I agree with them that their transfers were not transparent and need to be scrutinised. However, since Thaksin appointed them by the same opaque process by which they were removed, did he appoint the best-qualified persons? The court should first examine whether Thaksin used key performance indicators (KPIs) that were job-relevant, transparent and measurable and which excluded irrelevant factors like personal ties, class year or seniority. Then, the court should apply the same KPIs to see how the petitioners performed once given the job and whether the CNS-nominated officers were more qualified.

The CNS should take this lawsuit as an opportunity to review the entire military evaluation and promotion system, ensuring that only those officers and men who have shown the most accomplishments related to serving King and country, as shown by their KPIs, rise to the top. Our soldiers deserve better than to be treated like the personal army of some feudal warlord.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Movie censorship is more sad news for free speech

 Re: "Plea for an end to state censorship of cinema", News, April 16.

The latest movie from acclaimed Thai movie director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, "Sang Sattawat", or "Syndromes and a Century", which has received several international awards, was supposed to be released in Bangkok this week.

This won't be the case now, since the very conservative Thailand Censorship Board has asked for some major cuts to be made to the movie, and Apichatpong refuses to comply and mutilate his work.

This is more sad news for freedom of expression in Thailand.

A petition to the government and the National Legislative Assembly against the strict application of this unacceptable censorship law dating back to 1930 can be signed at www.petitiononline.com/nocut/petition.html.

Frederic Loyat

Nonthaburi

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7-Eleven stores can give small retailers pointers

 Re: "Retail business act off target by not focusing on 7-Eleven", Letters, April 14.

I have to disagree with Paul Cheesman. 7-Eleven is probably the only good thing that has come from the encroachment of Western business into Thailand.

7-Eleven relies on service, merchandising and flexible hours to accomplish its ends - not pricing. Their stores actually charge more than local retailers as opposed to the large stores that rely on buying power and thus charge lower prices. A mom-and-pop store doesn't have a chance against the monsters, but if they are astute enough to walk into a 7-Eleven and see what they are doing, they can make the necessary changes in the service, merchandising and hours of their own store and compete.

There is a small store in Pattaya where I buy my Nation every morning when I visit there. The paper is out front on a stand. I pick it up, and then a sliding glass door opens, and an open hand emerges to take my money. It then disappears, and I go on my way. I would imagine that this is their concept of service.

Thai retailers have long needed a lesson in business, and 7-Eleven gives it to them. If they are astute enough to embrace the lesson and change accordingly, they can compete. If they don't, then of course they won't survive, and maybe they shouldn't. With the large stores, there is no lesson to be had other than "Get out of town".

John Arnone

Yasothon

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Women should stand up against sexual repression

 Re: "Plea for an end to state censorship of cinema", News, April 16.

I couldn't agree more with the plea by the Thai Film Foundation and the Thai Film Directors' Association to stop government censorship of films.

I was disgusted to see that two movies I'd purchased had blurred out women's breasts and, most disappointing, a scene depicting a woman having fantastic sex with Johnny Depp. I was beyond livid!

May I ask why women's breasts are considered worthy of censorship while men's are not? Heck, most of the sex tourists around here have larger breasts than do Thai women!

Why is female sexuality stifled, covered up and otherwise treated as a societal ill while men enjoy prostitutes on every block in Thailand? Vibrators cannot even be sold in this country! Why are health-damaging birth control pills sold over the counter while innocuous soy-oestrogen to relieve hot flashes in menopausal women is not to be found?

Women, come on, get with it! Start protesting this double standard enforced by a bunch of oppressors who are absolutely petrified of the power of female sexuality! If only we banded together ...

Christy K Sweet

Phuket

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Foreign investment doesn't only mean industrialisation

 Re: "Industrialisation should be the very last option", Letters, April 16.

The argument about whether an agricultural or an industrial economy is the best choice has been around since the time of Thomas Jefferson - and has nothing to do with where the funds come from to establish the industry.

Foreign investment could be in many sectors. Investment in industrialisation is usually but the "toe in the water" for foreign investment in undeveloped countries with loads of cheap labour. Thailand took advantage of that initial dip almost 30 years ago. After that, it failed to open its economy further, managing to avoid reaping benefits that should have followed foreigners' first forays in investment here.

What benefits? Domestic educational excellence, technological expertise and, above all, the development of a competent professional management class to lead Thai industry, agriculture, government, finance and technology into the future, independent of foreign investment. These Thai managers would have learned by doing, taking the best of what they saw the foreigners do, and doing it better by adapting it to their own cultural context.

A shortage of skilled professional managers continues to levy a great cost to whatever development policy, be it agricultural, industrial or other that Thailand chooses to pursue. Many argue that corruption is at the heart of fiascos like the new airport, the rubber planting scheme and the phenomenal cost of road projects here. It could also be argued that many of the symptoms attributed to corrupt practices result from poor planning and execution by inexperienced managers at every level.

Yes, the foreigners take their baht home - that's why they come. The secret the Chinese know is how to make what the foreigners leave behind more valuable than what they took away.

Bruce Janis

Chiang Mai

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Thailand is treading down the same path as others

 Re: "Thailand is a unique case and should continue to be", Letters, April 15.

The claim, "Thailand is Thailand because it has not trodden the same worn path as the rest of the world, either by direction or desire for material gain," is pure nonsense. Thailand is as much a part of the globalisation process as any other country, and it dissociates itself at its own peril. Witness Cuba and North Korea.

Also, Thailand is one of the most materialistic nations I have ever experienced.

James Groveway

Bangkok

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Women are quite well off without men, thank you

 Re: "Most women would prefer to marry a man with money", Letters, April 15.

I take issue with the idea expressed in this letter that there is little well-paid employment for women in this country.

After some years of intensive contact with Thais in a wide variety of workplaces, one of the more interesting factors of this experience has been to observe the number of women in professional employment, many of them in senior positions. A stroll through departments in both the government sector and the private sector will show a high proportion of the professional desks occupied by women.

As far as I have been able to tell, their interest in marrying material comfort rather than earning it is about as common as it is in similar situations in the Western culture I come from. There is also a substantial number of women who choose what they call freedom rather than to get married at all.

Paul Sweeney

Bangkok

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Censorship or not, it's good to be back in the Kingdom

 Despite the usual degree of self-censorship found in the Thai media, itself mainly a reflection of the long-standing cultural wisdom that in a country where life is still cheap, proceeding cautiously is generally the wisest course to take, it's nice to feel part of Thailand again and be able to look up from my newspaper and see the people and country of which your old warhorse, Sopon Onkgara, writes so well in his opinion column.

Yes, and despite all the alleged cobra sightings recently, it's good to be back!

Frank Lee

Nonthaburi