Six bombs were detonated within the city of Hat Yai on Saturday, resulting in at least four dead and 70 injured.

However, a state of emergency won't be declared in the city, because, "The imposition of a state of emergency in Hat Yai would scare away tourists and affect the local economy", according to Fourth Army Area commander Lt-General Ongkorn Thongprasom.

Meanwhile, another report in The Nation on the Hat Yai bomb attacks ("Hat Yai weeps, fears worst" News, September 18) indicate that all tourists have already fled the city.

How serious does an attack on a Thai city have to be before the authorities recognise that safety and security take precedence over tourism revenues? The tourists have already been scared away. Surely a better way to restore confidence is to recognise this fact and take the necessary steps that will ensure the safety of residents and visitors?

Lewis Gibson

Singapore

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Chain stores not 'ruthless' in catering to consumers' tastes

I have read with considerable interest the letters and articles published recently about foreign retailers apparently ruthlessly undermining local Thai shopkeepers. With this in mind, I went along to Thai shops in my neighbourhood to see what the fuss was about. It is very easy to see why 7-Eleven is winning the little-store battle - the Thai grocery shops in the main are dark, dirty, badly organised, and the stock (in some cases) looks like it's been on the shelves for years! Contrast that with 7-Eleven: bright, spotless, air-conditioned, stock nicely laid out, courteous staff and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week - there's no competition.

Tesco Lotus has been singled out as being "ruthless", but they simply follow the best business practices, to maximise their profits as well as provide the services that people want, and there's the rub. People will shop where they want to, making their decision based on a number of criteria to do with cost, location, etc. Loyalty goes flying out of the equation when it becomes obvious customers are simply being viewed as a buyer, with no regard to customers' requirements.

You simply cannot regulate the retail market by introducing legislation to protect shops and stores that have a shrinking customer base in the name of "culture". In a free-market economy, the retailers who survive are the ones that provide what the customer wants - not the ones that want shelter from market forces.

A Voter

Bangkok

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Full Temasek inquiry needed before country can move on

It's difficult to read about the Shin-Temasek deal without feelings of disgust and outrage arising. It has been reported that the Commerce Ministry's Business Development Department is sitting on its finding that Temasek relied on nominees to get around ownership laws in order to acquire Shin Corp ("Direct link to Temasek revealed", News, September 12).

There is no question the release of the Business Development Department's report is overdue. The department's excuse that its issuance is being stalled pending a broader inquiry into the use of nominee companies by foreign investors is not sufficient and is obviously a tactic to delay the report's release until the election is over.

This is the only reason Thaksin needs absolutely to stay prime minister and win the election - to protect his deal - because any other government or independent justice would break this deal, because it so obviously contradicts Thai law.

However, it's a catch-22 situation, and because of the enormity of the Commerce Department's "discovery", there is a chance everyone, including the opposition, would agree to amend the laws in light of the fact that all of the major foreign companies in Thailand use nominees. Thaksin would get away with it because of such fears.

A special investigator or a truly impartial committee should be appointed with a brief to examine whether civil or criminal action should be taken against any of the companies, their appointed nominees or any others involved in these transactions.

The committee's net should be cast extremely wide - it should be made clear that the inquiry means business, and no stone should be left unturned.

The Shin sale should be a test case, and its findings should serve as a legal precedent.

Whether action should be taken against Thaksin would obviously be a matter for the special investigators and the courts after examining all of the evidence. But the omens for Thaksin and his men are not good.

Thaksin has never cared much for the rules in any area, but the Shin deal showed an undeniable contempt for propriety. Everyone involved in the deal should come under scrutiny, and if the special investigative committee does its job properly, the Aegean stables will be thoroughly cleaned.

Peter Marshall

Bangkok

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Welcome airport by renaming motorway in its honour

I think this is the right time for us to give that motorway north of our new world-class airport a proper name that we Thais can be proud of: the Suvarnabhumi Motorway! At least it won't create any confusion where it will lead us!

Dr Vichit Phanumphai

Transport Engineer

Bangkok

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Expect a backlash over lowered drinking age

Re: "Industry fears the worst from new law", News, September 11.

The government's Alcohol Consumption Control Act, which will soon come into effect, proposes to increase the legal drinking age to 25. These are people who at 18 can join the Army, vote, drive a car, work - they are adults, in other words. They have free choice, or they should. Thailand must stop treating their adults like children. They are not. From an early age, Thai children are schooled in uniforms, given regulation haircuts and even when they are adults and go to university, college uniforms are the norm. Now they will be further restricted from making adult choices. You can't keep people down; they will rebel.

M Davies

Khon Kaen

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Columnist clarifies points regarding child support

Re: "There is nothing fraudulent about caring for children", Letters, September 17.

I would like to thank Robin Jackalone for responding to Saturday's Northern Eye column, "The issues of trust" (Explore, September 16). My example of an ex-husband having to pay child support for his children, which he's allowed to see only two days per fortnight, and the mortgage on a house he can no longer live in is merely fact - not my opinion. It is up to the reader to draw his or her own conclusion on the rights and wrongs of such cases.

As I said in my column, while these settlements can be argued to be fair, some women can manipulate marital circumstances to work financially to their advantage.

Bob Kimmins

Northern Eye

Chiang Mai

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China stands alone in propping up Burma's junta

Japan changed its vote and decided to support us when it was announced that US First Lady Laura Bush would be hosting a meeting on Burma in New York [today]. This left China as the only Asian country supporting the junta. The Chinese ambassador was blind-sided and acted confused. This is why he talked a lot of rubbish like: "Myanmar is making strides in solving its problems." Since Than Shwe staged a strategic retreat and is hiding in a jungle military camp near Pyinmana, the next national uprising in Burma will probably start out as anti-Chinese riots like in Indonesia or target Union Solidarity Development Association thugs who were responsible for the May 30 Massacre.

Any attempt by China to veto a peaceful UN Security Council resolution on Burma will have significant consequences for Chinese businessmen who are aiding and abetting the illegitimate military junta in Burma.

Myint Thein

Senior Adviser to the Burmese Resistance

Dallas, Texas

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Muslims' refusal to accept diversity invites world's scorn

Re: "Despite his faults, the Pope may have had a point", Letters, September 17.

Dr Massimo F-Buonaiuto comments about Islam's refusal to confront its violent tendencies contain much truth. What the Pope intended in his quotation of a medieval emperor's views is open to question.

But it cannot be denied that in many Muslim countries, the continuance of violence against those who do not act in strict conformity with certain brands of Islamic teachings persists in everyday life.

The Pope was certainly saying religion was something one must adopt according to reason and not by force. Human beings must be absolutely free to adopt and practise religion according to their convictions. Let's just remember that Pope John Paul II, in the Year 2000, apologised for the wrongdoings of the past 1,000 years without being pressured to do so.

If they continue to forbid other forms of religion from being practised in their countries, Muslims will continue to find Islam discredited in many parts of the world. In my own country, the United Kingdom, many Muslims are bewildered that they come under suspicion of committing or supporting violent acts, despite the reality that they live their lives as decently as the best of society.

It is high time the Organisation of Islamic States put freedom of worship in all of its member countries at the top of the agenda. That would do so much to bring world peace, and God would surely bless them for it.

David Prescott

Bangkok