So how dare the magazine brand what they did as "dangerous"?

They should flip through the inside pages. In a special report, The Economist offered some observations that might soothe their anger, like this one.

"At least the current coup-plotters seem a more decent bunch than Suchinda Kraprayoon, the leader of the most recent coup, in 1991, who in 1992 ordered his troops to open fire on protesters demanding a return to democracy, killing scores. General Sonthi has, so far, appeared to be an emollient figure. Mr Thaksin recently and belatedly put him in charge of quelling a growing insurgency in Thailand's southern, mainly Muslim provinces, which had been made worse by Mr Thaksin's brutal and incompetent policies. Whereas General Sonthi, who is himself a Muslim, argued that it was necessary to seek out and negotiate with the rebellion's leaders, Mr Thaksin's aides rejected any such idea."

So The Economist prefers General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, leader of the Council for Democratic Reform, to Suchinda of the horrible May events of 1992.

The military's fans may well be offended. Couldn't the weekly find any other general for comparison?

But it did state the fact that Thaksin's policies to tame the southern violence have been brutal and incompetent. This should cheer his foes since at least it acknowledged the failures of the former leader.

They're ready to call anyone who denounces Thaksin a friend.

achara_d@nationgroup.com