The hysterical overreaction of a German expat to an anonymous letter comparing Thaksin with Hitler showed again that many Germans have yet to come to grips with their ignominious Nazi past. The reader alleged that likening Thaksin with "the monster" Hitler was beyond the pale.

Perhaps. But the reader chooses to forget the damning reality that Hitler was not only democratically elected but enthusiastically supported by the overwhelming majority of the German populace.

Depicting Hitler as a monster is only a sanctimonious attempt to separate him from the heinous reality that he was very much a man of his time, culture and mind-set. During Hitler's regime it was a crime to express pro-Semitic sentiments. Now in Germany it is a crime to express anti-Semitic opinions. Nothing much has changed.

I am afraid that the ubermensch mentality is still prevalent not only among the Thaksin government but among the farang who come here to lord it over the untermensch, especially the Thai girls.

Granted that Americans have nothing to be proud about their treatment of black slaves, at least they have done something about it, while the farang in Thailand still indulge in the sexual slave market as long as they remain the slave masters.

Nothing much has changed.

OG Pamp

Bangkok

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Anonymous writers are not necessarily terrorists

Re: "Anonymous comparisons with Hitler are out of line", Opinion, March 3.

I won't make silly comparisons and further muddy the waters as Mr Arnone in Yasothon has done by erroneously equating terrorists wearing ski masks with writers who use pseudonyms. (The Nation's March 3 edition contained an article titled "Paranoid Burmese military a regional threat" - was this piece written by a terrorist in a ski mask because a pseudonym was used?)

Armchair political commentators are a dime a dozen, myself included.

Mr Arnone and others of his ideology should resort to reading impartial reports from both camps rather than running to the defence of a national leader who is one of the most secretive, unaccountable and haughty leaders Thailand has ever seen.

Thaksin has no regard for anyone except the kind of person that lives by the dog-eat-dog principle, and it may be no coincidence of poetic justice that the Year of the Dog is the one in which Thaksin faces his most severe public challenge.

Frank G Anderson

Korat

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An opposition-less election would be dangerous

Dear Caretaker PM Thaksin: Before taking strong action to go forward with the election without the Democrats, I suggest you think more carefully about security in the deep South.

While you are spending most of your time fighting your critics, violence in the deep South is continuing almost every day.

If you go ahead with an election without the Democrats, what will happen during the election campaign in the South, where there is strong resistance against you and your political party?

If you go ahead with this election without the Democrats and other opposition parties, peace will never return to the deep South.

KT

Canada

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Democratic alliance flies in face of its own principles

Re: "Poll boycott corners PM", News, February 28. If the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy wants Thaksin out, then why are they so scared of democracy? An election would be the perfect time to set up and work with democratic principles to oust a "dictatorial cronyist" like Thaksin. That is, if they actually believe in what they say.

If they believe the Thai electorate is stupid and easily manipulated, then I would like to look at this so-called democratic alliance and tell them they need to change their name. They don't believe in democracy, just their own personal gain, the same thing they accuse Thaksin of doing.

I don't like Thaksin any more than the next guy does, but at least he's done more for this country than Sondhi Limthongkul or Chamlong Srimuang. Who is this Sondhi guy you're listening to anyway? Is he a public servant? Has he been known for any public service in his life other than selling his magazine and trying to build up his media empire?

Real change is made by practising what you believe in, by using your voice among your peers and encouraging a democratic process through the ballot box. This in-your-face, my-way-or-the-highway, take-it-to-the-streets stance is absolutely disgraceful for a group supposedly representing democratic values.

I want an election - the opposition boycott is irresponsible and goes against democratic principles. Such a boycott could only be justified if they were being harassed physically by authorities.

A Disgruntled Libertarian

Bangkok

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'The Nation' stands out for its brave coverage

I commend you on being the finest English-language newspaper in Thailand. Most importantly, I commend you on your willingness to cover the current political instability in such depth. Due to incomplete reporting by others, your paper is being widely read in America, of course by Thais residing there but also by personal associates both in business and academia.

William R Brown, PhD

Khon Kaen

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No right to invoke the name of Aung San Suu Kyi

Re: "Chuan backs Abhisit, compares Thaksin to Hitler", News, March 2

Thaksin Shinawatra, now a passionate lover of democracy, alleges the Democrats are not abiding by constitutional principles, urging them to consult with Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese reform leader now under house arrest.

Thaksin has never supported nor showed the least sympathy for the sacred fight for democracy Aung San Suu Kyi was waging.

On the contrary, he paid visits to the military junta of the country, consulted with them, made open deals with them and secret overtures.

The point is that Aung San Suu Kyi was deprived of the power to run the country after receiving the mandate by the people.

Thaksin is now resorting to all sorts of schemes and intrigues in order to avoid his doom. It would be worthwhile for him to fly to Rangoon to consult the military junta there for some tips to help him out of the current predicament.

Bunphan

Bangkok

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Are anti-Thaksin forces a positive change?

The voices in the political chorus opposing Thaksin have risen to a crescendo. The tide appears to be turning. But which way will it flow in the future - towards the Party of Yea or the Party of Nay? The Party of Yea favours openness, transparency and voluntary arrangements. The Party of Nay favours control, coercion and stasis.

If these two extremes were placed at opposite ends of a continuum, Thaksin and his ilk would be somewhere near the middle, but closer to the Party of Nay. Now there is a powerful cabal to replace Thaksin, but will the change be for the better?

Will the new party be the Party of Yea or the Party of Nay? I hope that it will be the former.

Ahimsor

Chiang Mai

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Thaksin's confidence likely backed by a sizeable war chest

Re: "Thaksin on warpath", News, March 4. Gosh, I wonder how much money he's going to spend this time around. Or maybe he'll just go back on his word again if he gets less than half the vote.

Curious in Bangkok

Bangkok

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Washington is a graver nuclear threat than Tehran

Re: "Bush strikes nuke deal with India", News, March 3

The USA has consistently taken a stance against Iran on the Iranian nuclear issues, as the USA states the Iran government is "unstable"?

What are the requirements to be labelled "unstable"?

There is only one nation which, for whatever purposes, used the nuclear bomb in the past and peddles nuclear technology for profit worldwide.

Now we witness the signing of a nuclear pact on technology and materials between the USA and India.

I support the stance of Iran's president: if you want us to stop any further nuclear development, let us all do it.

My feeling is that the USA wants to create another confrontation with another major oil producer as it did in Iraq.

Lots of other parts of the world have much worse dictatorships and committed worse genocide than Saddam Hussein, but they do not have oil.

David

Bangkok