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Published on December 4, 2007

I was happy to read that the amount of visitors will finally be limited. Thailand has beautiful and unique national parks that cannot sustain an ever-growing number of visitors.

However I would like to refute the common claim that diving and snorkelling in Similan and Surin National Parks is detrimental to the environment. In my experiences as a dive-industry professional working on several different Similan live-aboard dive boats, I have found that divers in general are very protective of the reef and marine life and furthermore exceptionally environmentally aware. The problem in the Similan and Surin parks is not diving - it is illegal fishing and the inability or unwillingness of the park rangers to enforce the laws.

Fishing is banned in Similan and Surin national parks, however fishing boats are constantly seen in and around the park. When diving, one can often find nets stuck to reefs and illegal fishing traps. Park rangers are posted on several islands but seem to be little interested in anything beyond collecting the national park fees, which have to be paid in cash. About two weeks ago the rangers suddenly increased the Surin National Park fee to Bt600 per person from Bt400 with no prior announcement and posted a patrol boat at Richelieu Rock to collect the fees. I have not seen them make any effort to inspect the numerous fishing boats moored around Richelieu Rock, though their patrol boat hovers around there all day, every day.

This season many illegal fishing traps have been found outside the most common dive sites, suggesting the fishermen are betting on divers not venturing off the known dive sites. We have cut open every trap we have found and released the fish.

We dive industry professionals are willing to report and document, through pictures and videos, these illegal actions and would ask the national park services to provide us with a hotline phone number and contact information to help to put a stop to illegal fishing.

I would ask all rangers posted in the Similan and Surin national parks to protect this exceptionally beautiful part of Thailand to their utmost abilities. They have all the tools and equipment to enforce the laws, all it takes is the will to do it.

Jack Doe

Phuket

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Stability rests on Thaksin never regaining power

Re: "Vendettas stand in way of harmony, reconciliation", Opinion, December 2."

I agree with Sopon Onkgara that cronies and henchmen of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra may have a list of his enemies to be dealt with once the former premier regains power, or if they succeed in putting themselves in power. If that is the case, political turmoil seems inevitable unless Thaksin keeps his promise of staying out of politics. "Enough is enough" was his pledge time and again during the past year, heard around the world.

Remember, Thaksin has been successful politically only in the sense of personal aggrandisement. His ascension to power in 2001, though meteoric, was by way of political chicanery. His rule during the past six years has brought nothing but divisiveness and turmoil to the country. Instead of leading within the accepted principles of leadership, Thaksin succumbed to personal greed and arrogance: a trait contrary to that of a statesman.

Thaksin should rethink his attempt to come back to power or even to influence Thai politics by proxy, otherwise Thailand will be like Pakistan and Iraq, where political disputes are settled by bombs and bullets on a daily basis.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Election prospects as depressing as ever

The thinking voter sits very uncomfortably on the sharp horns of a multiple dilemma as to who to vote for in the coming elections. No politician has any ideology whatsoever. Party names are no better than empty labels and slogans. The frantic game of musical chairs being played by ex-Thai Rak Thai and other discredited MPs - and their offspring - looking for new parties, and, at the same time, jostling for remunerative, sorry, leading positions, speaks poorly for the Kingdom's future.

No party has yet presented a coherent, well thought out political platform. The much trumpeted promises of programmes and plans put forth by political parties are a hodgepodge that stem from the interests and issues of the moment rather than being based on thorough studies on how to meet the needs of the Kingdom. Another very important aspect is that very few "qualified" MPs can claim to have been democratically elected, nor will they ever be. Electoral districts are simply political fiefdoms run by influential figures and the most powerful of them identify with the MPs. Vote-buying and the political records of these MPs shows their interaction with voters is based on a one-way patron-client relationship that is basically extremely selfish.

Until now, no elected parliament and no government have been a democratic expression of the people's will. They comprise an ad-hoc combine, a compromise to satisfy as many particular interests as possible, regardless of the needs of the Kingdom.

The most blatant example of this today is the People Power Party led by T... sorry, Samak Sundaravej.

Therefore, the outcome of the coming elections will very likely prime the next round of democracy by coup.

Krabong Kuverakorn

Bangkok

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Socialite's boozy brunch made for a confusing read

Re: "Thai politics rudely intrudes on an otherwise pleasant afternoon", Letters, December 2.

I still can't stop laughing and wondering about the letter by Catherine Chobley-Dickson printed in The Nation on Sunday. There is a possibility that it was meant to be funny and the humour went over my head, but I am still wondering what the point was.

The letter seemed to be a way for Catherine Chobley-Dickson to tell all of The Nation's reading public that she did not approve of her friends' discussing Thai politics at her luncheon without telling them at the time to their faces. As the letter opened with a description of the lamb au jus vert avec pomme frappe prepared by the inspirational chef Jean-Claude being served at this luncheon, it seemed that this letter might actually be some kind of a joke. Then when it went on to insult the guests at this luncheon, the Thai air and the drinking habits of Lady Veronica's husband, one had to wonder what the message really was.

I wonder what Lady Veronica or Lady Veronica's husband, "Wilberforce", thinks of the fact that everyone was reading about how he's been drinking a bottle of port every night. I'm new to Bangkok and I don't know who Lady Veronica is. It also doesn't matter much to me that the port is Dow's 1908 Vintage Port. Perhaps there is a joke here and someone can write in and clue us all in to what this is all about for those of us new to Bangkok.

Kate Martin

Bangkok

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