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Published on July 26, 2007

Re:" UN rejects Taiwan's application", World, July 25.

An application for UN membership by Taiwan was returned by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in keeping with resolution 2758 of the General Assembly. The resolution, which was adopted in 1971, is the basis of the one-China policy of the UN.

It should be noted that resolution 2758 addressed only the issue of the representation of China in the United Nations and all related organisations. It did not determine that Taiwan is a part of China, nor did it confer on China the right to represent Taiwan in the UN and its related organisations.

According to the United Nations Charter, Chapter 2, Article 4, the admission of any state to membership in the UN "will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council". In principle, only sovereign states can become UN members. The Montevideo Convention, signed in Uruguay on December 26, 1933, sets out the four criteria for statehood that have been recognised as an accurate statement of customary international law. The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states. Taiwan fits all the qualifications and is a 100 per cent sovereign state.

Taiwan has transformed into a full-fledged modern democracy after a series of political reforms, further illustrating that this 2758 resolution does not reflect the objective reality that both sides of the Taiwan Strait have separate ruling governments and are not subject to each other's jurisdiction. It also does not reflect the depth of democracy developed by the people of Taiwan. The United Nations should look squarely at the fact that it is regrettable that this resolution also does not safeguard the legal rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan to participate in the United Nations.

Grace Lee

Bangkok

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DAAD's protest Sunday anything but democratic

Re: "PM says sorry to Prem over mob violence", News, July 25.

The news has been so disheartening following the violent Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) mob injuring nearly 150 policeman.

With Jaran Dittha-apichai, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, supporting the unruly mob's use of force, it brings back memories of Vasana Puemlarp, one of three election commissioners convicted of corruption from the Thaksin era, who also openly sided with Thai Rak Thai.

I call on the National Legislative Assembly to immediately remove Jaran from the National Human Rights Commission. The police have human rights too, and to support hooligans using wood planks to strike policemen, as well as throwing bricks at them, it makes people wonder who really are Thaksin supporters.

I strongly disagree with human-rights lawyer Somchai Homla-or, who said "rocks and sticks" could not be considered weapons. Anything can be classified as a weapon if it is used in a violent manner. There also needs to be clarification of the description of the items - those were definitely not sticks, those were wooden planks used as bats. Those were not only rocks, those were bricks. This particular incident was no rally; it was a violent mob.

Thai media should compare footage between the violent DAAD mob at Privy Council President General Prem's Tinsulanonda house, the motorcycle mob at The Nation, and those who threw chairs at the Democrats in Chiang Mai. Current supporters of the banned Thai Rak Thai Party and Thaksin need this information, so that they have the informed opportunity to decide whether they want to support such a party, which instigates such violence.

It is also depressing that the international media seems to overwhelmingly confuse a small group of "paid" rural Thais in a "rally", with the sentiment of the grassroots majority.

This violent mob "coincidentally" acted at the same time as Thaksin's book went on the shelves. It reminds us of Thaksin's timing - like his Roi Et "Academy Fantasia" show that served as an attention grabber while the final sale of Shin Corp shares to Temasek went through. This spin doctor continues to want to taunt Thailand.

It seems that Thaksin is very interested in ensuring his continued presence in Thai politics, regardless of the cost to Thailand. After all, it would be very favourable for violence to provoke the military into using martial law. Thaksin then could use the outcome to his benefit and cry wolf once again to the international community. This would serve him primarily as a reason to refuse to come back to Thailand to face charges in the criminal court.

In closing, wasn't it ironic that DAAD had a sign hanging that said "Democracy Now" as its mob members were throwing the bricks at the police? Is that their picture of democracy?

Carolyn

Bangkok

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Keep demonstrations contained in stadiums

After the violence following the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship's (DAAD) anti-Prem, anti-coup rally on Sunday, I don't blame Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin for being very wary about permitting Sanam Luang to be used for political demonstrations. After all, once bitten, twice shy.

Yet, demonstrations and other means of political activism are important in showing the will of we the people, so long as participants - and the authorities - stay within the law and do not transgress on the rights of others.

I propose, only half tongue-in-cheek, that political rallies/demonstrations be held in public sports stadiums. Such venues are conveniently located, capable of holding large numbers of people, and sturdy enough to withstand heavy usage. They provide easy entry/exit and toilet facilities. Crowds in stadiums are easier to control than when their venue is close to people's residences (like at Sanam Luang), and those entering can be checked for weapons, glass, etc.

The organiser would put up a bank guarantee in advance sufficient to cover rent, utilities, cleaning up, damage, etc - giving them an economic incentive to keep things orderly. Opposing sides could book the same venue if their respective events were 24 hours apart.

Organisers could invite international media and human-rights organisations to observe rallies, to show that they - and the authorities - fully observed the law.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Baht crisis might lead to rejection of draft charter

The referendum will actually allow the people to vote their approval or rejection of the coup. If the plebiscite passes, that sort of endorses General Sonthi Boonyaratglin's junta as well.

So these generals should know that people are going to vote for or against them depending on their sense of economic wellbeing. They seem clueless about how dangerous the baht currency crisis is! Lots of exporters and industries (big, medium-sized and small companies) are in real danger of just calling it quits and shutting down their plants because the strengthening baht is causing them big losses and they can no longer compete in world markets.

If the Thai economy snaps because of the currency crisis, it will be very sudden, just hundreds of factories closing one after the other. Then the generals would have to face angry farmers and labourers in the streets. Attention, generals!

Vichai N

Bangkok

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'Illegal' foreigners long the bane of beach towns

Re: "Pattaya quiet as visitors head for friendlier climes", Letters, July 25.

How long will it be before Lawrence Tilney recognises that to drive down crime and overpricing the government first has to get rid of illegal foreigners? Not so long ago, Pattaya (as well as Phuket, Samui and Hua Hin) was a place for family holidaymakers, whether from Bangkok or abroad, a safe place for children, pristine beaches, a real haven for those who wished to escape the rush of the city. May we remind Lawrence Tilney that, as long as three decades ago, Pattaya was already home to unrivalled five-star international hotels, incomparable cuisine whether local or international, until the jobless, the homeless elements moved in.

Sunida Kitiyakara

Bangkok

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