The EC found enough evidence to dissolve two parties, without protest, so surely they know where the funds came from. Would they be this slow in revealing the source if the funds really came from the Democrats?

Thaikorn Polsuwan says he acted alone in approaching the Better Life Party. Is he telling the truth? Is the Democrat Party really behind the hiring of the small party? If so, why send an on-again, off-again Democrat as go-between, rather than one more credible? Why is the DVD implicating Thaikorn coming from the Thai Rak Thai - not the EC or police? Did Thai Rak Thai have the ex-Prachachorn Thai leader play the role of Democrat spokesman?

Both cases should be thoroughly investigated by a competent party seen to be neutral. Given that the courts have had to invalidate the April 2 election, and that many of its decisions just happened to favour the Thai Rak Thai, that competent, neutral party certainly wouldn't be the EC. This is a matter for the courts.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Regulate public transport at popular tourist spots

 On a recent trip to Phuket, I found that the island is well and truly back to normal after the tsunami. And that means there is still no viable public transport system around the island, only rip-off Subaru trucks that charge a small fortune to go a few hundred metres.

In a "meter taxi" in Bangkok I could go all the way across the large city for a very small sum of money. Not in Phuket. At one point I wanted to go from one end of Karon Beach to the other and the cheapest fare I could bargain was Bt150. The same distance in a "meter taxi" in Bangkok would have cost me only Bt35.

If Thailand wants to attract more tourists, one of the first things the people in charge should do is organise public transport in the popular destinations like Phuket, Samui (where I've heard some horror stories about the taxi mafia), and Pattaya, where the privately-owned "baht buses" rule the road.

Alan na Sydney

bangkok

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Why are foreigners charged 10 times more than locals?

 There is blatant discrimination and racism through its excessive charging of "foreigners" at Thailand's tourist sites.

Even showing a Thai driving licence and residence visa did not influence the gatekeeper at the Tad Ton Waterfall in Chaiyaphum. The charge for Thais is Bt20 and for "foreigners" Bt200. That is a 1,000-per-cent increase on the entrance fee for Thais, and the waterfall is not even man-made.

I submit that had I been a "foreigner" of Asian or Thai descent, there would have been no increased charge. It is mostly Caucasians/Europeans who are identified as "foreigners" and charged as such, hence my charge of racism.

The three Thais travelling with me were embarrassed at the injustice and we left without seeing the waterfall. I call on the Ministry of Tourism to order that the practice of charging "foreigners" extra be dropped.

The Nation should start a nationwide campaign to identify and expose sites where this pricing system is practised. It should also not publicise such places.

Giles Wynne

Korat

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British character will save their country from decline

 Re: "Britain is now a reason for concern, not fond nostalgia", Letters, May 14.

Please allow me, as an Anglophile, to comment on R Richards' concern in reaction to C Croft's nostalgia for Britain, "Expat Brits nostalgic about the little pleasures of life", Letters, May 7. The two letters demonstrate the Brits' strength - one is concerned with a possible decline, the other longing for a calm and nostalgic life - which, in my opinion, is impenetrable.

Watching the various programmes on BBC, especially "The Weakest Link" and "Mastermind", gives me great confidence in the British. I am stupefied each week by the participants' level of general knowledge; some were only in their 20s and most were in average professions. Comparing them with some of the quiz shows here simply makes you want to cry for your country.

The recent call from Labour Party members for a definite date for Tony Blair's exit is another example of the British capacity for self-criticism and self-improvement.

There may be some slides in the quality of life because of changing global environment, but to expect Britain to turn into a dustbin nation seems somehow extreme.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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Capital punishment not only wrong but can be exploited

 I thoroughly sympathise with Mark Smith in feeling that the death sentence is appropriate for the killer of his son ("Personal testimony to death penalty's deterrence value", Letters, May 12). I could well hold similar feelings if such a thing ever happened to me. However, with all due respect, having first-hand experience of the killing of a loved one and, by his own admission, being a trained and experienced killer himself, automatically and seriously biases his opinion. One can always cite examples of where the death sentence might be fully justified and that is why populist policies on this matter are at fault in extrapolating from the particular to the general.

I could add examples of where the death sentence could lead to more murders, such as when a killer hostage-taker feels that he has only the prospect of a death sentence. Wouldn't he be more inclined to kill any remaining hostages he might have out of spite?

And do we really need an opportunity to create martyrs, such as with Timothy McVeigh? For example, Zacarias Moussaoui's main crime seems to have been his admission of conspiracy (which he subsequently retracted) in the September 11 attacks, and his unapologetic and sneering attitude in court. I recently read that this led to 11 out of the 12 jurors in his trial to believe he should be handed the death sentence - exactly what Moussaoui was hoping to achieve.

Death sentences in most states that have them are often given for crimes that do not involve murder, such as drug trafficking, apostasy, treason, conspiracy and adultery, and a guilty verdict can be based on a simple admission of guilt. Let us also not forget that only 50 years ago, blacks were lynched in the southern states of America just for having sexual relations with white women.

Why is it that poor people and non-whites are proportionally more likely to be sentenced to death than rich people or whites? Is it because they are inherently more evil than whites or rich people? If the answer to this question is no, then that in itself is enough reason to have an international ban on the death sentence in all criminal cases.

Don't get me wrong. Murder is the most evil crime anyone can commit. It should be punished appropriately and responsibly. I agree with Smith wholeheartedly that 18-30 years is an inadequate sentence for brutal murder. Life, meaning life - if necessary in solitary confinement in maximum security and with hard labour and no parole - would be more appropriate, unless extenuating circumstances or evidence are subsequently uncovered.

If it is really necessary for the 12th juror in the Moussaoui trial to be dogged with the tag of "lefty" (nay, read "commie"), then I am proud to be part of their pack.

Peter Moseley

Bangkok

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Personal initiative needed to popularise alternative energy

 I have just returned from a visit to California, where there are inland hills that run parallel to the coast. At some of the lower gaps between the hills, where there's a steady flow of wind from west to east, from the warmer valleys to cooler upper elevations are placed large electricity-generating windmills. This made me wonder whether there are similar places in Thailand where the wind blows at a steady clip.

The wind turbine generators in California are likely manufactured in Denmark or Germany. Have there been any feasibility studies to see whether Thailand could develop a similar manufacturing sector - to get in on that sort of bounty? Hint: demand is only going to go up and up.

I read in the newspaper, years ago during the Chuan administration, that there was a study in Thailand to find out whether solar power/PVC panels were feasible. The conclusion was something absurd like: "Because Thailand has so much sunshine, we need to study more to see what sort of solar panels are best suited." Thailand has sunshine most of the year, so what's being done to get solar panels out there? In actual fact, though Thailand is sunny most days of the year, the skies are usually not clear. I take outdoor photos throughout the year, and nearly all my photos show white skies, not blue. But solar panels don't care; they'll do their job even in smoggy skies, though less efficiently.

Recently, I overheard two farangs discussing passive solar systems - as used to pre-heat water. They bandied around figures of between Bt70,000 and Bt200,000 for such a system. I've put in three passive solar systems on my farmstead in northern Thailand and not one cost more than Bt 12,000. All were made from recycled stainless steel holding tanks and a few plumbing fixtures - and each system gives warm water about 250 evenings a year.

Thailand is not a trend-setter in regard to alternative energy, but there's a lot of useful and practical information already available for free. It's not too late to get on the bandwagon -maybe even add some newfangled technology to the equation. Don't wait for government incentives like rebates on hybrid cars, or partial reimbursement for people who install alternative energy systems. They're way behind the eight ball, plus they're too busy trying to save their skins from getting singed in the current political rotisserie.

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai