OPINION

Political hodgepodge

Re: "The evolving Thai political fault lines", (Opinion, July 5). I must agree with everything Thitinan Pongsudhirak has pointed out. This military-led conservative coalition distrusts open politics and a fair, democratic game of elections, constitutions, and political parties and civil society.

Well, we well know that the foundation of this new government was built upon a faulty constitution. Everything else followed the script leading to a hollow promise of transition to democracy. The new Election Commission and other entities were appointed as subcontractors by the regime. Now the same old horses are leading the new Thailand derby. Will the new government made of a hodgepodge of appointed Senate and disappointed politicians survive?

Since the fault lines are real, it is quite evident the new house of cards will soon collapse. But not to worry, the regime is ready with a new stack of cards. There are many countries where the governments have turned into revolving door casinos.

Another fine mess

It is a great pity that Gwynne Dyer's excellent article, "The Brexit cult is proving dangerous for Britain", (Opinion, July 6), cannot be printed in capital letters on the front pages of every London newspaper!

It is perhaps surprising that it takes a Canadian to so succinctly summarise the awful insoluble mess that the UK government has got the country into. The reality is that for three years we have been witnessing the worst of partisan politics that so-called democracy has to offer. Their overriding objective is simply to retain (or acquire) power for themselves, the damage they may do to the nation is secondary.

The future of the whole population now rests in the hands of a relatively small group of elderly conservatives who are about to put the leading fox in charge of the henhouse. The gentleman they esteem, Boris Johnson, a confessed habitual liar who has referred to the French as "turds" and is subsequently despised by all Europeans, has a long history of irresponsible and infantile behaviour. (But they think he can get them re-elected!)

To paraphrase Gwynne: "You could not make it all up!"

Not to worry. The politicians will shortly be taking a lengthy summer recess to reward themselves for their efforts.

'Mom' of the people

Re: "Inappropriate headline", (PostBag, July 7).

The writer scolded you for being "misleading and inappropriate" to call a person "Mom Oui" when his royal title is Mom Rachawong Pridiyathorn Devakula. I doubt very much if Mom Oui minds at all being called informally and would neither regard that as "misleading" nor "inappropriate" in reporting his view.

On the contrary, I think he is rather proud of being approachable and playful at times.

In my view, Mom Oui is the people's "Mom Rachawong" who loves his country sincerely far above many.

His recent book in Thai, In One Kingdom, revealed how he had to report to the public prosecutors to charge criminally the former chairman, whom he knew well, and some board members of Krung Thai Bank for malfeasance. (The case ended up as milestone against corruption; it was sad but necessary and all were imprisoned.)

He was appointed as the first economic czar of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's regime and resigned shortly thereafter.