Aesop said that there was a rooster who thought the sun rose to hear him crow. I suggest Thailand's credibility has less than he thinks to do with his personal dignity.

Rather, the way for Thailand to become more credible is to deal with Thaksin, his kin and his cronies strictly according to the rule of law, which PM Surayud claims we have. Allow Thaksin to exercise the right of every Thai to return home at will - though whether he is arrested and charged immediately is another matter. Allow him full freedom of speech - though he will be charged like any other citizen if he says anything illegal. Investigate the various cases against him thoroughly and transparently, using laws and penalties in existence when the alleged acts were undertaken. Allow anti-coup and/or pro-Thaksin protestors full freedom of speech, without hindrance - so long as they respect the rights of others, including the right to peacefully observe. Investigate the thousands of extra-judicial killings by police, as well as the abduction of lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit, and prosecute the guilty, whether in uniform or not.

Thaksin, if you're so concerned about Thailand's credibility, help us promote the rule of law, including opening all financial records in the CTX and other corruption cases, and encouraging demonstrators to cooperate with the authorities in maintaining law and order at protest sites.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Democrat leader deserves the chance to lead Thais

Contrary to my expectations I was impressed ... he is very smart, thoughtful, quick-witted, tough-minded, with a good sense of humour ... all questions (both friendly and critical) were answered straightforwardly ... he demonstrated a keen awareness of [national and party] weaknesses and a determination to rectify them ... watch this guy."

These words were written by a friend of mine following a recent talk presented by Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. My friend is no fool. True leadership calls forth the best in those led; it liberates them into the fullness of their potential as individuals and as a group. Henry Kissinger once said that "the task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been". No room here for unethical and swollen egos, overactive voice-boxes and overflowing cheque books utilised to guarantee the masses a never-ending supply of cheap and intoxicating glue!

Doubts exist as to the availability of anyone capable of taking on the difficult leadership role ahead. Assuredly, the man is already to hand - gift-wrapped, enthusiastic and equipped to serve. Abhisit Vejjajiva has the potential to become a great prime minister, a democratic leader of wisdom, vision, compassion and enormous integrity. I wonder if he'll be given the chance.

John Shepherd

Bangkok

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The insidious use of personal restrictions

Re: "Restrictions on what one does at home are unlikely'", Letters, June 17.

Songdej Praditsmanont is correct: his challenge to John Arnone to name a country that actually banned smoking in one's own home fell on deaf ears. No matter, because in his "Smoking ban clears a path for further government meddling" (Letters, June 14) Mr Arnone tells us that all this fuss was never about smoking or non smoking in the first place but rather about Big Brother in one of its many forms - the US government's Surgeon General. Of course, the issue of smoking was the basis though for opening the present can of worms that has been carried on in the letters section recently.

This was never a debate. One does not carry on a debate with recovering smokers, non smokers, anti smokers, "health Nazis" et al; they are too intense for rational dialogue concerning the issue of smoking.

The facts are: smoking is bad and dangerous for one's health - as are countless other actions; second-hand smoke and other air pollutants are also, and despite whatever information is put out by government agencies and health organisations such things can be and are often ignored.

Information about safe sex and the subsequent danger to others by not using condoms is still ignored in many parts of the world. Yet, from the responses of some of the letters about smoking and smokers, one would think that smokers are regarded as more loathsome than those who ignore the issue of safe sex. I have yet to hear or read that the act of those who fail to practice safe sex, like smoking, represents a terrific population control measure; we can do without people "who don't care".

Both Mr Arnone and I are most likely from the generation of smokers and smoking; at that time most all adults smoked where and when they pleased; few complained because most indulged. Growing up during WWII and the following decades was a special time and unless you lived at that time you couldn't possibly understand why such words as "vile", "repulsive", "despicable" or "repugnant" as applied to smoking and smokers at present has little meaning to those of that generation.

Those of us from that generation also see Big Brother, in the name of protecting public health and freedom, more prevalent in the present authoritarian US government.

Mr Bill

Bangkok

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Dancing one's way to an early retirement

Re: "Some feminists need to lighten up a little", Letters, June 18.

C Croft, I would never use the term "girls" to address females over the age of 18. See, that's a familiar way that people marginalise women.

 As for your perceived view of my attractiveness, I worked as a nude dancer for many years and was attractive enough to be quite successful at it; enough to enable me to retire at a very early age. And it's religious Old Goat leaders I loathe and they are male, yes.

Christy K Sweet

Phuket

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Are Muslim women being denied vital vitamins?

Re: "Vitamin D slashes cancer risk", News, June 15.

The above article identifies sunlight acquisition of Vitamin D as a major source of health in women. The researchers that organised the programme were from Creighton Univeristy Omaha Nebraska. Were there any of the world's 600 million black-shrouded Muslim women in the test group?

Al Eberhardt

Bangkok

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Education is essential for innovation

Re: "Needed: Quality education for all", Opinion, June 17.

 Your editorial is very topical and contains many valid points that deserve further elaboration. I welcome in particular the reference to the necessity of adopting innovative teaching methods. This is part of a larger issue on innovation which is under active international consideration.

In May 2007, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific adopted by consensus, in the capital city of Kazakhstan, the Almaty Declaration - on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of Escap, which has now 62 members and associate members. The draft of the Declaration was co-sponsored by 18 countries, including Thailand, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam. The Declaration requests inter alia the executive secretary of Escap to reinvigorate the role of the Commission, by identifying and advocating innovative approaches to address sustainable development issues. Education is a fundamental component of sustainable development. The theme topic of the 64th session of Escap in 2008 is expected to be energy security and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific, with the express inclusion of innovation and competitiveness.

 Meanwhile, an International Workshop on University Governance will take place this week in Bangkok. It will deal with global trends in higher education; monitoring the performance of universities: internal and external mechanisms; Thai practices in university governance; future challenges for university governance. The imperative task of promoting authentic innovation in education cannot be ignored in any international deliberation on the matter. It is an axiomatic truth that innovation is needed to give tangibility to justified aspirations of quality education for all.

Ioan Voicu

Bangkok