PostBag
I am a Thai citizen living in the United States. The issue of the temple feud has saddened me and troubled my thoughts. In my mind, this issue has the potential to be a win-win situation for everyone, not a win-lose situation. The temple is for all to cherish and enjoy. It is not going anywhere and it is for all to share.
Let us, both Thais and Cambodians, make Preah Vihear a free zone with no flags and no nationalist propaganda. Instead, let's have equal numbers of both Thai and Cambodian forces keeping the peace.
Let us also have equal numbers of Thai and Cambodian shops, where everyone would live together as one and flourish economically from trade and tourism as a community. Let us, both the peoples of Thailand and Cambodia, make the temple a better place, a more beautiful place, and a glorious place just like the way the temple was 900 years ago.
Let the peoples of Thailand and Cambodia advertise to the world that there is no animosity to speak of at this place. There is just love and peace for all living things. Yes, this would indeed be a win-win situation for all.
TOM
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'Incursion' by trespassers
Vuth Chanserei Phuon of Phnom Penh condemns Thailand for "exercising gunboat diplomacy" against Cambodia in the current flareup (Postbag, July 23).
I was amused and surprised by the writer's understanding of the events. I think Thailand dealt with Cambodia's application to the World Heritage Committee with kid gloves. We can hardly threaten Cambodia with gun power.
Furthermore, Cambodia was the first party to send 1,000 troops against the three "tres-passers"; thereafter Thailand responded with a troop buildup of 500.
Not satisfied with that upper hand and in order to get the most publicity, Cambodia further called for the United Nations to intervene, via a Security Council meeting, against Thailand's "incursion".
It is this "incursion" by the three "tres-passers" that now requires UN attention!
Phnom Penh has also called for Asean's "help". With Cambodia's international PR blitz and whining, Thailand is now seen as the "aggressor" in the eyes of the world.
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
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Neutral territory
The spectacle of two supposedly Buddhist nations bickering about an ancient Hindu temple and some surrounding real estate is surely diametrically opposed to the Lord Buddha's teachings.
Rather than turning the disputed land into a bone of contention and a symbol of out-of-control nationalism, it should be declared neutral territory as a token of friendship and goodwill between the two countries.
ERWIN ALBER
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Buy London's buses
It is so nice to finally hear some sense coming from the government - in refusing to allow the overpriced leasing deal for buses. Any idiot could see that it made no sense to lease the buses at double the price they would cost to buy outright.
No doubt they can be purchased with an excellent warranty on working parts, etc. Plus a deal to ship fitters to the manufacturing company for maintenance training and allow the recruitment of extra Thai staff to work on them. And in 5-10 years' time, by selling them in an auction or transferring them to other parts of Thailand, the government could recoup some of the outlay.
By the way, why not buy the old double-deck Routemaster from London, ship them in and use them on the cheaper routes? These excellent vehicles have proven their worth as clean, easy-to-drive and speed-restricted buses. I am sure the British government will let you have the last 200 or so vehicles for a few shiploads of chicken!
FROM UPCOUNTRY
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A waste of resources
I'm doing my bit for global warming by leaving the car at home, using the baht-bus and walking more, only to discover I am polluting and damaging myself and family with the exhaust fumes. I am recycling my plastics and glass by keeping them separate from household waste, but there are no bins provided by the city fathers. I could use solar electricity to run my bath shower and electric fan, if the government offered them for sale and fitted them at cost price.
Travelling around the country in search of permission to stay here, making visa runs and reporting to Immigration is hugely expensive, time-consuming and all adds to a waste of resources.
There is so much that we could all do to reduce global warming and protect this country's resources, but government must take the lead first.
GILES WYNNE
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Badge of honour
I have seen hundreds of Thais, including Thai soldiers, wearing surplus US Army jackets (with "US Army" still stitched on them). That, in itself, does not prove anything. They seem to wear them as a badge of honour! Look around you, Lance (Postbag, July 22).
PAUL
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