In his letter, Coldcrab asks the question: is it that "we simply don't have the necessary social infrastructure for a democratic society". It seems not, and that nothing has changed.

The coup was ostensibly justified in ousting a corrupt leader and to clear out his stable. But here we are with the draft charter failing to "create a real system of checks and balances among the executive, legislative and judicial branches". The country's state of corruption is in a no better state than it was under Thaksin.

Only last week did I find out that my wife's brother lost the municipal election in the village of Prasae, near Klaeng. A few million baht for vote buying and a few million more for the committee sent there by the government to check on corruption was all that was needed. Now, everyone there sits mutely on their paltry food basket of between Bt500 and Bt1,500 in the sure knowledge of an inept local leader. Why, one asks oneself, would they sell themselves out for so little?

The worst of it is that the winning candidate, soon after he was elected, offered the brother, an incumbent political science graduate, the post of running the show, as he admitted to having no experience in politics whatsoever.

If that's the way Thailand is and will always be, then why bother with a new constitution, why bother with elections and, moreover, why bother with the CNS? Are there really no channels Thai people can access and pursue to rectify the debilitating face of endemic corruption?

James Groveway

Bangkok

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Standing against the coup is standing against Thais

Jaran Ditha-apichai and others say they are against the coup. Against removing the most pernicious, evil, greedy and human-rights trampling scoundrel in Thai history and his cabal?

Give Thailand more credit. Toss out your conventional paradigms of democracy. Look at what's happening on the ground. Look at the reality of how utterly and pervasively abusive Toxin and his vultures were to fellow Thais. Look at how they warped laws and regulations; murdered thousands of Thais; stole billions of baht, even though all were already too rich; and embarrassed Thailand by proposing a completely unqualified candidate for secretary-general of the UN. Did the last constitution prevent such inhumanity and unconscionable behaviour? No.

Just as Bush is the worst thing that has ever happened to the US, so Toxin was the worst thing that ever happened to Thailand. At least Toxin's gone. Bush, unfortunately, is not and will continue to damage the US and the world until he is expunged from the office he attained illegitimately. Did the US constitution stop Bush? Wouldn't it be nice if the US could use the Thai gambit?

So get creative, naysayers. Rather than condemn the entire draft document, be specific and give persuasive reasons for what you think is not right. Then, propose precisely what to change while there's still time to make adjustments. Stop bleating. Stop grandstanding. Stop looking in the wrong direction. Stop underestimating Thailand.

Didn't Sonthi and his cohorts do the right thing? Thai style. They threw out the worst tyrant in Thai history with no blood spilled. They put a civilian prime minister in office within 10 days and put themselves essentially under his authority. The appointed government administration has initiated investigations into the myriad acts of corruption and other crimes, but have encountered stonewalling by the bureaucrats and the police who were parties to the corruption.

So why don't those who are spending time and energy berating the draft constitution put pressure on the corrupt bureaucrats and the corrupt police? Get them moving and the investigations would move more quickly. And that would do a lot for Thailand's developing democracy.

The "slow" process is at least "due" process, which is the ultimate measure of a democracy. Nobody in the current Cabinet is a "bad" guy. They are not concentrating on how to enrich themselves with public funds, directly or indirectly. That alone is a phenomenal relief. And this government does not punish people who disagree, nor favour those who do.

The parallel between the madness of George in the US and of the madness of Toxin in Thailand is difficult to not notice. Why were/are these two countries being punished so harshly at the same time? Even more, wouldn't it be nice if the US had a clean, wholesome way of wresting power from the neo-con Gestapo like Thailand did with Toxin?

I for one am most grateful to Sonthi, Surayud, his Cabinet, members of the investigation committees and commissions, and the judges. They have collectively brought back hope to Thailand, plus reality. The leeches in Thai society will just have to actually do something constructive. The rural people will have to learn to follow the truths and goodness of His Majesty's sufficiency economy concept, rather than taking the bait of someone who wants only to exploit them.

A coup-Surayud govt supporter

Bangkok

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Military appointment pours fuel on the fire

So "Captain Massacre", aka General Pallop, has got a new gig at ISOC and Sonthi says he's "just an adviser" who might have some "useful ideas or information" on how to deal with the problems in the South.

Didn't we try that already? His idea/advice was "ready, aim, fire!". And didn't that help calm things down in the South! The only thing more outrageous than General Pallop disobeying his superior officers' orders to negotiate with his fellow Thai citizens was Thaksin's subsequent promotion of the murderous general.

Now he's being given a new role down South. Foolish PM, stupid junta. Talk about throwing petrol on the fire.

Boris Loosebrain

Melbourne

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The Army can't spin its way out of the South

Re: "Military tries to recruit a 'media army' ", News, May 21.

"Journalists asked to join in the efforts to showcase 'good works' and counter militants' influence".

I suppose that nothing shocks any more after the violent history in the South since the Thaksin government set out to punish the troubled southern provinces for not voting TRT.

But for the military to complain about propaganda from militants is a bit far fetched. After all it's the truth that, on a daily basis, the security forces continue to fail the population with little measure of protection. They simply don't want this failure to be continually told.

Gagging the press is a licence to fail with impunity, including in the area of violation of human rights. If anything, the propaganda is very one-sided with nearly all the official news coming from the government.

The expression of the press is the only means of transparency. It is necessary to see that justice is done through the prosecution not only of terrorists but also for the violations of law by the security agencies. This bungled attempt by the military, if implemented, will simply get Thailand into even hotter water over its human rights record.

David Harrison

Bangkok

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Elect the same people and you'll get the same result

Whenever I read quotes from politicians and academics in Thailand, they only have one thing in mind, it seems: the urgent return to an elected parliament. Now we all know why the politicians want that, but at the same time I question what is gained by putting the same kind of politicians back into power.

Don't get me wrong, I'm the first to support democratic rule, but at the same time I think we will take a step back if we let the Newins, Chalerms and relatives of "dark influence" back to the trough. Let's not forget how the TRT got so many politicians to join six years ago - it was all about money, nothing else. Do we really need such greedy and corrupt people to decide our future?

There are certainly some decent men and women among the politicians of today, but I would think we should first make sure that the worst are barred from standing in an election again, or else we will never make any headway. And then, only then, should we proceed to national elections again.

Sam Munich

Bangkok

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Some ideas are just too idealistic

Re; "Protesting without offering constructive criticism serves no useful purpose", Letters, May 21.

Fancy Burin Kantabutra talking about people shutting their mouth if they can't offer constructive criticism. Most of his advice about Thai politics is impractical, like his latest suggestion of advocating a Martin Luther King-type "Million Men" march. It's not going to happen. Politics in Thailand is the art of the achievable, not some sort of Utopia he is living in.

Yes, the importance of having elections immediately is a positive demand, because if the military remains in control, the country is going to slump further into economic decline and the plight of the people will worsen. There is not going to be a perfect constitution in Thailand in the near future, and he better get used to that.

More importantly, Thailand has to restore its standing in the world and restore credibility with international investors. Only immediate elections can achieve that.

Tom Lloyd

Australia