Foreign residents: please stop criticising and start helping

I am baffled by Mr Grant’s letter, whose contents fail to address the issues I raised. Mr Grant would do well to reread my letter carefully and perhaps have someone explain to him in plain English what I wrote. 

I do give him credit for acknowledging the fact that the military intervention brought peace to the streets of Bangkok. 

I clearly mentioned the underlying reasons that led to the current situation and why it was necessary for the junta to take remedial action, an issue Mr Grant found it convenient to ignore. He talks of two sides being involved in the violent actions. Which two sides is he referring to? One side lost 25 people, who were butchered, and thugs injured more than a thousand others. There is no record of any loss of life by the so-called other side.

Mr Grant does not address the issue of massive political corruption, which was one reason for the military intervention. Billions were looted through the rice fiasco at the expense of poor farmers, some of whom committed suicide after not getting paid for their crop. Does Mr Grant deny this fact? Several culprits have been apprehended and some jailed for related offences.

Mr Grants talks of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee being a political faction. To clarify, the PDRC comprised ordinary people who turned out in huge numbers to show their discontent with the regime in power at the time. It is not and never was a political tool for anyone seeking to gain power.

I am supportive of the current regime and I have my reasons for that. There are millions in this country who share my stance. You may or may not concur with the figures in opinion polls indicating junta support among the people, but surely there seems to be contentment all around.

Fresh elections will take place when the time is right – a calculation which is not for you to make.

Finally, some friendly advice to Mr Grant from someone who has lived here for 60 years: Do something positive. Think positive. Do some noble deed for society, instead of merely finding fault with the junta. Foreigners living here have a moral responsibility towards the country that has given them refuge.

Satish Sehgal