The Pheu Thai Party has vowed it will ignore any judgment rendered by the Constitution Court on the draft charter amendment dealing with the structure of the Senate (BP, Nov 19).
This declaration blatantly violates the concept of checks and balances in a democratic system. Worse, it just could prove to be the spark needed to ignite anarchy and maybe even civil war as the red shirts have gathered this week due to Pheu Thai's (and Thaksin Shinawatra's) intransigence.
We remember the violence of 2010. Thaksin could have told the red-shirt mob to disperse before the army came to clear it out (and thereby save many lives).
This time Thaksin seems prepared to sacrifice tens of thousands of red shirts to achieve his personal goals. Indeed, he appears ready to sacrifice Thailand itself!
In a hundred years, I hope Thai history records the folly of the red shirts. This is because the red shirts learnt all the wrong lessons from 2010.
CM PHILLIPS
Making enemies easily
Those in the Pheu Thai Party just haven't learnt that the ramming of their agenda down the throats of others is the quickest way to make enemies.
The argument that the legislature has absolute power in amending the constitution hardly holds water and is in direct conflict with the concept of checks and balances.
No single person or institution should have absolute power free from challenges from others.
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
Who funds UDD rallies?
Thaksin Shinawatra has told us the anti-government rallies will stop when the money runs out. Will he tell us who is funding the pro-government red-shirt rallies that are being mobilised to threaten the Constitution Court and its judges? Can it be the same paymaster who raised a red army and led them to victory in gaining an early election, then left them on the streets to perish?
RICHARD BOWLER
Neutering the Senate
First, the Pheu Thai Party hurriedly pushed for the draft constitutional amendment to have all members of the Senate come from a direct election.
Now, red-shirt leaders have mobilised mobs to pressure the Constitution Court not to derail the draft and/or punish Pheu Thai. These two actions are clearly undemocratic. The draft amendment is unconstitutional because it will allow parties to have control over the Senate. This is the same as having two houses of the legislature but in name only.
In practice, the Upper House will be there to serve the Lower House _ not to check and balance its powers.
The ability to write laws to suit political agendas against the will of the public and/or the country will fall into the hands of those who control the Lower House.
VINT CHAVALA
Strong leaders needed
Steven Kraus and Wilas Lohitkul are right in their article (''Aids conference puts Thailand back under the spotlight'', Opinion, Nov 19) that stronger leadership is essential for reducing ''triple zero in HIV/Aids''.
I will add that we also need strong political leadership to create commitment at all levels. Only then may we succeed in achieving zero infections and related deaths.
Conferences like ICAAP continue to keep all stakeholders up to date on the status of HIV/Aids and motivates them to find new ways to tackle the issue.
Thousands of participants have already started this process.
SHIV KHARE, CEO FOUNDATION FOR LEADERSHIP
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