Contemptible behaviour by certain politicians

TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2012
Contemptible behaviour by certain politicians

Thailand's Constitution Court, as an institution, and the judges, individually, are filling contempt of court and other charges against intimidators.

 

Good for them. 
Thai schoolchildren are brought up to show respect for the judiciary. What a bad example for all Thais when politicians publicly show contempt and cast aspersions at judges. If Pheu Thai members or red shirts or anyone else don’t agree with court decisions, they can do what mature people do: challenge those decisions with petitions or reasoned argument. Burning mock coffins and releasing home phone numbers are the vindictive acts of mean-spirited people.
If I may, I’d like to tweak the American satirist Mark Twain’s advice, in reference to newspaper editors – “Never quarrel with a man who buys ink by the barrel” – to read, “Never threaten a man who wields a gavel.”
Kip Keino
Ban Nam Lat