The democratic process has stalled because of the Democrat Party's decision to not participate in the election. It would be interesting to know how many members of the Democrat Party voted for a boycott of the election. I believe that Chuan was against a boycott. The most holy of all principles in democracy is to participate in elections. The old constitution would have considered the Democrat Party non-existent as they didn't participate in the election.

The People's Alliance for Democracy started off with leaders from within the association. Suddenly we had Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang as proclaimed leaders. Did they become leaders through a democratic process or did they become leaders because they talk louder than others within the association?

Suthichai Yoon stated in his "Thai Talk" column on April 6 that "Thaksin Shinawatra can't possibly rule a country where at least 40 per cent of the populace will not accept him as their leader". If 40 per cent are against Thaksin I guess it means that 60 per cent is for him and are willing to accept him as their leader.

In a democracy, 60 per cent of the voters is more than 40 per cent - unless the 40 per cent believe that their votes should be valued higher than those of the 60 per cent. Could it be possible that Suthichai is suggesting that voters in Bangkok and the South are more important than the voters in the North and Northeast.

As a Swedish citizen I have difficulty understanding how people who refer to democracy do not take part in an election. I also can't understand that a party that by far outnumbered the opposition in three different elections is seen as not having legitimacy to rule the country.

Hakan Wallenius

Bangkok

Congratulations on Thai democratic principles

 I would like to congratulate the people of Thailand and your system of democracy. You proved me wrong. What I thought would take 10 or more years, you accomplished in less than five: the removal of a "strongman" and wannabe dictator. Well done!

Beware, though, because he has not yet formally left office. And even when he has you should still be on your guard. Dictators can come back. The struggle is in no way complete.

What you should strive for now is justice for Thaksin Shinawatra's victims, and relief for all of the other consequences of his misrule. The first covers the individuals killed at Tak Bai and Krue Sue, "disappeared" human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, and the victims of his "drug war".

Thaksin's worst policies, including his actions in the South, his support for the Burmese military junta, the destruction of Koh Chang, etc, also must be reversed.

Lastly, you should demand compensation: you should work to recover all of the financial proceeds from political wrongdoing, both cases that are well documented and those that have not yet been revealed.

What has happened over the past few months in Thailand is an extraordinary example of how the last check in a democracy, the power of the people, can function when all other safeguards have failed. It should be a model for everyone, particularly for the people of the Philippines to reinvigorate their struggle against Arroyo, for the people of China who must never forget Tiananmen Square and not stop pushing for democracy until they too are free, and, more than anyone, to the people of Burma, who are suffering the worst of all.

Thailand proved that the tipping point can be reached, that it may in fact be much closer than one thinks. Of course, change in Burma is more difficult, and dangerous. But it is not impossible. The tipping point could be just around the corner. It could even begin this month.

Roland Watson

Dictator Watch

Post-Thaksin, let's build a crook-proof system

Our heartfelt thanks go to caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for bowing out. It is, as he said, time for all - including the People's Alliance for Democracy and the opposition parties - to unite in "pushing for political reform to ensure the best politics for Thailand and for all Thais".

But (cynic that I am) hold the champagne! We've heard most welcome, sweet words before, from the same mouth - only to have our hopes dashed. Remember how the Shin Corp sale completely lacked transparency despite it being engineered by the chairman of our National Corporate Governance Committee, or, rather, his son?

Remember his oft-declared war on corruption - yet the auditor-general noted, "The current administration has made corruption … legal." And, no less an entity than the Law Council has charged that the Shin sale included sale of official secrets, as defined by the Official Secrets Act, to a foreign government - which could strongly affect national security.

Who knows when we'll be able to convene Parliament? That means we'll have Thaksin in office for quite a while - and since Thai Rak Thai dominates Parliament, will it be in a rush to condemn all that Thaksin's been accused of? What's to prevent him from "reluctantly" giving in to the cries of his MPs that he return to office, or appointing a proxy?

So I join in spirit with Laocoon, priest of Troy, in warning, "Trojans, do not trust the horse. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even when they bear gifts."

The objective of our political reform should be to get a transparent government, accountable to us, the people; who is prime minister is secondary. Rather than let bygones be bygones, thus condemning ourselves to repeat history, let us learn from the last five years, starting with the Shin sale.

Seek to make our democratic institutions, including the independent organisations, so robust that we could put a master crook in as prime minister and he'd be forced to pursue our national interests, not his.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

The meaning of the 'no' vote is quite simply 'no'

 The Thai Rak Thai Party is interpreting the meaning of the "no" vote to its own advantage. Suddenly, voters are no longer intelligent enough to vote for themselves, but rather are "influenced" by the media to vote "no". No, Thai Rak Thai, it's simple enough: if we wanted you, we would have voted for you. But since we didn't, don't and will never do so again in the foreseeable future, that's what it means.

If I were to choose a car and only one kind was available, and I said no, I don't want it, what would that mean? Yes, I may want another car, another brand, but one thing is clear though - I definitely don't want what's available; if I did, I would have chosen it! Not too complicated to understand!

What the "no" vote means is that we do not want Thai Rak Thai any more, period! It's insulting to interpret the results in any other way. Insulting and ridiculous to suggest that people who voted for Thai Rak Thai were intelligent enough to make their own "uninfluenced" decision, while those who voted against were "influenced" by the media.

"No" means "no"!

Tanom Wiriyawong

Bangkok

Congratulations, Thailand, for a giant step forward 

This past weekend has shown you have grasped democracy and made a giant step forward. Thaksin made his choice to test the strength of his government, as he obviously felt it was strong. Thailand has shown democracy at work and made its choice. It has been peaceful in the main, and the organisers of the rallies have shown great courage and strength in keeping the peace during the rallies.

From an outsider looking in, one who has visited and worked in the country, congratulations, Thailand. I hope the next few weeks deliver what will eventually be a stronger Kingdom with a truly democratic government for all the people.

Peter McLarty

Brisbane

Forget democracy, US is all about corporations

With the United States cutting off contacts with the democratically elected Hamas government of Palestine, we see a further demonstration of the hypocrisy of the Bush administration.

The US's definition of democracy is defined as any style of government that meets with its approval. The Palestinians have made a democratic choice for representation by Hamas. Having set the rules, the US must accept the result and not seek to punish Palestinians for their choice. Doing so can only be seen as interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.

In any case, many can argue that Israel has done more to achieve the destruction of Palestine than Hamas has done to achieve the destruction of Israel, yet the US continues to support Israel.

The perverted US view of democracy explains much of the resentment in Iraq today that is fuelling the resistance to the US-imposed government. The US-led war in Vietnam was also forced on the Vietnamese on the pretext of imposing democracy. The similarities between the likely result in Iraq and the actual result in Vietnam are growing daily. Vietnam has made good progress without the US since the war. What need do the Iraqis have for a continued United States presence? Even domestically, growing numbers of Americans are questioning whether their democracy can survive the corporate bankrolling of political parties.

The style of democracy promoted by the US does more to promote corporate and state rights than it does to protect people's basic freedoms. Somewhere, the original concept of democracy has been lost. Under the US model, democracy is a means to effect economic control for the benefit of interests linked to the government.

Democracy is a ruse. Globalisation, a modern version of feudalism designed to protect the dominance of established capitalists in the face of rising competition, is the primary goal.

Steve Pedrotta

Bangkok

Monks show flagrant disrespect at funeral

I am a farang who visits the Kingdom very often and has made a lot of friends here. Recently, and for the fourth time, I was invited to the funeral of a friend. I again noticed a very disturbing fact: two of the participating monks smoking during the actual funeral rites and chanting.

I witnessed this behaviour twice before at local funerals. It shows a lack of respect, and I was always given to understand that being a Buddhist monk meant adopting simplicity and self-denial. Yet they can't even refrain from smoking during a funeral.

It's very disturbing and disappointing.

Peter Sharpe

Chon Buri