Gracious wisdom

TheBangkok Post quotes my late queen's honest wisdom that "There can be no doubt, of course, that criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life. No institution -- city, monarchy, whatever -- should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don't." Bluntly and unequivocally well said.

Nor need more be said, save perhaps that Queen Elizabeth II welcomed the benefit of knowing to a percentage point the publicly varying degree of her own personal popularity and that of the institution which she graciously headed for seven decades. Could any prefer incomprehension to such highly pertinent knowledge of reality?

That may explain why the world's nations are sending their heads of state, irrespective of their own varying political systems and opinions, to show respect for her great achievement. As a leader of the British monarchy institute, she genuinely opened up to a world rapidly evolving both domestically and globally throughout her seven-decade reign.

Felix Qui

Erratic visa rules

Re: "New, long visa favours expats", (BP, Sept 3).

According to information published by the Board of Investment, wealthy foreigners purchasing the new Long Term Resident Visa (LTR) will be exempted from reporting to immigration officials every 90 days as required under section 37(5) of the Immigration Act.

By promoting this exemption the government appears to imply that wealth and privilege can buy immunity to Thai law. In the interest of equal rule of law, the government should rescind clause 37(5) of the Immigration Act thus exempting all foreigners from making 90-day reports.

Perhaps the government could also address the inequality in the treatment of foreign pensioners living out their retirement in Thailand regarding compulsory health insurance. Wealthy pensioners holding a LTR visa are required to have US $50,000 health insurance coverage whilst pensioners holding an O-A non-immigrant retirement visa are required to have double that.

Meanwhile, foreign pensioners holding an O non-immigrant retirement visa are not required to have any health insurance. Such inconsistencies in the treatment of foreign pensioners defy logic. I suggest the government leaves it up to each individual foreign pensioner as to whether they wish to purchase health insurance.

David Mannion

Hollow explanation

Re: "Democrats defend stance on ganja bill pull-out", (BP, Sept 17).

Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanavisit's explanation that the party's sudden volte-face on the Cannabis and Hemp Bill was due to concerns about recreational use among youths rings hollow.

All the Democrat MPs voted in favour of the bill at its first reading on June 8 when the bill contained virtually no restrictions on the use of cannabis and was mainly about licensing and fees. It sailed through its first reading in parliament with only seven dissenting votes.

So why is it only now, after the bill has been vetted by a multi-party committee and given some teeth, that the Democrats suddenly voice such concerns for the nation's youth? Are we to assume that the Democrat MPs voted for the initial draft of the bill in June without having read it?

George Morgan

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