Setting the record straight on Hmong

The problem of Lao Hmong illegal migrants has been with Thailand for quite some years, even though the conflict in Laos ended three decades ago and Laos has affirmed its commitment to national reconciliation. While providing them with shelter and cooperating with the UN agencies concerned and NGOs in providing them with humanitarian assistance, the Thai authorities also have been in constant discussion with relevant parties to address queries regarding their situation. Due to their large number, however, and also the fact that third countries no longer have any plan to resettle them as a group, it became necessary to seek cooperation from Laos to jointly find a solution.

On December 28, the Thai authorities were able to manage the safe and orderly return of the remaining 4,300 or so Lao Hmong illegal migrants sheltered at Huay Nam Khao in Phetchabun and in the Immigration Detention Centre in Nong Khai to Laos, in accordance with the Thai Immigration Act. The movement proceeded smoothly in a humane manner and without incident. This was owed not only to meticulous preparations and due regard given to human rights and humanitarian principles on the part of the |Thai authorities, but also to the cooperation and understanding received from the Lao Hmong themselves during the return arrangements.

The return followed the common understanding between Thailand and Laos on the return |of the Lao Hmong by the end |of 2009 and assurances from the Lao side that legal proceedings would not be undertaken against the returning Lao Hmong, that |the returnees will be taken care of, and that requests for their onward travel and resettlement facilitated. It also came after the earlier returns of over 3,200 Lao Hmong to Laos, which the Thai authorities had facilitated over the past two years, for which there has been no report of any difficulties or persecution faced by these returnees.

The returning Lao Hmong should therefore be able to lead a decent living and enjoy various opportunities. Meanwhile, third countries wishing to receive Lao Hmong to be resettled can coordinate with the Lao authorities, as can UN agencies wishing to be granted access to visit them.

I hope this letter will help clarify some of the misunderstandings and promote a better understanding of this delicate issue among your readers.

VIMON KIDCHOB

FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

Jurin has done well as education minister

Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit should be congratulated on his astute finesse and strategic, common-sense moves to pave the rocky road to academic excellence with firm, concrete policies and progressive, resolute actions to advance Thai education several giant steps forward. By fostering creative and abstract thinking, focusing on lifelong-learning survival skills, applying practical IT savvy know-how, expanding community schools' input and local decision-making involvement, as well as ensuring transparent accountability, Jurin is leaving behind tangible accomplishments as solid building blocks for his successor, Chinnaworn Boonyakiart, and Chinapat Phumirat, Obec secretary-general, to continue the uphill climb above and beyond the envisioned summit.

CHANCHAI PRASERTSON

BANGKOK

Improve our export products through R&D

Re: "Exporters urged to capitalise on zero tariffs", Business, January 6

I agree with Petchanet Pratruangkrai's article calling for exporters, specifically those in the farm sector, to take advantage of the zero tariffs. However, we must also keep in mind that neighbouring countries will also do the same. Each country under AFTA will increase its focus on quality control of imported goods.

Therefore it is necessary for local exporters to look to research and development to improve their export products. Agencies working on the R&D of agricultural products, such as the Science and Technology Ministry, Biotec and Agriculture Ministry, can assist local exporters to upgrade their farm products.

Let's make better use of taxpayers' money to capitalise on zero tariffs.

RAMJITTI INDARAPRASIRT

PATHUM THANI

Why so shy about naming PhD student?

The comment on the impact of Thai soap operas on our social values by Professor Likhit of the Royal Institute, in which he cited the work of "one PhD student from the AIT", was quite interesting. However, I'd like to know why he didn't provide the name of that particular PhD student. Or is it now the norm in academia to avoid such a simple courtesy at all cost?

VIC PHANUMPHAI

BANGKOK

Cabinet should show its mettle over Manit

Re: "Manit goes on leave as pressure mounts", National, January 7.

Instead of playing delaying tactics as requested by Deputy Public Health Minister Manit [Nop-amornbodi], I wonder whether PM Abhisit Vejjajiva could table a motion to his Cabinet in deciding this minister's fate.

A cabinet has a two-pronged responsibility in its conduct. One is individual responsibility of each ministry and the other is a collective responsibility of the cabinet as a whole. In declining to resign now, it is now the Cabinet's collective responsibility to decide whether this minister's non-action does taint the good name of the Cabinet.

SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT

BANGKOK

Sathorn bicycle lane an assault course

At great public expense, a bicycle lane has been added to Sathorn Road but it is virtually useless on account of increasing illegal parking. Far from making bicycle riding safer, the random parking by motorists is now increasing the danger and the facility now resembles an assault course!

The worst parts of the road for parking are outside Bangkok Christian College in the afternoons and directly outside the offices of the Economic Crime Suppression's investigation division. It would not even be necessary for the policeman to mount his bicycle to write parking tickets outside the CSI offices.

INTREPID NORWEGIAN MOUNTAIN-BIKE RIDER

Comparing humans to lions a red herring

When people are being persecuted, physically abused, imprisoned and tortured for expressing their views or because of their skin colour or sexual orientation, it seems strange that a man like Eric Bahrt should be criticised for expressing his views concerning vegetarianism. Does he for example go about abusing people for eating meat? I think not.

The meat industry has become a threat to the entire planet, depriving us of water, assigning millions of people to hunger and starvation and contributing massively to global warming.

What Meechai (January 6) does not seem to understand is that the lion and other carnivorous animals are anatomically quite different from us - the main difference being the length of the digestive tract, which is very short in carnivorous animals so that the toxic wastes from meat can be rapidly voided. In the human it is very long, as he is designed for a predominantly vegetarian diet.

The carnivore also has a short life span, whereas man has a long one. The lion eats a healthy, free-living animal, not a sickly, captive animal. It is killed quickly and toxic substances resulting from fear are used up in the chase. On the contrary, animals being slaughtered by man wait a long time for their execution, fostering the build-up of untoward substances to say nothing of the hormones and antibiotics fed to |them to fatten them and keep them alive.

It is obviously appropriate that these facts should be presented, and has nothing to do with live and let live.

MICHAEL NIGHTINGALE

PATTAYA