Re: ''Sonthi 'must yield coup secrets''' (BP, March 23).
Somebody is guilty of something. In looking for the guilty party the first line of thought is: Who benefited from the crime?
Was the 2006 coup a crime? If so, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin should be held to account. If the coup was ''justified'' then Gen Sonthi must know why he did it and speak up about it now, so he can be exonerated, and the crimes of the regime under pre-2006 rules can be considered.
The military regime set up new courts to try cases which will now be trashed and the verdicts annulled. That rings a bell in terms of the 2001 assets trial where four judges ruled in favour of Thaksin Shinawatra because he was being tried in the wrong court. Who stands to benefit from the coup? Both the gamekeeper and poacher by the looks of it. The old regime looks set to get a whitewash administered by the coup leader. What a convenient result for both parties.
RICHARD BOWLER
Sonthi can't keep mum
Re: ''Sonthi 'must yield coup secrets''' (BP, March 23).
A coup leader uses guns and tanks to tear up a democratic constitution; while a peace process leader must at least be a person with a democratic resume.
Therefore, why should the man who engineered and led the 2006 coup, former army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, be chosen to head the country's reconciliation process by parliament? Can anybody give a satisfactory answer to this?
Now, since Gen Sonthi has accepted this reconciliation job, he must act appropriately by opening his mouth to every lingering question _ not keeping mum about it.
For unless we talk, there will just be lingering doubts _ but no real reconciliation.
VINT CHAVALA
Lamphun
Unity starts and ends with the people
Re: ''Sonthi 'must yield coup secrets''' (BP, March 23).
First Sanan Kachornprasart demands Sonthi Boonyaratkalin reveal the secrets of the coup because it's needed to heal divisions. For whom? Not most people who have put this far behind them now. It seems more to get at those who Thaksin Shinawatra sees as his enemies. They also want to get rid of the Assets Scrutiny Committee to get rid of all those cases against him. What's the goal? A psychopath's revenge?
Secondly, it's payment to the red shirts for Bangkok in 2010. What about those who have waited for years for justice from Thaksin's rule? Mr Sanan wants to find Thaksin's enemies. That will not unite the people.
Unity starts with the people/population and ends with them, not the politicians who seem glued to their seats of power.
LONG-TIME GUEST
AEC benefits will come
Re: ''Bayer points out AEC negative'' (BP, Business, March 23).
Bayer wants to clarify this story, which appeared with a misleading headline.
Bayer foresees that in general the Asean Economy Community (AEC) will be quite positive. Over the years benefits will be seen in a common market, just as with the European Union (EU). Even though some are struggling right now, most people in Europe still appreciate the EU. Across industries, operating in a common market will be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. In this sense, it is still too early to say exactly how it will shape up. However, expectations should not be too great. As can be seen from the EU, which was founded in 1958, it has taken a while for the concept to develop. A common market also needs time to develop. There are many benefits to industry as well as to participating countries such as removing tax or tariff barriers. Local firms will also have more opportunities when countries do not have to stand alone.
Meanwhile, there will sometimes be more pressure because the differences between individual standards will become more obvious and competition will increase. Countries should upgrade infrastructure and prepare well. Lastly, a concrete roadmap for the AEC is a key message to develop over time. Asean is an important world region. It is high time to consider this and how to stay at the top of the global level.
NAT LOHSUWAN
General Manager for Communications
Country Group North Asean
Bayer Thai Co Ltd
Volunteers, keep it up!
Re: ''Wildlife foundation head sets the record straight'' (Postbag, March 23).
Much as I love Thailand, I would dearly like to see someone take legal action against government officials' propensity to accuse volunteers of breaking the law as a defence against their own incompetence. This habit seems to permeate all levels of Thai society.
In my experience, it is addressed against foreigners, mostly, whether at the local or national level. I recollect concerns that I had when I was distributing a not-inconsiderable donation of funds from abroad to tsunami victims. There was the fear of being accused that I was doing it for personal profit by a few of the local villagers whom I was helping. Fortunately, then and now, I refuse to let the small-mindedness (again, of a few) stop me. The reality is that there are no generally accepted practices of morality, compassion, nor business ethics in this country. It comes down to the jai dee of each individual Thai _ many of whom I am fortunate to have met during the 19 years since I first visited Thailand. To the volunteers in Thailand, whether Thai or foreign nationals, please continue your good work!
DON MCMAHON
Blessed are those who give
Re: ''Service charge reaches tipping point'' (BP, Thinkbox, March 23).
Decades ago in the US it was common knowledge that standard service required a 10% tip, good service got a 15% tip and exemplary service deserved a 20% tip. As an example of how that was supported, the Michael Baker Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania printed up credit card-sized charts with the total charge in the first column and the corresponding 10%, 15% and 20% tips in the next three columns so people could carry the charts with them and give the appropriate tips. The charts were given away for free. That of course was in the old days when people like Michael Baker thought it was more blessed to give than to receive. Just where are the Michael Bakers of today?
GUY BAKER
Italy welcomes you
Re: ''Baffled by visa rules'' (Postbag, March 17). With reference to the letter of Umesh Pandey, the Embassy of Italy deems it necessary to state the following:
The limit of 30 requests per day refers only to those who apply to the Joint Visa Application Centre without an appointment. For each day there should be added other 220-240 applicants who have made an appointment in advance. In this period near to Songkran the visa office is processing more than 300 requests a day. In particular circumstances, such as those of Khun Umesh, particular arrangements are also made.
Since Jan 5, we started a kind and fruitful cooperation with VFS, which has been entrusted mostly with the collection of documents. In fact, the engagement of VFS increased the number of visas issued by the embassy by 71% over the same period last year.
The embassy is definitely interested in further increasing the number of Thai and international tourists who decide to travel to Italy to enjoy its natural beauties and cultural heritage as well as to establish friendships with the warmhearted Italian people. Khun Umesh will be one of them.
EMBASSY OF ITALY
Foreigners can't leave and take land with them
Re: ''Nominee holdings in the gun'' (BP, March 20). It is quite shocking to read Khun Piyanut Potawanit's comments on land ownership. She paints all foreigners with the same brush as well as her fellow Thai women married to foreigners. What she fails to mention is that it is not illegal for a Thai company to hold land providing foreign shareholders are in the minority. A Thai national married to a foreigner can also legally acquire land providing her foreign husband signs off his rights to the land forever at the land office. So what is the worst that could happen? It's not like we evil foreigners are able to some day leave and take all the land with us. Her issue seems to be with foreigners or Thais married to foreigners investing in Thailand and perhaps making a profit on the side. So, do I find her comments xenophobic? Yes, extremely so.
She claims more than 170,000 sq km are foreign-owned. That's over 100,000,000 rai. Instead of vague claims, why not just publish her study results for all to see?
One issue I agree with her on is a lack of law enforcement, one of the biggest obstacles to attracting foreign investment to Thailand together with constant unpredictable changes in policies. Khun Piyanut and Thailand should finally make up their mind. Join the global community of developed nations or sink deeper into the abyss of isolation.
MJ
Someone stop the burning
Re: ''Cool weather, land burning aggravate Chiang Rai haze'' (BP, March 20).
The north is heavily polluted and the incompetent politicians and ''environmentalists'' are like chickens with their heads chopped off. There isn't one competent individual who has the foresight to make a dent in the ongoing problem. Do they not realise that burning goes on in every village, every wat, every rice field? I ride my motorbike every day in the Chiang Mai area for 60-100km and I see trash, plastic, rubbish and anything else people don't want to give to the garbage men burning! A black garbage bag costs 7 baht. Burning is cheaper and, because the people are not educated about the problems they are causing, the burning continues. Incompetence and stupidity! It is one of many reasons why miracle Thailand will remain a third-world country.
RFCM
Chiang Mai
Timetable madness
When planning my trip from home near Asoke to Suvarnabhumi airport, I searched on the website of the Airport Rail Link for a timetable from Makkasan. To my surprise, the website only showed timetables from Suvarnabhumi to Makkasan and Phaya Thai, both for the Express and City lines, on weekdays and weekends. I enquired both at the Makkasan ticket office and at the information counter at the Suvarnabhumi end of the line and was told there are no printed timetables available to the public. This is unacceptable for a capital city like Bangkok. No wonder there are so few customers. No ad campaign can change this when basic services are missing. All other Asian airports with rail links have timetables for both directions, at least on the internet.
HAN H HARTLEBEN
Let's have clarity about airport duty-free booze
Can someone please tell me if Airports of Thailand talks to the concessionaires at Suvarnabhumi airport?
On March 5, I bought a bottle of whiskey at the King Power outlet en route to Sydney on Qantas. The King Power staff sealed it in a plastic bag and I made my way to the departure gate where there was an additional security check. The security people there said the bottle exceeded the volume of fluid I could take on board and I had to take it back to King Power (a 30-minute round trip).
My questions are: When was this regulation for duty-free liquor introduced? Why did King Power sell it to me if they knew of this regulation? If they didn't know, why not? And if only arriving travellers can buy duty-free liquor why not advise travellers at the outlets?
DUNCAN NIVEN
Where's my lotto website?
Has Big Brother gone mad? For years, as a Bangkok resident, I have indulged myself in the harmless pursuit of purchasing lottery tickets from the Australian Tattersalls website based in Melbourne.
This morning however, I find that Thailand's inappropriately named Information and Communication Technology Ministry has blocked access to the site. The implications of this action by a government agency go far, far beyond the mere inconvenience of having my brother in Melbourne purchase my lottery tickets for me. In fact it should sound warning bells in a myriad of harmless domains.
Surely this madness by faceless techno-bureaucrats must be subject to some commonsense oversight, review and accountability.
Should not the faceless puppeteers who made such decisions be brought to account?
DR PHILIP NICHOLLS
Aspiring Acer laptop owner disappointed
Having read the Acer advertisement regarding the sale of Acer Aspire One laptops at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre for only 4,495 baht, I was enticed to go there early on March 22. I arrived at just before 9am and only a few people were waiting for the doors to open at 10am. As there were only 100 laptops available and I was No.5 in the queue I thought this was ''in the bag''. When the doors opened at 10am everyone rushed in and I was extremely surprised to see at least 150 people already queueing for the closed doors to the ''laptop sales'' area. I managed to get in front of the queue and was maybe No.20 to get into the sales area. And yes, of course, within the sales area there was another queue of at least 200 people already waiting.
The visitors who waited outside for the Convention Centre to open its doors all left totally disappointed without even a glance at the laptops. I left the centre with a promise never to fall for this kind of advertising again.
PETER DE VOS
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