POSTBAG

Dare he fly in ?

As a Thai citizen, I urge the current well-intentioned government not to reopen Don Muang Airport until after the election takes place, on the pure and simple assumption that the former PM will not dare risk his life by landing on the runway at Suvarnabhumi.

VEJ T S P

Carry on building

We were told that Thailand was badly in need of a new airport because the old one had reached full capacity. Then a multi-billion-baht airport later, we are told that the new airport has reached its full capacity soon after its opening. So why did they build it? Am I missing something here? Maybe the solution would be to build another new airport?

And they wonder why the world doesn't take Thailand seriously...

FRANK STRAUBE

Chon Buri

A major achievement

It's a sad day when the Bangkok Post runs a front-page headline about one leaking toilet pipe at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the ridiculous notion of closing down the new airport for repairs gathers momentum daily. This notion is promoted by people who have no clue about either airport operations or the known limitations of Don Muang.

It's about time that people realised that Suvarnabhumi Airport is a major achievement and asset for the country, built by a dedicated Thai workforce for the future of Thailand as both a tourist and aviation hub. What must foreigners think of the ridiculous debate that is allowed to fester in the media, particularly the recent scaremongering about safety issues? Suvarnabhumi was never Mr Thaksin's airport - it belongs to the Thai people and they should be allowed to be proud of it.

MARTIN CONISBEE

Can't let go

Re: "The job of parenting never ends" (Perspective, Jan 28). Here in Thailand, parents tend to coddle their offspring right into adulthood and to retain almost total control over them, even in their personal lives. They don't seem to be able to let go, to stop parenting, and to let their sons and daughters grow up to become responsible and independent adults. This can't be a good thing.

CHA-AM JAMAL

Give Ombudsman teeth

Your report (Bangkok Post, Jan 29) on the drafting of the new constitution included a suggestion that the Office of Ombudsman be abolished, since it was "without teeth".

Better, why not retain this valuable institution and give it some teeth?

B D

Hua Hin

Once again, only the rich need apply

Re: the article of Jan 29, "Foreigners warned on land". Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet was quoted as saying that Thailand is not backtracking from globalisation or from welcoming foreign investors, but wants only quality investors, not just any investors. The government line on foreign investment is starting to sound like the approach to tourism urged by Thaksin Shinawatra, who wanted to encourage only the wealthiest tourists and not bother with backpackers or low-spending tour groups.

In reality, trying to cherry-pick foreign investors, based solely on the host country's requirements, will be as hard as attracting only wealthy tourists. Foreign investors are all interlinked with each other in the same way as tourists, and thrive in an atmosphere where all foreign investment is welcome, whether small or large. That way, they have confidence that goal posts will not suddenly be moved and that they can easily find the same support businesses they rely on in other countries.

The new approach to foreign investors will no doubt play well with local vested interests but, in its stated aim of attracting quality foreign investors, it is not likely to be any more successful than Mr Thaksin's Elite Card.

NICK FOGARTY

Profound ignorance from a minister

One knows not whether to cry, laugh or simply shake one's head in utter amazement at the profound ignorance of Thai politics and some of its leaders. On first blush, the coup seemed a reasonable approach to "nip the bud' of problems under the Thaksin regime. But when the new, self-appointed government had a paid vacation to Chiang Mai to seek the advice of a local fortune-teller, it became abundantly clear to this foreigner that the future leadership problems would continue to run very, very deep, indeed.

When Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet unabashedly says, "It's not that we are backtracking from globalisation and not welcoming foreign investors, but what we want is good quality investors, not just any investors," and then goes on to say, "If the investors cannot observe one or two laws that are similar to those in other civilised countries, then we should not care about them," who is he seriously trying to convince? Only a sheltered soul not at all familiar with basic capitalism and its unwritten laws, and how those laws are a premise for capitalist conduct, would consider his statements reasonable.

Here's a thought - perhaps even one of the civilised country's simple, capitalist laws - for the minister to consider: Allow the owner of the investment money to control the investment!

The minister also fails to clarify his definition of "quality of investors".

I suggest he must mean "gullibility of investors", but certainly not the presumed investor's lawful track record or proven ethical background as most readers would take it; for only the gullible would invest (or does the minister mean "gamble"?) in something which they did not retain control.

SAMUI DAVE

Upholding justice

This past weekend, speaking about rooting out terrorists, PM Surayud said, "Reconciliation does not mean the government would refrain from going by the law. The government must uphold the principle of justice. Those found guilty of breaking the law must be strictly prosecuted."

Well said, Mr PM. But rule of law means one standard for all of us.

At Krue Se, lightly-armed terrorists were all killed, leading an official investigation to conclude that the authorities used excessive force. At Tak Bai, 78 suspects, bound hand and foot by the military, suffocated to death. Lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit was abducted, presumed murdered, over two years ago.

Applying the principle of law to these three cases will go a long way towards achieving the reconciliation we all seek.

So, when may we expect some courts-martial and arrests, PM Surayud? Back up your welcome words with action.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

Bangkok Post
Wednesday January 31, 2007