Samak's silence on political violence speaks volumes

However, one suspects the premier was simply trying to avoid mentioning the incident where a group of thugs who attacked People's Alliance for Democracy members in a peaceful rally in Udon Thani were alleged to have been led by a brother of one of his Cabinet members. So, was our prime minister trying to avoid the hottest issue of the day by intentionally keeping mum on politics?

Prime Minister Samak should be reminded that, as a national leader, he must be fair to everyone and every political grouping in the country. To allow for peaceful demonstrations was the duty of every democratic government.

To let a group supportive of one's government brutally attack a rival group without any corrective measures is not only embarrassing, but uncharacteristic of a good leader. Such a leader deserves condemnation.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Strategies to promote solar energy needed in Thailand

Thailand has many challenges for the future, not least of which is how best to deal with current and future electricity needs.  Egat would have Thais believe nuclear reactors are the best solution.  However, even Egat employees would admit there's much potential with getting power from the solar system's biggest nuclear reactor, namely; the sun. Plus, fuel from there is free. The state of New Jersey has a new programme which loans 60 per cent of the cost of a homeowner putting in a home-sized solar power system.  US$105 million (Bt3.5 billion) has been set aside - toward their goal of having New Jersey being 20 per cent powered by renewable power by 2020.  The beauty of the programme is borrowers don't pay back the loans with money, but instead pay back with a portion of the power that's generated by their at-home alternative power systems.  Such surplus power gets generated to the existing electric grid.  A special meter keeps track of the power exchanges.

 Such a solar programme would be win-win for Thai people, especially as it requires no billing for money.  Now, if we could somehow ensure the bidding process for the initial materials and labour were corruption-free... Oh well, we can't expect so many good things to happen concurrently.

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai

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Malaysia's intolerance of dissent clear in letter

Re:  "Government of Malaysia not trying to railroad Anwar", Letters, July 25

It would appear that your editorial "Anwar arrest a black eye for Malaysia" (July 19) hit a raw nerve and we see the Malaysian government's displeasure expressed accordingly in a particularly hectoring missive from the deputy chief of mission here in Bangkok.

Quite what it was in your editorial that has inflamed the ruling party so much quite eludes me; perhaps it was that you chose to give an opinion on the political situation in Malaysia, as is the right of a free press, which did not comply with the Malaysian government's party line.  That said, the piece was heavily factual and I can see little of the alleged sensationalism referred to by the deputy head of the Bangkok mission.

However, there is much in the deputy chief of mission's missive that warrants closer scrutiny. For instance, the claim that Malaysia is law-abiding with a high regard for the rule of law and due process is all very well but actually what is important is the justness of the laws, the even-handedness of their application and the independence of the judicial authorities. North Korea is patently a law-abiding country with a high regard for the rule of law and due process but is an international pariah whose people are ruthlessly oppressed.

The diagnosis in your editorial of paranoia within the current Malaysian leadership appears to have been justifiably vindicated by this response which uses language such as "irresponsible accusation" and "The Nation's ignorance". However, the true sentiments are seen very clearly in the statement: "Any presumption on the part of foreign media to comment on the Malaysian laws and legal process is simply unacceptable to the government of Malaysia."

Quiet diplomacy is clearly a concept not understood in the Malaysian diplomatic corps and how to handle a free press an art yet to be acquired.

Dr John Symons

Bangkok

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