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Published on September 30, 2007

.China needs to be sent a strong message and not one with more diplomatic doubletalk. Since governments/world bodies apparently won't actually do anything after all (for fear that China may disapprove) perhaps people should take the lead.

The only way to get China's complete attention is for common people everywhere to call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics until China stops colluding with the Burmese thugs/generals. If millions of people made this statement, they would have to notice.

I've never believed that boycotts and Olympic venues should mix, but this seems the only way. Webmasters could start the ball rolling, simply by placing a tag on their sites stating: "Support the people of Burma - Boycott the Beijing Olympics."

Am I an idealist? Perhaps, but the "idealists" and amazingly courageous people of Burma have already risked all to send an SOS and show the world their plight using technology. They know we are watching this time, but they must wonder why we aren't doing anything. Yet people everywhere can do something using the same technology, which collectively in great numbers could scare some sense into China.

Meanwhile, real sanctions are needed right now. Many people are under the false impression that there already are harsh sanctions in place aimed at isolating the generals in Burma. The sanctions in place simply prohibit minimal contributions such as textiles, leather goods and the like, which hardly affect the generals' real windfall.

In reality, these minimal sanctions were put in place entirely so your country (or mine) could proclaim to the world (as they spout even now): "We've had sanctions in place against the tyrannical regime in Burma for years."

The petroleum flow should be cut off immediately, but apparently no governments or world bodies or Asean have the temerity to do it for fear of ending up on China's warped demerit system, thus potentially risking losing out on future opportunities in China.

Tell them the people of Burma are worthy of our risk.

So far, collectively, we just sit and watch, like witnessing a gang of thugs gleefully kicking the life out of a defenceless passer-by with impunity, and we do absolutely nothing but watch.

Meanwhile, the international government is kowtowing to China while Burma's amazingly courageous and humble people bleed in the streets, knowing we watch and wondering where we are.

BahtandSold

Bangkok

Oppressed deserve the world's support

The people of the world must continue to support the Burmese in their efforts for democracy against the junta.

The junta is killing monks, along with innocent citizens, and this must be condemned by all.

China reacts and is offended when countries dare to meet with that kind soul the Dalai Lama, and yet China does nothing to condemn the brutal Burmese junta. It is time now that China was told that countries around the world will boycott the Olympics unless China forces elections in Burma.

Stuart Davie

Darwin, Australia

PM needs to follow up UN speech with concrete acts

Re: "Surayud lays into the Burmese junta at UN", News, September 29.

I laud Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont for saying at the UN: "Thailand therefore finds unacceptable the use of violence and bodily harm to Buddhist monks and other demonstrators in [Rangoon]." But as the acting director-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Information said on a different matter, we should look at actions, not words.

The time to pressure the junta to negotiate with its own people is now, for although the Burmese military has been ruthless, the situation has not deteriorated to the point where it has become like the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge - yet. Prime Minister Surayud's hand is as strong as it will ever be. Not only do we have right on our side; the world condemns the junta's merciless actions. The pro-junta cronies of ex-prime minister Thaksin are retreating, and the Asean secretary-general is none other than our highly qualified former foreign minister, Surin Pitsuwan. If the protesters lose, they will not get another chance for decades. It's now or never.

Thailand should review its investments in Burma and, working hand in glove with Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo as Asean chairman, encourage other Asean members, plus China and India, to do likewise. Asean must remind China that with the Beijing Olympics just around the corner, this is no time to sit on the fence or mouth platitudes. China, in particular, must speak softly but carry its big stick of investment.

When Burma joined Asean a decade ago, it promised to take the road to democracy. It has not done so. Thailand should immediately move to review Burma's Asean membership unless it treats the protesters in accord with democratic practice, including freedom of assembly and of speech.

If we just mouth "tsk, tsk, bad boy, bad boy", the world will neither forgive nor forget us for our inaction - nor should it.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

UN envoy's mission could play into the junta's hands

Why is Ibrahim Gambari going to Burma? Stung by criticism that he has done nothing, Ban Ki-moon has dispatched his deputy. Why would Than Shwe allow him to visit? The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is desperate to end the demonstrations. It has imprisoned hundreds of monks and put the nation's entire monastic community under house arrest. If Gambari can temper the calls for freedom as well, that's great. Gambari and Ban Ki-moon are throwing Than Shwe a lifeline. This could prevent his fall.

The UN, through its member states, also represents international financial interests. These interests do not want Burma to go free. Gambari's mission is a last-ditch effort to protect them.

Of course, he may personally want to see an end to the violence - we all do - but he cannot be allowed to suppress the demonstrators in any way. Instead, he should call on the people to renew their protests, their demand to finally be free of 45 years of oppression.

The worst thing for the democracy movement right now is the absence of the monks. The people need their monks. Free the monks!

The SPDC is starting to crack. The demonstrations must continue until it splits and breaks. For this to take place, the monks must lead. Free the monks!

Roland Watson

Dictator Watch

Crash victims must exercise caution in suits

Re: "Relatives of One-Two-Go crash victims sue Boeing", News, September 29.

American-style lawsuits are now being brought to the Kingdom. Ribbeck Law Chartered has filed a lawsuit and motions in their hometown of Chicago surprisingly fast, less than two weeks after the crash in Phuket. It appears that they found a survivor and convinced him that they would represent him. The victim, Parinyawit Choosae, is quoted using very articulate legal language very similar to the statements quoted by the firm's lawyers, Manuel von Ribbeck and Mike Edison.

A review of Ribbeck Law Chartered and the firm's attorneys show a rich history of being involved in aircraft disasters in developing countries worldwide. They have shown up in Cameroon, the Caribbean and now Thailand.

Because Ribbeck Law Chartered largely operates by doing business in developing countries everyone may not know that firms like these do not and cannot survive by representing clients for free. They make money by taking a percentage of the settlement or the monetary award they negotiate from insurance companies, the airline manufacturer and other principals with deep pockets. Each contract signed by a disaster victim or their families could possibly give the firm somewhere between 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the final compensation. Expenses for the law firm may or may not be included in the final figure and could be deducted from the victim's share of the award or negotiated settlement.

There may be a chance that the involvement of Ribbeck Law Chartered will ultimately prove to be the best thing that could happen to Thailand's aircraft crash disaster victims and their families. However, to protect the Thai participants in any of these hastily filed lawsuits I would implore each to seek independent counsel and that the appropriate government agencies and ministries protect the rights of the Thai citizens during their time of crisis.

David Barkdull

Bangkok