It is a pattern by which to lead one's life. Buddhism as a religion has moved a long way from its philosophical roots. By acquiring the trappings of religion - monks, temples, amulets, incense, ritual, prayer, etc - it has moved away from the teachings of Buddha.

It has been taken over by the seekers of power and influence, witness the mass assembly of monks in Bangkok during the January protests against Thaksin. In the same way that the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion because its submissive nature made it easy to control the masses, so the leaders of Thailand see this corrupted form of Buddhism as the best way of making poor Thais accept their barren lives.

Ian

Bangkok

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Marrying church and state a divisive, outdated idea

Thais practice a mix of animism and Buddhism, and often it borders on superstition. This is not the essence of the Buddha's teachings. That aside, separating "church and state" is only healthy for a country.

It is not hard to imagine how branding a nation with a religion or anything else can be a divisive measure. It is also an old and outdated custom. The politicians need to stop wasting the people's time by making empty gestures and proclamations and start working on some real problems. Now they simply feed peoples vanity and pride to keep the masses entertained. Thai politics is like following a soap opera; they are both equally unpalatable.

Supphaporn

Bangkok

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Buddha's true teachings need to be re-taught in Thailand

Re: "Phase 2: Feedback and revisions", News, April 20.

If Thais really want Buddhism to be their religion, then, the first thing to do would be to re-educate people on the real teachings of the Buddha. Let's not further divide Buddhism into different sections but focus on the teachings of the Buddha. Practices at temples spread across the country and their monks are really saddening. Superstitions and related beliefs, originating from various sources, are now standard at the temples.

I've been to temples where lottery-ticket sellers outnumber the monks! The same can be said of sellers of statues and amulets! Let's use the amulets around our necks as a reminder of the teachings of the Buddha and not as talismans of protection! Let's go to the temples and pay respect to the Buddha and not worship the golden statue. Let's go to the temple and contemplate our actions and not go and ask for forgiveness (because that statue can't hear us!). So, let's educate ourselves on the real Buddhism, which teaches us not to segregate humans either by race or religion. Thailand is Thailand!

Nadeera

Bangkok

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Religion should stay above corrupt world of politics

If Buddhism were made an official part of the Thai political system by becoming the national religion, then it would be one more piece of Thai politics. Are Buddhists really so sure of their spiritual superiority that they would entrust their religion to the leadership and control of Thai politicians, those paragons of Buddhist virtue? True, Buddhism has always been a political tool in Thailand, which is why it was introduced by the Sukhothai kings in their bid to create a national identity, but does that mean Buddhism must always be subservient to political ends and motives?

What is so bad about the idea of having a religion that is not merely one more part of the political arena, competing for power, influence and money along with all the rest? Doesn't the Thai version of Buddhism have anything better to offer? Why not just form a political party, canvass for money and be done with the pretence of being something remotely spiritual?

Bilbo

Bangkok

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Surayud better off leaving FBA amendments to next PM

Re: "Surayud boxed into a corner with FBA amendments," Opinion, April 20.

Thanong Khanthong hit the nail on the head when he wrote: "The Surayud government is facing a dilemma in its handling of these amendments, as it was not elected [nor was the National Legislative Assembly for that matter] and is about to amend a law that will have a major impact on foreign investors, who in general already have a poor sentiment towards Thailand."

Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet still insists that the amendments only affect a small number of foreign businesses and that they will be beneficial for foreign investment in general. This is despite the vocal insistence to the contrary from the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce and ambassadors of countries who represent the vast majority of Thailand's external trade and inward investment.

Neither Krirk-krai nor Surayud have ever been businessmen themselves and neither seems to understand that all investment is interconnected. The reality is that this legislation, which provides no clear benefits apart from preventing a recurrence of the Kularb Kaew affair, will have a major knock-on effect on overall investment confidence. Foreign investors in sectors that allow 100 per cent foreign ownership will think twice before looking at Thailand, fearing the risk of quirkier rule changes in future. It will also damage sentiment among local investors, who often set up businesses in support of foreign investors. This is what happened as a result of expropriation measures in Zimbabwe with which Thailand, sad to say, is increasingly being compared.

Thanong hinted at the most gracious way out of this dilemma. Rather than hurriedly enacting this legislation and leaving a bombshell for others to defuse in future, the interim government should let the next elected government revise the Foreign Business Act.

Nick Fogarty

Bangkok

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China's hostility towards Taiwan evident in WHO deal

Re: "Taiwan, a part of China, not entitled to WHO membership", Letters, April 20.

I found Tiger Ho's interpretation on the meaning of sovereignty very amusing and I will leave it to the readers to make their own judgement.

However, I am glad that Ho mentions the memorandum of understanding (MOU) China signed with the World Health Organisation (WHO) as this again tells how China manipulates its influence in the world body.

The WHO signed a secret MOU with China in May 2005, agreeing to provide Taiwan with information and invite it to WHO conferences only with Beijing's approval. China currently has some 1,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan. With this hostility in mind, China - a country with a dismal public health record - is hardly in a position to decide on what WHO information and meetings Taiwan should or should not have access to.

 China concealed the 2002/2003 Sars outbreak for months, causing death, suffering, and economic devastation in Taiwan and many other countries. China is now beset by a widespread rabies outbreak, with a reported 1,735 people having died from the disease between January and August last year. Rabies was eradicated in Taiwan in 1959. The illegal trade in animals and China's lack of transparency regarding epidemiological conditions pose a significant rabies threat to Taiwan and the region.

Given the frequent movement of people and goods between the two countries, China constitutes a grave threat to Taiwan in terms of potential public health crises. This danger is magnified by the WHO's compliance with the secret MOU. The risk of contagious diseases - especially avian influenza - spreading from China to Taiwan, is a major concern for the people of Taiwan and the world.

Transparency is a prerequisite in any international organisation. If China really attaches great importance to addressing Taiwanese people's health concerns, the very first step it can take is to make public the details of the MOU in order to protect the rights of other member states and ensure Taiwan's meaningful participation in the WHO.

David Tzou

Bangkok

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Wales a better choice for castle-loving NLA members

I am glad to see that three members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) have been furthering their knowledge of European castles during their recent visit to France ("'Alternative charter not the reason for Paris trip'", News, April 20). But surely they are visiting the wrong country, for while France has some truly magnificent ancient fortifications, the group should have visited Great Britain and particularly Wales, which has more castles per head than any other part of Europe.

A perfect place to start their education tour would have been Caerfili Castle with its famous leaning tower pounded by Oliver Cromwell's cannon during the English Civil War. It also is the second largest concentric castle in Europe; the first being Windsor. From here they may have wished to visit Beaumaris Castle in west Wales, the birthplace of the founder of the Tudor Dynasty and victor in the Wars of the Roses, Henry Tudor, a real legislator who laid the foundations for England's secret service. Then to Harlech Castle a showpiece of defensive and offensive early medieval architecture. Caernafon the pride of Edward II's "Ring of Steel" built to impress, awe and subjugate the rebellious Welsh. It was here that the first prince of Wales was proclaimed and subsequent princes' invested with the title. Progressing east along the picturesque north Wales coast the general and his companions will have stumbled upon impressive Conway Castle another bastion of Edward II's steel grip on the early Welsh.

On their way to examine and learn from these castles they might liked to have called in at Chepstow, Raglan, Newport, Cardiff, Neath, Oystermouth, Usk, as well as the other nearly 250 fortifications dating from the early Celtic, Roman, Saxon, Norman, and medieval periods.

So the NLA members and entourage would have learned a great deal more in Wales and at less expense than in France. Unfortunately Wales does not offer the same retail experience as does our mainland neighbour.

John Howe

Bangkok