese factories are efficient?" and "perhaps the price issue is just an excuse to revive human rights abuse allegations?"
Anyone who understands the textile business will tell you these prices are impossible to achieve in free markets.
So, Colin, how do we get a new 69 baht parka in Thailand or a 39 baht wallet?
Forced labour and child labour answer that question, perhaps combined with heavily underwritten fabric costs courtesy of the CCP.
Labour only makes up to 30 percent of costs, fabric 60 percent, and accessories
8 percent.
Shipping within China, international shipping, packaging, marketing, profit, duties and taxes add make up the rest.
As to Mr Roth's statement, "Reports from people who have been there Xinjiang do not support allegations of human rights abuses", a report released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in August 2022 detailed various human rights violations in Xinjiang against the Uyghurs.
Let's stop apologising for the CCP, shall we, Mr Roth?

Michael J Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand

 




Japan and Thailand face daunting social challenges
A dwindling birth rate and ageing population
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday September 2, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday August 31, 2024

Re: "New realities in Japan-Thailand ties", in Bangkok Post, Thursday August 15, 2024.
Japan and Thailand share many things in common; in the past, they were exceptions among Asian and African nations in that Western colonisation did not happen.
These days, both countries face daunting social challenges, such as a dwindling birth rate and an ageing population, that will weigh on economic management.
Japan has long suffered from its ultra-low growth since the 1990s, and Thailand may follow suit if the government fails to put its prudent, down-to-earth economic policies in place.
I do believe that the two countries can find ways to further foster economic partnership hand-in-hand to rise to the challenge ahead.
The world knows that Japan has long been a good friend and a true contributor to Thailand's transition to an export-driven economic powerhouse in the region.
Despite being eclipsed by China lately, Japan has consistently been the No.1 foreign investor in Thailand over the past 20 years, and this likely will remain so if Japan finds good reasons to invest in Thailand rather than neighbouring Asean countries.

Ninja kun in Thailand,
Bangkok,
Thailand





There's strong evidence that China
Is dumping cheap produce throughout Southeast Asia
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday September 1, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday August 24, 2024

Re: "Flood of cheap Chinese goods 'coming by train'", in Bangkok Post, Thursday August 15, 2024.
The influx of cheap Chinese goods into Thailand presents the full gamut of globalisation's challenges and benefits.
On one hand, consumers benefit significantly from lower costs and sometimes higher-quality products.
For example, as reported by many, Chinese fruits and vegetables "look better than local varieties and are also substantially cheaper".
Not to mention the availability of far greater variety in the market.
On the other hand, it may be increasingly difficult for Thai producers to compete successfully in many product categories.
In cases where China or other countries have a clear comparative advantage, rather than fruitlessly trying to contest market share, Thai producers would be well advised to shift to other products or differentiate goods based on higher quality.
That said, there's strong evidence that China is currently "dumping" excess production selling goods at prices below production costs throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.
Where there is evidence of such unfair dumping, Thailand should press anti-dumping claims through the World Trade Organization and impose anti-dumping duties to level the playing field.

Samanea Saman,
Bangkok,
Thailand


 

The problem with family dynasties
Is that new creative outbursts rarely occur
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday August 31, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday August 29, 2024

The problem with family dynasties that often determine the fate of this country is that new creative outbursts rarely occur.
With either family X or family Y in power, ideas from people outside the family are almost impossible to solicit.
There is stagnation.
How can a country move forward with that?
If these families then fight each other, this becomes a step backward, with their supporters even being involved in the feud.
At a certain point, you could even talk about a family civil war.
The longer we focus on ourselves instead of on the country’s urgent problems,
the more time we lose and we’d end up lagging behind other countries.
When I look at Vietnam, Taiwan, China, or Indonesia, which is now even building a new capital, I am speechless at how quickly these countries are overtaking the Philippines.
And now there’s the threat of another epidemic like monkeypox, and the possibility of another lockdown.
A military conflict with a neighboring country might be in the offing as well.
But the Philippines has so much potential and certainly deserves better.
However, if we do not exploit our potential, it will remain hidden and forgotten.
We don’t want to end up like those “failed countries” in Africa where vain generals fight their battles on the backs of their civilian population until the bitter end.
Let’s close our eyes and let our imagination run wild: Where do we want to see this country in five or, say, 10 years?
Let’s assume a positive vision and, opening our eyes, start working on this vision. Everything starts with a first step.
Together, we will achieve something.
There is enough time until the election to work on this. Sometimes, history just needs a little push to get rolling.

Jürgen Schöfer, Ph.D.,
Manila,
Philippines



Thaksin Shinawatra return to Thailand
Comparable to Eva Peron's return to Argentina
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday August 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday August 23, 2024

Re: "Time to move on", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Friday August 23, 2024
With all due respect to Khun Chavalit Van, one begs to differ that it is "no time for old men!"
On the contrary, many believe that part of the present scenario is orchestrated by one "old" man with a young heart - Khun Thaksin Shinawatra.
After the judicial fall of Khun Srettha's government, his audacity in calling for a meeting at his home of all coalition leaders that evening was oddly enough helpful to the nation so it did not have a vacuum of uncertainty.
It was his foresight and statesmanship in previously naming his daughter and Khun Chaikasem as eligible for Thailand's premiership that paved the way for his daughter.
That evening, Khun Chaikasem was named as the proposed prime minister.
The turnaround the next morning was inevitable with the Hobson's choice of having to instead name his daughter, Khun Paetongtan, as the next prime minister for parliament's approval.
That was the doing of an "old" man who turned out to be the real prime minister, with his daughter being so in name if only one had listened to his CEO speech on Thursday night.
His vision is timely when the economy is in the doldrums.
Hopefully, this man will do it again but with less greed. His previous downfall was because he cared for his personal wealth too much and, therefore, had to go into self-exile for 15 years.
His return with a brief period of pretended imprisonment was so anti-climactic that it was almost comparable to Eva Peron's return to Argentina, except no song was sung.
But he was welcomed openly by all of his faithful with the enthusiasm of self-indulgence.
The failure of the former Move Forward Party, now branded as the People's Party, with a perfect ideology and economic and social plan from the textbooks, is an example of youngsters being too rash and careless.
Now, in isolation as the main opposition party, it reminds me of the song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand





No one in Thailand has any idea what they are eating
If it is imported from China
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday August 29, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday August 26, 2024

Re: "State urged to widen tax scheme", in Bangkok Post, Business, Tuesday August 20, 2024.
It's well known that the three most significant contributors to poor human health are processed foods, alcohol, and tobacco.
All three are profoundly addictive.
Although they are destroying our health they are not taxed equally, and the taxes collected are not used by the government in a way reflecting a duty of care for citizen's health.
A mere and miserly 2 percent surcharge on alcohol and tobacco excise taxes is allocated to the Thai Health Promotion Foundation ThaiHealth, or around 4 billion baht annually for alcohol and tobacco control and health promotion activities.
The government collected a whopping 224 billion baht from tobacco related taxes in 2020 alone, 11.3 percent of its total budget.
Despite this despicable disregard for people's health, almost nothing is being done to counter the processed food industry's assault upon humans and animals.
A number of harmful chemicals are used by food processors, few of them are restricted and none are tested for on a reliable basis.
Labelling requirements are casually bypassed if not taken for granted.
And no one has any idea what they are eating if it is imported from China. Meanwhile, the government only focusses on sugar and salt, arguing with health advocates and industry representatives over minimal measures that in effect do nothing to help the 40 percent of children in cities who have a myriad of chronic diseases and the elderly who have inadequate public health care.
Why are subs and EVs a government priority when reducing processed food, tobacco, and alcohol use will prolong health, extend lifespan, and save countless lives? Health education and prevention are key.
ThaiHealth must regularly provide educational information not only to the public but also require doctors to study the importance of diet and health in preventative medicine.
To really make a difference they need a far larger budget than the government is currently giving them.
After all, it is the people's money.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Thaksin Shinawatra
Should stop stealing the limelight
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday August 28, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday August 26, 2024

Re: "Thaksin not in control: PM," and "Ex-PM outlines national vision", in Bangkok Post, Saturday August 24, 2024.
For his daughter's sake, Thaksin Shinawatra should stop stealing the limelight and let her prove to the nation that "I can think for myself."
Now, he's hogging the news, as shown by the overflow crowd at the Nation Group's "Vision for Thailand" dinner.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn's stumbling even at the start of her tenure, not even knowing who she can rely on at the party.
Thaksin claims Ms Paetongtarn can lead; so, let her show her abilities without his heavy-handed dominance.
If she cannot decisively guide us, it's best to find that out early, to minimise the harm for all including Ms Paetongtarn.
Thaksin, it's your daughter's turn to prove her mettle, not yours. Exit the stage, please.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Studies found 24 studies of 631 surgical N95 masks
Exceeded established safety levels for humans
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday August 27, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday August 15, 2024

Re: "Time to prepare for 'Disease X' ", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Tuesday June 4, 2024.
In a review paper published this April in the Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety journal, German and Swiss researchers examined 24 studies evaluating 631 surgical, cloth, and N95 masks to determine their composition and the compounds they released.
The studies found they exceeded established safety levels for humans and alarmingly high levels of nano and microplastics.
Mask-wearing has also been shown to increase rebreathing of CO2, reducing the wearer's oxygen uptake.
The Department of Health should provide regular public service announcements notifying the public that mask-wearing is a high-risk behaviour similar to smoking.
This is especially true in the case of children.

Michael Setter
Bangkok,
Thailand




Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of the Move Forward Party
Brings international honour to Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday August 16, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Saturday, August 24, 2024

Re: "Pita to head back to Harvard Uni", in Bangkok Post, Thursday August 22, 2024
The contrast between not only domestic but global respect for Pita Limjaroenrat and those who have used unjust laws created for such anti-democratic purposes could not be more stark.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader of the Move Forward Party, brings international honour to Thailand.
Could anyone imagine Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prawit Wongsuwon, Thaksin Shinawatra, or the latter's Paetongtarn, or their like, being invited to be a fellow at Harvard or at any other top-tier university in the world?
Thailand's institutions opposing democracy have handed Harvard University a great opportunity.
It is a shame they robbed Thai voters of justice under democracy to do so.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Catholic bishops consistently emphasize
That there is no such thing as a Catholic vote
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday August 25, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday August 22, 2024

Some believe that bishops should avoid politics and focus on matters of faith and spirituality. Others argue that bishops have a duty to speak out on issues that impact society’s moral values.
Catholic bishops consistently emphasize that there is no such thing as a “Catholic vote.”
They do not endorse candidates or support politicians during elections.
However, they do assert their moral authority on issues that conflict with Church teachings and Gospel values.
There are certain nonnegotiable issues that bishops refuse to compromise on due to their conflict with Catholic moral teachings.
As the midterm election approaches, it is important for bishops to guide Catholic voters on how to wisely use their right to choose the country’s next leaders. Bishops may highlight the importance of voting for candidates whose government programs align with Catholic faith and morals.
However, it is important to remember that the bishops are not telling Catholics who to vote for, but rather urging them to consider the implications of their choices on the well-being of society as a whole.
In a world where political rhetoric can become divisive and polarizing, the bishops serve as a moral compass, reminding Catholics of the values they hold dear.
Critics may argue that bishops are overstepping their boundaries by getting involved in politics.
However, it’s important to understand that the issues at hand are not just political, but also deeply moral.
Catholic social teaching emphasizes that every person has inherent dignity and worth, and it’s the government’s duty to protect and uphold this dignity.
Is it fair to criticize bishops for trying to protect their followers from what they view as negative influences in politics?
Is it wrong for them to engage with politicians whose proposals contradict Church teachings?
Bishops have a duty to speak out against unjust laws or policies that could harm the greater good or conflict with Catholic principles. In doing so, they act as guides leading their followers away from harm.
The bishops stress the importance of voting based on one’s conscience, which aligns with Catholic teaching.
The Church acknowledges the significance of individual conscience in making moral decisions, including voting.
While the bishops may provide guidance, it is ultimately up to each person to make their own choices based on their conscience.
However, this focus on conscience can lead to a paradox.
On one hand, bishops and clergy discourage voting solely based on party affiliation or popularity, encouraging Catholics to carefully consider candidates and their positions on important issues. On the other hand, this emphasis on conscience allows individuals the freedom to choose candidates even if their policies go against Catholic teachings.
This paradox becomes more noticeable when politicians who claim to be practicing Catholics support policies that go against Catholic teachings.
This inconsistency can cause confusion and conflict for Catholic voters who may struggle to reconcile their religious beliefs with their political views.
Given these complexities, it is understandable why some may believe that there is no unified Catholic vote in the traditional sense.
While the Church offers guidance, each person is ultimately responsible for making their own choices in the voting booth.
This freedom of choice, essential to democracy, can result in differing opinions and outcomes among Catholic voters.
The concept of voting based on one’s conscience is a difficult challenge for Catholic voters.
The Church stresses the need for careful thought and reflection when selecting candidates, but ultimately, individuals have the freedom to make their own choices based on their personal beliefs and values.
This conflict between guidance and independence highlights the complexities of balancing religion and politics in a democratic society.

Reginald B. Tamayo,
Marikina City,
Philippines




Royal Thai Army
Kills its own soldiers
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday August 24, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday, August 19, 2024

Re: "13 soldiers held over recruit death", in Bangkok Post, Friday August 16, 2024.
Once again the Royal Thai Army demonstrates what an efficient killing machine
it is.
Unfortunately, this prowess is again directed at its own soldiers, not enemies of the state.
Recruit Worapratch Phadmasakul, 18, who died after an encounter with his drill instructors on August 2, joins a long and growing list of soldiers killed by their own so-called comrades in arms.
Army spokesman Col Ritcha Suksuwanon offered compensation to the dead soldier's family.
Just how much compensation does he think will cover the death of a much-loved son, who volunteered for the army?
Here is a list of some of the other soldiers slain by other soldiers over the past few years: Pvt Wanyawut Lampapahe, Pvt Songtham Mudman, Pvt Wichian Puaksom, Pvt Yutthakinum Boonnian, Cadet Pakapong Tanyakan and Lt Sanan Thongdeenok.
Responsibility for this egregious culture that allows for the continued abuse lies not just with the 13 drill instructors charged, but right at the top with army chief Gen Jaroenchai Hintao.
When are you, general, going to take positive action to turn this culture around?

David Brown,
Bangkok,
Thailand





In-person presentation at Thailand immigration office
Required for all foreigners to renew 90 day visa
The Southeast Asian Times , Friday August 23, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Sunday August 18, 2024

Re: "Immigration updates 90-day online reporting", in Bangkok Post, Monday January 22, 2024.
I was thrilled in January this year to hear the Immigration Department had updated their TM47 90-day reporting system.
To quote your article:
"All foreigners staying in Thailand on various kinds of long-term visas are required to confirm their address with the Immigration Bureau every 90 days. An online system has been available for several years but it was unreliable and most people continued to visit immigration offices in person.
"The bureau has responded by improving the system in hopes that more people will use online reporting, leading to fewer visits and less overcrowding at immigration offices."

I started using this system as the department wished, and even after overseas visits, was able to do my report online using the same passport and address as the last report. It has been a reliable success up until May.
It seems that a change applied for a few months now has the system rejecting such reports with the message:
"For first-time requests of a 90-day notification in each country visit, in-person presentation at the immigration office is required."
There is no need for this change for long-term residents, as there is usually no new information being entered.
May I ask through your esteemed organ: Why has immigration made this change, when it worked just fine before, and there was no logical reason to "fix" it?

Tarquin Chufflebottom
Bangkok,
Thailand

 

 


Thailand's education system should be overhauled
To emphasise vocational education
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday August 22, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday August 19, 2024

Re: "Workers 'need skills upgrade to adapt' to labour market", in Bangkok Post, Sunday July 14, 2024.s
Post-Covid-19, there is a need for a new set of professional skills.
In developing countries like ours, people often acquire knowledge and theory that may not be useful in the workplace.
Our education system has over-emphasised the importance of academic degrees. While there's no doubt that medical students become better doctors and management students better managers because university courses are designed to meet sector-specific skills, this approach is not enough.
The country's education system should be overhauled to emphasise vocational education.
Many social science subjects and their related universities are not based on the actual needs of the job market.
Instead, universities should focus on agriculture, fisheries, forestry, pastoral work, herbal studies, river-based industries, rural technology with a modern approach, and other relevant fields.
Traditionally, academic degrees were highly valued. However, in recent years, the focus has shifted towards practical skills.
Major companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon are increasingly hiring people based on their skills rather than academic qualifications.
This is because academic degrees do not necessarily guarantee that individuals can solve real-world problems.
Therefore, in the post-Covid-19 era, it is crucial to develop professional expertise and skills through education, training, and skill acquisition to tackle the challenges posed by the pandemic's impact.

Suman Kumar Regmi,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Dynastic rule within democratic framework
Evident across ASEAN
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday August 21, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday August 18, 2024

Re: "No happy ending after Sheikh Hasina's downfall", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Friday August 9, 2024.
The persistence of dynastic rule within democratic frameworks is indeed a significant concern, as it often leads to the concentration of power within a few families rather than a broader representation of the populace.
This phenomenon is evident across South Asia, Asean, and other parts of the world, where political power often remains within certain families, creating de facto monarchies within democratic systems.
The rise of dynasties in democracies can erode the very principles of representation and accountability that these systems are meant to uphold.
Instead of prioritising the public good, these dynasties often prioritise their interests, leading to corruption, nepotism, and weakened institutions.
As Mihir noted, the political landscape in India has seen a shift with the rise of the BJP, which has challenged the dominance of traditional dynastic powers.
However, the battle against dynastic politics is far from over.
As seen in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and even in more established democracies like the USA and parts of Europe, the allure of power and wealth continues to draw individuals into politics, often with the backing of family legacies. In Pakistan, the governance has become a family affair.
Thailand also suffers from the same malaise.
The public must remain vigilant and demand stronger democratic institutions that prioritise merit and accountability over lineage.
Only then can democracies truly serve their intended purpose of representing the will and welfare of the people.

Kuldeep Nagi,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Royal Thai Army demonstrates
What an efficient killing machine it is
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday August 20, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday August 18, 2024

Re: "13 soldiers held over recruit death", in Bangkok Post, Friday August 16, 2024.
Once again the Royal Thai Army demonstrates what an efficient killing machine it is.
Unfortunately, this prowess is again directed at its own soldiers, not enemies of the state.
Recruit Worapratch Phadmasakul, 18, who died after an encounter with his drill instructors on August 2, joins a long and growing list of soldiers killed by their own so-called comrades in arms.
Army spokesman Col Ritcha Suksuwanon offered compensation to the dead soldier's family.
Just how much compensation does he think will cover the death of a much-loved son, who volunteered for the army?
Here is a list of some of the other soldiers slain by other soldiers over the past few years: Pvt Wanyawut Lampapahe, Pvt Songtham Mudman, Pvt Wichian Puaksom, Pvt Yutthakinum Boonnian, Cadet Pakapong Tanyakan and Lt Sanan Thongdeenok.
Responsibility for this egregious culture that allows for the continued abuse lies not just with the 13 drill instructors charged, but right at the top with army chief Gen Jaroenchai Hintao.
When are you, general, going to take positive action to turn this culture around?

David Brown
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call to make the Myanmar crisis
A win-win for Myanmar and Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday August 19, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Sunday, August 18, 2024

Re: "Act to defuse depopulation timebomb", In Bangkok Post, Opinion, Wednesday August 14, 2024.
Thailand should move quickly to enlist those fleeing Myanmar's civil war to slow our ageing problems especially in the farming sector.
Farmers are one-third of our labour force, but their income totalled just 8.57 percent of 2023 GDP.
They are poor, swamped with toxic debt, elderly, and poorly educated.
The average farmer had a household income of 57,032 baht a year and average household debt equals 7.89 years' household annual income.
Young Myanmar men and women, plus older engineers and medical staff, are fleeing the Tatmadaw's draft en masse.
They are precisely those we need to kickstart our farm productivity.
Repurpose the digital wallet funds to boost farmer productivity, such as planting high-yielding rice strains or organic crops.
Give these immigrants an acculturation programme and a merit-based path to citizenship so they'll help us develop for years to come. Make their crisis a win-win for them and us.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Thai students demonstrate commitment
To democratic principles and the rule of law
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday August 18, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Thursday, August 15, 2024

Re: "Guest lecturers under fire for MFP dissolution ruling", Bangkok Post, Tuesday August 13, 2024.
The actions of student activists are of great importance for several reasons.
Firstly, they demonstrate the students' commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.
The campaigns against the charter court judges involved in the dissolution of the Move Forward Party reflect concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of the legal education process.
Secondly, these actions represent a form of civil disobedience necessary in a democratic society to highlight injustices and effect change.
By holding the judges accountable, the students promote a culture of transparency and dialogue.
Thirdly, the actions have the potential to initiate a broader discussion on the role of the judiciary in politics and the significance of the constitution for democracy.
The planned live discussion and the invitation to the judge to face questions are crucial steps in raising awareness and understanding of these issues.
Finally, the students' actions could also affect future legal decisions by showing that the public is vigilant and takes the judiciary's accountability seriously.
This could help to build trust in the legal system and improve educational standards for future law students.
Overall, the students' actions send an important signal for the preservation of democracy and legal principles.
They encourage critical engagement with the judiciary and foster commitment to a just and transparent society.

Nang Tani,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Welcome to Thailand
Province of China
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday August 17, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday August 15, 2024

Re: "PM orders tougher rules for imports", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday August 14, 2024
If Thai manufacturers already feel overwhelmed by the influx of cheap Chinese goods at this juncture, just wait until the high-speed rail link to China via Laos is completed.
Any Thai producers who doubt the impacts of a fully functioning high-speed rail link with the northern behemoth should urgently consult with their Lao neighbours.
Welcome to Thailand, province of China.

Samanea Saman,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Manila is the fifth riskiest city for tourists
Out of 60 international cities
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday August 15, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Wednesday August 14, 2024

It saddens me to read the result of a recent survey by media company Forbes Advisor stating that Manila is the fifth riskiest city for tourists out of 60 international cities included in the study.
The study’s composite ranking is based on the ranks Manila registered under each of the following metrics: personal security risk, health security risk, crime and infrastructure security risks, and digital security risk.
In 2017, there were also equally concerning reports such as that of Zipjet which listed Manila as one of the most stressful cities in the world, and that of London’s The Economist magazine which rated Manila as one of the most unsafe cities in the world.
Whatever their levels of accuracy, I would like to consider the above reports as wake-up calls for us to intensify our efforts in effectively solving the informal settlers problem in our capital city.
However, in the case of the Zipjet report and its negative comments on Manila, then Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada dismissed the report as “fake news.”
But in fairness to him, he set up the Dubai Village Project for 225 informal settler families (ISF) in Baseco, Port Area, in 2016 and was planning to do more projects. In the case of succeeding mayor Isko Moreno, with his soft spot for the poor as a former informal settler himself, he even set up more housing projects such as the 20-story condominiums in the slum areas of Binondo, Santa Cruz, San Andres Bukid, and Quiapo. He also initiated a city-wide clean-up of illegal vendors on the city’s sidewalks.
In the case of incumbent city mayor Honey Lacuna, she is fast-tracking the completion of three housing projects in North Harbor, and in Tondo, San Miguel, and Santa Mesa districts under the government’s 4PH housing program for ISF. President Marcos also declared last June an ISF area in Tondo measuring 2.2 hectares as a location for his 4PH housing program for which he targets the nationwide completion of six million homes within his term.
It is a common observation among Metro Manilans that the highest concentration of informal settlers in Manila is in the North Harbor and Smokey Mountain areas of Tondo, Baseco in Port Area, and the San Andres Bukid district. It is in these areas where most urban social ills are observed.
However, the prospect of house ownership under the 4PH program is expected to address these ills.
It’s good to see that our government officials have given attention to Manila’s most socially problematic areas and that the Department of Tourism has been promoting eco-, sun and beach, dive, and adventure tourism which are the growth engines of our vibrant tourism industry that accounted for 8.6 percent of our GDP in 2023.
However, there is also a need to develop our cultural, heritage, and religious tourism that should be promoted first in our history-rich capital which should serve as the microcosm of these neglected sectors of our tourism industry.
The President has started this with his Pasig River Esplanade project which is connected to our old Walled City of Intramuros in the south and to the Jones Bridge in the north.
But I suggest that, aside from beautifying this old bridge rendered in neoclassical style, the project should continue the promenade concept to the adjoining historic Escolta CBD with its art deco and art nouveau buildings which, incidentally, should be protected against mindless gentrification.

Meliton B. Juanico,
Manila,
Philippines







Call for Thailand to recognise and value
Expatriates contribution to the economy
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday August 15, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday August 13, 2024

Re: "Quest for clarity", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Thursday August 8, 2024.
There are approximately 300,000 Western expatriates residing in Thailand, with a guesstimated average annual expenditure of 1 million baht per expat.
This results in a total spending of about 300 billion baht annually.
In comparison, foreign tourists typically spend around 5,000 baht per day and stay for about 14 days.
Therefore, it would require approximately 15 tourists to match the annual spending of a single expatriate.
Beyond direct spending, expatriates also contribute economically by purchasing items such as motorbikes, cars, and condominiums.
Additionally, some expatriates provide financial support to Thai families in good and bad times, further amplifying their economic impact.
If new Thai tax regulations lead to a significant reduction in the expat population potentially halving it and if attracting new expatriates becomes challenging, Thailand could lose a substantial economic benefit.
To mitigate these risks and harness the full economic potential, it may be prudent for Thailand to adopt an inclusive expat strategy.
This could involve recognising and valuing the contributions of expatriates while developing a premium tourism strategy.
The latter might include implementing a tourist fee that supports the enhancement of infrastructure and could attract higher-spending visitors.
A worried expat.

Peter Haenni,
Bangkok,
Thailand





For HM The Queen Mother of Thailand
On her Birthday Monday August 12, 2024.
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday, August 14, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday August 12, 2024


In a kingdom graced with immeasurable joys
The generosity of your giving
Fills our minds with thanksgiving
Across the kingdom art and artistry flourish
Touched by your generosity
Caressed by artisan effort and zeal
Cultural gifts our minds nourish
As years accumulate from valued days
And time is spent in meaningful ways
Your support we remember with joy
Your praises we employ
Thus on this your birthday we invoke in thanksgiving
Blessings and strength for you, unending

Glen Chatelier,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Ask yourself why so many Christian priests
Have been accused of engaging in homosexuality
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday August 13, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday August 9, 2024

Re: "Khelif proves too strong for Janjaem", in Bangkok Post, Sport, Thursday August 8, 2024.
I must say that all the arguments about the politics of sexuality in the Olympics and other competitive sports are symptomatic of human conditions polluted by faith and religion.
The real world is not based on binary logic.
Only computers use binary logic 0s and 1s for convenience.
It is difficult to say which is a male or female bit.
In nature, specifically in the plant and animal kingdom, sexuality is not binary.
Plants and animals reproduce in a variety of ways sexually and asexually.
For unknown reasons, nature also exhibits the law of exceptions.
Let us look at nature carefully.
Hermaphroditism is a condition of having both male and female reproductive organs.
Hermaphroditic plants most flowering plants or angiosperms are called monoecious or bisexual.
Hermaphroditic animals mostly invertebrates such as worms, bryozoans (moss animals), trematodes (flukes), snails, slugs, and barnacles are usually parasitic, slow-moving, or permanently attached to another animal or plant.
In human beings, the phenotype is not completely controlled by XY chromosomes. Social environments (including religions) are key factors in developing human sexuality.
Ask yourself why so many Christian priests have been accused of engaging in homosexuality.
Which chromosome determines homosexuality?
Olympics or any other competitive sport must recognise shades of human sexuality carefully and put contenders in groups beyond binary classification, male or female.

Kuldeep Nagi,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Warm-blooded animals living on tropical islands
Are more prone to extinction
The Southeast Asian Times Monday, August 12, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquiry Wednesday August 7, 2024

The title of the paper could not be more daunting to the layperson, but the publication contains golden nuggets for our country: “Convergent evolution toward a slow pace of life predisposes insular endotherms to anthropogenic extinctions,” authored by Ying Xiong and others. It was published last month in the journal Science Advances.
In essence, the startling conclusion of the paper based on new evidence is that warm-blooded animals living on tropical islands are more prone to extinction than their mainland counterparts.
Turns out that these animals have adapted to cozy island life by having slower metabolic rates.
It’s like people, too, as we can glean from social media quotes like “On island time, nothing is urgent” or “Island life is simple, slow, but full of sunshine and sea.”
Xiong and co-writers assessed the metabolic rates of more than 2,000 island mammals and birds.
Then they compared their findings with the conservation status of each animal as contained in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Through correlation analysis, they demonstrated that the slower the metabolism, the higher the risk of extinction.
In other words, tropical island animals are more vulnerable to environmental changes, primarily those caused by humans.
Because they cannot adapt fast enough, they are in greater danger of extinction due to habitat destruction brought about by deforestation, over-exploitation, and climate change, among others.
The study highlights the need to redouble our efforts in conserving our biodiversity resources since the Philippines is composed of thousands of small islands.
The Philippines has one of the richest biodiversity resources in the world.
The country harbors two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity and between 70 percent and 80 percent of the world’s plant and animal species. But sadly, more than 700 species are under threat of extinction.
All sectors of society must collaborate to stave off a catastrophic loss of our rich plants and animal life.
The government’s efforts, ably led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and specifically the Biodiversity Management Bureau, must be supported and expanded.
A number of civil society organizations are valiantly trying to conserve our remaining natural resources.
The private sector is also becoming more engaged in conservation efforts, as exemplified by the BINHI program of the Energy Development Corp.
The science is becoming more apparent every day. Humans have altered the earth’s face in ways that could only be described as irresponsible. As stewards of God’s creation, we should do a far better job conserving our rich natural heritage.

Dr. Rodel Lasco,
Author,
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Sixth assessment report,
Manila,
Philippines







Has justice been seen to be done in the MFP case?
I suggest not
The Southeast Asian Times Sunday August 11, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday August 9, 2024

Re: "MFP takes ruling in stride", in Bangkok Post, Thursday August 8, 2024.
The Constitutional Court's verdict dissolving the MFP and banning its top executives again reminds us of HM King Bhumibol the Great's carefully considered opinion on Section 112.
"Thailand's law of lèse-majesté has one very prominent critic: King Bhumibol
In 2005 King Bhumibol used his annual televised birthday address to convey three concerns:
'The King,' he said, 'is a human being and as such should be subject to criticism.
Charges against those accused of lèse-majesté should be dropped, and those held in jail for lèse-majesté should be released, and the use of the lèse-majesté law ultimately damages the monarchy'" in Grossman and Faulder, in their palace-approved book.
Has justice been seen to be done in the MFP case?
I suggest not.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call for Olympics to go back to
Ancient Greek Olympic tradition
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday August 10, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday August 8, 2024

Re: "Fair play achievable?", in Bangko Post, PostBag, Wednesday August 7, 2024.
Michael Setter outlines well the case for sticking with the traditional gender categorisation at the Olympics: it is simple and binary.
He is certainly correct that "the concept of fairness is suspect on many levels".
He is also right that a more sophisticated approach than simple sex discrimination is in fact complex; sophisticated even.
Who would want to be sophisticated when a simple binary option exists?
But sex-based discrimination glosses over a host of dirty little secrets.
For a start, the athletes tend to keep the most explicit sign of their sex concealed under layers of fabric as if it were a dirty little secret.
What is needed is a simple black-and-white divider, one that is clearly seen. Exactly such a traditional marker for dividing humans exists.
That discriminator is the one being revitalised by the current Trump election campaign in the US, namely, identity according to skin colour.
Unlike sex, this is not treated as a dirty little secret.
People in most cultures do not conceal their faces or significant other bits of skin, making it a publicly revealing marker of who someone is, to the delight not only of politicians looking for a coloured card to play to their base.
Rather than making sex the basis for creating categories to allow the less naturally gifted by Mother Nature to have their bit of glory in the shadow of the other category, a better choice for dividing athletes is skin colour.
Of course, there will still be problems: there are murky grey cases that are not plainly, wholesomely, black or white.
And some will doubtless try to pass as white to compete in that category rather than the statistically stronger black category.
There will, accordingly, need to be tests for bleaching and like deceitful practices. Would such an easy black-and-white division of athletes be any less fair than the current system?
If we must stick with sex-based discrimination, at least go back to respecting the ancient Greek Olympic tradition of athletes competing in the nude rather than concealing the bits society deems dirty little secrets.
That respect for venerable tradition might even tempt myself and others to even watch a boxing match.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand






No record breaking temperatures
By August deadline
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday August 9, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday August 6, 2024

Re: "Climate change: the August deadline", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Saturday August 3, 2024
Climate crier Gwynne Dyer reports noted climate modeller Gavin Schmidt has claimed, "By August, if we're still looking at record-breaking temperatures, then we really have moved into uncharted territory."
Well, here it is, August, and everything seems the same.
No record temperatures except in the fake data which is generated by 20 years' worth of climate modeling feeding upon itself, generated by no new measurements, but rather ever new constants inserted into always changing mathematical models designed to predict the doom we are causing by, among other things, breathing.
Such people are never accountable, always promising to get better at spewing scarier news.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Unfairness in the Olympic boxing match
Between Angela Carini and Imane Khelif
The Southeast Asian Times Thursday August 8 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Tuesday August 6, 2024

Re: "Gender woes in sports", in Bankok Post, PostBag, Sunday August 4, 2024.
Miro King, in support of real women, is right to be upset about the Olympic boxing matches.
There seems to be unfairness in the match between Angela Carini and Imane Khelif, who was born a woman, albeit with male-genetic XY chromosomes.
The solution once used is to ban female boxers with such genetic advantage that leads to greater strength, higher testosterone levels, greater muscle mass, and the like.
It is this set of natural physical characteristics, rather than the accident of sex, that are argued to constitute unfairness.
That solution sounds reasonable and right.
Yet, the solution should extend the categorisation system to include the full set of measurable physical characteristics held to be relevant.
Sex is no more one of those characteristics than it is for competing in business, academia, or employment.
Indeed, it is time to end sex-based discrimination in sports and improve the criteria for deciding who can compete against whom.
Therefore, athletes, whether natural-born males or females, should be able to compete fairly against other humans who meet the same qualifying criteria for the category.
Biological females and males will then have an equal chance of defeating their competitors of either sex.
This will resolve the current disputes about who should be allowed to compete against whom by neatly dissolving sports clinging to the old habit of treating women as being so inferior to men as to require a separate category to compete in.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Whopping double standards
Enshrined in Thai law
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday August 7, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday August 3, 2024

Re: "Srettha defends integrity in court", Bangkok Post, Wednesday July 31, 2024.
In challenging Prime Minister Srettha's ethical standards in court related to his appointment of a former convict to his cabinet, senators appointed by the Prayut junta spoke of "good morals" and "ethics," while Prayut's cabinet allowed a drug-related convict who'd been jailed in a foreign cell to sit happily in cabinet.
That alone shows a whopping double standard enshrined in the law.
It is unethical.
Also citing the need to suppress peaceful speech, those same senators denied the Thai people the government for which they voted.
That was neither just, nor moral, nor democratic, merely legal: again, the double standard that legalises such bad morals, such unethical practices, is glaring.
Meanwhile, the fact of Prayut being where he is having done what he did, highlights as nothing else does the extraordinary double standards written into the law when it speaks of "good morals" and "ethics".
The pending court cases only emphasise those double standards enshrined in the law.
Such are the messages being consistently sent by the conservative old guard.
Is it any wonder that support for Move Forward and its popular policies continues to grow? I daresay all those who realised so soon after the event that they had wasted their vote by voting for Pheu Thai are looking forward to correcting that mistake.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Call for Thailand to follow principle of non-refoulment
And not return activist Y Quynh Bdap to Vietnam
The Southeast Asan Times, Tuesday August 6, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday August 4, 2024

Re: "Govt can't meddle in Vietnamese activist case", in Bangkok Post, Thursday August 1, 2024.
In the court case of Vietnamese activist Y Quynh Bdap, who's overstayed his visa but has been granted refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHC), we must follow the principle of non-refoulement.
This "prohibits States from returning refugees to where their lives or freedom may be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. It is a part of customary international law and is therefore binding on all States, whether or not they are parties to the Geneva Refugee Convention and Protocol" (source: EU Glossary).
Mr Bdap seeks freedom of religion for Vietnamese Montagnards, and Vietnam requests his extradition for launching campaigns that break Vietnamese law but evidently not Thai law.
Critics say that Christian Montagnards have long been persecuted by the Vietnamese government, and US Congress members have asked Prime Minister Srettha to release Bdap.
We seek a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHC) seat in this October's elections.
We should show the United Nations (UN) that we follow international law's core principles.
If we extradite Mr Bdap, it must be to a country where his life or liberty will not be threatened, such as the US.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailands




Human rights do not arise under Thailand military Prayut government
Or democratic elected Srettha government
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday August 5, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday August 3, 2024

Re: "Govt can't meddle in Vietnamese activist case", in Bangkok Post, Thursday August 1, 2024.
Whether under an army-ruled government under Prayut or the current so-called democratically elected Thai government under civilian Prime Minister Srettha, the issue of respecting human rights does not arise at all.
Lest we forget, the Thai government handed over 109 Muslim Uyghur refugees in 2014 to China under tremendous Chinese pressure, knowing the fate of these poor Uyghurs.
They were blindfolded, handcuffed and forcibly put on a China-bound plane and handed over to Chinese authorities.
Their families and children were separated and were deported on a separate plane.
The world does not know the consequences or their fate.
Again, against the request from the UN and human rights organisations across the world, the Thai embassy in Istanbul was attacked and had to close down our consulate.
We had handed over political activists and members of opposition parties from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Hong Kong to their brutal and repressive dictators.
The question of respecting human rights sounds like an alien concept to us, especially when we Thais treat our unarmed Thai brothers and sisters so cruelly by sending them to jail for violating Section 112.
One was arrested for expressing an opinion on inconvenience from a royal motorcade.
Now, is Thailand allowed to stay a member of the UN, or would it be fair for the UN to include Thailand as a member of its human rights committee?

Jayut Jayanandana,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Philippines once again fails to exit
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list
The Southeast Asian Times Sunday, July 9, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday July 29, 2024

I refer to the commentary published in this paper about the Philippines once more failing to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “gray list” in “Exiting the ‘gray list’,” July 17, 2024.
A country in the “gray list” means it is under increased monitoring.
As of June 2024, the Philippines counts itself as one of the 21 countries or about 10 percent of countries in the world under the gray list.
Being placed on this list has tangible consequences for a country’s economy and financial system such as restricted cross-border transactions, leading to difficulties for a state obtaining credit, and limiting inward foreign investment.
In other words, they hurt the economy impacting the poor the most.
In January last year, then Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla, who chaired the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), noted the lack of action on easing the bank secrecy law, resulting in the low number of cases filed against violators of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing and their eventual conviction as may be gleaned from most if not all of the blue ribbon committee investigations going nowhere.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) added that the Philippines is one of three remaining countries in the world with ultra secrecy in bank deposits.
Republic Act No. 1405 or the bank secrecy law prohibits any person from disclosing to any person any information relating to the funds, assets, or properties belonging to a depositor except on either of two conditions, when waived by the depositor or when a court order is issued.
A third exception, recommended by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), involves cases where the inquiry or examination is made by the central bank, provided that, there is a reasonable ground to believe that fraud, serious irregularity, or unlawful activity has been or is being committed by persons, and that it is necessary to look into the deposit to establish such fraud, irregularity, or unlawful activity.
Simple.
We need to realize we have far more serious threats internal to our country over and above external threats such as China’s encroachments and near acts of war in the West Philippine Sea.
The revered Douglas MacArthur once said in his speech before the Texas State Legislature in 1951: “Talk of imminent threat to our national security through the application of external force is pure nonsense.
Our threat is from the insidious forces working from within.”

He may have been referring then to deceptive and powerful organizations within the United States using potential global threats as an excuse to put aside founding American principles.
We have deceptive and powerful persons in and out of our institutions who erode the safety and security of Filipinos and taint the country’s image in the eyes of the global community by opening up offshore gaming operations in the country, accommodating Chinese illegal and criminal activities, and by aiding China’s creeping invasion in the form of acquisition of massive chunks of real estate with dummies and assisting the influx of thousands of Chinese, some taking up residence and citizenship and taking over businesses.
This involves corruption on a grand scale and illicit money passing through banks that cannot be investigated.
Worse still, we have institutions that ignore their sworn constitutional duty to establish a government with which we can build a just and humane society by failing to stamp out corruption, which is possibly the biggest bane in our life as a nation and the most pernicious obstacle to our achieving of full human development.
Money always leaves a trail.
Congress must do its part and pass the long-languishing bill easing the bank secrecy law to first and foremost promote the common good and, once and for all, address the preeminent gap in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Norman V. Cabrera,
President,
Manila,
Philippines






Persistence of female genital mutilation
Under Monotheistic religious ideologies is no accident
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday August 3, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday July 27, 2024

Re: "Female genital mutilation and the need for Islamic scholars", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Saturday July 20, 2024.
In his opinion piece on the evil that is female genital mutilation, Gwynne Dyer usefully observes that the traditional practice was endemic to the region long before the Abrahamic religions took hold.
Those religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, merely enshrined the cultural norms of that time and place.
They had no concern for good or bad, right or wrong, just or unjust, except to use talk of such things to entrench their despotism.
Although Mr Dyer is correct that a clear statement from Islamic religious leaders and scholars of the Koran that their religion does not, in fact, teach any such thing as a need or even acceptance of female genital mutilation is still not enough.
Even if the Koran explicitly commanded it, that would not make female genital mutilation one whit less evil.
No more does the Bible's explicit command to commit genocide, to kill and to sexually use children make that acceptable to any morally decent human being.
And contrary to the solidly Bible-based arguments of the pro-slavery South in the US Civil War, that book's consistent endorsement of the venerably traditional institution of slavery did not and does not make slavery morally acceptable.
As Mr Dyer also notes, those things are in the ancient sacred texts because they were part of the cultural context at the time the texts were written to serve the ideology of their societies' reigning masters.
It is no accident to take a different example that the first four of those infamous Ten Commandments given to Moses just after the slaughter of the innocent children of Egypt and as a reminder before the imminent genocide of the Canaanites, including the divinely commanded slaughter of their children, the divine one handed over those commandments.
And they were commands.
They were not reasoned moral arguments.
Monotheistic religion, as both its sacred texts and its well-known history consistently attest, is no place to look for decent moral guidance.
The persistence of female genital mutilation in areas still under the thrall of such religious ideologies is no accident.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Your trash
Your responsibility
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday August 2, 2024
First Published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday July 30, 2024

President Marcos recently did an ocular inspection in the affected areas of Metro Manila after the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Carina.”
He pointed out that the main cause of the flooding is the improper garbage disposal on top of climate change.
The President stressed that we have more flood control now than before increased number of pumping stations, “Pero talaga you have to put it trash somewhere,” he said “Marcos: People should learn as climate change, trash caused flooding,” Inquirer.net, July, 26, 2024.
He reminded Filipinos to properly dispose of their garbage to keep the drainage system free from clogging and hence prevent flooding.
I remember, as a Grade 1 student, our school principal would stand in front of the flagpole to make her announcements and reminders to everyone.
This had been her habit after every flag ceremony.
I could no longer remember the rest of what she said, except for this: “Basura mo, pananagutan mo”
Your trash, your responsibility.
As the principal leaves the stage, we would then pick up the “flowering plastic” on the grounds, throw them in the trash can, then go inside the classroom.
The principle from the principal is simple, but practical.
If every Filipino knew their responsibility including distinguishing biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste “nabubulok” vs “hindi nabubulok” then they would be prepared to meet the responsibilities as a youth, later as a parent, and a leader in the community.
Every Filipino should be responsible for their choices, in what course to take, who to marry, and what role to play in building the nation.
While inside the jeepney with my mother, as a little child, I once threw a cellophane out the window after I’d consumed my bread.
But my mother told me that it was not good and threatened me that the policeman might catch and reprimand me.
How thankful we are to our parents and teachers!
A pumping station is what the government can provide, but a clogged drainage is what the people can prevent.
People can do more, for prevention is better than cure.
We get to choose what to plant: real flowers, fruits, nuts, and vegetables that will benefit our health, or “plant” plastic or throw garbage anywhere in the city street and clog the drainage system.
Your choice.

Ham Geg G. Manggasang,
Manila,
Philippines






Chinese are thriving
In the West Philippine Sea
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday August 1, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday July 30, 2024

Territory is very important to every nation.
As James Garfield, 20th American president quotes, “Territory is but the body of a nation. The people who inhabit its hills and valleys are its soul, its spirit, its life.”
I am a pure-blooded Filipino and proud to be one.
My husband and I work in the United Kingdom as nurses and are currently on vacation in Laguna. Filipinos are peace-loving, friendliest, the best, and warmest people on the planet.
While we are working in a peaceful country, I can’t help but be boggled and somewhat scared by news about the Chinese activities in the Philippine waters which to me are an infringement on our territory.
The Chinese have been thriving in the West Philippine Sea as they claim it is their territory.
The West Philippine Sea consists of islands and islets that are very rich in marine life natural gas, and oil reserves, among others.
News revealed their creeping invasion in the country as they have built infrastructures, stolen fish catch from our fishermen, and exploited and harvested our marine fauna.
This year, a series of unlawful activities were perpetrated by the China Coast Guard purportedly to have their footing in the West Philippine Sea.
How many more of this aggressive behavior will these Chinese nationals lodge against Filipinos?
How long can Filipinos endure their infringement on our territory?
While we Filipinos are peace-loving people, are we going to allow China’s infringement on our sovereignty which was won through decades of hard struggle?
I appeal to our lawmakers and policy planners to defend our territory peacefully with the intervention of other international states who also stand for peace.

Name withheld on request,
Manila,
Philippines






Primate, Bua Noi, deserves a better life
Than behind bars in a Thailand department store
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday July 31, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday July 27, 2024

Re: "A new zoo vision?", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Wednesday July 24, 2024.
While most people are repulsed at the conditions under which primate, Bua Noi, has lived for the past 30-odd years, Rose Bellini should not try to impress us by using obscure words.
An oubliette from the French "oublier", meaning to forget is a dungeon accessible only through a trapdoor in the roof.
It was a particularly evil form of imprisonment and torture used in the Middle Ages, with prisoners thrown down through the trapdoor into a dark and airless cell and often left to starve to death.
Having said that, let us not forget that primate, Bua Noi, is a sentient being and deserves a better life than to be confined behind bars in a department store, gawked at daily by human apes.

David Brown,
Bangkok,
Thailand


 


Long-stay expats in Thailand
Are not the lynchpin of the Thai economy
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday July 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Saturday July 27, 2024

Re: "Expat explains", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Sunday July 21, 2024.
First, Phil Cox misrepresented my view on a mass exodus of expats.
Never in my mind, irrespective of the outcome of the issue, could there be a mass exodus.
The view of the mass exodus came from those expats who wished for that result because of the thought of the Revenue's head of taxing world income to follow the global trend of closing tax loopholes.
Secondly, even when world income is applicable, in my humble opinion, there could only be a trickle of outward-bound expats, only a drop in the ocean because of prior commitments, attachments to the land irrespective of the country's faults, and easy solutions to the hassle of its rules by googling on the treaty of the country that income is originated from or paying a small fee to any respectable international tax advisers in town.
Thirdly, the property market in Phuket is already tilted mainly towards buyers from Russia and Eastern Europe. In Bangkok, from the business pages of the Bangkok Post, surprisingly, China and Myanmar are two big buyers.
Just like Russia, because of authoritarianism, they seek to protect their assets by taking refuge in the safe land of Thailand.
Both property markets are flourishing, and their citizens need not fear a world income rule since its effectiveness depends on the cooperation of signatory members on disclosing income to each other's tax territories.
China, Russia and Myanmar are not signatory members.
Finally, long-stay expats are not the lynchpin of the Thai economy.
They are important, but not to the degree that some expat writers have claimed.
If one has to choose either the inward funds per year from 40 million tourists or from a few hundred thousand long-stay expats in Thailand, a sane man will always pick the 40 million tourists anytime.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Rotenone to control invasive fish species
Is not feasible due to its toxic properties
The Southeast Asian Times Monday July 29, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday July 27, 2024

Re: "Chemical solution", in Bangkok Post PostBag, Thursday July 25, 2024 and "Halting tilapia invasion 'a priority'", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday July 23, 2024
First let me say that the use of rotenone to control invasive fish species is not feasible due to its toxic properties, it is harmful to humans, animals, and lethal to fish and insects, while remaining active for up to four weeks in the environment.
Second, after reviewing Thailand's Department of Fisheries website, it is apparent that its primary focus has been on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for decades, and its capacity to use modern genomic methods to control invasive species has not been developed.
Compare this with the US National Fish Hatchery System, which raises and stocks 100 million fish each year "to support the recovery and restoration of imperilled species, recreational fishing, and Tribal subsistence fisheries. National fish hatcheries use aquaculture to raise threatened, endangered, or at-risk species in a safe captive environment for eventual release into a natural setting. This work, along with habitat restoration and other federal protections, can help boost and support wild populations of fish and aquatic wildlife."
The fish and seafood market in Thailand is valued at US$8.57 billion (300 billion baht) in 2024.
Surely, this would justify the Thai Fisheries Department's establishment of a state-of-the-art aquaculture and genomics facility on a large site capable of adequately fighting the ever-present hazards of invasive species and protecting national resources.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok.
Thailand






Call for the Philippines Presidential Action Center
To be expanded to the United Arab Emirates
The Southeast Asian Times Sunday July 28, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Monday July 22, 2024

How about expanding the Presidential Action Center or PAC under Executive Order No. 15 in regions where there is a large concentration of overseas Filipinos (OFs) such as Europe, Middle East, and Africa,( EMEA), North America, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Austraila-New Zealand-United States territories (ANZUS0?
Presidential Action Center (PAC) serves as the command center and liaison unit of the Office of the President with various agencies on all requests for assistance, complaints, and grievances from the general public.
Let’s face it, almost all OFs will not be reintegrating back into Philippine society as overseas opportunities are better than living and working in the Philippines.
OFs have significant contributions in every country they are in.
Every host country and every employer will tell the world that OFs are excellent, talented, friendly, and, most of all, caring skilled workers, artists, professionals, or entrepreneurs.
As so-called modern-day heroes because of the remittances that have helped keep the country economically afloat, OFs should also be heard where they are.
The presence of embassies, consulates, and migrant workers offices in the major countries that host OFs does not guarantee that all requests for assistance, complaints, and grievances will reach the president’s ears or his inner circle at Malacañan Palace.
President Marcos can first start establishing the global PAC in the United Arab Emirates, either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, covering the EMEA region which has over three million OFs, who are mostly migrant workers compared with the OFs in North America who are considered immigrants.
It will make a lot of sense to have the PAC in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where there are two international aviation hubs. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are eight flight hours to London and Johannesburg, seven flight hours to Milan, more than five flight hours to Kenya, four flight hours to Cairo and Tel Aviv, three flight hours to Jeddah and Amman, two flight hours to Riyadh, almost two flight hours to Kuwait, and one flight hour to Doha. This would be practical in case of an emergency response to any major incident involving OFs in the region.

Art Popoy Los Banos,
Manila,
Philippines




US Constitution's Second Amendment
States the right to bear arms in an organised militia
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday July 27, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday July 21, 2024

Re: "Trust deficit", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Sunday July 21, 20224 and "Guns on US streets", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Thursday July 18, 2024.
Michael Setter seems to have forgotten that the US Constitution's Second Amendment, influenced by the English Bill of Rights of 1689, states the right to bear arms in an organised militia.
At the time of writing the Constitution, the US had no army or navy, so an organised militia was needed for defence.
The founding fathers were concerned about external threats and could never have foreseen the military might that the US now has.
I would suggest that Michael downloads the Letter from America of Alister Cooke (1993) to see how far the bearing of arms and the power of the National Rifle Association (NRA) has led to the carnage in the US relating to gun ownership with no organised militias in sight!!

KMAC,
Bangkok,
Thailand





State intolerance and repression in Hong Kong
Since China's takeover from British
The Southeast Asian Times Friday July 26, 2024

We read in The Southeast Asian Times 25 July that ‘ Hong Kong spectator at volley ball match found guilty for covering his ears against China’s national anthem.
Wow!
Has it reached that level of State intolerance/ repression in Hong Kong since China’s takeover?
Well clearly the people of Hong Kong are free no more the way they once used
to be.
We from the outside can only empathise with them for their predicament under China’s control.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia





Thailand police often committing horrific crimes
While bearing arms legally
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday July 25, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday July 22, 2024

Re: "Guns on US streets", in Bangkok PostBag, Thursday July 18, 2024
Dennis Fitzgerald wants to restrict "gun access to those protecting us, mainly the military and police".
The right to bear arms is enshrined in the US constitution for a reason.
Those "protecting us" in Thailand however, in case Dennis may not have noticed, have overthrown duly elected governments 13 times and tried nine additional times to do so without success.
The police seem to be in the news frequently for all the wrong reasons, often committing horrific crimes while bearing arms legally.
The constitution of the US is a truly remarkable document which at root presumes adults are capable of being fully responsible for themselves and their families and so provides a governmental structure under which they are enabled to exercise that responsibility lawfully.
It is children who cry for protection from "authorities" because they are not capable of being responsible for themselves.
This is the European Union model of "woke" government. How is that working out, Dennis?
Try a visit to Canebière, Noailles, and Belsunce, in Marseille at night, or how about a stroll around London's Westminster which had 463 crimes per 1,000 people last year?

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand





UPIHR report showes former president Rodrigo Duterte's
War on drugs has not yielded any notable success
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday July 24, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer Thursday July 18, 2024

The editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer last July 14, 2024, about the Philippine Drug Policy and Law Reform Summit in 10-12 July 2024 detailed a significant occasion for human rights defenders and drug reform advocacy groups nationwide. The event was jointly hosted by the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime under the UN Joint Programme for Human Rights in the Philippines with the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law serving as academic partner.
Many of the participants, especially those who faced demonization under the previous administration, claimed that they could not have imagined the event a few years ago.
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) executive director Earl Saavedra and DOJ Undersec.
Jesse Andres went through the UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights (UPIHR) prepared Rapporteur’s Outcome Report that included the lived experiences covered by national dialogues that showed the perspectives of over 434 who participated in various sectoral and regional dialogues across the country and 23 position papers and studies from chief security officers and drug policy experts.
It was explicitly provided that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs has not yielded any notable success.
Instead, it only resulted in grave human rights violations, limited access to drug treatment programs, and severe jail congestion.
The 2024 forum was in sharp contrast to the UPIHR and Free Legal Assistance Group’s Policy Forum called “Drug Issues, Different Perspectives” on May 5-6, 2017, where then President Duterte sacked DDB chair Benjamin Reyes after sharing government statistics that contradicted the president’s unsupported figures. Dr. Carl Hart, a neuroscientist who also spoke in the forum, was then insulted and cursed by Duterte. Meanwhile, the keynote speaker, UN special rapporteur for extrajudicial executions, Agnes Callamard, was banned from entering the Philippines.
The gathering allowed the participants to echo the Outcome Report, as they urged the government to put an end to the prohibitionist drug policy in favor of a rights-based approach that treats drug use as a health issue starting by repealing “Oplan Tokhang,” abolishing the arrest-based and quota system used by the police, and ensuring accountability. Instead of focusing on street-level peddlers and nonviolent users, they called on the government to focus on the socioeconomic roots of the issue and divert funds to poverty alleviation.
While remaining critical, the participants recognized that the forum is the crucial first step toward transforming the carceral and punitive drug policy.

Raymond Marvic
C. Baguilat,
Manila,
Philippines



 

Call to shift Thai auto parts manufacturers
Towards medical device production
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday July 23, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday July 16, 2024

Re: "Auto parts makers nudged towards medical devices", in Bangkok Post, Business, Friday July 12, 2024.
I strongly agree that shifting Thai auto parts manufacturers towards medical device production is a strategic and wise move. Leveraging their existing manufacturing capabilities, these companies can efficiently enter a growing industry, offsetting the decline in automotive demand and boosting Thailand's self-sufficiency in essential medical equipment.
The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in global supply chains, making domestic production of items like ventilators and PPE crucial.
With government support and incentives, this pivot allows auto parts makers to diversify revenue streams and ensure long-term sustainability, aligning with Thailand's economic interests and market adaptability.

Boonyisa Pamonbut,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Survey conducted by Thailand's Department of National Parks,
Wildlife, and Plant Conservation is worthless
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday July 22, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Saturday July 20, 2024

Re: "Residents slam survey result on Thailand's Thap Lan National Park", in Bangkok Post, Monday July 15, 2024 and "'Save Thap Lan' campaign just a ruse", in Bangkok Post Opinion, Friday July 12, 2024.
As the Post's well-informed columnist Sanitsuda Ekachai explains in her excellent opinion piece "'Save Thap Lan' campaign just a ruse", the online survey done by that highly interested party, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) is as flawed as is that department's ill-considered plan to maintain another traditional area of unjust state control over people.
The way the survey was done makes it worthless.
No one expects, no one should suspect, a self-selecting group to be unbiased.
It is too unsurprising that a Thai government department would think that conducting such a survey might be of some worth.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) should apologise for conducting such a silly survey, and admit that they might be seriously in the wrong to oppose the proposal to turn a chunk of the national park into farmland that its traditional residents have a legally protected right to use.
Putting the adjective "national" in front of a noun does not magically confer on the thing that noun phrase points to any magical right to override considerations of what is just.
No adjective has that magical power; however, often state authorities wielding bad law presume it.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Thailand's Koah Chan Island
Will sink under tourist invasion

The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday July 21, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday July 20, 2024

Re: "Koh Chang bridge 'likely to cost B10bn'", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday July 17, 2024.
I read the proposal to build a bridge to Koh Chang with utter dismay.
Starting with the enormous financial and environmental cost, it is a disaster in the making. I have been a regular visitor to this once tranquil, pristine and most beautiful island for over 25 years.
In that time, the island has been overrun by hordes of tourists, uncontrolled building, beach encroachment by holiday resorts and above all, rubbish.
Plus, the dangerous macaque monkeys!
Koh Chang, like most Thai islands does not have a proper waste disposal structure.
There are many enormous heaps of rubbish that are hidden in the once pristine forest.
The beaches are polluted.
The road and transport infrastructure is woefully inadequate, with deadly extremely narrow roads with numerous hairpin bends, upon which there are countless accidents, many fatal, every year, never reported in the press.
Even the proposed terminal at Koh Chang Hospital is ridiculous as it is so far from the main beaches and would exacerbate the traffic problem even more.
Please scrap the plan to build the bridge to Koh Chang.
Otherwise, it will sink under the tourist invasion and become rubbish like Venice and Barcelona!

Miro King, loves Koh Chang,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Philippines vaunted attachment to religion
Has been a death blow
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday July 20, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday July 11, 2024

Eleanor Pinugu’s What hinders creativity” in Undercurrent, June 24, 2024 describes the invisible gorilla as not just an interesting experiment but a crucial metaphor for the country’s current regressive path.
This experiment, which demonstrates “selective brain attention” demands our attention and engagement.
Our vaunted attachment to religion has been a death blow to our natural innovative capacity and vision.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) results show that even our young people are beginning to exhibit signs of falling into the abyss of religious paralysis, unable or unwilling to find answers beyond what the padre says on a Sunday morning.
Generations before have forsaken them to be submissive and accepting.
Deep in his hippocampus, a voice says, “Stifle yourself!
As a boomer who has experienced 14 years of Catholic education, I can attest that critical thinking skills were never a priority.
It has never been in the interest of the ruling class (aka government) and the Church to encourage clear and rational thinking among the citizenry.
Our institutions, like our undernourished school children, have long suffered from the “stunting” effects of a “fixed mindset.”
Pinugu’s article rightly points this out, but she doesn’t address the source of this ongoing national decrepitude.
It all started when Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross on the shores of Cebu in 1521.
Why do we fall to a single spiritual narrative and immediately “take it to the bank”?
We take all kinds of time, listen to all views, and study the opposition on the most mundane issues but would not spend a minute to question what the padre is saying. He tells you, “You are going to hell,” and without batting an eyelash, you are down on your knees, asking for forgiveness.
Think about it: how did humanity cease to be rational at the mere mention of spirituality?
Why do we behave so differently as soon as Joe puts his “collar” and a giant cross around his neck?
So now, besides showing our youth’s illiteracy, Pisa also indicates a fallback on our intuitive affinity for ingenuity, one of many adverse consequences of dogmatic overexposure.
Absolutism and fixed religious ideology are a bane to creativity.
Our movers and shakers are tone-deaf to the realities of a sectarian influence. Many things we dislike in our country today are a cumulative fallout of generations of our preoccupation with an afterlife, an “intersubjective reality” at best.
Our childhood attachment to theological fantasies has tenaciously clung to our consciousness.
We cannot learn from the ongoing volatility of the intolerant Abrahamic-inspired Middle East.
It takes seeing the elephant in the room and witnessing a populace determined to rid itself of this albatross to bring us to a forward-thinking mindset.
Are we too dense to learn from Scandinavia, or now, how about a secular Vietnam?

Edwin de Leon,
Manila,
Philippines





Not too many Americans surprised by
Assassination attempt on former President Donald J Trump
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday July 19, 2024

Many important figures in American politics and leadership have said quite categorically that violence of the kind in the shooting attack on Trump has no place in America’s democracy.
Every right thinking person anywhere would agree.
But with the kind of gun possession and access available to American citizens gun violence is to be expected.
I believe at one level not too many Americans would be too surprised by what happened.
It’s happened before with far worse outcome.
Gun violence is a logical extension of the American gun culture .
That’s the fundamental problem that needs to be addressed.

Rajend Naidu
Sydney,
Australia




Is suspended mayor Alice Guo
A Chinese spy ?
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday July 18, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday July 16, 2024

Suspended mayor Alice Guo has become the center of attention for Filipinos due to her questionable identity.
Senate hearings gradually answered the questions that fed our curiosity about her. But how did she become so powerful in Bamban, Tarlac?
Are influential figures involved in the falsification of her papers?
Are the claims of her being a Chinese spy true?
It’s alarming to think that some undesirable aliens can freely roam the Philippines without legal and proper documents.
This involves falsification.
There are illegal Chinese workers in Philippine offshore gaming operators, an unexpected boom of Chinese students in Cagayan, and Guo’s questionable identification.
These instances emphasize that the Chinese presence has been gradually creeping into the Philippines - perhaps it is connected to the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea?
However, these underground Chinese plans can be prevented if those in service have the integrity to stand by what they have pledged.
Why do they exchange the Philippines’ safety for wealth that will put us in danger? It is selfish and disheartening to see these people betray the Philippines. I hope this is not the case.
As we slowly grasp the concept of China’s mystery, we can anticipate combating the challenges we’re facing right now.
This is not a drill or a joke.
This situation threatens our national security and puts us on the edge of a cliff.
Let us not despise the country that crafted our identity.
Moreover, let us remain vigilant, for the traitor may be among us.
Philippines, wake up!
The ongoing challenges call for a reevaluation of our immigration policies and border control measures.
Strengthening these systems can prevent the infiltration of individuals with questionable motives.
Additionally, promoting transparency and accountability among public officials is crucial.
Corruption not only undermines national security but also erodes public trust in the government.
Education and awareness are also key in combating these issues.
By informing citizens about the potential threats and encouraging a sense of national pride and vigilance, we can create a united front against those who seek to exploit our nation.
Encouraging community involvement and fostering a culture of patriotism can serve as a powerful deterrent against internal and external threats.
In conclusion, this situation is a wake-up call for Filipinos.
It is a reminder of the importance of national unity, integrity, and vigilance.
By standing together and addressing these challenges head-on, we can ensure the safety and sovereignty of our beloved Philippines.
Let us remain awakened and proactive in safeguarding our nation’s future.


Crixus Cai,
Manila,
Philippines




Philippines embarrassed and freaking out that students
Are in the 10 lowest in maths, reading and science
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday July 17, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday July 12, 2024

Economists say that you wouldn’t know individuals by their race or the environment they grew up in.
They can be greatly influenced by the institutions and culture in their new place of adaptation.
The late Mancur Olson Jr., an American economist in a 1996 lecture entitled “Big Bills Left on the Sidewalk,” noted to what extent cultural practices in a society affect human behavior, and mindsets can be changed quickly in a new environment.
He made a profound observation of an individual coming from a poor country, Haiti, who migrates to a richer country with no carried-over acquired skills, becomes more productive overnight, and earns a far higher wage than before.
The individual’s cultural attributes remained the same so this cannot account for the improved performance, except for the influence and demands of his new environment.
Now, we’re embarrassed and freaking out that our students are among the 10 lowest ranking in math, reading, and science, based on new findings of the Programme for International Student Assessment, with recent test scores showing no significant improvement from the country’s performance in 2018.
Compounding our embarrassment is that most of us, senior citizens, were taught by the products of the American Thomasites who taught sixth and seventh graders after the war to be our teachers in the elementary grades in the ’50s.
And look at how many have become today, not mindful of what their beginnings were, but what they have made of themselves in society.
New Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s priority first and foremost, we suggest, is skills training for the teachers.

Marvel K. Tan,
Manila,
Philippines





The antipolitical dynasty law in the Philippines
Has become ill-fated if not doomed
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday July 16, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday July 12, 2024

One way to sap the greed or the propensity of corrupt politicians to amass excessive wealth, ill-gotten or otherwise, that can be handed down and used from one generation to another to perpetuate themselves and their families in power is to finally get rid of political dynasties as mandated by the 1987 Constitution.
Unfortunately, the legislative branches of government tasked to enact the enabling laws required to enforce the Charter’s antipolitical dynasty provision have been teeming with family dynasts and “trapo” traditional politicians, if not crooks, who naturally would not give up their hold on power and easy access to public funds and perks to the detriment of good governance and people’s empowerment.
Thus, the antipolitical dynasty law in this country has become ill-fated, if not doomed.

Manuel A. Collao,
Manila,
Philipines




Small and medium-sized enterprises
Make up 99 percent of business in Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday July 15, 2024
First Published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday June 26, 2024

Re: "Loans, guarantees part of 'Ignite' vision", Bangkok Post, Business, Friday June 12, 2024.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand are in urgent economic overview.
Despite the fact they make up 99 percent of businesses in the country, SMEs in Thailand receive only 18 percent of outstanding credit from commercial banks and contribute 35 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This is an outcome of insufficient credit disbursement in the economy.
In other countries, commercial banks, with the direction of central banks, limit credit access in the non-productive sectors to stabilise the economy.
The commercial banks concentrate on rural investments for the extremely poor, especially women.

Regmi Suman Kumar,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Does the predominantly Catholic Philippines
Have particular neo-Confucian values as in tiger economies

The Southeast Asian Times Sunday July 14, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer Monday July 8, 2024

Looking at the pattern of our development after our independence from American rule, we had one of the highest real per capita GDP levels and growth rates among our neighboring countries in East and Southeast Asia from 1950 to the 1960s. During the period, the real GDP of the Philippines expanded 1.68 times.
Between the 1950s and 1990s, the economies of South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong underwent rapid industrialization and high growth rates of more than 7 percent a year. By the early 21st century, these countries had developed into high-income (HI) economies and came to be called “tiger economies.”
All along, however, the Philippines experienced an economic downturn in the ’70s and ’80s when the gains we made earlier were lost to corruption, cronyism, and mismanagement.
The good news is that from 1987 when the World Bank started its current economic classification system up until 2023 the Philippines has rebounded and has been assigned a lower-middle-income category with a gross national income per capita of some $3,950.
A study by Mathur et al. released this year by Australia’s ANZ Research, pointed out that the Philippines can attain an upper-middle-income (UMI) status after seven years if it accelerates reforms such as allowing more investments, reducing red tape, and eliminating non-tariff barriers.
However, even as our neighboring tiger economies keep on enhancing their development, it is still conjectural if we can soon attain and maintain a upper-middle-income UMI status unless we consider the political and cultural dimensions of economic development that also factor in the development of the tiger economies.
An article by Yap and Balboa in 2008 pointed out that the constraints on economic development are not purely economic.
There is the political dimension where there is an inability to establish a credible, strong, and selfless political leadership; then there is the cultural-religious dimension where long-held social values have adversely affected economic growth in less tangible ways.
Studies done by Kaplan in 2003 and by Gyawali in 2020 have also echoed the above observation that the rise of modern Asian states was marked by strong leadership that was also guided by cultural values particularly contained in the Confucian rulebook.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam are sometimes referred to as the “tiger cub economies” because, while they have developed more slowly than the four Asian tigers in the decades since the 1950s, they have nonetheless grown generally at a steady rate.
But do they have - especially in the case of predominantly Catholic - Philippines - the particular neo-Confucian values that are seen among the tiger economies?
We will see if the years ahead will bear this out.
The economist Robert Nelson pointed out in 2007 that the Confucian ethic that is analogous to the secular Protestant ethic is largely missing in the Philippines’ predominantly Catholic culture where there was Latin American feudal hacienda mentality, poor leadership, pervasive political oligarchy, and a value system based on harmony instead of mastery over man and nature.
A promising way to counter these persistent failings is to embrace the neo-Confucian values that stress the following: frugality and savings that can lead to expanded investments and entrepreneurship; high educational attainment that equips one with wealth-creating skills; and work ethic that stresses creativity, achievement-orientation and seriousness about tasks.
To reiterate, we need to protect and enhance our current economic gains by always considering the desirable political and cultural dimensions of development.

Meliton B. Juanico,
Manila,
Philippines


 

 

The Sangguniang Bayan plays a quasi-judicial role
To check on the power of elected officials
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday July 13, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday July 5, 2024

The Sangguniang Bayan plays a crucial role in local governance in the country, performing three key functions.
These functions include the legislative function, the quasi-judicial function, and legislative inquiry in aid of legislation.
Each of these functions serves a unique purpose in ensuring efficient and effective governance at the local level.
The legislative function of the Sanggunian involves the authority to draft and pass local laws through ordinances or resolutions.
These laws have the force of law within the jurisdiction of the Sanggunian and are essential for regulating various aspects of community life.
By creating ordinances, the Sanggunian can address specific issues affecting the community, such as public safety, health regulations, and environmental protection. Through this function, the Sanggunian can respond to the needs and concerns of the local populace, creating laws tailored to the unique circumstances of their jurisdiction.
The quasi-judicial function of the Sanggunian allows it to preside over administrative cases involving elected local officials who have committed offenses. This function is crucial for holding public officials accountable for their actions and ensuring ethical behavior in government.
By adjudicating cases involving misconduct or violations of law, the Sanggunian upholds the principles of good governance and maintains public trust in the integrity of local government officials.
This quasi-judicial role serves as a check on the power of elected officials, ensuring that they are held to account for their actions.
Legislative inquiry in aid of legislation empowers the Sanggunian to gather information to make informed decisions when creating or amending ordinances. This process, known as remedial legislation, allows the Sanggunian to conduct research, hold hearings, and gather input from stakeholders to inform their legislative decisions.
In order to carry out these functions effectively, the Sanggunian must establish internal rules of procedures (IRP) that align with their responsibilities and guide their proceedings.
By adhering to established internal rules of procedure IRP, the Sanggunian can ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency in their decision-making processes, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of local governance.
By establishing and adhering to internal rules of procedure IRP, the Sanggunian can carry out these functions effectively and contribute to the improvement of governance at the local level.

Reginald B. Tamayo,
Manila,
Philippines



 

No appearance of army tanks
In the change of government in Britain
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday July 12, 1014
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday July 8, 2024

Re: "Sunak poised to leave office", in Bangkok Post, Saturday July 6, 2024.
The speed of the recent change of prime minister in Britain is a model for any democratic country to emulate.
After tendering his resignation to King Charles as the UK's prime minister, Rishi Sunak had to vacate the Prime Minister's Office at 10 Downing Street just a few hours before the arrival of the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
Within 24 hours, under the label of the mother of parliamentary democracy, the change of government in the United Kingdom was complete.
No haggling, no excuse not to go, or the appearance of army tanks!

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Maritime dispute between Philippines and China
Must be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday July 11, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday July 5, 2024

Recently, supporters of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program have been poking fun at those who are using the slogan “Atin ang West Philippine Sea,” while also opposing the ROTC’s revival.
What I find funny if not disturbing, though, is how some people are led to believe that the West Philippine Sea issue with China can be resolved through armed confrontation, and that asserting our sovereign rights is futile without preparing for war, i.e., having a mandatory military training that teaches students blind obedience and instills in them a culture of violence.
The maritime dispute between the Philippines and China can, and must be resolved in a peaceful manner through diplomatic dialogue.
But first, we must reject the notion that the Philippines is under the protection of the United States, whose business is to preserve its hegemony and dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.
Allowing the US to intervene would only escalate the situation.
Instead, the Marcos administration, if it’s not really in the business of instigating wars, should demand that both China and US withdraw their military presence in the country, and call upon China to abide by the 2016 ruling of the international arbitral tribunal.
The last thing we need is to be led into a war situation not of our own choosing - a war between two imperialist powers.

Daniel Aloc,
Manila,
Philippines






PM Srettha Thavisin welcomes non-Thai long-term
Land ownership too boost the real estate sector
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday July 10, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday June 27, 2024

Re: "PM allays foreign lease fears", in Bangkok Post, Monday June 24, 2024.
The report covers well, in brief but comprehensively, the controversial issue of the rights of non-Thai ownership of land and condominium units. Immediately, the words of former prime minister Chartchai Choonhavan, a proponent of foreigners' right of ownership in 1988, that the land once sold still remains in Thailand; so, why object?
That logic seems to hold true, but it survived only a few years. Words of traitors and a large portion of poor Thais still without landownership have returned with full force.
PM Srettha Thavisin is courageous enough to welcome non-Thai long-term lease ownership to boost the real estate sector. Long-term leases are also offered in some Asean countries.
However, his proposal of increasing the proportion of non-Thais buying condominium units from 49 percent to 75 percent is the least objectionable since the land situated thereon is relatively insignificant.
But the objectionable part is the increased portion of 26 percent who shall not have voting rights - that is not democracy in a community.
It is somewhat distasteful, similar to the two-tiered pricing of entrance fees for Thais and non-Thais, or the cry of the settlers in America when taxed by King George III in "being taxed but without representation".

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call for urgent job review of performance
Of UN permanent security Council members
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday 9, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday June 27, 2024

Re: "Job reminder for the 'permanent five'", in Bangkok Post, Opinion,
June 26, 2024.
Kasit Piromya commendably outlines the deep crisis of a polarised world today. He aptly calls for an urgent job review of the performances of the United Nations five permanent security council members.
By whom?
The United Nations?
I doubt the United Nation's capacity or capability, as its current role is that of an aged corporate-style bureaucrat with grandstanding speeches and little else to show in crisis situations.
On the other hand, angst seems to be gripping the world when the rich can do whatever they fancy and the oppressed slouch in silence in multitudes of scenarios where the "might is right" ethos thrives.
Humanity owes it to itself to discover a new moral voice to speak up and speak loud against the plagues of injustices and misdeeds, or else in the seemingly never-ending wars, deterioration of nature and with death and depravation rampant, we might find ourselves ending in a whimper of woe.

Glen Chatelier,
Bangkok,
Thailand






The inability to sell leasehold property or pass it to heirs
Will limit foreign buyers' interest in Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday July 8, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday June 26, 2024

Re: "PM allays foreign lease fears", in Bangkok Post, Monday June 24, 2024
Given that attempts by previous governments to allow foreign land ownership and the moribund condition of the property market, Prime Minister Srettha's initiative to introduce 99-year leases as an alternative to freehold is laudable.
This development would probably benefit far more Thais than foreigners and could make financing of leasehold property more attractive to lenders.
However, I see several caveats.
Firstly, Thai leasing laws are rather basic and do not allow for automatic transferability of leases, which means there can be no secondary market in leasehold property and that heirs have no automatic right to inherit leases.
Lease contracts can deceptively be made to look as if lessees have these rights, but since they are not supported by statutory law, they cannot be enforced by the Land Department without the lessor's consent at the time of transfer.
Even the lessee's rights under the original lease are not binding on a new lessor if the freehold has changed hands.
This means that banks cannot be expected to offer mortgages on leasehold property, even with 99-year leases.
The inability to sell leasehold property or pass it to their heirs will limit foreign buyers' interest.
While I consider this a step in the right direction, the announcement by the Revenue Department in September 2023 of a tax on foreign remittances, followed up more recently by another announcement that it will introduce a tax on global income, whether remitted or not, is utterly counterproductive to the government's efforts to attract more foreign investment to the property sector.
In conclusion, 99-year leases with appropriate supporting legislation would definitely be a positive for Thais, but it might not be enough to offset the destruction of foreign demand for Thai property caused by new tax laws on foreign remittances and income.

George Morgan,
Bangkok,
Thailand






The quasi-judicial function of the Sanggunian Bayan
Is to uphold the principles of good governance
The Southeast Asian Times Saturday July 6, 2025
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday July 5, 2025

The Sangguniang Bayan plays a crucial role in local governance in the country, performing three key functions.
These functions include the legislative function, the quasi-judicial function, and legislative inquiry in aid of legislation.
Each of these functions serves a unique purpose in ensuring efficient and effective governance at the local level.
The legislative function of the Sanggunian involves the authority to draft and pass local laws through ordinances or resolutions.
These laws have the force of law within the jurisdiction of the Sanggunian and are essential for regulating various aspects of community life.
By creating ordinances, the Sanggunian can address specific issues affecting the community, such as public safety, health regulations, and environmental protection. Through this function, the Sanggunian can respond to the needs and concerns of the local populace, creating laws tailored to the unique circumstances of their jurisdiction.
The quasi-judicial function of the Sanggunian allows it to preside over administrative cases involving elected local officials who have committed offenses. This function is crucial for holding public officials accountable for their actions and ensuring ethical behavior in government.
By adjudicating cases involving misconduct or violations of law, the Sanggunian upholds the principles of good governance and maintains public trust in the integrity of local government officials.
This quasi-judicial role serves as a check on the power of elected officials, ensuring that they are held to account for their actions.
Legislative inquiry in aid of legislation empowers the Sanggunian to gather information to make informed decisions when creating or amending ordinances. This process, known as remedial legislation, allows the Sanggunian to conduct research, hold hearings, and gather input from stakeholders to inform their legislative decisions.
In order to carry out these functions effectively, the Sanggunian must establish internal rules of procedures that align with their responsibilities and guide their proceedings.
By adhering to established internal rules of procedures, the Sanggunian can ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency in their decision-making processes, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of local governance.
By establishing and adhering to IRP, the Sanggunian can carry out these functions effectively and contribute to the improvement of governance at the local level.

Reginald B.Tamayo,
Manila,
Philippines





Coups cause more drawbacks
Than positive results
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday July 6, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday July 3, 2024

Re: "Bolivian general arrested after coup attempt", in Bangkok Post, Thursday June 27, 2024.
I am grateful to the Bolivians for the failed coup and for maintaining the democratic system in the country.
Once again, I am really happy that they have such great officers to enforce the rule.
There are many places on earth where coups are common.
Throughout generations, it has been proved that coups cause more drawbacks than positive results, and residents are the victims of it.
Have these people ever thought of civilians before committing them?
As a Thai who has lived through two coups and with my belief more will happen in the near future, I never want such a thing to corrupt the system.
If only they could let the prime ministers do their job as they were elected by the people, our country's citizens would see democracy as a reliable system rather than a title to name our political system.

Karawat Saijanyon,
Bangkok,
Thailand



 

Philippines President Marcos urged to certify
The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Equality bill
The Southeast Asian Times Friday July 5, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer Monday July 1, 2024

June is universally recognized as Pride Month, a colourful time of the year dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging the multifaceted journeys, contributions, victories, and ongoing fight for civil rights of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual plus) community.
While Pride Month has been progressively celebrated in the Philippines, there remain reports of discrimination, mistreatment, and the need to bear the brunt of societal attitudes that persist in the country where tolerance is widespread but full acceptance remains difficult to achieve.
Over 200 groups have urged President Marcos to certify the Sogie bill, or the “Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression” Equality bill, as urgent “Marcos urged to certify SOGIE bill as urgent,” Inquirer.net, Friday June 14, 2024.
This initiative is especially vital as it aims to secure fundamental rights and protections for the LGBTQIA+ community—rights and protections they rightfully deserve, just like any other community across the social spectrum.
I fervently hope for its enactment into law as soon as possible so that Filipinos do not have to wait for another Pride Month for this bill to be realized. As articulated by Harold Sarmiento (“Pride, and how allies can help LGBTQIA+ fight for equality, fair treatment,” Letters, 7/14/23): “To delay the passage of the Sogie bill is to do injustice to Filipinos who deserve a better life.”


Jhon Steven C. Espenido,
Surigao City,
Philippines




Most expats in Thailand would belong to one of 61 countries
That have a treaty with Thailand to avoid double tax
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday July 4, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday June 25, 2024

Re: "Ease foreign tax burden", Bangkok Post, Editorial, Monday June 24, 2024.
That is an excellent call for the authorities to ease fear among expats.
It will be sad for them to move elsewhere because of misinformation.
It is not because of their wealth but more of their wisdom and reflection on us that we will miss.
The normal excellent presentation needs three corrections.
First, the revenue head believed that taxing world income on tax residents was to lift up the Thailand tax regime to the level of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD's) tenet and not about budgetary concerns.
Secondly, with 61 countries having a treaty to avoid double taxation with Thailand, one can almost say that most expatriates in Thailand belong to one of these countries except for income coming from tax-haven countries.
Thirdly, claiming for double taxation relief is simple.
The Thai tax system on individuals is based on self-declaration of income and relief.
One simply fills in the self-declared income tax form.
The declaration can be challenged subsequently by the Revenue Department, legally within ten years but in practice far less than that and less frequently.
One can forget the idea of bankers conducting examinations on behalf of the Revenue Department.
It is not based on an examination on the spot, as customs officials and Thai bankers have many times ruled out this irrational idea.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Lack of focus on critical problems in the Philippines
Is holding back Philippine society’s development
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday July 3, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday June 27, 2024

The excitement surrounding the highly anticipated 2025 election has set in, with many politicians and their family members announcing plans to run.
This early campaigning takes attention away from their important work to serve the public, as these politicians are more concerned with election strategies.
Starting such political posturing early is harmful to our nation’s progress.
Instead of addressing urgent issues like the situation in the West Philippine Sea, concerns about Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the declining quality of education, inflation, unemployment, and traffic congestion, politicians are more focused on securing their position in the upcoming election.
This lack of focus on critical problems is holding back our society’s development.
For instance, the situation in the West Philippine Sea is a critical national security issue that needs immediate attention.
The ongoing territorial disputes in the region have major implications on our country’s sovereignty and economic well-being. Politicians who prioritize campaigning over addressing this issue are putting our nation’s security and prosperity at risk.
Similarly, the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have been a contentious issue for years.
The increase in the number of Chinese workers in the online gambling industry has raised concerns about national security, money laundering, and the exploitation of workers.
Despite the need for decisive action to regulate this industry and implement necessary reforms, politicians choose to prioritize their electoral campaigns.
The declining quality of education in the country is another urgent issue that should not be overlooked, given such problems as overcrowded classrooms, outdated textbooks, and inadequate facilities.
By neglecting this crucial sector, politicians are putting the future of our youth at risk and impeding the country’s progress.
Poverty, inflation, and unemployment are other significant challenges that need immediate attention.
The wealth gap is widening, prices of basic goods are rising, and job opportunities are scarce, making life harder for many Filipinos.
Moreover, the constant traffic congestion in Metro Manila is a daily struggle for millions of daily commuters.
The inefficient public transportation system, lack of infrastructure development, and poor urban planning have led to long hours stuck in traffic and decreased productivity.
By not prioritizing solutions to these problems, politicians are neglecting the well-being and economic productivity of the people they should be serving.
In sum, the cycle of stagnation caused by early election campaigning is blocking progress and development in our society.
If politicians would only shift their focus to the needs of the people and address the urgent challenges facing the nation, they can work toward creating a better future for us Filipinos.

Reginald B. Tamayo,
Manila,
Philippines




 

Visa application to South Korea from Thailand
Rejected without explanation
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday July 2, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday June 27, 2024

Re: "Thai tourists to continue shunning South Korea", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday June 19, 2024 and "S Korean govt advised to heed threat of Thai boycott", Bangkok Post, Monday June 24, 2024.
While recognising the right of South Korea to protect its borders, and acknowledging the problem of Thai "little ghosts", the South Korean immigration department needs to examine its visa application protocols.
A Thai friend and I recently were interested in a small group tour of South Korea, and we duly applied for what is known as K-ETA , an online authorisation to enter South Korea.
In the Thai application, we provided details of previous travels, in which we had been to Australia together three times, to China twice, countless times to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, to Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, and even Bangladesh, without any transgression of visa rules or overstaying in those countries.
We also provided details of his employment and financial status, including the fact that he owns a house without a mortgage and a new car and has parents and siblings who depend on him for support.
The application was rejected without any explanation, and the US$100 (3,680 baht) application fee went down the drain.
Instead, we took a two-week holiday to Japan, spending all the money that would have been spent in South Korea there instead.
And we returned to Thailand on time.

David Brown,
Bangkok,
Thailand



 

Double taxation in Thailand
Detrimental to economic growth
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday July 1, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday June 20, 2024

Re: "New overseas income rules", in Bangkok Post, Business, Wednesday June 5, 2024.
Isn't it about time the Ministry of Finance got a handle on the Revenue Department, whose statements concerning foreign taxation are damaging the country?
Thailand told the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last year that it planned to increase the number of bilateral tax treaties from 61 to 150 countries.
These treaties normally include the avoidance of double taxation, something which is widely regarded as detrimental to growth.
The Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Global Forum made a number of recommendations about Thailand's taxation performance regarding companies and partnerships.
It appears that there is still much work to be done.

Ian Cruickshank,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Income from wherever the sources
Should not be taxed twice in Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday June 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday June 20, 2024

Re: "Taxing times" and "Retirees seek clarity", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Wednesday June 19, 2024.
The new tax law applicable to those who are in Thailand for 180 days.
Tax residents are subject to tax on any overseas "income" brought into the country.
That change has caused havoc among expats due to a lack of adequate clarifications.
The situation has become more aggravated by the news of a proposal to tax Thai residents on world income, irrespective of whether it is being brought into Thailand or not.
The latest is only a proposal and is subject to the approval of the cabinet and eventually ratification in parliament.
It is meant to be equitable and applicable more to Thais investing abroad.
However, regardless, it is known that income from wherever the sources should not be taxed twice.
Thailand has treaties for the avoidance of double taxation with 61 countries, of which some provided for the tax to be taxed at the source, to be deductible against Thai tax or completely exempted from Thai tax again.
It is most likely that the nationalities of all expatriates in Thailand are covered under one of the treaties.
The commercial attache of each embassy should be of help.
The alternative is to consult tax advisers in Thailand.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Australians proud of role of PM Albanese
To get the US to set Assange free
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday June 29, 2024

Australians can be proud of the role PM Albanese played to get the US to set Assange free.
It has come late after Assange had to endure so many years of torment at the hands of the world’s leading democracies.
That was a crying shame and an indictment on them.
It is absolutely fantastic that good sense has prevailed and Assange set free even if so belatedly .
Hope good times will roll for Assange and his loved ones for the future.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney
Australia




Call for Singapore-style road pricing scheme
For Bankok
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday June 28, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday June 16, 2024

Re: "20-baht rail network cap by 2026", in Bangkok Post , Friday June 14, 2024.
Congrats to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who has pledged to roll out the 20-baht cap across the Greater Bangkok rail network by March 2026. This is meant to ensure the city's rail network is accessible to all.
Very laudable indeed.
However, don't get too excited.
Implementation of the pledge appears to rest in the sclerotic hands of the Common Ticketing System Policy Committee, which can boast of absolutely zero progress in the last 10 years, and the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP), which is still studying various common ticketing systems, fare structures, and fare collection methods.
Of course, the major challenge for the 20 baht fare cap will be the total subsidy demanded by the multiple mass transit concessionaires, each of which will work hard to maximise their construction and operating costs to justify excessive subsidies.
Here's where Mr Suriya needs to do some serious head bashing (read subsidy negotiations).
Legally, the fares and regular inflation-linked increments are all specified in the multi-decade concession agreements, so concessionaires all feel protected.
But as we all know, all these concessions have been subject to multiple manipulations at various times, so some little retroactive concession adjustments in the public interest seem only fair.
And to fund some reasonable level of subsidies, let's not continue with the current government's addiction to debt. Let's introduce a road pricing scheme for Bangkok, Singapore-style, so that motorists foot the bill for affordable mass transit for all. A virtuous circle indeed.

Sad Optimist,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Call for Fifth Freedom to follow
Roosevelt's Four Freedoms
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday June 27, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday June 14, 2024

Re: "Still haunted by Wahington Consensus", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Tuesday June 11, 2024
Another excellent analysis and a challenge to "link the dots" across articles.
Prof Antara Haldar, Cambridge and Harvard, formulates existential questions on the new leadership of the South and an outdated Washington Consensus.
We need to take a step further than the Seoul (Development) Consensus agreed upon in 2010 toward a "Soul Consensus that accommodates ordinary people's psychic needs, in addition to the country's aggregate material needs".
What the Washington Consensus should have done was shape a pathway to fulfilment of the "Freedom from Want", one of Roosevelt's Four Freedoms. These provided a foundation for the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Instead, the Washington Consensus anchored an economist's formula and institutions to facilitate corporate interests and neo-colonial development.
A Soul Consensus should not be guided by a narrow understanding of spirituality, like organised religion.
Rather, in addition to the other three of Roosevelt's freedoms, freedom from fear, freedom of expression and freedom of worship, the need to recognise a "fifth freedom" emerges: freedom to co-exist by means of mutual care for Nature as a living system, and humanity which is part of it.
This new relationship of mutual care between humanity and nature should be protected from extractive and exploitative economic interests.
It will require earth trusteeship, which recognises global citizens as equal trustees. Hence, liberation from business abuses, which necessitates a new anti-trust doctrine, Opinion, June 11.
In China maybe a revival of secular TAO spirituality?
Above all, a unique Thai pro-active neutrality a Middle Path)beyond purely opportunistic double membership of the OECD and Brics+.

Hans,
Bangkok,
Thailand



 

Getting an appointment with Gulf conglomerates
Is always a challenge for Filipinos
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday June 26, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday June 20, 2024

On June 4, President Marcos appointed Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, the wife of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, as special envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for trade and investments.
In September 2023, Malacañang announced the appointment of W Group president Norman Vincent Wee as special envoy of the president to the UAE for trade and investments.
The Department of Trade and Industry also has a commercial attache in Dubai representing the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), which is involved in promoting increased investments from Middle East and African investors and overseas Filipinos.
The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) -Dubai also contributes to increasing and sustaining Philippine exports to the Middle East and Africa.
On Jan. 26, 2023, I emailed Rafael Jose Consing Jr., who was just appointed a leading member of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Investment and Economic Affairs (OPAIEA), to have a Philippine liaison officer with the private sector in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
The liaison officer, who should be based in Dubai, can start by approaching UAE companies to set up presentations.
I mentioned that it is a given that every major company in the Gulf, be it locally owned or a multinational, always has a Filipino staff such as receptionist, personal assistant, secretary, finance, and human resource officers, and of course a technical staff like engineer, quantity surveyor, draftsman, etc.
These people serve as the backdoor to get appointments with decision makers and owners.
Getting an appointment with Gulf conglomerates is always a challenge not only for Filipinos but other nationalities as well.
If this is addressed by the liaison officer, then any member of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Investment and Economic Affair (OPAIEA) could simply fly in and make a presentation on why the Philippines is a viable country to invest in.
I’m writing this as a recommendation to the special envoys.

Art Popoy Los Banos,
Manila,
Philippines





Thailand's 2023 Pride month
Generated US$4.7 trillion in cash flow
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday June 25, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday June 16, 2024

Re: "Govt to chase pink baht after Pride nets B4.5bn", in Bangkok Post, Sunday June 16, 2024.
Thailand's 2023 Pride Month celebrations demonstrate the substantial economic benefits of promoting diversity, generating 4.5 billion baht in cash flow.
By positioning itself as a "pride-friendly destination," Thailand attracts LGBTQ+ tourists with significant purchasing power, reflected in the global market worth US$4.7 trillion (173 trillion baht).
However, sustaining these gains requires more than annual events.
Countries like Canada with policies like nationwide same-sex marriage and Germany with anti-discrimination laws protecting sexual orientation and gender identity demonstrate that inclusive policies protecting LGBTQ+ rights foster long-term economic benefits by attracting diverse talent and businesses.
Thailand can build on Pride Month's success by implementing comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and collaborating with LGBTQ+ organisations to address community needs.
Expanding Pride activities nationwide aligns with the "Ignite Tourism Thailand" policy, ensuring wider distribution of economic benefits.
While Pride Month's immediate economic impact is significant, Thailand's long-term prosperity hinges on sustained inclusivity and equality.
By embracing diversity as a core societal value, not just an economic strategy, Thailand can become a global beacon of inclusive prosperity.

Pakakul Trithepchunlayakoon,
Bangkok,
Thailand




All Falun Dafa teachings
Were reduced by China

The Southeast Asian Times, Monday June 24, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday June 20, 2024

Re: "Tale of 2 sides", Bangkok Post, PostBag, Saturday June 15, 2024 and "Success story", in Bangkok Post PostBag, Tuesday June 18, 2024.
There is a lucrative business operating in China.
Part of its success is due to the healthy quality and amazing freshness of its products and the fact they are readily available.
Of course, it is controlled by the Communist Party of China.
But let's go back in time to when a spiritual group began to grow in numbers and popularity.
In fact, so popular did this group become that it reached an estimated 100 million followers.
The group practised meditation, yoga-like exercises, and moral discipline.
The Communist Party grew fearful of this group and began to treat it as they had done with Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims.
Persecution, legal action, imprisonment, and censorship of all Falun Dafa teachings were systematically undertaken until Falun Gong had been reduced.
Songej Praditsmanont claims in his recent apology for China that "when one is less hungry, based on history, those shortfalls will be rectified, pressuring (sic) by incessant criticisms".
Really?
By all appearances, Mr Xi has been "less hungry" for quite some time, yet there is no rectification in sight.
It must be another one of those "quaintnesses" which Mr Sondej refers to.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand

 

 

Philippine's is more convinced than ever
That legalization of divorce is a pressing necessity
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday June 23, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday June 18, 2024

After thoroughly examining lawyer Joel Ruiz Butuyan’s two-part article “Ban on divorce is creating criminals, sinners,” June 6, 20246 on the potential criminalization and sinning due to the ban on divorce in this unfortunate country, we are more convinced than ever that its legalization in the Philippines is a pressing necessity.
From a legal standpoint, the prohibition of absolute divorce in cases of unworkable and irreparable marriages does more harm than good to all parties involved.
Contrary to the solid resistance to absolute divorce in the past, there are now clear indications of a significant shift in attitudes among the adult and educated members of the Church.
According to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations, half of Filipino adults support the legalization of divorce.
This change in public opinion, also evident in mainstream media, is a significant development.
Just like the heated debates that preceded the enactment of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, it is not a matter of “hardening of hearts” against the hierarchy’s magisterial hermeneutics about the sanctity of marriage and family life, always in continuity yet constantly maturing across time. It’s a matter of recognizing the changing needs of our society and giving couples whose marriages were not made in heaven a fair chance at a better life.
In our increasingly secular and pluralistic society, the religious doctrines against absolute divorce may seem outdated and counterproductive.
However, it’s crucial to respect the significance of these beliefs in the lives of many Catholics and those similarly situated.
Striking a healthy balance between religious freedom and the need for a legal solution to societal issues is paramount. Pope Francis’ approach to the medicine of mercy over principles, which could be a potential solution, should be considered by those who, as one pundit said, “should not make the rules because they do not play the game.”
More importantly, Francis, the compassionate shepherd, has encouraged the Church’s leaders to venture beyond universal principles and doctrines.
His synodal approach, emphasizing discernment and dialogue to serve better couples whose marriages are beyond repair, presents a model for the pastoral care of marriage that could be adopted in their specific, rarely, if ever, black-or-white conjugal contexts.
We all pray for this.

Noel Asiones,
Manila,
Philippines





China's arbitrary regulations in South China Sea is one for ''Ripley’s Believe It or Not''
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday June 22, 024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday June 7, 2024

China’s appetite for imposing unscrupulous regulations with regard to the South China Sea is one for “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.”
For instance, its publicized rule authorizing its coast guard to arrest and detain up to 60 days without the benefit of a trial anyone caught “trespassing” at the South China Sea, whether a person, vessel, or aircraft, was generally received with deep skepticism.
The rule, set to take effect on June 15, only demonstrates the proclivity of a non-democratic state to lay down rules as it pleases.
It can be recalled that China came out with this new regulation a day after Atin Ito, a civilian-led coalition, had a successful resupply mission delivering food and fuel to fisher folks at the Panatag Scarborough Shoal, during which it laid symbolic buoy markers at the West Philippine Sea near the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile limit. This action was similar to what it did when it unilaterally declared a potential air defense identification zone covering the entirety of the South China Sea after the Permanent Court of Arbitration upheld on July 12, 2016, the Philippine position on the South China Sea and invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash claim which later became 10 dashes.
China’s arbitrary regulations cover a broad swath of the South China Sea, overlapping the airspace of coastal states and encroaching on their territorial seas and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
As pointed out in The Diplomat shortly after China came out with the announcement, “air defense identification zone can only be legally applied in relation to preventing the unauthorized entry of aircraft into the national airspace.”
The journal added, “air defense identification zone's cannot be used to control foreign aircraft not intending to enter the national airspace. States only enjoy exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory, a right which ends at the 12-nautical mile border of the territorial sea. Beyond this territorial belt, all states enjoy the high seas freedoms, including freedom of overflight, a customary principle memorialized in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
As if adding insult to injury, China did not stop its provocative actions with the air defense identification zone and coast guard rules.
It imposed a fishing ban on the entire South China Sea that, like its outrageous airspace and maritime responses, overlaps the Philippines’ 12-nautical mile territorial sea where it exercises sovereignty, and the 200-nautical mile EEZ where the country enjoys sovereign rights to, among others, exclusively exploit marine resources.
While bearing China’s name, the South China Sea is not owned, much less, controlled by it.
If names automatically confer vested right, India, too, might get emboldened to claim ownership of the Indian Ocean and declare prohibitive and self-serving rules over its entirety.
Other states might follow suit thereby sparking dispute and driving global peace at the edge of the precipice.
President Marcos was on point when he said at the recent Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore that the South China Sea issue is a “world issue,” in much the same way that Ukraine’s and Israel’s wars are.
In this age of intercontinental, ballistic, and long-range weaponry, these issues are no longer a mere spat between neighbors.
China risks painting an image of a crabby neighborhood toughie, a recidivist, or a laughing stock if it keeps coming out with rules it cannot muster international support for, and legally enforce.
Establishing rules and regulations, especially if these will adversely affect other sovereign nations, have to have prior consultation, and often starts with consensus building to avoid a diplomatic backlash.
But China, when it comes to the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, keeps coming up with bizarre rules that extend way beyond its legal border and seem meant to project its supremacy agenda which, in today’s global context, are far from being open and transparent.
If anything positive has come out of these obscene actions, it is that they only serve to galvanize the Filipinos’ stand against China’s incessant harassment and intimidation.
And at the rate that nations condemn and ignore, though implicitly for some, China’s deplorable actions in the South China Sea, those regulations and any more that will follow, would just be “all sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Ted P. Penaflor II,
Manila,
Philippines




Thailand PM blames decline in stock market
On recent court proceedings
The Southeast Asian Times Friday June 21, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday June 14, 2024

Re: "PM blames court case for SET", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday June 11,
2024.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin placing the blame for the decline in the stock market on recent court proceedings seems a feeble attempt on his part to create political capital out of what is a very serious situation of the government's own making.
It would be surprising if international investors had full knowledge of, or really care about, the current political discourse in the country.
After all, such crude political posturing is part and parcel of investing in emerging markets.
What is critical is government policies and their impact on the Thai economy.
It is a healthy economy that allows companies to grow their earnings, which in turn lifts stock prices and drives the stock market higher.
The blame for the poor performance of the Thai stock exchange rests not with recent political maneuvering but rather poor policy choices adopted by the government.
Of most concern is the government's disregard for inflation.
Rather than introducing fiscal policies that reduce inflation, the government seems to want to add stimulus programmes, such as the digital wallet and poorly timed wage hikes.
To make matters worse, the government has embarked on a perilous course, challenging the Bank of Thailand's independence in an attempt to force interest rates lower.
To investors, this signals the government's preparedness to engage in meaningless populist actions even when they come at a very high price to the economy.
The government's record on the economic growth side of the equation is equally poor.
Its recent obsession with aggressive taxation seems inept, poorly targeted, and more concerned with raising revenues for its reckless stimulus programmes than it is with long-term economic growth.
Investors are not fooled by the narrative that such measures are needed for OECD membership or an EU trade deal, etc.
It is clear to investors that policies such as worldwide taxation are likely to deliver a crushing blow to Thailand's long-term economic growth, which is already being borne out by faltering capital inflows.
Far from the court proceedings causing market volatility, investors have passed judgment on the government's own policies.
The government's inability or unwillingness to appreciate what the market is telling it and gradually change direction is indeed most concerning and will merely confirm investors' negative perceptions.

MP Foscolos,
Bangkok,
Thailand

 

 

The current economic climate in Thailand
Is widely perceived as a state of stagflation
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday June 20, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday June 1, 2024

Re: "Current account deficit of $40m reported", in Bangkok Post, Business, Friday May 31, 2024.
It is undeniable the national debt has increased significantly in Thailand and the United States since March 2020.
In the case of the US, the national debt has risen by $11 trillion, reaching a staggering $34.5 trillion.
Experts predict the US national debt will reach 116 percent of the country's GDP within the next 10 years.
From the perspective of the undergraduate student demographic in Thailand, the current economic climate is widely perceived as a state of "stagflation".
This term refers to a situation characterised by slow economic growth, and high inflation.
The prices of consumer goods and services have been steadily rising, while the incomes of many individuals have remained relatively stagnant.
As a result, the younger generation will have to face rising inflation while their minimum income is low.
So, saving is not an option, but it is the mandatory way to escape a future financial crisis.

Jadenipat Yenjai,
Bangkok,
Thailand





The small compensation offered by Singapore Airlines
Will satisfy most passengers and court cases will be avoided
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday June 19, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday June 14, 2024

Re: "Singapore Airlines to pay injured passengers", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday June 12, 2024.
Following the flight SQ321 turbulence event, Singapore Airlines offered $10,000 (366,900 baht) in compensation for minor injuries and $25,000 for serious injuries, but is this enough?
There are also refunds for their trips.
Turbulence is hard to detect beforehand, so is it their fault?
The legal points will be decided by others, but it is similar to driving where some unforeseen event causes a driver to run into the back of a car, and almost always, the following driver is responsible.
From a cynical viewpoint, the small compensation offer will satisfy most passengers and court cases will be avoided.
The real cost of an injury over the following years is hard to determine.
The best offer would be for any current costs and an ongoing commitment for any future costs, including loss of wages.

Dennis Fitzgerald,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Thailand working to dump US dollar
And join BRICS monetary system
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday June 18, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday June 1, 2024

Re: "PM pitches Thai, US partnership", in Bangkok Post, Saturday June 1, 2024.
I find it rich that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Thai economic players have a glowing, joyous meeting encouraging a strong Thai-USA economic partnership while at the same time working to dump the United States dollar and join the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) monetary system.

Ben Levin,
Bangkok,
Thailand



The new administration in Hong Kong
Is under the political sway of China
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday June 17, 2024

When I read in the Southeast Asian Times of 15 June 2024 article ‘ British Hong Kong Court Judge resigns saying “
Hong Kong is beginning to resemble a totalitarian state “ I was not surprised. Pro-democracy activists and free media people have known this to be the case since the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong.
Oppressive “reform “ laws have been enacted to suppress the rights and freedoms the people of Hong Kong enjoyed previously.
The new administration in Hong Kong is under the political sway of China.
The resigning judge Jonathan Sumption 75 says judges were meant to “ operate in an almost impossible political environment created by China and that the city’s atmosphere was oppressive”.
That has always been the modus operandi of the totalitarian state.
As a man of integrity the judge did not want to be party to such an oppressive system.
Many in Hong Kong would understand just where the judge was coming from.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia





South Australian premier plans for clean government
Plans to ban all political donations
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday June 16, 2024

South Australian premier has announced plans to ban all political donations.
That’s a plan which goes beyond paying lip service in ensuring integrity in the political system and governance to giving concrete form to it.
I recall reading a letter writer say political donation was euphemism for political bribery.
That is what it really is and no amount of sugar coating can cover up that reality.
It damages good democratic governance.
I suspect it is a major factor in the public perception of dirty politics.
I therefore applaud the premier for his bold plans for clean governance.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia




Real estate speculation by Thais
Can be just as harmful by non-Thais
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday June 15, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday June 11, 2024

Re: "Bad property idea", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Saturday June 8, 2024.
I thank Khun Vichai for finding my "suggestion to open up Thailand's real estate sector to foreign buyers to be extremely short-sighted", for that gives us a rational, rather than emotional, discussion of the issue.
We should seek solutions to land ownership problems that both reduce potential harm to society while retaining the benefits of investment; in short, win-win remedies targeting the problem - not at the purchaser's passport.
For example, to curb excessive speculation, which makes homes unaffordable to locals, heavily tax real estate sales or leases that occur within 10 years of purchase regardless of nationality, as speculation by Thais can be just as harmful as that by non-Thais.
To make homes affordable to local youth, subsidise mortgage payments for the first homes of local residents regardless of nationality; to discourage absentee owners, we could limit eligibility to residents of the province the property was in.
How could my suggestions be improved upon, to be even more of a win-win?

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand




The Philippines
Needs a rebirth
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday June 14, 2024
First published in the Philippines Inquirer, Monday June 10, 2024

As we commemorate our so-called independence from Imperial Spain after more than a century, we reflect once again on the perennial question: “Are we really free?”
We have witnessed the highs and lows of our history; a few, we celebrate, and the rest, we regret.
Past is past and we always say, “Just move on.”
We always want to console our frustration by asserting that we learn from history, from our past.
Another perennial question arises: “Have we really learned?”
These two critical questions underlie fundamental truths that liberty and education are mutually cohesive with each other; to be free one should be enlightened; and freedom is only guaranteed when one is willing to learn.
This triad of social concepts encapsulates why our country remains poor and corrupt.
We have never learned.
Or worse, we refuse to learn.
If we look at our poor fellow Filipinos with no access to quality education, health, food, housing, and employment—we feel hopeless for our country but at the same time we feel sorry not only for them but for ourselves because we cannot do anything to help them.
For decades we have lost hope.
We feel there is nothing we can do for our country.
Yes, we are “free” but we remain poor.
And for how long?
That is the biggest question. Until when will our country suffer?
Will we get the chance to wake up one morning and see our precious land transform into a prosperous country where Filipinos no longer need to live and work abroad?
Sadly, many of us will die without witnessing the greatness of our nation.
The Philippines needs a rebirth.
To be born again with a new breed of passionate people who have great vision and dreams for our country, who are incorruptible and brave enough to change the status quo, whose objective is to selflessly serve the people, and who are competent to lead.
As we celebrate the independence of our country: we know, but we deny, that we are not truly free.
It is a dishonest celebration we do every year.
We can never genuinely celebrate it with glee and pride as we see our country poor and corrupt.
In the 1950s, our country was richer and more advanced than many Asian countries like South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and even Singapore.
But we have seen how our Asian neighbors progressed significantly while our very own Philippines regressed like a sick hopeless land with no opportunities.
Year after year when we celebrate our nation’s independence, we live like the walking dead with nowhere to go.
Thus, many of us find opportunities in foreign countries.
Let us be honest: we leave our country because we can only fulfill our dreams if we live and work in foreign lands.
Many of us have become numb to seeing the difference between good and bad, between right and wrong; we just accept everything that happens in our country:
It is what it is” and “normal.”
In our collective subconscious, we have accepted corruption and poverty as a status quo because “there is nothing that we can do.”
Do we lack visionary leaders who can make our country better?
Perhaps the answer is that we have never learned.
We even use our state of poverty as an excuse to be accomplices of corruption and incompetence.
But how can we blame our poor Filipinos for selling their votes when stomachs are more vital than morals for survival?
Like a malignant disease, we recycle incompetent and corrupt leaders.
The cure is to educate our people to end the cycle of poverty.
When we become better Filipinos, we can help the Philippines become a better country.
Let’s fight corruption!
Let’s fight poverty!
Then, when we succeed in this battle, we can all celebrate our Philippine Independence Day with genuine joy and pride.

Rado Gatchalian,
Manila,
Philippines




China's ills
Blamed on human development
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday June 13, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday June 11, 2024

Re: "More to China's Story", Bangkok Post PostBag, Sunday June 9, 2024 Historically, Michael Setter was correct in blaming the cause of China's ills during the Qing dynasty on pervasive corruption.
However, ML Krisdakorn is also correct that China's ills were aggravated by foreigners who took advantage of its weaknesses and exploited them during the 20th century.
During this time, there was allegedly a sign in a park in the foreign-administered Shanghai that read: "Chinese and Dogs Not Admitted".
Prior to that, there was the use of opium during the Qing as exploited by the West and the two Opium Wars.
But when it comes to exploitation, neither side can be exclusively blamed for China's ills, which some recognise as human development.
Imperialism was started by the Portuguese in their search for the new world. There were also structural benefits to being colonised.
However, to state the present ruler of China as negative to human rights and destructive to the human soul is extreme when China has now become a country that the West, especially America, has to reckon with.
The West may have its own standards, and China has different standards.
As one of China's diplomats said, the West may use a fork and spoon, but the Chinese use chopsticks.
Do call me a China apologist, but not a habitual one.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand



International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice
Claim there are cases to be made against the state of Israel
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday June 12, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday June 4, 2024

Re: "Hamas is responsible", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday May 29, 2024.
Some of the best legal minds in the world work in the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
They have determined that there are cases to be made against the state of Israel, genocide, and its leaders, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The whole world has been able to witness these crimes despite Israel refusing to allow international journalists access to Gaza and having murdered more than 140 journalists who were already in Gaza.
Jews, distinguished by their achievements, their intellect, their intelligence and their integrity, have been outspoken in their criticism of the state of Israel.
It is important to name only a few of these whose speeches can easily be accessed online: Prof Avi Shlaim, Prof John Mearsheimer, Phyllis Bennis, Prof Norman Finkelstein, who describes Gaza as the world's largest concentration camp, Ilan Pappe, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein.
Additionally, many Orthodox Jews have demonstrated on behalf of the Palestinians, including Rabbi Elhanan Beck and Rabbi Yisrael David Weiss, who argues that the existence of a Zionist Israel is antithetical to Judaism.
Yet, EL Wout has the arrogance and impertinence to describe these and others as ignorant protesters. Readers will make up their own minds about who the ignorant one is.

Keith Barlow,
Bangkok,
Thailand




The Filipino flag flies from May 28
To national independence celebrations June 12
The Southeasr Asian Times, Tuesday June 11, 2024
First published in the Philippine Star, Wednesday May 22, 2024

May 28 is Day One of the Flag Days when all government offices, corporations, agencies including local government units all over the country are to prominently display the Filipino flag until the celebration of national independence on June 12, per Executive Order number 179, series of 1994.
May 28, 1898 – or 126 years ago – is to be remembered as the first time Filipino soldiers led by General Emilio Aguinaldo overran a rather big contingent of superiorly-armed Spanish soldiers manning the fort in Alapan, Imus, in the province of Cavite.
Moments after the battle, the triumphant Aguinaldo instructed a soldier to take out from one of his followers the newly minted Filipino flag on a pole, held the pole himself and began waving the flag in the usual motion from the left to the right, repeating the action several times until he decided to hoist it atop some high point or flag pole of the former Spanish garrison amidst the shouting of the Filipino crowd, including the nearby villagers who quickly went to cheer the winning troops.
Then president Fidel V. Ramos signed EO 179 on May 24, 1994 as part of remembering the victory at Alapan as well as to create awareness for June 12 in celebrating the nationhood of the Philippines, the first in Asia to declare its independence from a colonizer.
Until the Independence Day celebration on June 12, establishments and facilities owned, operated or used by the government are mandated to prominently display in their respective areas the Filipino flag, something normally expected only in schools and government offices.
Previous to 1994, May 28 every year was declared as National Flag Day by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 374, series of 1965, to commemorate the national emblem that was unfurled the very first time after the Philippine Revolutionary Army defeated the Spanish forces.
Some of the country’s prominent national officials will join Cavite officials as well as history and culture enthusiasts at the flag raising ceremonies in an area near the battle site in Barangay Alapan.
Sewn in five days in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, her sister Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herbosa, the flag was made of 100 percent silk and became known as “The Three Stars and a Sun Flag.”
On June 12, Aguinaldo, along with other leaders of the revolution, declared independence before a crowd of Filipino natives and foreign guests in his Kawit, Cavite residence and the Filipino flag flew on a pole while the San Francisco de Malabon Marching Band played the Marcha Filipina Magdalo, later to be known as the national anthem.
The independence declaration was written and read by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista. Ninety-eight persons signed the declaration, including an army officer of the United States.

Manly Garcia,
Manila,
Philippines






The Thai legal system has no creditibility
And Thais do not trust it
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday June 19, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday May 30, 2024

Re: "Justice at stake", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday May 29, 2024 and "Yingluck upbeat on democracy", in Bangkok Post, Thursday May 23, 2024.
Samcharoen writes: "It is crucial for the credibility of our legal system and the trust of the Thai people that all individuals, regardless of their connections, are held accountable for their actions."
Fine words indeed, Khun Samcharoen.
But the sad reality is the legal system has no credibility and Thais do not trust it.
This is the result of almost daily demonstrations of how the legal system can be interpreted or manipulated to favour the entitled, while ordinary Thais rot in jail without bail, on charges that no free and democratic state would have as legal statutes anyway.

David Brown,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Paetongtarn Shinawatra has no political future
Without her father's connections
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday June 9, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday June 5, 2024

Re: "Conservatives still wield 'lawfare' axe", Bangkok Post, Opinion, Saturday June 1, 2024.
The deal Thaksin is believed to have made with the coup leaders is wearing thin, and cracks are starting to appear.
Not unexpected when you turn your back on loyal supporters and make a deal with the devil. Recent polls suggest the deal makers and the public are not fooled by Thaksin's quest for self-promotion while on parole and banned from politics, and may also be sceptical of his countless ailments.
In the coming weeks, Pheu Thai may lose both its prime minister and de facto leader, but Paetongtarn Shinawatra says she is not worried.
Well, she should be because, without her father's connections, she has no political future.

Peter Jeffreys,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Call for Thailand to look at other Asean countries
For valuable insights on how to protect sex workers
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday June 7, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday June 5, 2024

Re: "Sex workers in peril in Thailand: Fear of police silences assault victims", in Bangkok Post Sunday June 2, 2024.
Sex workers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, just like any other members of our society.
It is imperative that they are protected by the country's laws, ensuring their safety and well-being.
Sex work is a demanding profession within the service and entertainment industry. It is essential that we acknowledge the challenges sex workers face and work to eliminate any forms of discrimination against them.
In Thailand, the situation is dire as sex workers cannot report cases of assault to the police without fear of being prosecuted for prostitution.
This fear of legal repercussions silences many victims, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.
Looking at other Asean countries can provide valuable insights on how to protect sex workers better.
For example, in Singapore, sex work is legal, but soliciting in public for the purposes of sex work is criminalised under Section 19 of the Miscellaneous Offences Public Order and Nuisance Act.
Singapore operates a two-tier system where workers in approved brothels are free from police attention, whereas "illegal" workers are heavily targeted in police crackdowns.
While this system has its own challenges, it highlights the need for clear legal frameworks that distinguish between different contexts of sex work and offer protection accordingly.
In Cambodia, the government has introduced measures aimed at reducing violence against sex workers by working closely with non-governmental organizations to provide safe spaces and support services.
Additionally, in the Philippines, advocacy groups collaborate with law enforcement to ensure that sex workers can report crimes without fear of reprisal.
These initiatives have significantly improved the safety and rights of sex workers in these nations.
Thailand must follow suit by enacting comprehensive legal reforms to protect sex workers from violence and exploitation.
This includes ensuring they can seek help from law enforcement without fear of arrest or harassment.
By implementing such protections, we can create a safer and more just society for all.

Hong Sin Kwek,
Bangkok,
Thailand





On foreign land ownership in Thailand
What's to fear ?
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday June 7, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday June 1, 2024

Re: "Phuket targets nominees", "PM pitches Thai, US partnership", and "?'Illegal' British guide nabbed", in Bangkok Post , Saturday June 1, 2024.
Prime Minister Srettha has emphasised worldwide that we welcome foreign investors, yet several of our key laws repel those whose help we sorely need and don't benefit Thailand.
Notably, the US, UK, and EU have very few restrictions on foreign ownership by companies of land, or occupation with exceptions for national security.
For example, Mohamed Al-Fayed acquired Harrods department store in London in 1985 by controlling 51 percent + of House of Fraser shares.
Or, our Central Group owns 50.1 percent of Berlin's KaDeWe Group department store. Buyers give great importance to having control, which we deny to others.
On foreign land ownership - what's to fear?
Thaksin bought a home in Hong Kong for a reported US$27 million (995 million baht) in 2007 and sold it for a 41 percent profit in 2023.
If we fear foreigners will turn their companies/land to uses which we disapprove of, then we should ban those acts regardless of the nationality of the actors.
If non-Thais could own land here, they'd drive up prices, benefitting the Thai owners, and they would pay Thai taxes on the sale.
The new owners would want to add value to their purchases, raising the prices of the neighbourhood in the process.
Why would we stop them from doing so?
Review and reform our laws so they lead to win-win investment solutions.

Burin Kantabutra,s
Bangkok,
Thailand





To Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand
On the occasion of her birthday
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday June 6, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday June 1, 2024

Dear Editor,

Kindly publish my attached poem to greet Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her birthday this year.

At the dawn of a new day

Heralding the anniversary of your birth

We your subjects, fairest queen greet you

With blessings of the heavens and the earth

Gift to the kingdom in rarest array

You mark your reign in a benevolent way

Bestowing on your people due care and concern

Gifts of royal design through generosity woven

Blessed thus your life in no small way

Your judgements hold wisdom's sway

Blessing those to whom you bestow

The true value of queenly gifts in radiant glow

May this birthday, fair majesty

Be with infinite joy and happiness' felicity

Glen Chatelier,
Director of the Office of International Affairs,
On behalf of the Assumption University of Thailand community,
Bangkok,
Thailad





Thailand Election Commission accepts court ruling
That candidates release profiles to the public
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday June 5, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Thursday May 30, 2024

Re: "EC to respect court Senate race ruling", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday May 28, 2024.
I'm glad the Election Commission (EC) decided to respect the court's ruling that candidates may release their profiles to the public.
As they stand, the Election Commission (EC) rules are designed to give voters whether they be the candidates who must choose from among their number or the constituencies they are supposed to represent, minimal information.
This is madness.
To make an intelligent choice, voters must have as many facts as possible.
For example, instead of being banned from presenting their visions of what they'll accomplish if chosen, each candidate should be required to present their plans, posted online, followed by televised debates, with studies to show that his/her visions are not hallucinations.
Otherwise, we might have cases like Pheu Thai's promised B10k handout to each Thai, which could put every taxpayer in debt for many years so big business and their billionaire owners can get richer.
Promote informed selections, Election Commission (EC).

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Marriage in the Philippines is not an ordinary contract
That can be negotiated,
amended or terminated
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday June 4, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday May 31, 2024

Article XV, Section 1 of our Constitution recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation.
It also mandates the state to strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development.
Section 2 further states: “Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State.”
The passage of the divorce bill in the House of Representatives last week reminds us citizens that families have a social role to see that the laws and institutions of the state not only do not offend but support and positively defend the rights and duties of the family.
Just as the family must be open to and participate in society and in its development, so also society, specifically the state, should never fail in its fundamental task of respecting and fostering the family.
The marriage bond is not an ordinary contract that can be negotiated, amended, or terminated.
Marriage is a covenant with God in the middle of the union of husband and wife. This gives marriage a divine function, elevating human love to a supernatural order. For marriage to work under God’s plan, it needs the characteristics of unity and indissolubility.
The state must protect and defend that.
Each marriage is imperfect because the persons within the marriage are imperfect themselves. Married people realize the difficulties and the challenges they go through, especially in this culture of the ephemeral—a throw-away culture, where things and people are disposable, substitutable, and replaceable, which prevents a constant process of growth.
Pope Francis in “Amoris laetitia” inspires married couples to accept the challenges and make their love grow as time passes.
The quality of a society is only as good as the quality of its families.
A French saying goes, you can tell the quality of a society by the quality of its women.
Here the state should work on the real problem of families: poverty, education, health, violence, pornography, and immoral lifestyles promoted by media.
We already have legal separation for impossible marriage unions.
There is available nullification of invalid married unions.
Why go further to legalize divorce that will cheapen the marriage bond?
Wasn’t the 48 percent rate of divorces to total marriages in the United States in 1975 likely to spiral and be assimilated into the Filipino culture?
If in divorce societies half the number of persons who marry fail to find happiness in marriage, will they find happiness in a second marriage?
Studies by Fr. Cormac Burke, a noted authority on marriage and the family, say the divorce rate is three to four times higher among divorcees than among those who marry for the first time.
Divorce in the case of battered wives ends up in abusive husbands beating up other women.
And in our poor country, how can the average divorced man afford to maintain children from a previous marriage if he has a second family?
We pray our senators will protect and defend the Filipino family and not pass the divorce bill.

Lella M. de Jesus,
Diocese of Parañaque,
Manila
Philippines





Africans would not buy 10-year-old
Imported rice from Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times Monday June 3, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday May 30, 2024

Re: "African countries want answers over old rice sale", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday May 28, 2024.
Frankly, I don't think self-respecting and canny citizens from African nations would ever buy imported 10-year-old rice that is getting mustier by the day while it moulders in warehouses here.
Apart from weevils, let's not forget the possibility of bird and rodent droppings entering the mix.
Any order would be a significant test of the purchasing government's probity in the context of disseminating information about the rice's age and origin to the public sector and its welfare.

Ellis O'Brien,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Folks,
The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday June 2, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday May 31, 2024

Several articles from the latest Programme for International Student Assessment results again highlighted the terrible state of our education.
Our Department of Education assessment states that we have a five- to six-year learning level deficit.
It says that our 15-year-olds Grade 10 have a learning level equivalent to Grade 5. We were one of only three countries in the world with 10 years of mandatory schooling and for some time, the only one in Asia without a K-12.
In 2012, we finally added Grades 11 and 12, two years of senior high school.
We could not see beyond the tip of our noses, content with a populace with innate
talent and diligence to put us as one of the leading powerhouses in Asia in the ’60s. But the same dynamism and energy of our people began the country’s decline. Rampant corruption and cronyism created a cynical and disaffected middle class. The pent-up energy of these great, talented masses saw no outlet to create wealth and better themselves.
What started as a trickle became an exodus of the best and the brightest.
People wonder why we don’t attract the manufacturing behemoths of the world as well as Vietnam and Singapore do.
Why would we?
How, for example, can Honda or Volkswagen start an electric vehicle plant in any part of the Philippines?
We don’t have enough workers with STEM training to run high-tech manufacturing in the Philippines.
In the coming artificial intelligence (AI) industrial revolution, we will not see the Philippines anywhere close to South Korea population, 51 million or Taiwan population, 23 million, and now even Vietnam population, 99 million.
While the world is preoccupied with AI, 6G the sixth generation of cellular networks, and quantum computing, we are still mired in the same ongoing crisis of bad governance, corruption, poverty, education woes, and bureaucratic infighting dominated by political dynasties.
The poor are powerless to affect reforms.
Those who can bring change are part of the ruling class and have a self-serving agenda that preserves the status quo. Still, others are too busy preparing to exit the country.
The most disappointing assemblage of eldership in this country is stuck in an outdated bias of a Christian worldview that, to put it mildly, has immobilized the masses into subservient sheep encapsulated in an antiquated box.
Our power brokers ignore a new generation of people who are products of social media, educated with a more “left of center” outlook and an information technology wind on their backs.
Our pseudo padres and influence peddlers, which abound in the Philippines, cannot understand and assimilate a progressive mindset.
As if that’s not enough, we even have a self-declared “appointed son of God” in our midst.
The Vatican no longer calls for a “World Day of Prayer” for all the ills that beset humanity because they know it doesn’t work and it further ruins their credibility. Why?
The Vatican runs on myth and superstition.
Why do our ecclesiastic elders never learn from the successes of others who “took the bull by horns” and said “enough”?
Look at Vietnam.
Coming out of the war and the Christian French influence, Vietnam declared sectarianism passé.
From one of the world’s poorest to the fastest economic growth in Southeast Asia achieved in a single generation, Vietnam has redirected sectarian energy into a path of productivity.
And here we are, with an educationally challenged youth, politicians pointing fingers at each other, and archaic religious ideology weighing us down like a grounded child.
Folks, the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

Edwin de Leon,
Manila,
Philippines




Hundreds of thousands protest against WHO-proposed
Pandemic treaty in Japan, EU and around the world
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday June 1, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday May 28, 2024

The WHO-proposed pandemic "treaty" is satisfying to neither the left nor the right.
Human Rights Watch noted the current draft fails to enshrine core human rights standards protected under international law, most notably the right to health and the right to benefit from scientific progress, risking a repeat of the WHO's tragic Covid failures.
A recent New York Times story, "Countries Fail to Agree on Treaty to Prepare the World for the Next Pandemic", pointed out that talks were stalled and "negotiators were scrambling to ratify the treaty before elections in the United States", because presumptive US President Donald Trump would never accept any agreement that compromises national sovereignty.
Though less publicised, hundreds of thousands have protested against the so-called treaty in Japan, the EU, and around the world.
The reasons include a deep-rooted mistrust of the UN's corrupt elitist leadership and their planned pandemics, which coincided with illegal bioweapons research funded by governments while the UN turned a blind eye.
Remember what happened at the Wuhan Institute of Virology?
Or how about the BSL-4 labs on the Ukraine-Russian border operated by the CIA?
This is how advocates for the treaty express themselves: "One can only hope the next pandemic wipes out the anti-vaxxers … in one heavenly swoop so we don't have to keep listening to this laughable rot."
The choice is an important one.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand





PM Strettha showing favouritism
Towards Thaksin Shinawatra
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday May 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday May 29, 2024

Re: "Yingluck upbeat on democracy", in Bangkok Post, Thursday May 23, 2024
I am writing to express my concern regarding the relationship between our current prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, and convicted ex-prime ministers, Yingluck and Thaksin Shinawatra.
Yingluck, who lives in self-imposed exile to avoid serving a prison term in Thailand, is the sister of Thaksin.
Thaksin, also a convicted ex-prime minister, maintains a close friendship with Mr Srettha, meeting him frequently.
Given the prime minister's duty to uphold the law and ensure justice, it is imperative that Mr Srettha uses his position and connections to facilitate Yingluck's return to Thailand to serve her sentence.
The Shinawatra family, particularly Thaksin, likely knows Yingluck's whereabouts. By failing to leverage his close relationship with Thaksin to bring Yingluck to justice, Mr Srettha is not fully committing to his responsibilities and appears to be showing favouritism toward his friend and his family.
This situation raises questions about the sincerity and integrity of our prime minister's commitment to justice and the rule of law.
It is crucial for the credibility of our legal system and the trust of the Thai people that all individuals, regardless of their connections, are held accountable for their actions.

Samcharoen,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call for royalist to present best case
Why lese majeste laws are not morally indefensible
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday May 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday May 28, 2024

Re: "Srettha distant fourth in popularity poll", in Bangkok Post, Monday May 27, 2024 and "Move Forward MP gets 2 years on lese majeste charge", Bangkok Post, Monday May 27, 2024.
As confirmed by the latest poll, it is no surprise that the popularity of Move Forward Party (MFP) and its leadership have continued to rise.
The conviction of Move Forward Party (MFP) member of parliament, Ms Chonthicha Jangrew, on a lese majeste charge will only further boost support for the party.
Meanwhile, the assault on Ms Chonthicha Jangrew listed by Time magazine on its 2024 list of Next Generation Leaders, will further stain the reputation of every person and institution actively or tacitly associated with such legalised rights violations.
Perhaps the Bangkok Post could invite a royalist to present their best case and explain why those laws are not morally indefensible rejections of justice that go against basic democratic principles.
Perhaps that is to ask the impossible, but they deserve the chance to peacefully speak their case.
It really is time a few polls are conducted to discover the truth about what Thais actually think on these issues, but to be fair, that would threaten the unsubstantiated fancies being regularly uploaded to computer systems there for many years.

Felix Qui,
Bangkok,
Thailand

 

 

 

Must read Nic Maclellan analysis of the disaster
Waiting to happen in 'Civil unrest in New Caledonia'
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday May 29, 2024

Anyone interested in acquiring a deeper understanding and insight into the misreading of France’s colonial agenda in New Caledonia, without taking proper cognisance of the aspirations of the indigenous people, must read Nic Maclellan’s illuminating analysis of the disaster which was waiting to happen in ‘ Civil unrest in New Caledonia ‘ ( The Fiji Times 21 May 2024 ).
Hope the relevant state parties and the UN decolonisation body will heed the inherent problems Nic Maclellan identifies and address them accordingly and not make the kind of mistake that was made regarding West Papua.

Rajend Naidu
Sydney,
Australia




Thailand constitution requires that the head of state
His Majesty the King be Buddhist
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday May 28, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday May 26, 2024

Re: "Why an alcohol ban?", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Saturday May 25, 2024
"Cheers Grumpy" declares that Thailand is secular, and questions why alcohol is banned on Visakha Bucha Day.
Yes, in theory Thailand is secular and there is freedom of religion.
Buddhism represents 93 percent of the population, Islam 5 percent Christianity 1.2 percent and Brahminism, Hinduism, Sikhism and other minor religions and atheism make up the rest.
The constitution requires that the head of state, His Majesty the King, be Buddhist in a similar way that the King of England must be Church of England.
So putting ideas of secularism aside, by sheer weight of numbers the reality is that Thailand is a Buddhist state.
In short, Buddha Rules. Okay!
So, "Cheers Grumpy": Stock up on a few bottles of beer or wine before the next Buddhist holy day rolls around and enjoy them at your leisure.

David Brown,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Urgent need for majority of Filipinos
To develop critical thinking
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday May 27, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday May 17, 2024

In about a year from now, we will once again be electing officials for local government units and both houses of Congress.
It is essential that our mayors and governors take responsibility for ensuring that local and national laws are beneficial to all Filipinos and our country.
Similarly, our senators, House representatives, board members, and councilors have the crucial task of crafting legislation that is in the best interest of their constituents.
I have previously emphasized in a newspaper article the urgent need for majority of Filipinos to develop critical thinking.
Without this fundamental shift, we will continue to be at the mercy of elected officials who rely solely on popularity and political connections, instead of necessary qualifications such as education, experience, and expertise.
Our electorate, especially those from the socioeconomic classes C, D, and E, must become discerning, analytical, and capable of identifying unqualified candidates, many of whom come from political dynasties.
Otherwise, governance will remain mediocre, and favor only the rich and influential.
Legitimate nongovernment organizations, which have the wherewithal and capacity, must take the lead in promoting critical thinking.
Unfortunately, due to various circumstances related to their existence, they find themselves preoccupied with urgent issues such as protecting children from online abuse and combating climate change.
While these efforts are commendable, they only address superficial needs in society and do not bring about transformative change.
Intellectuals, who should ideally be leading societal transformation, often focus on pursuits such as the arts, literature, and culture.
While these endeavors are enriching, they have limited direct relevance to the pressing economic, social, and political challenges our nation faces.
In both urban and rural areas, many heads of poor households, mostly men, engage in risk-taking through various forms of gambling.
This diverts a significant amount of time, money, and effort away from entrepreneurial endeavors and into activities like cockfighting, bingo, jueteng, lotteries, and the like.
The majority of the population, referred to as “ordinary people,” disengage from politics, opting instead for leisurely activities such as watching movies, dining out, and so on, especially during weekends and holidays.
The forthcoming May fiestas, sponsored by entrenched political families in preparation for the 2025 local elections, further highlight this detachment from political realities.
The political circus for the upcoming local and national polls has already begun more than a year in advance.
Unfortunately, the legitimate opposition appears ill-prepared, as recent polling data show significant leads for Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen.
Raffy Tulfo for the presidency.
Notably absent from the top senatorial posts are opposition stalwarts, with the list being dominated by administration and pseudo-opposition loyalists.
It is widely acknowledged that big corporations strategically support candidates from both sides, ensuring influence regardless of the election outcome.
This symbiotic relationship extends to corporations associated with the administration due to family connections or lucrative government contracts.
Despite hopes for internal conflicts within the ruling elite, as seen in the feud between the Marcoses and the Dutertes, genuine change remains elusive as these powerful factions engage in power struggles.
Given this disheartening reality, it is understandable that many Filipinos, particularly critical thinkers both in the country and abroad, seem helpless in confronting this bleak state of affairs.

Nono Felix,
Manila,
Philippines

 



Thailand's chance of winning a place
On the United Nations Human Rights Council is good
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday May 26, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday May 20, 2024

Re: "Thai Human Rights Council aspirations", in Bangkok Post, May 1, 2024 and "Amnesty panel to mull inclusion of S112 cases", in Bangkok Post, May 16, 2024.
Thailand's chances of winning a prestigious United Nations Human Rights Council slot this October are good but could be made a lot better by a few steps:
A flood of Myanmar citizens is fleeing the Tatmadaw'.
Rather than confining the Myanmar citizens to a refugee camp, we should offer them an acculturation programme, rural jobs at market rates and a merit-based path to citizenship.
Our application of Section 112, known as lese majeste law, should be brought in line with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's advice.
As His Majesty noted in his 2005 birthday broadcast, he would have dropped charges against those accused of the lese majeste and released those jailed for lese majeste
Let's show that we belong on the Human Right Council.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Laugh of the year
Senators want to impeach PM and Minister Pichit
The Southeast Asian Times Saturday May 25, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday May 20, 2024

Re: "Senators ask charter court to impeach PM, new minister Pichit", in Bangkok Post, Friday May 17, 2024
The laugh of the year came from reading this news in which senators ask the charter court to impeach the Prime Minister and new minister Pichit "based on Section 170 (4) and (5) of the charter which deal with moral and ethical standards of a cabinet minister".
What could possibly not meet that established standard?
How about the blatant "moral and ethical standards" of the senate itself?
How about using the lese majeste law as the pretext to deny the clear outcome of the May 14 election last year?

Felix Qui,
Bangkok.
Thailand




Proper utilization of blood and blood products
Poorly regulated in the Philippines
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday May 24, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday May 7, 2024

In 2010, the World Health Organization called for global action toward 100-percent voluntary blood donation.
It aims to phase out family blood donation, replacement donation, and paid donation which are prone to donor abuse.
This vision has been adopted by the Department of Health by issuing policies that call for rational blood use and 100-percent voluntary blood donation.
However, replacement donation has not been fully eliminated and remains one of the sources of blood supply in the Philippines.
The blood demand and supply imbalance remains a concern.
Several factors have been identified that contribute to this issue such as decreased blood donors, decreased operational capacity of blood banks, consistently high demand for blood products, and irrational blood use.
Despite strategies to ensure rational blood use in the hospital, evidence shows that the proper utilization of blood and blood products remains poorly regulated. Therefore, the imbalance continues to exist affecting the health system’s capacity to equitably allocate blood supply.
These issues present a challenge in maintaining a sustainable supply of blood that will meet the demand while complying with existing policies on voluntary blood donation.
Hence, there is an urgent need to look at evidence-based measures to improve current strategies that can effectively ensure rational blood use and the availability of blood and blood products.
Addressing the persistently low supply of blood will entail more resources and is challenged by systemic issues that cannot be immediately or easily resolved.
It is then imperative to ensure that the health system can properly allocate the limited blood supply to patients who need it most.
Thus, strategies must be instituted to ensure that the supply of blood products that barely meet the demand is given to the right patient, at the right time, and for the right indication.

Reiner Lorenzo J. Tamayo,
Manila,
Philippines




Rice stored in Thailand for ten years
Worth more than price of gold
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday May 23, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday May 21, 2024

Re: "Lab tests show rice 'edible'?", in Bangkok Post , May 20, 2024 and "Push to sell old rice raises questions", in Bangkok Post, May 19, 2024.
With due respect to that private lab's finding of 10-year-old rice stored in Surin as free from aflatoxins and other chemical residues, an internet search with the words "expiration of rice" said otherwise: "Dry white rice has a shelf life of up to 2 years ... Mould contamination in expired rice may lead to mycotoxin intake, which may be detrimental to your health."
In a prior Sunday front-page report, "Push to sell old rice raises questions", it was stated that 17.8 million tonnes were sold for 146 billion baht 8,200 baht/tonne in 2018.
Now, the hope is to auction these 15,000 tonnes of "expired" rice for a price of 270 million baht 18,000 baht a tonne.
Am I missing something that the expired rice after five years could fetch 120 percent more than the price in 2018 even gold could not rise that much!?
In addition, for 10 years, the storage cost of 380,000 baht per month has amounted to 45 million baht, not to mention the fumigation costs.
The key questions are why it has been kept as a hot potato for so long by officials in the early government and why it is being highlighted now by this government?

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Where have all the Manhole covers gone
Smelters picked them, every one
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday, May 22, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday May 17, 2024

Re: "No surprises", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Monday May 13, and "Accident waiting to happen", in Bangkok Post, Sunday May 12.
I agree with Shane's letter and would like to add to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) article that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) should review and improve its own performance, not just blame other agencies.
In Lumpini Park, all the manhole covers of the sewer network are in poor condition.
On top are out-of-shape thin steel plates apparently borrowed from some other facilities.
Some are placed over cracked concrete covers; some have plywood planks sandwiched beneath.
The manholes are surrounded by plastic string tied on makeshift sticks at the four corners, with signs in Thai and English: "DANGER".
It is obvious these things are old must be months or years old, and some of the string has loosened.
These deteriorated facilities should take days or weeks to correct, not months or years.
The facilities are under the full control of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
Lumpini Park is a popular place, with thousands, or tens of thousands, of visitors each day.
Yet, it receives such poor attention from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Thanin Bumrungsap,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Majority of Thai ministers support Thaksin Shinawatra meeting
With anti-Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar groups
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday May 21, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Thursday May 16, 2024

Re: "Hard to justify", Bangkok Post PostBag, May 9, "Thaksin met with Malaysia's Anwar", Bangkok Post, May 9 and "Thaksin in Myanmar rebel talks", Bangkok Post, May 8.
Comments by Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang that publicly support Thaksin's move to talk to Myanmar's rebels are shameless.
I found Thaksin to be a second-rate actor.
He should have taken professional training at a proper drama school where they teach breathing techniques, facial expressions, body language, and to act naturally.
What is worse is the majority of the ministers supporting Mr Thaksin in meetings with Myanmar armed rebel groups and Anwar Ibrahim, who is the prime minister of Malaysia. So scary!

Jayut Jayanandana,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Animal cruelty
Is common in the Philippines
The Southeast Asian Times Monday May 20, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer Wednesday May 8, 2024

Animal cruelty, such as violence and neglect, is still common in the Philippines.
Not only does this stem from a lack of knowledge and awareness of animal welfare, but there is a blatant lack of compassion and humanity for living creatures.
Last March, Killua, a golden retriever, was brutally killed in Camarines Sur.
Other dogs have also been victims of abuse.
A puppy was thrown from a pedestrian overpass by a security guard in Quezon City.
A tourist’s dog was found butchered by fishermen in Sariaya, Quezon.
How many more cases of animals being killed and butchered would it take to stop animal cruelty once and for all?
“Changing a mindset of a person can be very difficult, we can only inform them the proper ways of handling dogs or pets,” said Nelfe Joy Tagarian, an eight-year small animal practitioner and veterinarian when asked how people can change their negative minds about animals.
Tagarian explained that it is not an option to kill an animal, whether rabid or not, without first going to the local authorities to hold the owners accountable.
Pet owners under Republic Act No. 9482, or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, are mandated to have their pets vaccinated against rabies.
This is to ensure the safety of the pets, owners, as well as the public.
Killua’s case has highlighted concerns regarding pet care and the responsibilities of pet owners.
Owning a pet could be financially hefty, and an aspiring owner must be prepared to cater to their potential pet’s needs.
Getting vaccination shots, checking for possible diseases, maintaining the pet’s diet and nutrition are just among a pet owner’s responsibilities.

Frances Zipagan,
University of the Philippines Baguio,
Manila
Philippines




No need to cement riverbanks to stabilize them
Plant cash crops bamboo, nipa, malunggay, katmon
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday May 19, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday May 3, 2024

I recently visited Nueva Ecija and saw two riverbanks being cemented unnecessarily: First is the Labong River in Barangay Santa Clara, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, and the second is the river in Barangay Cavite, Guimba.The first one is being done by R.A. Pahati Construction and Supply, Inc., with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the implementing agency.
The cost is a staggering P47 million, as shown in the Commission on Audit advisory board which also says that the project is the rehabilitation of the riverbank slope protection structure.
There is actually no need to cement riverbanks to stabilize them.
There’s a better alternative planting cash crops like bamboo, nipa, malunggay, katmon, and kalumpit, to name a few. Riverbanks can also be stabilized with “dao,” “hagimit,” and “tangisang bayawak.”
Dao has edible fruits like santol; hagimit has anti-rheumatic properties, while tangisang bayawak has edible fruits and a sap that relieves toothaches.
Local legislators can enact ordinances to compel the planting of indigenous trees along riverbanks instead of them being cemented.
Another heart-wrenching sight on this trip is the unnecessary construction of the Talugtug-Umingan Road which connects Talugtug, Nueva Ecija to Umingan, Pangasinan.
The otherwise perfectly paved road is being dug up, a waste of people’s money since in 2021, this same road was already repaired. Now, construction is again ongoing from the start of the Talugtug side—in Barangay Patola and extends to close to two kilometers.
Congress should really look hard at the national budget and check if a lot of leakage is due to DPWH repairs. Let us be guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: 1. no poverty; 2. zero hunger; 3. good health and well-being. The way Congress allocates the budget for DPWH, we are going the opposite way in slashing poverty incidence.
Based on the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s 2023 data, Nueva Ecija has a poverty rate of 28 percent—the highest in Region III, although the Philippine Statistics Authority pegs it as between 10 percent to 14 percent for the first semester of 2023. Instead of unnecessary DPWH repairs, Nueva Ecija can focus on export items like mangoes, native tree timber, and agarwood which can sell for half a million pesos a kilo. This they can intercrop with native livestock. What is the value of one mango tree? According to Ramon Barba, father of mango flower induction, he has seen families send kids to college with just one mango tree!
Instead of cementing and recementing our country, our legislators and leaders should plan to alleviate poverty and hunger starting in the country side.

Chester C. Chang,
Manila,
Philippines




Forest fires in northern Thailand
Can't be seen from a gilded tower in Bangkok
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday May 19, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday May 15, 2024

Re: "Clean air comes before animal feed", Bangkok Post, Editorial, Sunday May 12, 2024.
I read with interest in Sunday's editorial that "field burning in corn plantations" is "the main source of toxic haze in the North."
Only last week, the Thai government's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) released data that shows that forest fires, including conservation forest and national forest, accounted for 94 percent of the burn area in Chiang Mai between January 1 and April 30 this year.
The data used by Gistda is based on data from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Is the Bangkok Post suggesting that Nasa and the Thai government are lying and making data up?
Around a week ago, a spokesperson for the Northern Breath Council was quoted in the media saying that along with the main cause being forest fires, not agriculture, the main problem with dealing with fires is that they are often difficult to reach.
Is the peak body for tackling PM2.5 in the north lying, and does the Bangkok Post believe that space aliens or cargo helicopters are bringing corn out of difficult-to-reach forest areas that can sometimes take 3-4 hours on foot for firefighters to reach?
Going back a year or two, Chiang Mai University presented data on emissions from fires in Northern Thailand in 2019 at an air quality conference supported by the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai.
The study found that between February and April of that year - burning season, PM2.5 emissions from corn/maize accounted for 2.8 percent of the smoke in the air in the north of Thailand (not just Chiang Mai) versus 96.87 percent from the burning of forests.
Did they make that up as well?
People in the North, myself included, who have two eyes can see what the overwhelming majority of forest fires are about -something you clearly can't see from a gilded tower in Bangkok.
The reality on the ground, not Greenpeace talking points, is that the fires are primarily related to forest products ranging from hed thob mushrooms, pak whan, red ant eggs, honey, illegal logging, animal hunting and more.

Duncan Riley,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call for China to be held accountable
For destructive use of its coast guard water cannons
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday May 17, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday May 9, 2024

China must be condemned and held accountable for the wrong and destructive use of its coast guards’ water cannons.
Recompense must also be levied for the structural and mechanical damages suffered by the Philippine vessels, including injuries to passengers, if any, when they sailed to conduct a civilian humanitarian mission at Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal recently.
There are ethics even at sea.
Though still unwritten, proper and ethical use of a ship’s water cannon ought to be covered by protocols to put a stop on its use for hostile purposes.
They are designed specifically for putting out fires hobbling other ships in the vast ocean, where means of traditional firefighting are unavailable.
It is uncommon to utilize it to cause harm, or as a tool for harassment and, above all, to endanger lives.
There are already a number of treaties and conventions covering almost every facet of human activity that, for centuries, were tied to people’s use and enjoyment of the oceans and the seas.
Among these is the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which provides guidelines governing sea collisions. Then followed the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, as amended.
Thereafter, in 1988, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was institutionalized and ratified by participating nations.
Interestingly, China ratified the latter treaty in 1991 that took effect the following year.
Its Chapter V pertains to navigational safety with regard to an operational nature applicable in “general to all ships on all voyages.”
It includes the general obligation for shipmasters to lend assistance to those in distress not add or cause stress on any or to an already distressed ship at sea.
The whole world watched in horror when supposedly responsible coast guards ran amuck and blasted high-pressure waters that nearly crippled a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and a chartered civilian craft.
To paraphrase a Biblical injunction: “What does it profit a country in grabbing an entire piece of the sea yet loses its repute?”
In light of the indiscriminate use of water cannons and blinding devices like military lasers by the China Coast Guard (CCG), it behooves responsible states to craft regulations that will govern their use of similar steps taken by the governments of Austria, Egypt, and Italy in 1986 when they successfully urged International Maritime Organization (IMO) to undertake a convention on the subject of unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation.
This was meant to provide a comprehensive suppression of unlawful acts committed against the safety of maritime vessels and those that endanger human lives, including those performing their duty in connection with their work, such as among others, the coast guards, other mariners, journalists, and media practitioners.
We cannot fall, hook, line, and sinker, for the populist clamor of some, including a senator, for “a tooth for a tooth” approach in response to the thuggery shown by the China Coast Guard (CCG).
It will only exacerbate the already tense situation; it will not make us any different from those whose behavior we object to.
What the times call for is the crafting of a rules-based solution in the form of a treaty that will govern the use of water cannons and other harmful vessel-bound devices at sea.
The Philippines, together with similarly minded nations, could initiate a move at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or before other relevant international treaty organizations to, once and for all, address the lack of rules and regulations on these areas of grave concern in a civilized manner.

Ted P. Peñaflor II,
Manila,
Philippines





The only explanation for Rosmah Mansor’s behaviour
Is pure greed
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday May16, 2024

We learn from The Southeast Asian Times report ‘ New 1MDB Management charge Rosmah Mansor, wife of incarcerated former PM, with embezzlement ‘ ( 13 May 2024 ) that the charge relates to “ 320 payments totalling US $346,010,489 for the purchase of luxury brand name handbags, watches and jewellery … “ ( read details in the report ).
Why would a 70 year old woman do such a thing?
Of course the opportunity was there during the reign in power of her husband Najib Razak who is doing jail time for over US $1.8 billion siphoned from the state development fund .
The only explanation for Rosmah Mansor’s behaviour is pure greed. That is not an uncommon thing when the husband is a rogue ruler with his hands on state funds.
It’s disgraceful.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia




Refugees from Myanmar
Can be a win-win opportunity for Thailand
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday May 15, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday May 3, 2024

Re: "Protect rights of refugees", in Bangkok Post Editorial, Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Refugees from Myanmar can be a win-win opportunity for Thailand if we have the vision to see it.
We endanger winning the highly-prized UN Human Rights Council seat we want by falling short of our trumpeted vows to treat Myanmar refugees in line with humanitarian principles.
For example, we're only able to accommodate 3,000 people in five temporary shelters but hundreds of thousands are headed our way.
Also, we're one of the world's fastest-ageing societies and face an acute skills crisis.
We should offer refugees acculturation workshops, rural jobs at market rates, and a merit-based path to citizenship, inducing them to help us grow in the long term.
Act now for a win-win outcome.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Vietamese-French woman challenges US corporation claim
To immunity from Agent Orange warfare in Vietnam
The Southeast Asian Times Tuesday May 14, 2024

Whatever the outcome of the Paris Court of Appeal decision regarding jurisdiction it is still absolutely fantastic that Vietnamese-French woman Tran Ta Nga 82 has taken court action to hold the multinational chemical companies that supplied the US military to conduct chemical warfare in Vietnam responsible for their action in pursuit of profit taking no cognisance of the serious human health and environmental degradation impacts ( The Southeast Asian Times 12 May 2024 ).
History must be remembered so that we do not repeat the atrocities of the past.
This court action by the 82 year old woman reminds us to do that.
She is to be applauded for her courage to challenge the purported claim to immunity by the powerful multinational companies.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia





The West Philippine Sea
Is one of the vital trading routes in the world

The Southeast Asian Times, Monday May 13, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Wednesday May 8, 2024

Defending a state’s territory is one of the significant roles of the government.
The Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli mentioned in his book, “The Prince,” the importance of sovereignty and the autonomy of the state, as he described it as a superior entity of the land.
The state has the responsibility to preserve its territory and resources, as well as protect the welfare of the people.
The Philippines has played a massive role in implementing these mandates in accordance with international law and the 1987 Constitution.
The West Philippine Sea is one of the vital trading routes in the world.
Billion-dollar worth of cargo passes this route coming from big economies of East Asia, China, Japan, and South Korea. This area is known for its abundant natural resources.
Maritime countries in Southeast Asia, like the Philippines, have exploited the region as a traditional fishing ground ever since.
In addition, this particular area has untapped billion barrels of oil reserves and trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
These discoveries in the area and their significant role in the global market made the countries in the region want to assert their claims, sparking regional tensions.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has buffed up its capabilities by acquiring new weapons and armaments through a modernization program and strengthening partnerships with traditional allies like the United States, Japan, and Australia.
The Philippines won at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague and that decision only affirmed the Philippines’ sovereignty and significantly bolstered its jurisdiction over the resources within its exclusive economic zone.
Territory is one of the pillars of the state.
Without it, we cannot govern and create laws for the nation, and there will be no sustenance for the population to survive.
Defining a territory also signifies autonomy, away from the control of the external force, and recognition in the international arena.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), led by the commander in chief, President Marcos, is the custodian of our territory and sovereignty.

Ceddie Carlos,
Manila,
Philippines





Philippines yet to hear of Open Government Partnership role
In eliminating extensive corruption in the bureaucracy
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday May 12, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday May 3, 2024

Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global initiative promoting transparency, fighting graft, and improving governance at both the national and subnational levels, of which the Philippines is among the eight founding nations alongside Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman chairs Open Government Partnership (OGP) in the Philippines.
Until now, however, we have yet to hear of the Open Government Partnership (OGP’s) role in eliminating extensive corruption in the country’s bureaucracy under the auspices of the Department of Budget (DBM), which dispenses budgets and funds.
We should congratulate, however, a dozen or so of our cities and towns that, according to the Department of Budget (DBM) secretary, were accepted into the ranks of transparent and accountable governance for promoting transparency and fighting graft.
But what about the more than 300 other government offices and agencies, which in total suck an estimated 20 percent of the national budget?
Unless Department of Budget (DBM) has a game plan to end these corrupt practices at source, here and now, let’s stop lulling ourselves with the isolated performance of a few government units that have a conscience, lest we become a laughingstock in our helplessness.

Marvel K. Tan,
Manila,
Philippines





Call for humanitarian assistance in conflict zones
For Myanmar citizens on Thai-Myanmar border
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday May 11, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday April 10, 2024

Re: "?'Brain drain' follows military coup", in Bangkok Post, Monday April 8, 2024.
Humanitarian assistance to citizens in conflict zones on the Thai-Myanmar border must be carried out without discrimination. Myanmar refugees are being forced by the Tatmadaw to kill their fellow countrymen.
Thailand must not send them back to be jailed or killed but give them humanitarian aid on our soil.
Also, it appears that anti-Tatmadaw groups are taking control of Myawaddy, and 617 people have surrendered to the Karen National Union.
The Tatmadaw sent an aircraft to bring an initial group back but none apparently showed up to be repatriated.
They, like any other refugees, must be given free choice as to whether they wish to stay in Thailand or be repatriated.
If the latter, they must be sent to an area where they feel safe, under the principle of non-refoulement.
Refugees electing to stay in Thailand are a golden opportunity for Thailand.
We are one of Asia's fastest-ageing societies, with an increasingly heavy burden on our workers to support us elders.
The Myanmar refugees are the exact age groups and professions needed to slow our ageing society and kickstart our lagging economy.
We should help them find jobs with an acculturation programme and merit-based route to citizenship.
But we must move quickly. They are literally knocking on our doors as we speak.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Former PM of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra
Is on record saying ''The United Nations is not my uncle".
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday May 19, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday May 2, 2024

Re: "Parnpree stuns govt with move to quit", in Bangkok Post, April 29, 2024 and "Rights, freedoms hang in balance", in Bangkok Post Opinion, Saturday December 30, 2023.
I refer to the resignation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.
How sad.
Mr Parnpree was a supporter of Thailand applying to join the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHR) for 2025-2027.
I had to time travel back to December 2023 to find anything substantive in your publication relating to Thailand's hopes to be admitted to this organisation: an opinion piece titled "Rights, freedoms, hang in the balance" by Prof Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn, a human rights law expert.
Surely a successful application to the UNHR would be a source of pride.
There is, however, a sour note; the effective leader of Pheu Thai, Thaksin is on record as saying that "The UN is not my uncle". I guess that means we can kiss goodbye to joining the real world, since it is beyond the imagination of one man.

Don McMahon
Bangkok,
Thailand




Philippines call for new follow-up arbirtration in Hague Court
Against China for reclamation of West Philippine Sea
The Southeast Asian Times Thursday May 8, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday May 7, 2024

In addition to filing routine diplomatic protest, I fully support the ongoing recommendation of retired Supreme Court justice Francis H. Jardeleza for President Marcos to file a new follow-up arbitration case against China on its large-scale reclamation of parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
If we fail to do this, then, surely China will continue its very aggressive encroachment stance into our territorial jurisdiction and the continuing harassment of our Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea WPS.
On a similar note, I fully agree with lawyer Ancheta K. Tan’s prodding to show crucial widespread support for Mr. Marcos’ foreign policy.
As stated by Tan in his Letter to the Editor on May 1, 2024 “President Marcos has embarked on a courageous but logical and pragmatic shift from the servile stance of his predecessor to a multilateral partnership with other nations to enhance, not only our own, but regional peace and stability.” Among others, if we do not show our support to this move, Tan opines: “Lest we will be caught off guard, and wake up one day with our neighbor entering our door without firing a shot.”
Definitely, the filing of a new arbitration case will entail costs but I suppose it is more than worth it considering the very high stakes and concomitant risks of losing our sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction and becoming a pitiful vassal of China.
Therefore, let us “put our money where our mouth is.”
Our nationalistic and patriotic posture in this regard is hereby exhorted.

Emiliano M. Manahan Jr.,
Manila,
Philippines





The power problem in the Philippines is complex
''We cannot point to a single solution''
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday May 8, 2024
First pubished in the Philippine Inquirer Thursday May 2, 2024

The Luzon grid has been practically under yellow alert for most of the day for weeks now.
The Visayas grid experiences the same deficiency in reserve.
The prevailing explanation has been due to the simultaneous plant outages.
It is important to stress that an outage does not automatically result in power interruption.
To use a more relatable analogy, if you’re running a laundry service, the loss of one washing machine does not mean the whole shop would close down.
The loss of two or more should keep you worried.
A power plant may be allowed to be on planned outage for maintenance but it does not mean the reserve will be thin; the reserve does not necessarily have to be thin.
This is because there is a schedule to be followed and planned out ahead of time when and how long power plants should be on shutdown.
Therefore, we know if the schedule is followed and when generators will be on outage.
But why do generators shut down in the first place?
Generators are made up of many parts which may be moving or not.
These generator parts need to be maintained because the cost of having a fault is usually higher than the cost of preventive maintenance.
In other words, there is an allowable time for generators to be on outage for the upkeep.
Any exceedance of this allowable time is penalized because they are expected to be already synchronized to the grid to supply power.
The Department of Energy (DOE) declared early on that there would be no power crisis. It was a bold and sweeping declaration that was eventually found to be not true.
At the grid level, that means we are not talking about power interruptions at the distribution such as those caused by maintenance of lines, substations, or localized power interruptions caused by faults, we can quantify how many hours in a year there will be brownouts because of the probability of simultaneous plant outages.
The very nature of plant outage is probabilistic.
This means there is a chance that plants will be on outage at the same time which will lead to insufficient generation.
The question that needs to be answered is this probability, the likelihood of occurrence that many power plants will be on outage.
The more plants that are on outage, the greater the chance of having power interruption.
I make a distinction here that power plants, for whatever reason, are on shutdown. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) can sanction generating units that will exceed the allowable shutdown.
This means that the ERC can legally ask generators to pay if they are already more than the planned outages.
So, what is the solution?
We need to build more power plants.
If we are targeting increased renewable energy penetration, we need to study how this can affect the stability of the grid, given that we want to phase out thermal power plants providing inertia.
Modifying end-user behavior, which is what the DOE is gearing toward, will take some time to take off.
It will not be easy to tell consumers to lessen the use of appliances given that the heat mitigating measures heavily involve the use of cooling appliances which use up much energy (read: higher electricity bills).
The power problem of the country is a lot more complex and we cannot point to a single solution.

Edward Joseph H. Maguindayao,
University of the Philippines Los Banos,
Manila,
Philippines






Call for Philiipines to convert the status
Of contractual employee to permanent employee
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday May 7, 2024
First pubished in the Philippine Inquirer Friday April 26, 2024

Per Civil Service Commission (CSC) data in June 2023, there are about 1.97 million government personnel in career and noncareer positions and more than 832,000 were hired as contractual or job-order workers.
Contractualization is one of the most controversial labor practices in the Philippines. After all, employees under contractual or casual appointments are entitled to the same benefits enjoyed by regular employees.
Meanwhile, CSC chair Karlo Nograles has urged top graduates (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) to consider joining the government to infuse new talents into government service.
This is provided under Presidential Decree No. 907 or the “Granting Civil Service Eligibility to College Honor Graduates.”
Sometime in November 2022, the Department of Budget and Management reiterated that there are more than 160,000 unfilled positions in the national government, while 62,000 workers hold nonpermanent positions. We are aware that regular positions in government require civil service eligibility for professional and nonprofessional levels.
In this regard, I would like to propose that the CSC seriously consider a special form of equivalent eligibility considering, among others, educational qualifications and length of service/tenure that a contractual had continuously worked with the government, i.e., professional eligibility could be replaced by eight years service tenure and subprofessional eligibility by five years service tenure.
If doable, the CSC could recommend to the President to issue an executive order regarding this special form of eligibility, the objective of which is to convert the status of contractual employee to a permanent one as well as fill up the numerous unfilled positions in the government.
If successfully implemented, the government will send a strong signal to private companies to likewise reconsider the hiring of regular rather than contractual employees.
In this regard, the government can still become a model employer.

Emiliano M. Manahan Jr.,
Manila,
Phlippines





Malaysia's Indian community want their fundamental rights
To be acknowledged and fulfilled
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday May 6, 2024
First published in the Star, Friday May 3, 2023

“Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races that wish to be loyal, live together, defend the nation and work together, live in harmony, because the situation in this country is different from other countries in the world.
Because of this, one race cannot take everything for itself.
'' In order to set up an independent government, we must compromise and make sacrifices,'' Tunku Abdul Rahman, speech at the Sungai Besi Airport after returning from London, June 3, 1957.
One year and five months ago, the nation witnessed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim taking the oath as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia.
It was a moment etched in memory with one particular scene standing out – an Indian man, overwhelmed with emotion, stood in the middle of a highway, tears streaming down his face as he witnessed his idol ascend to the highest office in Malaysia.
This wasn't just a political event; it was a symbol of resilience and triumph.
Anwar, once hunted and harassed, had returned with greater strength, now poised to lead Malaysia as its prime minister.
As a prominent figure in the opposition, Anwar had captivated the Indian community with his impassioned speeches and promises, reminiscent of the charismatic moves of the legendary Indian superstar, MGR, from the 70s.
He spoke of lifting the Indian community from the shadows, addressing their long-standing grievances and advocating for their rights.
However, since assuming office, his actions have fallen short of expectations, particularly concerning the Indian community.
There have been instances of insensitivity and disregard, such as when he dismissed concerns about the quota system and matriculation, or when he brushed off pressing issues raised by a minister pertaining to the Indian community.
His recent call for Indians to "stab him" if they felt he wasn't doing enough for them only exacerbated tensions.
Such remarks not only lack statesmanship but also fuel resentment within the community.
Most recently, his statement urging the Indian community not to harbour jealousy or resentment towards the bumiputra community has stirred controversy.
Contrary to his assertion, the Indian community isn't envious of the progress made by others; rather, they want their fundamental rights to be acknowledged and fulfilled.
Financial loans/grants, such as RM100mil from Mitra (Malaysian Indian Transformation Mitra, RM60mil from Tekun (Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga), and RM50mil from AIM (Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia), are not new.
They were given by Datuk Seri Najib Razak who also allocated equally enough to the bumiputra, Chinese and Indian communities.
The former prime minister gave Malaysians hope of equal opportunity.
By framing the Indian community's legitimate concerns as jealousy, Anwar risks deepening racial divisions and perpetuating misunderstandings.
Instead of fostering unity, such rhetoric only serves to widen existing rifts and sow discord.
What the Indian community seeks is not preferential treatment but fairness and inclusion, a sentiment echoed by many across Malaysia.

Viknesvaran Goppal,
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia






Philippines call for a think tank to monitor
All activities of China's impingment on the Philippines
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday May 4, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Wednesday May 1, 2024

More than any initiative of his two-year-old administration, President Marcos’ foreign policy, specifically as it involves our relationship with China, is shaping up day by day as the most consequential and eventful course of action impacting various levels of our national life.
He has embarked on a courageous but logical and pragmatic shift from the servile stance of his predecessor to a multilateral partnership with other nations to enhance, not only our own, but regional peace and stability.
The focus on China, an erstwhile friend when it suits its agenda, is neither random nor a form of racial profiling, but a hard-nosed reality that the Asian superpower poses the gravest threat to our national security.
For this reason, every Filipino, including those in the Left, must wake up and fully support Mr. Marcos’ diplomatic thrust.
As a renowned American diplomat said, “No foreign policy—no matter how ingenious—has any chance of success if it is born in the minds of a few and carried in the hearts of none.”
This is especially crucial because of hostile forces undermining the President’s actions at every turn, not only from beyond our borders but among our countrymen.
Externally, the threat to us is real. Our powerful neighbor, with its awesome military and economic capabilities, is crouching just 500 nautical miles from the shores of Palawan and Batanes.
It is the only nation that has intruded into our territory, constructed artificial islands inside our exclusive economic zone, and mounted aggressive actions against our assets and people in the West Philippine Sea.
It is therefore a strategic and inevitable option for the administration to forge mutual assistance with the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and even India on maritime affairs.
It must be assumed that a predator, with billions of hungry mouths to feed, will not spare a prey floating alone in the open sea.
To be clear our country will never engage, and is incapable of engaging, in warmongering and aggression.
Whatever we do is defensive because we are a peaceful people and our Constitution renounces war as an instrument of national policy and adopts international law as part of the law of the land.
But we cannot say the same thing of China, which has openly refused to comply with the 2016 arbitral ruling and continues to display a cavalier attitude to the rules and principles of international law.
If this is not enough to alarm us, internal subversion by the China strain of Makapili among our businessmen, government officials, and media personalities will be wrenching.
This is why we should not treat lightly reports about ''sleepers,'' the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province which the Bureau of Immigration placed at 1,516 in 2023, and an earlier post that quoted Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba as opposing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and pushing for stronger ties with Beijing.
At the very least, there must be a comprehensive and thorough investigation of this situation to uncover the facts. Better still, I suggest a special body under the Office of the President, akin to The Russia House of British Intelligence, not a spy agency but a think tank to monitor all activities of China impinging on the Philippines, lest we will be caught off guard, and wake up one day with our neighbor entering our door without firing a shot.

Ancheta K. Tan,
lawyer,
Manila,
Philippines




China's fast economic growth
Is over
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday May 4, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday April 8, 2024

False China stories
Much of the Western press, for some time, has been filled with stories about the Chinese economy and how it's faltering.
There, we are told regularly that China's fast growth is over, that China's economic data is often manipulated, that a Chinese financial crisis may be looming, and that China will suffer the same stagnation as Japan starting in the early 1990s.
This is mostly US propaganda, not reality.
Surely, the Chinese economy faces headwinds but mainly created by the United States with multiple sanctions, which could even be illegal under WTO rules.
Yet many, like me, believe China can overcome US-EU-created headwinds and continue on its path of rapid economic development.

Paul A Renaud,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Enlightenment is not a trait
Transferable by genetic inheritance
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday May 3, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday April 29, 2024

Re: "NOB to investigate case of 'son of Buddha reincarnate'", in Bangkok Post, Friday April 26, 2024
I don't know why anyone should imagine the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) might require assistance with their deliberation about the authenticity of Nong Nice. Perhaps because they indicate a thorough investigation is necessary?
One point to consider is that enlightenment is not a trait transferable by genetic inheritance.
Therefore, whether one is a long lost family member of Gautama Buddha or Thaksin Shinawatra makes no difference in spiritual potential, despite what Jesus said about rich men being barred from the kingdom of heaven.
And surely telepathic phone calls with Vladimir Putin don't count for much either. By now National Office of Buddhism (NOB) should have Standard Operating Procedure (SOP's) from the flying saucer temple scam, the 747 flying-high monk debacle and hundreds of others, shouldn't they?
In summary all these scams are absurdly, self-evidently obvious.
But this is how people learn, and they should be allowed to learn it seems to me.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Outgoing Solomon Is PM Manasseh Sogavare
Has millions in property
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday May 2, 2024

Solomon Islands PM has millions in property : Questions raised around wealth
( The Fiji Times 27/4/24 ).
Would the Solomon Islands PM have that kind of personal wealth without being PM?
Personal wealth amassment is a phenomenon in third world politics.
Some African political leaders become so wealthy they buy up market properties and mansions in UK, France and other first world countries even when their own people live in grinding poverty!

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia




Chinese in the Philippines could be spies
Or advanced occupation troops
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday May 1, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday April 26, 2024

This is in reaction to the article “Gov’t panel to meet amid ‘influx’ of Chinese students in Cagayan” in Philippine Inquirer, Thursday April 22, 2024.
In the face of Chinese militia’s aggressive actions using water cannons in the West Philippine Sea, which has already resulted in the injury of some Filipino fishermen and Philippine Coast Guard crew members, the reported influx of Chinese nationals who pose as students is reasonable cause for apprehension.
This, in addition to reports about the entry of many Chinese nationals allegedly aged about 35 years who were applying for special resident retiree visas and employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators who have long been in the country.
The latter has been reported to even have a practice firing range somewhere in Parañaque City.
We have reason to believe that these Chinese could be veritable spies or advanced occupation troops.
In one of your editorials, you mentioned the “Trojan horse.”
My late grandfather used to tell us about many Japanese nationals who were engaged in the business of buying old newspapers, bottles, and scrap iron before World War II.
It turned out that those Japanese men were intelligence officers who would later don military uniforms when the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the Philippines.
Those Chinese who are already in the country are potential agents engaged in gathering human intelligence in addition to the information supplied by Chinese transmitters that can collect signal intelligence that the Philippine government allowed to be built right in military bases.
I cringe in horror at the specter of a Chinese invasion that can easily conquer us as a result of thousands of Chinese already deployed in our country.

Ramon Mayuga,
Manila,
Philippines




In 1947 the UN divided the British mandate into two parts
One for Israel and one for the Palestinians
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday April 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday April 18, 2024

Re: "Historical context", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Saturday April 13, 2024.
PostBag column has published letters condemning the Jews for the Gaza war.
The pro-Palestine protests in the world use the same arguments as these PostBag contributors, ie, the Jews occupied Gaza for the last 75 years, a Palestinian territory.
This statement is a lie, and it is about time the truth be known!
The fact is there is no occupied Palestinian territory.
In 1947, the United Nations divided the British mandate into two parts: one for Israel and one for the Palestinians.
Israel accepted the start of the Israeli state.
However, I know it is difficult to accept the truth when this doesn't confirm with pre-conceived opinions, as people in general are too lazy to inform themselves and like to wallow in the warm mud with the other ignoramuses.

Megon,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Air quality in Chiang Mai
Much worse than in Bangkok

The Southeast Asian Times, Monday April 29, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday April 8, 2024

Re: "3 more areas on disaster list", in Bangkok Post, Monday April 8, 2024.
Living in the very far north of Chiang Mai province, where at this time of the year, our air quality is much worse than in the city, I feel it's time the blame was laid on the correct place.
Government officials could possibly be responsible for some of our mountain and forest fires, but without doubt, most fires are purposely lit by citizens from amongst the local population.
Certain individuals from the local community are removing weeds, extending their cropland into forest areas and destroying the bamboo wastelands that are the result of previous logging to create new fields.
The effort to halt this burning and the harm it causes to people's health has to take place in the local community.
Schools need to teach the young that their parents' decision to burn is destroying their health, and neighbours need to approach their farming brothers and ask just why they are creating this polluted atmosphere.
The 50,000 individuals need to be brought to task by their fellow citizens and made to understand the dangers they are creating.
Enforcement within your own society is the answer, and if you must, report the errant farmer to the headman or the government office if the fires continue.
Blaming officials sitting at desks in the far city is nothing but a waste of time.
The problem is in your own community, and that's where it needs to be tackled.

Lungstib,
Bangkok,
Thailand



Call for President Marcos to allow the ICC
To investigate former President Duterte war on drugs
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday April 28, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Wednesday April 24, 2024

I cannot understand President Marcos’ continued refusal to allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate former president Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity, for causing the death of thousands of Filipinos in his failed drug war.
As president, he has the weighty responsibility to uphold the rule of law and to see to it that justice is served.
His namby-pamby stand proves him to be just your regular traditional politician who thinks only of his own vested and selfish interests.
A real statesman would have a utilitarian mindset; he’d be someone who knows that the best actions are those that result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
He chooses the actions that will result in the best overall consequences for his people.
If Mr. Marcos believes that Duterte is innocent, he should convince the former president to face the music.
Coddling and protecting him would just be sending the message that you are, after all, birds of a feather flocking together, crows that ravage the cornfields in unity and band.
How would the victims feel that you two are performing the danse macabre over the graves of their dearly departed?
Before the first visit of Pope John Paul II to the Philippines, on January 17, 1981, the President’s father Ferdinand Marcos Sr. lifted martial law through Proclamation No. 2045.
The Pope, who was a staunch advocate of human rights and used his position and influence to effect positive political change in the world, wrote an essay titled “Reflections on Working Toward Peace.”
The President should listen to what this great religious leader and statesman said: “An offense against human rights is an offense against the conscience of humanity, an offense against humanity itself. The duty of protecting these rights therefore extends beyond the geographical and political borders within which they are violated. Crimes against humanity cannot be considered an internal affair of a nation. The ICC was established to try such crimes, regardless of the place or circumstances in which they are committed. We must thank God that in the conscience of peoples and nations there is a growing conviction that human rights have no borders, because they are universal and indivisible.”
The indisputable fact remains that many people died during Duterte’s war on drugs and someone must have caused their deaths.
Can there be a crime without a criminal?
Let the ICC come in and let Duterte prove his innocence it’s that simple!
If Duterte is the BFF of no less than the living Son of God himself, then why is he afraid of appearing before what for him is merely a court run by lowly mortal kangaroos?
Our world has become a dangerous place to live in, not just because of the people who are evil but also because of the people who won’t do anything about it.
To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.
The President is invested with the power to do what is right and to impose and implement justice though the heavens fall.
When a man cannot choose good over evil, he ceases to be a man, let alone a president.
The dark period of Duterte’s war on drugs will live in infamy and time, history, and God Himself will judge its perpetrators, enablers, and abettors according to what they did or did not do at the height of the conflagration.
This is no time to dillydally.
The President should choose to do what is right and good.

Antonio Calipjo Go,
Manila,
Philippines




Elections in India to reaffirm sovereignty
And dispell fears of democratic erosion
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday April 27, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday April 21, 2024

Re: "Modi 'top pick' for election", Bangkok Post, World, Wednesday April 17, 2024.
The essence of a robust democracy is evident when leaders are elected through fair and open elections by the populace.
With Mr Modi securing two landslide victories, it's indicative that he has garnered widespread support through effective governance.
The legal scrutiny faced by some of his opponents underscores adherence to the rule of law.
Doubting the integrity of the Indian judiciary seems unwarranted given its pivotal role in upholding justice.
Moreover, among India's 31 states, 12 are governed by opposition parties, a testament to the diversity of political representation within the nation's democratic framework.
Addressing historical context, the demolition of a 16th-century mosque, often depicted as an act of "Hindu zealotry", was viewed by many as reclaiming a sacred site, the birthplace of the Hindu deity Ram, steeped in religious significance. There was enough evidence to prove the existence of a Hindu temple at the site which was demolished to build the mosque in the 16th century and the judiciary decided to allow Hindus to build a temple at the place.
Critics often assail Mr Modi, yet the presence of a vocal opposition underscores the vitality of press freedom.
Recent revelations of tax discrepancies by organisations such as the BBC underscore the need for impartial scrutiny.
The Pew survey indicating widespread public approval of Mr Modi, including among minorities, challenges narratives of exclusion.
The Modi government's focus on socio-economic upliftment, rather than tokenism, has resonated even among marginalised communities.
Ultimately, the upcoming elections will reflect the true sentiments of the Indian public, reaffirming their sovereignty and dispelling unfounded fears of democratic erosion.
The so-called intellectuals must respect the diversity of opinions within the electorate, a hallmark of genuine democracy.

VB,
Bangkok,
Thailand



Filipinos stuck in out-of-date thinking
Of homosexuality being a ''sin''
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday April 26, 2024

First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Monday April 22, 2024

In our continuously growing culture, art has been a huge platform where people show their opinions and beliefs or simply express themselves like how LGBTQIA+ members express themselves through the art of drag.
Although many have been raising awareness of being queer, there are still some stuck in their out-of-date thinking of homosexuality being a “sin” even though it is not.
The performance of drag queen Pura Luka Vega, real name: Amadeus Fernando Pagent,where they are dressed as Jesus Christ while the remix of a liturgical song “Ama Namin” is used has caused chaos in the Christian community and has led people to choose sides.
Their statement brought light to a variety of viewpoints toward art. Art has no boundaries; it can be illicit or not.
An artist like Pagente is a testament to this; they push boundaries, go beyond social standards, and pose provocative issues.
Art is fascinating and influential because of this, giving art the ability to educate.
While some people understand its message, some have been offended. Negros Occidental declared Pagente persona non grata.
According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, “the separation of church and state shall be inviolable.
Pagente’s issue is connected to religion, thus, the government should not meddle in the said issue.
Declaring Pagente a persona non grata shows that the Philippine government is still a slave to the church’s conservatism.
Their intention was not for the people from the religion to be offended by what they had done. Pagente also said that the issue will not end their way of expressing and practicing faith.
For them, Pagente’s way of dressing up like Jesus Christ is like how Catholics do it during Holy Week for the Senakulo. Judging by the aggressive reactions the performance received, it shows that people of the faith are fine when a straight person dresses the same way as Jesus Christ with the purpose of deliberately ridiculing Him, but not if a queer person does it as an expression of their faith.
Taking everything into consideration, art can be used to express yourself. Pagente’s intention in their performance was to bring honor to the Catholic faith and worship God in a queer way.
The issue making it to the national government shows that they would rather debate over a drag performance than tackle more pressing issues.
Catholics should be able to understand other people’s points of view when it comes to practicing the faith. As Pagente said, “You may like a particular work of art but somebody else doesn’t. You can’t force anyone to accept or reject. Art may provoke; it may also soothe; it may spark joy or rouse anger, regardless of the artist’s intent. Appreciation may not necessarily match the intent.”
Art is a controversial matter. Faith, even more so. Both have the power to provoke, motivate, and educate. People do not need to stop making art just because some people dislike it. We as citizens should respect and understand others, and not be so quick to judge and criticize when a certain belief doesn’t resonate with ours.

Chandynee Domingo,
Wesleyan University
Philippines




The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Is the central diplomatic forum in Southeast Asia
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday April 25, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday April 15, 2024

Re: "Asean juggles triangular power game", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Tuesday April 9, 2024.
Asean foresees and expects tougher times and unpredictable circumstances ahead.
However, solidarity plays a crucial role in Asean's diplomacy with other powers by providing the organisation with a unified voice and great negotiating strength.
It fosters regional integration within this organisation, strengthening economic ties, cultural exchanges, and political cooperation.
Acting in solidarity contributes to Asean's credibility and influence in its dialogue with big powers.
As Asean is the central diplomatic forum in Southeast Asia, solidarity serves as a cornerstone of regional diplomacy, enabling it to navigate complex geopolitical dynamics at the continental and global levels.

Ioan Voicu
Bangkok,
Thailand




Stray dogs locked up in dog pounds have more space
Than inmates in Thai prisons
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday 24, April 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday April 11, 2024

Re: "Overcrowded prisons need reforming", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Wednesday April 10, 2024.
Have you ever seen a photo of sleeping conditions at Thai prisons?
You haven't.
You may have seen pics of other countries' prisons' sleeping conditions, but you have never seen the same for Thailand because Thai prisons don't allow such photos.
Granted, there are a rare few photos taken within Thai prisons, but they're highly staged.
In other words, a few select inmates are given clean, new matching t-shirts to be given back after the photo and everyone, including perhaps a few dignitaries from town, is shown in the best light, in a non-sleeping area during the day.
Most prisons worldwide are very crowded, but only in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa do inmates have no beds or cots.
In Thai prisons, it's not unusual for an inmate to have a sleeping space as narrow as 33cm, on a concrete floor with no pillow nor mattress, overhead lights on 24/7.
One thin blanket per inmate in southern regions is standard, or two thin blankets for inmates in northern regions.
At some prisons, inmates are confined to sleeping areas for up 72 hours at a time but most often, inmates are confined in their narrow spaces for 16 out of each 24-hour cycle.
Stray dogs locked up at dog pounds have more space than inmates at Thai prisons. In some prisons, an inmate doesn't even have enough room to stretch his arms or legs, without thumping into another inmate.

Nek Nestrebla
Bangkok,
Thailand





Thai embassies should scan for doubtful visa applicants
Including for Koh Samui and Pattaya
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday April 23, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Sunday April 21, 2024

Re: "Cops up ante on foreign criminals", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday April 17, 2024.
The government should instruct the Foreign Affairs Ministry to set up new rules for Thai embassies around the world to scan for doubtful visa applicants in vulnerable countries, apart from instructing the Royal Thai Police and the Interior Ministry to take measures to deal with the "crackdown on foreign criminals".
Investigate applicants' personal and criminal records in advance at the embassies. Rejecting visas will lower the burden on local and immigration police in Thailand.
The Commerce Ministry should draw up new strategies and execute them accordingly in investigating applicants' history.
It's not necessary to approve visas within a day.
It may take a month.
The idea is making rules and the screening process watertight before any damage is done.
The article focuses on Phuket and in the southern borders of Thailand, but places like Koh Samui or Pattaya, where transnational mafia set up their regional head offices and operate schemes, are left out.
Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, list Member of Parliament from a United Thai Nation Party, emphasised that "Thais should not be misled".
I like to stress that Thais are not misled.
The ones who agreed to be nominees are not normally misled.
They know the illegality and voluntarily accepted with greed.
It's the grid that works in their brains; they should be severely punished.

Jayut Jayanandana,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Cults and Sects operate under the cloak
Of religious freedom in the Philippines
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday April 22, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday April 18, 2024

It is with great interest and pleasure that I read Ma. Ceres P. Doyo’s column about ASOG” or Appointed Son of God in Human Face, Thursday April 4, 2024.
My profession is more inclined towards science, philosophy, and medical history, but this topic is certainly interesting.
It surprises me that a country like the Philippines is very conservative, and influenced by both the Catholic Church and Islam.
Yet there is still room for such types of sects and cults.
I know that the United States, especially the south, is teeming with and, sometimes bizarre, Protestant TV evangelists that are a peculiarity of American conservatism, much like McDonalds and KFC.
As the columnist correctly writes, former president Rodrigo Duterte who calls God stupid which is, of course, covered by freedom of expression in a free country but now claims to be the Appointed Son of God (ASOG) spiritual advisee, is one development quite far from any logic. Why? Because cults and sects under the cloak of religious freedom seem to operate here under the radar. This is completely unthinkable in atheist/agnostic countries such as China, Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, and Cuba, and Islamic countries like the Arab States, Iran, and elsewhere.
Even in Western democracies, stricter laws are now being passed after previous incidents of mass suicides, tax evasion, or manipulation. The Church of Scientology, popular with Hollywood stars in the US, is being monitored by the police in Germany because of unfair practices.
If people end up on social welfare or in poverty for their “faith,” intervention must be made. Jesus lived a life of poverty without women: what a contrast to other cult leaders!
Serious Catholic and Protestant churches are also called upon to warn people about sects. Contact points and information centers could offer help and set up exit programs. Bhagwan or Hare Krishna play almost no role today, thanks to the Enlightenment.

Jurgen Schofer, Ph.D.,
Manila,
Philippines




PM2.5 in Chiang Mai is not good
Whether it causes cancer or not
The Southeast Asian Times Sunday April 21, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Wednesday April 17, 2024

Re: "Three more areas on disaster list", in Bangkok Post, Monday April 8, 2024.
This article on Chiang Mai's air quality left me scratching my head.
The second-to-last paragraph quoted a renowned doctor as saying there is "no clear evidence" that PM2.5 is a "main cause" of lung cancer.
Then the last paragraph had the same doctor saying PM2.5 particles cause free radicals and inflammation "and it is this process that leads to cancer."
So what can be concluded from this apparently conflicting information?
That PM2.5 may be a main cause of lung cancer but there is no clear evidence proving that?
That it has been proven that PM2.5 is a contributory factor to lung cancer, though not the main cause?
That PM2.5 contributes to other cancers but not lung cancer?
Let's face it: PM2.5 is not good for one, whether it causes cancer or not.
As I continue scratching my head with one hand, I am donning my mask with the other.

Klongurchin,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Hard-working overseas Filipino workers
Turning into working poor of New Zealand
The Southeast Asian Times Saturday April 20, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday April 18, 2024

Nearly four months after hundreds of Filipino workers lost jobs when labor hire giant ELE workforce went into receivership, our worst fear is happening now: Every week, dozens of Filipino workers are seeking assistance to avail of emergency financial aid from the Philippine government.
Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand has been calling on the Philippine and New Zealand governments to avoid another ELE mess but it seems that they just allow labor hire and recruitment agencies to keep spreading false promises of jobs in New Zealand and elsewhere.
Philippines President Marcos and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon can do better to ensure Filipinos in New Zealand will not be out of work and left in limbo.
With Luxon set to meet Mr. Marcos, they should be talking more about their state responsibility to investigate and stop the labor hire practice of recruiting hundreds of Filipino laborers that results in an oversupply of labor and leaving the Filipinos in insecure jobs and below 40 guaranteed hours.
Hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in New Zealand are voicing their concerns about widespread redundancies, limited working hours (often 30 hours or less), and the resulting struggle to make ends meet. Despite coming to New Zealand for work opportunities, many find themselves facing financial hardship due to the low guaranteed hours and insufficient work provided by labor-hire companies.
These challenges are turning hard-working OFWs into the working poor of New Zealand.
We have seen the extreme hardships of displaced ELE workers and many others in similar situations. Migrante Aotearoa reiterates the call for Mr. Marcos to immediately instruct the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and all relevant agencies to fast-track the release of emergency aid for the families of displaced OFWs in New Zealand and all our distressed compatriots around the world.

Mikee Santos,
chair,
Migrante Aotearoa New Zealand
,
Philippines





Not all tourists in Thailand
Are there to sunbathe
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday April 19, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday April 8, 2024

Re: "Phuket court responds to surge in tourist-related cases", in Bangkok Post, Thursday April 4, 2024.
I well remember the first time I read, while relaxing in Phuket, of the Tourism Authority of Thailan (TAT) and government's desire to attract "better quality tourists".
I was lunching in an idyllic laid-back tree-shaded beach restaurant on the paradise island that was Phuket some 30 years ago.
Like everyone from that era, I've watched how the desire for "better quality tourists" has changed the "Pearl of the Andaman" into the "Costa del Crime" of the East or as it's more generally known: "Little Moscow".
The search for better quality tourists has, in recent times, focused on package tourists from New Delhi and Wuhan and long-stay tourists soon-to-be residents with the VIP bonus of a 90-day visa on entry to smoke-filled oligarch meetings and mafia dens of Russia.
Apparently, it has come as a shock that thousands of Chinese have not been staying in Thailand for the sunbathing, but to set up scam centres and indulge in other crimes.
Murder, kidnapping, extortion, fraud and illegal businesses are regular news items in the Phuket press. This island was once raunchy but relaxing, but is now corrupt, greedy and manic.

Chang Louie.
Bangkok,
Thailand





Tsunami warning in Northern Cagayan, Philippines
Followed earthquake in Taiwan
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday April 18, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Wednesday April 10, 2024

Last April 3, some of my provincemates from Northern Cagayan came across a tsunami warning issued by the Phiippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on social media following an earthquake in Taiwan.
This advisory caused widespread concern among the public, as the threat of tsunamis is always accompanied by the potential for significant destruction and loss of life.
As a natural reaction, parents, concerned for the safety of their children, immediately went to fetch them from schools without waiting for instructions from the school and government authorities.
Some even took it upon themselves to leave their homes and head to higher ground, while workers abandoned their public and private offices without hesitation.
This level of proactivity displayed by the public is commendable, as it shows a sense of responsibility and awareness of the potential dangers posed by natural disasters like the Taiwan earthquake.
However, amid these commendable actions, there were concerns raised about the lack of clear protocols and guidelines in place for such situations.
One friend expressed her worry about the delay in coordinating efforts between municipal and barangay disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) councils, highlighting the importance of having predetermined protocols for the public to follow during emergencies.
It is crucial to have established protocols and guidelines in place to ensure that everyone knows what to do during a disaster.
This can help minimize confusion, prevent panic, and ultimately save lives.
By having a clear set of instructions on where to go, what to bring, and how to stay safe during a tsunami threat, people can act quickly and decisively without needing to wait for the municipal and barangay DRRM councils to meet and rely solely on their official advisories.
Let us engage in regular drills and exercises to supplement our preparedness.
The public must become familiar with these protocols to ensure readiness for any situation.
Just as fire drills are practiced in schools and workplaces, it is just as important to conduct exercises for natural disasters like tsunamis.
By educating and training our people on emergency procedures, we can empower them to act swiftly and protect themselves and their families.
The uncoordinated response to the tsunami advisory serves as a reminder of the necessity to be prepared and proactive during crises.
While social media serves as a valuable tool for disseminating information and providing guidance, there is still a need for clear protocols and regular drills to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively in emergencies.
Let us not wait for a crisis to strike before taking action. Instead, let us be proactive, prepared, and united in our efforts to safeguard our communities and prioritize our safety and well-being.

Reginald B. Tamayo,
Manila,
Philippines





Simple action of registration of motorcycle
Is 200k away from Chiang Mai
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday April 17, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday April 4, 2024

Re: "The next two-wheel revolution", in Bangkok Post , Business, Wednesday March 6, 2014.
What is it with the Dept of Land Transport (DLT) that they take the simple action of registering a motorcycle and make it difficult?
Chiang Mai may be a big province, but we're well into the computer age, though sometimes you'd never know it.
From my home, it's 40km to the Fang Dept of Land Transport (DLT) but for certain actions, such as registering a bike coming from another province, you are required to go 200km to the main office.
And it gets worse.
My old bike was registered in my son's name in Chiang Mai eight years ago and has just been bought by a neighbour who seldom leaves the district but needs transport to deliver some food supplies.
My wife inquired about what was needed, and we were staggered to find that Fang district is now considered different to Chiang Mai, and the bike and documents would need to be presented at the city's main office to change ownership.
The new owner will never ride a motorbike 200km on roads he has never travelled on, and we can't do it for him.
Being way out in the hills, we don't have agents who do these tasks for a fee, so it's most likely we will all be breaking the law by not fulfilling these silly tasks, and the bike will never have insurance or the tax paid.
When will these people ever enter the 21st century?

Lungstib,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Rumors of 3-day darkness in Surigao del Norte
Example of lack of scientific literacy
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday April 16, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday April 11, 2024

I found the story, “Rumors of 3-day darkness sent people buying rice in Surigao del Norte,” by Chris Panganiban, April 8, 2024, relevant.
It is a striking example of a far darker problem in our society: the widespread lack of scientific literacy.
It is quite worrisome to see people simply give up on critical thinking when confronted with such an absurd assertion.
It is not for us to assign blame to the terrified locals.
When one lacks information, fear is a normal human reaction.
The system is to blame for not providing them with the necessary resources to safely traverse the dangerous waters of internet knowledge.
We are submerged in a sea of false information, and even the most well-meaning people might be carried away in the absence of scientific knowledge, which serves as a life preserver.
This is also a reminder that in education, a paradigm change is needed.
Science shouldn’t be just a boring list of facts to commit to memory.
Inquiry, critical thinking, and knowledge assessment should be ingrained in daily life.
Children need to be trained to read critically about the scientific environment in which they live, just as we educate them to read.
But knowledge on its own is insufficient.
It is the duty of organizations like the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration to convey difficult scientific ideas in a simple and understandable manner.
They must gain the public’s trust by becoming dependable information pillars amid a deluge of exaggerated claims.
Social media sites must also do more to combat disinformation, which spreads like a disease.
Stricter moderation and fact-checking procedures are essential to stop the spread of lies.
But ultimately, each of us must take responsibility for the other.
We need to develop a healthy distrust of internet sources of information.
Don’t use fear as your sole guide.
Take a minute when you share that frightening headline because of a popular post. Obtain confirmation from reliable sources.
Though it wasn’t the end of the world, the “three-day darkness” story is a serious warning.
May this be the moment of change.
Let’s make investments in science education, equip individuals with media literacy, and work together to drive out disinformation with reason.

Lemuel L. Barola,
Surigao City,
Surigao del Norte
Philippines




Philippines on the right side of the conflict
With China in the West Philippine Sea
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday April 15, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday April 9, 2024

In the West Philippines Sea (WPS) conflict, China brazenly usurps Ayungin Shoal through a display of military might, despite the 2016 arbitral ruling that favors the Philippines’ claim.
How has it become so emboldened as to defy the arbitral ruling and throw blatant accusation at our former presidents, while demanding that we abandon our claim over the shoal?
If this is canard spun by China and its paid media trolls here, both former presidents should vehemently deny it.
That former presidential spokespersons recall no such verbal commitment but only lame casual accounts, without categorical statements from both former presidents Joseph Estrada and Rodrigo Duterte, leave doubt on its veracity.
The commitment of a leader is a sterling and reliable virtue, whether written or spoken.
I remember in grade school what I thought Americans were like through the image of a military officer, sporting dark glasses under the blazing Philippine sun, with a Pershing cap on who waded ashore in Leyte to fulfill a commitment, a promise, to return.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur was forced to abandon the Philippines in 1941, and dejectedly left behind 90,000 American and Filipino troops in Corregidor on the Bataan Peninsula.
Besieged and overpowered by the Japanese army, their spirits were buoyed by Macarthur’s parting words: “I shall return.”
On October 20, 1944, after Japan capitulated, General MacArthur triumphantly reached Philippine shores with his troops and declared: “People of the Philippines, I have returned.”
What impresses us most about the general’s leadership was his strong sense of commitment that he put above self-interest.
In the West Philippines Sea (WPS) conflict against China, we are on the right side; the territorial waters are within the UN-defined 200-mile exclusive economic zone, and they’re ours.
People expect our national leaders, past and present and across political lines, to show the same strong commitment to uphold our national interest and self-respect as an independent nation against a bully.

Marvel K. Tan,
Manila,
Philippines




Indonesia supports Palestinian human rights
But denies West Papuans their human rights
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday April 14, 2024

Vanuatu Daily Post newspaper has demonstrated bold journalism with its criticism of Indonesia’s contradictory stance in supporting the human rights of the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza on the one hand and denying the human rights of the West Papuans on the other hand ( VDP 4/4/24 ).
The Indonesian government’s response that it has not colonised West Papua is a self serving appraisal. Indonesia cannot be the judge of its own case.
There needs to be an independent authoritative determination on the question of West Papua’s struggle for sovereignty and the right to live as a free people and not under the yoke of Indonesian colonialism which is the prevailing perception among the West Papuans.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia




The Move Forward Party seeks
What King Bhumibol wanted
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday April 13, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday April 1, 2024

Re: "Don't shift the blame", in Bangkok Post, March 23, 2024 and "MFP still wants S112 offences included in amnesty", Bangkok Post, February 6, 2024
Khun Vint Chavala asks "Knowing that to amend the Section 112 law is unlawful, why did the Move Forward Party (MFP) leaders try to mislead their junior members and the public to break it?"
I suggest that Move Forward Party (MFP) recognises our beloved national father as our outstanding expert on protecting the monarchy and seeks to follow his advice.
Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, a former national police chief, noted that Section 112 was amended in 1997, and emphasised that when he was top cop, "the royal institution instructed against the inappropriate use of Section 112, as it could lead to harassment under the pretext of protecting the royal institution".
So, there's precedent for amending S112, and we should, for Thailand's law of lèse-majesté has one prominent critic: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.
In 2005, King Bhumibol used his televised birthday address to note that the King is a human being and as such should be subject to criticism; that charges against those accused of lèse-majesté should be dropped, and those held in jail for lèse-majesté should be released; and the use of the lèse-majesté law ultimately damages the monarchy.
What the Move Forward Party (MFP) seeks seems to be what His Majesty King Bhumibol wanted. Move Forward Party (MFP) wanted to use democratic means to implement changes to Section 112, which channels our father's desires to protect the highest institution.
Shouldn't they be encouraged?

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand




China Coast Guard uses water cannons
On Philippine boats underway to Ayungin Shoal
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday April 12, 2024
First published in the philippine Inquirer, Wednesday April 3, 2024

For the ninth time, the China Coast Guard (CCG) used water cannons on a Philippine boat going to Ayungin Shoal to supply the needs of our personnel manning the BRP Sierra Madre, our long-lived outpost which conforms to our exclusive economic zone boundary.
Our response to all these provocations, harassment, and aggressions is to lodge diplomatic protests emphasizing that the China Coast Guard (CCG) injured our men and caused damage to our boats.
Why not provide our supply boat with escort ships equipped with water cannons?

Aeric P. Bernardino,
Manila,
Philippines





It is no fluke that Vietnamese students do better in reading
Science and mathematics than Filipino students
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday April 11, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday April 5, 2024

The gulf between the education systems of Vietnam and the Philippines is starkest in the lopsided performances of their students in reading literacy.
In the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics, 82 percent of Vietnamese Grade 5 pupils reached the highest reading proficiency band versus 10 percent for the Philippines.
In the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), 77 percent of their students attained the minimum reading proficiency level against our 24 percent.
The wide gap in the reading proficiency of the students of the two countries is hardly surprising because Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) endeavors to make learners read in Grade 1.
The article in the PubMed Central website states: “According to the benchmarks outlined by the Ministry of Education and Training in Vietnam, children by the end of first grade are expected to recognize all letters and rimes and to read aloud at a rate of 40-50 words per minute with appropriate phrasing, to answer basic comprehension questions, summarize the main idea and details of a story, and identify key features such as dialogue and characters’ actions.
Based on Vietnam’s pre-COVID-19 learning poverty rate of 2 percent and its impressive reading literacy performance in international assessments, the MOET is meeting the target.
On the other hand, apart from setting the target for all learners to be readers to Grade 3 which is two years later than Vietnam’s standard, the DepEd blatantly disregards its grade level reading standards, inviting this unprecedented reading crisis.
In a desperate bid to address the crisis, in what could be a first in the world, DepEd just set aside half a day each week for Grades 1-12 learners to read.
Thus the recent study tour of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom II), the body tasked to assess Philippine education and recommend needed reforms thereto, in Vietnam could have been a golden opportunity to learn the secrets to competitive reading literacy.
Alas for the country, however, benchmarking on reading literacy was not in the declared purpose of the trip which was to “look at the areas of improving access, equity, and opportunity among learners; attracting and supporting qualified teachers; strategic use of its assessments; and its effective governance and ‘efficient financing’ of education.”
Apparently, EdCom II does not yet realize that it is no fluke that Vietnamese students do not only do well in reading but also in science and mathematics while Filipino students are miserable failures in all three domains. EdCom II does not yet accept the 2002 finding of the Pisa that there is a very strong correlation between reading competence and academic performance.
In 2022 Pisa, among the Top 15 countries in reading, only two countries were not in the Top 15 overall.
Among local regions, the Top 5 in reading namely National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region IVA, Region XI, and Region III also formed the Top 5 overall.
On the other end, Region IX, Caraga, and Region XII which were Bottom 3 in reading literacy and overall standings in 2018 repeated the performance in 2022.
The Pisa data and the contrasting basic education experience of Vietnam and the Philippines show that the latter can never kick off its education recovery unless it could make all its learners read starting in Grade 1 like the former does.

Estanislao C. Albano Jr.,
Manila,
Philippines





Filipinos are more vulnerable to cults
They tend to be very trusting and gullible

The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday April 10, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Monday April 8, 2024

Recent and widespread media coverage of probes into criminal suits alleging human rights abuses brought by individuals against a pastor and his cohorts has triggered a great deal of discourse unraveling the complexities of the cult phenomenon.
In this context, but without delving into the truth of the cult’s beliefs and practices, analysis and explanation of the many issues involved might contribute to better informing the discourse.
In addition, exploring the socio-psychological factors that induced some people to join cults and eventually adopt radically novel beliefs and practices might help.
Amid the cacophony of voices, some questions need to be asked about the cult phenomenon:
How did cult members become entangled with them and adopt behaviors they never otherwise would?
Are only crazy, stupid, needy people joining cults?
What factors contribute to their joining or refusing to leave despite threats to their well-being?
I turned to the literature on the social psychology of cults to understand the cult members, hoping to find some answers and insights on how to help us deal with it.
First, one of social psychology’s big lessons is that attitudes follow behavior (D.G. Myers, 1994:83).
People, Myers observed, usually internalize commitments done voluntarily, publicly, and repeatedly.
Perhaps knowing that people tend to act themselves in a way of thinking, recruiters of cults waste no time shaping their recruits into active members.
Eventually, the activities become more demandin, leaving their families, soliciting donations, tithing, and proselytizing.
Such behaviors further strengthen and deepen their commitment, making it much easier not to look back to their past.
Second, the commitment is induced by a persuasion strategy called the foot-in-the-door principle.
Potential recruits are invited to gatherings and stay-in weekends of warm fellowship and indoctrination on the cult’s beliefs and disciplines.
The recruiters encouraged potential converts to join in prayers, bible studies, songs, dances, and games during the encounters.
Once the recruiters identified qualified converts, they urged them to sign up for more extended training programs.
Third, social psychologists also made sense of the cult’s power to persuade in terms of three factors: who communicator said what the message and to whom the audience.
Successful cults have a charismatic leader who attracts and directs the members. Myers noted that sometimes, all it takes to persuade an unsuspecting individual is a credible communicator, perceived as expert and trustworthy.
There is a high chance that family members, relatives, and friends whom they trust have played a vital role in the recruitment of many cult members. In this respect, we wonder whether Filipinos are more vulnerable to cults because they tend to be very trusting and gullible.
The message also plays a crucial part in the recruitment process.
To lonely and insecure people, those who need belonging and acceptance, the vivid, emotional messages and the warm welcome with which the cult showers them can be irresistibly appealing.
The message is simple: “Trust the master and join us; we have the answers to all your needs and problems.”
For good measure, the message is delivered intensely and intensively for long periods, with testimonial support from previous converts.
In this light, mainstream churches have their work cut out for them.
There is a need to listen well to victim-survivors who might need a platform where they can share their traumatic experiences without judgment.
They can offer counseling and emotional support to them in rebuilding their lives. They can also raise awareness about the dangers of cults and educate their members about the tactics used by cults to lure and recruit them.
They can also collaborate with government agencies and nongovernmental organizations specializing in cult awareness and victim support.

Noel G. Asiones,
Manila,a
Philippines






392 negative votes and seven approvals
For dissolution of Move Forward Party
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday April 9, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday April 5, 2024

Re: "Court accepts petition for dissolution of Move Forward Party", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday April 3, 2024
As a guest of the kingdom for the past 28 years, I enjoy reading your publication.
I refer to the news item of today's date, headlined "Court accepts petition for dissolution of Move Forward Party".
This is one of the most critical political issues facing Thailand right now.
I concede that it is a factual and not an opinion piece.
Why would you deem it necessary not to allow for a public forum?
At the time of writing, there are 392 negative votes and seven approvals.
One would think that makes it a topic worth prompting a debate.
Surely that is part of your responsibility to your readers?

Don McMahon,
Bangkok,
Thailand




United Nations member states are encouraged to recognise
The expansive impact of the care economy
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday April 8, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday April 5, 2024

Re: "Gender gaps in politics and business", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Saturday March 30, 2024.
Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn's article warrants significant global attention.
In line with recent United Nations recommendations, all governments are called upon to prioritise addressing care needs across the lifespan and ensuring universal access to paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave, as well as social protection for all workers, irrespective of their employment status.
Member states are encouraged to recognise the expansive impact of the care economy.
This includes boosting labour participation, facilitating the shift from informal to formal employment, and establishing decent working conditions.
Crucially, according to the United Nations, there is a pressing need to invest in family-centric strategies and programmes that foster robust intergenerational connections.
Initiatives such as promoting intergenerational living arrangements, offering parenting education, and providing support for grandparents, particularly those serving as primary caregivers, are essential.
All of these efforts aim to cultivate inclusive urbanisation, promote active and healthy ageing, and nurture intergenerational solidarity. They will also bolster social cohesion.

Ioan Voicu,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Call for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
To extend the skywalk
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday April 7, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday April 1, 2024

I would like to thank the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA ) for the increase in green space all over the city, with beautiful parks that are well maintained at all times.
I also would like to extend my gratitude for skywalks around the city, which make walks more enjoyable, allowing pedestrians to get a better view of the city and the cool breeze, as I have experienced many times before entering the city's malls.
Can the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) now extend the skywalk from Phrom Phong station to Phloen Chit station, so people can walk from Emporium all the way to Siam station, Platinum and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (MBK) malls?
That would be a wonderful way to keep tourists happy.

Liloo Jiwatram,
Bangkok,
Thailand





To arrive at a conclusion such as ''drag is sacred''
Is a great leap of logic
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday April 6, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday April 4, 2024

A Facebook post by a certain Rev. Joseph San Jose of the “progressive” Metropolitan Community Church has been making the rounds on social media.
San Jose argues that Holy Week is nothing more but a drag festival.
He likens Christian liturgical expressions and the tradition of adorning “santos,” with their often elaborate vestments, as drag.
In his post, San Jose also appropriates religious terminology such as “incarnate” and “sacred” to contextualize drag within Christianity.
However, the roots of Christian sacred art predate drag by millennia, with some of the oldest Christian sculptures dating back to the second century.
On the other hand, the santero culture, to which San Jose also refers, traces its origins to the colonial era in the Philippines, with the earliest recorded instance being the Santo Niño brought by Magellan in 1521.
Holy Week processions and dramas also have roots in the 15th century.
The origins of drag are less clear.
While some historians point to instances in ancient Greek and Roman theater where men portrayed female characters due to restrictions on women onstage, these instances seem incidental to the essence of drag itself.
The term “drag” has been used since the 12th century, but its contemporary meaning, referring to dressing up and performing as another gender, is more recent, emerging in the 1860s, with the first drag competition recorded in 1867.
Rafael Japón, in his article “Holy Week and the Theater of Art: Sculpture, Retables, and the Spanish Baroque Aesthetic,” explores how social and political changes in the 16th century influenced visual culture, particularly among Catholics. The realism depicted in Spanish art during Holy Week processions served not only as a tool during the counter-reformation but also aimed to instruct the faithful about the transcendental mysteries of the Christian faith.
While a case can be made against the flamboyance of some of the images, the artworks are meant to convey the sacred to make visible what cannot be seen.
The processions, on the other hand, persist in contemporary Filipino religiosity because they are seen, not as mere performances or sources of entertainment, but as a contemplation of the history of salvation that has managed and continues to overcome scandals, heresies, and blasphemies.
San Jose also seems to imply that custodians of the santos could be anything other than gay, given it requires “dressing up” the images.
For a so-called “progressive church,” he seems more intent on perpetuating gender stereotypes.
Moreover, San Jose’s reductive reading relegates Christianity to one, big costume party.
While Christianity has always been countercultural, that is, it has always gone against the grain of social norms, to conflate this nonconformist characteristic of Christianity with drag, which belongs to a disparate historical period and persuasion, is to ignore entire histories of martyrdom and sanctity that have marked the lives of great men and women that have contributed to, among other things, civilization from East to West.
The problem of a reductive point of view is that it cherrypicks and fails to account for contradictions.
It’s like looking at the world after Sigmund Freud where everything is sex and the fault of the father, or after various feminisms where everything is a woman’s issue or the failure of men, or after Jacques Derrida where everything is a text and therefore, open-ended and unstable.
To arrive at a conclusion such as “drag is sacred” is a great leap of logic, as it simplistically explains and glosses over what are, in fact, oppositional in origins and futures.

Francis Harvey de Leon,
Manila,
Philippines





The pursuit of gender equality to include
Protection of men in LGBT relationships
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday April 5, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Wednesday April 3, 2024

Sad to say, the pursuit of gender equality in our country is still a work in progress. UNICEF says gender equality “means that women and men, and girls and boys, enjoy the same rights, resources, opportunities, and protections.”
In reality, “domestic violence knows no gender.”
Earlier, several legislators in the Senate and the House of Representatives have filed separate bills regarding anti-domestic violence against men/husbands/partners in LGBT relationships but to no avail.
Our lawmakers are somehow lackadaisical in supporting the enactment of laws in this regard allegedly since there are no conclusive data regarding abuses perpetrated by women/wives against their husbands based on the survey initiated by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Seemingly, the survey format is just focusing on physical and/or verbal abuse but not considering the other forms of psychological/mental violence, economic, and sexual abuse.
Hence, the emergence of limited data in this regard.
Since there is still no special law protecting men in LGBT relationships, an abused man who files a complaint case of domestic violence or abuse against his partner, despite the supporting medical certificate of contusions signs of physical abuse, etc., in barangay police desk, fiscal office, court since said agency, if woman is able to also show some marks of contusion in her wrists, etc. could easily overturn said complaint in favor of the woman per Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004.
However, various cases filed in family courts seem to reveal instances arising, among others, from domestic violence allegedly initiated by either partner that affects marriage and family unity, relations.
To level up the playing field, there is a need for a law to protect men in LGBT relationships from cases of domestic violence perpetrated by their partners.
It is only when a counterpart law aimed to protect the men in LGBT relationships is enacted that we can say, among others, that gender equality is already present in our society.

Emiliano M. Manahan Jr.,
Manila,
Philippines




Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin term
Is not dependant on Thai's
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday April 4, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday April 1, 2024

Re: "Smarter than you think", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Sunday March 33,
2024.
I'd like to support Yingwai Suchaovanich's wishes that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin might complete his four-year term.
It is not only because of his seven months of incessant overseas visits to market Thailand abroad and the ability to untie the knot that besets the Royal Thai Police, but also his towering height and fluency in English that do not cause one to cringe.
However, despite having a successful CEO for a leading public company managing our nation for the first time, there are still concerns surrounding his longevity.
His term is not dependent on most Thais, but on his party members and the de facto leader.
One can only hope that the excellent manoeuvrability he showed in his former business would be enough for him to survive Thailand's traditional politics.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Democracy is about governance by laws
Not people
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday April 3, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Pos,t Friday March 29, 2024

Re: "Fueling opposition" and "Voter intelligence" in Bangkok Post PostBag, Friday March 26, 2024
If Buddhism was established in Thailand centuries ago, Thailand would be the perfect democracy.
Buddhism teaches unenhanced self-assessment and awareness of reality.
Were people aware of their true selves and the truth of what is, they would not be swayed by falseness and propaganda.
Reading both letters of David Brown and Felix Qui once again shows there is little understanding of democracy.
Democracy is about governance by laws, not people.
Democracy is not the right to vote.
The paramount law is the constitution, which states that the monarchy, since 1932, has been constitutional and the apolitical head of state.
The lese majeste law is perfectly democratic.
An attack on the monarchy is an attack on the constitution and, thereby, an attack on democracy.
In 1932, when the monarchy changed from being absolute to constitutional, people were given the right to vote for their lawmakers; universal suffrage was established. However, the basic principle of democracy, the rule of law, was not established. This gave Thaksin carte blanche to do as he wished, relying only on gaining votes, and he proved very successful at winning votes.
Until democracy is understood by the electorate, it will not exist.
The electorate must understand the constitution and the laws for which they are voting.
The electorate must judge those for whom they are voting into office.
They must ensure they are voting for democracy and not against democracy.
It is democracy alone that establishes universal suffrage.
The only truly democratic voter is one who learns and understands themselves and for what he/she is voting.
Above all, their vote must be for democracy; otherwise, democracy will cease to exist.

J C Wilcox,
Bangkok,
Thailand



Philippines Senate seeks to revise
Animal Welfare Act
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday April 2, 2024
First published in the Philippines Inquirer, Tuesday March 26, 2024

On March 19, I had the opportunity to witness in person Sen. Grace Poe’s privilege speech on Senate Bill No. 2458 which “seeks a revised Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to strengthen animal welfare standards, policies, rules and regulations, implementation and enforcement as well as provide tougher penalties to violators.”
The session hall was packed with fellow animal welfare advocates and some popular AWA groups like Animal Kingdom Foundation which initiated the invitation to other AWA groups like ours.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri commented that it was the first time that “animals of the four-legged kind” were allowed in the session halls of the Senate, drawing hearty laughter from the audience.
He said that seeing his wife Audrey with their dog inside the session hall brought his blood pressure down, again drawing a hearty response.
Poe gave a 30-minute privilege speech which hopefully will progress.
This was followed by valid points raised by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
As a solo rescuer and member of a low-key Animal Welfare Act (AWA) group, Save Animals of Love and Light, our hopes are boosted once again as efforts on the amendments to the landmark Animal Welfare Act of 1998 Republic Act No. 8485 are spotlighted.
On the ground, it takes mental strength to take in the abuses and cruelty to animals, the abandonment of newborn kittens particularly on busy streets where they are sure to be run over, hoarding of pets, puppy mills, dog meat trading, and other chest-pain triggers.
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) of 1998 has weak fangs thus the amendments up to the present.
My wish list is as follows:
Cooperation from the local government units;
A more regular spay-neuter program in each barangay to curb the overpopulation of cats and dogs (that are subsequently abandoned or sacked);
Higher penalties for AW offenders especially those who shoot and kill animals with impunity;
And most important of all, education and more awareness on responsible pet ownership and animal treatment provided to all citizens. I see kids maltreating kittens.
Maybe they see adults doing the same.
A subject on humane animal treatment should be included in the school curriculum of elementary students.
Start them young, mold them young as they say.

Pamela Claveria, M.D.,
Manila,
Philippines




Thailand's Les Majeste Law
Does not align with democratic principles
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday April, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 29, 2024

Re: "Voter intelligence", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Tuesday March 26, 2024.
Felix Qui wrote: "The root problem with the lese majeste law is it does not align with democratic principles."
I agree with his reasoning.
No laws are perfect.
However, there is a way to remedy this by changing the law through the proper constitutional process.
To start, the Move Forward Party (MFP) should have gathered support from a majority in parliament.
If successful, the process will proceed to a nationwide referendum and a change of law by parliament, as per the constitution.
As it has been, the Move Forward Party (MFP) did not only abandon proper legal proceedings, but has been encouraging people to break the law and when caught, accused its critics of "foul play and intimidation!"
Hence, it was the Move Forward Party's (MFP's) action that did not align with democratic principles.

Vint Chavala,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Apollo Quiboloy spared from accountability
By his friends in the Philippine senate
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday March 31, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday March 28, 2024

Senators Robinhood Padilla, Bong Go, Cynthia Villar, and Imee Marcos seek to spare Apollo Quiboloy from accountability for his crimes.
By blatantly undermining a long-honored legislative process, they betray their fake understanding of its value to the jobs they were elected to perform.
Not much substance can be expected of amateur senators like Padilla but what about Villar?
She beats Padilla in the brazenness of her misplaced sympathy for Quiboloy.
She said Quiboloy is good to her family so he couldn’t possibly do bad to others.
If Villar honestly believes with all her heart and soul that Quiboloy is innocent, she should have pushed for an investigation if only to prove that his accusers are liars.
This is what should be done out of loving concern for a friend unless she is wary of ugly truths that might uncovered.

Fernando Garcia,
Manila,
Philippines




Earth Trusteeship aims to transcend
Historic ownership contradictions
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday March 30, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 22, 2024

Re: "It's ideal thinking", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Friday March 22, 2024
It's kind of Michael Setter to characterise my world as a "spiritual one".
Indeed, secular spirituality is not outlandish but an inherent capability of everyone. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises it, in addition to physical, mental and social health, as spiritual health.
An example is the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Conscious Food System Alliance (CoFSA) enabling system transformation open to "food spirit".
That is, the spirit of sharing and food as a "commons".
Earth Trusteeship is a new concept which aims to transcend historic ownership contradictions that hinder regeneration.
The foundation for this governance paradigm is provided by the Earth Charter (The Hague, 2000) as "community of life" which includes all sentient beings.
It refers to the Rights of Nature.
This is 21st-century law and governance innovation in progress.
A challenging perspective will be added once a United Nations Special Envoy for Future Generations is appointed, a planned outcome of the United Nations Summit of the Future to take place in New York in September 2024.
This innovation will add new perspective to the category "secular spirituality" and restoration of the local and global environment to tackle climate change.
Future generations are unborn and infinite, so they are not determined by national citizenship, race, seniority or gender.
In Thailand, even when they are already born, and peacefully assemble as a political party or manifest as a democratically elected majority, they are wiped from the political landscape.

Hans van Willenswaard,
Bangkok,
Thailand





To resist the evolution of the Thai language
Is short-sighted
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday March 29, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday March 21, 2024

Re: PostBag, "Literacy hurdles", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Thursday March 5, 2024.
F oreigners and others have been discussing the advisability of simplifying the Thai language.
As a non-speaker, I don't understand its intricacies, but to resist its evolution is short-sighted.
English is perhaps the nearest we have to a common language and it changes constantly and always has.
Woke, Google, umami, and crypto-currencies were not words our parents would have recognised.
If we were sitting in the Globe Theatre 400 years ago, we would have understood precious little of Shakespeare's plays.
Education is the important thing, not conservation.

Phil Cox,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Millions participated in annual Earth Hour
On March 23, 2024
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday March 28, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday March 25, 2024

Earth Hour has passed.
Did you switch off nonessential lights?
If yes, that’s great!
While millions have participated in the annual Earth Hour activity, which took place this year on March 23 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., many argued that switching off lights for an hour or Earth Hour itself does not significantly help and is no longer relevant.
That is saddening.
However, it is imperative to recognize that switching off lights for an hour is a global movement to benefit the environment and the future.
Moreover, there are actually a myriad of actions as well as counterparts for Earth Hour that individuals can take to contribute to a more sustainable environment, such as reducing energy consumption overall, advocating for and supporting conservation efforts alike, joining clean-up drives, and spreading environmental education.
While Earth Hour has passed, it is not passé.

Jhon Steven C. Espenido,
Surigao City,
Philippines




There are many solid or reputable companies
In Thailand worthy of responsible investing
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday March 27, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Wednesday March 20, 2024

Re: "SEC urges trading probe", in Bangkok Post Business, Friday November 27, 2023 and "Regulator to ban Thais from trading NVDRs", in Bangkok Post Business, FridayNovember 24, 2023.
Authorities just do not seem to realise that most rational individual retail investors in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) seek out quality growth companies with low valuations which are likely expanding, hence the very ones that may issue new warrants, a key financial tool.
Not this trading galore around overvalued speculative stocks, often based only on rumours or punting, which invariably leads to a losing retail investor experience. And once burned, they won't return.
Perhaps they will even badmouth the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) for life, even though their losses are a result of a speculative strategy so often encouraged by inept brokers.
This is a contentious issue well-known and often frowned upon in the United States, which has almost a century of experience in such ill over-trading, with serious fines meted out to brokers who break the rules.
What is sad is that there are many solid or reputable companies here worthy of responsible investing.
But alas they are mostly ignored due to the poor but well-disguised practices of brokers, left unchecked by management and regulatory agencies.

Paul A Renaud,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Call for Thailand's Anti-Money Laundering Office
To investigate California WOW fitness outlet
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday March 26, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 22, 2024

Four years ago, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), in one of their rare communications with us, said they were getting a court order to pay us the claims filed against California WOW, a former popular fitness outlet that closed down. Members who had paid in advance sued to get their money back.
The lawsuit came in 2016 after Amlo in January froze 88 million baht of Cawow's assets, accusing its executives of cheating members and siphoning huge amounts of money from the company.
Since our last contact from Amlo four years ago, we have not heard a word from them, let alone received our court-ordered judgment payment.
The only response is from their pet bot who responds weeks later saying it is being turned over to an unnamed person who will never do anything.
So, in my opinion, the Office of Attorney General should start an investigation into Amlo and determine where our money is.
It is also my opinion that Amlo is guilty of malfeasance since they admitted they were getting an order to pay us money awarded by the court.
The public prosecutor should look into the allegations.
And finally, it is my opinion that Amlo not only owes us the judgement amount, but also 7.2 percent interest calculated in a yearly basis until we get paid.
I wonder if Amlo will respond to this?
Probably not.

You Know Who,
Bangkok,
Thailand






Royal Thai Armed Forces produce result
At odds with election result
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday March 25, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday March 21, 2024

Re: "Pita power", Bangkok Post, PostBag, Wednesday March 20, 2024.
Like many foreigners here, I was amazed to see the legacy of the past military rule having such a devastating effect on the recent election.
The very people who received a minuscule amount of the popular vote have managed to produce a result completely at odds with the election result.
Worse still is the fact that it's not stopped, and selected courts are now ensuring that a popular choice of the electorate will no longer be available.
Unlike Vint Chavala, who appears to applaud this outcome, I feel sure the majority of Thais know exactly what has taken place and who is responsible.

Lungstib,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Chiang Mai not declared a disaster zone
Despite dangerous levels of air pollution
The Southeast Asian Times. Sunday March 24, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday March 20, 2024

Re: ''Disaster zone label will hurt tourism", in Bangkok Post, Tuesday March 19, 2024.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's admission that he decided not to declare Chiang Mai a disaster zone because it might hurt the province's tourism industry demonstrates monumental and shameful duplicity.
Chiang Mai currently has dangerous levels of air pollution, some of the highest in the world. But PM Srettha prefers to risk the health of tourists so Thailand can continue to collect their tourist dollars.
How does he think those tourists are going to react when they have to breathe filthy air and fall ill with respiratory diseases?
Not to worry, says Prime Minister Srettha, because we have not declared Chiang Mai a disaster zone, the tourists' insurance policies will not be affected!
It is frightening that this is the thinking of the man in charge of the country.

David Brown,
Bangkok,
Thailand


 

Flood of Myanmar youths to Thailand is opportunity
To show that Thailand deserves seat on UNHRC
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday March 23, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Tuesday March 5, 2024

Re: "Seminar on Myanmar opens as junta objects", in Bangkok Post, Sunday March 3, 2024.
The impending flood of Myanmar youths and professionals fleeing the Tatmadaw draft gives Thailand a major opportunity to show the world that we deserve the United Nations Human Rights Council seat that we're striving for.
Instead of confining these refugees to camps, we should add Myanmar to the list of visa-optional countries that now send us 80 percent of our tourists and help them find jobs that jump-start our productivity, including an acculturation programme to ease them into our labour force.
We should also offer them a merit-based path to citizenship so that they can help us grow for decades.
At the same time, we should offer Thais subsidised training and products like high-yield seeds and agricultural machines to accelerate productivity.
These steps will lead to win-win results both for the Myanmar people and Thailand. By being innovative and acting fully in line with humanitarian principles, we will significantly lessen doubts about our qualifications for the prestigious Human Rights Council seat that we seek.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand



Pita Limjaroenrat has not indicated regrets
To amend Lese Majeste Law
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday March 22, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Wednesday March 20, 2024

Re: "Pita says Move Forward preparing to battle Election Commission", in Bangkok Post, Sunday March 17, 2024.
Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader and current chief adviser of the Move Forward Party (MFP), said his party was unfazed by the Election Commission's push for its dissolution.
He said the Move Forward Party (MFP) is ready to defend itself against any allegations. I have some observations:
Firstly, it is possible the court will allow the Move Forward Party (MFP) a chance to defend itself before giving the verdict.
If that is the case, the ball will be in the Move Forward Party's (MFP) court to offer new evidence to cancel out the accusations or give convincing assurances that such an alleged criminal act will not occur again.
Secondly, Mr Pita has never given any indication that he regrets the fact that he had led his party executives and members, 43 of them besides Mr Pita, to co-sign with him the Move Forward Party's (MFP) proposal to amend Section 112 in parliament.
And if found guilty, all of these party members will face a political ban for life.
It looks like Mr Pita has a lot of explaining to do to satisfy the Thai public.

Vint Chavala
Bangkok,
Thailand




Analyses question financial feasibility of proposed
land bridge 0ver Isthmus of Kra
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday March 21, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 1, 2024

Re: "A B1tn bridge to success", in Bangkok Post, Sunday February 25, 2024.
Considering that most independent analyses have questioned the financial feasibility of the proposed land bridge across the Isthmus of Kra, it appears there are primarily only two groups of supporters.
The first group for obvious reasons includes the "fifteen-percenters" the politicians and administrators who would be in charge of awarding construction contracts to build the land-bridge infrastructure.
The second group comprises Chinese entities eager to set a debt trap for Thailand. As demonstrated in several other countries, these salivating wolves are not really interested in the success of such megaprojects.
If truth be known, they actually prefer that such projects fail, allowing them to squeeze major concessions from the country unable to repay hefty loans and gain control over large swaths of the debt-ridden country's economy.

Samanea Saman,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Clearing immigration at Suvarnabhumi airport
Is a chocking point for arrivals
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday March 20, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 8, 2024

Re: "PM aims high for airport: Premier outlines aviation ambitions", Bangkok Post, Saturday March 2, 2024 and "Srettha orders faster immigration, baggage claim at Suvarnabhumi", in Bangkok Post, Monday February 5, 2024.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's unannounced checks at Suvarnabhumi airport revealed that clearing immigration has been a choke point for the arrivals we sorely need to resurrect our stagnant economy.
The Immigration Bureau should follow the lead of the Passport Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which outsourced the entire passport renewal process years ago while staying in overall charge to maintain quality.
Over a decade ago, it took me several hours and a two-week wait to renew my passport at the Passport Office at Central Mall, Bang Na, Bangkok.
But recently, when I went to the Passport Office's new branch on Srinakarin Road, Bang Na, it took me just 20 minutes in-office and two days for my new passport to arrive.
Question is, what is the difference?
The proactive Ministry of Foreign Affairs had outsourced the procedure - with compensation evidently based on output.
The sole Ministry of Foreign Affairs person on-site was the supervisor, who efficiently ensured that all went smoothly and quality was maintained.
Applied to immigration, an outsourced supplier might require that prospective immigrants email proof of return ticket, in-country accommodation and fund availability a week or so in advance instead of reviewing the actual documents on arrival - saving cost, time and tempers.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Philippine government at top of the heap
In making public transactions miserable
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday March 18, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday March 7, 2024

Trust the government to be on top of the heap at making the public transacting business with any of its agencies more miserable.
Republic Act No. 11032 aka “An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services, Amending … the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007” is such a big joke.
Take for instance, the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
The main office at East Ave., Quezon City, is always bursting at the seams at any given business day with the sheer volume of vehicles that have to be brought in for compliance with all kinds of requirements.
The drive-around for a space anywhere there to park one’s vehicle is an unmitigated nightmare.
Setting up branch offices in many other places “to promote ease in doing (LTO) business” has seldom helped since in most of those places chosen by the LTO’s “bright boys,” parking slots are just as woefully inadequate.
Don’t they ever use some common sense?
Vehicle owners are often put at risk of getting their vehicles towed away while being parked on the streets.
There’s simply nowhere else to go as whatever parking slots intended for public use are already reserved for its glorified personnel holding office there.
Public service demands that they should be the ones parking on the streets to feel what these LTO planners really are.
And now comes this ridiculous idea of forcing owners of e-bikes and e-trikes to register them under pain of stiff fines or outright impoundment.
What’s next?
Require plate numbers and/or stickers on them when LTO has up to now failed to provide many regular vehicles with the much-vaunted new plates despite being already pre-paid eons ago?
And where are the stickers for the windshields and the plates which used to serve as the visible proof of current registration to stop traffic enforcers from harassing motorists about the status of their vehicles’ registration?
The backlog in the LTO’s issuance of those items is horrendous with no end to the public frustration in sight.
The LTO should first get its act together before imposing more requirements to burden taxpayers with.

Steve L. Monsanto,
Manila,
Philippines





Philippine President Marcos' economic team
Has failed to stir excitement in foreign investors
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday March 18, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday March 7, 2024

Newly appointed Finance Secretary Ralph Recto’s assurances to foreign capitalists on the ease of doing business in the country comes as a welcome whiff of fresh air. President Marcos’ erstwhile economic team had failed to stir excitement among foreign investors after more than a year in office.
Credibility seems to be our biggest problem because other countries in the region are getting a bigger share of foreign direct investments (FDI).
The sudden interest of local industrialists, led by San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) Ramon Ang, to go into long-term investments in infrastructure and natural gas exploration is cause for optimism.
An estimated trillion pesos’ worth of natural gas beneath the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao can now be tapped as part of our gradual transition from coal/oil-based power sources to alternative fuel, a goal in which 75 nations, the Philippines included, have signed on as they pledge to completely turn to green fuel by 2050.
Local taipans are now putting their money’s worth into the country’s long-term economic development.
San Miguel Corp.(SMC) has a good track record in its public-private partnership (PPP) with the government, notably in road infrastructure projects.
The consortium of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corp. also won the contract for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) rehabilitation project with its bid that gave government 82.16 percent of gross revenue, excluding passenger service charges.
This is more than triple that of the next best bid.
On the horizon is the projection that with a refurbished Naia, the airport would surpass the 45.39 million visitors it hosted in 2023.
The influx of more tourists into the country could well exceed the pre-COVID-19 figure of six to eight million a year.
Complementing this are the bridges and highways being built to connect most of the tourist destinations in the country, making travel by land faster, easier, and more practical.
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is also negotiating with the Oriental Mindoro and Batangas provincial governments a deal to construct a 15-kilometer pontoon bridge costing P18 billion that will take five years to build. A floating bridge design was adopted to avoid damaging the seabed of the Verde Island Passage which is considered a center of biodiversity.
The bridge is planned to span the Verde Island Passage in two parts.
The first part is 6.4 kilometers long and extends from Barangay Ilijan in Batangas City to Verde Island.
The second component spans 4.4 kilometers from Verde Island to Barangay Sinandigan in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.
The Batangas-Mindoro bridge is touted to be the first floating bridge in Asia that will allow tall ships to pass through. In addition, the bridge will have pedestrian and bicycle lanes.
The bridge will also be designed to withstand typhoons with winds as strong as 350 km/h.
The shorter travel time on the bridge as compared to going by sea is a big boon to tourism in these parts.
For the longest time, entrenched businesses backed by political dynasties have effectively blocked foreign direct investments (FDI) as some families keep lucrative businesses for themselves, such as banking, electricity and power supply, telecommunications, agribusinesses, and mineral resources.
Few long-term infrastructure in power and energy generation have been undertaken.
Our country is known for year-round festivities that tourists love; if we can double the number of tourists from eight to 16 million, tourist-related businesses can solve our unemployment problem.
Hopefully, this new thrust in economic development by local industrialists under the public-private partnership (PPP) program would usher in a new era for the country’s development, and wean our government from incurring more foreign debts.

Marvel K. Tan,
Quezon City,
Philippines





Taylor Swift plays only in Singapore
Hurtful to neighbouring cities
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday March 17, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 1, 2024

Re: "PM impressed by Singapore's Swift deal", in Bangkok Post, Wednesday March 6, 2024.
The exclusive deal for Taylor Swift to play only in Singapore may not be unfriendly, but it is clever.
However it is more of self-interest and lack of empathy.
This may be hanging on to the political treatise of Nicola Machiavelli of the end justifying the means but likely hurtful to neighbouring cities.
Generally, there is a stigma in being Machiavellian for anyone associated with that standard and it is monumental and not erasable.

Songdej Praditsmanont,
Bangkok,
Thailand




We should be happy
With the color of our skin
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday March 16, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Thursday March 7, 2024

Glutathione is an antioxidant capable of preventing damage to important cellular components, like free radicals.
A prominent side effect is hypopigmentation or loss of skin pigment or color (nakakaputi).
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings on its use for cosmetic purposes, especially intravenously.
Seeing the photo of a senator’s wife having her IV infusion in her husband’s Senate office for cosmetic enhancement is shocking.
Mariel Padilla looks very healthy so her IV drip is meant to make her skin whiter.
I really don’t know whose idea it was to put that photo on social media, which a lot of Filipinos are apt to believe in.
So this is a bad influence.
We used to elect officials who are statesmen/stateswomen, but I guess we just have to blame the electorate.
Too sad that our culture still believes in “colorism,” and that the lighter your skin, the higher your status is in the community.
We should be happy with the color of our skin.
As brown people or people of color, we don’t develop wrinkles earlier than those in the West so we look younger, and the incidence of skin cancer is low.
Maganda ang balat na kayumanggi.

Ida M. Tiongco, M.D., FAAD,
Manila,
Philippines




Former PM Najib Razak reputataion
Has gone down the toilet
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday March 15, 2024

We read in The Southeast Asian Times 13 March, 2024 that the new management of state funds has accused ousted Malaysian PM Najib Razak of breach of trust and abuse of power.
So Razak is back in the news. And again for the wrong reason. I am reminded of the Shakespearean quote in Julius Caesar : “ The evil that men do lives after
them … “.
It certainly does in Razak’s case. When he was PM he pocketed RM42 million from a state development fund ( read details in The Southeast Asian Times article ). For that he was put away in jail for 12 years which I gather has now been reduced to 6 by Malaysia’s new king. It does not matter . The fact is Razak’s reputation has gone down the toilet.

Rajend Naidu,
Sydney,
Australia




11th anniversay of murder of Dexter Condez
Acquired certificate of ancestral domain title
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday March 14, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Tuesday February 26, 2024

Last February 22 was the 11th anniversary of the murder of Dexter Condez.
The Ati spokesperson and youth leader was shot eight times and killed in Barangay Manoc-Manoc in Boracay, Aklan.
At only 26, he has done so much for his community as he was instrumental in acquiring their certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT).
As a youth leader, he was an integral generational bridge who transformed indigenous knowledge from community elders to the language embraced by younger generations, who have increasingly been exposed to the ways of the dominant society.
Before he died, he busied himself developing an educational program for his community.
He was such a big loss.
While a suspect was eventually apprehended, the mastermind remains unknown and has eluded justice.
The Ati are a peaceful people, and they were simply fighting for their ancestral domain the land they have owned beyond the reach of memory.
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples awarded them their CADT, but this only intensified the threats against them.
Consequently, the community could not peaceably enjoy ownership over the land. The community’s fears came to life with Condez’s murder.
Many changes happened on the island since Condez died over a decade ago.
In 2018, Boracay was closed for six months, and the pandemic restrictions hit and slowed down tourism.
For the Ati, however, the same trepidations persist.
Just recently, the community was again enveloped in a similar land conflict in another part of the island.
Ati families face eviction despite previously being awarded certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs).
The Department of Agrarian Reform, which previously awarded idle agricultural lots, is canceling the CLOAs because the lots are now claimed not to be arable but instead are suited for ecotourism and commercial use.
This is an insult to the Ati, who exerted indigenous knowledge and transformed these idle lands into fertile grounds.
Now they are being forced out.
Condez’s death should have been a threshold moment.
It should have paved the way for the government and society to recognize and act on the plight of the Ati. Sadly, the continuing struggle and injustice show otherwise. Worryingly, the Ati are not alone.
There are several reports of the Kankanaey and Tuwali in the Cordilleras being politically vilified, the Dumagat-Remontado in Quezon Province deprived of their right to free, prior, and informed consent, and Tedurays being forcibly relocated in Mindanao.
Much needs to be done to change the realities of numerous indigenous peoples, not only in Boracay but throughout the country.
We can all do something.
Unlike Condez, we can still wake up and start grasping the stark realities faced by indigenous peoples.
With the requisite empathy, we should learn more and work with indigenous peoples in whatever way possible.
Then, we give justice to the life and sacrifice of Dexter Condez and those who fought for the recognition of indigenous rights in the country.

Raymond Marvic C. Baguilat,
Manila,
Philippines





President Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency
Was characterized by unwritten dictatorial rule
The Southeast Asian Times, Wednesday March 13, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday March 1, 2024

Edsa’s idealism right after deposed President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. left was dead in the water, with continued patronage politics under the presidential system. President Cory Aquino was strong, morally, but politically weak.
Her six years’ term was characterized by economic doldrums.
President Fidel Ramos’ leadership stride was different.
His rolled-up barong Tagalog sleeves symbolically said he was breaking away from the traditional failure syndrome and into novel approaches.
His solution to the crippling power and electricity problem was strategic, short of a military coup of sorts.
But came President Joseph Estrada, followed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and the personality syndrome again lorded it over in government.
President Benigno Aquino III’s turn brought a spark of economic success because he allowed his technocrats to run the government.
Our GDP rose to more than 2 percent for the first time in years.
The debacle returned with President Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency which was characterized by unwritten dictatorial rule.
You’re either on his side or the wrong side.
Media behemoth ABS-CBN, because of a personal tiff with him in the 2016 presidential elections, could not renew its franchise despite its impeccable financial records and no unpaid obligations to the government.
All because Duterte vowed that renewal would never happen under his watch.
His Davao business cronies became the new guys on the block.
Patronage politics worsened because he acted like the mayor of the Philippines. Micromanaging the crises all over the country with billions of pesos in dole-outs made him immensely popular and made people dependent on dole-outs, which were found to have been siphoned from the unspent budget of government of offices.
Then President Marcos came and micromanaging was back in fashion, with ayuda for every disaster coming from P9 to P10 billion in discretionary funds.
That’s why no people in their right mind would believe that Charter change will get us anywhere.
Foreign direct investments are not coming in because they want special attention. The United States Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s Investment Climate Statement on the Philippines, dated Jan. 24, 2024, tells us why: Poor infrastructure.
High power cost.
Slow broadband connection. Regulatory inconsistencies.
A cumbersome and corrupt bureaucracy.
The country’s complex, slow, redundant, and sometimes corrupt judicial system that decides commercial disputes.
Traffic congestion in ports.
This is the gist of our economic woes.
The reasons we hear for amending the Constitution are mostly self-serving and political.
We may overhaul the Constitution, but achieve nothing beneficial for the general public because the flawed dynastic patronage politics under the presidential form of government does not allow it.

Marvel K. Tan,
Quezon City,
Philippines




Swiss elephant sanctuary in Phuket
Under investigation
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday March 12, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Monday March 4, 2024

Re: "Phuket couple apologises for beach steps incident", in Bangkok Post, Friday March 1, 2024.
The news and video clip of a Swiss man kicking a young Thai doctor who was relaxing on the steps near the man's Phuket villa has gone viral on the internet.
The video clip appeared to have been recorded by the man himself.
The gentleman has audaciously recorded himself committing the brutal attacks on the young doctor.
The video is now self-incriminating.
The steps on the beach front have been ordered demolished since the company which owns the villa occupied by the couple built them on public land.
One charge of trespassing on public property has been pressed.
If the young doctor has to undergo treatment for more than 20 days, the man could be charged with assault with intent to cause severe bodily harm.
The punishment will be harsher.
The man's wife allegedly berated the young doctor with foul language.
She later sent two policemen she had called on the phone to pressure the doctor at the scene saying if the doctor pressed charges she would face a four-year jail term, while the woman would only face a fine for simply assaulting her.
Investigations are being carried out whether the couple's elephant sanctuary business is in line with the law.
Since police have learned the couple rented the villa for around 1 million baht a month, inquiries over whether their landlord acquired the villa in a legitimate manner will be carried out as well.
Finally, criminal proceedings aside, the Swiss gentleman might find it hard to extend or renew his visa in Thailand.

Vint Chavala,
Bangkok,
Thailand




In a democracy
A successful leader must also be popular
The Southeast Asian Times Tuesday March 11, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Tuesday February 13, 2024

Re: "A 14th century warning for the 21st century", in Bangkok Post, Opinion, Monday February 12, 2024.
Max Hastings suggests studying 14th-century history "can be a big help to understanding our own times".
Clearly, this premise is hard to accept given the advent of gunpowder, and AI happened subsequently, but Mr Hastings manages to take it into the realm of extreme nonsense.
After rambling on to add historical stuffing to his turkey, he finally makes the embarrassing leap to his unsurprising purpose - bashing Trump.
No doubt Hastings imagines that to criticise Trump for being a demagogue is a righteous accomplishment, but let's see how he does it.
The Oxford Dictionary defines demagoguing as "rhetorically exploiting an issue for political purposes in a way calculated to appeal to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people".
Every thinking person immediately recognises when someone uses the very thing they habitually do to blame others for their own selfishness.
Mr Hastings' opinion piece is readily seen as merely one more silly excursion into the indulgence of exactly that kind of thinking, despite its cloak of pretentious historicity.
In a democracy, a successful leader must also be popular.
This does not mean he or she is, therefore, illogical and thus a demagogue.

Michael Setter,
Bangkok,
Thailand





Thailand's parliamentarians should be lauded not deplored
For seeking to end the Myanmar conflict
The Southeast Asian Times, Sunday March 10, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Thursday March 7, 2024

Re: "Thai MPs hold Myanmar seminar over junta's objection", in Bangkok Post, Saturday March 2, 2024 and "Myanmar now an 'endless nightmare'", in Bangkok Post, Sunday March 3, 2024.
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.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand





For years, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia)
Has been a hotbed of flight delays and cancellations
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday March 9, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Monday March 4, 2024

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) will finally be privatized.
For years, the airport has been a hotbed of flight delays and cancellations, subpar service, and generally poor passenger experience.
The government hopes to resolve this by relinquishing control to the SMC-SAP and Co. Consortium in a P170.6-billion, 15-year concession deal.
I am less optimistic about the prospect of improvement under this new management.
A 2023 preprint published in the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that the type of privatization matters a lot. Private equity (PE) fund ownership exhibits the best improvements in airport performance.
Non-private equity ownership, as in the Naia deal, is found to be no better than public ownership.
Looking into specific performance metrics, Private Equity (PE) privatization increases per-flight passenger traffic driven mostly by increases in domestic flights, indicating improvements in efficiency and capacity. Non-Private Equity (PE) privatization does not exhibit this effect and is merely at par with public ownership. Flight routes and the number of airlines also increased under both PE and non-PE privatization. In the latter, however, the trend already existed before Private Equity (PE) the change in ownership, which means that the increase in routes and airlines cannot be attributed to the privatization.
Flight cancellations also decreased under both Private Equity (PE) and non-Private Equity (PE) privatization, though the latter already exhibited the trend prior to change of ownership.
Flight delays actually increased under non-PE privatization while no change was observed under Private Equity (PE) privatization.
Meanwhile, passenger service quality such as security wait times, restroom cleanliness, store quality, and lounge amenities improved under both kinds of privatization.
The fate of airport employees also factor into the decision of privatizing Naia.
Both kinds of privatization see improved airport profitability but in two different ways.
Private Equity (PE) privatization increases profit through growth and efficiency, with no evidence of cost reduction and employee layoffs.
The same cannot be said of non-Private Equity (PE) privatization.
In sum, privatization works only if the new management is not just any private firm, but a private equity firm.
The state of Naia is so bad that any change in management would likely be better than its current one.
But the benefits of privatization would be better extracted if a private equity firm spearheaded it. It makes me wonder if the Marcos trips were a lost opportunity to convince foreign PE firms to take over Naia instead.

Julan Omir P. Aldover,
Leyte Normal University,
Philippines




Waving visa fees for tourists to Thailand
In stark contrast to treatment of 500,000 foreign nationals
The Southeast Asian Times Friday March 8, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday March 2, 2024

Re: "Tourism, trade MoUs to bolster Kazakh ties", in Bangkok Post, Monday February 26, 2024.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is focused on attracting foreign tourists from China, India, and Kazakhstan by waiving visa fees, aiming to boost spending in the kingdom.
However, this stands in stark contrast to the treatment of the 500,000 foreign nationals, mainly from the West, India, Korea, China, and Japan, who reside and work in Thailand.
These individuals, who are significant taxpayers and contribute to the country's progress through various sectors, such as education, technology, and manufacturing, face numerous challenges.
Foreign workers in Thailand are burdened with hefty exit and reentry fees, with charges of 1,200 baht for a single entry and 3,800 baht for multiple entries.
Additionally, they are required to report to immigration police every 90 days, and their landlords must report their movements, risking fines ranging from 2,000 baht to 10,000 baht if not complied with.
These regulations impose undue hardships on foreigners, deeply affecting their morale.
Ironically, it was Prime Minister Srettha's mentor, Thaksin Shinawatra, who implemented these anti-foreigner policies, significantly raising entry fees during his tenure.
Thaksin's eventual exile from the country can be seen as poetic justice for his actions.
Mr Srettha must rectify this injustice by reversing the measures enacted by the previous government.
It is imperative to treat local foreigners with respect and recognise their valuable contributions to Thailand's development and social security system, even if they do not fully utilise it.
As a crucial initial step, Mr Srettha must prioritise the abolition of re-entry fees, a burdensome charge absent in many other countries.
Secondly, it is imperative to eliminate the cumbersome 90-day reporting requirement imposed on foreign residents, as well as the unnecessary obligation for landlords to report their tenants' movements, which only serves to waste time and resources.
By implementing these reforms, Mr Srettha can demonstrate a commitment to fairness and inclusivity, ensuring that all residents, regardless of nationality, are treated with dignity and respect in Thailand.

George,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Is the Edsa 1986 Philippines People Power Revolution
Intentionally left out of this year’s list of holidays?
The Southeast Asian Times, Thursday March 7, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer, Friday March 1, 2024

Perceptual selectivity is a basic concept in philosophy that explores how we selectively perceive and process sensory information from our environment.
A crucial aspect of perceptual selectivity is the limit to our attention.
It is impossible for us to perceive every stimulus in our environment simultaneously. Therefore, we must prioritize certain sensory information over others based on factors such as relevance, familiarity, and other considerations.
Let’s explore the concept of perceptual selectivity through an example.
Imagine being in a crowded room where we are engaged in a conversation with a friend.
Despite the noise and distractions around us, we are able to focus solely on our conversation, filtering out everything else to maintain our connection.
On the other hand, there are times when we intentionally ignore our friend in a crowd because we are not in the mood to interact with him or her.
This is known as perceptual defense.
Additionally, there are instances when we may perceive things in an exaggerated or understated manner.
For example, when we describe our friend’s pink dress as beautiful, though in reality we see it as flashy.
This is an example of perceptual exaggeration.
Conversely, when we comment about a friend’s jewelry as looking cheap even though we know it is actually expensive, we are engaging in perceptual understatement.
Is the Edsa 1986 People Power Revolution intentionally left out of this year’s list of holidays?
The omission can be attributed to perceptual selectivity and defense mechanisms by individuals in positions of power. If they choose to minimize the historical importance of this event through their biased viewpoints, they are engaging in perceptual understatement.
Moreover, if they insinuate that the Edsa 1986 revolution, which ultimately resulted in the drafting of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, is responsible for our current economic difficulties, they are guilty of perceptual exaggeration.
In other words, perceptual selectivity suggests that our perceptions are not objective reflections of reality, but rather subjective interpretations shaped by our biases and mental filters.
When examining current events through this lens, it becomes evident that our understanding of history can be distorted, leading to the perpetuation of myths, stereotypes, and misinformation.

Reginaldo B. Tamayo,
Manila,
Philippines




Thai's know best
The Thai's that are patriots
The Southeast Asian Times Wednesday March 6, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 1, 2024

Re: "For the record", in Bangkok Post, PostBag, Tuesday February 27, 2024.
I almost fell off my chair with mirth and laughter when I read the part of Felix Qui's recent letter that read, "Unlike the patriotic Thais being unjustly imprisoned in strict accord with the law created for that purpose, Vint Chavala has been able to peacefully express his opinion".
One reason why I came back to contribute to PostBag is the inability of the expat community living in Thailand to confine its criticism of my country in accordance with its limited knowledge of the whole truth.
Ask yourself this question: If my opinions were untrue and based on falsehood, would they have been allowed to be published on this page?
And in fact, I know better the Thais that are "patriots" and those who are just "ingrates" - because this is my country, the country that I should know best.

Vint Chavala,
Bangkok,
Thailand




Thailand calls for exemption for Myanmar
From approval for visa on arrival
The Southeast Asian Times, Tuesday March 5, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Friday March 1, 2024

Re: "Myanmar influx 'no cause for concern'?", in Bandgkok Post, Saturday February 24, 2024.
We should very quickly add Myanmar to the list of countries whose citizens don't need prior approval or visas on arrival.
About 80 percent of international travellers to Thailand now enter on 30- or 90-day visa exemptions, and those from Myanmar should be at least as law-abiding as the others.
The Tatmadaw's surprise announcement of a military draft starting next month and covering men, women and some professionals will cause a massive surge in those seeking to avoid being forced to kill their countrymen.
As the draft gets underway, people will be pressured to cross our porous border without documentation, causing multiple problems.
Thailand is one of the world's fastest-ageing societies, increasing the burden on working-age Thais to support their elders.
Those whom the Tatmadaw is after are precisely those who can most help slow our ageing, giving Thais breathing room to upgrade our productivity and reproduction rates.
We can enroll the new arrivals in an acculturation program, perhaps based on that of the US Peace Corps, and including language training, to ease their integration into our workforce while we simultaneously improve our own output rates.
We must act now on this win-win opportunity.

Burin Kantabutra,
Bangkok,
Thailand





The requirement in Thailand is to transfer shares
To an independent management company
The Southeast Asian Times, Monday March 4, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post, Saturday March 2, 2024

Re: "EC asked to probe minister's shares", in Bangkok Post, Monday February 26, 2024
This news report refers to the alleged subterfuge by Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol in shuffling company ownership shares to the value of 459 billion baht in exchange for loan papers.
On the surface, I have no problem with this kind of estate trust /planning. In my former profession, as a CPA, the normal thing to do is to set up a trust as a juristic entity. The requirement in Thailand is to transfer the shares to an independent management company. This ensures that not only does it appear that the law is complied with but that it has actually been done.
The reason I feel compelled to write this is with regard to the staggering amount of wealth reported; a single, relatively young Thai as compared with that of the average Thai. Recent reports indicate that approximately 50 percent of Thai youth are illiterate. I suggest that if they could read, they would find this "revolting". Viva!

Don McMahon,
Bangkok,
Thailand





The legalisation of marijuana in the Philippines
Is manifest colonial mentality
The Southeast Asian Times Sunday March 3, 2024
First published in the Philippine Inquirer Friday March 1, 2024

No, we are not losing the opportunity to legalize marijuana, as one letter writer has said.
If at all, we are simply looking at its bane, not just its boon, if any.
I hate to say this, but to readily emulate what’s happening now in other countries, like Germany and Thailand, is manifest colonial mentality.
Yes, some medical researches, especially in the West, have revealed a number of ailments for which medical marijuana has been recommended and its use as anti-nauseant and appetite stimulant, anti-spasmodic, anti-convulsive, analgesic or pain reliever, and anti-inflammatory, anti-immune system.
The problem is, these ailments have long been known to be equally, if not more effectively, treatable by many other well-known drugs that are accessible either over the counter or via a doctor’s prescription.
Why take the risk of legalizing an otherwise highly prohibited drug when such risk can be reasonably avoided?
That is how simple and commonsensical this controversial issue is.

Rudy Coronel,
Batangas City,
Philippines





A certain party has shown time and again
To have supported changing Thailand into a republic
The Southeast Asian Times, Saturday March 2, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday February 26, 2024

A certain party consisting mostly of young and starry-eyed Member of Parliament's has been racking up political points and popularity.
This party has gained so much support from its fast-growing fan base that most people predict it will become Thailand's next government after the next election.
There are two reasons for this upsurge.
Firstly, this party utilises online and AI technologies that enable it to gain Member of Parliament's quickly and cheaply -unlike old-style parties that keep spending hundreds of millions of baht yet win relatively few Member of Parliament's.
Secondly, and this is a moot point.
This party has shown time and again to have supported the idea of changing Thailand into a republic, with its leader installed as the next head of state.
Such an action would start a civil war in Thailand.
Since this party is so sure of its strength, it is up to nation-loving Thais to do something to show their love and gratefulness for their beloved country.
Allow me to add: whatever we do, it must be in the name of peace and camaraderie.

Vint Chavala,
Bangkok,
Thailand





PM Strettha Thavisin's outlines his vision
To make Thailand great again
The Southeast Asian Times, Friday March 1, 2024
First published in the Bangkok Post Monday February 26, 2024

Re: "PM maps out economic vision", in Bangkok Post, Friday February 23, 2024.
The headline concerns our Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's vision to make Thailand great again and boost the economy with policies ranging from tourism to digital economy.
He spent more than 70 minutes outlining his dream without focusing on any policies.
The event seems like a salesman's pitch to customers who happen to be government officials.
Considering that he has only four years in his administration, would it be more productive if he concentrated on the biggest priorities, and certain timelines and action plans as to how to achieve his goals?
Otherwise, it just sounds like fanfare and fireworks, all of which will simmer and fade away.
In the eyes of the public, some of the most urgent issues which the government must tackle are grassroots structural problems: bureaucratic and military, police, judicial reform; education; and corruption, without which, no matter how rosy his dream is, Thailand will remain as it is.

The Insider,
Bangkok,
Thailand