Another blot on the Bangkok landscape

I don't like having to be the one who points out that the emperor has no clothes, but the massively hyped "massive MahaNakon landmark project" has one massive flaw: Judging from your photo, it looks like hell. In fact, my initial reaction was: "Oh! They're trying to make the building look as if two airliners were trying to crash into it in a 9-11-type terrorist attack, but they missed, and only grazed the outside." Indeed, the great chunk gouged out of the top floors and the wide diagonal swathe chipped out about halfway down virtually guarantee that discerning Bangkokians will nickname this edifice the Scarface Building. It hasn't even been built yet, and already it looks like it belongs in a slum.

But mai pen rai. As the building's designer, Ole Scherer, perceptively notes, Bangkok has "dome towers, elephant buildings, robot buildings and UFO buildings". With the addition of the new, prestigious Scarface Building, Bangkok will cement its reputation as the Disneyland of the East.

YE OLDE CURMUDGEON

BANGKOK

Asean to Burma: 'Please be nice.'

This is what Asean is really saying to the thugs who run Burma: While we will never take military, economic, diplomatic or legal action against you, and no matter how many people you murder, torture or oppress, we will give you everything you want. We still wish you would become a little nicer. Hopefully, we have not offended you with our request, which we admit sounds extreme.

 Does that sound ridiculous? It's no more ridiculous than what Asean is really saying. In fact, for anyone to still take Asean seriously would be an insult and a slap in the face to the suffering people of Burma.

ERIC BAHRT

PATTAYA

Unfair disqualification of Kenyan marathon runners

I was very disturbed to learn of the disqualification of three Kenyan female athletes in the Pattaya Marathon on July 19. Their offence was alleged to be taking refreshment (water) during the race from a person (or persons) who was not manning an official refreshment station. In the race, the three Kenyans finished first, second and third in times well below the previous course record, but after being disqualified, first place in the race was awarded to a Thai athlete, whom I believe also collected a special bonus for breaking the course record.

Now my interpretation of IAAF rule VIII (c) as shown below, gives race organisers the discretion to apply the rule as they see fit. In this case I understand that the organisers were officials of Pattaya City Council, and I must state that I find their interpretation of the rule to be unduly harsh and blatantly in favour of the home competitor.

Athletes racing over 42.2 kilometres in very hot conditions are surely not getting any kind of unfair advantage by taking a few sips of water - from whatever source. I have never before heard of three athletes being disqualified in an international event for such a petty reason. If top-class foreign athletes never race in this event again because of this unjust decision, I will not be surprised.

It must be very galling to race for over 26 miles only to find yourself deprived of a hard-earned cash prize just because you took a few sips of "unofficial" water! I quote the IAAF rule below, with my own emphasis (in italic type) of the relevant rule:

8. (a) Water and other suitable refreshments shall be available at the start and finish of all races. (b) For all events up to and including 10km, drinking/sponging shall be provided at suitable intervals of approximately 2-3 km, if weather conditions warrant such provision. (c) For all events longer than 10 km, refreshment stations shall be provided at approximately every 5 km. In addition, drinking/sponging stations, where water shall be supplied, shall be placed approximately mid-way between the refreshment stations, or more frequently if weather conditions warrant such provision. Refreshments, which may be provided either by the organising committee, or the athletes, shall be made available at the stations nominated by the athletes. They shall be placed so that they are easily accessible to, or may be put by authorised persons into the hands of the athletes. (c) An athlete who takes refreshment at a place other than the refreshment stations renders himself liable to disqualification.

RAYFEL ROSEMAN

BANGKOK

Democrats need a new outlook

Our Democrat Party has not learned from Thaksin's success that a political philosophy is just another consumer product, and must be marketed as such. That's why - despite the red shirts' public relations disaster at the Asean Summit at Pattaya, and Thaksin's definition of democracy that allows him to be convicted of corruption and still claim to love the masses he's robbed - he has bounced back so quickly. Abhisit is now less popular than Thaksin (according to an Abac poll). The Democrats must change their way of viewing their business or go back to being in the opposition.

If the Democrats can market democracy, this should empower the citizenry to see through and fend off Thaksin's efforts to hijack and distort the noble concept, and keep the Democrats in power.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

BANGKOK