Sagittarius's letter makes some admirable points in pleading for improvements in the behaviour of those who intimidate or cheat tourists. He also rightly pleads for a clean-up of tourist sites and an end to the "infamous double-pricing" of tourists. After all, visitors who feel they have been fleeced will not only decide not to return, but also encourage others not to come.

The pursuit of these goals is something few could argue about. However, it needs to be clearly understood that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is primarily a government marketing agency, promoting Thailand's tourist industry abroad and at home, through often well-hidden resort offices. Unlike the government tourist organisations of Hong Kong and Singapore, for example, the TAT has no enforcement powers to redress the complaints of tourists who find themselves at the end of dishonest deals. The TAT, of course, does license travel agencies to provide guidance for tourists.

Neither does the TAT have any power or willingness to ensure good environmental standards at tourist sites. Those are issues for provincial governors and tambon heads.

Thailand has laws on the statute books for almost every offence, but such is the tolerance (and some might say lethargy) of the law-enforcement agencies and local authorities that tourists remain alone and at the mercy of the unscrupulous.

International standards, where they are present, are set by the better representations of the private sector, not that pathetic excuse for a government in Bangkok. It's sad that despite the presence of mobile phones, Mercedes cars and five-star resorts, Thailand remains seriously behind the most developed of its competitors in the way it maintains its tourist assets.

Value for money on its own will not save the country's tourist industry in the long term.

David Prescott

UK

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Those who object to a price simply need not pay it

Re: "It's not the economics of dual pricing, but that it's accepted", Letters, May 25.

Bernard Walker uses the favourite Western terms "extortion" and "morally acceptable behaviour".

First, allow me to reply to the "morally acceptable behaviour" charge. Has it ever occurred to any of these people that Thais may not be charging us more, but rather charging Thais less? Of course the weasel with the Mercedes is going to sneak through also, but it could be that the lower charge is designed for Thais who can't afford these attractions.

And if we are to get into morality, let's discuss the US$50 [Bt1,900] for adults and $37 for my kids I paid at the San Diego Zoo a few years ago, when I mistakenly took my family to California for what I thought was going to be a vacation but turned out to be a fleecing. Ditto for SeaWorld and Disneyland. (I'm sure Walt is turning over in his grave).

How Westerners can pay such tabs along with the outrageous sums charged for sport matches, movies, etc, etc, and then come to Thailand and whine about a $5 charge is morally unacceptable to me.

Second, from an economic standpoint, what does legislation [as suggested by other letter-writers] have to do with a free marketplace? Business is simple. You put out a table, lay a product on it and put a charge on it. If the product is good and the charge fair, someone will buy it. If not, they won't. Governments have no right to tell people what they should charge whom for their product or service or whom to sell to or serve. The decision to buy should be left in the hands of the buyer. The only exception to this would be in the case when it is a product or service that is a necessity of life.

The question here is do you think Bt200 is a fair price to enter the event you wish to see? Not whether Noi and Preecha are getting a better deal. Does the deal work for you? If not, don't buy. What Westerners refer to as a free marketplace has become a joke in the West. That is the reason there are few small businesses in the West any longer, and only large corporations can afford the regulation, taxation, price controls, Environmental Protection Agency rules, lawsuits and in-house lawyers and accountants. All of this is thanks to an oppressive, over-controlling government.

I submit that these Westerners no longer have any concept of what true freedom is, and I would appreciate them leaving their "Westerner's Book of Rules and Regulations" at Immigration when they arrive. I say this because I live here, and I have a fear that the virus will spread to well-meaning Thais in a position to "Westernise" this country.

John Arnone

Yasothon

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As long as prices are lower than in the West, it's okay

I see that everyone is crying about two-tier pricing again. A Thai pays Bt10, and a farang pays Bt50 or Bt100. Big deal! In other countries, everybody pays the same high rip-off price. I would rather pay the farang price in Thailand than the inflated rip-off prices in the countries that don't discriminate.

Bill Cymbalsky

Bangkok

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Sharing his SET experience would be much appreciated

Re: "Kudos to Kittiratt for setting an example in integrity", Letters, May 26.

This was a welcome, albeit rare, comment on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) by Burin Kantabutra.

Since Burin is an adviser to the SET and has an office in that building, why can't this gentlemen contribute more often on the proper development of this mighty important institution as he sees it? Rather than just regularly rambling and contributing along on all other issues.

Paul A Renaud

Zurich, Switzerland

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Let the state guarantee,but never impose, religion

Re: "Saudi Arabia's false claims of tolerance", Opinion, May 24.

A new study by the Centre for Religious Freedom, a non-profit group based in Washington, says that the latest textbooks of Saudi Arabia's public-school curriculum continue to promote intolerance of other religions, despite official pronouncements to the contrary.

A first-grade student is taught: "Every religion other than Islam is false." The curriculum also includes a systematic theme of "hatred toward 'unbelievers'," mainly Jews, Christians and Hindus.

Politics is more than a mere mechanism for defining the rules of public life. Its origin and goal are found in justice, which by its very nature has to do with ethics. Here, politics and faith meet - faith acting as a purifying force for reason, liberating reason from its blind spots and helping it ever more to be fully itself. This is where organised religion has its place in matters of the state.

However, the state may not impose religion. Rather, It must guarantee religious freedom and harmony between the followers of different religions. The two spheres of church and state are distinct, yet always should be interrelated to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice, to build a just social and civil order.

Paul Kokoski

Hamilton, Canada

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Thaksin's political demise is now only a question of time

Just when we thought Thaksin was gone, he's back in the hot seat again, but not for too long I'm sure. Thaksin has had time to reflect that there is too much against him, and I think he will shuffle quietly out the door to his businesses before long. Thaksin does not need power or money; he already has that in his financial empire. It is his brittle ego that needs continuous pampering and preening by everyone showing their gratitude and admiration, especially those who have benefited from his populist policies.

He's hurting now, and I'm sure the thought of contacting his military friends to help keep him on his pedestal came to mind on a number off occasions, but common sense prevailed. So it's back to the real world for him to have his inflated persona massaged only by the lackeys and bootlickers in his empire, a fitting end for someone who got way too big for his boots.

A Warner

Bangkok

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Is PM a great helmsman or just a mediocre pilot?

At last, Thaksin Shinawatra has staged a comeback, as many foresaw, only to meet with strong protests from his opponents.

Of course, there are a thousand reasons for his return, as heard from his Thai Rak Thai Party and supporters. Outstanding among the mixed chorus is the theme of Thaksin the great helmsman steering the ship of Thailand. I am not opposed to the idea of his returning to perform his day-to-day duties as a caretaker prime minister. He is paid to work, like all salary earners, isn't he? But it would be absurd to praise him as a great helmsman steering the ship of Thailand, without whom this ship will sink.

I cannot help but think of the late Chairman Mao of the Communist Party of China. The ship of China, steered by this man who was looked upon as the greatest helmsman of the time by a majority of the Chinese, almost sank during the Cultural Revolution. After his death, the ship of China began to brave the wind and the waves to the other shore.

Thaksin, with his whole bag of tricks, can be anything - a cunning businessman, a cook making an omelette, a buffoon - except a true leader, because he does not have, above all, the ethics required to work for the benefit of his people and country.

I would like to point out that Thaksin and his lackeys seem bent on creating a personality cult, similar to China's decades ago, to fool our people, particularly the grass roots, in a vain attempt to make true his political ambition: to rule this country under Thaksinism.

Abee

Bangkok