Notwithstanding the religious arguments (which we can argue until the cows come home), flood hazards are really a cruel combination of Nature and mankind.

Nature must generate the conducive conditions for floods to occur. Global warming is likely to be a future cause of extreme rainfall. High tides coinciding with the heavy rains make matters worse. The low topography of central Thailand and Bangkok means many areas are below sea level and becoming more and more vulnerable to flooding. All rivers converge in central Thailand into the Chao Phraya. This is like a bottleneck in a traffic jam. When you have so much water converging, it is inevitable that flooding will occur.

What Nature generates, mankind has exacerbated. Due to greed and the single-minded push for economic development and rapid urbanisation, humans have exacerbated flood conditions via the following:

Deforestation of upstream forests has destroyed the 'sponge absorbing effect' of forests. In their natural state, dense tropical forests can absorb a high percentage of rain - as much as 30 per cent (wet season) to 90 per cent (dry season).

Drainage of wetlands and swamps for agriculture and other human land-uses has further decimated this absorbent effect. Wetlands and swamps act as natural retention ponds, retaining and controlling the rainfall and releasing it slowly into rivers. Without them, the entire volume of rainfall reaches rivers in double quick time, resulting in floods.

Towns and cities increase the percentage of paved areas, which are impervious to rain. In urban areas, this is as much as 90-100 per cent. In such a scenario, very little rain and water enters the ground to recharge soils and aquifers and flow as slow groundwater. This means almost all rainwater flows on the land surface as surface flow, or runoff. In rural forested areas, runoff is typically between 30-50 per cent, but in urban areas it is 90-100 per cent. This results in rainwater entering rivers in a short period of time. But in rural and forested areas, rain enters rivers [and has] plenty of time to drain away excess water.

Monsoon rains in cities help channel excess water into rivers very rapidly, thereby exacerbating floods. Poor urban drainage also makes floods worse.

People throwing garbage into drains and rivers makes them blocked, resulting in poor flow.

Poor land-use planning allows too many natural areas to be developed, which is another major reason for flooding. In an ideal situation, any piece of land must retain at least 30 per cent of its natural conditions, especially forest.

A technological approach to flood management (building structures to try to control Nature) is suicidal, as man cannot fight Nature. Flood management must be holistic, comprising engineering, hydrology, land-use planning and, most important of all, people participation.

Waterman Chan

Bangkok

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Don't listen to the lies of corrupt politicians 

To the government: Please don't buy into Pojaman and Thaksin's lies. Arrest and detain them until an honest court can condemn them to a lifetime of hard labour. The evidence is overwhelming, is it not?

Surely their latest spokesperson Noppadol should be dismissed as a joke. We've heard these lies before and if he had an ounce of self respect he would refund the money that bought his soul and let Thaksin speak for himself before a well briefed and independent court of justice.

Nearly all that Thaksin has said over the past six years has been pack of lies. He is a serial liar. He looks after his family and plunders Thailand.

Why they are not already in custody and their ill-gotten assets seized is beyond belief.

Let's begin with Sanoh as witness No 1. What about the 10 per cent of the national budget that he accused Thaksin and Pojaman of stealing? Why the silence about this serious accusation? Do not wimp out PM Surayad and General Sonthi. Nail these criminals once and for all.

Ralph Davidson

Bangkok

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Reporting on corruption is a waste of time in Thailand

Day after day, for years, your newspaper has reported about the graft and corruption cases of politicians and others, without anybody ever going to court. Today I read about the meeting of Pojaman with Prem - instead of her being brought to court on graft and corruption charges and being put in jail. Sudarat can happily return to Thailand without indictment about her alleged involvement in corruption cases.

Corrupt Thai Rak Thai politicians can easily avoid justice by just saying that they were in a different position at that time, and so on. It also seems difficult to indict Thaksin for corruption - even with $3 billion in his pocket. And what about his responsibility for the extra-judicial killings in his wars against drugs and the insurgency in the South. Is that difficult to prove?

The justice system of Thailand is not able to or doesn't want to cope with massive organised financial and tax-crime, or obvious human rights abuses.

So my request to you is to stop publishing stories on corruption and human rights abuses and instead use the open space for comedy. Let the criminals suffocate under their baht and dollars and the blood of extra-judicial killings. Sorry for all the innocent Thai victims; there is no justice in Thailand.

To make Thailand really democratic with peace and justice for all, the country needs a real and rather painful revolution and not some reconciliation patchwork. In the meantime mai pen rai, be sanuk and enjoy the charming, hospitable Thai people and their food as well. And stop wasting your time reading newspapers.

Nick Jansen

Bangkok

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Underprivileged do deserve some measure of assistance

Re: "Who's afraid of the ghost of populism?", Opinion, October 26.

I am happy to let the poor use our tax for basic necessities. Itruly admired Thaksin for lending a helping hand to our poor. The government must provide basic services for free, such as school lunches, text books, junior college, healthcare and emergency hospital services, parks, good roads, public libraries, etc.

The middle and upper classes seem to view the poor as uneducated and better just to be used for cheap labour. But the poor account for 80 per cent of the population. We must make Thailand strong by providing basic services and better education. The Thaksin government saw opportunities and launched populist policies. That was why Thai Rak Thai was so powerful. So far the interim government has not proved Thaksin to be corrupt as accused. Interesting, isn't it?

What I would like to see is an immediate lifting of martial law. The public must pressure them. Thais should unite. Look for compromise and to the national interest it. Reform the military and turn men into professional soldiers.

Continue with public service reform and training. Make corruption an offence. And of course, reward people for better performance. Allow employees to report with confidentiality any wrongdoers whether their boss or co-workers, without fear of retaliation. 

Education reform must include dynamic curricula that promote kids' participation and development, not teacher convenience and side tutoring and the sale of books. Allow open bidding for materials from many sources that the government can subsidise for poor kids. Teach people to use their critical thinking skills and ethics to do what is right, regardless of what others say. 

Make the necessary changes to ensure the judicial system is independent, with better checks and balances on politicians' abuses. Eliminate conflict of interest, allow more direct public input into law-making.

Allow the public to efficiently monitor and file lawsuits for gross misconduct in the media. No media platforms should intentionally be used for unfounded personal attacks or the promotion of politicians - which could create massive turmoil and instability. The media should maintain neutral and verifiable sources.

Democracy Lover 

Bangkok

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The message is not getting through to America

I know how upset you are with my country, and you have a right to be upset. But I really care what you think. Your numerous letters every day saying Americans are stupid, arrogant, dumb and that America has lost its way and will fall - and the one that rips at my heart, that everyone should be entitled to vote in the US presidential election - God it hurts.

But we can change with your help. In your pubs while you and your mates are ripping apart America, I listen to your words. I am telling my fellow Americans how you feel, but they just smile and say it's envy. It will take time. But I don't think it's too late. I've heard your wise words, "war is not the answer". I've told them this, but they say "so, what is the answer?" Thanks to you, I have it: "peace". They just smile and say "ho, and the best cure for insomnia is sleep, now go play in your sandbox". They are arrogant! I don't know how to say thank you [and I won't dare tell you most Americans' point of view]. I owe you and, rest assured, given the opportunity, I will pay back!

Raymond O'Neal

Texas

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Travellers want news about airport improvements

Given there have been many letters articulating the new airport's drawbacks, what is being done to fix things? If things are being done, the public should hear about it. Obviously some fixes are easier made than others. Adding phones and chairs, plus enlarging displays and posting signs would be relatively quick fixes. The same for improving the existing restrooms and elevators. Constructing additional restrooms and widening areas for arriving passengers are a bigger deal - but not impossible. In the mid-level of difficulty would be the leaking roof and straightening out taxis overcharging and touts harassing weary travellers.

Is there a capable person in charge? With a capable staff and sufficient funding? The overall impression is that there are problems, and they don't seem to be getting fixed - because we keep hearing about them. Are things getting fixed, or will travellers have to tough it out each time they arrive at or depart from Bangkok? Travellers want to know.

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai