The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) set up by the government of Thaksin Shinawatra ostensibly to find a way out of the southern morass went to great trouble to identify the real causes of the renewed conflict, and propose meaningful solutions. Its findings were all but ignored by the authorities, including General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who was in command of the military in the region at the time.

The NRC at no point suggested that the solution to the southern conflict would be to pour in more police and soldiers. On the contrary, it observed that "the violence that took place in the area was a reaction to the state's excessively harsh tactics, which resulted from miscalculated strategies and circumstantial assessments", and that "the violation of people's rights by state officials has the effect of aggravating the situation". Both the current interim prime minister and the new national police chief have acknowledged the same in recent times, yet their proposed solution to the violence is apparently to exacerbate it.

The Asian Human Rights Commission poses the following question to all persons concerned about the violence in the South of Thailand: what does the army stand to gain by stopping it? Nobody should underestimate the extent to which this military government, like any other, must obtain legitimacy by creating, not extinguishing, threats to national security that oblige its long-term involvement in one guise or another.

How long can the regime use the former prime minister as a believable bogeyman for everything that has gone wrong in Thailand over the last five months? It needs other dangers to society to justify its renewed institutional control, which includes, under the latest plan, arrangements for senior army officers to be appointed as "deputy governors" in all 76 provinces. These officers are to be given responsibility to monitor "political undercurrents", the new expression for anything the military junta considers a menace to its authority, and report to the revamped Internal Security Operations Command, headed by General Sonthi himself. Apparently, a number have been sent to the South already. No doubt they will find plenty to keep the army involved there for a long time to come.

There are no easy solutions to the problems in the South of Thailand. But whereas under a proper government some may perhaps be found, under a military government there are only non-solutions. Unable and probably unwilling to come up with solutions, it instead takes advantage of the crisis. So the regional crisis is made a plaything in the bigger national crisis; more police and soldiers get sent south not because there is no other solution but precisely because they are not the solution.

Asian Human Rights Commission

Hong Kong

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Pridiyathorn's exit may well restore lost foreign confidence

The long-overdue departure of MR Pridiyathorn Devakula from the Cabinet can only be positive in the eyes of foreign investors, provided that he is replaced by someone with a better understanding of what Thailand needs to do to be competitive in the global economy.

In order to boost foreign investor sentiment further it can only be hoped that someone with a more global outlook will also replace Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

Krirk-krai's only achievement as a minister has been to shock foreign investors by picking the most Draconian option presented by the Pramon Committee, which was tasked with proposing amendments to the Foreign Business Act. In explaining his foreigner-unfriendly choice, Krirk-krai could only cite a sense of nationalism and aim threatening remarks towards foreign investors who may find themselves in breach of Thailand's antiquated foreign-ownership laws. He refused point blank to consult with fellow World Trade Organisation (WTO) members beforehand, as required by Thailand 's WTO commitments, or to delay the amendments until a detailed study could be done of the potential costs and benefits to the Thai economy, as suggested by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce.

The Thai people deserve more responsible consideration given to their economic interests. Nationalism will not feed their children when their economic opportunities have passed to neighbouring countries that are now welcoming foreign investors with open arms.

Political Analyst

Bangkok

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More than one qualified candidate for finance post

Re: "Nothing certain in selection of next finance minister", Opinion, March 2.

Three very good candidates are mentioned in this column. Virabongsa Ramangkura, being a former adviser and minister in past governments, has the "insider" view with respect to the machinations of a working government. His economic credentials are also quite good.

Ekamol Khiriwat is a straight talker, has been around a while in political circles and is highly respected by foreign and local bankers.

MR Chatu Mongol Sonakul, a "blue blood", is also a good candidate but he may be inflexible. However, having worked for most of his life in the government bureaucracy, he will know how to make sure that all gears are utilised.

He wouldn't need to familiarise himself with either the Finance Ministry or the Bank of Thailand - he can hit the ground running. Any of these men would be an excellent choice, but please let's make the choice quickly.

Web Reader

Bangkok

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Surayud, unlike exiting minister, a man of conviction

MR Pridiyathorn Devakula will not be missed. His reasons for going - that he couldn't work with other ministers in the Cabinet and that he was hurt by the appointment of Somkid - demonstrate that he was mainly in the post to further his own personal ambitions.

 Our support and admiration goes to the interim prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, who is a man strong enough to take the accusations and criticisms hurled at him by all, because he understands that his duty during this tempestuous year is to his country and not to his own self-interest. After he is gone, he will be remembered for that.

Jonathan Peter

Pathum Thani

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'Free market' in real estate would only benefit the wealthy

Re: "Locals should have the option to sell property to foreigners", Letters, March 2.

It seems that Burin Kantabutra believes that I "unwittingly" confirmed his contention that locals would make money by selling their land to foreigners should foreigners be allowed to purchase land in Thailand. Another person named Egon was there to agree with him in the same edition ("Higher land costs typically result in more overall wealth").

Obviously both individuals are not reading the newspapers and noting the many articles about what is happening to the real-estate market in America and where it might lead.

Of course initially many Thais will make a handsome profit selling to the rush of foreigners entering the market. I can guarantee that group will comprise low-income Thais struggling to make ends meet. Wealthier Thais will hold on and begin to buy more property because they will know where this is all leading.

Once their money has been spent, poorer Thais will never again be able to afford to buy a house or piece of property in Thailand regardless of how many "tax breaks" and "coupons" the government can invent.

What will happen is that finance companies will begin to invent creative financing that will allow some to re-enter the market exactly as has happened in America. Once this group begins to default, it will begin to affect the entire economy, as is already beginning in America. Stock markets and the housing market are inevitably intertwined in a "free market economy", as many are soon going to learn in America.

I submit to you that no one can benefit from foreigners entering the Thai housing market but the richest 20 per cent of Thais and foreigners. The poor, who in Thailand have always at least been able to have a home, thanks to the market staying constant and property being passed down from generation to generation, will be outclassed in a market that they do not understand. That is the result of a "free market economy".

John Arnone

Yasothon

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Poor waste-pickup services to blame for open fires in North

Re: "Outdoor fires blamed for Chiang Mai, Lamphun air pollution crisis", News, March 2.

Living in Chiang Mai during the week and in Lamphun over the weekends, I can confirm that in both provinces the problem is not the open burning of waste, but rather the lack of waste collection services in outlying areas - in spite of finances for that purpose being forwarded by the central government.

If one wanted to end at least 50 per cent of the air pollution within one month - and for good, at that - one would need only to enforce the "ownership" of household waste by the local tambon administrative organisation. According to Thai law, all household waste belongs to the local administration. And with ownership comes responsibility: you own the waste, so go and collect it, please.

Over the last few years our local tambon administrative organisation has repeatedly forgotten to pick up our household and office waste. We then simply loaded it up on two pickup trucks and deposited in front of our local tambon administrative organisation office, politely announcing our presence and intentions first, of course. We were never refused - on the contrary, we were thanked and encouraged to do this again if need be. People should be encouraged to deposit their waste outside of their local tambon's office and encourage these offices to ask for additional funding from the central government. With additional funding, local offices could then actually use these funds on waste collection.

Karl Segschneider

Chiang Mai