The members of the Constitution Drafting Committee have now been determined, and they are about to embark on their task of creating a new charter for Thailand.

To reduce cronyism I would like to suggest the inclusion of one clause: anyone who has served in a uniformed rank above sergeant is prohibited from filling an elected or appointed government position until he or she has been out of that service for at least 15 years.

 This would also be a step towards the demilitarisation of Thailand's political processes. A career in the military or police would be just that, a career, not a stepping stone to politically influential and potentially lucrative positions.

Let's all send our best wishes to that committee. Much of the future of this wonderful country depends on their efforts.

Les Thompson

Bangkok

Country's safety jeopardised by 'avarice' of former premier

Re: "ShinSat sale 'tragic blow for defence', News, January 23.

The Shin Corp deal was certainly not the private affair Thaksin Shinawatra claims it was. On the contrary, it showed his readiness to sell anything for profit regardless of national security and sovereignty - a trait unbecoming a responsible national leader.

All conscientious Thais must be aware of the consequences of that particular transaction on their country. Thailand's defence communications network is now in the hands of foreigners because of Thaksin's avarice.

The Shin Corp sale is telling of Thaksin's true self as a greedy and traitorous demagogue, which is why Thais gathered in force to drive him out of office.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

Sequester Shinawatra assets and buy back satellite

Re: "Enough of Thaksin's media show - either expose his true colours or convict him", Letters, January 23.

I concur with Dr John Patterson's invective, including adjectives, 100 per cent. If the government and the Council for National Security are so paranoid about being spied on by Singapore in its takeover of ShinSat, then they should sequester Thaksin's assets and buy the wretched thing back. I really don't see why taxpayers should shell out billions for the lack of courage on the part of the government to convict that scoundrel.

Sucatash

Bangkok

ShinSat deal unethical but hardly a security threat

Re: "ShinSat sale 'tragic blow for defence', News, January 23.

Thaksin sold his interests in ShinSat for one reason: to make money. He did not sell these businesses to allow Singapore the means to spy on Thai military signals. Professor Des Ball seems to feel that the sale should not go through because it compromises Thailand's security and enables Singapore to infiltrate Thai military communications. Oh dear, you mean Singapore with its vast army and imperialistic ambitions is now threatening Thailand? What's wrong with this picture, Des Ball?

I don't like the sale of ShinSat to Singapore because it symbolises how a corrupt man can beat the system and commit a white-collar crime, while the rest of us hard-working, law-abiding, and tax-paying citizens must sit by and watch.

I am least concerned about the implications of the ShinSat sale on Thailand's military might.

Let's not lose focus by muddying the waters and fabricating rumours that it compromises Thailand's security.

Let's nix the sale because it makes a mockery of Thailand's commercial laws and serves as a poor role model of how business should be conducted.

Outraged Taxpayer

Bangkok

'Tragedy' of sale might have been exaggerated for profit

Re: "ShinSat sale 'tragic blow for defence', News, January 23.

Surprised to know that Thailand's defence depends on mobile phones to communicate. They should have their own satellites. Thaksin Shinawatra sold his private business with his own name on it. He did not sell a national bank, airline or electric company. I wonder why they call Thaksin Shinawatra a traitor, but Shin Corp a national asset?

And now this is a "tragic' blow"? Temasek bought the Shin Corp shares at Bt49. The current share price is Bt23 or less. Why not buy it back at half the price? Easy and cheap. No need to cook up cock-and-bull stories if you need to spend the government's money for a few hundred million dollars for some new projects that will go to the junta's pocket.

Cock and Bull Stories

Bangkok

CNS making one gaffe after another since New Year's Eve

Re: "Kowit in the spotlight after bomb arrests", News, January 23.

The military junta has had a bad start. They intended to solve the terrorism problems in the South, but their efforts were answered by a bombing spree in Bangkok.

Less than half an hour after the blast, the clairvoyant Council for National Security was 90 per cent sure the Pattani terrorists had nothing to do with it and they pointed the finger to remnants of the Thaksin government. We all have waited patiently for arrests and they came on the weekend when several military personnel were arrested. All of them are likely to be innocent.

The Bangkok bombs are the work of the Thai terrorists in the South, says Australian intelligence. The terrorists have been cooperating with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), they say, pointing out meetings in Kuala Lumpur between JI and the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO). According to the Australian intelligence, the explosives used in the Bangkok bombs originated from Cambodia.

The CNS has previously stated it does not believe the Pattani terrorists have the logistical and organisational support to carry out the Bangkok bombings. This is a grave underestimation of the enemy. They might be planning more spectacular attacks, while the Thai police are running arresting innocent military officers, whose only crime was to put a Thai Rak Thai ballot in the box in the last election.

Thaksin's globe-hopping has angered the CNS. They revoked his diplomatic passport and started diplomatic mini-wars with the countries where Thaksin visited to say hello to old friends. The CNS is damaging Thailand's relations with these countries by behaving like a bull in a China shop.

As long as the CNS continues on this destructive path, Thailand will be a less attractive country to invest in and visit as a tourist. Thailand's economy has survived terrorism, bird flu and the tsunami, but will it survive the CNS?

Ivan Kamsky

Bangkok

Mysterious 'Rattaban' keeping an old lady from her CNN

What sort of monkey business is going on now? For the past week or so I haven't been able to get CNN on my cable provider. All I get is a fuzzy screen with static. All the other channels come through fine.

I asked my maid, Khun Noy, to phone the cable company and find out what the problem is. All she did was giggle and say "Rattaban". Who is this Rattaban person, and why has he cut off CNN? If this is some nonsense dreamed up by this new junta we've got, I don't like it one bit.

I don't like their name, either - not if CNS stands for "Complete News Shutdown".

Every morning I get up and start my day by watching that nice Hugh Riminton and that lovely Kristie Lu Stout on "CNN Today". If I can't watch them, it spoils my day. Same with "Larry King Live" - I cannot live without Larry.

I demand an explanation from this Rattaban person. I hope he's not related to that awful Rahu fellow who eats the moon.

Whoever he is, I want my CNN back NOW. I'm an old lady, and I need my CNN.

Mrs Constance Beasley

Bangkok

Govt giving deposed premier a public-relations field day

Re: "Ball in Thaksin's court - PM", News, January 23.

To date he has not been charged with anything. The new government has still not backed up its claim of corruption or anything else with a single arrest warrant for Thaksin.

Of course Thaksin's interview on CNN was excellent PR, and the current government made it even better by seeking to suppress it, thereby proving to the international community that the generals are as Thaksin says they are, and that he is the one to respect.

A vast majority of Thai people voted for Thaksin, twice, including many in Bangkok.

What the CNN interview and other PR efforts show is that Thaksin is a ruthless, smart strategist, and that the new government is inept.

I wish he were on trial now, and if the Army-installed junta wants any respect, they must quickly issue arrest warrants and put him in court. Now, on the contrary, they seem to be saying that he can come back and all will be forgiven and forgotten as long as he doesn't rock the boat! What a sell-out!

Alicia

Bangkok