POSTBAG

Send them home

It seems overly optimistic to me to expect officials who may be implicated in corruption scandals to incriminate themselves or turn in their friends and colleagues by cooperating with people who are investigating alleged corruption.

I think that people who are suspected of such involvement should be suspended from duty and sent home, either with or without pay depending on how deep their involvement appears to be.

Having these people occupying their offices, especially if they are in positions of authority, cannot help but be intimidating for anyone who might dream of blowing the whistle on them.

The only drawback to sending these people home is that some agencies such as parts of the Ministry of Agriculture probably won't have enough people to continue functioning.

I appreciate that our interim leaders are bending over backwards to be patient, kind and merciful, but if they have hopes that these thieves are suddenly going to grow a conscience and turn themselves or their friends in, I am afraid they are going to be sadly disappointed. Most thieves don't develop a conscience until they have spent some time in prison.

POLICEMAN

Suggestions on how to improve the police

Re: "Aiming for a cleaner image of police" (Bangkok Post, Jan 31). The title, hopefully, is not a forewarning on the outcome of this reform exercise, i.e. simply an image makeover. As a taxpayer, might I be permitted to add a few suggestions even if they already are a part of the reformists' plans? You first need to listen to the common man's grievances, particularly the taxi drivers, motorcyclists, expatriates, not to mention a myriad of other professions that are extorted and coerced every other day. The reformists and, especially, the police need to accept the fact that it is more than just a few bad apples spoiling the barrel.

1. Give police full resources to do their job, by providing standard issue weapons, bullets, flashlights, walkie-talkies, motorcycles and, of course, a livable wage. Otherwise, a typical police recruit is already in debt even before he starts working. How can he honestly repay, when his salary is lower than that of a security guard?

2. Do alleviate the police officers' burden of non-relevant duties, like manning traffic signals. An automated traffic system had been paid for many years ago, but never given a chance to work. Police officers should be chasing criminals, and paid accordingly for the risk, not sitting in traffic kiosks.

3. Provide police officers with decent life insurance coverage, so that their dependents will be well taken care of if they die in the line of duty.

4. Cease the transfer of bad police officers; prosecute and arrest. As law enforcers, any wrongdoing should be subject to twice or triple the fine/prison sentence of the average citizen.

5. Do random checks on those who appear "unusually rich". This shouldn't be hard to do. I still wonder how a policeman's salary allows payments for a luxury vehicle.

6. Do sting operations on officers and offer big rewards to both honest policemen and the public exposing it.

7. Have a citizen's review and complaint board for every station, to make them accountable to the local community.

8. Most importantly, ensure that top officers are entirely accountable for the actions of even the lowest ranking officer. Sadly, accountability remains alien in all facets of government service, not just the police department.

9. Lastly, we all need to realise that it will require a generation or more to see good officers. In the meantime, bear in mind that bribe-taking needs both sides. By not giving bribes, we are not part of the problem; we are at least a small part of the solution.

A LOYAL AND HOPEFUL THAI

Who paid the fees?

Now that it is known Mr Thaksin made a deal with the US lobbyist firm while he was PM, shouldn't we, just in case, investigate whether the fee payment came out of his own pocket? If it was paid with taxpayer money, shouldn't we ask the firm for a cancellation of the contract, with a total or partial refund?

AKINARI ETOH

PM right to stop forced repatriation

The enlightened decision by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to stop forcing desperate Hmong refugees to return to almost certain humiliation and doomed persecution in Laos should be commended.

This could mark a new beginning for a comprehensive review and revamping of outdated and outlandish immigration laws related to ethnic minorities and alien workers who gravitated to the purportedly tolerant Land of the Free to escape impoverished existence, find viable jobs and seek an honest living to ensure a better future for their close-knit families.

Unfortunate parallels may be drawn to the hapless Burmese, Mon and Karen migrants, to the identity-stricken hilltribes and even to the crisis of alienation felt in the southernmost provinces.

The Thai government's in-denial, regressive attitudes and denigrating, repressive actions by detaining unwanted refugees or consigning them to camps are definitely not in the national, regional or global interest. Until shameful, unfair treatment becomes replaced by more compassionate humanitarianism, dignified respect, responsive understanding, demonstrated appreciation of multilingual pluralism and recognition of individual differences, the dimly lit end of a dark, blocked tunnel lacks hopeful illumination.

For starters, long-overdue literacy training and bilingual schooling should become basic education priorities for one and all. Investing in young, potential leaders of tomorrow regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic background and academic status, will improve our human capital, while also providing dividends related to cultural diversity, ethical standards, civic commitment and national pride.

DR CHANCHAI PRASERTSON

Here's my biff!

In the present scenario of political uncertainty, everything seems to be hanging in the air, including the Bangkok International Film Festival (BIFF).

The fest, which started with a bang, now seems destined to end with a whimper. After the grand announcements of the festival for many years, it seems a total "no-no" now. Listen to the conflicting rumours:

First, it was an American team, then a Thai team. First, it was to be in January, then in July, and now it seems like it will never be held!

First, it was the Bangkok Post as sponsor, then it was the Nation.

First, it was a new director, then we hear it will be the same director as the Nation Film Festival.

What a pathetic state of things. The highlight of both film festivals has been the hopeless disorganisation. The Biff, inspite of many good films, was atrociously managed last year. The Nation film festival was no better - strange, obscure films; changes of programme, and last time there was a mix-up in the closing film, with the festival director not even around to explain it. And now the same director is to manage two film festivals? Will someone explain?

FILM DOPE

Bangkok Post
Friday February 02, 2007