The courts lift the standards of Thai political behaviour

However, we the people cannot rest easy. Faced with possible dissolution of the People Power Party, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is still seeking to amend the Constitution, saying that without Articles 190 and 237, political strife could have been avoided. Basically, what he's doing is akin to a prisoner in the dock saying, "Since I have the power, let's make what I'm accused of having done as no longer being a crime - so that I can go free". To let the People Power Party do so would make a mockery of our legislature and judiciary, and confirm our status as a banana republic.

Samak and all MPs ran for office under the 2007 Constitution, and swore to abide by and uphold its provisions.  Keep your word, gentlemen, and after your cases have been decided upon, then, and only then, review the Constitution.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Motives behind Pastry-gate 'bribe' continue to intrigue

Re: "Justice at the end of the 'Pastry-gate' money trail", Letters, July 7

Doesn't anyone sense something bizarre about the "Pastry-gate" trail? If you wanted to bribe a Supreme Court official, would you walk into the Court building with a bag full of cash and place it on a counter in the lobby? I agree that one of the culprits should be granted immunity in exchange for exposure of the person behind all this. The testimony could be very interesting.

Meechai Burapa

Chiang Mai

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Soi dogs the least of a cyclist's worries in Bangkok

Re: "Soi dogs taking a bite out of Bangkok's cyclists", Letters, July 7.

Before purchasing "a beautiful new bike", as Tonilio told us he did, he should have realised that there is no space for cyclists in Bangkok and even Governor Apirak Kosayodhin doesn't take the matter very seriously. The proof is that the governor just paints two white lines on the overcrowded footpaths of Sukhumvit Road, showing a total ignorance about the simple fact that it is and will never be possible that a cyclist can drive his bicycle among the thousands of shoppers, pedestrians, food stalls and the occasional elephant occupying the narrow footpath for miles and miles.

Tonilo turns his aggression to those sad, often sick and crippled soi dogs, telling us that they are the reason he cannot cycle in Bangkok. I have lived 10 years in a soi, encounter these dogs often and I've never had a problem. It is nice to see how some people take care of them. But I have to look out for motorcycle taxis in sois made narrow by taxis parking where they are forbidden to park. Police will sometimes come to send them away and let them return after 10 minutes with no fine. Tonilo can't ride his bike because of the lack of implementation of traffic rules, increasing number of cars and authorities who view the concerns of cyclists as a non-issue. These are the factors keeping Tonilo from enjoying his beautiful new bike. Don't make soi dogs the scapegoat for a traffic problem.

Bangkok must get to deal with other issues before he will able to pedal that beauty of a bike.

Nick

Bangkok

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A call to put a cork in bottle-opening fees

These days, when I eat out with friends, we either enjoy our wine at home before the meal or opt for a restaurant offering a reasonable corkage fee. We resent paying, for example, Bt1500 or more for a very ordinary bottle of wine that can be bought in retail outlets for under Bt400. Beer and bottled water prices are becoming similarly excessive. The time has come to take a stand. Who wants to join us?

John Shepherd

Bangkok