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Published on October 4, 2007

And China may end up with a large-scale Olympic boycott because of Than Shwe's madness.

The UN Security Council can facilitate political reform in Burma by requiring the deposit of all natural gas income in a UN Trust Fund, to be used only for education, health and other approved humanitarian expenditure.

The EU and the US should consider deploying 10,000 peacekeeping troops to Rangoon to facilitate investigation of the mass murders committed by Than Shwe and his cronies.

Both of these measures may not be needed, since Than Shwe's death is expected within days or weeks.

The Chinese Government will understand when I say that Than Shwe lost the "Mandate of Heaven" when he murdered so many Buddhist Monks and unarmed civilians. When a leader loses the "Mandate of Heaven" he is usually overthrown or killed. Those that attack religion usually end up dead.

Myint Thein

Bangkok

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Boycott the Olympics and Asean as well

Lately, I've been hearing many people talking about boycotting next year's Olympics in Beijing over China's refusal to rein in the Burmese junta. But Burma belongs to Asean, and Asean does nothing about Burma. So, if you want to, I would suggest an international boycott of Asean. Boycott products from any Asean member; don't visit those countries. I think that would be much more effective than boycotting the Olympics.

Don Smith

Bangkok

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Why not ask China to introduce democracy?

You have to admit that we don't have many cards to play when it comes to the situation in Burma. We are suggesting that we get the Chinese government to pressure the Burmese generals into introducing free speech, to tolerate civil disobedience and to allow free elections. Well why not? These are, after all, the fundamentals of democracy for which China is famous.

Michael Clowes

Bangkok

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Where is our democracy loving ex-PM now ?

Hello, Mr Thaksin. You've always portrayed yourself as a "democratically elected prime minister" who was unjustly ousted by the military in a bloodless coup. If you were so disheartened by the lack of democracy shown by the army, why don't you show your genuine love for democracy by denouncing the military junta in Burma?

The generals there have committed heinous crimes time and again since they came to power through an infamous bloody coup.

Or are you keeping your silence because you don't want to risk angering those monsters, just in case your dream of re-snatching the top post in Thailand might come true one day and you might not be able to get a chance to continue exploiting Burma's rich resources?

True Fan of Thaksin

Bangkok

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Let us leave the airport quickly - please

Does anyone know why the Suvarnabhumi immigration checks and procedures on departure are so slow? It takes as long to leave Thailand as it does to enter. The departure queues at passport control are especially long at night, when passengers and officers are all tired.

Why can't the immigration officers just check the passport to ensure we have not overstayed and then let us through? Why all the other checking and photographing and chopping and scanning and whatever? We're all leaving, please let us go - quickly. If the departure procedures could be simplified, then maybe more officers could be moved to handle the equally long queues of people waiting to enter the country.

Traveller

Bangkok

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Sathorn's trees

under attack again

I came out of my office the other day to see a crew of workmen busy chopping off the tops of trees all the way down Sathorn Road. Needless to say, this now leaves dozens of vendors and storefronts without any shade from the afternoon sun. Now, all one can see (besides the dying tree stumps) is an ugly, tangled mess of electric wires strung between cement poles, behind which sit faded, cracked, uninspiring, ugly, concrete lego-brick buildings.

To the people who initiated the plan: if it's your goal to rape Bangkok of what little natural beauty it has left, congratulations, you're doing a hell of a job.

Simon Belmont

Bangkok

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An ageing population is society's achievement

Re: "Never too old to care", Editorial, October 3.

I welcome the emphasis on promoting a positive and proactive approach to ageing, thus overcoming the negative stereotypes associated with it. It should also be stressed that solidarity between generations at all levels - in families, communities and nations - is essential for building up a society for all ages. Solidarity is a prerequisite for social cohesion and a foundation of formal public welfare and informal care systems. Ageing is not a problem, but an achievement to be treated with attention. The revolutionary demographic challenges in both developed and developing countries demand concerted efforts for putting ageing policies at the top of the social agenda during the current irreversible process of globalisation.

All people in all countries, from every sector of society, individually and collectively, are expected to join in a universal dedication to a shared vision of equality for persons of all ages. This approach is obviously far from being a reality, but in an effective education programme it is a noble ideal that should never be ignored.

Ioan Voicu

Bangkok

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Cut interest rates, boost consumer spending

The inflation figure for Thailand in August was 1.1 per cent. This is a far cry from 5.0 per cent over a year ago. Because of the lower consumption of power and the lower investment climate, and now a reduction in property prices in Bangkok, the economy may be running into deflation.

It is important that interest rates are reduced and banks encouraged to lend. Slow lending, or lending below target, may cause the economy to slide into further deflation. It is also time the government spent money to improve infrastructure, generate jobs, and find ways to put money into consumers' pockets. Reducing lending rates for credit cards and finance for housing may improve purchasing power. The issue of deflation must be corrected now, before we end up in a downward spiral.

Economics 101

Bangkok