Landmark Pojaman verdict spells the end of impunity

This should send a shiver down the spines of the spineless and will surely have dealt a huge psychological blow to the People Power Party, in particular Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej with unresolved cases now hovering over him like the sword of Damocles.

It always seemed as if the Thai Rak Thai executives could operate with impunity and this landmark decision should have the desired affect of bringing the People Power Party executives more into line.

It will be interesting to observe how much.

ARUN SINGH

BANGKOK

Mobs unlikely to listen to reason on Preah Vihear

Re: "Thais have much to learn about their own history and culture", Letters, July 30.

Meechai Burapa agreed with Sumset Jumsai and I that the country's history lessons need improving. Understanding the past is a fundamental part of understanding the present and helping to guide us to the right path.

However, I am not that senseless to confront the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) or any other mob with my dissertation on Thai-Cambodian history. I know full well the difference between the PAD and The Nation's readers. Not only should the three of us avoid appearing in front of mobs of any kind, but all historians and members of the Siam Society - our oldest learned forum of truth-seekers, of which current Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag is a member - should avoid them like the plague.

The late Aldous Huxley rightly said, "From men's experience, men learn only what their passions and their metaphysical prejudices allow them to learn". Fortunately, your readers are receptive to knowledge and less prejudicial and more open-minded to agreeable or disagreeable opinions. Unlike those mobs, I dare to put my viewpoints to your forum without fear.

SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT

BANGKOK

Using tapioca for bioplastic could hurt other sectors

Re: "Bioplastic plan backed", News, July 23.

While I am glad to see that the government is starting to take the issue of plastic consumption in the country seriously, I am quite concerned with the idea of promoting the use of feedstock, especially tapioca, as raw material for making bioplastic.

Tapioca is also a vital source of raw material for other sectors, such as in the animal feed industry. There will certainly be a shortage of raw material if bioplastic is to be promoted. One possible option that the animal feed sector might consider is looking at enzyme development and improvement in tapioca varieties. The development would help increase tapioca yield and improve animal health. I believe many of these research developments are ongoing at Biotec so there is no need to go overseas to obtain the know-how.

RAMJITTI INDARAPRASIRT

PATHUM THANI

Thailand not in a position to lecture on migrant rights

Re: "Aids Groups Besiege Japanese PM", News, July 31.

The actions of the three Aids organisations mentioned in this article to promote public health access for illegal Thai migrants in Japan are laudable, and I have the utmost respect for their work. Their efforts would be equally beneficial here in their home country, where scores of migrants from neighbouring countries are also systematically denied access to any form of public-health services. To call for Japan to give Aids-infected foreign workers "appropriate and prompt treatment to patients, regardless of their nationality or visa status" seems ironic when Thailand would never provide the same access for a Burmese or Cambodian migrant.

CODY GRIGGERS

BANGKOK