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Published on March 26, 2008

Tibetans turned into arsonists, looters and killers of innocent people in the shops and streets.

The Dalai Lama has long claimed to be the leader of these once peaceful people. He has not come out to make any peace-inspiring statement at this time, which he should have done. This is a more crucial time for him to preach peace to the rioters than his past peace missions in Hollywood.

If the Dalai Lama wants to continue to walk the political path, he must get out of his monk's robe. He is destroying a time-honoured religion by using it to achieve a political objective. If the Dalai Lama succeeds in his political objective, Aung San Suu Kyi will surely be inspired to become a Buddhist nun in order to succeed in her political objective.

My points are, we all should avoid adding to the world's maladies and do our part for peace whenever we are able to. And the Dalai Lama should do his part by getting out of his robe if he wants to pursue a political objective. The last thing this world needs is another political activist disguised in a cleric's robe.

How soon will it be before the Dalai Lama turns the once peace-loving Tibetans into religious extremists? Judging from the way the monks threw those stones, it won't take long.

RM

Bangkok

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Migrant workers get sub-standard treatment at best

I am concerned about the way migrants are treated in this deeply Buddhist country. There is the case of a gardener I know, a very trustful and hard working Karen. He was given a work permit, without being allowed to obtain a driving permit for his motorcycle.

Naturally he is easy prey for the police. Arrested last week for lack of a driving licence, he had to pay Bt2,000. His income cannot be more than Bt8,000 a month.

Pierre Chaslin

Bangkok

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Don't blame our southern neighbours for haze

News reports have blamed the Chiang Mai haze on forest fires in Malaysia and Indonesia. Maybe reporters need geography and meteorology lessons. The distances involved and the prevailing weather patterns make it extremely unlikely that Chiang Mai would suffer smog from these sources. Especially as parts of Thailand closer to those countries are not affected.

Martin Searle

Chiang Mai

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Constitution amendments will favour the corrupt

Since the beginning of the Thaksin era, I and many other observers have seen Thailand suffer a severe split. Corruption has been difficult to prove due to the lack of checks and balances, with Thaksin and his family being probably the largest benefactors. It reminds you of the Marcos era in the Philippines, and the Thai people do not deserve for this to continue.

The current Samak government has done nothing during its initial time in office but try to change the rules in favour of itself and of Thaksin and his family

Every area of control seems to be bought off. Until this stops, Thailand cannot progress to the higher position it should be in. I would hate to see the problems that will erupt if Thaksin returns to power.

The coalition partners should be dissolved. It is blatantly obvious they are guilty and it is blatantly obvious that the Samak government is, in all respects, Thai Rak Thai. It should also be dissolved. Thailand will not move forward until this is achieved.

There is no way that this government should be allowed to amend the approved constitution that has been designed to make the greedy and corrupt more accountable and hopefully more controllable.

Concerned for Thailand

Bangkok

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