Post Bag
After reading the front-page article, ''FDA says milk powder tainted'' (Bangkok Post, Sept 30), my first question to Mr Thirayuth (managing director of Dutch Mill, with 35 years' experience in food technology), or any food supplier, would not be, ''Is the amount of melamine in your food products safe to consume?'' It would be: ''What is melamine doing in your food products in the first place?''
I look forward to the comments of any of the suppliers listed as having melamine in their food products.
HERVE B
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Politicians to blame, too
Why is it that governments around the world did nothing until financial death was knocking on the door? They were told at least five years ago about the dire state of the international financial markets. In this respect, clear examples of this knowledge that they had at the time were:
In 2003, the former US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan warned of the forthcoming financial collapse of the US if Fannie Mae's activities were not reined in. The government did nothing and Fannie Mae was allowed to continue operating until only last month, some five years after the warning from the US' top banker.
In 2006, the Bank for International Settlements, the world's most prestigious financial body and the central bankers' ultimate bank, stated that the financial world was in a diabolical state and that it had to change its current ways and activities. No government throughout the world intervened until it is was too late.
Clearly, therefore, it is the politicians who are to blame for all the mess we now find ourselves in, and due to them not taking any action years ago.
Indeed, the dire problems that we are now starting to witness are a direct result of their total complacency for years and where eventually it will cause the worst financial crash that we have ever witnessed _ for this is already transferring into the economy and where the wheels of industry are now steadily but surely starting to slow to a full stop.
Thus it is not only the bankers who need sorting out but their bed pals the politicians as well. For both have made enormous financial benefit out of this unprecedented, irresponsible and appalling personal greed.
DR DAVID HILL Bern, Switzerland
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Beware the Greeks!
Thaksin's brother-in-law calls for political reform to advance democracy with the King as head of state and bring about effective participation by the people. Bravo! But, to me, it sounds as credible as Ali Baba calling for rule of law. In classical mythology, Laocoon, a Trojan priest and visionary, said, ''Beware the Greeks, even bearing gifts'' _ when Troy wanted to bring in the huge wooden horse that the Greeks had left.
That is why I agree with Democrat party spokesman Buranat Samuttharak when he says they are concerned that the government will try to rig nominations to the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) in its favour and maybe change the constitution so that TRT/PPP need not be dissolved per law even if guilty, using its vast parliamentary majority to do so.
I would recommend that the new CDA follow the pattern of the one that was chaired by Anand Panyarachun, which gave us a charter with the greatest participation to date, e.g., holding widespread public hearings and really listening, not just hearing.
Learn from the recent face-off in the US Congress over the rejected $700 billion bailout proposal, of how a strong, stable political system heeds its constituents and not necessarily the party leadership; how parties belong to their members, not to their leaders/financiers, and least of all to a fugitive from the law in a far-off land.
Parliament should first debate the specific, measurable, relevant criteria through which CDA nominees will be chosen, and each nominee must show how he/she meets those criteria. Beware the Greeks!
BURIN KANTABUTRA
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