But they should be constructive in their criticism, such as saying what would have been preferable to a coup to prevent Thaksin's alleged abuses of power, and work to get their alternative included in the draft constitution.

Also, the anti-CNS groups want the CNS to resign and return power to the people immediately. Like Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, they might think that if we have elections, we have democracy. But I suggest that an informed, politically aware and politically active electorate is key to an election that reflects the long-term will of we the people - and that the few months remaining this year are woefully inadequate to create such a body.

Thus, the anti-CNS activists should focus on educating and informing voters, especially in the rural areas, as to the issues of the day, including inviting all major groups to debate their views. Protests would have a place in such efforts, but only if modelled after Martin Luther King's Million Man March: orderly, lawful, with statesman-like rhetoric devoid of rabble-rousing.

Lastly, the anti-CNS groups want us to ditch the draft charter - which I agree needs much revision. But which of our 17 other periodically-issued constitutions do they want the CNS to use instead? Push for their choice, lest the CNS give us, say, the one which Thanom and Prapas ruled us under.

In short, help us strengthen our very fragile democracy, not just shoot your mouth off.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Overspending: shouldn't we learn from the past?

 When people talk about the well-being of the people, Thailand's annual GDP - the total market value of goods and services produced within the country - is considered an important yardstick.

With the year almost half over, economic experts as well as the government have voiced concern about GDP growth. The Bank of Thailand (BOT) and other financial agencies have revised their GDP growth forecasts downward several times since January. This is a result of various factors that affect the economy as a whole, such as the unrest in the South, the political climate, the U-turns on policy made by government agencies, and so on.

All of these factors have eroded investor confidence, both local and foreign.

The BOT's statistics show that the main component of GDP is the export sector, for both goods and services. The government feels that to prevent the economy from remaining sluggish in the long run, or in case there are unexpected events that affect the export sector, an economic stimulus package is needed to encourage domestic spending.

As part of this goal, it is cooperating with the private sector, especially financial institutions, to provide funding to encourage people to spend. One example is the recent Money Expo at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre, where many financial institutions were offering financial instruments such as mutual funds, stock accounts, life insurance, credit cards and loans.

Various types of loans with the special low interest rates turned out to be the most attractive offering for visitors.

The event was very useful in that people were informed of the alternatives for saving their disposable income so that they could manage their wealth wisely.

Unfortunately, some people focused only on indebted instruments like loans and credit cards. Though these kinds of instruments have advantages if they are used at the right time, at present people should distinguish between what they really "need" and merely "want". There are also needs that can be put off to some future time, such as buying homes.

I am not attempting to discourage people from taking loans or spending. On the contrary, I am emphasising that people should spend their money wisely.

People know their own financial status best. Don't let impulse purchases leave you indebted. We should learn from Thailand's 1997 crisis and how our country suffered.

Niphot Krailas-olarn

Bangkok

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Time is running out to ensure equality for all

 Re: "Military has no grounds to claim it is capable of saving the country", Letters, May 20.

I couldn't agree more with Che Tiya's letter, in particularly the last paragraph about the constitution.

I have always understood that the constitution is a set of basic rules for all groups in a society to coexist equitably. If this set of rules has to be rewritten continually, what does it say about Thai society? That the old money or the elite class is always insecure, or that we simply don't have the necessary social infrastructure for a democratic society? Could it be a mixture of both?

As Thanong Kanthong so accurately stated in his analysis the other day ["History will judge Surayud government's missed opportunities", News, May 18], Prime Minister Surayud has missed a golden opportunity to reform our social infrastructure - education, legal, town planning, social security and media. Perhaps he is part of the elite class that wants to keep Thai society oppressed and divided so that there is no competition to plunder the national budget. Or maybe he believes that there is no hope for Thai society to improve and therefore chooses to keep the status quo.

Nevertheless, the elite class should remember that there was a time when cities such as Beirut and Sarajevo were like paradise on Earth, just like Bangkok was a while back. We have run out of time and out of slack. If the elite class of Thai society fails to recognise that the remaining 65 million citizens are also human beings, however less fortunate, bad and ugly things can and will happen.

Coldcrab

Bangkok

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Thaksin's reason for seeking funds is just an eyewash

 Re: "Military has no grounds to claim it is capable of saving the country", Letters, May 20.

The letter written by Che Tiya is wholly admirable. Clearly it is exasperation that has driven him or her to write such a damning yet utterly accurate critique - exasperation shared by so many others, including myself.

For several years, your newspaper was entirely anti-Thaksin. Now, with the advent of the coup that removed him, you publish so many reports and your columnists so many reams critical of the interim prime minister and the coup leaders, that one begins to wonder exactly where you now stand.

Did you really think that your words would remove Thaksin? In Thailand, regrettably, the pen is not mightier than the sword. Just how else did you think that a tyrannical and power-mad scoundrel was to be got rid of, other than by some kind of a coup? Your columnists now produce reams of highly critical material while at the same time often suggesting that, somehow, the media are under attack. If that were truly the case, you wouldn't be able to print it all, but you do.

Yesterday you reported Thaksin's representative as saying that he expects Thailand's central bank to release some Bt6.8 billion to purchase Manchester City Football Club because, among other things, "the money isn't going to be used for political purposes" ["Thaksin seeks BOT blessing for Bt6.8-billion deal", News, May 20]. If there is anyone left who really believes that, they must also believe that the moon is made of cheese, despite evidence to the contrary.

If the Bank of Thailand actually permits this enormous sum of money to be transferred to Thaksin, given the current allegations against him, it will be under the "Old Pals Act", which seems to be very much alive and kicking in Thailand. There is nothing this troublesome man does without the aim of evading the charges of criminal behaviour that he is expected to face and returning to power, doubtless to wreak vengeance on those who did him in.

As for the shenanigans of the various pro-Thaksin people and the United Front Against the Coup, do they really want a crook as prime minister of this splendid nation? Is that really the height of their ambition? Surely the time to protest against the coup leaders will be if and when they fail to live up to their promise to quit on time.

Henry Ashe

Bangkok

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Airport bank booths foretell a dis-United Kingdom

 Are the folks at the TMB currency-exchange booths at Suvarnabumi airport in touch with fortune-tellers? If not, how can they explain their preparedness for the break-up of the United Kingdom?

I was sat opposite one of their booths on the third floor, killing time, and automatically sought out the British flag to check our currency rate. It was only after unsuccessfully scrolling up and down a few times that I noticed, not the British flag, but the English one with England written next to the currency rate. Two out of three booths I saw had banished the Scot and Welsh colours from the flag.

I must go back and see if their crystal ball can advise me which companies to invest in.

Chiang Mai Mike

Chiang Mai