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Published on August 11, 2007

I can only speak with authority on my experiences with a laboratory and a private hospital in Bangkok and its cardiac and thoracic surgeons and providers of medical care.

First, there is sufficient evidence to support the hypothesis that adult cells can produce new tissue. We have that from bone-marrow transplantation and even the healing of flesh wounds and bone fractures.

In my procedure, cells are isolated from either the bone marrow or peripheral blood, cultured, concentrated and utilised to increase vascularisation where needed. How it works I have no idea, but it is being done in many institutions and it is verified by peer-reviewed medical literature.

My doctors have endorsed this procedure after following many patients' progress over more than four years time. Collecting, processing and identifying the appropriate cells is expensive, as are new cancer modalities throughout the world.

The medical practitioners do not charge exorbitant prices as stated in the article and the lab charges are carefully delineated from the other professional services.

The letter to the editor inaccurately stated that no verification is made as to the origin of the cells or their viability. The same procedure as blood donation is followed and at my last surgery, the number of cells was counted and the percentage of them that were viable was determined. Coincidentally, this time my surgery was cancelled because the cells did not meet the high standards required and I have been delayed another 10 days. Of course there has to be FDA oversight and peer review, but please don't tarnish the reputation of competent, ethical professionals with a tainted brush.

George Wm Smith

Honolulu, Hawaii

Taxi drivers within their rights to display stickers

Re: "Taxi drivers warned over anti-charter stickers", News, August 10.

Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya should respect the taxi drivers' freedom to put any sticker they want on their taxis - including anti-draft constitution ones.

PM Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan says that drivers who do so might be breaking the Motor Vehicle Act, which says that taxis may not display stickers that may be considered as advertising. I fail to see the logic of such a prohibition, given that other forms of mass transit, such as buses or the BTS Skytrain, display massive ads. Also, saying that the stickers might be advertising implies that the drivers were paid to display the stickers - so unless the government can produce evidence of such payment in each case, the drivers should be allowed to express their political opinions.

Ministers Aree and Thirapat, you should heed Voltaire, who said, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

Sonthi's boots were made for walking - over ex-PM

We note that our beleaguered former prime minister is now being called Sinatra. Considering Old Blue Eye's ties to organised crime, it cannot be an association one would relish. On further reflection, perhaps the Sinatra reference isn't to Frank but to Nancy. After all, one of these days these boots DID walk all over him. They were Army boots.

Pierre Fromage

Bangkok

Burma long stuck in a constitutional quagmire

Burma is sinking in a constitutional quagmire rooted in the question of equality for all nationalities or democratic rights for all citizens of the nation. The ethnic nationalities in Burma have long had strong political aspirations to establish a genuine federal union as highlighted in the 1947 Panglong Agreement. But that agreement was disregarded by successive Burmese military regimes. As a result, a civil war has been going on because of the failed promise guaranteed in the Panglong Agreement. Burma's 1947 constitution failed to provide equal rights for ethnic nationalities and lasted for only 14 years. Similarly, the 1974 constitution, which also failed to meet establishing a Federal Union based on the principle of self-determination, also lasted for merely fourteen years.

Now, as a consequence of the failed 1947 and 1974 constitutions, Burma remains in this constitutional quagmire. Burma's military junta held the last session of its controversial national convention on July 18 this year. The convention is just a show for the international community in the absence of the representatives-elect in the 1990 elections. The convention on the draft constitution has taken on the appearance of being a democratic option, but it is being carried out under an indisputably undemocratic and unfair political environment.

Meanwhile, the 92 MPs in the 1990 elections submitted a proposal to the United Nations that it play an important role to avoid the upcoming national crisis in Burma.

If the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) continues to put into practice its seven-step road map without cooperating with the representatives-elect and without listening to the real aspirations of the people of Burma and repeated requests from the international community, including the UN, the SPDC's orchestrated constitution will be definitely challenged by the people (including ethnic nationalities) of Burma.

The main factor for key players to consider is the question of equality for all nationalities and fundamental rights for all citizen of the nation. The 60-year-long civil war that stemmed from a constitutional crisis of the country may not cease if this current national convention fails to provide self-determination for every nationality.

Zin Linn

Bangkok

Cycling trips give rider more frights than exercise

On the recommendation of my doctor I decided to take up cycling. Not so long ago I tried cycling for the first time in Kanchanaburi town. It was horrifying. I was scared to death half the time as bad-tempered motorcyclists and motor vehicle drivers pumped their horns as loud as possible each time they needed to get by.

Since I know the traffic laws, I correctly extended my arm to signal each time I wanted to make a turn, giving my fellow drivers plenty of time to adjust their driving accordingly. This was quite useless, as the cars and bikes would dangerously swerve around, making me almost fall off and hit my head on the ground.

Drivers here really have no patience. Each time I stopped in the middle of the road to allow some pedestrians to cross the zebra crossing I was honked at by furious impatient drivers behind me.

The Thai police should crack down on the appalling disrespect drivers have for bicyclists and especially elderly ones like me.

Riding in a quiet lane with no traffic for the sake of exercise is also not advisable, as such action merely invites the neighbourhood's stray dogs to gang up and attack you.

Perhaps as a lesson in creating empathy, each person taking the driver's test should be made to ride a bicycle for seven days in the city.

Tiger Trevor

Bangkok