• 
• 

Published on October 1, 2007

It is easy to say, after the fact, what Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont should have done when faced with the crisis that Burma is currently in, because everybody has 20-20 hindsight. But a leader must take decisive actions in the midst of much uncertainty, in real time, without the benefit of replay. In such a case as this, what would each candidate do? Would he halt all investments in Burma? Would he lead Asean to pressure Burma, and if so, what carrots and sticks would he use to get the Burmese government to negotiate? Would he bring China and India into the picture - and if so, how?

Such statements would serve a dual purpose: they would show us voters whether a given candidate has substance, not just sound and fury. It would also give Prime Minister Surayud ideas and guidance.

Ideally, we could have a live debate on "What should Thailand do to help resolve the Burmese crisis?" featuring Abhisit Vejjajiva versus Samak Sundaravej and hosted by a university. This would enable each party's stand to be tested - and perhaps bested - by the other side, with both Thais and Burmese gaining.

So, Abhisit and Samak, enough talk: what action should we take?

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

New generation has West, Internet on its side

Than Shwe does not have full and complete control of the Burmese Army like General Ne Win did. Also, we did not have immediate, full and complete support from Western leaders in 1988. The Internet has also changed everything. This is why the national uprising of 2007 will have a different outcome than that of 1988.

US first lady Laura Bush gave live interviews to both Voice of America and the BBC last week to help Burma. She has been a very effective and much appreciated unofficial US envoy for Burma. She will lobby the US president, her husband, to do more. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is personally interested in helping Burma. Also, the new French President Nicolas Sarkozy is interested in helping us.

Those that attack religion usually end up dead. Than Shwe and his cronies will suffer the same fate.

Myint Thein

Senior Adviser to the Burmese Resistance

dallas, texas

Send a message to China by boycotting Olympics

Ultra-sensitive China needs to get involved in stopping the junta in Burma or suffer a damaging fallout at the Beijing Olympics. China can have an impact and save lives if they cared. A country about to host a happy sporting event must work on helping the Burmese situation. This is China's chance to stand up and do a good thing for the world.

T-shirts and bumper-stickers with the slogan "Boycott Beijing for Burma" should be promoted if this does not take place.

Stuart Davie

Darwin, Australia

No guarantee that panel will improve air-safety

Re: "Towards safer air travel", Editorial, September 30.

Now Thailand is planning to set up a committee of 25 to 30 people. Who are these people and what experience or expertise do they have in aviation-safety standards? A list of the members and their expertise should be published.

You have printed letters from Christy Sweet that have pointed out some of the problems with Phuket Airport, such as the runways not being grooved for rainwater, but we know those problems will just be ignored by this committee. I wonder if Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um is aware of her letters and what his comments are.

Yes, it is all well and good to make a "plan" to say that we "should do this" and we "should do that", but the problem is that the plans regarding safety are never carried out. You don't need a committee of 25 to 30 people to meet for 6 months to come up with a "list" of problems that we are all aware of now!

The safety of all people, both Thais and foreigners, is a basic need and a basic right. At present, these needs and rights are being withheld because of corruption and greed. There is money available to improve things now, but if that money is spent on committee meetings and trips and reports, then nothing will ever get done.

J Cicero

Phuket

BMA's plan to tackle strays is for the dogs

Re: "Family dog registration begins in earnest", News, September 25.

Now that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has had its Kodak moment, could they explain the redundancy of enforcing microchips for sheltered, healthy and cared-for household dogs? Unfortunately, a lot of households will miss out on the offer of free chips for lack of transport or handlers to meet the deadline for the cap of 50,000 free chips for an estimated 700,000 to 900,000 resident dogs in Bangkok alone. The Bt500-Bt800 fee for subsequent chips available at clinics would be exorbitant for multi-dog compounds that have met the call to adopt and keep dogs off the streets.  The paperwork and documents required to register to ascertain ownership of a dog and a shakedown fee for lack thereof will only add to more dogs being thrown on the crowded boulevards of Bangkok.

Does the BMA think we believe it will house all surplus soi dogs in Uthai Thani, or are they going to be trucked across borders to cooking pots and soft-toy factories?

In truth, most of the healthy, tame and innocuous dogs will be rounded up - there will be handshakes and backslapping all around and we will be taking up the same subject once the BMA needs to divert attention or funds. We have been there.

The only effective and humane way to address the explosion of the population of dogs in Bangkok is to neuter, neuter and neuter and allow the animals to live out their natural and God-given lives.

And frankly, why do we have to always compromise in favour of the tourist dollar?  

Jens

Bangkok

Kudos to one of Bangkok's many honest taxi-drivers

I arrived in Bangkok on September 19 and after clearing passport control and customs at Suvarnabhumi Airport, went down to the first floor to catch a taxi through the taxi queue. The next driver in line was Jum Long.  We had a pleasant conversation on the way to my hotel and I arrived safe and sound.  I went out to eat and upon returning to my hotel, I had a note attached to my key. I called the number on the note and Jum Long informed me that I had left a black bag in his taxi.  This made no sense to me as I had my black bag (a wallet about the size of a day planner). 

I thanked Jum Long and told him I would call him back the next day to make arrangements to return my bag.

It wasn't until I arrived at Don Muang for an in-country flight the next day to Khon Kaen and was asked for my credit card to confirm my e-ticket, that I realised my smaller, credit-card wallet was what Jum Long had found. This is normally kept inside my larger black bag and I apparently left it in the taxi.  Inside the wallet were my checking account card, savings account card, two debit cards, two credit cards and various airline mileage cards.  Upon my arrival in Khon Kaen, I contacted Jum Long and asked him to post my bag to me.  He had a better idea and arranged to have my bag delivered via a tour bus that came the next day from Bangkok to Khon Kaen.  Sealed in an envelope, my bag was returned totally intact.  Much to my relief, all of my cards were returned.

I called Jum Long and thanked him immensely for being such an honest and responsible taxi driver. 

We need more taxi drivers like Jum Long to show that there are more honest taxi drivers than dishonest ones.

Larry

Bangkok