POSTBAG
Thanks to Motoring section writers (Aug 1) for again providing credible information and honesty to the alternative fuel for vehicles debate.
Several things are clear. One, the country is being horribly ripped off by the 60%-plus subsidy for LPG use in vehicles. The government's and PTT's comments about controlling LPG usage are just not true as conversions continue unchecked and new refuelling stations open en masse.
Someone is making a lot of money on LPG, a lot.
Meanwhile, the much more fiscally responsible CNG is literally being restricted by the failure to expand the refuelling station network, contrary to what the public is being told, although subsidies should end immediately on this fuel, too.
Second, drivers considering switching to E10, E20, E85, LPG or CNG should consult their vehicle manufacturer first. If the vehicle does not come from the factory specifically set up to run these alternative fuels damage will result. Statements by the government to the contrary are false.
JONAS
Bangkok
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Troubled by journalists / I read Troubled's letter (''Murder in Bangkok'', Postbag, Aug 1) and wonder why there was no coverage by the press of this incident in which presumably the police were involved. I wonder why Thai journalists do nothing other than copy what is delivered by news agents.
Are they scared? Do they fear losing their jobs or even their lives? If that is the case than Thailand is very far from being a democratic country.
It should be the pride and duty of every journalist to investigate tenaciously if there is any doubt about fair justice, human treatment and corruption by state officials. The press should be the wasp in the pants of the authorities, whoever they are.
Otherwise Amazing Thailand will be run by cowboys dressed in brown, who think that they are immune from any control and criticism. So, Bangkok Post, do your job.
BANGKOK REBEL
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Duty to report all news
On Aug 1, you published a letter reporting the shocking shooting deaths of two persons in broad daylight at a gateway to Chulalongkorn University.
The writer, Troubled, witnessed the event and wrote that immediately after the shooting two cars arrived, four men appeared ''as if on cue'', threw the bodies into the two cars, and the cars sped away. Motorcycle police arrived, one of whom tried to mop up the blood. All this within about two minutes.
I am more than troubled. I am shocked, outraged and appalled.
Why did the Bangkok Post not report this tragic event? Those of us who are loyal long-time subscribers and who rely on the Post for important news deserve an explanation
ROBERT JACOBS
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Courting democracy
At last, Thailand has a judicial system for everyone. It's no wonder that many politicians are desperate to amend the constitution to try to prevent the judiciary from getting them into court, including Prime Minister Samak.
I do not agree with your paper's comments that it was a politically motivated case, because it was the family of the nation's leader who was depriving the Thai people of millions of baht. No, it was a case of taking steps to counter corruption and restore the checks and balances over the politicians running the country, something Thaksin Shinawatra worked hard to shut down.
This is the first time that Thailand has had a working opposition party and a determined public campaign to improve the country to get it out from under the mess that the country has been in since Thaksin became the leader.
I hope we see the courts continue their work in the remaining high-profile cases.
But I cannot understand why the Shinawatras are being allowed to leave Thailand for trips overseas while these cases are pending and after being found guilty of tax evasion. Thailand has a history of guilty parties leaving the country to escape punishment
THAI LOVER
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What will world see?
In criminal law cases, statutes are interpreted strictly in favour of an accused person. This is so under most modern legal systems, including the many based upon the common law of the United Kingdom.
This means, simply, that where language is loose the court is obliged to give it a meaning which favours the defence.
Under these systems, if a prosecutor sought a criminal conviction on the basis that a gift was not a ''gift under a moral obligation'' the judge would laugh at him. This would be so even if the gift under scrutiny were a large parcel of shares to someone who had diligently looked after the donor's cat for several months and had just won a lottery. A prosecution case based on such a hopelessly vague statutory provision would not even make it to trial.
It will interesting to see how the appellate system of Thailand deals with the Potjaman Thaksin case, especially with the eyes of the world upon it. Cynics might even say that a conviction based upon the court's reading of this statute is a sure way of seeing the accused person exonerated quickly on appeal
GEORGE CUPPAIDGE
Kanchanaburi
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Sound of money
A friend wrote from Hong Kong this morning. He wanted to know if Thaksin Shinawatra's wife will spend her time in jail in-between her trips to her London hairdresser, high tea at The Regency, or inspecting her house in Hong Kong.
In either case, I think we can all surmise, without surprise, that she will never see the inside of a jail, detention house or even house arrest.
This is Thailand. Money talks so loudly it deafens you
YARMULKE
Prachin Buri
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Cost of extremism
The malaria outbreak in Ranong (''Wage war on health menace'', Bangkok Post, Aug 2) is a timely reminder that environmental extremism is not benign but poses a serious risk more dangerous than terrorism.
Malaria, dengue,and other mosquito-borne diseases that had been all but eradicated by DDT have been able to make a comeback because of a ban on DDT in the hysterical aftermath of the book Silent Spring. The lifting of the ban by the WHO in 2006 is a tacit admission that the ban on DDT was a mistake that cost millions of lives
CHA-AM JAMAL
Phetchaburi
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136 Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand - fax:022403666 - email:postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
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