To liken Thaksin to Suu Kyi and imply that all that the civilised countries of the world know that both "won a general election decisively" is very misinformed and simplistic. What the civilised world knows is that democracy is measured not merely by a free ballot but by a government and its elected head and other officials as having acceptable standards of behaviour, transparency and rightness. Apart from a few exceptions, civilised countries are shown to be so by their quality of elected public officials, and when a person deviates from such standards they are dealt with by an independent legal system.

Political leadership comes with a responsibility not to institute systemic corruption, not to take advantage of conflicts of interest, not to become wealthier as a result of the time spent or decisions made in political life and not to use family and friends to attempt to subvert the rule of law. Countries that condone such behaviour show themselves to be lacking in an understanding of democracy and the behaviour necessary in their elected officials.

The outcomes of good democracy, irrespective of the country, is where the rule of law not only appears to be done but is done, elected officials know and abide by their responsibilities and these officials are held personally accountable for their behaviour.

I can assure Khun Meechai that civilised countries well and truly know the character of certain Thai politicians. I can also assure your readers that Thailand will be much better served with such people and anyone else who condones such behaviour being rejected by the populace and even disqualified from standing for election. The problems may not be solved in the next election but by taking the right way to democracy Thailand will be better served by a public sector that serves the public not itself.

Khun Meechai you are very misinformed if you expect the "whole world to berate Thailand the same way it does Burma". Burma deserves berating. Thailand deserves acclamation for its pursuit of anyone that breaks the law. It should ensure that one of the fundamental tenets of an effective legal system is "equality under the law". Thailand should only be berated if it fails to apply the law and fails to ensure the appropriate penalties are enforced.

BW

Bangkok

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Amnesty a compensation for use of retroactive law

Re: "Holding election without Thaksin is like Burmese democracy sans Suu Kyi", Letters, June 3.

Meechai Burapa's thought-provoking letter woke me up from the mixed feeling of whether to be pleased with the Constitution Tribunal's judgement or to scowl at the banning of TRT executives from politics for five years.  Though Meechai's perception in equating Thaksin to Aung San Suu Kyi in political exile is somewhat outlandish, to a degree he has a good point in claiming the coming election as not being fair and free due to this exclusion of a formidable political force. This is especially so when the former executives are expected by many to command a higher number of votes and MPs in the North and Northeast.

Furthermore, the banning of all executives was based on the use of a retroactive law introduced in September 2006, while the wrongful acts were committed in March 2006. It is another area that the world can berate us for.

General Sonthi came out with a statesmanlike solution of giving amnesty to these executives, presumably to those having no knowledge of the wrongful acts, in order to mend our national conflict. But now, this has been shot down very quickly. If we can bury the hatchet and start our political life afresh, General Sonthi's solution would give great credit to Thailand and be viewed by the world as compassionate and fair-minded.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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PM misguided in suggesting benevolence

Re: "When a coup leader wants to play Mr Nice Guy", Opinion, June 3.

Sopon Onkgara hit the nail on the head when he said that a coup leader must never be seen as a nice guy with a heart full of benevolence. Gen Sonthi shouldn't have rushed to propose a pardon for the committee members of Thai Rak Thai, as it would make the Constitution Tribunal's verdict look like a charade.

Even though I am inclined to agree with the idea of giving most of the banned politicians the benefit of the doubt, since there was no hard evidence to implicate them directly, these people must show repentance and humility. But if they are still showing arrogance and a challenging attitude towards the rule of law, then we must let them have the five-year pause from political life as sentenced. They deserve it.

But more importantly, Gen Sonthi must show his fortitude and resolve for us to see - that he sees the rule of law as more important than any party or individual.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Are we going to disregard the work of the courts?

One would expect that the disbanded TRT party and its executives would make the usual cries of foul, and appeals to the courts, without any claim of responsibility and then just move on knowing that it will all pass and folks will forget. However, speaking words from what must be absolute delusion, General Sonthi floated amnesty for the disbanded party's executives, giving them a potential get-out-of-jail-free card to play, thanks to the junta.

The PM, fresh from a Channel 7 interview in English where he spoke on the Constitution Tribunal's findings, said that "everything is on track now; the disbanded party can regroup, form a new party and easily recruit new party leaders". He must have been totally broad-sided by even the hint of such a bizarre idea as amnesty. Absolutely incredible!

What does this say to judges who worked so carefully and transparently to carry out their job, or to the rest of the people in the judicial departments who are trying to bring to justice the crimes that have been committed? Any sign of encouragement of things looking up have evaporated by the words of Surayud and Sonthi. How can they be trusted any further?

Disheartened

Bangkok

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There's no smoke without fire

Re: "All fired up about new anti-smoking proposal", Letters, June 3.

Mr Arnone returns to his state of denial on the smoking issue, this time defending the rights of smokers to do as they wish with their own bodies.He should know by now that many non-smokers are indifferent to the self inflicted death and suffering of the smoking addict, but applaud the refining of the gene pool.

What does concern us is the state of denial, regarding second-hand smoke. Often such denials are from those who could not understand the scientific evidence if they tried (which they don't) but are quick to dismiss the conclusions.

What Mr Arnone cannot deny, but probably will, is that a great loss of life is due to fires caused by discarded matches and butts, as smokers use the world as their ashtray. Go into many hotel rooms and see the burn marks left by cigarettes left to burn themselves out on the woodwork and carpets.

A textbook example I saw used in Set Theory was "Not all Smokers are Drunks, but all Drunks are Smokers".

John Angus

Bangkok

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The greatest example of Thai hypocrisy ever

Why tax HIV drugs if the cost is already too high", Letters, June 3.

It is seldom if ever that I agree with Dom Dunn about anything, but his letter is right on target. If this is true, it is the worst case of hypocrisy that I can recall in my lifetime. After the Thai government correctly chastised the drug company to "have a heart", it is now showing that it has none by taxing the drugs.

I don't know who made such an unbelievable decision, but whoever it is should be seriously reprimanded and the tax should be rescinded.

How do things like this happen?

John Arnone

Yasothon