The endorsement by the Council for Democratic Reform (CRD) of Surakiart Sathirathai's bid for the post of UN secretary-general is troubling on at least two counts.

First, it indicates a disturbing degree of naivete and lack of sophistication in international affairs on the part of the CRD. The CRD may have been too easily misled to believe Surakiart's candidacy was an international commitment, on par with commitments to abide by the UN Charter and international agreements. It is certainly not. It was a controversial policy initiative of the Thaksin regime to put one of its key figures at the head of an international organisation. There were numerous reports that even other Asean countries wanted to break away from the candidacy, to which they had been pressured to agree. To endorse the candidate of the previous regime sends a very confusing signal to the international community and undermines the justifications for the military coup.

It would have been better if all of the Foreign Ministry personnel assigned by the CRD to campaign for Surakiart had been put instead into a special task force to answer questions and respond to negative international comments about the political situation in Thailand.

Second, it demonstrates that the long tentacles of the Thaksin regime are able to reach into the inner core of the CRD. This impression is reinforced by the use of legal experts closely identified with the former regime and the naming as advisers to the CRD of a large number of bureaucrats who had loyally served the former regime beyond the call of duty and propriety.

If the new interim civilian government continues this trend, ordinary Thais who came out on the streets with tears of joy to hand garlands of flowers to the soldiers of the coup will start to wonder: what was it all for?

Prapa Tepchat

Bangkok

--------------------------------------

Surakiart should know it's time to call it quits

Isn't the writing already on the wall for Khun Surakiart? Two straw polls placing him third among Asian candidates for the UN secretary-general's job, and now the news that the US plans to propose former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan for the post ("Surin gets backing for top UN job", News, September 28), ought to be enough to convince even the most stubborn and myopic that the game's finally up. And yet the man continues to lobby desperately for his flagging candidacy, throwing away Thai taxpayer's money in the process.

The events of the past week have hardly covered him in glory. He defended his former master Thaksin up to the last and airily dismissed the coup on CNN, even as the tanks were rolling down Rajdamnoen. As soon as it became clear that Thaksin was finished, he was on the phone to pledge his support to the coup leaders. Is a man whose loyalty bends whichever way the political wind blows really fit to be the next UN chief?

The whole saga of Suriakiart's quest to succeed Kofi Annan has been one big, bad, expensive joke for the Thai people. Time to tell him once and for all to accept the reality, before he faces the final humiliation when the permanent members of the Security Council make their choice.

Hawkers

Bangkok

---------------------------------------

Is a peaceful coup a worse crime than state brutality?

So the United States has imposed sanctions against Thailand in response to last week's coup. Very moral indeed.

The problem is, I don't remember any sanctions against Thailand when Thaksin's government organised the war on drugs during which more than 2,000 extrajudicial killings occurred. And I don't remember any sanctions against Thailand after the Tak Bai massacre. And what about the Krue Se massacre? Or the disappearance of human-rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit? The list could go on and on.

So now we know that a bloodless coup is totally intolerable and has to be condemned, but repeated and massive state killings are perfectly acceptable to the Western world as long as it is an elected government that carries them out. Democracy at its best.

Pierre Paccaud

Bangkok

------------------------------------

Not all diplomats prefer to maintain their silence

Re: "Only retired ambassadors are afforded the luxury of voicing their opinions to home media", Letters, September 29.

Former British ambassador Derek Tonkin is perfectly right and I am sure the excellent current British Ambassador to Thailand, in Tonkin's words, has been "fearlessly" reporting to the British government what is really happening here.

Nevertheless the coup has still been condemned, prematurely and unnecessarily, when perhaps the appropriate action would have been to wait before saying anything, however muted.

The doublespeak of the British Foreign Office is legendary. I make no criticism. That is their job.

The adverb "fearlessly" is one Tonkin used to describe the way in which confidential despatches and telegrams are sent secretly by an ambassador to the Foreign Office in London.

In the same respect I fearlessly posted a letter to my mum today.

"Fearless" I think would better describe the actions of Craig Murray, the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, 2002-2004, who publicly outed the systematic torture of opponents by the country's secret police to secure information for the "war on terror", and was indeed in frequent contact with the Times and just about everyone else.

I also remember being in neighbouring Turkmenistan when the British Ambassador had no hesitation with others in boycotting the birthday bash of its loopy dictator, President Saparmurat Niyazov.

I take Tonkin's point on board and of course understand an ambassador can get fired for doing, in Murray's words, "the decent thing", or by being "fearless" or even writing to the Times while on active service.

Andrew Drummond

Bangkok

-------------------------------------

As in all coups, we must remain circumspect

Re: "The new PM faced with mission impossible", Opinion, September 28.

I am relieved that The Nation finally has come to its senses and recognised the backlash potential of this "highly dangerous exercise". To my surprise, the coup was praised unreservedly by all breeds of the Thai media in the few days following the overthrow of Thaksin. Some went so far as to shamelessly justify and sanctify the coup, portraying it as a saviour from the long-running political crisis. Certain public figures such as the president of the National Human Rights Commission were equally disappointing in their blatant welcoming of the coup.

The irony of all is that while Thaksin was vehemently criticised for trying to silence his critics, the voice of his opponents was still heard. Alas, with the advent of these "pro-democracy" coup leaders who refuse to be under a civilian prime minister ("We will not be the prime minister's boss and the prime minister will not be our boss, either," CDR secretary-general General Winai Phattiyakul was reported to have said), how can we be sure that the coup leaders will not abuse power themselves and turn Thailand into a totalitarian state? The public can hardly rely on civil society when clearly no media, no human-rights and freedom-of-speech lovers seem to take umbrage at the current "cooperation" forced on the media and restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement. I am glad The Nation has not deserted some of its readers and, more importantly, its principles.

The coup leaders have until October 3, as pledged, to select a PM. If they fail to do so for whatever reason and refuse to step down, I hope The Nation will continue to stay true to its commitment to democracy and freedom of speech.

P Ittigusumaln

Bangkok

-------------------------------------

Enlighten all people on extent of Thaksin's sins

By its extensive coverage of the military takeover and its aftermath, The Nation again proved to be the best newspaper in Thailand. Among others, the report on Thaksin's business network on September 26 was a revelation. It informed us in a nutshell about the unbelievable, unethical actions of the Thaksin government.

I would suggest the CDR make an easy-to-understand summary of this report and send it to all the Thai people, especially the farmers in Isaan. Due to a lack of information, a large part of the population still doesn't know why so many citizens are against Thaksin.

Such a report will provide some very necessary enlightenment, and not only for Thais. Bush disappointed about the military takeover? Send him a copy. Kofi Annan critical? Send him one too. Thais and the world should understand why the military takeover had to happen.

Egon

Bangkok

-----------------------------------

Thai hotels appear to have a no-Thais policy

Last week, I made a reservation for a hotel room in Phuket as I plan to spend the long weekend next month there. As soon as my online booking was completed, I got an instant e-mail saying that the reservation was in process.

However, a couple of days later I received another e-mail from the hotel staff claiming that they were not able to proceed with my booking due to the hotel's policy. They claimed that their contract rate was not applicable for Thai passport holders and local residents. I was, of course, very surprised and asked them what could possibly be wrong with my nationality? Why can't I rent a hotel room in home country? A day later I received another e-mail explaining that most of the hotels in Thailand are not applicable for Thai residents and that the same policy was applied not only in Thailand but worldwide.

I have been travelling for many years and no hotel (either in Thailand and overseas) refused me a reservation if a room was available. I thought the hotels in Thailand needed more visitors these days. Don't they?

I would just like to know if anybody else has encountered similar treatment and how they handled it, or is this normal practice in the hotel business. Or, if you have any suggestions, kindly share them with me. I'd like to hear others' views.

Thanyaporn K

Bangkok

-----------------------------------------

Create exercise areas at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Congrats on the opening of the new airport. I haven't yet been there, but reports indicate there are still some fixable items on most passengers' wish lists: non-gouging taxis, many more seats inside, more bathrooms, lower volume on announcements.

Here's something that I doubt any airport has: designated exercise areas. Stretching is good for everyone, but especially for travellers - in particular those in transit between flights.

I suggest one area for yoga asanas, one area for lightweight aerobics with an instructor, and a place for individual stretching, with simple equipment like inclined boards and pull-up bars.

Each area should be as noise-free as possible. (Okay, maybe less noise is too much to ask).

Ken Albertsen

Chiang Rai