Thus, those opposed to PM Thaksin should not automatically look to the King to bail the country out. We, the people, democratically chose our PM - and for good or ill, we have to take the consequences. This means that if we chose wrongly, we have to put much more effort into educating the masses, so that, together, we learn how to do better next time.

This, in turn, means that the man in the street - and you, dear reader - have to become politically aware and active, considering issues thoroughly and making sure that whoever you elect does, in fact, reflect your wishes.

This means that Thai Rak Thai should remember that "a single-party election is not democracy". The Thai Rak Thai has legal legitimacy, yes, but does it have moral legitimacy? It cannot claim to represent the millions who voted "No". Thai Rak Thai may have the reins of power, but it must take care to reflect the needs of the millions who rejected it also, lest chaos result.

This means, too, that the Election Commission (EC) should heed the royal words: "You can't pass the buck and try to finish everything in haste." How can the EC call an election on two day's notice, and say that the winners reflect the people's choice when the candidates haven't had the time to campaign?

Let us all heed His Majesty.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

New illumination shed on Constitution Court's ruling

A few months back, when the Constitution Court declined to accept a petition from the People's Alliance for Democracy to "interpret" whether the constitutional rights of the people had been breached by the Thaksin administration, the court in effect lowered itself to the role of state attorneys.

Not even attempting to contemplate the evidence submitted, the court panellists - political appointees who came to power through a politically plagued Senate fast-track process - threw out the petition as a non-issue. Simply put, in other words, they slapped the face of the people, as if to say: "It's none of our business!"

On Tuesday evening, we all tuned to the news broadcast in which His Majesty the King graciously conferred a message to the newly appointed Administrative Court judges and later to the Supreme Court judges, who sought an audience with HM the King, to pledge an oath to uphold principles and adhere to duties.

Chamnong Watanagase

Bangkok

Another solution available besides tearing up ballots

Re: "Professor's civil disobedience will be repeated on Sunday", Letters, April 21.

I don't think I need to elaborate what our adventurous governing bodies have done in the past month or two; everybody seems to realise it too well.

Our political situation has been deteriorating from bad to worse, from ridiculous to outrageous to preposterous. The disgusting recipe of democracy cooked up by the government sector's dubious interpretations is repeatedly forced down our throats.

Many people like me have to swallow it whole; hook, line and sinker. As declared in the Letters section of The Nation last Friday, I intended to tear up my ballot on Sunday but I backed down at the last minute, not being able to withstand internal familial opposition, while I need all the strength I can get to fight external adversaries.

So I opted to employ one of Thomas Elva Edison's famous quotes: "Success is 1 per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration". Inspiration propelled me to shave my head while perspiration propelled me to walk, walk and walk, declaring my frustration along the way.

While the sun beat down on my unprotected head and I heated up, my soul and spirit cooled down a bit, bringing some sanity back.

Last Tuesday night, our beloved King addressed, for the first time in public, the solution to a group of Administrative Court judges in waiting. Long Live His Majesty! I wish to God that this whole tumultuous episode is not going to last so long that the whole country goes nuts.

Wiwat Sutiwipakorn

Department of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Engineering

Prince of Songkhla University

Hat Yai

Leadership shall provide 'a new birth of freedom'

His Majesty the King's words of guidance, strength, and wisdom give us dignity, grace, and unity as a nation. I hope that the new generation of Thai children and especially Thai politicians will love and respect our country as embodied by HM the King and in the spirit of the Gettysburg Address delivered by Abraham Lincoln.

 "The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

N Cindhuchao

Bangkok

Thaksin has failed to protect the most vulnerable

Thaksin and his fellow politicians made lots of promises to improve the quality of life for ordinary Thai people as well as weed out/tackle corruption.

We have just returned from another trip around the country and witnessed the progress made?

In Udon Thani, there is enormous prostitution and, while we were there, a tuk- tuk driver took us for a "special treat" - a house where the "prostitutes" were no more than 14 years of age, and there were about 40 of these children on offer.

Law enforcement would be fully aware of this.

Speaking with some foreigners while in Udon, they were all aware of this "special service".

Going further in Isaan, we also witnessed a lot of child prostitution.

Thanks, Khun Thaksin, for keeping your promises for and on behalf of these children.

The least what you could have done during your tenure in office is to ensure the safety of children.

This exploitation of children is evil and the entities exploiting them should be thrown in prison together with the police "protectors", for life.

If we can find this type of exploitation as first-time visitors to Isaan, why couldn't you?

I hope The Nation will commence a strong campaign against the sexual exploitation of our children and demand immediate action.

Udon Thani may only be a drop in the ocean and this abuse might be widespread around our nation.

Shame on us. Next time, Khun Thaksin and friends, when you are having a dinner party, think and realise that you and your friends are responsible for the suffering of these children as you had the mandate and power to do something about this.

I feel ashamed.

Noppadon

Bangkok

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

Re: "Billboard culture's insidious permeation of the culture", Letters, April 25, and "Scantily clad women can be seen at appropriate venues", Letters, April 24.

I was amused to read the discussion about the so-called "scantily clad women" during the Songkran festivities in Chiang Mai, as was reported by the Chiang Mai Cultural Council. But above all I was surprised that the Aussie Tom Lloyd was so concerned about the threat to the Lanna culture risked by exposure to these kind of women.

He even proposed the Department of Education to look into this matter in order to prevent, in the near future, "scantily clad" girls performing on stage and making disco-like dance movements.

I do hope he has the same concern about threats to Aboriginal culture in his country. There is a lot of racism in the society of Australia. So, Tom, there is still a lot of work to do for your ambitions of a cultural mission.

Chiangmai Dick

Chiang Mai

Offended by cartoon on PM's foreign engagements

I find The Nation's choice of cartoon in yesterday's Editorial/Opinion page to be extremely offensive. Too often when Thai leaders engage with foreign governments and people, they are ridiculed by your newspaper as being "unThai". Perhaps it is time you stopped printing in English and call for the closing of your borders.

Your newspaper is going down the path of right-wing intolerance. Recently, your newspaper demonstrated no respect for democracy and the will of the majority to accept a democratically elected candidate - Thaksin.

I don't particularly care for him either, but if every unethical politician was thrown out, the world would have no politicians. In this globalised planet we will see how happy the Thai people are when foreign investment falls off the cliff of the very small world you are building for yourselves.

Paul Kline

Bangkok