OPINION

First, fix the rules

Re: "Let the people decide", (PostBag, Feb 23) & "Charter rewrite faces major setbacks", (Opinion, Feb 22).

I bought Nang Tani's idea professed in a PostBag letter that changes through public referendum are seriously needed to redress Thai politics and public policies, such as the legalisation of gambling, the acceptance of casinos, and the drafting of a reformed constitution.

But it is important to be sure that the referendum process and rules are well-conceived, the percentage of majority accepted, and the number of votes cast, to make sure the consensus reflects the actual needs of people.

Avoid the backlash

Re: "Condo rentals face probe", (Online, Feb 27).

As the government reportedly considers raising foreign ownership beyond 49%, and as (per a recent Post letter) our islands are suffering mounting trash and environmental problems, and as the people of Pai vent anger as they allege they are overrun by certain tourists, the Thai government would be well-advised to look to America in 2024 for constructive ways of resolving these problems before a real social crisis truly takes hold.

In 2024, after 40 years of frustration, Americans finally hit the year when they overwhelmingly demonstrated they have had it with being overrun by outsiders, unbridled globalisation, and losing jobs and property to foreigners. Now, they have taken dramatic, destructive, and expanding actions to undo the problems and retake several million jobs in the next few years, and those actions are not pretty.

Avoid America's mistakes. I suggest the government listen to Thais who complain about being overrun by too many foreigners and foreign ownership legal concerns now, as well as not raising foreign ownership beyond 49% while corrective action need not be as destructive as in America today.

Naming standards

Re: "Man who groped woman driver nabbed at airport", (BP, Feb 26).

May I ask about Bangkok Post's policies on revealing names of adults being reported on and the ethical and professional standards supporting such policies?

For example, in today's edition, a motorbike rider groped his driver: the driver's first name was given (she requested that her family name be omitted, which I understand and agree with). But both the man's given and family names were omitted -- is this standard for Bangkok Post, and if so, why?

If, say, a husband beat up his wife, would the full names of both persons be given and why?

PR blunder?

Re: "Thaksin says sorry for Tak Bai", (BP, Feb 24).

Please tell me Thaksin didn't actually state that he apologises "for some mistakes in the Tak Bai case"? Therefore, by implication, he's not sorry for other mistakes that were made.

Were his PR people on a day off?