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Published on August 8, 2007

I have no problem with our doing whatever we wish - so long as we know what we are doing. But time and again, we act with little research into the long-term implications of our actions, going with the mood of the moment. Look at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and how we vacillated between one- and two-airport policies over 40 plus years. I suggest that our government should have the vision of an eagle, not a bat, and act accordingly.

For the Foreign Business Act, what are our objectives, and their implications? Is the act even necessary to achieve those goals? Instead of a blanket anti-foreigner ban, why not have precise measures targeted against specific, identified dangers?

I suggest that a credible, neutral organisation should study the above issues in-depth and present its findings in public hearings for our Parliament to consider before passing the bill. For example, the Thailand Development Research Institute or the economic faculties of Chulalongkorn or Thammasat Universities could easily do the job.

We have one of the lowest economic growth rates in Asia. Let's use research to open our eyes to how we can best utilise our potential, rather than act in haste.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

Restrictions may send foreigners to Vietnam

In a previous letter I mentioned the time-consuming, baffling process of obtaining a work permit as one reason why some foreigners do not get them. At that time I had the "old" work permit. I had no idea how much harder the "new" work permit would be to obtain!

My company and I have been trying since last year to obtain this year's work permit (for me). Despite our best efforts we completely and utterly failed, having submitted our document package many times. Since I already have a work permit this came as quite a surprise. I still do not have a work permit despite spending considerable time attempting to obtain one.

Foreigners in Thailand have always been second-class citizens but the problem is getting worse. Flip-flops on legislation have created uncertainty. The recent restrictive legislation about money transfers, the restrictive changes in tourist visas and the shocking, odious proposed changes to the Foreign Business Act of 1999 make it painfully clear that foreigners are just not welcome here.

It is particularly egregious that the Thai government feels comfortable making retroactively illegal previously legal foreign investment structure. This will force some foreigners out of business and open many avenues for graft and extortion. Who will come to visit my wife and me one day and how much will they want? Every country needs the skills and investment capital of foreigners, including the US and EU. So I do not understand why Thailand thinks it can go it alone.

I love my life here. I have a good marriage, a nice condo and wonderful employees. In addition, I am old and do not like the idea of having to relocate. But if things keep going as they are, that is certainly an option.

Foreign Investor

Bangkok

Regional pressures make currencies vulnerable

While the whole world has had to deal with the effects of the dollar's weakness, Thailand has been more adversely impacted due to China and Japan's beggar thy neighbour currency and interest rate policies.

The unusual yuan and yen weakness leaves Southeast Asian countries no choice but to sell their currencies and accumulate dollars in order to survive.

Albeit involuntary, it is a subsidy for external trade. It is unreasonable to expect that a subsidy can be cost free.

More efficient treasury and balance-sheet management can offset some of that cost. At the moment, there are no legal, administrative or practical mechanisms in place to allow this to happen.

The current authorities are doing as well as they can under the circumstances, but let's hope things improve.

T Mercer

Bangkok

ICT's arbitrary website blocking strikes again

While perusing a British newspaper website on Tuesday, I tried to read an interview with Brian May, who is best known as a guitarist for the band Queen but has just completed the thesis for his PhD, in the field of astrophysics, at Imperial College in London.

Does anybody have any idea why the Information and Communications Technology Ministry blocked that particular site? I'm trying to imagine possible reasons but... Anybody?

Mr Bird

Chiang Mai

Pro-vegetarian missives getting hard to stomach

Re: "Eat less meat, live a lot longer", Letters, August 6.

I intend this to be my final letter on the subject of carnivores versus grazing animals. The subject has become rather ridiculous as well as boring. Eric Bahrt will not change my mind, nor I his on the matter of diet.

Eric, I applaud your efforts to change the world to one that conforms to your beliefs; however, that does not mean that you will be successful in converting carnivores into vegetarians. I belong to the former grouping of mammals and have no intention of joining the herd grouping.

You cite several studies to back your arguments but give no names of individuals who have outlived their carnivorous peers. Your statements of studies and findings would carry more weight if you cited chapter and verse giving names, dates and backgrounds of those studied.

Finally, I did not read the writing of the individual you mention as not wanting to live long and therefore would not become a vegetarian. That is just fine with me because after that person is gone, I will still be around to eat his share of the meat.

William Reynolds

Chiang Mai

'Rescue Dawn' inaccurate in its portrayal of POW

The movie "Rescue Dawn", which was filmed in Thailand, in which my brother Gene DeBruin is portrayed as some type of psycho is currently playing in international theatres. Depicting my brother as a psycho is completely false.

Thai, Pisidhi Indradat, the sole surviving member of the June 1966 escape spent 2.5 years with Gene in horrific Lao prisons before Dieter Dengler arrived at the camp in January 1966. He can attest to Gene's sanity.

Despite numerous offers of assistance to insure accurate portrayals of Pisidhi and Gene, our initiatives were met with silence. In the end, director Werner Herzog did it his way, the facts be damned, calling those interested in facts "accountants" who should engage in the "phone directory of Manhattan". Readers should seriously consider whether they even want to see this movie.

Instead, visit rescuedawnthetruth.com for the real truth.

Jerry DeBruin

USa