With his record, it's pointless doing a tango with Hun Sen

Certainly the Thai government cannot point the finger at this, but normal people can. And it's an old political ruse to divert attention from a domestic issue by creating a foreign issue and vice versa.

As far as Thaksin is concerned, we should not overlook the fact that he is only one among several other criminals convicted in Thailand who are staying in Cambodia. If I'm not wrong this is quite a hi-so bunch - Kamnan Poh, Vatana Asavahame, Wolfgang Ulrich. I'm sure there are even more of them feeling homely under the wings of Hun Sen.

So Thais are probably better off taking care of their own business rather than doing the tango with Hun Sen. He has spoiled his reputation anyway, and the countries supporting his country - 60 per cent of his budget is said to come from foreign donations - will think twice, after he showed what he thinks of international treaties.

SAM MUNICH

Spirit of Obama's speech is inclusive of Taiwan

This is in response to the article entitled "US policy on Asia: Balanced and Pragmatic" by Kavi Chongkittavorn |(The Nation, Nov 16), in which the author mentioned twice that Taiwan has not appeared in US President Barack Obama's speech in Tokyo. I would like to offer my perspective.

Since President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan took office last year in May, his conviction has been that Taiwan has to emphasise its geographic location more. He believes that the island of Taiwan is one of the world's premium pieces of real estate. To its east, the United States is the largest economy and sole superpower of the world. To its north, west and south, Japan, mainland China and the Asean nations are the second-, third- and the fifth-largest economies.

He is also convinced that Taiwan has to normalise its relations with mainland China through dialogue and engagement. Since then, Taiwan has signed several mutually beneficial agreements with its former "rival" across the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan Strait is no longer the so-called "flashpoint" in the Asia-Pacific area. If Taiwan is not a problem, there is no need to mention it.

In his Tokyo speech, Obama said among other things that "the longing for liberty and dignity is a part of the story of all peoples. For there are certain aspirations that human beings hold in common: the freedom to speak your mind, and choose your leaders; the ability to access information, and worship how you please; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice. These are not impediments to stability, they are its cornerstones. And we will always stand on the side of those who seek these rights." The people in Taiwan have taken note of this paragraph in his speech.

Taiwan has invested more than US$52 billion (Bt1.7 trillion) in Asean nations, while annual trade has exceeded $60 billion. There are now more than 330,000 workers from Asean countries working in Taiwan. A cross-agency task force to consolidate Taiwan's relations with Asean was established last year.

Only recently, Taiwan donated $50,000 to the Thai-Burma Border Consortium, an NGO, to help provide decent meals to refugee children on the border. Another $50,000 will be presented next year.

What Taiwan has been doing is in line with the spirit of Obama's speech and that of the First Asean-US Leaders Meeting Joint Statement, which focuses on the promotion of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in the area and in the world as a whole.

DAVID TZOU

Pheu Thai's sweepingclaims lack credibility

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit has said politicians of great influence and clout - belonging to coalition parties - were believed to have been involved in the Rakesh Saxena case. He claims that the case will test the government's political courage and integrity as to whether it will take action against the suspected politicians.

My reaction is, "Bull!" If what he says were true, Prompong would have named names, shown verifiable evidence of such involvement and invited verification. Look at the Pheu Thai's role model-on-the-run, who claimed to have been protected by 20 Special Branch police in Kuala Lumpur - only to have their top cop come out the next day to note that he had no report of the felon having entered Malaysia at all, let alone having been granted special protection. If their felon leader lies through his teeth, what about his followers?

As Aesop noted, "A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the |truth".

In my view, Thaksin had vision and got things done, though he showed neither integrity nor honesty - as shown by his [criminal] conviction. Why not laud him for his good points, acknowledge his failings and encourage him to serve his sentence, then re-enter politics, this time on a platform of integrity and transparency - no billionaire maids, no undeclared offshore accounts?

The two years in jail will pass quickly if our PhD in criminal justice spends them showing other inmates that he respects the rule of law enough to submit to it himself, and working to bring the generals of Tak Bai and the abductors/killers of lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit to justice.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

Community must have its say in development

Re: Changes to Environment Act approved, The Nation, October 14

Terms such as the Environmental Protection Act, EIA and Community Assessment Report are not new to investors both local and overseas. Every country enforces its regulations in some form or the other.

Matter of fact, some foreign investors based their decision on going overseas because their country's environmental regulations were too strict.

I understand our economy needs foreign investors' money but we must not forsake the needs of the residents living in the area.

Ministries such as environment, and science and technology, the National Science and Technology Development Agency and industry must join with community groups to find a workable solution to this matter. Not doing so will definitely cause problems in the long run.

RAMJITTI INDARAPRASIRT

PATHUM THANI

'The Times' journalist showed his ignorance

In his article for The Times on November 11: "Thai tensions rise over Thaksin Shinawatra's Cambodian role", Richard Lloyd Parry demonstrated his total ignorance of Thailand's affairs when he wrote "Tensions are at a peak again as Thaksin returns to Southeast Asia, the closest he has been to Thailand since he was forced out in a military coup in 2006."

Apparently, Parry is not aware that Thaksin returned to Thailand in February 2008 and subsequently fled the country |in August 2008 to escape corruption charges.

Richard Lloyd Parry, as Asia editor of The Times, would be well advised to delegate the task of writing about Thailand's affairs to a real journalist rather than showing his utter ignorance of the subject and his lack of professionalism.

CANDIDE

BANGKOK