Re: "World Cup has lessons that Thai opposition parties should learn", Letters, June 13.

As much as I'm fond of football analogies in regard to politics, I must disagree vehemently with Somsak Pola's analysis.

Unlike at the World Cup, where referees' decisions do not affect anything beyond the mood and finances of betting fans, political decisions acutely affect us all. In the greater scheme of things, the outcome of the World Cup is largely irrelevant. But the outcome of this "match" in the Thai political arena will determine whether we will have over us an accountable government or one that is beyond any accountability. There must therefore be no ambiguity in the referees' decisions.

Although recent antics may not make it seem so, politics is a serious matter. It is not a game.

Apisake Monthienvichienchai

Cambridge, England

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Native-speaking teachers come with different accents

Re: "Native speakers are best suited to teach English", Letters, June 13.

Although I agree with most of what Ken Albertsen said in his letter, his final comment, choosing the Scandinavians above the Scots in clarity of English, is ridiculous.

I have nothing against the proficiency of our Scandinavian speakers, but why single out the Scots? Is he speaking of a Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen accent? Does he know the difference? Even in Glasgow, which probably has the strongest accent, there are many levels of eloquence. If he wants to generalise, then how about a thick Yorkshire, Welsh, Northern Irish or cockney accent?

In the US, I've had trouble understanding New Yorkers and good old boys from the southern states. A heavy Australian accent can also be a struggle at times, but I refuse to single out one of these regions or countries as being incapable of teaching the English language.

Let us know where you come from, Ken, and I'm sure we can find a few generalisations to throw at you.

Chiang Mai Mike

Chiang Mai

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No one can say what was happening in that footage

John Francis Lee ("Whistle-blowers have traditionally been persecuted", Letters, June 10) compares the junior officers who leaked the alleged photos of General Thamarak Isarangura with New York cop Frank Serpico, as well as with Senator Mike Gravel of Pentagon Papers fame. He says these officers should be treated as brave men who put the interests of their country and countrymen before the personal interests of their immediate superior.

If it were proven that the photos do show Thamarak in the act of bribery, I would personally line up to kiss the officers on the cheek. But before we start handing out medals, let's first take stock of our facts.

Unlike the two American cases, where there was incontrovertible evidence, what we have here is a flimsy allegation: newspapers and television reports admit it isn't possible to see any money being passed out.

For all we know, the people in the photos could have been planning a barbecue.

I could just as easily - and with as much justification - claim that the junior officers took whopping bribes to doctor and leak the photos to the Democrats. In my book, they'd be greedy, disloyal and traitorous, not to mention foolhardy. Of course, I could be mistaken. But when you start slinging mud, anyone can get muddied.

Meechai Burapa ("Newspaper columnists must learn to develop independent opinions", Letters, June 12) laments that newspaper columnists should learn to think for themselves. I don't doubt columnists do think for themselves, but unfortunately it's muddy thinking, probably from all the mud they've been slinging.

For example, they seem to believe in contagious guilt, which, like contagious magic, assumes anyone in contact with something (Thai Rak Thai) is always in contact (guilty).

They apply this to all who don't see eye to eye with them, such as the election commissioners. Hence, we get the ludicrous situation where, when the Election Commission does now and then come out in agreement with their views, they're dumbfounded and start looking for an ulterior motive.

Thamarak categorically denies the pictures are of him. It's unfashionable to concede anything to anyone you disagree with nowadays, despite the fact that even The Nation had a story admitting that the look-alike is apparently Colonel Cherdpong Bunyakiat, General Thamarak's personal photographer ("Man in photo is old friend of Thamarak, says source", News, June 2). Apparently, it's okay to have selective amnesia when the facts aren't to your liking.

Trirat Petchsingh

Nonthaburi

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It seems politics really does make a strange bedfellow

Re: "EC chairman calls for cooperation", News, June 12.

In the interest of true journalism and to educate the masses, I have a suggestion so that all of us would know exactly who is who in the Thai political arena.

In reference to the report that Democrat Party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr disclosed on Sunday that his wife Khomkhai had left the Chat Thai Party to join the Democrats, it would be educational and entertaining reading to see how many family members, including extended cousins, are part and parcel of each political party. I believe it would take more than one article, could disclose the business entities (on- and offshore) of each politician, so we could discern for ourselves if there were a possibility of a remote or real conflict of interest.

This could turn into something big. The investigative reporter could also reveal the net worth of each politician before and after his or her becoming an elected official. I do hope you will consider this suggestion.

Amazed

Kalasin

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Deny EC members bail so they can't hinder investigation

Re: "Criminal Court accepts Suthep's suit against EC", News, June 8.

The Criminal Court should deny Election Commission (EC) members bail when their malfeasance case comes up next month. The defendants will probably cite they're needed to organise local elections. True, that's their duty - but to me, they've failed abysmally, which is why the court nullified the April Fool's elections.

Their errors have cost us much in costs of the invalidated elections, lost public confidence and great political uncertainty. If granting bail means the defendants will organise the next elections, that in and of itself is an excellent argument for denying the motion.

Look at what they've done. In addition to the botched elections, they haven't carried out their duty to accept, reject or modify their own committee's recommendation that a certain party be dissolved because it hired small parties to run in the April 2 polls. Without such a decision, the attorney-general cannot ask the Constitution Court to dissolve the briber, even though the evidence was strong enough for the EC to punish the bribe recipients.

The defendants will argue that as distinguished members of society, they deserve bail. Yet with high position comes high responsibility, including that of accountability. Given their record, if left free, to me the odds are very high they'll impede the investigations and elections. Don't give the EC an opportunity to make things worse. Deny bail.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Similar 'modus operandi' in second Hua Hin robbery

Re: "Mysterious hotel thefts spoil Hua Hin's image", Letters, June 11.

In May, we faced a theft surprisingly similar to the one reported by Disgruntled Jazz Fan. We also had valuables - camera, mobile phone and money - stolen from our room. The theft also happened during the night while we were in the room. And the hotel management also refused to take any action whatsoever following the incident. Instead, the owner of the indirectly hinted we had made up the story ourselves.

We wondered if Disgruntled Jazz Fan stayed in the same hotel. In any case, we hereby would like to warn people about the security situation. Having belongings stolen is, of course, never welcome. But one can only guess what could happen in case guests woke up during a theft in their room.

Hua Hin Lovers

Bangkok

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Politicians of integrity are desperately needed now

We need politicians with integrity to take the reins and guide us towards a society in which we can all achieve a better quality of life and return to our cultural Buddhist principles. After all, we have become a materialistic society without any sort of culture.

I hope that in the future, we can again show the world we are a Buddhist nation with Buddhist values.

Wouldn't it be nice if tourists would come to our country for the right reasons? At present, a large percentage arrive on our shores for purely deviate reasons, at the cost of children who are exploited within deviate industries run mainly by local deviate entities.

Wouldn't it be nice if the world in general would say, "It looks as if Thailand is really tackling corruption"?

Wouldn't it be nice if the world for once could say, "It looks as if Thailand has a leader with the interests of its people at heart"?

Wouldn't it be nice if the world could say, "It looks as if the Thais are returning to how we have always thought of them, to Buddhist principles, and they're actually living by those principles"?

Wouldn't it be nice if for once we could all work together to make this a better, more prosperous nation for all, not just for a few through corrupt practices?

Just once, let us see what we can achieve together. I am willing; are you?

Pakorn

Bangkok

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