Obviously the underground-lottery operators lost out. The price of government lottery tickets was relatively stable at Bt85 for an Bt80 ticket. There was also substantial income for the government. How this was spent is another matter.

The present government has withdrawn the two- and three-digit lotteries, prompting a resurgence of the underground operators, who are well known to have "connections" or "relationships" with the police and the military. The price of government lottery tickets has now gone up to a minimum of Bt90, with some vendors asking as much as Bt125. They claim their suppliers ask more and they have to make a living.

It seems highly likely that the "mafia" figures who seem to control the lotteries are having a field day. What is their connection to the people in power who reversed the much more sensible action taken by Thaksin's government? Maybe his government was corrupt, but they were no different from any of their predecessors. It is not just the politicians who are corrupt, it is almost the entire civil service, including the military and police. One has only to look at equipment purchases.

On balance, looking at the achievements of the Thaksin government and those of the present crew, which was better for Thailand? Corruption here is so deeply entrenched that it cannot be stopped overnight, if at all, without some dramatic changes to the way Thais think and behave. They may not want corruption, but the alternative of much higher taxes may be unacceptable to them. Whichever party is in power, it indulges in corrupt practices, and those that were getting their greedy hands on the cash before them lose out.

Those that lost out when Thaksin took over could not stand it, hence the coup. Can this government claim to be non-corrupt? What happens when they have to return their new powers to the people? Will they be unable to live without their present "benefits"?

David Amaan

Bangkok

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Does anyone know how to steer the ship of state?

 The government and the Council for National Security (CNS) are dancing around problems like the currency crisis, a stagnant economy and bloodshed in the South while dodging daily criticisms.

Worse, they keep boring us with their favourite refrains: "we are moving in the right direction"; "the problems originated with Thaksin regime"; "our strategy for the South is working" and, my favourite, "the government has done a lot of work, but the PR department is not doing its job".

I hope future coup-makers learn from the CNS that if you want to stage a mutiny while the ship's captain is away, make sure you know how to sail.

Somsak Pola

Samut Prakan

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Culture minister seems ignorant of basic law

 Re: "Culture minister calls on Chula to punish Pemmika", The Nation, March 15.

It is not easy to work out from newspaper reports what has or has not happened in the Prakitpao Thomthitchong case. However, assuming the reports are accurate, one thing is clear: there is one person in high office who is not suitable for their position.

Your report quoted Culture Minister Khunying Kaisri Sri-aroon as saying that being accused of having an adulterous affair should be taken as guilt. Is this Thai tradition? All someone has to do is to make an accusation against another person, and that other person should be considered guilty? So why are there courts and lawyers, and what was the provision in Article 33 of the 1997 constitution that, unless convicted, suspects must not be treated as guilty? The culture minister appears to have no concept of justice and rights and therefore is not a suitable person to hold a Cabinet position. Is this a hint that any new constitution will not contain such a provision?

In addition we come across the concept that a university student should be punished by their university if they have done something "wrong". If we are talking about a student breaking university regulations, such as cheating in examinations, then I agree. But when acting in a private capacity it is no business of the university. If the student has broken a law then the legal system can mete out punishment. If not, then the public disapproval will surely be punishment enough.

But the minister made no suggestion that the man involved in the affair, if there was an affair, should be punished in any way. Again, one has to ask: is this Thai culture, that a woman in an affair gets punished but not the man?

Gareth Clayton

Bangkok

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Sit back and relax: your leaders know what's best

 Re: "Thanks to the government for curing my degeneracy", Letters, March 16.

Ken Albertson laments the Thai government's systematic censorship of Internet content. Of course, I agree that such censorship is deplorable. And it is especially laughable that pornography sites would be blocked in a country that has been the world's premiere destination for generations of sex tourists - precisely because of the government's complacency, if not its active promotion of the trade.

While I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Mr Albertson, this is how dictatorships work. Dictatorships come in many flavours. Some are murderous, some are rather more benevolent. Some are ruled by competent administrators, some by tinpots. Some are elected (eg the Thaksin administration), some are led by those who just happen to have the guns. The fundamental premise that all such governments are based on, however, is that the citizenry is essentially incapable of making decisions for themselves. As such, the people must be guided, indeed protected from themselves and their own stupidity. If the citizens of this country weren't regarded by their leaders as irresponsible and immature as only children can be, there would be no need for fatherly rulers and paternal governments to make the important decisions for them. That applies to Internet content as well as it does to the kind of political speech one may ill-advisedly choose to listen to. Father knows best. We will thank them one day.

Thailand is a wonderful place to make or (better yet) spend money. But if what Mr Albertson is looking for is freedom of expression, I suggest he try a different country.

Raoul Duke

Somewhere around Barstow

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Nuremberg Declaration shows EU is alive and kicking

 Re "European Union defies predictions of doom", Opinion, March 17.

It is a pity that an excellent article starts with a factual inaccuracy, by asserting that "the European Union prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome".

In reality, we are going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of two famous "Treaties of Rome" signed on March 25, 1957 by France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The first Rome Treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC), and the second Treaty created the European Atomic Energy Community, known as Euratom.

It is appropriate to recall that on March 15, the ministers of foreign affairs of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and of the 27 members of the European Union in a programmatic document titled "Nuremberg Declaration on an EU-Asean Enhanced Partnership" positively appreciated the momentum of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaties meant to promote sustainable peace, security and prosperity through regional integration. They also underlined the EU's and Asean's commitment to regional integration and the need to build solid regional organisations. It should be also noted that, as a follow-up, they agreed to develop a comprehensive, mutually beneficial, action-oriented, forward-looking and encompassing plan of action to implement the Nuremberg Declaration.

It is true that in many countries media stories have focused mostly on a so-called paralysis in the EU's decision-making. In fact, the Nuremberg Declaration itself brings convincing evidence that in its relations with Asean the EU has been successfully involved in constructing valuable policies and projects.

Ioan Voicu

Bangkok

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Amulet obsession only distracts from true path

 Re: 'Talisman fad reflects insecurity", Editorial, March 13.

Insecurity, as well as a whole assortment of other negative feelings and emotions, is, from my understanding, an indication of a common malady that affects all of mankind called dukkha, or simply suffering. According to the editorial, the Religious Affairs Department and the National Buddhism Office say that amulet-collecting and devotion to the all-powerful Jatukam amulet are relied upon by a great number of Thai people for peace of mind, or perhaps more aptly, as a distraction from the suffering in their lives at this moment.

This advice does not make sense. I find it absolutely astounding that the monastic authority, the Religious Affairs Department and the National Buddhism Office would broadcast and tolerate such practices for any reason. I am not a Buddhist scholar, but in my view and experience I find their perspective not as pointing the way towards becoming awake but more like endorsing practices that actually serve to further ignorance, which is the very cause of dukkha and the pain and suffering in our lives!

One of the most remarkable characteristics in all schools of Buddhism is that our teachers merely point the way, and we, as the Buddha proclaimed, all must work out our own path with diligence. I find it difficult to understand how the acquiring of objects reputed to have supernatural or magical powers to bring good fortune and peace of mind has anything to do with the working out of one's own path, much less getting to know dhamma and the teachings of the Buddha.

But, after all is said and done, perhaps it really doesn't matter, does it?

Astounded

Bangkok