Asean members have a duty to protect migrants

Pursuing their pipedreams to seek some semblance of merciful compassion, recognised acceptance of their urgent plight and more humane civil rights treatment wherever/ however - their only seemingly hopeful option seems to be sneaking across tightly patrolled borders into Thailand.

Unfortunately, many uprooted migrant workers from Burma, whose sole goal is to find legal employment and to create better future lives for their loved ones, become exploited victims of unscrupulous human trafficking brokers, corrupt immigration officials, myopic, outdated policies regarding job seekers.

Discriminatory policies deny universal civil rights and social welfare protection even though constitutional laws cover everybody on Thai soil. A well-coordinated proactive plan, under the auspices of Asean, must address this problem now!

Chanchai Prasertson

Bangkok

The goose that lays the golden egg may fly away

It was with considerable astonishment I read the proposal that, because of problems existing in the public health service, an extra 30-per-cent tax should be added to the bills of foreigners receiving treatment in private hospitals. The only reason foreigners come to Thailand for medical treatment is the fact that by comparison with their own countries, it is affordable. An increase of 30 per cent would make a considerable difference.

In the sixties, medical treatment in England was affordable too. This attracted many foreigners, especially those from Arab countries loaded with petro-dollars. Stupidly and greedily, the London medical profession also increased their prices with the consequence that the goose which had laid them their golden eggs, moved and laid those eggs in Germany.

With plenty of competition available in other countries such as India, Singapore or Malaysia, this is precisely what Thailand can expect if the authorities here are foolish enough to artificially increase private medical fees with a substantial tax hike. Your goose will cease to lay its golden eggs. After all, even the sick don't like to be ripped off!

As to the problems the country has in its public sector, the answer is really quite simple.

Since the state is prepared to train medical students for very little, then upon qualification, these former students are indebted to the state and should be prepared to commit themselves to say, five years of public service with perhaps one caveat, the state should be prepared to pay them a genuine living wage. Thirty baht per patient may be politically attractive but simply won't provide the money. You have to be a little more realistic.

HA

Bangkok

Sit Jakrapob in a quiet corner with a good book

Re: Jakrapob should be jailed for use of English, letters June 6.

Sumet Jumsai suggests the rather draconian measure of jailing Jakrapob for abuse of the Queen's English. But who has jurisdiction? It would hardly be feasible to extradite him to the UK.

A simpler alternative might be to give him a copy of Sir Ernest Gower's "The Complete Plain Words", which not so long ago was recommended reading for government officials in Whitehall. Then put him under house arrest until he had read it from cover to cover.

That should do the trick.

Citizen Jane

Bangkok

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