Arent Hart's question about the lack of police presence in 2010, ''Cops missing in action'' (PostBag, Aug 21) was nothing new.
Golani's response ''Polishing the top brass'' on the following day was correct in that there was/is political interference in police and military affairs (in an effort to consolidate power), a situation that has continually worsened, especially during the Thaksin years.
Adding to this, in 2010, Thailand had no clear laws concerning protests (I don't know if this has changed), and police officers who took decisive actions in prior yet smaller situations were punished. Why would police step in if they know they will be punished, possibly prosecuted?
This leads one to ask why the military would take action. To answer this, look at the history and power of the Thai military.
VERNEITA BOONLOM
Do some work, Yingluck
The House erupts in violence, police are called in to restore order, and, where is PM Yingluck Shinawatra at this time? Travelling around at her country's expense in Tajikistanan and Pakistan.
Does she think what goes on in the Thai parliament is none of her concern? She does support that outdated notion that many women belong at home, in the kitchen, raising children. She is reminiscent of Victorian era women who were for the most part beautiful but totally useless outside the salon.
DAVID JAMES WONG
Don't fall for the spin
Khun Thanate in ''Chadchart deserves credit'' (PostBag, Aug 22) writes that most of the Bangkok Post's readers do not take public buses. This is as far from the truth as can be. There is an assumption here that the only people who read the Post are Westerners. But I think Khun Thanate has shown that the Post has a large Thai readership as well, as evidenced by the great number of Thai letter writers. When I lived in Bangkok I took public buses to work every day. I took buses before there was a BTS or MRT. I've observed plenty of Westerners taking buses, and I still take them when I, unfortunately, must be in Bangkok. Buses still reach areas where no other transportation, (except taxis) is available and buses are still the closest door-to-door means of getting around Bangkok. Bangkok needs real, police enforced bus lanes, like the City of Toronto, and many other North American cities. Buses, like the electric train systems must be newer, up-to-date vehicles, kept clean and well maintained. Unless this happens, the Bangkok bus system will always be the horrible transportation nightmare it was (is) and will be. Transport ministers have hopped on and off buses during previous administrations. It is really nothing more than a publicity stunt _ people lauding it today and forgetting about it tomorrow. In reality, it makes no difference, because public transit in Bangkok needs a total rethink, remake, and redo.
JACK GILEAD
A good spray of hypocrisy
I side with America in condemning Syria if they are really using chemical weapons. They should only use good old napalm, as the USA did in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. A much nicer way to kill people.
COL WEST
Ruling by 'demagogracy'
Re ''Welcome to Thakland'' (BP Online, Aug 22) Khun Voranai Vanijaka is entirely in tune with his article. Having a majority in parliament by ''demagogracy'' the path is wide open for dictatorship. In a democracy where there are a large number of poor and poorly educated people, there are two unacceptable roads to be taken. In the first, some group actually addresses the needs of the poor and tries to raise their standards in the name of socialism, communism, fascism, corporatism or some other ism. The other is that some vastly rich demagogue buys the poor vote with a few baubles and lays the riches on his own plate as is the current situation. It is difficult to see a way of unravelling this without putting democracy on hold until the social situation in the country has been radically altered. It is not a democracy now, so there is little change.
RICHARD BOWLER
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