Mr Thaksin has already taken his "one step back", and now all opposition groups are expected to follow suit.

But homeowners defending their land should not relax as soon as they hear the plundering bandits call for a retreat. They have to be on guard until they are assured that the threat from the bandits has really dissipated, before tracking them down and bringing the whole gang to justice.

Occupants that are not as concerned may naturally feel annoyed by the noise and actions of the defending parties, but some of these may also include those waiting to share in the loot.

There have been too many "unconcerned" citizens in this country, at least since our beloved King Taksin, as a young officer, was reprimanded for making too much noise while trying to defend Krung Sri Ayutthaya from invaders. So, stand up and be on guard.

Chumphol Sirinavin

BANGKOK

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Rich city dwellers should consider welfare of the poor

As someone living in the UK, it is both interesting and bewildering to see the outcome of the elections. I have some interest in what is happening as I am married to someone from Thailand and have two lovely daughters who live with us. From my perspective the big difference between the UK and Thailand is the haves and have-nots.

Here the poor have good housing and enough to live on, while in Thailand the poor have nothing. Of course, Thaksin is probably corrupt, but who isn't in Thailand if they have well-paid jobs? All I know is that the poorer people have been better off with Thaksin.

As I understand it, they have basically free medical care, affordable housing and a much-improved standard of living. This is just my view, but perhaps the fat cats living in Bangkok should question the motives in their hearts when they go to sleep in their luxury houses.

Last night on Thai TV, there was a game show with a Thai villager who had an old, broken tractor, and he was trying to win a new one to replace it. Luckily he won and the family was overjoyed and very emotional.

It made me wish that it could make people who drive around in their BMWs and Benzs all day think about it. The problems of Thailand are not simple ones; people in the West are all too ready to take advantage of cheap labour and goods. I am only an ordinary person, but I hope one day everyone in Thailand has a good and happy life.

Mike Ayres

United Kingdom

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We must investigate TRT's buyout of the masses

In the aftermath of the inglorious victory won in the April 2 snap election, Thaksin, weighing the pros and cons, finally decided to step aside.

My instinctual reaction to this change in his mind was Thaksin was retreating in order to advance. Thaksin argued that he had taken the final step and made a sacrifice for the sake of the nation, with his loyalists chiming in.

I cannot help but spoil the moving and tragic atmosphere created by Thaksin, and call attention to the fact that this is nothing but an expedient measure taken by a sly and capricious Thaksin. He has made it clear that he will push the party's key policies in his capacity as an MP and head of the TRT party. And what is the quintessence of the party's key polices, formulated by Thaksin himself, that kept him on the throne of the premiership for two terms?

These are policies designed to serve the vested interests - he, the Shinawatra families, and his cronies - carried out by civil servants and independent institutions he has bought, supported and defended by the massive grass-roots movement which has been lulled by handouts.

This is what we call the "Thaksin system", a system that has been strongly fortified over the past five years under his administration, a system that would make the Thai Rak Thai Party invincible.

No other party can hope to win in future elections if we cannot find a way to rid our society of it. I am not rich, perhaps poorer than the many "poor people" who benefited from Thaksin and his polices, and I do not think at all that poor people are to blame.

It is Thaksin and his MPs who must be held responsible for hiring them to destroy a democratic system under which we Thai people have enjoyed living for decades.

People are talking about political reform. On the day when political reform comes, I would suggest that the first thing to do is set up a committee to probe how Thaksin and his government exploited state power, hiring poor people to serve their dirty schemes in previous elections and particularly in the recent battle to protect him from being overthrown.

Abee

Bangkok

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Let's stop paying taxes till all dues are settled

 Re: "Scholars at Chula urge tax revolt", published on April 5, the points raised by the lecturers are very relevant to Thai politics today.

No country has ever faced the plight of its own prime minister adopting underhand tactics to evade tax payable to his own country. What moral authority has he or his political party in power to expect the common citizen to pay taxes? This is a very important aspect of public accountability and moral responsibility for one's actions as a prime minister.

All Thai citizens must refuse to pay any tax while this prime minister sits in Parliament, in whatever capacity, and while his political party, which allowed this illegal act to be perpetrated, continues in power. This is the only way to stop this government from continuing their rule (or is it misrule?).

The caretaker prime minister and his family must also be made to face the law of the land, applicable to all Thai citizens, for money laundering. His government's every decision must be subjected to minute scrutiny and investigation by an independent, fearless person like Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka.

The tax revolt should be withdrawn only if the soon-to-be former caretaker prime minister relinquishes all of his political posts, including party positions, retires from Parliament and agrees to appear before the courts if warranted by the findings of the investigation. He must also take responsibility for any misdeeds because he was the CEO, as he chose to call himself. He will not be allowed to find alibis and proxies.

Unless we do all this, the country will surely face more crooked and dishonest prime ministers in future.

A Well-Wisher of Thailand

Bangkok

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Banks show good sense in being wary of foreigners

Re: "Oblique banking rules are biased against foreigners", Letters, April 6.

Steve Pedrotta took three banks' rejections of his loan applications as proof of discrimination against foreigners. He also referred to the recent Thai political crisis as a political mess.

First, having no interest in the three named banks, I can say that the rejections are understandable because lenders have to judge a debtor's status in the event of debt default.

Your place of residence is important in determining the chance of debt recovery if a default occurs, hence foreigners having two homes are at a disadvantage when applying for a loan. This is not discriminatory on the part of the banks but shows a sense of survival. You may think that Thailand will be your last home, but from a disinterested party's point of view, the chance of a foreigner returning to his or her original home without paying the debt is always there and it does happen frequently.

Having been a foreigner in London and Washington, I also faced problems, not even in terms of obtaining a loan but only to deposit my Thailand funds for my use in the banking facilities. I never thought it was discriminatory and on the contrary I sympathised with the bankers' concerns. The main concern was regarding that the checking account might be abused, and a letter of reference put the issue to rest.

Second, recent events in our country are not a political mess, but rather an advancement in the development of our democracy. I am very proud of the results of our achievement that occurred without bloodshed. There must be something right with our system and our people.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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With bird flu coming, Taiwan healthcare needs recognition

On World Health Day, April 7, Dr Lee Jong-wook, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), invited everyone to join with the WHO "to build support to ensure that health workers will be working where they are needed, when they are needed, with the right skills to provide the highest attainable level of health for people everywhere." He hopes all health workers will work together "for people everywhere". In fact, it's the truth that 23 million people in Taiwan are still excluded due to unjustified political reasons.

Taiwan, despite not being a member of the WHO, has actively cooperated on numerous international health projects and provided much humanitarian assistance when needed as part of its responsibility to the international community.

Taiwan's International Health Act was enacted in Taipei on March 30. The purpose is to effectively integrate the different resources and strengths of the government and the private sector into a one-stop centre to participate in international health and humanitarian aid projects.

Through this action, Taiwan now can pursue the ideal and belief that "enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition" as upheld and enshrined in the WHO's constitution.

Now it is time to invite Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly as avian flu is rampant in China and certain areas of Southeast Asia.

Frank JK Chen

Director

Information Division

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office

Bangkok

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