The Venerable Phra Mettanando is correct when he says that Thai Buddhism needs a radical reform, and no reform is better than to educate the people about the doctrine of Shakyanuni Buddha. Most Thai people are not aware that during the Buddha's lifetime teaching of the Dharma, he did not want to construct a monument to his mission. This is contrary to today's extensive building of temples, of Buddha statues, the grandeur and splendour of which appears to measure the respect and homage paid to the great philosopher in return perhaps for his blessing of good health and fortune.

Quite a number of monks and people also are not aware that the Buddha repeatedly reminded his followers not to resort to fortune telling and spiritual worship. In order to convey and teach the inconceivable Dharma of Shakyanuni Buddha there must be Buddhist disciples with a high level of cultivation and virtue to carry out the task. Perhaps this is the only circumstance when an ecclesiastical body is needed to verify those who are qualified to teach the Dharma to the public. Recently the setting-up of a Chinese Buddhist university in Taiwan by a venerable monk to teach the Buddha's doctrine is an example of how to bring up a band of teachers who know what they are teaching.

With the true and proper Dharma propagated, hopefully there will be more places for learning the Buddha's philosophy, both for monks and the general public. Eventually, resources for the building of temples for the sake of worship and merit making can be directed to more useful purposes. And Buddhists will be able to take the proper path to attain nirvana.

Yingwai S

Bangkok

After the coup, when will justice be served on the guilty

Following the daily news in Thailand for the past five years of the Thaksin administration, one could be forgiven for thinking the country had been taken over by a bunch of greedy kleptomaniacs. When the recent coup took place, there were expectations of swift justice for these political bandits who had fed so avariciously at the public trough.

If the massive, often mentioned corruption scandals were not bad enough, any would-be whistleblower just disappeared if they tried to stand up to these parasites. A monk was murdered, a lawyer disappeared and another couple of thousand people were convicted and executed without any form of trial.

Under the Thaksin regime, a democratic mandate was simply bought with the profits of corruption. The media were intimidated into compliance and all avenues for ensuring good government were subverted or stacked with "yes-men" and lackeys.

The Thaksin regime was like an "all you can eat" buffet for a small group of nepotistic self-servers who put their own bank accounts before any real responsibility to the country. The selling off of important national telecommunication interests for a massive tax-free profit for one man is nothing short of a national disgrace. It could not have happened without the complicity of high-ranking officials who put their own selfish interests before the nation's.

So, after the coup where are these crooks? Are they under arrest while their assets are carefully scrutinised? Where is the leader of the "most corrupt government ever"? Is he in jail? No, at last sighting he was enjoying a round of golf in China then shopping for luxuries in Hong Kong.

I wonder if that road in Roi Et ever got finished?

Andrew Lynn

Mentone, Australia

What kind of work is jobless Thaksin qualified to do?

Re: "Moves afoot to relieve ex-PM of his passport", News, November 15.

Is Thaksin unemployed? An unemployed person is one who is involuntarily out of work. That person should be able and willing to work and be actively searching for a paid job.

Of course, Thaksin is involuntarily out of work. He is able to work and willing to work according to his statement that "I need a job". What kind of job is he qualified to search for? The prime minister's post has already been taken! He mentioned to Chaturon that he would not get involved in politics. Could he run his own businesses? He sold them all! It is hard for him to own a new business because he only knows how to seize property owned by the Kingdom of Thailand. Without political power, he cannot do such things again.

The only option he has, probably, is to become an employee. To get employed, Thaksin should search for a job. He can register for unemployment benefit if he has ever contributed to the Social Security Fund (doubtful). He might get Bt7,500 a month, which might not be enough for him to shop in Hong Kong and have leisure time in Bali or Singapore. He might not get unemployment benefit as he caused huge damage to his former employer (the Kingdom of Thailand). Yes, he is unemployed. But we have no sympathy.

Worawan Chandoevwit

Bangkok

Foreign investment suffered under the Thaksin regime

A few points to consider: Some say that coups generally don't help attract investment. Maybe, but how much foreign investment did the Thaksin government encourage? Only that which involved side deals for him and his cronies. In five years, try to name the big foreign investment deals. Compare this with the years before, when the big auto makers and multinationals came in, particularly at the Lat Krabang Industrial Estate.

Thais always say things like, "Thaksin was a great salesman for Thailand", and "Remember, he did many good things for the country". But they never give one example. Did foreigners really like Thaksin? No, they all hated him (except his long-term patron and partner, the Singaporean government). Why did Temasek make the investment? Looking back, they were his partner for more than 20 years and helped him to get the original AIS concession. They owned a 20 per cent stake in Advanced Info Service (AIS) since 1998. But nobody talks about this. The Singaporeans wanted AIS, no doubt. However, you are right that it was stuck on them as a package deal. They planned to divest the other stuff.

F Goldman

Bangkok

New government needs time to investigate the last regime

Re: "The pretext for the coup is the real evil in our society", Opinion, November 15.

I am bored with people complaining about the coup, and that includes Tulsathit Taptim.

Thaksin is the real evil, not the other pretexts for the coup as he claims. If there is anything to condemn, let the relatives of the Tak Bai victims and those of the extra-judicial killings file separate actions against Thaksin. When the people of Chile did, Pinochet had to flee to England.

Let Thaksin be indicted at home for human rights abuses, or preferably face an international court. Instead of allowing him to snoop around Thailand with a diplomatic passport to prepare his next scam, let him stay in The Hague. There is a room befitting him left by Slobodan Milosevic.

Before complaining about the new government, Tulsathit should give it time to clean up the mess left behind by Thai Rak Thai's "kleptocracy".

Many democratically elected governments nowadays are riddled with corruption. In Thailand, Thaksin was able to silence his opponents with his wealth. The Democrats fell because of a Phuket land scandal. Thai Rak Thai, whose corruption was abysmal compared to that of the Democrats, remained in power because Thaksin intimidated, bankrupted or killed those opposed to his delusional whims.

Many governments have been toppled before because there was no other legal solution. In an ever-increasing materialistic society, the democratic norm must be reassessed. Then, maybe, coups won't be necessary. Let's give the generals our support until they prove us otherwise.

MGB

Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport didn't just appear overnight

Please do not forget that this airport was planned, and the land appropriated, over 40 years ago. Therefore, those who have been living in the area for less than that (including the KMIT campus) have no right to claim anything from the Airports Authority of Thailand.

Vic Phanumphai

Bangkok

Foreigners should mind their manners in Thailand

I have to agree with "Grandpa" that non-citizen residents should have no say in the government of Thailand, or any other country. When I was a non-citizen resident in the USA, I had no say in the government there; nor, do I here. That is appropriate. We pay our taxes and accept the country as we found it. Why do we feel impelled to change what is not ours? If we visit a friend's house, do we immediately tell our friend what he should do in his house, or what we don't like about his house? That would appear to be bad manners to the highest degree, and our friend would likely ask us to leave. So, too, we are guests in Thailand until we are granted citizenship. As guests, we should be polite and mind our manners.

One of the great strengths of the Kingdom is that it was never colonised, as were most other Asian countries. Most of those countries have real problems tearing at them between their heritage and culture on one side and the influences, good and bad, of their colonial masters. The Kingdom, by contrast, is more peaceful and gentle than most other Asian (also, European and American) countries. Why should Thai people change their country to accommodate ingrates who are guests here?

L Bolan states that we should be entitled to some rights. Actually, we have many rights while living here, and I would imagine that L Bolan has exercised many of those rights. If the situation is so deplorable, then maybe L Bolan and any other disgruntled guests should exercise the most precious right of all - the right to leave and go where they will be happier.

JM Joyce

Bangkok

Educate fishermen about environmental protection

The well-meant efforts of Gerry Rasmus, the 68-year-old American gentleman who regularly picks up rubbish along Jomtien Beach, promotes environmental awareness but are in vain if the municipalities don't provide dumpsters in the right places.

Sure, Gerry has recently helped by clearing the shores of the deluge of balloons, fireworks and rubbish left behind by Loy Krathong revellers. Unfortunately, the problem of rubbish continuing to wash up on shore is not likely to decrease unless fishermen and ferry operators are encouraged to act responsibly regarding environmental issues.

There needs to be dumpsters and appropriate signs about littering and fines placed in obvious and practical locations on the wharves that they work from. How else will they ever adopt proper practices if they aren't encouraged? For the sake of Pattaya's reputation as a tourist resort, these measures should be implemented from Sri Racha to Bangsaray.

Litter Bugged

Pattaya