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Published on February 28, 2008

Pim Kemasingki asks, "What can we actually do?" Well Pim, for starters maybe the noodle vendor, mail delivery man, cleaning lady and tuk-tuk driver you refer to, need to be seen as equals, since you bring up human rights. You say that "to them the economy comes before human rights and democracy". People who are richer and have had better fortune with possibilities for higher education also need to stop putting the economy before human rights, don't you think, before we can even fathom a system involving real human rights and democracy?

The wealthy and educated might read about the politics of poverty and all that is done to keep the poor, poor and the rich, rich. But it is your cleaning lady, tuk-tuk driver and noodle vendor who really understand it. So in answer to your question, "What can we actually do?" since you feel that they are largely to blame, how about starting by discussing the economy and human rights with them? You might be amazed at what you learn.

The Cleaning Lady

Bangkok

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Thaksin's return is a return to divisive politics

Get ready for the worst, we do not need a fortune-teller to read us the future, it's evident to everybody!

The People's Alliance for Democracy is already threatening to organise street protests against Thaksin, and the People Power Party is ready to send their paid mobs to face them.

The regrettable history of our Kingdom is returning again (even if Samak said only one unlucky person died).

The Samak government has proved from the start that the only thing on its mind is to get Thaksin back and make sure that all the evidence and charges against him will fail to materialise or will disappear. Already, officials who can prove Thaksin's alleged wrongdoing have been transferred.

Of course the good and honest people of Thailand will oppose this. The PAD and others will take to the streets to protest. Thaksin and his puppets do not need a fortune-teller to forecast this. Thaksin and his puppets do not care about the negative consequences. They do not care that our Kingdom will revert to confrontational politics. They just care about their own self-interest. Thaksin thinks it is convenient to come back sooner rather than later. Let's hope that a miracle will happen and Thaksin and all his PPP puppets will put the well-being of the country before their self-interest, and avoid confrontation.

Somsak

Bangkok

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It was the computer's fault, not ours

Re: "Govt bills tossed out over quorum debacle", News, February 27.

The blame on a technical computer error is the best answer for the debacle since the computer cannot answer back.

On this reported debacle, I maintain that the quorum, via card punching, for attending members was correctly made by the computer at the National Legislative Assembly. But it was human error in not having enough discipline and enforcement to ensure punching prior to seating from all attending members.

So don't blame the computer but blame people for being reckless in not following the required system. 

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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Iran welcomes IAEA nuclear-activities report

The report of the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the board of governors of the latter on implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was published on February 22.

The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the recent report of the director-general of the IAEA as it declares successful settlement of all the six outstanding issues of Iranian peaceful nuclear activities under the Work Plan, which results in normalisation of the cooperation between the international organisation and Iran. 

This report has very positive elements, which acknowledge the authenticity and honesty of Iranian declarations, as it clarifies the outstanding issues of past nuclear activities, which include:

1. Demonstrating Iranian will and desire for peaceful nuclear development in the highest decision-making levels in the meeting of the director-general with the supreme leader; president; vice president and president of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI); foreign minister; and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

2. Full implementation of the work plan on outstanding issues (agreed between Iran and the IAEA): according to the recent report all outstanding issues were resolved with no more on the agenda, including: Gchine Mine, Polonium-210, Uranium Metal Document, Source of Contamination in Technical University, P1 and P2 Centrifuges and Plutonium.

3. The Agency has been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran. Iran has provided the agency with access to declared nuclear material and has provided the required nuclear material accountancy reports in connection with declared nuclear material and activities.

4. Iran has also responded to questions and provided clarification and amplification on the issues raised in the context of the work plan.

5. The Agency has been able to conclude that answers provided by Iran, in accordance with the work plan, are consistent with its findings. Therefore, the agency considers those questions no longer outstanding at this stage.

 The acknowledgement of the recent report of IAEA on the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear activities is very welcome progress and is promising not only to the Iranian nation but also to all developing nations who deserve and have the right to harness atomic power for peace and development.

 Those powers who have tried and are pushing to politicise the case should come to the understanding that the world is watching their monopolistic behaviour toward developing nations and it has been proven that their allegations against Iran's nuclear activities were and are all baseless. We invite these countries to take into consideration the existing realities and outcome of Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran will continue its path to tap nuclear energy for peaceful development goals under IAEA supervision and in line with the NPT, and invites peace-loving nations and governments to support us on this very important stage which sets norms and conditions for future development of countries in the nuclear field.

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Bangkok

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