It is painful to note that some of these people have to endure such difficulties so that people in Bangkok will not suffer and business activities will not be disrupted.

We should bring their losses to the attention of the general public. These affected people should be given generous help to compensate for their unfair share of suffering. We may differ on several political issues but we should absolutely agree that these people deserve help. And we should make it known to the government that it should take this seriously. A special budget should be provided and speedily made available to the relevant government agencies. Apart from other business, the government should put this issue on their periodic progress report until the job is completed. The Thai Red Cross Society accepts donations for flood relief efforts. The donation is tax deductible.

Yes, we should tell these people that help comes from tax money, not from any political party or any influential person. And they need not give their vote in return later on. A long-term solution to this recurrent problem is long overdue.

Prichar

Bangkok

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Strong baht will deter manufacturers, not tourists

The baht's rise or the dollar's fall is unlikely to deter all tourists, but exports will decrease.

Looking at the empty streets of Bangkok, we still need tourists, "cheap charlies" or not, but more importantly the strength of the baht is destroying exports of garments, which are a huge contributor to the economy. This will affect many brands and retailers. Will they place their orders here in Thailand or in more economically viable alternative locations such as China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or India.

The Thai economy can't afford to loose these major players because of the baht's strength. We really need to see the return of the baht to around 42-43 minimum to sustain economic growth for all sectors and not just garments. It's a very tough world out there with some very competitive factories in many different locations. The minimum wage is also far too high for Thai factories to compete at present. The efficiency of some factories is very low compared with other countries.

The only reason these major players stay is because of very good retail prices from top-end brands and customers are prepared to pay, thus making it still very profitable. But where the baht is going will make manufacturers think twice about continuing production in a country that is no longer competitive, and that's what's happening at present. See you all in China very soon if it continues to drop.

Dave

Bangkok

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Punishing the big fish will set the proper example

For the first time, Thailand has the chance to take a large step forward in the area of corruption. The current investigations are uncovering large amounts of corruption carried out by high-level people, not only in projects like the new airport but in other projects and in politics.

While the work is being done to compile the evidence, the real test - and the only test that means anything - is still to come. What will be done about it?

If those found responsible are stripped of their ill-gotten gains and put into prison - not the someone-is-serving-the-time-for-me situation, but really put in prison - then the coup can be considered a success.

If, as has always been the case in the past, those found responsible are not punished in any real terms, then the whole coup can be considered just another failure and another small bump in the history of Thailand.

Remember those "unusually wealthy" people uncovered by the last coup? They didn't even have to pay tax on their illegal money. An inactive post is no real punishment and having someone serve your jail sentence for you is not any form of justice.

Punish those big people in a real and meaningful manner and all of those below them will stop and think twice before doing the same thing themselves. Do nothing and it will be corruption as usual, or worse, in the future.

Krisidah S

Bangkok

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The wealthy play with justice like they play Monopoly

After playing Monopoly for five years, Pojy finally landed on the wrong real-estate and perhaps even picked the "Go straight to jail card"! Of course, we all know that rich people usually exchange assets and, if the worst comes to pass, "park" somewhere for a while. It's called justice for the rich.

Myrtha Leosawasthiphong

Chiang Mai

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Temasek deserves no sympathy for its actions

Re: "Temasek is also a victim and deserves our assistance", Letters, October 18.

It is wonderful to read Coldcrab's letter of sympathy towards Temasek. I admire his kindness towards others when they are down. But please don't give Temasek any excuse for their mistake as due to the untrustworthiness of one Thai. As an investment arm of the Singapore government, they know full well of the Latin legal phrase caveat emptor - "let the buyer beware". They do not deserve our assistance and on the contrary deserve severe punishment, double the normal level, for causing havoc to our country.

I would not rule out the deal being initiated by Temasek and not by Thaksin's family, who were then too drunk with power to be concerned with their successful business, which was well conducted by his able administrators.

No, in the case of Temasek, they had failed miserably as a professional investor and relied on the then-ruling power to override their normal care and wisdom. Their due diligence must have fallen short of the required standard. They have thrown all caution to the wind and relied alone on that umbrella of power to protect and promote their investments in Thailand.

The duration of "the warranty period" then looked certain at three years, the remaining period of Thai Rak Thai's 75 per cent majority in Parliament, not to mention the possible eternal friendly government. In their risk management analysis, a coup must have been ruled out.

They must have thought that our public opinion would be as docile as in their homeland. Hence, they were ambitious enough to ignore the letter of the Thai law that foreign majority companies cannot own public utility businesses and instead went for "full" ownership through devious means.

Do I have sympathy for Temasek's naivety? No, not a scintilla of doubt! If I were a Singaporean citizen forced to put my life savings with them, I would ask for the heads of all those involved for not only denting my savings fund but also for giving Singaporeans a bad name.

They now come out with excuses, praise Thailand as a good place for investment and praise themselves for being a responsible investor.

And now Coldcrab has given them another excuse to keep their jobs and cloud their mistakes by blaming Thais as untrustworthy. That is not the way to protect Thailand's interest.

Spade

Bangkok

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Education the most effective way to conserve energy

How well researched was the ethanol switchover plan? A scientific study from 19 months ago concluded that it takes 6 units of energy to produce one unit of ethanol. That's like a company spending Bt6 million for every one million it gets back in gross revenue - not very efficient or smart.

Priorities for an energy policy should be: (a) educate everyone to use as little as possible; (b) if you have to use it, use it as efficiently as possible; (c) research and implement sensible alternatives to fossil fuels.

There are too many too-chilled commercial buildings - with the air-con turned on full - even when it's cool outdoors. The list of energy improvement suggestions could go on and on. How about a contest for such suggestions sponsored by The Nation? The top prize could be a solar panel, with runners-up getting books on alternative energy.

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai

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Thailand is not best forum for discussing US policy

Re "Electorate should get behind the president they voted for", Letters, November 1.

I wrote to you recently commending you on your policy of printing letters on a variety of diverse subjects, many critical of your own newspaper, which added to the discussion and debate on matters of interest and substance to the country.

I must now admonish you in the strongest terms for printing this letter from Mr Al Eberhardt on November 1.

However before I do, I wish to comment on his original letter of October 26: "Americans need a more graphic reality check on the situation in Iraq". A more suitable publication medium for this letter would have been the "Alabama Bugle". Its value and purpose in your newspaper is to my mind questionable. It has served only to spawn a litany of navel-searching self-indulgent missives from dispossessed Americans. What educational value this serves to your readers here in Thailand is uncertain. Other than perhaps to show that they feel the world revolves around them much as the Catholic Church contended the sun revolved around the earth.

However, these collected ramblings are but froth compared to the profane and patently untrue statement concerning Islam in the final sentence of his letter of November 1. I can only be disappointed that, as a responsible newspaper, you indulge Americans to bore us with their domestic squabbling, but I am utterly appalled that you allowed such a statement concerning Islam to be printed.

Alexander Bartholomew

Bangkok