PostBag
It was with incredulity that I read in the Bangkok Post (July 3) that during a visit to the South, our intrepid Interior Minister Chalerm snuck away from his hotel in the middle of the night "under the protection of 200 police officers" to avoid the heckling of some protesters.
Have all these policemen nothing better to do or crime to fight? Wouldn't a few of Mr Chalerm's close acquaintances yelling "Do you know who I am?" have been a more effective use of resources? It seemed to work in the past.
MARTIN R
-------------
Bravo! Rajavinit
I congratulate the students and teachers of Rajavinit secondary school for successfully exercising their constitutional rights (Bangkok Post , July 2). The PAD showed its true colours by appealing the decision, on the ludicrous ground that their so-called righteous agendas outweighed everyone else's, and once again the court justly dismissed the appeal; it seems the PAD is willing even to pick a fight with school children!
I don't know who makes up the "people" in the PAD's name, but as a law-abiding citizen of this great nation, I am definitely not one of them.
RAHAT
-------------
Not as advertised
I was pleased to see the half-page, full-colour ad from Thai Airways in the Bangkok Post (July 1, page 5) announcing a "Buy 1, Fly 2" special offer on first and business class flights in celebration of the airline's 48th anniversary.
I immediately went to my usual travel agent and tried to purchase two Royal Silk class tickets to London. The lady there told me she couldn't get the offer and several people had already been in trying to buy them after seeing it advertised.
I tried several other travel agents that day and again on Wednesday. Eventually I found one that could sell me the tickets. However, one Royal Silk class ticket to London was quoted at between 110,000 and 120,000 baht, and if I took the offer of "Buy 1, Fly 2," the cost of the ticket would be double; the second, so-called "free" ticket costing the same as buying two.
This is the most blatant piece of fraudulent advertising I have ever seen. I doubt I will be the only one complaining.
ROBERT HITCHCOCK
-------------
Unesco makes clear
The Unesco Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, in Bangkok, is concerned that media outlets continue to print misleading headlines and stories that imply Unesco has a direct role in the approval of World Heritage sites. This is in reference to the World Heritage Committee's current meeting in Quebec City to consider new sites for inscription on Unesco's World Heritage List.
The independent body which implements the 1972 World Heritage Convention and takes decisions on inscribing sites onto the World Heritage List is the World Heritage Committee. The committee is a 21-member inter-governmental body elected by the 184 States Parties that have ratified the World Heritage Convention. The committee takes decisions on inscribing new properties to the World Heritage List and oversees all matters relating to the implementation of the Convention.
Unesco is not a member of the World Heritage Committee and takes no part in deciding which properties are rejected or accepted for World Heritage status.
In assessing nominations, the World Heritage Committee is assisted by international non-governmental organisations that provide impartial professional evaluations. The International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) advises on cultural properties while the World Conservation Union (IUCN) advises on natural properties.
Unesco would also like to take this opportunity to say that, contrary to chatter in blogs and the electronic media, we have forwarded to our Unesco colleagues for the World Heritage Committee all letters and petitions from Thai officials and concerned citizens regarding the listing of Preah Vihear.
To date, they are from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the PAD, Rangsit University and the citizens of Si Sa Ket. Letters addressed to the chair and individual members of the World Heritage Committee from Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat party, were sent by me direct to Quebec City, Canada, given that the World Heritage Committee has already begun its meeting.
And finally, I have received from the Minister of Foreign Affairs a copy of his letter of July 1 to the director-general of Unesco, informing him of the Administrative Court's ruling and the Thai cabinet's decision to suspend the effect of the joint communique of June 18 co-signed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Again, to ensure that this letter reaches the director-general and, through him, the World Heritage Committee, I have faxed a copy to him in Quebec City where he is observing the deliberations of the committee.
SHELDON SHAEFFER
Director, Unesco, Bangkok
-------------
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING136 Na Ranong RoadKlong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Fax: +02 2403666email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Next
