Same old faces causing the same old trouble

These pretenders are in positions that could cause incalculable damage to the country - because Thaksin made it possible.

Worse, the more Thaksin finds himself in a tight corner, the more he surrounds himself with political thugs specialising in rabble-rousing. Conversely, the leaders of the groups fighting for the end of Thaksin's political life are those who used to be his fiercest supporters and apologists: Chamlong Srimuang and Sondhi Limthonkul to name just two.

Thaksin should realise that in messing with Thailand's politics, he is not only destroying himself but the country he repeatedly claims to love. He should quit while the quitting is good, and fight his legal battles the same way ordinary people do: without thugs or under-the-table money.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

Chipping away at

democracy and the law

Most of us would stop at a red traffic light even if there was no other car around. I like to think that we do it not because we are afraid of being caught by the police but because we know the rule is good for us in the long run. I have often seen how an infraction of the rule by a single driver can result in total chaos, as other drivers follow suit.

I think democracy is like that. For each flouting of the rule, we edge a lot closer to the abyss.  If we deny the people a voice in our government because a minority thinks the majority are misguided, it is only a matter of time before the majority makes itself heard in anger. As history tells us: when the people speak in anger, rationality and wisdom suffer.

We have gone too far down the road of democracy for any one person to turn back the clock. Let people make their mistakes. If they are really mistakes, let them learn, let them mature. How many more dictatorships do we have to endure - with each one telling us it is for the good of the country and not for their own vainglory?

Kemadist Chiaracharuwat

Bangkok

Democrats not strong enough to defeat the govt

Re: "Democrats put out feelers about new coalition", News, July 9.

It was somewhat perplexing to read of the high hopes of the Democrat Party to form a new coalition government. To challenge the People Power Party, with a core of 165 MPs, the Democrats would need 75-plus MPs from the other six parties to join its corner to be a majority in a full House of 480.

Currently, PPP has 233 MPs and 10 could be disqualified. The 10 vacancies would be subject to another election in Chiang Rai, a stronghold of PPP. It is not difficult for the PPP to find a party or parties with 7-plus members to join it to form another coalition government, while it would be more difficult for the Democrats to find a support of 75-plus MPs. 

So, the future is rather grim for all of us, with a determined government that feels no guilt and has no desire to resign voluntarily since the challenge from the Democrats is not that formidable. Unfortunately, for all of us, we just have to put up with an uncertain political future that has been strangling us for far too long already.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

Military options don't

offer any solution

Former PM Thaksin is being squeezed from all four corners. The Samak administration fumbles because the Cabinet is made up of low-calibre members. At this point, the generals and colonels in the Army are aware that a coup for Thaksin may turn into a massive popular uprising. A coup against Thaksin and the government may have a slightly better chance. At this juncture, the deadlock is not between the Samak Cabinet and the PAD, it is a stalemate within the Army itself.

Netirat Intira

Bangkok

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correction

In yesterday's "Stoppage Time" column it was wrongly stated that the Yongyuth ruling belonged to the Constitution Court. There were two rulings on Monday - the Preah Vihear Temple ruling by the Constitution Court, and the election fraud ruling against Yongyuth Tiyapairat by the Supreme Court. The writer apologises for the error and regrets any confusion caused.

Editor