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Bangkok Post
Published: 25/09/2009 at 12:00 AM

Your newspaper consistently refers to the Preah Vihear temple and surrounding area with the Cambodian word, instead of the Thai pronunciation of "Phra Viharn". Your choice of words is thus inevitably part of the conflict.

Unlike an English-language newspaper, the Thai press has no choice but to use the word ''Phra Viharn'' since that is the name we have been using since ancient times, no matter what the stance regarding the temple row may be.

As an English-language newspaper, however, Bangkok Post's reference to the temple and its surrounds as ''Preah Vihear'' could reflect on the country's position: it implies whether or not Thailand has conceded its stance to Cambodia with the adoption of the Khmer name.

KRITANAYA SAMABUDDHI

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Get US to sign FTA first

PM Abhisit might be playing softball in a hardball world by pursuing more action on pirated US items as a gesture of goodwill, while seeking progress on a Thai-US Free Trade Agreement.

PM Abhisit may rather consider telling the US he will not do a damned thing about pirated goods until an FTA is in place, as the current US administration is blatantly protectionist and notoriously anti-FTA in general, and if one side will not give, why should the other?

Additionally, there are a lot of people in the world who feel that the pirated goods crusade is nothing more than fraud perpetrated by US corporations who want to take all the profits in the world's entertainment markets and stamp out all competition.

GUY BAKER

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Driven to distraction

I've lived in Thailand for over five years and what angers me most - even more than the disillusioned supporters of the convict Thaksin - is children being driven in motor cars without restraints. Kids standing on the front seat with their hands on the dash board, with the driver oblivious to what can and will happen if they have an accident.

Brilliant politicians come up with miraculous ways to reduce road deaths and one of these is to restrict the sales of alcohol during Songkran, thus affecting tourism. Or they fine people for using mobile phones whilst driving. But not one has thought about the safety of the country's children.

Legislate for compulsory seat-belt use on children and a hefty fine for refusal. Not the normal 500/1,000 baht but starting at 5,000 with loss of licence for first offence and mandatory jail for the second.

BRIAN FORLONGE

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Empathy and money

Re: Charley Brown's letter to Post Bag last week. I must disagree with a couple of issues he raises. He talks about how the red shirts hate the yellow shirts and vice versa, and it seems that there is a colossal amount of animosity in the air.

We as farangs must be sensitive and exude empathy during this political crisis! Also, the economy is a major factor and I believe it is a catalyst! These are tough economic times for everyone.

We as the guests usually have the baht, while many Thais are really struggling to make ends meet. I've just come back from a three-day junket to Pattaya and even the bar girls there weren't smiling.

TOM MOON MULLINS

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