PostBag
It is difficult to imagine what is on the minds of the PAD demonstrators: a fun day for rioting on the streets of Bangkok? Who pays them to stay away from work?
Do they think they are boldly representing all the people of Thailand? They are creating a great inconvenience and disturbance in the streets of Bangkok _ to bring the elected government down and then what?
In 2006, they caused a military coup which proved a failure and did untold damage not only to the Thai economy but also to the image of the armed forces. The army is not going to intervene again.
PM Samak is not going to stand aside and let the Democrat party take over; he will call a general election.
Meanwhile, the demonstrations are causing the stock market to fall, which is gravely harmful to Thailand.
In a general election, the voting may be very much the same as last time, but in view of the poor showing of the small parties, people may not bother to vote for them.
People may associate the PAD with the Democrats and be less inclined to vote for them.
The result could be an even bigger majority for the PPP. That is the party the majority, the people of the North and Northeast, will vote for. I believe that many people in the North and Northeast think that the 2007 military constitution should be repealed and Thailand returned to the 1997 people's constitution, without picking it over clause by clause.
I see that the PAD has only seen as far as making the prime minister resign, or the collapse of the government.
What then? This is anarchy!
DAVID BARNEBY
Kalasin
-----
All the furore boils down to one man
Let's all be honest about the Kingdom's present plight. Much of what has graced endless column inches is fanciful in the extreme and as likely to occur as seaside sunsets in Cha-am. Compromise is, and always has been, out of the question. A middle way simply does not exist.
There are two diametrically opposed camps and though their views on foreign business investment, the troubles in the South, or mega-projects would probably not be at variance, where the chasm lies is in their viewpoint on what to do about one man.
The PPP-led government, with the connivance of its partners, seeks to whitewash the ousted ex-prime minister and are prepared to cynically abuse their office to achieve this end. The PAD and its steadily growing group, on the other hand, want him brought to book. This is where the country is at, and the gulf between these two sides so great and the enmity so enormous that any possibility of finding a middle way is just utter nonsense.
It is very disturbing, however, that at this juncture of its development, a sophisticated nation can be brought to the point of fracture and social breakdown by the need for the political survival and economic wellbeing of one man. That survival is what is so worrisome for those opposed to him, as they fear the Kingdom will be his to do with again as he pleases were he to survive, and it will be things much more important than a logo that will be at risk were this to happen.
DR JOHN PATTERSON
-----
A sham democracy
I've read with great amusement the quick responses whenever somebody has dared to point out the shortcomings of Thai democracy.
As an Australian living in a true, working democracy, I cannot understand how anyone could argue that Thailand has a democracy. The fact that a democratically-elected government is disrespected and ignored, is a direct reflection on Thailand's democracy. The fact that the PAD is attempting to taunt the military into launching another coup is proof that the people of Thailand have come to accept that the military has the right to overthrow a democratically-elected government.
Further proof of this ignorance is MSC's letter regarding Mr Thaksin's frozen assets. The law is clear on this point. After 12 months, the money must be released. If the law of the land is not to be followed, Thailand will have some major problems to tackle in the future. Mr Thaksin was removed by the military almost two years ago and the military government spent 15 months trying to prove Thaksin's guilt, to no effect.
The ASC has continued this witch hunt without Mr Thaksin being found guilty of anything. To suggest he has been delaying the case is ludicrous. If they had evidence of any strength, he could have been found guilty in absentia. Wake up Thailand, the military has played you for a fool.
SHANNON CRANE
Gold Coast, Australia
-----
No more 'let it be'
This is in response to Robby's June 22 contribution to Postbag. You need a deeper understanding of why the PAD is protesting. I do not think Mr Sondhi or Maj-Gen Chamlong are doing it for fame or money. They are doing it because this government has manipulated the justice system by moving many key, honest officials out of important positions for the forthcoming corruption cases. They are protesting because the government wants to amend the constitution to cleanse their own and their real boss' past corruption. No more mai pen rai. This is the Thai people's business, we need to uproot this dishonest system once and for all. We shall not falter and we shall win.
NAVAMAN
-----
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING, 136 NA RANONG ROAD, KLONG TOEY, BANGKOK 10110
Fax: +02 2403666, email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th
All letter writers must provide full name and address. All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Next
