Post Bag
Re: ''Latinos making impact in crime circles'' (Bangkok Post, Oct 20).
The report by Wassayos Ngamkham tells us of the capture of five Latino burglars; that the ''arrested Latinos travel on Mexican and Costa Rican passports'' and ''belong to a burglary gang under the Mexican ringleader Emilio Mexicana''.
The Embassy of Mexico wishes to point out that inaccuracies in the report may have given the erroneous impression that Mexican nationals were involved in criminal activities in Thailand.
The report overlooks the fact that the embassy has been cooperating with the Phahon Yothin police station in determining the real nationality of the suspects.
Upon being informed by the Thai police of the incident, the Embassy of Mexico immediately reviewed the profiles of the people involved who claimed to be Mexican nationals _ Mr Fernando Roberto Gaona Chavez and Mr Felix Trejo Sanchez _ in the Mexican Consular System and found that these two men were in possession of Mexican passports that had been obtained dubiously.
Additionally, they admitted to having lied about their nationality, that they were falsely portraying themselves as Mexican nationals before the Thai authorities, who are now trying to establish their true identity.
Also, the name of the supposed Mexican ringleader, ''Emilio Mexicana'' is very likely false; in Mexico the surname ''Mexicana'' does not exist and no Mexican passport has been issued to any person with that last name.
ARTURO PUENTE
Ambassador, Embassy of Mexico in Thailand
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Reports biased in favour of PAD
The Bangkok Post's reporting on the Oct 7 demonstrations has been consistently biased in favour of the People's Alliance for Democracy, as has most of this newspaper's coverage of PAD activities.
In ''Investigating setback'' (BP, Oct 22) and other articles, the Bangkok Post describes the incidents on Oct 7 as a ''crackdown on unarmed protesters''. This is a blatant untruth. Numerous video clips from the scene clearly show PAD supporters using slingshots, bludgeons and bottle missiles against the police.
Another example is the Bangkok Post's insistence on reporting the deaths of two PAD supporters as being directly related to the policing operation, although an investigation has suggested that at least one of the deceased, who was found next to an exploded car, had carried explosives on his person.
The Bangkok Post seems to ask no questions on this issue, or on the issue of the PAD's murky activities in general.
It is bad enough having Sanitsuda Ekachai ranting in the Opinion section, but when the bias spills over into news reporting it is particularly unprofessional and unethical.
JESPER H NIELSEN
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So the khunying wins?
I am a little confused as to who won the Ratchadapisek land case. I think Thaksin and family won on a recount.
I've seen no information regarding who will keep the land in question, so I assume Khunying Potjaman will keep the land, which is worth probably two or three times the amount she paid, which means a profit of about 2 billion baht already!
Or have I missed something? Because the proper action would be for the state to take back the land and return Khunying Potjaman the money she'd paid for it _ less a very significant fine for her husband's collusion in the deal.
THAI LOVER
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Preserving Bangkok's historic buildings
Re: ''Protecting a guardian of the law'' (Bangkok Post, Outlook, Oct 20), regarding the plans for the Supreme Court.
I have lived in Bangkok for a little over a year, but it takes only a short time in this city to conclude that bodies such as the Committee for the Conservation and Development of the Rattanakosin and Old Towns, have clearly had little say in the way that Bangkok has developed over the last few decades.
Which I wouldn't find so depressing if, several months ago, I hadn't attended a lecture at the Siam Society given by the conservationist Sumet Jumsai, during which he presented hundreds of slides showing examples of fine buildings which had been demolished over the years to make way for the monsters which now dominate Bangkok's skyline.
Increasingly, in other major cities in the world, the C-word carries some weight and there would be no question of tearing down a good example of modernist architecture, particularly one of such historical significance, and replacing it by something which, with its corny use of the vernacular, resembles a sort of vast American mock-old hotel complex, and considering its intended function, is totally inappropriate in the context of serious judicial deliberation.
As for the alternative suggestion of reverting to a neo-classical style, why not instead maintain a group of buildings which are already classics within their own period?
Why not launch a design competition and arrive at a solution which reconciles the historical with the innovative, but within the constraints of the apparently quite adequate dimensions of the existing Supreme Court?
And, if the final cost is really going to be 15% of that of the colossus you illustrate in your article, why is there really any question about it?
DERYCK WHITTAKER
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Baldness is sexy / If Thai men think baldness or hair loss is not sexy, let me assure them that it has done wonders for me living here. My sex life has never been better. Wearing a stylish floppy hat (when exposed to direct sunlight, to prevent skin cancer) adds to the image.
Although of pensionable age, I attribute the problem not only to genetic causes but to extra free testosterone levels _ and girls like a man with a twinkle in his eye.
Save your money on wigs and hair growing remedies and join the elite band of baldies. You will be among friends.
If any woman's attitude towards your baldness causes you concern, change your woman, not your confidence level.
A smartly dressed bald man, with clean shoes and a clean shaven look, turns most women's heads.
GILES WYNNE
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