Ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra erred in throwing money at our southern problems, and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont mustn't do likewise. Changing the five southernmost provinces into a special economic zone is fine as far as economic development goes - if locals are given a decisive say in the matter. But that's only a start.

The South's problems were and are mainly political in nature, and will require political solutions. Surayud's apology was a brave move and showed accountability. He now must urgently implement policies based on the National Reconciliation Commission's recommendations, giving the locals the deciding say. For example, identify and court martial the masterminds - not scapegoats - among the military and/or police who abused their authority by abducting lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit and others and committed atrocities such as the manslaughter at Tak Bai. Overhaul procedures to protect human rights so that locals can trust their uniformed guardians enough to inform them who the terrorists are.

We must move quickly, for the window of opportunity will not stay open long. Already many are asking why we had the coup and are demanding more action - not white papers.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Coup was result of struggle between old and new money

 The military intervention of September 19 was the climax to a power struggle between old money and new money in Thai society. With the installation of the interim government, it will be "business as usual" and in due course another power struggle will occur. If there is no new money powerful enough, factions of old money will be at each other's throats. This is the Thai way of life.

However, it is baffling that there are now people who are trying to promote morality, ie searching for the truth, being honest and having integrity. These characteristics are very alien to Thai culture and we would no longer be Thais.

Whether these pro-morality people are on any medication or not, they should be more realistic. This is Thailand. There are more prostitutes than teachers, people are still poor enough to sell their daughters into prostitution and their sons into slavery.

I know there is a saying that it's never too late to change, but I've held my breath too many times for nothing. However, if morality is being promoted only as a tool to keep out the new money, then this is the Thai way at its finest.

Coldcrab

Bangkok

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High time we were able to prosecute former leaders

 All we've seen so far are tax bills by the RevenU-turn department. Thaksin and his cronies will never be indicted on criminal charges, the same way no coup-maker and no murderer of students in 1976 and 1992 has ever faced a trial, because big people get away with everything in Thailand.

This must change, and the sooner it happens the better.

Krid

Bangkok

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Drop in Thaksin's popularity rating precludes a comeback

 Re: "Thaksin's rating hits lowest level in 6 years", News, November 27.

Just a few months ago it was unimaginable that Thaksin Shinawatra's popularity rating would drop so much and so soon. Now that his failures and negligence while in power are exposed, his popularity has simply waned.

It is doubtful now that he could ever make a comeback.

Thaksin's failures included his being long on cockiness and short on delivery and effectiveness as our national leader. But the worst was his negligence to show his civic commitment as a dutiful taxpayer: he and his family are accused of tax evasion - an act equal to being grabby instead of being selfless as expected of a good leader.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Asean Community will develop at its own pace

 Re: "The politics of speed: An Asean Community by 2015?", Opinion, November 27, 2006

It is axiomatic that in order to establish an Asean Community in the next eight years, Asean leaders must show extraordinary political will and commitment to act. However, the final assertion in the article that nobody expects Asean to move in the direction of the European Union (EU) needs some additional nuances.

As cogently emphasised by Rodolfo C Severino, former secretary-general of Asean, this sub-regional organisation will never be like the EU, but within the parameters of the realities of Southeast Asia, the circumstances of the association's origins, its present condition, and its likely situation in the future, it will be doing more and more of the things that the EU has done to promote peace, economic integration and growth, social development, and general human welfare - in different ways, at a different pace, but in the same general direction.

Asean's institutions and processes must be allowed to evolve slowly. The pace of that evolution cannot be forced. Yet, global solidarity as a universal value may serve as a good source of inspiration and as an accelerating factor of integration both in Asia and Europe.

The EU and Asean have to revitalise their own capacity to develop new bridges for the future and to act with tenacity and imagination to succeed in their difficult navigation through the unpredictable waters of globalisation.

Ioan Voicu

Bangkok

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A lesson from Greece on chasing quality tourists

 The things Thailand is trying to do now, such as changes in visa rules and aiming for better quality tourists, have already been tried and failed in Greece.

When the Greek military took power in a coup d'etat in 1967, one of its first measures was to try to get the quality tourists in and backpackers out. They didn't realise that the backpackers were the quality tourists of the future. Once they finish their education, get a well-paid job and start families, they tend to visit places they know and are familiar with.

Unfortunately for Greece, the tide of quality tourists started to drop in five to 10 years after the coup. The quality tourists were visiting places where they had been welcomed as poor backpackers instead. So in fact, Greece's policy handed the quality tourists to the competition, such as Spain and Italy.

Remember, the young and poor today might likely be well educated and rich tomorrow.

LookMoo

Bangkok

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Alcohol ad ban will lower visibility of Thai brands

 I don't think the ban on alcohol advertising will have much impact on tourism. The availability of drinks already sold in Thailand will not be affected, but new brands might have a hard time entering the market. Tourists will drink the brands they drink in their home country (if available), perhaps having been influenced by advertising there.

However, tourists will not be exposed to ads for Thai alcohol brands while in Thailand, so sales of Singha, Leo, Chang and Mekhong will likely suffer.

Observer

Bangkok

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US should apologise for Chilean atrocities as well

 General Augusto Pinochet, while celebrating his 91st birthday in Santiago on Saturday, finally accepted full political responsibility for the consequences of the bloody military coup staged by him in Chile in 1973 that overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende and for the subsequent actions of his 17-year long dictatorship, although no expression of regret or sorrow passed his lips for the murder and disappearance of thousands of Chilean citizens during those years.

May I suggest that it is time the US government acknowledges its share of responsibility for these events because of its wholehearted support of Pinochet and his henchmen. The victims and their families deserve nothing less.

Bruce Duhigg

Bangkok

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Singer Yusuf Islam wrongly quoted on 9/11 attacks

 Re: "Hypocritical singer should apologise for 9/11 comments", Letters, November 25.

The Nation should really fact check the letters it decides to publish, especially when those letters attribute horrific statements to a public figure.

Stephen Mascari claims that Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) was quoted as saying "America got just what it deserved" after the 9/11 attacks. That your newspaper actually published this slanderous quote without checking its accuracy is pretty shocking.

A little online fact checking, which would have taken about five minutes, would have revealed that Islam immediately expressed his sorrow for the American people, while unequivocally condemning the terrorist attacks as a perversion of his faith.

David Tapila

Sakon Nakhon