Civil disobedience a duty for conscientious citizens

In carrying out his campaign against constitutional amendments, Chamlong Srimuang's group has vowed to follow Mahatma Gandhi's example of civil disobedience to achieve its aim.

This "disobedience" was first advocated by American philosopher Henry David Thoreau in 1849 in his "Resistance to Civil Government", later known as "Civil Disobedience". His rationale was that when a government as a machine is unjust, such as when it accepts slavery, it is the duty of conscientious citizens to serve as "counter-friction" to stop the machine. "Disobedience to the state" includes any means to remedy injustice caused by the authority

So, when our conscience is disturbed, the cure has to go beyond the call for respecting the law.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

PM's legitimacy to rule in doubt since day one

I have followed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's career for more than 30 years. He is someone who does whatever he wants, at any cost.

How could he tell CNN that only one man died during the student uprising at Thammasat in 1976? How could he take part in cooking shows and get paid each time, while still prime minister of Thailand? That is a conflict of interest! How could he and his Cabinet approve and sign the deal for Cambodia to file a solo application to Unesco for Preah Vihear's listing as a World Heritage Site without House approval? That has been proved to be unconstitutional! His People Power Party executive Yongyuth Tiyapairat was found guilty of fraud in the last election by the court. He had to resign as House Speaker and was later banned from politics for five years. Therefore, the People Power Party's legitimacy to rule is in doubt.

Samak has to go.

I encourage the People's Alliance for Democracy to stay firm on their principles and not to deviate from them.

Surasak Piputtana

Bangkok

Strategies needed to move the country forward

The political crisis is escalating and turning violent, against the stated goals of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the government. Both sides are losing sight of their long-term, overall goals.

For its part, the PAD claims to be non-violent, and so far, has more-or-less adhered to that noble principle. Yet, driving a truck into police officers attempting to retake Government House is hardly non-violent, and PAD participants have not hesitated to use flagpoles, barricades, etc, to fight police with.

PAD's mission is fatally flawed, and is a recipe for anarchy. PAD says it will overthrow any government it disagrees with. Rule by a minority is the antithesis of democracy. Worse, PAD does not offer an alternative government or set of policies.

For the government's part, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and the police have shown admirable restraint in not using force, and the Army has kept out of it, as it should. Yet, Samak is hardly known for being cool, collected, and rational; it's only a matter of time before he blows his top.

Both sides need to step back and seek a win-win solution, each thinking not of themselves, but of the country as a whole.

The question to the PAD is: Is there any government, any Cabinet, any set of policies which you will whole-heartedly support? If so, give us their names and policies, educate us, and convince us through the ballot box.

Prime Minister Samak: Stop thinking only of changing the Constitution to save your party. You should focus on our long-term political and economic problems, eg, the rising cost of living, developing alternative energy sources, getting an education system that teaches our children how to think, not what to think, etc. Since you were elected, I still don't see where you're trying to lead us; isn't it time you told us?

For the short term, declare a seven-day truce to think things over and present proposals to achieve the above goals.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok