I would like to thank Stephen Cleary for his article - it was long overdue. I study at a university in Thailand and my Thai-language lessons are comprised of passages that can only be described as moral conditioning or brainwashing. The passages are extremely patriarchal and full of anti-Western sentiments. It is no wonder such sentiment is on the rise when it is being taught at learning institutions across the country. I could not contain my anger when I was told that women should dress modestly and cover their bodies because males are excited by the sight of a woman's flesh and, if anything should happen to the female, it is her fault. I asked the teacher if he thought males should take some responsibility and perhaps try to control their desires; he did not agree.

I pointed out that it is hot in Thailand and it is unfair that males can wear singlets and remove their shirts without judgement, but a female cannot wear a singlet or shorts above the knee without being judged. I adhere to the conservative dress code in Thailand simply because I do not wish to offend anyone or perpetuate the negative stereotype of "promiscuous" Western women. However, when I return home, I will never again take for granted my freedom to choose the clothes that I wear.

Rebecca

Khon Kaen

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Open letter to failed Tesco blackmailer

 Re: "Brit arrested for threats to Tesco", News, June 9.

Alexander Winstone, your apology for trying to blackmail Tesco Superstores for two million pounds is pitiful. Let me offer you, as well as any other foreigner who comes to Thailand in search of opportunity and then turns to crime, some advice.

I am glad you are a sloppy criminal and you were caught. Otherwise, you would have tried to collect on your threat, and Lord knows what else you would have tried to do next. Consider yourself lucky to learn your lesson now, rather than later for an even worse offence.

Compared to many developed countries here in Asia and Europe, Thailand is a very easy place to live and start as an entrepreneur. It is inexpensive and there are not a lot of barriers to entry. But that does not mean it is easy to be successful. You probably do not speak Thai, have no connections, and no one knows who you are. Your dreams are merely dreams unless you can convert them into something unique and value-added that people will want. Ironically, that often requires even more talent, effort and luck than it would take to start a business in, say, the UK.

But it seems you failed, and instead of dusting yourself off and trying again, or cutting your losses and going back home, you decided to become a criminal. Perhaps you thought committing a crime here was easier than in the UK, just as you thought opportunities for success are easier here than elsewhere. They are not, as you found out.

Now you will have to pay the same penalty here that you would have had to pay anywhere else in Europe for the crime you committed. Unfortunately you will learn that sending a letter of apology for extortion does not soften the severity of the crime. Just because this is a developing nation, not the UK, you will not get off more easily. When you play in the global world you have global opportunities, but you must play by global rules, even here in Thailand. Let justice prevail.

Outraged Taxpayer

Bangkok

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'Profit at all costs' is now the universal maxim

 Re: "Profit at all costs could be ex-PM's teaching niche", Letters, June 9.

Profit, it seems, is the exclusive and dominating force in today's world. It probably always has been. From the tribe to the nation-state to the corporation, the onward march of dominance seems to have always been inherent in the human psyche. It has also always played a vital part in the body politic, with the role of ethics playing second fiddle even in the specious veneer of today's "accountable" business environment.

But business ethics is not confined to a matter of neo-con or liberal prejudices. It is the reason we have global-warming denials and investigations into the activities of Enron and WorldCom. Thaksin's dirty dealings were both localised and small fry in comparison.

Talking of small fry, it was reported recently that Thaksin is hoping to conclude his takeover of Manchester City within the next fortnight, remarking that he hoped to inspire "poor Asian children by owning an English soccer club". He was also quoted, using his self-effacing and eloquent English language skills, as saying: "Sports provide opportunities for the gifted young generation to have an opportunity to show themselves, to make themselves a millionaire."

Even though Ollie Goddard of the Manchester City Supporters' Trust recently concluded that "... we are still concerned that our club could be damaged by association with him, particularly if criminal proceedings are mounted and he is imprisoned or subjected to huge financial penalties", and Dr Juree Vichit-Vadakan, secretary-general of the Thailand branch of Transparency International said "...British people should think harder whether they want somebody to buy a football club who is surrounded by moral uncertainty", the deal thunders ahead regardless.

So what of ethics when City continues to promote their identity as a "community club", proclaiming themselves "Pure Manchester" when, at the same time, appearing to see no conflict between the "purity" message in their slogan and the proposed ownership by a man described by Transparency International as "employing corrupt activities".

Does "making themselves millionaires" at the expense of others seem like a sound platform for the education of Asian youth? And to think that if only a modicum of ethics had intervened and a small percentage of the Temasek deal was released for the benefit of others, City might have been spared this ordeal in moral polemics.

James Groveway

Bangkok

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Predictions of good fortune all round

 What a coincidence: Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Booyaratglin and Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of the ousted prime minister, consulting a fortune-teller in Chiang Mai at the same time!

For sure, he will predict that Sonthi will not send Pojaman to jail, and Pojaman therefore will be told that she will not go to jail and will not even be punished for her allegedly corrupt real-estate deal. And according to the "law of the self-fulfilling prophecy" the fortune-teller will be right. A miracle, and good for his own fortune too!

The best soap opera in Thailand is the politics. I remember Thaksin used to go to a fortune-teller in Rangoon. Probably nowadays he wants her to predict for him that Manchester City will win the Premiere League title in England next season after he lost his in Thailand.

Nick

Bangkok

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Consider the rights of non-smokers as well

 Re: "All fired up about new anti-smoking proposal", Letters, June 3.

Having myself succumbed to this senseless addiction for some twenty years, I am aware of John Arnone's obvious frustration at being unable to stop doing it, but he must understand that it is not mindless authority he is opposing but the equally endangered rights of his fellow citizens. For example, my wife (who happens to be asthmatic) and I having our evening ruined by rancid smoke drifting across our nostrils while we would otherwise be enjoying our steak and chips. Exactly who is the injured party here?

Tony Ash

Phetchaburi

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Bad first impressions at Suvarnabhumi

 When a passenger arrives at the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, passes through immigration and luggage claim, and emerges into the surprisingly small arrival area only to be assaulted by taxi touts, what is their impression? The scene shouts several messages, none of them attractive. It says "Third World!", "impoverished country!", "banana republic", "chaos and disorder!".

Why, oh, why do the airport authorities want to cause such shame and embarrassment for Thailand?

If they are deaf to all the critics, perhaps the tourist authority could shake them up and make them listen.

Michael Clowes

Bangkok