Singapore never called for a boycott of Asean summit

In this editorial it was erroneously mentioned that "recent calls from Singapore and Burma to boycott the upcoming Asean summit in Thailand were a bit silly".

Singapore has never called for a boycott of the Asean Summit. In fact, the record will show that Singapore has consistently supported Thailand's efforts to convene the summit, given its importance to the region. The calls for a boycott were made by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) demonstrators in front of two Singapore embassies on January 23.

I hope your readers will have a correct understanding of the matter.

KOH CHEE CHIAN

FIRST SECRETARY

EMBASSY OF SINGAPORE

Pollution levels in Chiang Mai not as high as believed

Re: "It's time we cleared the air", Editorial, January 29.

The implicit assumption of this article is not correct. According to the Pollution Control Department's daily measurements, Chiang Mai has among the lowest air-pollution levels of all the locations measured. The worst locations are, in descending order, Samut Prakan, Saraburi and Bangkok's Din Daeng area.

Samut Prakan and Saraburi both have yearly average pollution levels at more than twice that of Chiang Mai. Even during the "March peak", Chiang Mai is lower than the averages for Samut Prakan and Saraburi from October to March every year.

Furthermore, the level of pollution in Chiang Mai (measured as a 12-month moving average) has decreased by just over 40 per cent since mid-2004. This seems to indicate that something is being done, and very effectively too.

As for March 2007, that was a truly horrible month. The reasons for the extreme pollution were several: an extremely long dry season with absolutely no rain for six months, an unusually persistent inversion, an unusual number of forest fires in neighbouring countries and so on.

The first two reasons are ones that man can do nothing about. Fortunately last year, including March 2008, has been the best on record, at least in this decade. Let's hope this year will be as good as or better than the last one.

H ENGSTROM

CHIANG MAI

Opting for 'quality tourists' not a smart measure

Ref: "Gaysorn urges govt plan to woo 'quality tourists', yesterday, Page 4A

This article is an insult to all tourists. Although I can't say for sure, I'll guess I've spent more money in Thailand during my last few visits than [the company] Tanabe made last year.

This year I almost didn't visit but have some faith in the kind, compassionate, polite nature of most Thais.

I am deeply insulted by the suggestion that there is no equality among visitors and we are much like cows, that is if we don't produce enough milk we're not as valuable. Thailand should take any milk it can get right now!

RL LEE

BANGKOK

School rivalry cannot be fixed with mere Band Aid

Fights between students of rival vocational schools have been going on for years, and all we get is Band Aid from the authorities. When Chula and Thammasat students meet for their annual football match, they serenade each other. Why do the vocational-school brats think they have to fight and kill to keep their so-called honour?

In the short run, uniforms and other external identifying marks should banned for students from both campuses for the rest of 2009. This would give the students, schools and Education Ministry a breathing spell to jointly identify and solve the root problem.

As 46 per cent of respondents to a poll think joint activities would help ease hostilities, I suggest that students from both sides should get involved in projects like renovating schools in slums or taking part in competitions. Students should learn to see that those from the "other" school are also individuals, with the same hopes and dreams as they. They should understand that as Walt Kelly said in the comic strip Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

BURIN KANTABUTRA

BANGKOK