Whatever he does draws a mountain of criticism. Even letters to fellow Thais have had a mixed response.

And now an anonymous e-mail has anglicised his name as Thug Sin.

The only person who leaps to mind as calling himself a thug is hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur, who glorified the life of ruthlessness in a meteoric career.

Only God knows what sin is involved.

Altogether the combination cannot be taken as implying anything but an axis of evil.

If I were Khun Thaksin (whose name actually means "south"), I would be otherwise than ecstatic about a society with the appetite to mangle my name so cruelly.

Yes, he has my sympathy.

achara_d@nationgroup.com