I have pretty much tried to keep my opinions out of the political situation in Thailand because I believe that it is not really my business, but I do live here and it does affect my family, so I will venture one opinion at least.

Bill Cymbalsky pretty much hit the nail on the head. It is true that dissolving the parties will set a precedent in showing that there can be punishment for political wrongdoing in Thailand, however the punishment is only an inconvenience. The same people will be back again wearing different disguises.

When this government came to power I had high hopes for Thailand. It seemed that they truly wanted to do some good for the country. But it seems that every move they make is simply skirting around the main issue: corruption. I have yet to see any prominent, powerful politician get indicted and tried, let alone go to jail. All they have accomplished so far is to pass yet more laws regulating the poor. Laws on smoking, drinking and moral issues. And it is amazing how quickly they were able to accomplish that.

Some years ago I heard Abhisit Vejjajiva speak in English in a public forum. I had not been so impressed with a politician from any country in many years. I honestly felt that he was the future for Thailand. He was articulate, logical and fair-minded.

Some time later Chuan Leekpai retired and recommended him as his successor. But the good old boys in the party were not having it and he was passed over for one of their own. And I have no doubt that the good old boys let him know why he was passed over. Subsequently Thai Rak Thai buried them at the polls and the Democrats saw the error of their ways and reconsidered Abhisit. But this was obviously with some compromise on his part because when I heard him speak after becoming head of the party, it was not the same man speaking. It was just another politician spouting the party line.

This appears to be the state of Thai politics and politicians. Everyone in this country knows that until the day a prominent politician is caught, indicted, tried and sent to prison for corruption, the people of this country will never have faith in their leaders. And their leaders, whomever they may be, will never allow that to happen because it will create a domino effect.

Any time a good man like Abhisit comes along and tries to do things differently, he will be contained and reoriented until he "sees the light". That is the reality of the situation and the proof of the pudding will be that when this government finally does have an election and there is a changing of the guard, no prominent person in politics will be languishing in jail. And the truth be known, there will be no real changing of the guard - just people of the same ilk in different coloured suits.

John Arnone

YASOTHON

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Refugee children deserve a chance at a govt education

Re: "Raising standards for foreign labour", Editorial, May 29.

In our interdependent, ever-shrinking global village, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Thailand has long prided itself on being a benevolently tolerant and accepting, culturally diverse nation. Unfortunately, myopic, hateful, stereotypical attitudes, accompanied by threatening intimidation and fear, are becoming increasingly apparent among borderline law enforcers and xenophobic powerbrokers resistant to change.

Refugees from Burma are mostly poor ethnic minorities, desperate to escape heavy-fisted prejudicial repression and unjust governmental restrictions. Uprooting themselves from known givens, such as extended family, community outreach, even language and culture, migrant workers should be respected as daring risk-takers, self-starting initiators and persevering hard workers intent on positively contributing to Thai socio-economic development and prosperity. Cherished goals emphasise family values, economic opportunity, security measures, health services and perhaps most importantly, quality education for their offspring.

Children do not get to choose their parents, birthplace or environment. The disadvantaged children of the needy, discriminated against by an obsolete, unbalanced and inequitable overly cautious system, deserve a fair chance to prove their driving desire and to demonstrate their inherent abilities. Until recently, migrant children have faced daunting challenges, and been deprived of equal access opportunities to government schooling. Progressive Phang Nga-area education service centre officials, in conjunction with the Education Ministry's updated guidelines, now understand and recognise the need to extend basic Thai literacy training and individualised learning opportunities to each and every child residing in the province.

The main priority of Thai educational reform should be to ensure that all children are guaranteed fair and equal opportunities to succeed. We must learn how to work together to find mutually acceptable ways to strengthen families and schools that emphasise computer-based self-access learning which maximises individual abilities, innate talents and genetic endowment to their fullest potential. To do otherwise runs counter to universal humanistic values, fair play motivation and equal chance priority options.

Dr Chanchai Prasertson

BANGKOK

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Censor-happy ICT Ministry can't be criticised for idleness

Among all the ministries of the government, the Information and Communications Technology Ministry is the hardest working one, judging from its relentless efforts on blocking websites that support Thaksin. One must wonder if the "T", in ICT Ministry, stands for "technology" or "terminator".

Somsak Pola

SAMUT PRAKAN

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The rule of law must be paramount in party rulings

Re: "CNS steps up security ahead of judgements", News, May 27.

It cannot be said enough that the pressure put on the judges by Thaksin is objectionable. Law on the basis of evidence should prevail. Therefore the taxi drivers plan to display red flags to support Thaksin is unjustified and Thai Rak Thai is to blame for this. All those who wish the best for Thailand should boycott these taxis.

Kanin Boonsuwan's statement ("Sparing Democrats and Thai Rak Thai would heal divide", Opinion, May 20) that the best-case scenario would see neither party being disbanded is very regrettable. What matters is not what is most desirable, but what ruling should be made on the basis of the evidence. This goes for Kanin's statement that the CNS should exercise caution in dealing with Thaksin, as measures could backfire. Again, the verdicts should be based on available evidence and should be in accordance with the seriousness of the crime regardless of his position.

The government is not blameless. The way they have informed the public about Thaksin's misdeeds is absolutely insufficient. I will always prefer Surayud to Thaksin, but too many times his inaction has made me feel desperate.

Egon

BANGKOK

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'Super rich' making easy excuses for patent theft

Re: "Compulsory licensing for cancer drugs", News, May 17. Now we read that after HIV drugs, the government will do the same with cancer drugs. What next? Microsoft-pirated products? Luis Vuitton? Copies and replicas of everything imaginable, all made legally in Thailand?

Thailand is a rich country and can afford to pay the same prices as others. Unfortunately the wealth is concentrated among the ruling "elite" and they certainly won't part with it for the benefit of ordinary Thai people. No, the owners of intellectual property have to make Thailand a "special case".

Everyone around the world is sick of hearing Thailand complaining when the answer to their problems lies within their country. If Thais were the ones with the intellectual-property rights, they would surely be asking top price and would complain if others were breaking their patents. One has to have sympathy with anyone who is unfortunate to have health problems here, but there are ample resources to ensure that people get the proper treatment at an affordable price, and also to pay the health workers a decent wage for what they put in. The super rich should be ashamed of how they are running (and ruining) this country.

M Matthews

Bangkok

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Montri will be remembered more for his spirit than poems

Re: "In honour of Montri", News, May 27.

On page two of your Sunday edition, I read that Thailand's "greatest modern bard" was to be commemorated. Montri Umavijani was described as "one of the most original and searching poets Thailand has produced since Prince Thammatibes (1715-1755) and Sunthorn Phu (1786-1855)". I think this is an exaggeration. You also gave space to the organiser of a commemorative reading for Montri, John Solt, who asserted that the legacy of Montri, who wrote exclusively in English, could be lost "because of the unfortunate inability of the English speaking world to believe that the writing of a non-native speaker could be high literature - with the exception of Joseph Conrad, Vladimir Nabakov and some others". This statement is untrue.

Indeed, it shows an ignorance of what is actually happening in poetry in English all over the world. One has to have one's whole body buried in the sand not to be aware of the huge impact contemporary Polish poetry alone is having on writers in English, Miroslav Holub, Zibignieuw Herbert and Czelaw Milosz being just the most familiar names. And this is not even to start on the cataclysmic influence of the likes of Tomas Transtromer, Paul Celan, Pablo Neruda, Cesar Vallejo, and Bei Bao, citing just a few of those "non-native" poets who inform every single line of contemporary poetry in English.

What Montri Umavijani should be celebrated for is his irrepressible optimism and belief in the power of poetry. Unfortunately he was not blessed with corresponding talent. He will be remembered more as a gifted and generous entertainer than as a poet.

Christopher Woodman

BANGKOK