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Published on September 13, 2007

 This for allegedly inflicting a scrape on the paint of his otherwise pristine Mercedes. The assault proved insufficient to assuage his outrage, so he drove his precious car into people who were totally innocent and uninvolved, killing one and injuring several more (no doubt these were "low-class" people. After all, they were waiting for a bus).

He was whisked away to a private hospital where the family's doctor "forbade" the police from questioning the lad. Several days of furore from the media and the op-ed pages followed. Then silence.

Thailand just completed a vote aimed to restore democracy to the Kingdom. Votes are important, but so is official recognition of equality. Are the hoi polloi to be granted the same rights and privileges as the elite or is there a de-facto feudal or caste system that allows the rich and powerfully to literally (in this case) get away with murder.

If a fair, unbiased medical panel decides the young man is not guilty because of a mental/emotional condition rendering him unable to control his rage, so be it, but should he not be institutionalised to protect others from his irrational outbursts?

Dubious Democrat

Bangkok

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Most leading parties only driven by blind greed

Re: "EC won't sign poll MoU", News, September 12.

I am by no means an advocate of political purity but where I come from there are concepts of political ideology (although somewhat diminished these days) and party manifestos. Taken together, a party sets out its stall as to the policies it intends to implement if elected.

In England, the Tory (Conservative) Party's roots were established in the latter part of the 17th century, the Whigs (Liberal Party) were established in 1834 and the Labour Party in 1916. They all share the same sense of ideological identity, as do most political parties in Western democracies.

Ideology is so sadly lacking here that it could be argued that the Democrat Party is the only existing political entity that has any roots, even though its policies remain largely obscure. The rest are defined by shifting allegiances, alliances and configurations that make the Thai political landscape baffling, to say the least. The People Power Party and the Motherland Party, names that are as banal as they are shallow, have recently been formed by a random amalgam of known political figures with no clear-cut agendas for office, in stark contrast to almost all other forms of political groupings the world over. They also include a large number of individuals banned from politics for five years.

This shuffling pack of ideological refugees exist solely for their own sakes, and never seem to allude to representation, policy initiatives, monetary or fiscal policies, education, social planning or, for that matter, anything else.

And in amongst this motley crowd are the veteran civil servants, whose national pride (as they say, pride comes before a brawl) and fears of vote-rigging are so endemic that Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond sees "no need to seek international recognition or endorsement" by European Union observers.

This attitude is so typical and is exceptionally bad news for the country. But maybe it's not just pride but corrupt practices that are so deeply entrenched in Thailand's political culture that these people feel the European Union could derail the democratic process by revealing to the world that legitimacy really doesn't have any place here.

For now, Thailand must suffer the consequences and vacuity of its veterans, who are leading the country into the vortex of no-man's land. No country is an island unto itself, Apichart. For whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

James Groveway

Bangkok

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Restaurant owners do not pocket service charges

Re: "Service charge a rip-off for customers and staff", Letters, September 12.

Before writing inanities regarding restaurant owners stealing the 10-per-cent service charge from their staff members, Justin should check his facts.

As restaurant owners, we turn the entire 10-per-cent service charge to our staff, which in some cases exceeds their basic salary.

We believe that most of our colleagues follow the same practice. In some cases, a few may not disburse the full 10 per cent.

On the other hand, Justin's decision not to patronise restaurants like ours is a wise one.

Chef Herve Frerard & Marc Bogerd

Le Beaulieu Restaurant

Bangkok

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Angry critic took aim at author rather than book

Re: "Book review right on target", Letters, September 12.

I find it interesting that Christy is not a white male, has obviously not read my book and is obviously not an American, and yet she has so much to say on the review. Could it be that she was not interested in the review of the book, but rather the review of me, as I had once referred to Christy as Constance Beasley's Mr. Hyde?

Well, be that all as it may, I will suggest that Christy read it before she spouts off.

As for James Eckardt's review ("Self-righteous rantings", Books, September 9), he wrote it the way he saw it in the same manner as I wrote what I saw. That's what opinions are all about. The only thing I do want to take exception to in Christy's letter is her assertion that America was built on the backs of millions of African slaves. If that were true, I would assume that all of the countries in Africa would now have thriving economies even greater than that of the United States.

Also, concerning Ken Albertsen's letter in the same issue, ("Come to Yasothon, the crime-free rural utopia"), reading Ken's letter seemed strangely like watching the news reports of the Rodney King episode in Los Angeles years ago. The centrepiece of the news report was a video that started suspiciously at the point where the cops started beating up on poor Rodney. For some strange reason, there was no video of what precipitated the action. In Ken's report, there is no report of what precipitated the action either. I guess I will just have to assume that seven plainclothes cops were out looking for farangs to harass and Ken appeared to fit the bill. I guess I was wrong about the police in Thailand. Either that or Chiang Rai is the exception to the rule.

Ken, Yasothon is hardly utopia. Actually, I hate it. It is boring and there is no farang food or entertainment. But it is a great place to raise kids and my wife also loves it, so there it is. Besides, I am free to go south when I choose. And from what you have just told me, I will continue to go south rather than north, as it appears that in the north there are roving bands of plainclothes policemen searching for farangs to harass.

John Arnone

Yasothon

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Terror unleashed on Iraq following 9/11 attacks

People in the West may have a curious passing interest at best at the political scene and problems with the ex-prime minister here in Thailand. So I shouldn't have been surprised at the lack of comment regarding the anniversary of 9/11 the last few days. However, when acts of killing and destruction take place and still are taking place on a large and prominent scale, I hope there are some that take notice and perhaps even care.

 I suppose one way of looking at the results of 9/11 with the invasion of Iraq, one could say Osama bin Laden attained every thing he and al-Qaeda hoped for in order to punish the United States. The occupation has taken close to 3,500 American lives and left tens of thousands of America's finest young men and women permanently disabled.

Obviously, the world's most awesome military force has not been able to reshape the Middle East to their specifications, nor acquire a licence for the rich oil fields. The occupation of Iraq has also resulted in an estimated 650,000 Iraqis dead, 1.1 million internally displaced and close to 2.5 million who have fled the country.

The people of Iraq and the United States do not have a government that promotes their people. The citizens of both nations hate this war and no longer have any trust in Bush's leadership and don't believe anything the administration says. Extending occupation forces for any length of time in Iraq is asking both Americans and Iraqis to pay a terrible price. The time for change is now. It needs to come from the American people.

Mr Bill

Bangkok

Bangkok