The defence lawyer for Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman is making a mockery of the controversial land deal in which Pojaman purchased a plot of land on Ratchadaphisek, by calling MR Pridiyathorn Devakula to the witness stand.

Lawyer Pichit Chuenban wants Pridiyathorn to testify that while he was head of the Financial Institutions Development Fund, which was selling the land, that he observed no irregularities with the deal.

Come on Pichit, what do you expect Pridiyathorn to say: "Yes there were irregularities and I approved them?" He is not that stupid and we are not that gullible. At best he will say he does not recall any irregularities, which is meaningless. Compelling proof is in the proper documentation and hard evidence that the criteria and process for evaluating the bids were fair for all bidders. Now, if proper documentation does not exist, then all the bids should be thrown out and the land deal annulled.

It appears that the Shinawatras have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar yet again. If MR Pridiyathorn is naive enough to testify, I think the prosecution should bring the other bidders to the stand, open up and review all the bids side by side, and evaluate them based on a fair, objective benchmark.

This is a case of competitive fairness in the bidding process. It is precisely the same issue surrounding fair bidding for projects at Suvarnabhumi.

If they are found to be guilty, it is high time we make Thaksin and his family serve as an example that corruption does not pay, and you can't "buy your way out of it" no matter how much money you have.

Outraged Taxpayer

Bangkok

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Authorities sit on their hands while bus death toll racks up

Re: "Man dies as bus crashes into 20 vehicles", News, April 5.

I am absolutely not surprised about this latest bus accident. One day it's a bus upcountry, another day it's in the centre of Bangkok. I wonder when the authorities will finally realise that those buses really need check ups and that the drivers require proper training.

Many times while driving in town, we can see those buses taking up more than one lane, speeding too fast and letting passengers off the bus in the middle of the road. How many accidents, how many dead people are needed to finally realise that there is a serious transportation problem here.

L Robin

Bangkok

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Writer's uproar over 'inward' Thailand wholly misguided

Re: "Inward policies keep nation from becoming a major player", Letters, March 25.

As a foreigner who has been living in Thailand for some years now, I must admit that I am ashamed and embarrassed to read the remarks made by Greenwald.

May I suggest to him to try and comprehend the laws and regulations passed and issued by the Thai authorities, before they pass such harsh criticisms. The best example of this miscomprehension (willing, or unwilling) is the statement by Greenwald about the restriction of the number of re-entries.

Any foreigner can approach a Royal Thai embassy or consulate anywhere in the world and apply for an annual multi-entry visa. Obviously, the applicant has to show that he, or she, has enough financial means and give a valid reason for his application.  With such a visa there are no limitations on the number of entries, and the duration of a visit allowed is normally three months. In comparison to the procedures for obtaining an entry visa for Thai nationals to most Western countries, the Thai attitude in this respect is more than liberal. May I suggest that Greenwald inspect the endless queues at the foreign consulates in Bangkok every morning and speak to some of the Thai applicants for visas?

The part of the letter which I feel cannot remain uncommented upon, is the writer's practical justification of foreigners breaking the laws of Thailand by working here without the necessary permits, due to "the time consuming, mind-numbing process of obtaining [proper accreditation]". Is this a reason to break the law?

As to the so-called "time consuming and mind-numbing process", may I again suggest that Greenwald speak to Thai applicants for work permits in any of the EU countries, or the US, or Israel. Again, in comparison, the Thai practices are more than easy and convenient.

One may agree or disagree with the restrictive Thai practice of owning and operating businesses by foreigners. However, all that the present government has done, which has caused such an uproar, is to try and clarify and enforce laws which have been in existence for years and, unfortunately been circumvented.

Again, one may dislike the Thai attitude to ownership of land by foreigners. However, it is incorrect to state that a foreigner cannot own a home in Thailand. To start with, most condominium buildings are open to foreign ownership (up to 49 per cent). Further, there is no restriction on owning residential buildings. The restriction refers to ownership of the land on which such buildings are built. Again, there are quite a number of European and other Western states that have much more restrictive laws of owning land by foreigners.

Dr Abraham Z Simhony

Khon Kaen

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Siriporn got the better of opponent and justice system

Re: "Siriporn bags WBC title", Sports, April 4. Congratulations to boxer Samson Sor Siriporn on her victory, not only over her Japanese opponent, but also over an oppressive justice system. She is now 24 years old and has spent the past nine years in jail. This means she must have been only 15 when she was arrested and incarcerated for selling what, in all media reports, is referred to as a small quantity of drugs.

Siriporn has only one thing to be thankful for and that is she was arrested before Thaksin Shinawatra came to power and not caught during his "war on drugs".

Michael Spencer

Bangkok

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Permanent residency status available mainly to the rich

Re: "Personal mission", Business, April 5. I think it is very interesting how Peter J van Haren has adapted to Thailand, and even more interesting that he was recently granted permanent residency. I personally know a young Hispanic woman, born and raised in Thailand, and in every way a Thai person except for citizenship. She has contributed to Thai society in numerous ways, and yet is consistently turned down for both citizenship and permanent residency. It seems to me she would qualify for permanent residency under Section 3.5 of the permanent residency criterion, and Article 11 (1) of the Citizenship Act, but her application is not even accepted for consideration. Could this be because she is not a wealthy male businessman? Would The Nation be interested in featuring an article about her life?

Thammasat Student

Bangkok

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Thai-Lao bridge a vital aid for Mekong-area development

Re: "A bridge too soon", Editorial, March 16. As chairman of the Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation Business Forum (GMS-BF), which groups together national chambers of commerce and industry in all Mekong River countries in partnership with donors and an increasing number of leading corporate members, please allow me to respond to your editorial in reference to the new bridge at the Thai-Lao border.

This is indeed the second Friendship Bridge joining Thailand and Laos directly via land. The first commences near Nong Khai and leads to Lao roads and its capital, Vientiane. Was the second bridge, joining these two Mekong countries via Mukdahan and Savannakhet province built "too soon"?

We at GMS-BF think it was not. Indeed our two conferences on the East West Economic Corridor (EWEC), which would offer sea-land-sea links through the Mekong region and considerably shorten transit times for the shipping public, have been well attended by a total of close to 400 stakeholders from throughout the Mekong region. The second bridge over the Mekong is the main component of EWEC.

Had the bridge been built prematurely, our conferences would not have led to the formation of an ad hoc committee on the EWEC, with a strong corporate presence and that of other stakeholders - all voluntary and at their own expense.

It is expected that the Cross-Border Transport Agreement between the six Mekong riparian countries will be implemented in full by the end of this year.

Not only that it will facilitate the expansion of trade and investment at the industrial park along EWEC: Sawan SENO in Laos and Lao Bao in Vietnam. It will help develop Lao communities along the corridor as well. All this is happening now thanks to the opening of this second bridge.

Dr Jingjai Hanchanlash

Chairman, Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation Business Forum

Bangkok

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S'pore official may have had ulterior motive in Burma trip

There is considerable speculation relating to the recent visit of the Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo to Burma. He may be exploring a political settlement in Burma if Than Shwe should drop dead soon. The Singaporean foreign minister did not need to go to Naypyidaw to sign an agreement to supply sand and construction materials to Singapore. This is the responsibility of the trade minister. And the Singaporean foreign minister did not need to extend a presidential invitation letter since it is well known that Than Shwe is scheduled for heart bypass surgery in Singapore later this month. A political settlement is not possible in Burma because of the May 30 Massacre. And the architects of the May 30th Massacre, Than Shwe and Soe Win, will be in Singaporean hospitals and may face final judgement by the highest authorities.

It is quite possible that the United States has asked the Singaporean foreign minister to explore a political settlement in Burma.

Myint Thein

Senior Adviser to the Burmese Resistance

Dallas, Texas