The appearance of Chotiros Suriyawong was shocking, but I applaud her bravery to wear it. Besides the fact that she is very attractive, she is also clever. Women in this country do not share equality with men and this is something Chotiros is trying to change.

Thammasat University should be proud that they have produced a brave and confident individual and whether she is nearly naked in a dress or acting in films, she is expressing herself and this should not be frowned upon.

Although many people I talked with say she was "too naked", are we really disgusted by her beauty or her bravery? Or are some amongst us just jealous that she had the guts to do it?

I can imagine the same studio types who frowned on her appearance in that dress probably chasing her to be a second wife, girlfriend, etc. She is too smart for such crusty old duds and her bravery is a threat to their fiefdoms.

Philip Cook

Bangkok

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Beauty's choice of dress an 'innocent Valentine' for nation

Chotiros Suriyawong gave Thailand a lovely and innocent Valentine! Thais should praise her beauty and talent, not crush her youthful spirit. Sensuality is a divine gift and a part of life. Those who deny and dishonour it are the ones with secrets to hide. Shame on them, not Chotiros.

Peter Gamache

Bangkok

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Dressing scantily a bad example for young fans

It would have been okay if she had dressed up like that in an adult film festival in Las Vegas. As a matter of fact, she would have been overdressed the way she was.

However, this was the Subhanahongsa Awards, a national event that many young girls watched to see how their role models would dress and behave.

To make it worse, it was her who brought up Thammasat University's name, so she could hide behind it when she first gave an interview to Manager. No matter how well you try to spin it, what she did was wrong - a serious lapse of judgement. By the way, you did a great job stirring up controversy, however.

Web Reader

Bangkok

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Personal freedoms must remain beyond govt's reach

Any consenting adult should be able to do the following: 1) Dress as she/he wishes without fear of consequences. 2) Engage in any kind of sexual activity with other consenting adults without fear of consequences. 3) Drink, smoke or engage in unhealthy activities if she/he wishes, so long as no damage is done to others as in the case of drunk driving.

The list could go on but I think the above points are much more about freedom than being able to elect idiots to power or criticise idiots in power, which seems what a lot of people think freedom is about.

Political freedom is important, but personal freedom is something we have to deal with every day of our life. The government (and TV and other people) is not our mother!

Rugantino

Bangkok

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Surayud deserves a chance to achieve 'momentous' agenda

I couldn't agree more with the sentiments expressed by A Concerned Thai ("'Common man' happy enough with govt's performance") and Downunder ("Judge the junta by goals it accomplishes by year's end") in your Letters column on February 14.

For heaven's sake, give this government a chance to do the momentous tasks it has set itself in a very short period of time, and take no notice of those, including some moaning foreign governments, who are unsatisfied.

We are very lucky to have a first class person holding the position of prime minister, and as far as I am concerned, his government can take a bit longer than one year, if it has to, to complete the tasks in hand.

Observer

Chon Buri

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PM should hold an election now and let the public decide

Re: "PM says govt  'transparent' and doing well", News, February 14.

Why worry so much about Thaksin? If he is guilty, as has been claimed, then just let the rule of law take its course.

For now, Thaksin is trying to defend himself and he finds that he can only do it through media outside of Thailand because all media at home will not be "fair" to him or will be banned if they are.

The media here are behaving like the court of justice at the moment. It is clear and, even has been stated by the coup leaders themselves, that it is hard to prove Thaksin's wrongdoings. The only way out is to immediately declare an election date and let the people take over the running of government in a democratic manner. Everyone must be allowed to run in the election, even Thaksin.

Why worry whether he is in power or not? Do we still have law and order? If he is so bad and ineffective, people will vote him out? Are we still talking about reconciliation?

Declare Election Immediately

Bangkok

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Junta targeting graft in higher echelons than Thai Rak Thai

The current government has done more to fight corruption in five months than the previous government did in five years. Our dearly departed Thaksin managed only to rid corruption among lower income people, however corruption increased among the upper class, or what should be called "the untouchables". I only hope that the government is strong enough to prosecute all of those concerned to the full extent of the law. If donations are required to build another prison to house the cronies, since we don't have one large enough for them at the moment, I am sure enough funds will be forthcoming.

Web Reader

Bangkok

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Instilling morality at family level key to ending corruption

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

For Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's fourth objective - re-establishing the rule of law and eradicating once and for all the national cancer of corruption which exists in all segments of society, so that justice is available to all - one sub-component is missing. That is, that it takes two sides for corruption to happen.

If Thai society prefers shortcuts for the sake of business, then there will always be bureaucrats and officers with open arms to accept bribes. We each need, in our own way, to instil morals in the younger generation so that they refuse to pay bribes.

Such moral persuasion would go hand in hand with enforcement, meaning that both bribe-takers and bribe-givers are punished. Lastly, there needs to be a reliable and honest panel for us to air and expose the simplest of grievances.

The current system is impractical. For now, all I can do is teach my children that if we cannot offer a solution, then, heck, we must choose not to compound the corruption problem. We all can turn over a new leaf. For me, I silently protest with a "Rao Mai Jai Sin Bon" (We don't offer bribes) sticker on my back windshield.

Sukit Bejrsuwana

Bangkok

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Independent, not foreign, voices needed in airport mess

Re: "Opinions on Suvarnabhumi from those involved in its construction are useless"

According to this reader's opinion, the only way we can obtain a truly objective report on the Suvarnabhumi project is to conduct a study authored by "non-Thai" experts. 

Why must they be "non-Thai"?  Are Thai people not capable of finding a group of honest, objective analysts to provide a useful and thorough report?  When you have problems with conflict of interest in the leadership of organisations having problems in your home country, do you insist that a group of foreign experts provide a report on the matter?

The opinions of those directly involved in the original project should be heard and highly valued. They should be balanced with opinions from those not originally involved in the project. They need not be non-Thai.

Nationality Irrelevant

Bangkok

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Reams of negative reports make traveller 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