A wise head keeps a still tongue

Congratulations to Tulsathit Taptim on his appraisal of the rice price-pledging scheme. The scheme has fallen into such a deep hole that even Thaksin’s servant, ex-deputy prime minister Chalerm, is seeking to criticise it and blame Prime Minister Yingluck for it. This is despite the heroic raid of 2,100 rice millers, in an amazingly short time scale, having completely “cleared” the project of corruption, according to the deputy minister of agriculture.

The conclusion completely encapsulates the problem. When this gravy train gets derailed, how will Pheu Thai be able to consolidate its place in office to reap the benefits of the mega-projects? They could have handled things differently.

A bird was flying south for the winter but left late and fell to earth nearly frozen and close to death. A passing cow dropped a steaming hot cow pat on the bird. The bird was so overjoyed, he sang out loud. The farm cat heard him and ate him up. The moral is that the person who puts you in the muck is not necessarily your enemy. The person who gets you out is not necessarily your friend. If you are in the muck, keep quiet about it. Chalerm should have kept this in mind.

RICHARD BOWLER

Bangkok