Harsh governor should be held to account
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should look into the case in which the Chiang Mai governor has threatened the editor of the Citylife Chiang Mai magazine with criminal charges for posting a student’s painting of ancient kings wearing pollution masks to Facebook.
In the eyes of the local people, it appears the governor has been too harsh in his treatment of this particular editor.
Most Chiang Mai people regard the editor in this case as one of our city’s leading citizens, a man who has been fighting for the preservation of the city as a peaceful locality as well as a popular tourist attraction.
Chiang Mai’s city governors are appointed by the central government. They come and go as per the government’s commands. Hence unavoidable misunderstandings and conflicts sometimes occur between the governor and the local citizenry.
The government should be reminded that governors are transitory; while we the people of the city are destined to die here, along with our children and grandchildren.
With that said, the government should be careful not to allow the misunderstanding between the city governor and the local citizens to develop into a large-scale conflict.
Chavalit Wannawijitr
Chiang Mai
