Rather than leave a newly elected government with the task of reviewing the matter and expose it immediately to enormous pressures from major countries to sign on the dotted line, the interim government could use the coming year to undertake a preliminary review together with all Thai stakeholders to see whether the two FTAs secretly negotiated with Japan and the US by the former government are truly in the national interest or whether it unfairly favours a limited business clique.

At the least, the current texts of the two FTAs could be given to the National Legislative Assembly for scrutiny since there was no parliamentary scrutiny in the previous government. The NLA could also review all other FTAs signed by the previous government.

Atip Munvit

Bangkok

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Follow His Majesty's advice on controlling flooding

 His Majesty the King's comment to the new Cabinet that flood problems are developing "because dykes have been wrongly located causing water to overflow as well as seeping up from below ground" is astute and suggests new ways of improving flood safety.

Recent studies in California have shown that most recent dyke (levee) failures there have occurred under seepage conditions similar to those identified in the royal advice.

Identifying and strengthening these especially vulnerable areas promises to save money and lives in California and will be equally beneficial in Thailand.

Richard L Meehan

Stanford University, California

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Argument about protecting national interests is flawed

 Re: "Officials 'allowed 4 laws to be violated'", News, October 13.

Rangsit University law lecturer Sattra Toaon argues that no well managed nation would ever allow a foreign nation or entity controlled by a foreign government to buy nearly 100 per cent of the shares in a key television station or its satellites.

Hmm. Well, unless Europe is not well managed, he is wrong. Numerous TV stations there are managed by foreigners, and so are satellite services. His example about a Chinese oil company that was not allowed to buy Unocal can be countered by numerous other examples. And unless harbours are not strategic national assets, the harbours of the UK are managed by an Arab company. Even Israel allows this.

Wassanaa Chiangma

Bangkok

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Singapore should talk to the people it made the deal with

Re: "S'pore urges talks to save Shin buyout", News, October 12.

I can't believe that Singapore is now asking the Thai people to help "save" the Shin deal. If nothing else, the Singaporean government should feel ashamed of the secret under-the-table deal now that the guts have spilled out for everyone to see.

Since the deal was conceived and executed privately by the Damapong and Shinawatra families without proper knowledge of those who should be involved, we should tell the Singaporean government to keep it a private matter and take it up with the two families themselves.

They cannot blame anyone other than themselves for this foolish move.

The deal involves politically sensitive state concessions like Shin Satellite and iTV, which could affect Thailand negatively in the future.

The Thai government should make sure no wrongdoing goes unpunished.

Poe R

Bangkok

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Levy sin taxes to fund free state healthcare

 Re: "Bt30 health fee may be scrapped", News, October 13.

Dr Mongkol na Songkhla is right about wanting to end the association between state healthcare and the "Bt30 cures all diseases" slogan used by the Thai Rak Thai. The popular "Bt30" healthcare policy was the gateway for the party to become a powerhouse in the past six years, but it was not worth the paperwork and manpower needed to run it.

I would suggest the healthcare system be supported by sin taxes, such as on the 2- and 3-digit lotteries, alcohol and tobacco, bathhouse massages, horse racing, game machines and anything else considered suitable.

Yes, I smoke, drink and gamble, but would have no problem with this.

Surasak Piputtana

Bangkok

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Bush's dream to make Iraq a democracy may yield three

 According to US President George W Bush, the invasion of Iraq all started because there were weapons of mass destruction in the hands of a tyrant. When the alleged weapons were not found, the invasion was interpreted as a mission to free the Iraqis from dictatorial rule and hardship and establish democracy in Iraq.

However, with the daily death toll rising and signs of democracy distant, the president made the argument that the invasion and occupation was necessary to take the platform for fighting terrorism from the US to Iraq.

The Iraq parliament has just passed a law to allow the creation of semi-autonomous federal regions. This is something the Sunnis see as a step towards partition, with them isolated without oil in the central part of the country, Kurds getting the north and Shiites the south.

Perhaps in the not too distant future the United Nation might welcome three new members. Then Bush can proudly declare that his dream of establishing a democratic Iraq has finally come true, where three different sects of people living in harmony like a fairy tale - the mission finally accomplished.

Yingwai S

Bangkok

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Don't stereotype used-car salespeople as being crooks

 Re: "Will Thaksin be allowed to sit safely in London?", Letters, October 13.

I am appalled by the letter-writer's stereotypical attitude in saying, "I would trust a used-car salesman more than I would him [Thaksin]."

Not all male expats in Thailand are child-molesters, not all Thai women walking with farangs are prostitutes and, in the same way, not all used-car salespeople are liars.

I was a used-car salesman and an honest one. If a car had a rusty body I pointed that out to my potential customers instead of babbling that the car had two-toned colour. If a car had low mileage because it was in repair shops most of the time, I let them know. And if a car had dark tinted windows because the previous owner was ashamed to be seen driving in it, I pointed that out, too.

I didn't make good commission while I was at it but am proud of my honesty.

Somsak

Samut Prakan

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Thaksin lucky he didn't send luggage through new airport

 Isn't it amazing that while Thaksin Shinawatra was heading off abroad on a short business trip, more than 100 suitcases belonging to him were packing themselves to go into exile?

Wow! Who needs a Burmese fortune-teller when you have psychic luggage? If the answer is more down to earth, who gave those sneaky cases the tip-off?

Did anybody in authority question the weighty baggage? I'm not referring to Pojaman Shinawatra here, by the way.

In conclusion, I have to say that luck was definitely on Thaksin's side. If his precious cargo had gone through the baggage handling machines at Suvarnabhumi Airport, he might have ended up having to hire investigators to search the four corners of the earth for them.

Chiang Mai Mike

Chiang Mai

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Criticism of newspaper's stance was unjustified

 Re: "Harping on minister's ages is not a helpful approach", Letters, October 13.

First, may I commend you for printing the letter from the person identified only as "JD" from Australia. The variety and nature of the letters that you print, sometimes very critical and on diverse subjects, including criticism of your own newspaper, is to be admired. This is the very essence of a free press and society. Indeed, I thought that some you printed recently, which were not overtly supportive of the new government, might have landed you in trouble.

I have lived here in Thailand for many years and have read the English language newspapers during that time and I have the utmost admiration of your stand during the Thaksin era, when the Singaporean model of use of the writ to suppress opposition in any form was in full flow.

JD's description of your newspaper as "becoming a third-rate rag" was completely without substance, as any fair-minded, intelligent person who has read the English language press in Thailand over many years would be aware. He/she is clearly unable to grasp the difference between holding the government to task and mud slinging.

As far as I am concerned, you have no need to heed any of his "erudite" advice nor to "clean up your act".

Alexander Bartholomew

Bangkok