I am appalled by the fact that the embassy has been helping Thaksin at our expense, as has been widely reported by many newspapers, including The Nation. I can understand why Thai Airways flew Thaksin back from New York, since he was there on national business. However, he cannot continue to use the embassy's resources at will as he has been removed as prime minister and no longer has that privilege.

It has also been reported by a newspaper in London that Thaksin was seen leaving in a car with a license plate reading "THAI 1" which, as I understand it, is a car used exclusively for the Royal family. The fact that he was allowed such a luxury must be explained by the diplomats who authorised this abuse of resources. Otherwise, the next time I visit London, I would also like to be picked up free of charge instead of having to catch a cab.

Jiraboon Tosanguan

Bangkok

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Hollywood couldn't have dreamt up a better coup

I got a call from a friend in the US expressing concern about the recent military coup d'etat. I asked him what coup d'etat he was talking about. He said the coup that he saw on CNN and on other news networks. I told him what he saw was not a real coup. It was a Hollywood production that was shooting in Bangkok.

The scene called for a welcoming takeover of power from the caretaker government by the armed forces. Tanks and soldiers carrying M16s roamed the streets of Bangkok during the early morning hours. Beautiful temples and Buddhist monks were in the background, and the street lights and drizzling rain made the streets wet - a perfect, surreal Hollywood touch.

Later on in the day, people came out and applauded the soldiers for a successful takeover and gave them flowers, food and drinks. Kids rode up on their bicycles to get a closer look at the tanks, and the soldiers accommodated them. Tourists took pictures in front of the tanks with smiling faces. The whole time, not a single shot was fired and no one felt threatened by the situation. On the contrary, it was a peaceful takeover of power with much support from the people.

A few hours later, the director declared the movie a wrap. My friend asked me the name of the movie. I said I didn't know, but if it was up to me I'd call it "Amazing Thailand".

Well done, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

Paul Durongapidya

Bangkok

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Where were the democrats when corruption set in?

Foreign governments have called for the restoration of democracy in Thailand as soon as possible. This is standard protocol from so-called pro-democracy countries. The words "military" and "coup" will jolt these countries like a high-power electrical shock. But what about the words "dictatorship" and "totalitarianism"?

One wonders how dictatorships continue to thrive in many parts of the world right now. Many governments oppress their citizens, abuse human rights, abuse their power and abuse every aspect of true democracy. They are allowed to do so as long as they are elected, regardless of how they get votes. That's all the pro-democracy countries care about.

It's such a joke to call for the restoration of democracy in Thailand. Our democracy was stolen six years ago. Isn't it too late? We have been struggling under a dictatorship for all those years and we have fought it alone, with no intervention from outside. We have tried to solve the problem systematically. When we have made short-term gains, the long term still looks gloomy.

So now we have found a way out. The military has acted on behalf of Thai citizens, who were held hostages under democratic rules by a heavily corrupted dictator. Now we feel fear, and we will keep our eyes on the CDRM. We will fight for our rights as we have been doing all along. I don't think any people understand the word democracy better than those in countries where democracy is abused. We have suffered, but today I have hope again.

Ruchdaporn Choksombatchai

Bangkok

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Don't let graft-busting overshadow rights abuses

Since the ouster of Thaksin I have only read about graft-busting and corruption cases to be solved. I expect that soon the National Human Rights Commission will demand a serious investigation into the many extrajudicial killings and disappearances during the Thaksin regime and the responsibility of Thaksin in these matters.

Chiangmai Nick

Bangkok

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No thanks to our critics in the international community

US President George W Bush has again put his foot in his mouth, this time in connection of the present coup. It must worry him that something like what has happened here could be organised in Washington by the Pentagon moderates fed up with the Iraqi Vietnam and with the continuous loss of American lives.

It is most unusual to see civilians so happy that their government has been overthrown.

Frankly, Thaksin has been and still is a deceitful character. He did stage a fake attempt of his life, in which he was probably laying the groundwork to justify a bloody crackdown on PAD demonstrations.

Therefore, it has come down to a question of who struck first. Luckily for Thailand it was Sonthi.

In their general condemnation of the coup, the critics forget one fundamental factor: after having been written, the Constitution was manipulated and emasculated by Parliament to ensure that their interests were protected. Therefore, there was no constitutional mechanism envisaged for the situation that Thaksin created and that has paralysed the Kingdom all these months.

Hence, Bangkokians were extremely worried about the certainty of the return of a third Thaksin government, and rightly so.

General Sonthi appears to being working hard under the watchful eyes of the Privy Council and of Bangkok to form a civilian government. The greatest difficulty is of course the usual one: to find good and honest men prepared to form it.

Therefore, the best thing for Bush and the other critics to do is to keep their noses out of it and let us see whether the coup leaders can keep their commitment to the Kingdom's democracy and to the people without any outside interference.

Krabong Kuverakorn

Bangkok

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The civil service will benefit from a bit of stability

The year 2006 will long remain in the memories of the Thai people as one of a struggle for justice. The year's end will provide an opportunity for consolidation away from the political spectrum.

The real government is Thailand's civil service. The country's bureaucrats are badly in need of a period of continuity of direction away from the ever-changing whims of jaw-jaw politicians who are so often divorced from reality. There is hope that the country's military leadership will give the civil service some stability so that much-needed work can proceed unhindered.

This would also enable the military to get on building bridges in the deep South, free from the unhelpful and chaotic intervention from Bangkok. In this area, so far, General Sonthi has shown more leadership than many a politician and is to be praised for his bold moves in negotiating with the people in those troubled provinces.

The Thai people must feel the need for a respite from politics and the divisions.

David Prescott

Bangkok

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Many Thais would like to know what visa Thaksin has

As a UK national currently living in Thailand, I would like to know why on earth the UK government agreed to let Thaksin Shinawatra stay in my country. I know that the UK has a good track record of harbouring dodgy, rich, corrupt politicians from third-world countries, but I would not have thought that this was something that the current Labour government would be keen to continue.

My Thai friends in Bangkok also want to know exactly what kind of visa Thaksin used to enter the UK, and are intrigued as to how he managed to obtain a new "tourist" visa so quickly after being deposed. They would love to know what category of visa Thaksin applied for, as they wish to apply for the same type, to avoid long, intimidating interviews and the need to provide extensive proof that they do not intend to stay in the UK indefinitely.

Kerrie

Bangkok

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The contradictions - and bodies - keep piling up

When the crusaders entered Jerusalem in 1099 they killed every Muslim and Jew in the city. The streets were piled high with bodies and body parts, and Solomon's Temple, where 10,000 Jews and Muslims had taken refuge, was knee-deep in blood by the time the invaders were through.

Not just Islam, but all the three monotheistic religions founded on the ancient cult of Aton worship a violent god bent on torturing and destroying those who do not worship him and him alone.

It is comical and even pathetic to hear one of them point the holier-than-thou finger at another with regard to the issue of violence in religion and to see the accused react with just the kind of violence of which they stand accused.

Cha-am Jamal

Cha-am