The senators must establish that if Thaksin used a nominee or a straw man to hold the shares on his behalf and he supervises or direct them, he is in violation of Article 209, whether or not he himself has more or less than 5 per cent of shareholdings. It does not matter that he set up a conduit in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands to accomplish the camouflage.

Thaksin and his tax attorney Suvarn Valaisathien may think it was a clever move to incorporate Ample Rich Investments in the British Virgin Islands. A prosecutor can put Panthongtae Shinawatra and his younger sister on the stand and they would not be able to explain the Ample Rich-Temasek transaction. All indications will lead to active management by Thaksin to accomplish the sale to realise Bt73.3 billion from the sale of Shin shares. Ample Rich will end up trapping Thaksin neatly. His cruel abuse of his own children is a separate tragedy.

The petition must come from a person or institution with standing or authority to petition the Constitution Court. The senators do not want this court to nullify the petition on a technicality.

Netirat Intira

Bangkok

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Internal pressures eroding PM’s political confidence

The noose around PM Thaksin’s political neck continues to tighten. His confidence is cracking, judging from his recent comments at a Thai Rak Thai Party meeting. Now he admits he may dissolve Parliament and says he would not step down easily. These are much weaker statements than he made just a few days ago categorically ruling out such actions. Thaksin is reading the writing on the wall, especially from the Constitution Court.

Some Thai Rak Thai Party MPs must realise their leader is an electoral liability and, especially in Bangkok, be fearful of their re-election chances on a Thai Rak Thai ticket. Thai MPs are not renowned for party loyalty. Their primary objective is to be elected and those Thai Rak Thai MPs at risk of losing must be considering alternatives.

Many MPs will be suspicious of Thaksin’s promise to allow defectors 90 days to join another party before dissolving Parliament. Dissident Thai Rak Thai MPs are faced with the choice of either contesting an election in which many will loose, or of not being able to run in the election at all. Any chance is better than no chance so Thaksin’s threat is likely to be effective in keeping dissident MPs within the Thai Rak Thai, at least until the outcome of the Constitution Court is known.

When political survival is at stake, an MP’s first priority is to remain elected. For this the MP must rely on the electorate. While it is true the people in a democracy hold the power, that power is wielded in the party room by elected MPs. Collectively the party room is more powerful than any leader, a fact that many former leaders of government can attest to from experience. Thailand, a democratic juvenile, will benefit from the same experience.

It remains to be seen whether Thaksin and the Thai Rak Thai Party have learned enough to contribute to the democratic development of Thailand. Continued rashness, irresponsibility, tantrums, threats, bullying, repression and “honest mistakes” favour a negative conclusion. If the Constitution Court also forms a negative conclusion of Thaksin’s activities, given his complete lack of remorse or contrition, subsequent criminal prosecution with a lengthy custodial sentence would benefit Thailand’s continued democratic development.

Sibeymai

Bangkok

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PM’s ethics are worse than those of most businessmen

Here are the differences between an average businessman and the PM.

An average businessman cuts a few corners here and there. The PM cuts corners everywhere. In fact, he goes in straight lines.

An average businessman pulls strings here and there. The PM uses remote controls. An average businessman makes donations in order to have his taxes reduced. The PM makes donations to look good.

Chul “Cho” Chang

Bangkok

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Samak is entitled to air his viewpoint, like anyone else

I have very mixed feelings about Samak’s suicidal path. I should have felt happy that he was at the lowest point in his political career right now, given his role in the October 6, 1976 massacre and his despicable politics and views over the past 30 years. But I am saddened by how this issue unfolded.

What did he do wrong by expressing his opinion on Prem Tinsulanonda? Is Prem, a privy councillor, beyond criticism? We can agree and disagree with Samak. But he did nothing “wrong” that deserves the widespread calls for the censorship of his voice and programme, including calls from the liberal media and many in the so-called “people sector”.

If we do not like the censorship of Sondhi’s programme, does the censorship of Samak make it right?

One instance of censorship plus one instance of censorship does not make zero censorship.

Are we only satisfied with the politics of tit for tat? Where are the principles that we should stand for?

Or shouldn’t anyone stand for principles?

Thongchai Winichakul

Bangkok

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China’s bullying of Taiwan puts relations in jeopardy

On February 8, China’s spokesman for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office called Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian a “troublemaker” and “destroyer” of cross-strait relations and peace and stability in Asia following his recent speech that called for the scrapping of Taiwan’s National Unification Council (NUC) and Guidelines for National Unification. On behalf of my office, I have to clarify this issue.

First of all, both Taiwanese independence and unification with China are the options for the Taiwanese people, and the future of Taiwan should be decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan, not by China. The NUC is just a mission organisation without legal foundation. Whether to keep it or to scrap it is still carefully evaluated by the National Security Council.

 In addition, China’s development of ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan along its Southeast coast has increased from 706 to 784 in less than a year. Moreover, China passed an “anti-separation law” (the so-called anti-secession law) last year to legalise military action against Taiwan.

These actions bear full witness to the true nature of China’s military strategy. Its malevolent intentions and preparations to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait made it a destructive force as well as the most serious threat to peace both in the strait and in East Asia.

 At last, President Chen has repeatedly stated that, so long as China has no intention to use military force against Taiwan, he would keep his words to his “Five Noes” pledge to stabilise cross-strait relations. Given the Beijing authorities’ repeated aggressive intimidation of Taiwan by provocative sabre rattling, however, China is not qualified at all to talk about mutual trust between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. We call on the international community to pay more attention to China’s military ambition and push it to shoulder its responsibility for the peace of the cross-strait region and Asia.

Frank JK Chen, director, Information Division

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office

Bangkok

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Excessive use of plastic bags a danger to the environment

One of the biggest problems I’ve noticed in Thailand is the wasteful use of plastic bags, particularly small ones for takeaway food and big ones in department stores and supermarkets.

People are conditioned to the idea they need a bag for anything they pay for when this is not the case.

Make people pay a pollution tax of Bt10 a bag and see how many people all of a sudden don’t need one. Reusable cloth bags are an inexpensive alternative.

You are part of the environment you live in. Think about it next time you throw out that bag you used only for five minutes.

Charlie Stampfer

Bangkok

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Technology could be a growth engine for the Thai economy

Throughout history any time there has been progress there has been some form of evolution in business, such as the industrial revolution and the information revolution.

What is the next trend? I think it will be the outsourcing of online technology and telephone-related customer services. As many western businesses seek more cost-effective ways to reduce expenses, Thailand has a great opportunity to take part in the next economic boom.

India has seen dramatic growth in its economy due to the development of intellectual personnel as a cost-effective means for international companies to provide their customers with support in the technology sector. The services are provided to many international countries and are creating a self-sustaining economy as well as jobs in India while streamlining costs for businesses abroad.

This can be very beneficial to Thailand if the appropriate infrastructure is put in place.

We have the resources, now we need the leadership that can recognise and implement new ways of thinking and growing Thailand.

Danuj Kamolvahtin

Bangkok