I fully agree with Assets Examination Committee (AEC) secretary Kaewsan Atibodhi's call for the interim government to focus on corruption, if there was any, during former premier Thaksin's administration. The AEC has uncovered evidence of such graft in mega-projects including the Ua Arthorn Housing and Airport Elevated Rail Link, as well as in smaller projects like the rubber-seedling distribution scheme.

Once elections are held, a pro-Thaksin government might well come into power, and any crimes committed by our PhD in Criminal Justice will be buried. Also, information on such instances of graft will be of great benefit in helping the public decide who has its best interests at heart when they vote. Lastly, the coup-makers shoved Thailand's democratic institutions back to those of a banana republic when they showed the world that Thai power still comes from the barrel of a gun. They justified their actions by saying that corruption was rampant. So, let's see the proof.

I am astounded by Kaewsan's report that no minister has followed up on this vital matter. This incompetence in high places should be rectified immediately.

After dealing with the alleged graft of Thaksin and company, hound down the crooks in other administrations. Give 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the funds recovered to whistle-blowers (except for those whose job is to catch the thieves).

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Members of security forces top list of bombing suspects

The only plausible explanation for military involvement would be to justify the continuance of martial law and to create an issue to further damage and isolate the Thai Rak Thai Party. While possible, the ruling junta has enough problems on its hands already, and to concoct some bombing scheme to serve its own political ends seems foolish, irrational and unnecessary.

If the bombings were indeed the work of the military, it would seem more plausible that it would have come from people outside the Council for National Security (CNS) faction. Perhaps a certain group or groups within the military are displeased with the CNS leadership, feel a loss of power and influence, and are trying to discredit the CNS leadership in order to recoup what they have lost.

How about the police? Do they have the ability to obtain explosives? Yes. Do they have the organisational capacity to undertake such an operation? Yes. Do they have the ability to cover-up the bombings? Yes. What would their motivation be? The police went in line with the junta on September 19, but I am willing to speculate that segments of the force were reluctant to do so. Anti-CNS factions from the military and the police stand to lose significant power, influence and money if the CNS is able to succeed in destroying Thaksin's former power base.

This leaves everybody's favourite scapegoat: the Muslim insurgents. These insurgents, as we know, have retaliated by burning schools, attacking and robbing military installations, public bombings, and killing teachers, monks, and other state officials. The CNS has publicly stated that Muslim insurgents were not involved because they would get lost in Bangkok and have no place to hide themselves. This kind of argument is quite weak. I can't imagine that with a little time and planning that people from the South wouldn't be able to conduct a terrorist operation in Bangkok. Some reporters have stated that there is no precedent for the Bangkok bombings but this is not true. In 1980, PULO carried out four bombings in Bangkok resulting in 47 injuries. Are they responsible? The Thaksin government's policy towards the South was a complete failure. One would think, from a southern perspective, that the CNS takeover would be a welcome change. Why didn't they do this during the Thaksin administration? Why now?

In this time of turmoil, the country needs strong and effective leadership. Please act now before history is repeated.

Jay

Bangkok

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Insurgents' involvement in blasts a terrifying possibility

Re: "Three years on, rebellion strong in deep South", Opinion, January 5.

This article sent a shiver up my spine. I would rather believe that there is no link between the New Year's Eve bombs in Bangkok and the southern Islamic insurgency, as claimed by some official sources. Otherwise, they will prove to be a force to be reckoned with, as their offensive ability has gone from strength to strength. Their (alleged) capability to sneak through a security network and spoil the festive mood of the New Year celebration also pose the question of whether they have changed their tactics.

However, the string of bombings in Bangkok, regardless of who was responsible, has stirred up division and misgivings in Thai society. Unlike Thailand, the Spanish authorities were quick to identify those who pulled the strings behind a New Year bomb in Spain, and then all the accusing fingers pointed to the Separatist Movement.

Aleksandar Gaspar

Bangkok

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BMA should focus on better rail networks in the capital

Re: "Priority buses the commute of the future", News, January 7.

The article states that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has "emerged as viable alternative mass-transit systems over the past several years because of cost". In fact, the BRT has been a pet project of Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin for years so it's no surprise that the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) is, for the moment, eager to push ahead with this plan.

There's only one hitch - the BRT would still rely on buses that run along roads and Bangkok's congested, traffic-snarled roads are precisely the source of all traffic problems, not their solution. The solution to congestion is not on the roads but on the rails: a good subway, light-rail and other types of commuter rail networks are essential to nearly every large city including New York, London, Singapore and Tokyo.

Yes, the BRT, with its special bus lanes, may work in a limited way in some parts of Bangkok with large relatively traffic-free roads. However, just one look at a map of this city and one wonders how the BRT could possibly be a wide-scale solution to a traffic problem without major road construction being undertaken? The BRT might have its value, but it is no substitute for new subway routes and Skytrain extensions, nor should it be ever considered as such. This is what I'm afraid the BMA is attempting to do - push its pet BRT project at the expense of new rail networks because it's cheaper - except that it's not cheaper in the long run. The current delay in moving ahead with subway and other rail projects is what's really costing Bangkok in terms of modernisation and productivity. Due to the current political uncertainty and lack of central government action, this is not entirely the BMA's fault. Still, Bangkok government authorities should be actively working to get more trains for this traffic-choked city not more buses.

BRT, the commute of the future? For Bangkok, I certainly hope not - at least not without a proper subway and commuter rail network as well.

Dave Sherman

Bangkok

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Lumpini no longer an escape from the noise of city life

The noise in Lumpini Park is at its worst level ever. Two times this week the park's loud speaker system was broadcasting noise at such a loud volume there was no place in the park that you could escape to for peace and quiet.

This is outrageous and this is not to mention all of those in the park who aren't considerate enough about the volume of their exercise music.

Bangkok has hundreds of establishments where its citizens and tourists can go for entertainment. Lumpini Park should not be turned into another noisy entertainment venue.

Why can't there be just one place in the city where you are not forced to endure loud "music"? Think about it. The bus system, the BTS, MRT, all the malls, grocery stores, movie theatres and on and on force their loud unwanted noise onto you. And now Lumpini Park is on that list.

The value of nature should be its purpose, not entertainment. Lumpini Park is such a small speck of land in this city, why do the leaders of Bangkok not see its real value?

Sat Horn

Bangkok

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African leaders must be held accountable for their failures

On a continent where misrule seemingly vies with incompetence and greed with callous indifference to present the world with serial crises, Sudan's continuing Darfur troubles afford Africa's elites yet another opportunity to shoulder responsibility for their leadership failings.

Decades into self-rule, most African governments still look to the outside world both to meet the needs of their people in times of stress and as a convenient scapegoat for their own shortcomings. Africa's nations serve only to blight their hopes of ever sitting at the international table as true co-equals by continuing to act as irresponsible juveniles unwilling to put their houses in order.

Non-African aid in Darfur should be limited to the transport of African Union peacekeepers with their own supplies, and aid organisations kept to providing only whatever logistical expertise applies, so that Africa's long-awaited deliverance might finally be won for, and by, its own.

Aid organisations meanwhile should offer more than the certainly that their supplications today will turn into criticisms tomorrow as realities bear down on relief efforts often interested more in chasing funding than producing results.

A vast yet benighted region of our globe, and those more truly concerned about its progress, rightly expect better.

Ron Goodden

Atlanta, Georgia