The extreme anguish of "Deeply Concerned" over the possibility of closing a legal loophole that allows foreigners to buy land through a shell "Thai" company stirs me to my laptop.

"Concerned" thinks that if the loophole were closed, economic havoc would result and the Thai economy would be brought to its knees. Wow, what a way to justify keeping the loophole! The inflow of foreign funds for Thai real estate is like a drop in the ocean to the Thai economy. Conversely, if the flow of funds for property purchases stops, it would hardly cause the economy to blink.

On the contrary, reducing the demand from foreign well-to-do buyers, especially on Koh Samui and on Phuket's hillsides, would open the way for Thais to own such prime areas at a reasonable, Thai price.

The issue has been reviewed exhaustively. The late prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan came out with the idea of freely selling land to foreigners since it cannot be taken away from the country. His argument was shot down with the rationale that Thais could be priced out of the market because of the extent of Western wealth.

I am not against foreign ownership because of my own experience of the ease of property ownership in the United Kingdom and Malaysia. But I feel the letter did not help the cause. Better to cry about fairness when Thais are allowed to buy property in other countries.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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Where should complaints about smoking be sent?

 Re: "Ministries run afoul of smoke-free zoning law", News, May 31.

Closing the article, a health-promotion expert expressed disappointment that "over 70 per cent of people witnessing such violations [of the smoke-free laws] failed to report the incident to the authorities".

I have tried to report illegal smoking in restaurants to the local police, with no response from the policemen on duty. Perhaps the open pack of cigarettes on the table in the police box should have given me a clue as to the lack of interest.

I have also e-mailed and faxed the Ministry of Public Health, asking to whom and how violations should be reported. The only reply was from a pleasant website manager, who candidly admitted he had no idea.

I have also e-mailed the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, asking the same questions, with no response.

So I am not really surprised at the 70-per-cent figure, but I would like to know to whom and how the other 30 per cent are reporting violations of the anti-smoking law. Perhaps if we knew, we could be more successful in enforcing it.

A Serious Non-smoker

Bangkok

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It seems getting caught, not corruption, is what's wrong

Thaksin laid out the rules for his political puppet show when he chastised one of his marionettes for being so obvious in his corruption attempt. Copper Johnny suggests thePM write a book on how corruption should be done undercover, like in a Finnish sauna.

Copper Johnny

Bangkok

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Thamarak has no grounds to be upset about video tapes

 This, in effect, is what we hear the top Thai Rak Thai Party leadership telling Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura about video footage of him allegedly paying small parties to contest the April 2 election: "You stupid oaf, how could you be so dumb as to get caught on camera!"

Here's what we'd like to hear: "Anyone who appears to be breaking the law will be investigated by an impartial committee. If found guilty as charged, they will have to face appropriate penalties - regardless of their position or influence." (Those familiar with reality are probably grinning at the naivete of the statement. In reality, "impartial committees" don't exist, and "justice" is always predicated on the accused's position and influence).

Why is it not surprising that the defence minister is on the warpath against the security personnel who provided the security tapes? I would assume that government security personnel work for the Thai people, and are not beholden to managers. Similarly, government security hardware ultimately belongs to Thai taxpayers, chai mai?

Here's a hypothetical situation. Let's say a murder occurs in a government office and it appears to have been committed by a politician. Does that politician have the right to destroy security tapes and/or to discipline security personnel who do their job by revealing evidence?

Brahmburgers

Chiang Rai

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Counting on karma to give politicians their just deserts

 The flagrant and shameless way in which the majority of our politicians conduct themselves and engage in open, blatant corruption is disgusting. They bring shame upon our beautiful country and I wish they would simply leave.

These politicians exploit our country and people without remorse, and when they are caught red-handed they act like they are innocent victims. I don't know how they can look at their reflections without shame.

My consolation, as a Buddhist, is that karma comes to us all, as it will come to them.

Penkae

Singapore

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Thanks for refreshing take on current political nonsense

 Re: "Video footage that is worth a thousand words", Opinion, May 31.

I'd just like to say how much I enjoyed Tulsathit Taptim's column. He cuts through much of the current political nonsense with acerbic wit and keen insight - both badly needed antidotes in this farcical climate.

Chiang Mai Mike

Chiang Mai

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Diplomats driving badly doesn't justify piracy

Re: "Blue diplomatic number plates seem to be licence to break traffic rules", Letters, May 29.

I had to laugh when I read Samran Vatanopast's letter about American diplomats being a danger on Bangkok roads. If I were Thai, I'd be embarrassed reading the letter, because it highlights many negative things about Thais and nothing about the Americans he's angry at. Let me explain.

Samran said they "flout the road rules in a way that not even the most reckless Thai driver would imagine". Really? How many people have been killed by reckless diplomat drivers? How many people have been killed by reckless Thai drivers? How many people have been killed by reckless hi-so Thai drivers who then receive slaps on the wrist?

Samran guesses that the diplomat in an incident he described was "an American, since they are the only ones I see driving around Bangkok with left-hand-drive cars". Please tell me what an American looks like. Most Europeans and people on Earth buy and drive left-hand-drive cars. There are more people of non-European ethnic origin in the US than there are Thais in Thailand. So could you tell an American from a German, Italian, Mexican, Nigerian or Chinese just by looking at them and the car they drive? No.

He ends his rant against American diplomats with "next time you hear an American diplomat chastise the Thai populace for buying pirated DVDs and stealing American intellectual property, rest easy in the knowledge ... they have as much regard for Thai laws as we have for theirs!" Most American and other Western diplomats and citizens have more regard for Thai laws than the police and politicians have. I don't see many Westerners scamming and stealing from the people.

Samran is defending the shameful practice of stealing the ideas and property (physical and intellectual) of others by attacking the bane of Thailand's roads: the American diplomat. By the way, copyright violation is not only against international law but Thai law as well.

Future Expat

Bangkok

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Perhaps diplomat drivers are merely following old dictum

Re: "Blue diplomatic number plates seem to be licence to break traffic rules", Letters, May 29.

Samran Vatanopast complains bitterly about reckless driving by diplomats, but what he may be overlooking is the fact that these diplomats may be following the saying: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".

Meechai Burapa

Chiang Mai

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It doesn't take a university degree to get things right

Question: What do all the following people have in common? Former British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli, American statesman Benjamin Franklin, Polaroid founder Edwin Land, Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs, Microsoft founder and world's richest man Bill Gates, Dell Computers founder Mike Dell, CNN founder Ted Turner, ABC Entertainment president Susan Lyne, Gateway CEO Ted Waitt, Oracle CEO L Ellison, and "60 Minutes" director D Hewitt.

Answer: None finished college.

Why is a person who wants to run for political office in Thailand required to have a college degree? Are we to surmise that people who sit for years in classrooms are more apt to be good leaders?

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai