There is always something hilarious when Nanny, having admonished the children for doing so, is caught picking her nose. Washington has downgraded Thailand's trade status by putting it on the "priority watch list" over extensive copyright violations. We can all smile wryly, knowing the US has enjoyed for years perhaps the world's worst reputation for infringing other people's copyrights, to the tune of millions of dollars every day, by such on-line companies as Napster.

But I did not smile when, in the same edition of The Nation, Washington is reported to be criticising Iran yet again for sponsoring sectarian Shi'ite terrorism in Iraq. Have Americans so quickly forgotten the millions of dollars Catholic Irish- Americans gave to the IRA to sponsor exactly the same kind of sectarian terrorism in Northern Ireland? Where was Washington's strident and belligerent tone then?

Robert Walker

Bangkok

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Thailand's peace offerings are rejected by Muslims

Re: "OIC seeks safety for Muslims", News, May 1. Your newspaper reported that the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), through its secretary-general, Professor Ekmeled-din Ihsanoglu, "appealed to the Surayud government to provide safety for Muslims in the deep South" Incredulous as it may seem, wasn't it the Surayud government that invited the OIC representative to come here, so he could see the situation for himself, and would hopefully expect the OIC to help to convince Muslim militants to cooperate with the Thai government, leading towards a peaceful solution in the three troubled southern provinces?

Emerging from the meeting with the OIC secretary-general, Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said that the government was doing its very best. Evidence on the ground, however, suggests otherwise, and I must beg to disagree. Maybe we have not tried hard enough. Thai foreign policy under this administration is seemingly in a bankrupt state. If the foreign minister could not persuade the OIC to see things our way, then who can? And what hope is left?

Instead of Thai Buddhists, who have to bear the brunt of the burden, the OIC secretary-general still sees that it is Thai-Muslims who have had to suffer. How many beheadings of Thai Buddhists, including Buddhist monks, would convince him?

If the OIC would like to know what this government has done, the list is long. The prime minister has begged for forgiveness for all the wrongs that were done to Thai Muslims during the previous administration. A "special economic zone" has been created for the three provinces to revive the economy. The government is persisting with its peace efforts. Visiting the South last week, Prime Minister Surayud said the government was considering offering the insurgents an amnesty. It is something, in my opinion, that most Thai people would reject. It is clear that state power does not function in these three southern provinces, and people there must feel the responsibility to protect themselves and probably will take justice into their own hands.

This brings me to an incident that took place before the Japanese invasion of Thailand in December 1941. Luang Pibulsonggram, Nitya's father, who was PM at that time, knew of the imminent danger Thailand was facing. He cabled the British and asked for help. The reply was: "Fend for yourselves."

So, as the OIC secretary-general ends his visit to Thailand today, Thailand's answer to him should be the same: "We will fend for ourselves."

Prachyadavi Tavedikul

Bangkok

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No such thing as equal rights in Muslim society

The secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeled-din Ihsanoglu, has been quoted as saying that Muslims should "have the same rights as the rest of the (Thai) population".

In no Muslim country in the world do minorities have the same rights as Muslims. And yet when they are in a minority they demand respect and equal rights. I wonder if Mr Ihsanoglu sees the hypocrisy of Muslims?

Dean Barrett

Bangkok

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Vietnam's investment in education puts us to shame

Re: "Thai investors look to hitch on to Vietnam's 'rising star', Opinion, May 1.

This should cause those in government to fall flat on their faces with shame. That a bachelor's degree is a necessary qualification for election to parliament is laughable. The rule only exists to maintain subservience in the masses so that only wealthy and well-connected people maintain control over the country. But take heart, all too often a bachelor's degree in Thailand is a worthless piece of paper which can easily be bought.

The subject itself though is less humorous - in fact deadly serious, because steering Thailand over the next two decades toward a vibrant and competitive economy, while also facing up squarely to the dramatic effects of global warming, is going to require very different types of leaders than exist today. Such citizens will not emerge from Thailand's ramshackle education system. But that's where today's governments come from.

Government in Thailand suffers from three major defects: its leaders are indecisive, uncommitted and incompetent. Thailand needs less ideology, less nationalism and masses of help from foreign educational institutions. Those holding ministerial posts should have first-class western degrees to properly equip them for the challenges ahead. Don't look to foreign aid when disaster strikes because the rest of the world will already be over-stretched in trying to mitigate the effects of global warming. What did Thailand contribute to the conference this week in Bangkok, except selling facilities and hotel accommodation?

It must have been tough for Vietnam to take such a hard look at itself, swallow much of its pride and take very pragmatic decisions to team up with former adversaries. Their investments in education are going to enable them to undermine the economies of at least some of the so-called Asian tigers. Vietnam must be taking comfort in the knowledge that neighbouring countries will still be just talking about it in a few years time.

David Harrison

Bangkok

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Thaksin's latest sporting shenanigans are no joke

Re: "Golf presidency 'a joke or political ploy'", News, May 2.

If Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin thinks former leader Thaksin Shinawatra's appointment as president of the Professional Golf Association of Thailand was a joke, then he is kidding himself. The PGA appointment was arranged for Thaksin to re-enter the country in the future - to attend the club's meeting - with or without the general's liking or permission.

Another piece of news about Thaksin was his bid to acquire the Manchester City football club. This was mainly business. English football clubs are more open to foreign investors than clubs in other countries. Such clubs have great potential to expand in other businesses all over the world such as clothing, accessories and even snacks.

English football clubs are a darling to billionaires like Mohamed al-Fayed, who owns both London's oldest football club, Fulham, and Harrods, the high-end department store. Al-Fayed is also Thaksin's close friend.

Stop joking about Thaksin, general.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Business laws are not serving the people

Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet is disappointed because Thailand has amended the Foreign Business Act (FBA) and retail laws, saying that since we've revised the laws to make them more transparent and to plug existing loopholes, the US should not view such moves as cause for trade punishment.

Mr Minister, I have no problem with increasing transparency and plugging of loopholes. But my problem is much more basic: I fail to see how such laws serve Thai national interests, let alone those of others. Take the FBA, allegedly needed because we cannot compete in certain areas such as farming (which is on List 1). During the 20-plus years that the FBA has been around, have our farmers become more competitive? If yes, shouldn't we loosen the FBA's restrictions accordingly? If no, why should we improve, as the FBA doesn't force farmers to be more efficient in return for protection?

Economy 101 teaches that such competitive restrictions come at a cost to the 67 million Thais who are consumers. I suggest, Mr Minister, that you review the FBA and retail acts from the point of view of Thais as a whole. Being non-elected, you don't owe your seat to vested interests. Please use that advantage for we, the people, and ask, "Are these acts vital for the long-term well-being of Thai consumers as a whole? Or are they millstones around our necks?"

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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America's corrupt crawl from their nests

The latest on the list of revelations to come from former US administration employees seems to indicate that they are bracketed into two categories. There is the first category of those who eventually listen to their consciences (Powell, Tenet, et al), resign, or are dismissed and then later speak out on their misgivings about judgement or impropriety in government.

Then there is the second group (Libby, Wolfowitz, et al), who have been implicated in wrongdoing and have to be forcefully reminded of their duties and ethical standards by outside agencies.

Those in the first group are dismissed as "unimpressive" and "out of the loop" and the second category are given praise and gratitude for their efforts and often described as great men.

This says it all about the current, hypocritical and corrupt Bush administration. The US has allowed itself to be led down a spiralling path to disaster by cowardly, crooked characters who have pure contempt for the values the US is supposed to stand for.

A Warner

Bangkok

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