Another interesting fact is that much like Thaksin's re-election landslide, Saddam Hussein in 2002 won the referendum to validate his presidency at 99.96 per cent. Their respective bank accounts are not easily compared or verifiable, but they both amassed extreme wealth. Also, during his rule Saddam could not be bothered about taxes.

Veharachan

Bangkok

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Hussein's hanging an example of a double standard in force

Why not hang George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, Ton Blair and other neo-cons, who are responsible for the unlawful invasion of a sovereign country and the killing of more than 600,000 Iraqi people, as estimated by the British medical journal The Lancet?

Why weren't politicians like Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger and others hanged since they were responsible for the deaths of millions of people in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and using chemical warfare, which many people are still suffering from.

And how many people were killed in Latin America and other parts of the world directly and indirectly by the US in its quest for global dominance, changing regimes and supporting dictatorships?

Why weren't there any executions because of this? The answer is that the US is above the law of foreign countries and international law as well. A recent small example is the threat of the US to stop the joint military exercises with the Philippine Army if the Philippines does not free an American soldier accused of rape.

Nick

Bangkok

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No need to mince words when referring to Thaksin's regime

Re: "The reason why we did not choose Thaksin", News, December 30.

Your person of the year headline gives "Toxic" far too much credit. Why don't you just say you didn't name him because he is a thief and killer, none of his policies were good and most were a laughing stock, and in Isaan everyone sells their votes? The reason he shouldn't be named is that he wants the attention. But the truth is he sent Thailand back in image and in fact to the dark ages.

Toxic

Bangkok

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Spending on coup justified, but why the high price tag?

Re: "Money used to finance the coup belongs to the public", Letters, December 30.

Unlike Burin Kantabutra's disapproval of using taxpayers' secret funds to stage the recent coup, I found the spending logical since, in the eyes of many, the public's interest at that time called for military action.

However, I was somewhat surprised with the Bt1 billion it cost for a friendly coup when there was no resistance and not a single bullet was fired. Petrol for moving tanks for a few days hardly amounts to a few millions baht, especially when they had the right of way in Bangkok traffic. I thought there was no overtime pay for public servants and their services were already compensated by their monthly salaries and other allowances.

Spade

Bangkok

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SCIB moves send wrong message domestic business

Re: "SCIB reverts to old bad ways", Opinion December 28.

May I commend you for a hard-hitting editorial; this most certainly needed to be said. There is much use of the word cronyism in association with the ex-prime minister. However, the foul taste of cronyism and abuse of privilege lingers in the mouth in this matter.

You soundly make the point of necessary identifiable independence from the [bank's] board of directors to ensure an appointment based on sound business principles.

This board has chosen to dispense with this principle. Unless they clearly and publicly specify sound reasons for this highly irregular behaviour, they must be judged by all in the most severe manner, as being grossly prejudiced and acting in a manner that in no way benefits the greater good.

 Additionally, it sends out highly undesirable signals both nationally and internationally.

You are, I fear, quite right in your assumption that it is back to old cosy crony-ridden business as usual with scant regard for good corporate governance or high business ethics. This kind of behaviour should have no place in Thailand today.

Dr John Symons

Bangkok

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UK vet living in Thailand denied benefit increases

On October 25, I was very pleased to see Tony Blair on television praising the troops in Iraq and giving a big thank you to the British soldiers for the work they have done.

However, he forgot to say that if you decide to live in Thailand and many other countries when you retire, you will not get the yearly increases of the state pension.

If you complete 22 years of service in the forces then you will get the yearly pension increases, because the forces' pension is part of a private pension scheme and is paid out no matter where in the world the recipient lives.

I joined the army in 1959, with the last of the national service men. I was in the reserves for nine years and on service twice: North Borneo 1962 and 1963 and Aden in 1964.

I arrived back in England okay, however some of my friends were wounded and disabled back in the UK. Those that were wounded and disabled receive free medication, but in Thailand you have to pay for all medication, and that includes those that have done 22 years in the forces.

I want Tony Blair to know about the pension situation in Thailand.

The UK state pension increases should be provided regardless of where in the world you decide to live. With advances in healthcare and technology we may live to be 100 years old and if we get the increases in state pension that would be a great help towards our medical insurance.

I am asking everyone living in Thailand or just on holiday to prepare for "UK State Pension Attack Week from Thailand", by emailing or sending correspondence to Tony Blair's office at 10 Downing St, London, SW1A2AA. Also I am asking you to contact friends and family and your last place of employment in the UK to [ask them to] take part in this special week. I further encourage Rotary Clubs to pass the message around in Thailand about this special week and contact clubs in the UK and the US to join in this campaign, as well as civic clubs.

Remember, those who have retired and chosen to leave the UK should always receive the increases of the UK state pension fund and some assistance when it comes to medication costs.

David from England

Chon Buri

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Regional unions would better aid UN in serving its mandate

Re: "Kofi Annan and the limits of the United Nations", Opinion, December 30.

In this age of globalisation, the UN needs to replace "might is right" with "right is might". This means changing the priorities of a world system that currently spends US$3 billion (Bt108 billion) a day on armaments while 3 billion people - almost half of the world's population - live below the poverty line of less than $2 a day. Only a radically reformed UNSC can achieve sustainable peace and prosperity.

Although the political structure of the world has changed dramatically since the creation of the UN in 1945, the UNSC is still dominated by the same five permanent member nations (P5) - Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and the US. The P5, the main victors of World War II, still retain veto power that can be used to protect their national interests at the cost of human progress. To create a democratic structure, the UNSC should eliminate the veto power altogether.

The current 15-nation Security Council has five permanent and ten non-permanent, rotating nations that hold office for two years. Analysts have recommended the enlargement of membership by adding influential nations like Japan, India, Brazil and Germany.

However, this will always encounter strong opposition from their neighbouring nations. Therefore, a lasting solution would be to replace member nations with appropriate regional representation, [in blocs that might] eventually evolve into unions like the European Union (EU).

The next step to UNSC reform should be to replace its member nations with appropriate regional unions.

In a proper hierarchy, states make a nation, nations would make a regional union and regional unions of nations, in turn, would make a global community.

Thus, regional unions would become the necessary links between nations and a world body.

This reform would encourage the evolution of democratic regional unions of independent nations worldwide, following the model of the EU. The proposed membership of regional unions, representing the entire world population, in the Security Council would eventually raise the United Nations' status to that of a true world governing body.

Noble World Foundation

Chicago, Illinois