Now Lehman is launching its tender offer for the remaining equity.

It is understandable why Thailand wants to prevent foreigners driving up its land prices, and now says it will clamp down on nominees who transparently represent foreign interests.

This acquisition is an obvious transfer of beneficial ownership into the hands of foreigners. Lehman Brothers is a rich corporation that can afford to traverse the web of legal structures needed to negotiate the laws around foreign ownership.

Unlike a farang who might seek property to provide a home for a Thai spouse and family, Lehman Brothers' acquisitive intentions revolve purely around profit and taking that profit offshore.

Thai regulators should act now to prevent this very obvious land transference gambit and make an example of Lehman Brothers.

Moses Ironnob

Hong Kong

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PM might be hoping for good PR in rush to open airport

It seems the Thaksin caretaker government is resolutely determined to have the new airport opened by September 28. What is the big hurry?

I'm sure Don Muang is not going to crumble and fall apart between now and December, so the prudent thing to do now is make sure all construction is finished and all required testing completed and up to international standards.

In fact, what all international airlines should do is notify the government they have no intention of moving their operations to the new airport until all of this has been completed for their passengers' safety, not for Thaksin's benefit. Also, they should inform the government that if they were required to do so, they would cancel and discontinue service to Thailand. That would wake some people up.

There can be only one reason Thaksin wants the September opening, and that is to gain some glory before the October election.

It would be better, as has been suggested by others, to schedule the opening in honour of His Majesty the King's birthday. Let's put the glory where it belongs.

Farang Observer

Chon Buri

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Taxpayers deserve to know why Thaksin visited Burma

Re: "Burma visit fuels rumours", News, August 3. And he did it again. In a surprise sneak into Burma on Wednesday, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra led an entourage of top Cabinet ministers, the Army commander-in-chief and a group of businessmen to visit the new capital of Pyinmana. He said the Burmese junta would like to meet him, and upon returning he disclosed only that everything was "covered" in the meeting.

Just what was "covered" is for now a matter of speculation. Rumours abound that he was on private business, specifically to discuss a controversial Bt4-billion loan extended by Thailand's Export-Import Bank for the Burmese government to rent a satellite from ShinSat. It was not that long ago he committed a serious breach of diplomatic protocol by sending "personal" letters to US President George Bush and a number of Asean leaders detailing the difficulties befalling him and his government, as if they cared. And now with the Burmese junta, he has shown an enthusiasm to be there whenever they want him. The Foreign Ministry's spokesman was at a loss for words when questioned by journalists on the purpose of the visit. It would appear he, too, was in the dark.

Even if it were Bush who wanted to summon him to a meeting, as the leader of an independent country, the caretaker prime minister would not be obliged to accommodate him. But the Burmese junta? These are dictators with blood on their hands. Moreover, the admission of Burma into Asean has been a sad chapter and an embarrassment in terms of Asean's progress as a viable regional organisation. Because of Burma's membership, not too much cooperation is forthcoming from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Asia-Europe Meeting, which is sad indeed.

I think all law-abiding and tax-paying citizens of Thailand have the right to know what Thaksin Shinawatra did in Burma on Wednesday, because he went there as a head of government. If he does not come up with the full story, many here may assume he went there to seek political asylum in case something ominous happens after October 15, which if true, frankly, I feel is nobody's business but his own.

Prachyadavi Tavedikul

Bangkok

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Southern violence should have been on top of govt agenda

Re: "Burma visit fuels rumours", News, August 3. Thaksin does not fail to disgust me further each day. At a time when the South needs more attention than ever, it seems completely inappropriate for Thaksin to make a sudden unannounced trip to Burma with no clear agenda.

I want to know why our tax money was suddenly spent on a whim and why our Army commander-in-chief, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, was delayed from going to the South, especially when there were more than 100 simultaneous attacks just the day before. It is essential the South come first on the nation's priority list. I suggest a thorough investigation be conducted through proper channels, to determine what Thaksin's agenda was and the justification for why the government had to finance this trip.

Why the mystery? It seems strange the high-level delegates who accompanied Thaksin had no idea they were going on a trip, and of course Sonthi should have been informed in advance.

At any rate, doing anything on a whim is not something any leader should do, especially a "caretaker".

Carolyn

Bangkok

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Elephants should stay here only if they are better cared for

Re: "Activists protest shipment of elephants", News, July 31. Considering the protests and uproar over elephant exports to Australia, has anyone considered the mortality rate of elephants in international zoos over the past 10 years compared with that of elephants living in Thailand over the same period? As much pride as Thailand has in its culture and natural resources, it has an absolutely shameful record in terms of protecting its national symbol.

I think elephants should stay in Thailand, but only once Thailand is capable of caring for them properly.

Natajitr Cindhuchao

Bangkok

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Headline overstated damage done by floods in Chiang Mai

Re: "Unprecedented floods devastate Chiang Mai", News, August 2.

What an interesting choice of words for the headline of this article!

"Unprecedented"? What was unprecedented about the recent flood? Last year, we had the worst flooding for 40 or 50 years, and by definition they were not unprecedented. By comparison, the flooding this year was minimal. The pictures on page five show a soldier almost ankle-deep in water, and people on Charoen Muang Road are clearly devastated by the almost 6-inch deep water engulfing them. Last year, the Night Bazaar was waist-deep in water, and this year it was totally untouched. My house is 200 metres from the river, and whereas the soi became a stream last year, this year not a drop!

"Devastated"? Where was the devastation? You don't mention any loss of life or millions of baht worth of damage, so what were you referring to, I wonder? The only devastation I can imagine would be from the loss of business that accrues from sensationalist newspaper reports.

I agree the loss of the rail link due to flooding in the neighbouring province of Lampang may cause some loss of revenues, but I would be surprised if any major roads were impassable for more than an hour or two.

Okay, so you may have used a bit of poetic licence, so what's the problem?

The problem is front-page headlines like yours mean thousands of tourists who would have come to Chiang Mai will cancel their trip and go elsewhere. Also, every taxi driver, tour guide and man on the street in Bangkok will reliably inform anyone headed for Chiang Mai that it is flooded, and they will continue to do so for the next two or three weeks. Bad news makes the headlines, but "Chiang Mai returns to normal" doesn't, so people continue deterring visitors from Chiang Mai for weeks, because they are unaware things are back to normal.

Sensationalist stories may well sell papers, but they can have a bearing on people's livelihoods. Chiang Mai truly suffered last year and needs a good tourist season this year to help it recover, so please think twice before scaring off the tourists unnecessarily. More stories about the inaction on flood-prevention would be much more worthwhile.

Kevin

Chiang Mai

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Governor should concentrate on getting rid of older buses

Re: "Apirak promises to breathe new life into nation's capital", News, August 2.

Before Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin does anything else, he has to make the air in Bangkok breathable. One of the most needed measures in this regard, and one that has been promised for years, would be banning old highly polluting buses, getting them off the road and replacing them. I have lived in Bangkok now for five years, and despite all of the talk, nothing has happened to improve this situation.

Khun Hans

Bangkok