Quote: "Each society has to find its own way, especially Confucian societies with their own unique balance of values."

Wow. So now Thailand is a Confucian society with its own unique balance of values? I thought I'd heard everything, but this one really made me choke on my somtam.

When I first arrived in Thailand 20 years ago, I gradually got the impression that Thailand was indeed a Confucian society in several respects, notably in its devotion to hierarchy and compromise.

But then was then and now is now. In Confucian thought, the ideal government official is the very embodiment of integrity and propriety. How many of the highest-ranking government officials nowadays can you think of who fit this description? I would guess a handful at best.

A unique balance of values? Quick, when you think of contemporary Thai values, what is the first word that pops into your head? Money. The second? Money. The third? Errrr... money?

This is hardly a balance, and nowadays it is far from unique. Thailand does not even come close to being a Confucian society. But in this it has plenty of company. As the great sage himself wisely observed: "The superior man thinks about what is right. The inferior man thinks about what will sell." (Analects 4:16)

No prizes for guessing which type predominates nowadays.

S Tsow

Bangkok

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Educating people is the best way to bring about change

 Re: "Bad leaders should be ousted, democratically or otherwise", Letters, June 30.

I take strong exception to Larry Clive's assertion that "If a bad guy is in power, he simply has to be got rid of by whatever means available."

Nobody will be thought of as being good 100 per cent of the time. That hardly means we should bring out the tanks or burn the Bastille, to install our guy - who, in turn, would have opponents wanting to boot him out. That's the recipe for a revolving-door Cabinet - much like what we had pre-Thaksin, only worse.

I refer Clive to somebody more well known in politics than he: "I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion by education." (Thomas Jefferson)

So, sir, if you want PM Thaksin out, educate we the people and offer a better alternative - staying within the rules of democracy.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Thailand not yet without  recourse to proper process

 Re: "And if democratic principles are beyond repair, what then?", Letters, June 28.

Please permit me to reply to Korn Chatikavanij's question: "What if the ruling regime had corrupted both processes [democratic and judicial]? Would Trirat then still feel the public should do nothing?"

No, absolutely not. Resist by word and deed.

A democratic government in which the democratic and judicial processes have been corrupted is an oxymoron. The social contract between ruler and ruled has been broken.

But there's the rub. When does the ordinary man in the street know, for certain, that all processes have been corrupted? Is it when the opposition party tells us, or an anti-government mob, or activist press, or the small, still voice inside us?

I don't feel our country has reached that nadir. I don't believe the judicial process of a large democratic country can be so subverted, as unfolding events seem to confirm. I cling to the belief, as did our forefathers, that, "Ayutthaya [Thailand] never lacks for good men."

Trirat Petchsingh

Nonthaburi

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Current situation caused by deviation from democracy

 Re: "Democratic principles more important than ousting PM", Letters, June 27.

I support, without qualification, the excellent view of Trirat Petchsingh and offer my reply to Korn Chatikavanij's belief that one has to do something, even unconstitutionally, when our democracy and judicial processes are trampled on ("And if democratic principles are beyond repair, what then?" Letters, June 28). In my view, that is very damaging to all, although it is satisfying to see a man's ego being checked.

First, within constitutional means, the public goes to the polling stations on April 2 and tells the ruling party to get lost (which they did, even with the opposition parties' boycott). You do not need street protesters to do the work for the public. The opposition parties and press could have done a better job, in a better manner and good taste, in advising the public of the pitfalls.

Second, once you rely on protesters to lead the way, then you, the opposition parties, lose control of events, even though the Constitution bestows on you this task. In boycotting the April 2 election, you have not even tested your ability but instead implicitly sided with the street protesters.

Third, in not relying on constitutional means to correct the faults, our country was put into a vacuum with no stability while our neighbouring countries reap the fruits of our losses, especially Vietnam.

Who is at fault for the current situation? Yes, one person is the PM, but another culprit is the opposition, for encouraging unconstitutional ways to stymie the powers to be. Now the country has lost all control of her destiny. It is truly a self-inflicted pain.

Finally, if the opposition parties had participated in the April 2 election, the street protesters would have fizzled out. The main opposition Democrat Party would have taken Bangkok, a prestigious area to represent. They might not have had a majority with which to form a government, but they would have become a formidable opposition that the public could have relied on. Later, the Democrats could appear as an alternative government, and likely would become the government, with so much young blood and so many high-minded individuals.

Instead, what have you and I got? The PM's power is weakened, but the opposition did not need outside force to do that job. We are in a fluid situation, economically and politically. The Democrat Party and the PM's Thai Rak Thai Party are on the brink and could disappear from Thai politics.

The Democrat Party, having courageously challenged all forms of despots, today appears to be so vulnerable as to be buried under. Thai Rak Thai was established only six years ago, with not much credentials. But for the Democrat Party, established in 1946, it would be a big shame. and Kuang Aphaiwongse and MR Seni Pramoj will turn their graves to see how it has slid into this quandary. I venture to guess that in a quiet moment, your leader must have asked himself, "What have I done?"

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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Recent shootings could prove fatal to Kingdom's tourism

 Re: "Another Aussie shot, out near Cambodia", News, June 30.

How many tourists have to be shot before the Thai police recognises the need "to protect and to serve" and to take the incidents seriously?

This really is a big, big shame for Thailand. Thai journalists like you ought to call on the authorities for more security for foreign visitors to prevent this evil and save the country's reputation in the world.

If you don't make this a big issue, foreign countries will. Farang television teams will come and investigate. Private television will be an everyday pain in Thailand's tourist hot spots and they will not report in a friendly manner. A foreign journalist will report on the facts. They do not care about kreng jai or jai yen - they do not mind losing face because in Western countries it is more important to report on the facts.

I've been to Thailand more than 10 times, but when the situation changes and my life is in danger while sitting in a bar and having a drink after a football match, I will change to other countries. It's that simple. And so difficult then for Thai tourism, because millions will act in the same way.

Thailand should do everything to secure the lives and health of tourists and make Thailand the safe country it used to be. It's not too late.

Everybody act! Now!

Rainer Kastner

Karlsruhe, Germany

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Enough of Fifa: let players' board govern the game

 Too many refereeing decisions in this World Cup have, so far, been atrocious and make a mockery of whoever become the champions.

Fifa is extremely lucky a team hasn't walked off the pitch in protest, wanting no further part in the incompetence and charade that are obvious for all to see.

The glorified, self-righteous administration that Fifa is and its minion, the English Football Association, whose cock-up with the England manager's appointment was a disgrace, should resign en masse, and a players' elected board should replace them. They are the majority, after all.

We should then rename the competition the Players' World Cup Competition.

Giles Wynne

Nakhon Ratchasima

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It's not just the language, it's the quality of commentary

 Whatever your opinion on the language issue may be, it seems a shame to block out world-class commentary and replace it with third-rate, off-tube drivel that consists mostly of grunts, whines, whinnies, and other miscellaneous sound effects.

Cha-am Jamal

Petchaburi