This so-called independent body is full of people directly involved in the Suvarnabhumi project, and as such their independence and findings are far from objective. Almost every day we can read contradicting opinions on the issue from "people close to the source". The findings of this or any other committee that has any members connected to the Suvarnabhumi project are useless.

There needs to be an independent study conducted by International Air Transport Association and International Civil Aviation Organisation approved, non-Thai experts. That is the only way to guarantee that we get an objective report. There are clear conflicts of interest here - everyone should be able to see that.

Amazing Thailand

Bangkok

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Reams of negative reports make traveller very nervous

With more and more being written about all the problems at Suvarnabhumi, I do wish the government would hold talks behind closed doors and not speak to the press. I fly from the North to Bangkok a lot, and the more people write about this and that, the more it makes me nervous.

My suggestion is this: let airlines operate from one or other airport, with full service at both airports. Not domestic here and international there. Nobody knows what is going on. If one is not in Thailand and hears the news, it must be even more confusing.

JSF

USA

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Three years at least needed to solve airport's troubles

It's now the 21st century and building an airport, runways and associated facilities is not rocket science. The Japanese built Kansai International Airport (KIX) on a manmade island at sea 13 years ago. Can someone in authority give them a ring and find out how they did it, then rip [Suvarnabhumi] up and start again.

If an airport can be built at sea, it sure can be built on swampland. All of the architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, etc, who were involved in the Suvarnabhumi Airport project are of course still on record and available for inspection, as are the names of all the politicians and government officials who were involved. The problem is to name, shame and prosecute all of them - including all members of the original Airports of Thailand Board who resigned immediately after the opening on September 28. That would probably bring the country to a halt in terms of major construction projects.

It will take an air crash before the airport is closed down. Taking all faults reported to date into consideration, a three-year closure is probably needed to really bring the airport up to a truly international standard.

Web Reader

Bangkok

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Forget runways, try walking along Sukhumvit footpath

Everyone is up in arms about Suvarnabhumi Airport's runways (among other things). But I say, take a walk across from Emporium to Asoke and notice the long blue anaconda (or is it just a water pipe?) nestled between the treacherous, mountain-trail of concrete that's supposed to pass for a sidewalk.

The blue pipe - about 12 inches in diameter and sitting half above ground - is replete with studs, bolts, flanges and all sorts of goodies just waiting for the unsuspecting elder, child or ordinary person to have a wonderful experience. After this walk, you'll never again notice the cracks at the airport.

David Webster

Bangkok

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'Common man' happy enough with govt's performance

Re: "Most give government a 'C' rating", Business, February 13.

We all know that this is just an interim stopgap government to prepare for a cleaner democratic institutional framework, after six years of misrule and the total collapse of all independent institutions. Who are these people to be trying to give grades?

We the people, the common man, are very happy that there were no new mega-scams hatched during the last four to five months to cheat the Thai public. This in itself is a great relief. Honest patriotic leaders are the prime need at the moment. We have it. Give them time to clean up the monumental mess created by the previous government.

Never in the history of Thailand have we faced such an institutional catastrophe and total collapse of moral values. Cleaning it up and building a new framework needs more time. More so when the criminals are at large and here.

A Concerned Thai

Bangkok

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Judge junta by goals it accomplishes by year's end

Quick to judge as usual! For such a short time, my criteria for an "A" grade is far simpler. By the end of their stated one year term the government must accomplish the following: 1) Hold a democratic, free and fair election based on a new robust constitution 2) Hold a transparent trial for Thaksin and company in the Thai courts for the corruption allegations against them. This would contribute to firm democratic foundations and social justice, and Thai society will eventually reap the fruits in the longer term.

Besides, this is not a government seeking popularity in the short term to win elections (the politician mindset) - it is the long-term 'visions' that we are to challenge and judge them on.

Downunder

Bangkok

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Citizens must be given a public display of rule of law at work

Re: "Rule of law must guide Kingdom's future", Opinion, February 12.

Kanjana Spindler's focus on the key interim government goal of "re-establishing the rule of law" hits the nail on the head. However the observation in itself is not incisive enough because it says simply that achievement of this goal is entirely dependent upon the will of the people and does not offer us a clear understanding of how the rule of law can actually work in the context of Thai culture.

No constitution is going to be useful without further testing and interpretation in a court of law and ultimately enforcement with strong penalties for abusing the provisions of that constitution. In Thailand we do not have this.

Why is this so? While Thais are famous for their diplomacy, patience and ability to compromise - these virtues also have a downside. The law is seldom tested because it has little in common with the idea of karma, which is so deeply instilled in Thai culture. The natural justice of karma always takes precedence over human laws and law enforcement.

I remember as a youth in 1973 watching day after day the lengthy televised Watergate hearings in the United States and being viscerally impressed by the formidable cross-examination skills of the senators, steadily unravelling the duplicity of the erstwhile rich and powerful. At the present time in Thailand's history, it would seem that the investigations and the eventual hearings that will be held to prosecute the once rich and powerful for corruption should also be televised to the Thai people, so that they can see for themselves how justice ought to be dispensed in a civilised self-governing society. Only by seeing justice in action can people begin to understand the importance of this key pillar of democratic rule.

The new constitution can only be as good as the judicial process that will interpret and enforce its provisions. So let's start to put more emphasis on developing these judicial processes in our country and worry just a little less about the exact wording of the constitution.

Jonathan Peter

Pathum Thani

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Article missed out on Surayud's friendly

Re: "Post-coup Thailand in the eyes of the US and China", Opinion, February 12.

Kavi's piece showed his resourcefulness in searching for information. Not all the facts are however accurate, especially when they were patched up in efforts to conjecture and conclude whether any implication can be made out any single event or move.

Interestingly, a rather technical matter of working out mutually convenient dates for Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's proposed visit to China was given a political connotation as "Beijing's reluctance". Yet, China's understanding of Thailand's situation has been unquestionable. Meanwhile, the significance of the visits by three US ex-presidents was downplayed, while the cordial interaction between President George W Bush and Prime Minister Surayud during the 14th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Hanoi was ignored. As such, the article did not do justice to the goodwill of China or that of the US

Each country has its own policies and approaches. Whether these are right or wrong from our point of view, and whether we should do anything about it can be discussed and debated. But for the benefit of the readers, a fairer analysis of the facts is, reasonably, called for.

Kitti Wasinondh

Director-General

Information Department

Royal Thai Government

Bangkok

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Howard's reaction to Obama speech shows true colours

Although several of the candidates for the US presidency have declared that the war in Iraq should be ended as soon as possible, Australian Prime Minister John Howard made no mention of his dislike for their position. Instead, he chose to single out Barack Obama, the only black person in the running so far, and condemn him for saying that the USA's first priority should be to end the war in Iraq.

Howard has in the past openly demonstrated his dislike for the Australian aboriginal indigenous peoples and now he has chosen to extend his disdain to an African-American who does not even live in Australia. He should be totally ashamed of himself and apologise for his comments.

If Howard strongly backs Bush's war in Iraq, as he has stated on more than one occasion, I would certainly support his putting more of Australia's money and troops into Iraq. This would make Bush's dream come true and also lessen the American burden of money spent and people killed and maimed in the name of Bush's "democracy plan"!

Otherwise, I strongly suggest that Howard keep his personal thoughts to himself, if he is able, and concentrate on the many, many problems currently facing the Australian population.

Bangkok Crawdad

Bangkok