Letters-Vox Populi: BANGKOK- Army needs overhaul, others …

Re: “Relatives of slain men get payouts”, (BP, Dec 23).

At least in this case, as the compensation, miserly though it be, paid to the slain men’s families attests, there is some admission of error. Perhaps there would be less of these killings of Thai citizens by the errant Thai military if the Kingdom had a smaller, professional army of well-trained, well-equipped, and professionally supported women and men who had chosen to serve their nation, rather than forced conscripts badly trained, badly equipped and poorly supported by the excess of army generals of dubious usefulness busily plotting political careers without the inconvenience of elections.

Which political party is it that has pushed for such desperately needed reform for the sake of the Thai nation?

Felix Qui

   Kiss a provocation

Re: “A kiss is still a kiss”, (Opinion, Dec 23).

Having married my Thai partner in France under the same-sex marriage law, I am very keen for same-sex marriage to be legal and recognised in Thailand. This being said, unfortunately, I do not believe that men kissing in public and in the parliament does anything to further this objective. Thai heterosexual couples do not kiss in public. The Thai public frowns on what is considered lewd behaviour between boys and girls, or men and women, in public.

So, how can Melalin Mahavongtrakul interpret criticism of men kissing in public as an indication of disapproval of a particular sexual orientation? More generally, it is unfortunate that LGBTI associations and militants think that they have to reinforce stereotypes of sexual promiscuity by kissing in public, engaging in sexual acts in the street during Gay Pride parade, wearing sexually provocative outfits, etc. These self-appointed representatives do not in fact represent and in fact are very embarrassing to average LGBTI people, who only want to have equal rights and society to be indifferent to their sexual orientation. If the message of the kiss was lost, these militants carry all the blame. Provoking the public is counter-productive.

BAFFLED READER

   Paranoid about China

I try not to get too paranoid about China’s activities in Asia, but after reading about the airbase and seaport they are building in a forest in Cambodia, my paranoia has skyrocketed.

It seems to me that once these installations are built, if the Chinese military decides to have a presence in Cambodia, I expect the Cambodians couldn’t stop them, no matter what their government spokesman says.

Observer

   Justice still a joke

In the story announcing that a former park chief is indicted on six counts of murder in the Billy scandal, can you poke holes in the following statement?

“The decision to press the charge shows the international community that the Thai justice system meets international standards. It gives confidence to people working in the area of human rights,” Mr Surapong said.

In reality, it took international pressure to probe this case, unlike so many other similar cases which need serious investigation. As for the Thai justice system meeting international standards, a joke is a joke is a joke and should not be carried too far. International standards, indeed. Pull my other leg too.

Vasserbuflox

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