Having been a guest in Thailand for many years, nothing much surprises me any more. However, Sunday's front-page article about the Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom was just so unbelievable that it should become international news in very short order.

Among his many responsibilities is the final say on what sites are blocked on the Internet. Now it's reported that he feels the Internet is not an exciting tool, and he does not know the purpose of some of the sites he blocked, like YouTube.

Based on his own statements, Sitthichai is totally unqualified for his appointed position. If the national airline began hiring taxi drivers as pilots and hospitals hired chefs as doctors then his statement would not be so out of line with reality.

Almost everyone agrees that some websites should be blocked - that is not the issue. However, it appears that Sitthichai does not know the potential of the Internet as it relates to education, knowledge and the future of the Kingdom. Future generations of Thai children must be protected from uninformed, backward-thinking ministers who could stifle their knowledge and intellectual growth.

The minister asked: "Remember when church and religion were taboo? Those challenging their religion were punished." He needs to realise that people are still being punished for their religion and beliefs, even in his own country.

Sitthichai's points of view and analogies regarding technology are truly frightening.

David Barkdull

Bangkok

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His Majesty's pardon teaches us the value of forgiveness

 In the eyes of the Thais, His Majesty the King's pardoning of Swiss national Oliver Rudolf Jufer, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an act of lese majeste, was a graceful and generous gesture that could be expected - albeit not to be taken for granted - from our kind-hearted monarch.

His Majesty has always been a source of confidence and pride for his subjects during the past 60 years of his reign. In a recent speech on the auspicious occasion of his birthday, His Majesty suggested that a monarch could do wrong like everybody else, and that the ongoing popular attitude that went against this philosophy could lead to misconceptions among the public and the world in general.

This royal opinion should be duly heeded both by the Royal Thai Government and the Thai public in general: that it is human to err and, after all is said and done, forgiveness is man's greatest virtue.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Can't see the need for a Foreign Business Act

 Re: "Thailand is a unique case and should continue to be", Letters, April 15.

The writer says that we've heard from enough foreigners about why we should liberalise the Foreign Business Act (FBA), and says that all the government is doing is putting an end to widespread evasion of the existing FBA.

I, a Thai, have time and again asked in print, "Why have the FBA at all? Does it benefit Thailand as a whole?" The silence in response to my questions has been deafening. One respondent said that the FBA gave Thais in certain occupations time to become competitive, for example farming (which is on List 1). Fine: so, over the past 20-plus years that we've had the FBA, to what extent have our farmers become competitive in the world arena? If a lot, then surely we can loosen the FBA's conditions. But the answer's more likely to be that very little progress has been made. So, if we have the FBA for another 20-plus years, what assurance do we have that we'll use the time more effectively?

Economy 101 teaches that in a protected industry, those who gain are those engaged in that industry - while those who lose are the consumers (Malaysia and the Proton, for example). But here the average rice farmer hasn't obviously benefited, and 65 million rice-consuming Thais have lost. So, why have the FBA?

In seeking to prove that we don't need foreign funds, the writer poses a question that he should know is absurd: "Is money and consumption the root of all happiness?" Of course they aren't; it depends upon how the funds are used. Egat, PTT, Siam Cement, etc need vast funds if they are to produce what we need for a sustainable economy, even a sufficiency economy fully in line with HM the King's wise philosophy. Chasing foreigners away means that the firms must bid for already-scarce domestic funds, driving up the price.

We should think things through with more rationale and less emotion. For starters, ask the Thailand Development Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University or the National Institute of Development Administration to study all sides of the question: why have the FBA?

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Industrialisation should be the very last option

 Re: "Benefits of attracting foreign investment are clear from GDP growth since mid 80s" and "Look to China to see terrible results of encouraging FDI", Letters, April 15.

Both Paul Sweeney and Bruce Janis make valid points. It's hard to argue with GDP, and certainly China has made great economic strides over the past few decades. But the thing that businessmen who come here to invest do not understand is that Thailand does not need it, and further, if they continue to pursue a manufacturing future, it will be their undoing.

I might point out that GDP figures here mean little, either past or present, because this country is a cash country and does not reflect accurate GDP figures.

As for China, it is well to consider that the Chinese, Koreans and Taiwanese do not vacation in their respective countries. They vacation in Thailand. They vacation here because it has so far incurred only minor damage to its natural beauty due to runaway industrialisation.

If a country has nothing else going for it, then fine, get into manufacturing. But to industrialise a nation like Thailand that is one of the breadbaskets of the world, as well as one of the premier tourist destinations, is not only criminal, it is stupid.

It never ceases to amaze me that foreign businessmen can think of nothing but GDP, payables, receivables, cash flow and the bottom line. Then one day they want to retire and they find that they can't retire in their own country because there is no place fit to live. If they continue to push their theories of success on other countries, they are going to find that soon there will be no place in the world fit to live.

I sincerely hope that the powers to be in Thailand understand this and do everything possible to keep Thailand on the path of agriculture and tourism.

John Arnone

Yasothon

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Misinformed view of how Thailand is perceived

 Re: "Internet forums often a fount of misinformation about Thai culture", Letters, April 14.

Perhaps Stephen Cleary should look in the mirror and examine the kind of milieu he inhabits on the issue of Western perceptions of Thailand.

I have travelled abroad extensively in my job and am currently based in Australia, but I have never encountered the ignorance or contempt for Thailand of which Cleary speaks, only polite inquisitiveness.

Contrary to the negative views he has of Westerners in relation to Thailand, from my experience in the tourism industry most foreign visitors leave the country impressed with the smiling faces, pretty beaches, cheap food and warm sunshine - which is exactly what the Tourism Authority of Thailand tells them to look for.

Sadly, they do not see the darker side of "Thainess" - the poverty, the inequality, the low regard for human life, the political chaos and the military thuggery.

There is strong statistical evidence that many Thai women do deliberately pursue foreign, mostly Western, men - as a passport from drudgery and poverty. As for the Thai culture Cleary praises: the evidence all around us clearly demonstrates that foreign lifestyles and habits are all too keenly embraced by those Thais who can afford to do so.

Sar Watana

Chiang Mai

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Come out from under the spell of amulets and gurus

 Re: "Kick amulet trade out of temples", Editorial, April 14.

Here in Thailand there will always be amulets that have magical powers to dispense protection and good luck to their holders. In the West there are always self-appointed gurus to offer a "path" to attain success, wealth and self-realisation, and publishers who are eager to make a fortune by backing such a market to support them.

While not quite as lucrative as the arms and drug industry, big money can be made from exploiting the life difficulties and desires of mankind in the pursuit of some sort of peace and happiness.

Despite this deplorable state of affairs, there is always something valuable that can come of it. For those who become ensnared by such promises, once it becomes evident that what is being sold to them doesn't really work, they often get a different perspective on life and the opportunity to catch a peek of true reality.

Singing star Saowaluck "Amp" Leelabutr explains this process ever so beautifully in the story "Upward with Amp" published in the Life section of The Nation on April 11.

"I found out that true happiness and peace must come from inside. No other factors could help me because they are not stable, they change all the time. Nothing is static. I may feel happy now but that can change in a matter of seconds," Amp says in the article.

The complete account of her journey can be found in The Nation online. It is well worth a read.

Mr Bill

Bangkok