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Published on October 12, 2007

Emotionally, I can understand Myint Thein's case for a call to arms as he cites "several political leaders in Washington DC are now lobbying for targeted military action in Burma". Maybe, but according to www.nowpublic.com, a defecting chief of the military junta's intelligence operations, Hla Win, who is attempting to defect to Norway via Thailand, says: "Thousands of monks have been executed in recent days and their bodies dumped in the jungle and thousands more were reportedly taken to a stadium on the outskirts of Rangoon and beaten. Many more people have been killed in recent days than you've heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand. I decided to desert when I was ordered to raid two monasteries and force several hundred monks onto trucks. They were to be killed and their bodies dumped deep inside the jungle. I refused to participate in this."

So, what we suspected has come to pass, but it would be almost impossible for the US to challenge China's trading interests with Burma. Indeed, it is highly unlikely the US will engage China on anything to do with regime change. More likely and effective would be for the people to send a sombre message to China that it can have its Olympics or it can have its regime in Burma. That would be a most effective form of persuasion and, if organised properly, could help tip the balance as the US will not be issuing a threat to China to withdraw from the games.

Thus "targeted military action in Burma will require the deployment of an airborne division to secure the American Embassy in Rangoon" will never be used. Burma's immediate neighbours may well apply limited pressure on the military junta to change but, for once, the people have the chance to make a difference by targeting Hu Jintao's Achilles' heel to force Than Shwe into submission. Carpet bombing is not a viable option.

James Groveway

Bangkok

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Opium production increase will hurt region

The BBC news has revealed that opium planting is rising in Burma. This will be bad for Thailand and the region if it is allowed to continue. The Burmese generals are not a good friend or neighbour and they will hurt Thailand if they are allowed to remain out of control. The generals are supporting and profiting from drug production on Thailand's doorstep.

A recent visit to the powerful display at the Opium Museum in the north of Thailand shows the evils and damage caused by opium, and yet the generals in Burma are making a fortune from its production. The World needs to stop the Burmese dictators now.

Stuart

Australia

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Defending the right to a standing army

Re: "Does a strong military really protect us?" Letters, October 11.

In his reply to my comment ["Onus is on Burma's neighbours to bring about positive change", Letters, October 10] Dr John Patterson didn't show he had read my opinion thoroughly or in its entirety. I suggest that he do it.

In my letter, I wrote: "no country will be secure without a military to safeguard its territory and sovereignty". I stand by that for the reason that no country will survive as a democracy if it has no military to ensure its independence. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

About Burma, I opined that its military has outgrown its role as protector of its sovereignty, yet the military itself must be kept in tandem with its democratic process in order to ensure its independence in the future. The problem now is how to bring the Burmese military back to its proper role. I stand by that belief.

Dr Patterson's comment was irrelevant to what I said in my letter - which was about Burma and how to deal with its ongoing problems. Instead, Dr Patterson attacked me with such words as "jingoistic", "erroneous", "nonsense" and "fatally flawed". I humbly ask how democratic the good Dr Patterson thinks he is.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Small problem of low-denomination money

Eliminating small currency denominations is to blame for psychological price ballooning. Why has nobody here ever questioned the monetary authorities, the main culprits of all? It's been nearly three decades since I first asked this question in an article I wrote, "Denomination of Monetary Units and Its Psychological Consequences Shouldered by Consumers". Why do the authorities still keep the small monetary unit of the satang, instead of gradually stopping the production of notes and coins with low denominations?

Ironically, their reasoning is in itself a strong testimony that they are the party at fault. It also encourages certain groups to destroy coins physically for their valuable metals. Take some of the stores on Soi Pracharas, also known as the "Wooden Road" for its well-known marketplace for wooden furniture. Here the cashiers are willing to take unlimited numbers of coins of small denomination. While some countries prohibit defacing, or marking bank notes, these stores re-mint coins into cabinet and drawer handles.

The notes and coins in circulation these days facilitate vendors and manufacturers jacking up commodity prices. For justification they cite inflation and costs of production, albeit in decimal terms. They gleefully adjust prices to the next available coin or bank note, while arguing against the inconvenience of making small change. The authorities I find to be guilty should not look anywhere else to point accusing fingers over inflated consumer prices.

ChamnongWatanagase

Bangkok

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Thailand doesn't need this brand of politician

Re: "Chalerm, sons join People Power Party", News, October 9.

 That is what Thailand really need at this junture: Samak, Chavalit and Chalerm. They are not the Three Musketeers, but the Three Stooges! How can a Thai vote for any of these guys? It is beyond comprehension Not only that, now Chalerm is bringing along his junior stooges into Thai politics to make sure that the "Likay" continues.

Manas Thananant

California

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An outdated and much abused law

Re: "Lese majeste law still problematic", Opinion, October 11.

To an outsider the lese majeste law seems to have little or nothing to do with the monarchy, certainly nothing to do with HM the King, since he has expressed his dislike of the law and everything to do with providing a means of secretly charging and secretly prosecuting arbitrary victims for secret crimes. Those who would institute such a system in Thailand must look up Burma as the ideal local model to be emulated.

John Francis Lee

Chiang Rai

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Drawing the line on govt responsibility

Re: "Happiness in families sees drop", News, October 8.

Dr Noppadon Kannika seems to adhere to the idea that the government is the sole arbiter of familial bliss. Perhaps the parents or children of the survey personally lack an adhesion (love, respect, etc) within the individual's clan? Does the polite avoidance of any collective or personal responsibility for one's life in modern Thai society be a factor instead of loading the blame onto yet another temporary, fly-by-night government? I suggest there be a law promulgated that will summarily be ignored like most other laws in the Kingdom; it enables good face.

Bahoo Luang

Chiang Mai

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