Should that happen, it would be a cause for great jubilation. For it is the vast majority of veteran politicians who have plundered the wealth of the country to enrich themselves, who have corrupted the instruments of governance to suit their business interests and who have subverted the law to obscure their misdeeds. If they are forced from the scene, there are thousands of extremely good people who could take their place, many of whom have made their voices heard during these past three months of political nonsense.

You also warn that the current uncertainties could trigger an economic recession. Let us think beyond short-term expediency, let us recall the words of Lord Buddha and Buddhadasa Bhikku, let us remember that economic growth is not a cure for human suffering, and let us note that an economic recession will affect mainly the veteran politicians mentioned above.

Above all, let us heed the wisdom of Their Majesties the Kings of Thailand and Bhutan, the former advocating a self-sufficient society and the latter espousing the concept of Gross National Happiness.

Litigation is not the way forward, it is true, but upholding the law is. At this desperate time in Thailand's history, may the courts not falter in their resolve to sort out this mess. The consequences of failure are unthinkable.

Nigel Pike

Phang Nga

General Thamarak makes a poor job of brazen denial

 General Thamarak Isarangura must have been a distinguished soldier. Unfortunately, he has been shown of late to be a clumsy fabricator of stories. In his immediate reaction to the stills from security-video footage at the Defence Ministry that allegedly reveal his role in the hiring of small parties to run in the April election, he flatly denied the existence of a CCTV system at the ministry. Common sense failed him. His denial was shortly proved to be a barefaced lie, and he became a laughing stock when he admitted the system existed after General Sirichai Thanyasiri confirmed the authenticity of the pictures.

Thamarak didn't stop there. He continued to deny that he was the person in the pictures alleged to be of him going upstairs followed by a military aide. No need for a specialist to confirm his identification. Even a child could tell it was him from his head and hairstyle, which are entirely different from those of the photographer who he claimed was actually the man in the picture.

Abee

Bangkok

Heed Kasem's warning about 'valueless capitalism'

 Re: "Kingdom in grip of destruction", News, June 1.  The lecture given by Privy Counsellor Kasem Wattanachai is timely and should be debated at every school in the country. Each school principal must first obtain feedback from students and then form groups of children to speak for and against this "valueless capitalism".

The culprits are right at the top, and every day they set the wrong example to citizens. What we read about the Election Commission in the newspapers is a glaring example. They are fit to be punished for contempt of court for not resigning as per suggestions of the country's highest courts, but instead are seen getting flowers from some student supporters. What kind of propaganda is this? Are they instilling any discipline in the minds of students?

Not only is the Kingdom being deliberately torn from its roots; its heritage and culture and values are being systematically destroyed so that vested interests can exploit this country. There is serious danger ahead if the present kind of leadership is allowed to continue. The country is already on the path to breaking up thanks to the efforts of its leader and his team, and more damage is expected. State-controlled media like radio and television and media are no longer worth listening to or watching. What sort of society are you creating when the media brainwashes viewers?

Our honourable and most respected and beloved King is the only hope and role model for this country's youth. Every school has to create a new awareness of values in youth, centred on his teachings, if they at all want to save Thailand from doom.

A Patriot

Bangkok

Learn from Hawaii's mistake in adopting GM papayas

 I am writing to call attention to the debate on genetically modified papayas, which is growing bigger and global. New Greenpeace research shows that Hawaii's market for and production of papayas have shrunk since the introduction of the genetically modified variety. Hawaii exports many of its papayas to Japan and the European Union but is losing this market because of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Two Hawaiian farmers are currently in Bangkok and will be able to substantiate claims in the new Greenpeace report on the decline of Hawaiian papayas. They are here to learn traditional Thai methods and share their methods of keeping papayas free of disease. Their visit is also linked to the court trial where Greenpeace activists face five years in jail if convicted for their role in exposing a Thai government agency as having broken the law in distributing illegal GMO papayas in the Kingdom.

From Greenpeace's point of view, Thailand is at risk of going the way of Hawaii because of the ongoing spread of GMO papayas in the country.

Arthur Jones Dionio

Greenpeace Southeast Asia

Bangkok

Stop whingeing about prices and enjoy being in Thailand

 Re: "Those who object to a price simply need not pay it", Letters, May 27.

The point made that the tourist is not being charged more, but rather the Thai is being charged less, is a most interesting and acceptable point of view.

Everything in Thailand is most enjoyable, especially the Thai people, and if you indulge yourself in that which is Thai, there is absolutely no justification for arguing about price, especially if you live, work and buy in the West, specifically the United States. And as a reminder, California, without blushing, charges different prices for amusement parks and other activities, depending on where you live.

Stop quibbling about the little pimples in life and worry about the rash!

Come to Thailand and just enjoy. When you return home, you will quickly understand why you want to return to Thailand: it is the very same reason you went there in the first place!

Howard Raphael

Bangkok

Tongue-in-cheek penalties for the high and mighty

 A lowly motorist violating traffic law is charged ridiculous amounts by the constabulary, provided they can be intimidated enough and don't drive a Mercedes Benz. Bar girls caught in the act of performing lewd shows (a grave offence in our society where the average or not so average man takes pride in supporting at least two mistresses) are fined Bt500 for their abominable transgressions, after which they can continue defying firmly cemented laws.

In view of this state of affairs, I advocate the introduction of a penal system befitting the high status of the few rich and mighty in this country who are constantly reprimanding us morally degenerate common people:

1. Certain prominent socialites who imbibe too much at official cocktail receptions and start talking gibberish shall be publicly displayed at Siam Square for a minimum of six hours, then have to take a course in either sewing or wicker-basket weaving.

2. Politicians accused of corruption shall be subject to a one-month stay in a rural village where they will work in the rice fields and be flogged each time they exclaim: "But I'm innocent!"

3. Drivers of luxury cars stopped for a traffic violation shall have their vehicle impounded and be given a tractor instead at government cost. The impounded vehicle shall be used to create artificial coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand.

4. Politicians or political canvassers caught in the act of buying votes or paying off minor parties to give them an edge in future democratic elections shall be trained in the art of water-buffalo riding and sent on a two-month nationwide tour covering all 76 provinces. During the tour they will be required to wear dunce hats bearing the slogan: "I am a cheat and akin to my mount."

5. Any member of Parliament and every Cabinet minister shall be required to fall to their knees, bow three times and chant: "I am entering with honest intentions and because I owe my position to the grace and wisdom of the Thai people and not my own, self-serving, egotistical attitude", before taking up their post.

6. Before blaming other countries for all the social ills that have befallen Thai society, public figures shall be required to attend a seminar on "How to keep my own house clean before whining about the status of my neighbour's front yard".

The implementation and enforcement of these proposed rules will be entrusted to the local police force. We won't need to hold our breaths, because we already know that they are glowing with integrity, enthusiasm, honesty and selflessness for the benefit of Thai society.

May those be blessed who can distinguish a sarcastic letter from blatant libel. There would be at least one person, I suspect - someone with a PhD in criminal justice from a reputable university nobody has ever heard of. Someone whose English-language abilities have certainly helped him to follow thoroughly the lessons administered at said educational institution and whose ego exceeds his foreign-language capabilities by as much as Mount Everest towers above Doi Inthanon.

Thomas Schmid

Bangkok