Postbag
It was strange for Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan to feel embarrassed by a mistake involving an official _ the wrong date on that person's birth certificate.
It was even stranger when he failed to show any feeling when ministry officials close to him declared a proposed law change to deport stateless children - intended as a Children's Day ''gift'' for the nation (''Officials plan to deport 'illegal' youngsters'', Jan 13). The ministry should be renamed ''the Ministry of Insensibility''.
VINT CHAVALA
Lamphun
Chalerm is never off-duty
On his trip to Malaysia last week, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung became drunk, and afterwards told the public: ''Five people downing eight bottles of wine together, how wouldn't I be drunk?''
He says he was the only Thai present, and that he was off duty at the time.
But can a senior public figure, like our deputy prime minister for security, have a private life separate from his public one?
I agree with this: ''Everyone, including public figures, are entitled to privacy. But when a person goes into public life, he or she must understand: Certain issues that might be considered private for a private individual can become matters of reasonable public interest when that individual runs for office. Becoming a public servant means putting the public's interest ahead of your own.'' (Judy Nadler)
The public servant in charge of our nation's security must be ready to work 24/7. What if the southern terrorists had, say, bombed Gen Sukhumpol's office while Mr Chalerm was drunk?
Remember, Pearl Harbour was at rest when the Japanese attacked because the soldiers there thought ''nothing happens on a Sunday''.
Was our DPM for security too under the weather to remember what came out in his drunken stupor?
PM Yingluck should sharply reprimand him and let him know that if he is to continue handling security, he must reform himself immediately.
BURIN KANTABUTRA
Ghost of Christmas
It is a widespread belief in many countries that to leave Christmas trees in place and Christmas decorations hanging after the Twelfth Night (Jan 6) will heap bad luck upon those that ignore the tradition.
The Twelfth Night signifies the end of the 12 days of Christmas festivities, and life then returns to normal.
Of course Christmas is a Christian holiday and not a Buddhist one, but Thailand manages every year to upgrade and expand the lights and decorations traditional at Christmas time.
Given that Thais are greatly superstitious and believe in spirits and ghosts and will even hold ceremonies to avoid bad luck, it is some wonder that the tradition of Twelfth Night has not taken hold - I still see Christmas trees and decorations in shopping malls and virtually all public venues. Will bad luck be thrust upon them?
Maybe Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future foretelling the after-life could have some small influence in teaching Thais the significance of Twelfth Night.
Some decorations still remain in place up to and even after Songkran - who knows what sort of luck that will entail?
PETER
Kalasin
Leading from the front
If a Thai army general does a crummy job, why be surprised? Years ago, generals made bad calls at demonstrations in southernmost Thailand, and none were disciplined.
If you take a close look at how they get appointed to top positions, you'll see it's not based much on skills, knowledge or intelligence.
Promotions are predicated mostly on who you know, how well you can cheat on tests and payments to superiors.
Indeed, payments for promotions are common practice in many professions in Thailand: hospitals, schools and all sorts of government offices, come to mind.
KIP KEINO
Ban Nam Lat
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/01/14/ministers-insensitivity/
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