Driven to sex trade

Re: "PM calls for end to 'sex tourism image'", (BP, Feb 28).

It seems to me that if the prime minister is serious about not wanting Thailand to be seen as a destination for sex tourists then he must get much more serious about fighting poverty in this country.

Giving the more than 10 million poverty-stricken people in this country, the 200-300 baht a month this government gives to the poor is hardly going to alleviate poverty. They would need at least 10 times that much each month to have any kind of positive effect on their lives.

As long as these inadequate measures are taken to fight poverty, there are always going to be some people who will be driven to prostitution to try and take them and their families out of poverty.

A READER
Moral hypocrisy

Dear Prime Minister, you are suddenly worried about Thailand's reputation as the sex capital of the world. Why are you not concerned with Thailand's reputation for a biased judicial system which favours the rich and influential who get away with almost anything, where indefinite court postponements are a way of life (for the rich of course).

Why are you not so concerned with Thailand's reputation for corruption within the highest levels of government, or high-ranking police officers in Bangkok patronising exclusive brothels as a perk for keeping shtum? At least sex tourism brings in much-needed currency, part of the legit tourist industry. It boosts the economy so there is more money for corrupt officials to embezzle.

Don't complain too loudly, Prime Minister. A lot of people would be jobless, which might happen to you one day as well. Don't practice or preach moral hypocrisy.

BJ REDSHORTS

PM blathers, does little

"PM calls for end to 'sex tourism image'" was an interesting story to come out just after the Victoria's Secret Massage parlour scandal made headlines around the world, with high-ranking police officers being clients and receiving freebies to look the other way.

Yes, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, continue to call for Thailand's image to change, till the cow jumps over the moon or until pigs indeed fly. You are part of the problem. You talk a lot, but do little.

DAVID JAMES WONG
Naive on prostitution

Re: "Use law to fix tainted image", (Editorial, March 1).

As far I can remember the image of Thailand as a sex capital has been on the rise since 1980. I came across this image in the 1980s through an article written by the late Khuswant Singh, the flamboyant former editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India. His article titled "Thigh Land" humorously described the country as the land of plenty, of bare bottoms, female thighs and cheap sex available on the streets.

Growing tourist arrivals may not be directly related to the sex industry but one has to wonder how the so-called licensed "entertainment" venues or massage parlors can make millions of baht a year? It's not just the Victoria's Secret Massage parlour, all major cities in Thailand have plenty of massage parlors on every street.

It is naïve for the government to think that some Thai people resort to prostitution because they do not know how to make the right decisions. The social problems in any society are a reflection of its values. Lack of education, lack of good jobs, lack of values and lack of respect for Thai women are some of the causes of this negative image. Thai sex workers heading to the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore and many other countries add to this tainted image. In a nutshell, laws alone cannot fix social problems. It will require strengthening education, providing good job opportunities, and changing the values and fabric of Thai society.

KULDEEP NAGI

Legalise, don't criticise  

Re: "Use law to fix tainted image", (Editorial, March 1).

The moral and sensible reform, one long overdue, is to legalise prostitution. But since that would deal a body blow to entrenched corruption by Thai officials in the lucrative Thai-justice business, the farce of Thai male adults in uniforms pretending to oppose sex for money will continue unabated. The embarrassment should not be that Thailand has a reputation as a go-to place for sex tourists, but that Thai law and its officials pretend to have high moral standards as an excuse to rip off money from the sex industry by exploiting the morally wrong law made up for that purpose.

FELIX QUI
A total load of pap

Re: "Brothers in arms: military chiefs cosy up", (Opinion, March 1).

Wassana Nanuam's column is total pap and unworthy of being called serious journalism.

The central feature of the article is the man widely believed to be the architect of the (alleged) Rohingya genocide. But you don't even hint at that, instead allowing him to make the comment that he will look after the problem of the illegal Bengalis.

Well he has certainly looked after it as far as he and his cohorts are concerned by forcing them to flee Myanmar or face murder, rape and torture, the total destruction of their villages, crops, animals and now even bulldozing over the evidence.

Nor do you, Khun Wassana, even hint that this man potentially faces charges of crimes against humanity before an international court of justice.

DAVID BROWNRayong
West not so smart

I was very surprised to see the flood of comments about China's political change in the length of term of its leader. The Western media seems to be concerned that a longer time in power for President Xi Jinping will destroy the world. Western democracy may look smart and civilised, but may not suit this country. The great Deng Xiaoping had said: "A cat, no matter if it is black or white, if it can catch mice, is a good cat."

The Communist Party has been making China prosper for decades while most European and American democratic countries have been bankrupted. Go back to saving your people from mass shootings, freezing to death and starving before getting too worried about this huge country.

PRASAN STIANRAPAPONGSChon Buri
No organic standards

Re: "'Organic' food can still bedevil your health", (Opinion, March 2).

The commentary by Anchalee Kongrut does not go far enough. Yesterday, I bought two packs of apples with the same barcode from a well-known supermarket but the tiny label on each apple showed one lot came from the US and the other from France.

It should be the self-imposed duty of every supermarket chain in Thailand to test in their own laboratories that all the produce they sell is at least up to Thai standards of organic hygiene safety, and adjacent to each item is clearly marked the country of origin.

GEORGE LAYTON
Cold Korean comfort

After the success of the Winter Olympics, South Korea has raised the issue of comfort women against Japan again. This issue was almost concluded on December 2015, including a huge amount of compensation to the victims.

The Japanese government has deemed the matter has ended, however, South Korea insists it has "yet to finish".

Once again, the Japanese government needs to invite the president of South Korea to discuss what South Korea needs, and they must say "sorry" to the South Koreans. Otherwise, the issue will never be solved.

THONGLOR JB
EU not squeaky clean

I have before criticised Leonid Bershidsky on his views. However, credit where credit is due and his article "Journalist murders are a major problem in the EU" (Opinion, March 1) is indeed well written and insightful.

The work of these journalists is essential to bringing corruption to light, but lawlessness and intimidation is threatening to silence them.

Bershidsky aims most of his criticism at the newly joined ex-Soviet block members, but the EU itself is far from squeaky clean, being an organisation run by a set of appointed chiefs and committees backed by some low-turnout elections to give an illusion of democracy.

All evidence contrary to their mission is swept under the carpet for the sake of expansionism and control, while it is desperately trying to avoid the reform that many member countries clamour for.

In his last paragraph, Bershidsky states: "It [The EU] may find itself confined to the status of a large economic bloc without any serious moral principles to speak of." 

I think that is inevitably the case.

PETER FAIRLESS
Digital divisiveness

Re: "Closing the global economy's new digital divide", (Business, Feb 28).

This article has the merit of explaining the dangers generated by the fact that the digital divide is widening at an accelerating pace. The global digital divide is a highly significant reality and all countries must do their best to increase technological literacy, which is an essential component of today's education process.

While the task of gradually eliminating the global digital divide is the responsibility of a variety of actors, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, it should be recognised by persuasive practical initiatives that educational institutions of all levels have a crucial role to play in the next phase of information society. They have to attach the highest priority to bridging any digital divides in accordance with the requirements incorporated in the "Transforming Our World" document adopted by consensus by the United Nations Summit on Sept 25, 2015.

IOAN VOICU
Video game violence

Re: "Video games don't kill", (PostBag, March 1).

The letter writer states that: "As far back as 2011, the US Supreme Court ruled that research found no clear connection between violent video games and aggressive behaviour."

However, in that 2011 Brown v Entertainment Merchants Association decision allowing video games to be sold to children in California on the grounds of free speech protection, two of the nine judges disagreed with the ruling. One of the dissenting judges in that 7-to-2 decision relied on studies that he said showed violent video games were positively associated with aggressive behaviour.

"Unlike the majority," Justice Breyer wrote, "I would find sufficient grounds in these studies and expert opinions for this court to defer to an elected legislature's conclusion that the video games in question are particularly likely to harm children."

I do agree with the part of the letter that says "these games are available all over the world, where these constant school attacks are not taking place".

My hope is that other countries can keep the glorification of violence in video games, TV and movies (the moral decay destruction) to a minimum, so they can keep it that way.

EDDIE DELZIO
Trumpian delusions

Re: "Trump says he would storm school", (World, Feb 28).

US President Trump asserts that he would have rushed into the Florida school -- even unarmed -- to save students from the death and injury inflicted by an assault-rifle-wielding mass murderer. Wow … another superhero in the making!

Is this the same man who obtained five military deferments during the Vietnam War era -- including a medical deferment in 1968 for bone spurs in his heels at a time he was known to be actively playing football, tennis and squash?

Mr Trump might better set aside his delusions of heroism and do something meaningful toward ridding the US of the scourge of weapons that facilitate the continued slaughter of innocents, including children.

SAMANEA SAMAN
Loaded questions

Two thoughts on recent correspondence about the right to bear arms in the US. One, although the number of gun-related deaths there are not to be glossed over, they amount to about 10% of the road deaths in Thailand. Equally avoidable, I would suggest.

Secondly, am I alone in wondering whether, if the Thai population were as heavily armed as US citizens, it would have suffered so many coups?

KORAT CHRIS
Comrade Donald?

Since my critics have called me a "lefty" and "Comrade Bahrt", I wonder how they feel about the fact that Donald Trump just made a comment on gun control that was to the left of former president Obama.

I've heard rumours that Mr Trump reads PostBag every day and is so impressed by my letters that he's changing his mind on the issues.

Gosh! If he keeps this up we'll soon have to start calling him "Comrade Donald"!

ERIC BAHRTChiang Mai

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