Abhisit's loss at the polls cost Thailand dearly

After Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the coup, Abhisit was chosen by phuyai or the "elder" to lead the new government. The "elder" arranged for the Thai Rak Thai Party to be dissolved and the party's 111 key members disqualified. Like a boxer whose opponent's hands are tied, the Democrats looked set to win the coming fight, hands down.

But thing went terribly wrong. The Democrats tripped over their shadow and knocked their head against the ring post, losing big time to the People Power Party. The "elder" was furious. He called on the People's Alliance for Democracy, and the rest is misery.

Had the Democrats capitalised on the opportunity that was handed to them on a silver platter, the country would be in peace today. There would be no mobs at the Makhawan Bridge.

Look for the "elder" to wave the magic wand soon, making the People Power Party and its key members disappear altogether and calling for a general election. This time the Democrat Party may get it right. Let's cross our fingers and hope that Abhisit wins next time.

SOMSAK POLA

SAMUT PRAKAN

Contrary to popular belief, the man is not that smart

Unbelievable! Why would Thaksin Shinawatra order his team of legal advisers to take action against the PAD when he does not believe in the justice system in Thailand?

Do you not think that this is a stupid person? He wants the system to work for him and not against him, for if he was not guilty why would he flee like a common criminal to another country?"

Thaksin's behaviour was very consistent from the beginning. He promised to solve Bangkok's traffic problem in six months and eradicate poverty in Thailand in six years. He said that he "violated the law with honest intent" when it was found that he transferred his assets to his maid and driver.

Contrary to popular belief, the man is not that smart. The worst part is that he had no conscience whatsoever.

He did everything for self-interest and begged for sympathy when caught red-handed. He was a good actor and did buy a lot of sympathy from Thai people, who like to look up to the rich and powerful. He possesses wealth and power more than just about anyone in Thailand, but that also led to his downfall.

His populist policy was designed to make the rural people dependent on handouts, instead of strengthening the communities and making them self-sufficient. This is well documented. The middle class was angry because it was mostly their tax money that was transferred to the poor to buy votes.

It seems like the man can't help himself. It was like putting a kid in the middle of a giant chocolate cake. His head is always spinning with ways to enrich his family and friends. He was caught red-handed too many times for most of us to believe him any more. To say that he is unfit to rule is an understatement. He does not possess the most basic quality for a prime minister, whether real or behind the scenes.

I also don't agree with the coup. Like Phra Paisal Wisalo once said: "We fight for justice and principles. It's not necessarily to win now [at all costs]".

The end does not justify the means. If you use the wrong method, it will always come back to you sooner or later. The coup is being used by the pro-Thaksin group to invalidate everything they don't like. And now it's being used by Thaksin to seek asylum in the UK.

The coup might have been quick but in the end it proved very ineffective and moved the country backwards politically by decades.

CHOOPONG

BANGKOK

Is democracy worth losing Thaksin's leadership for?

Last week we saw our former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife fly direct from Beijing to London as expected.

Unkind words from public media and anti-Thaksin groups echoed throughout the country.

We saw posters as if they were wanted criminals in the newspapers and shown on TV. Shame on you.

I am an educated Thai from a good family. In the past I have seen so much bloodshed for democracy, transparency and righteousness.

In his prime, Dr Thaksin might not have acted 100 per cent on righteousness or transparency, but he did put Thailand on the world map, he did help poor people in every possible way, he got rid of drug rings. After so many governments, his was the one to have our famous Suvarnabhumi Airport finished, and he had the vision to push Thailand ahead of our neighbours. Dr Thaksin is in no way a criminal.

There are everlasting protests somewhere near Rajdamnoen Avenue.

They bear the same faces, shouting repeated vulgar slogans, day in and day out. They hold up fists filled with hatred and personal vengeance towards Dr Thaksin.

We all know that the cruellest verdict was passed on him long before any case went to court.

This is the democracy that we yearned for and is it still worth what we have lost?

K SONGKRAM

BANGKOK