In his letter Spade was indignant that foreign embassies have urged the government to reconsider the amendments to the Foreign Business Act and argued that the embassies would somehow not have dared to speak up, if Thailand had an elected government. The Commerce Ministry has recently urged any interested governments that have inquiries regarding Thailand's international commitments to contact the ministry directly. It seems that the foreign governments in question are doing exactly this in respect of the impact of the amendments to the Foreign Business Act on Thailand's commitments to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Spade's indignant reaction and his theory that the embassies would somehow not have dared to speak out, if Thailand had an elected government, are illogical. From what has been reported in the press the embassies pointed out quite correctly that WTO members have an agreement to consult other members before enacting legislation that will restrict access to service industries. They also pointed out that members are entitled to claim compensation through the WTO for financial damage suffered by their nationals as a result of restrictive practices. There is nothing in the WTO rules or its history that suggests that member states without democratically elected governments could be treated unfavourably.

Spade asks whether Thais can own businesses in services such as law, accountancy, architecture, engineering, brokering and auctioneering in the countries of the protesting embassies and the European Union. I have no idea about Japan but it is generally true in Western countries that foreign nationals can own businesses in all of these service businesses.

Probably in deference to the Americans, the other embassies are avoiding any mention of Thailand's most obvious breach of its WTO obligations. This is the commitment made by Thailand to discontinue special privileges granted to Americans under the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations by January 2005. Under the treaty Americans may freely own service businesses, except in land trading, telecommunications and fiduciary services. When Thailand made this commitment in 1995, the WTO clearly expected it to resolve the issue by opening up the services sector to all WTO members by January 2005. The other choice for Thailand would be to terminate the treaty and hope that the US doesn't choose to retaliate with trade measures against Thai exporters.

George Morgan

Bangkok

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An informed public is the best hope for a strong democracy

I agree with Abhisit Vejjajiva, who says that although the coup-makers have tried to be democratic, they had failed to promote any democracy-related issues.

Democracy is far, far more than holding elections. A key requirement is that the electorate must be well informed about the main issues, how their candidates stand, and how credible their candidates and parties are.

Such an educational process takes years - and cannot be carried out under a general ban on political activities.

The coup-makers should heed one far more expert in democracy than they: "[I know of] no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power." (Thomas Jefferson).

Thus, I suggest that the government promote two organisations. The first would be a TV/radio station, like the BBC in that it is publicly funded, fully accountable and credible, but not under control of the government of the day. The second would be a League of Women Voters-type organisation that would have the same mission statement as the LWV: " (to be) a non-partisan political organisation that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy." Funding and accountability might be along the lines of the BBC.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Bt1-million meal a 'disgusting'  display of 'shameless vulgarity'

Re: "A dinner of gastronomical proportions," News, February 11.

Am I the only person in Thailand who finds this outrageous display of conspicuous consumption disgusting?

At Bt1 million a shot, these people could have used their money to relieve some of the suffering in the world. Instead, they used it to stuff their faces.

Worse than the spectacle itself is the crowing about it in the media. Is this the sort of thing Thailand is proud of? The fact that the profits are being donated to charity dilutes only marginally the obscenity of the whole business.

Under Thaksin, Thailand aspired to be a world leader in many fields. Give us a few more extravaganzas like this one and we'll soon be the world champion in the field of shameless vulgarity.

Omkar

Bangkok

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Suvarnabhumi meant solely to enrich country's elite

Re: "Engineers beat their breasts over airport debacle", News, February 11.

What's wrong with the project is that it was conceived as a vehicle of enrichment by the political class, and the design and engineering elite are as much a part of the political class as ex-premiers going back four decades, culminating in the over-the-top performance of the ultimate political exploitation of the last prime minister. One of management guri Steven Covey's maxims is that every organisation is optimised to produce exactly the results it does, in fact, produce. What's wrong is that the purpose of all these "mega-projects" is misstated from the beginning, in this case the construction of a giant airport on a swamp.

The real purpose of all of these "mega-projects" is to enrich the political elite at the expense of the nation.

It is less important to define every instance of responsibility for every failure of design and implementation than to radically reform the idea of "public" works itself as works undertaken to benefit the public, rather than as works undertaken to enrich the elite.

John Francis Lee

Chiang Rai

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Airport the culmination of four decades of corruption

Disgraceful as it is by any standards, the Suvarnabhumi scandal causes irreparable damage to the reputation of Thailand and the Thai culture that allowed it happen. This seeping bag of corruption has grown over 40 years and is now bearing the fruits of its growth.

Most unacceptable of all is the fact that safety has been compromised by corrupt practices. The runways have been deemed unsafe because of cracks in them; this can only be due to a poor standard of workmanship, poor quality materials, inadequate supervision and testing standards. At any stage of a massive project like this the work should have been routinely checked by experts for quality standards and compliance with plans. Obviously this has not been done to any noteworthy standard.

As bad as things are, amongst the things that I find most reprehensible is the cover up of the questions surrounding King Power's use of floor space. It is impossible to mistake 5000 square metres and 10,000 square metres. The fixtures, fittings, furniture and stock to fill it would make it obvious to anyone what amount of space was being covered, yet King Power went ahead without "noticing" or owning up. Does anyone believe that not one person in the company was able to notice this "oversight" and do the decent thing?

It's clear that the whole project has been rotten to the core since its inception - and still no one is willing to stand up and ask difficult questions and name names. This is a 40-year story that has flowed along with Thais knowing all too well how it would end up. Thai society has only itself to blame for allowing this to happen and would do well to introduce the role of whistleblowers into their culture.

A Warner

Bangkok

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Thaksin's political opponents exploiting facility's problems

If Thaksin were around, the airport problems would have been sorted out by now. All airports have problems when they first open, unfortunately in Thailand the airport's problems are used by Thaksin's political opponents and some selfish business people.

They took the opportunity to wash their hands and pass the blame on Thaksin because he has no way to defend himself in his own homeland.

Web Reader

Bangkok

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Surayud deserves praise for his stance on Hmong refugees

Though the situation of the Hmong in Thailand is complex, the prime minister should be commended by all for stopping the forced deportation to Laos of Hmong refugees from the Nong Khai immigration detention centre.

As circumstances on January 30 became more bleak for the Hmong - many of them determined to be "persons of concern" by the United Nations - the prime minister declared Thailand's intention to protect these vulnerable, traumatised people and respect their human rights.

His actions on that day will allow them to live lives without fear and to create new futures.

Recent news that 22 of the refugees are being taken to live in the Netherlands confirms his message.

Let us hope his powerfully stated intention also remains clear and strong in the hearts of the people of Thailand.

Ann Peters

South Korea