Shutting out foreigners when we most need them

The Thailand Elite programme was marketed as a government-backed programme that gives its members indefinite visa privileges in the form of a special visa that is renewable every 5 years. As a result of this privilege, many members bought into this programme for Bt1 million. Apparently now the renewal of the visa privilege has been suspended. This situation will kill the programme's reputation completely, regardless of the outcome of the expected Cabinet vote about the Elite visa privilege approval.

There are about 2,500 members of the programme. I am wondering what the consequences of this move by the Thai government will be. The government is not respecting a programme it established, after generating significant profits from this scam and insulting influential wealthy people from many nations. What does this say about the country? What does this say about doing business in this country?

TW

BANGKOK

Education reform must start with reading

The Abhisit government should be applauded for its decision to offer 15 years' free education to all Thai children. However, every time I read anyone's opinion about education in Thailand, teachers are always in the frame for failing to improve, not only themselves but their methods. But in all the years I have been living in Bangkok I have never seen a Thai reading a novel. Not one, of any age, ever. And when asking how many books my staff members have read in their lives, it varies from none to a few.

What Thailand appears to have is the Sesame Street School of Philosophy towards learning: a method of juvenile rote learning and an almost rigid adherence to pre-school methods, even into adolescence.

This slapstick approach to learning is the hallmark of the Thai education system - a cultural grandfather that shapes the controlled citizen into a non-analytical tool of the nation.

While the government's initiative is very welcome, the stanchions that preserve the pre-school approach to education must surely be dismantled first, so that it becomes possible for all Thais to be able to compete internationally in the workplace when they leave its cosseted environs.

JAMES GROVEWAY

BANGKOK

Can Abhisit really protect human rights?

Having been brought to the brink of civil chaos the country now stands accused of shocking abuses of human rights.

The new prime minister has to either take the accusations seriously and have them investigated properly and competently, or revert to the usual routine of a flurry of pointless activity followed by no action of any consequence and no one being found responsible. Indeed, this may be the weather vein that indicates the direction he intends to take as prime minister. Will it be the same old business as usual, though in a different and attractive package, or a fundamental break with the deplorable past, with the behaviour of the authorities being examined properly in a clean beginning.

JOHN PATTERSON

BANGKOK

Govt must choose between whitewash and justice

Re: "The real challenge for Abhisit is to walk the talk," Opinion, January 19.

In his excellent article, Kavi Chongkittavorn points out aptly that PM Abhisit Vejjajiva has put up seemingly unreachable goals for himself.

The deep South issue alone could make or break the Abhisit government. Can the PM restore justice by bringing officials who have been accused of abduction, torture and murder to court? That would be his first serious step.

CHAVALIT VAN

CHIANG MAI