Sunday evening's events seem most likely to be linked to the previous government.

Starting with last week's finger pointing at the legality of General Surayud's land holdings, to this evening's tragic bombings, injuries and death, it seems the old government will spare our country no expense to get even or to sour the image of the current government in the eyes of the international community.

As we are aware, the police are under the same chief and the same officers as during the Thaksin days. We all remember the so-called "assassination attempt" on Thaksin. The evidence during that time also kept changing, there were conflicting reports, and it was an overall sloppy investigation. When the coup-makers came to power all the files were suddenly "missing" and no one was held accountable.

Another suspicious example was the CentralWorld incident when 96 police officers were present and yet none of them did anything to stop the beating by the "white bracelet thugs" of an elderly man and others who were anti-Thaksin protesters. And the strange "Erawan Shrine" incident: how could the culprit be beaten to death only a few feet away from the police station?

This evening, the area around CentralWorld and Sanam Luang should have been closed to all after the cancellation. The police are responsible for protecting all citizens, and that includes visitors and foreigners as well. At my apartment, the management had immediately posted a notice about the deputy governor's cancellation of the night's events in English: why couldn't the police officers similarly have taken more preventive and protective action? It raises the question: did the powers at the police force have a certain agenda? Our trust should lay with the military rather than the police force, especially when the "cronies" could still be inside.

I would like to give my full support to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his Cabinet, to help us battle the evil that still lies in the country, the seeds unfortunately sown and grown by Thaksin and his people. I feel so sad that our country is continuing to be scarred with a "terrorist" image, since Thaksin furthered the division in the South, for someone else's political game and what they consider "gain". What has happened? It is a sad, sad day for our country.

Carolyn

Bangkok

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Southern insurgents would have chosen different targets

Re: "String of blasts rock Bangkok, killing 2", News, January 1.

It does not seem likely at all that the Bangkok bombings would be related to the South, due to the fact that those would be specifically targeted at areas of "sin". This makes me rethink martial law. It is still important, regardless of what the international community thinks, because in Thailand, the old powers still have power.

Taylor Jennings

Bangkok

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Despite blasts, life in Bangkok remains relatively safe

Re: "String of blasts rock Bangkok, killing 2", News, January 1.

You run a much higher risk of injury or death driving down the highway in your home country than living and working in Bangkok. In fact, many people would be better off if they paid more attention to issues such as stress, diet, alcohol, and other matters, not just what the sensational news media sells. Deciding not to come to Bangkok due to some terrorist bombs is ridiculously poor personal risk analysis. One would be better off deciding not to drive. We will all die someday, so the bigger issue is quality of life.

Knowing the mentality of the masses, there will be a lot of people who will decide to not come to Thailand as a result of Sunday's terrorist bombs.

Besides the risk of road accidents, Bangkok and Thailand are actually relatively safe. Muggings and armed robberies of foreigners are extremely rare and less common than in most western cities, though exceptions exist. Thailand is a gentle society, quite unlike a lot of western cities I know.

What has yet to be seen is how the Thai government responds to this. We really need good leaders, not just copycat followers of the Western mass media. It would be quite refreshing if the Thai leadership came out addressing the "guilty" terrorists for what they are - murderers of innocent strangers - which should be seen as a shameful crime in any decent community or peer group.

Mark Prado

Bangkok

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Rush to blame Thaksin premature and divisive

Re: "String of blasts rock Bangkok, killing 2", News, January 1.

Sitting here in Germany on New Year's Eve and watching the sad events in Thailand unfold, I wonder where the responsibility of newspapers has gone, including yours. I really think it makes things only more dramatic and dangerous if newspapers present the bombings as allegedly being connected to Thaksin without further comment.

The tension between all Thais, both pro- and anti-Thaksin, will only escalate more. So please do not present news like you did in your web edition ("CNS may seize Thaksin's assets following bomb attacks: source", The Nation online, January 1) with statements like, "The source said the CNS believed Thaksin was behind the series of seven bomb attacks in Bangkok Sunday evening".

Consider what effect it will have if you present news like this. Of course people want to know who is behind the bombings but don't put the blame absolutely on the side of Thaksin.

I am not a fan of Thaksin at all. On the contrary, so far he has not done anything to unite the country without thinking of himself. I wonder why Thai politicians and intellectuals of all different hews cannot just come together and find a consensus about the political situation with the main goal of restoring peace in Thailand, even if that means that some strong arguments must fall in the back for now. It's not about boosting the economy or destroying the Thai Rak Thai Party, it's about the right of people to live in peace without fear. I just want to say that I am disappointed in all Thai leaders so far.

Britta Meyer

Germany

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Saddam's execution gave his vicitms much-needed closure

Re: "Justice served with Saddam's death", Editorial December 31. While effete European sensitivities recoil from capital punishment, Iraqis, with their more direct and compelling stake in the case, correctly carried out the death sentence on Saddam Hussein.

And, in fact, how many persons in living memory more rightly deserved death? A generation of Iraqi Kurds and Shi'ites were ready to see their own relatives' deaths avenged upon this heartless agent of terror. Impelled solely by an outsize ego, he filled long trenches with the manacled remains of his victims, fed opponents through industrial shredders, feet-first, and subjected female captives to rape and other humiliations to accomplish his own definition of tyranny.

Arguing that his execution might foment more domestic discord assumes that democracy's opponents aren't already doing their worst, and discounts the obvious benefits of removing the figurehead of a murderous insurgency and thereby finalising Iraq's separation from the past.

Furthermore, whatever utility his execution may provide the political left and their undying enmity toward America and her allies, holding a tried and condemned Saddam Hussein to their breast in the name of humanity could never mask the insult to justice that act inflicts. Perhaps only the left is capable of masking such cynicism as virtue.

The surviving relatives of Saddam's victims were owed whatever closure his forfeited life has provided; more than even this, would-be despots everywhere were owed this fresh reminder of the punishment monstrous crimes still attract.

Ron Goodden

Atlanta, georgia

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Hanging unlikely to mean any relief for beleaguered Iraqis

Re: "Justice served with Saddam's death", Editorial December 31.

George W Bush says that Saddam Hussein's trial was fair and justice has been done. John Howard, the Australian prime calls it "due process".

Can they be serious? I would rather say that revenge has had its day and the unfortunate Iraqi people, be they Shi'ite, Sunni or Kurd, will reap the consequences of more violence, more deaths and most likely the disintegration of their nation. For once the Vatican has got it right when their spokesman says that the killing of the guilty party is not the way to reconstruct justice and reconcile society.

Edward B Duhigg

Bangkok

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Two-tier pricing should not apply to tax-paying foreigners

Re: "The two-tier pricing dilemma", Editorial, January 1.

Your editorial on charging foreign tourists 10 times entry fee was much needed. However, it was not complete.

Foreigners are always seen only as "tourists" in Thailand who are here to spent dollars and euros. Authorities always ignore the thousands of foreigners working and living in the Kingdom with modest earnings like most Thais, paying regular taxes and contributing to the country's development.

It's a pity when such foreign workers are also asked to pay 10 times the fee. They actually end up paying this high fee more than once during their extended stay in the Kingdom.

For example, in the past 5 years I have paid the Bt250 fee at the Grand Palace more than five times whenever I accompany my friends and family who come to visit Thailand. Entry is free for Thais!

I urge Thai tourism authorities to make the regulation clear, let the staff know who is tourist and who is not. A valid work permit, resident card or work visa should be enough as a proof.

Imran Ahmad

Nakhon Sawan