Wrong to use Kasit's remarks against him

It is inconceivable to think that Kasit meant any harm to his country, or really enjoyed the damage - real or imputed - caused by the closure of the airport. An unknowing foreign correspondent, who reported this in the foreign news media, may be forgiven for taking his words too seriously, but if he or she did so knowingly to belittle or undermine the new government he or she may be more at fault than Kasit.

MEDHI KRONGKAEW

BANGKOK

Thai vote for 'defamation of religion' bill surprising

Just after Abhisit Vejjajava became the new prime minister, Thailand joined a majority of mostly authoritarian regimes for voting at the UN General Assembly in favour of an Islamist-sponsored resolution condemning the "defamation of religion", especially Islam.

Ignoring pleas by human rights defenders, this totalitarian initiative was adopted by a vote of 86 to 53, with 42 abstentions, after a campaign by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), a bloc of 56 states at the UN. Apart from the Muslim countries, you can find among the countries which approved the text China, Cuba, Russia, Burma, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and Thailand.

In fact, this resolution poses a major threat to the premise and principles of international human rights law and harms Muslims and non-Muslims. International law already protects victims of religious discrimination. If the defamation resolution is implemented worldwide, it would become impossible to legally protest against violence perpetrated in the name of religion. The resolution is silent, though, on Saudi Arabia's prohibition of any religious practice other than Islam; on Iran's oppression of Baha'is; on the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan; on the death penalty for conversion from Islam in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan; on discrimination against Buddhists and Hindus in Bangladesh and Malaysia.

As far as Thailand is concerned, it is certainly not aligning herself on the side of OIC so that it will contribute towards finding a peaceful solution in the deep South. This will need respect for human rights and democracy, in conformity with genuine Buddhist principles.

JEAN-CLAUDE SOLAL

BANGKOK

Recent turmoil nothing but march towards democracy

The recent actions by the PAD that culminated in the occupation of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, which effectively shut Thailand's door to the world and dealt a severe blow to tourism and the economy, were indeed illegal, chaotic and outright anarchistic.

Yet I do not agree that the situation has led to a deterioration of "Thainess" or that the country should deserve the moniker "Toyland" and parity with states such as Sudan and Somalia. Genuine Thainess runs much deeper than that. What has happened is nothing more than democracy in progress.

Democracy in the West did not happen overnight. It took hundreds of years of war and bloodshed. So, what's a financial setback and inconvenienced tourists by comparison?

Unfortunately, the current financial meltdown will not be enough to teach most world leaders that capital is not the essence of life, and that it is not okay to abuse wealth to attain power in order to accumulate more wealth - as was aptly demonstrated by Thaksin and his consorts. Thais have every right, in the book of democracy, to climb the barricades to put an end to such practices. Thailand acted swiftly and correctly in outlawing the last government; strict laws must now be put in place regarding vote-buying to avoid more of the same.

Having attained this, time will prove that in a truly democratic and just environment, Thai smiles are indeed genuine, and more so than in many other countries.

PATRICK SCHWARZ

BALI