So we hear the two and three-digit lottery is illegal and another Thaksin scam, and then it's a good idea for budget reasons and keeping everything above ground. And then it's not a good idea and it's pulled from Parliament. Now change topics - the alcohol advertising ban must be implemented, then there's a problem, and suddenly it disappears from sight as a priority topic. The swings between closing Suvarnabhumi Airport partly or totally, and reopening Don Muang are momentous, so it's no wonder the airlines have finally put their foot down and said enough is enough.

Should Malaysia be asked to mediate to help try and solve the problems of the deep South? Ask the foreign minister and he says "no" and then a day later that response is now "yes" as he gets reversed by the prime minister. Take relations with Singapore - first slap them around as the enemy for letting their deputy premier meet with Thaksin, but now ask them to be Thailand's friend so that the Shin satellites can be bought back. Foreign business ownership, who's responsible for the bombings on New Year's Eve, when (or if) Thaksin can return to Thailand - whatever the policy, it's all up in the air, any day and every day.

Like the mythical Hydra, this government has too many heads, and they all insist on talking and biting each other at the same time. The central problem is this government lacks any sort of practical legitimacy or basic democratic accountability. If the situation looks chaotic now, wait until the debate starts on what comes out of the artificially rushed constitution drafting process, where a lack of public participation and elite, anti-democratic ideas are the only two consistent elements. The real damage caused by the September 19 coup is only now becoming apparent.

Those citizens who were so gleefully posing for photos with their children in front of the tanks on Rajdamnoen should now think again about the political future their actions have bequeathed to their children.

William K Roland

Bangkok

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Satellites must be repatriated only through a fair purchase

Re: Customers fear fate of Shin's satellites. Temasek has not done anything wrong here. If the prime minister of a country assures the deal is legal and good, who in their right mind would not believe that? Thaksin may have acted illegally but you cannot blame Temasek, or even less Singapore, for his wrongdoings. If Thailand wants them back, just sit down and negotiate the price with Temasek. Any other avenue taken to reclaim them will be nothing short of nationalising Shin Corp. That will put Thailand in the same club with Cuba and Venezuela. Congratulations.

Amazing Thailand

Bangkok

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Int'l Commission of Jurists condemns southern attacks

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today condemned the shooting, arson and bomb attacks that occurred across the South of Thailand yesterday, which are reported to have killed eight people and injured at least 45, including at least one child.  "Thorough, prompt and impartial investigations will be needed. It is already clear that there can be no justification for these violent acts", said Nicholas Howen, ICJ secretary-general.

"These are criminal acts and those responsible should be brought to justice in accordance with national law and in line with international standards", he added. The most effective means of addressing the situation in the South remains adherence to a measured policy involving: law enforcement measures that respect human rights and the rule of law, access to justice for all victims of crimes in southern Thailand - including prompt and fair investigations, remedies and reparations, and full and transparent consideration of the recommendations of the National Reconciliation Commission. The ICJ expressed its condolences to the victims and their families.

International Commission of Jurists

Geneva, Switzerland

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Asean needs to fall in line with other anti-terror accords

Re: "Asean's accord on counter-terrorism a major step forward", Opinion, February 19.

From the perspective of multilateral diplomacy there are strong reasons to welcome Kavi Chongkittavorn's assessment that the Asean Convention on Counter Terrorism augurs well with ongoing United Nations (UN) efforts in the field. Indeed, future cooperation between Asean and the UN should be strengthened. Yet, there is one significant element that cannot be ignored or underestimated. Asean countries are expected to make additional political and legal efforts and to consider, as a matter of priority, becoming parties to all 13 universal legal instruments against terrorism adopted until now under the auspices of the UN system, including the most recent one - the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

More robust collective action at regional and global levels is necessary to prevent terrorism from posing an existential threat to humankind.

The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted last year has to be energetically put into effect on all continents.

It should be recalled that in 2004 the UN High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, led by Anand Panyarachun, recommended the establishment of a clear, coherent, principled strategy of counter-terrorism that is respectful of universal human rights and the rule of law.

That strategy is now in force and there is also a Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force composed of 24 UN entities across the UN system.

The UN General Assembly has a pivotal role in following up the implementation and updating of the Strategy.

By its most recent resolution on the matter, adopted by consensus, 192 countries reiterated that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable.

It is essential to strengthen international, regional and sub-regional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of states to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Ioan Voicu

Bangkok

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Long walks, few toilets - little to complain about at airport

I don't know why everyone complains about Bangkok's new airport. I visited it recently for the first time and it was "Amazing Thailand" all over again!

The letters "D" and "E" may be next to each other alphabetically, but at Suvarnabhumi those gates seem a kilometre apart - and in between are lots of shops. Each shop had at least five customers and they all wore uniforms - I've never seen that in an airport, ever!

There were other people who looked more like normal passengers (pushing luggage carts and holding tickets) but they seemed interested in getting to E from D. 

And the airport has games too! My favourite was: "Is there WiFi here or not?" I played this every time I sat down with my laptop. That free WiFi is so playful! Lost your entire email? Mai pen rai (no problem)!

One thing though: when I found Coffee World and had a great espresso, the area was so hot and airless that I was sweaty and uncomfortable, and this is in February. But I'm not worried, I'm sure the authorities who have done such a competent job building this fantastic new airport will roll in new air-conditioning units before the hot season hits, to keep their passengers cool and comfy. And as for the "toilet-controversy", why, I saw at least two, maybe even three, during my wanderings. And there's a Boots pharmacy if you need Imodium.

I'm sure that Bangkok's expensive new airport will ace out its competition as an Asian regional hub. Of course, passengers are going to demand they be routed through Bangkok so they can visit this superb facility, and some may even head into town for a visit, since it only costs Bt700 baht to fly out of Suvarnabhumi. And if you're out of baht, they've got plenty of places to change money too!

Frequent Traveller

Hong Kong

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Dress scandal scored actress priceless media exposure

Re: "Chotiros pledges to shed sexy dress", News, February 16.

The winner of all the coverage surrounding her is Chotiros Suriyawong. Let's face it a supporting actress got days of headlines in the media in Thailand for the price of one dress.

How much would she have had to spend if she had tried to get the same amount of coverage through paid advertisements?

Everyone (including this letter writer) contributed to that publicity even though professing to disagree with her performance. She was/is obviously only a supporting actress or a producer would not be able to remove scenes containing her from a film without completely ruining it.

The best strategy for those who disapproved would have been to make no comment and give the story no coverage in their news channels, but nobody did. Thus she comes out a clear winner of the event.

But anyway what was all the fuss about. Some of the background dancers in some of the concerts on Sunday night television showed more flesh and had less material in their short, skin tight shorts and blouses than Chotiros and there was not a murmur.

As for the reaction of Thammasat University, I agree with "Puzzled" ("University should worry about standards of dress on campus", Letters, February 18) that what she does in her own time is her business, and this is the supposedly liberal Thammasat University. If she breaks the law, well let the law punish her. Inappropriate exposure?

This university, which has dress code monitors on the gates in the morning, allows "uniforms" that are so sparing with the amount of cloth used I am amazed that buttons remain attached to blouses.

Gareth Clayton

Bangkok