Political crisis calls for parliamentary impeachment

Why should the whole body of taxpayers have to shoulder the cost of holding a national referendum to justify the prime minister's survival in office?

The official recall of a public office-holder whose integrity is lacking and tainted beyond any acceptable standard set for people in high offices is a fair means in any true democracy. A political issue should be resolved in Parliament. This would enable the populace to hear both sides of the story surrounding the corruption accusations against the embattled and belligerent prime minister and his whole Cabinet.

The Senate Speaker cautioned that such a referendum would take at least one month of preparations, and by then the country would have already suffered greatly. Parliamentary impeachment is what I would advocate. The bottom line is that financially it would be much less costly!

Chamnong Watanagase

Bangkok

Country held hostage by stubborn old men

Re: "We have the right to oust any government, any time", Letters, September 4.

Constitutionals rights, extra-parliamentary measures, Athenian democracy or otherwise, do not work on two stubborn old men, my dear Netirat Intira. That's all too academic!

Nor are the unions, the People's Alliance for Democracy, and the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship holding the country at ransom. Once again, it is these two stubborn old men, set on butting heads. Let them butt heads until they smash them in.

I am determined to hang on and see this and the country through. When heads are properly smashed, we should drive a stake through their hearts to make quite sure. These two resurrect themselves from nowhere all too often... like creatures out of "Fright Night XIII"!

Sunida

Bangkok

PAD's solution would sink democracy in Thailand

Re: "British ambassador briefed on political situation by Abhisit", News, September 5.

I note with interest that the British Ambassador to Thailand, Quinton Quayle, met opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva at Parliament and discussed the political situation on Thursday. You report that Quayle said the British government would support democracy in Thailand without taking sides.

I think most British observers feel that the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has been right to demonstrate against the last election, which has been discredited due to allegations of vote-buying and because the People Power Party was seen as a proxy party for Thaksin. However, many people feel strongly that Thailand should not give up on democracy. As Winston Churchill said, "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried". The PAD aim for a government of only 30 per cent elected members and the rest "appointed". This is regressive and appears be an unwise reaction to the results of the last election.

There is huge ongoing socio-economic change in Thailand and democracy must be given time to evolve. It is not always an easy process but history shows to date that democracy is by far the best system.

Nigel Grimshaw

Cambridge, UK

National government needed to heal rifts

The government's call for a referendum will not solve the political crisis at this moment. Furthermore, it will cause further divisions and is a waste of time and money. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his Cabinet should resign for the sake of the country. For those who support him, please tell me one good thing his administration done for the country! I cannot think of one!

The best way out of this political quagmire is for Samak to resign and for a national government to be set up. The national prime minister should not be affiliated with the People Power Party, its coalition parties, or the Democrat Party. The current Constitution should not be amended because we have too many crooked politicians. Its intention is to prevent graft and corruption among government officials, who have run hog wild in the past.

We should consider constitutional amendments only when politicians behave decently and work for the people whom they represent. I bet you that as soon as Samak resigns, the People's Alliance for Democracy would disintegrate and the situation would improve. Samak: for the sake of the country please take Yasuo Fukuda's path and save your own soul.

Surasak Piputtana

Bangkok

Self-interest trumps the public good yet again

Re: "Wily premier defies expectations, takes his battle to the people", National, September 5.

I don't see anything "wily" about Samak's remarks regarding his hanging on to power; it seems so typically self-transparent.

And that is really what the Thai political system is surely all about: the thin veneer of "democracy", being used for profitable self-interested gain. To suggest that political systems the world over are any better is probably a half-truth, as I know for example that the Appeals Court in the UK sets about its judgements based on protecting the British legal system, not justice; and that the Bush election was equally tainted with vote-rigging.

Whilst life may be more "transparent" in Thailand, the effect is that, according to some sources, a significant amount of money was spent on putting the People Power Party into office. Until the budget funds have been dispersed, "elected" politicians would simply be walking away from a pay day if the prime minister resigned or a new election were to be called.

In the spirit of transparency, would it not be far simpler to just pay back their outlay and forget the stalling tactics of the referendum? That at least would release the responsibilities of the irresponsible in the name of the country and the economy.

Of course, this will never happen, but at least it would speed up the process of what has been described in some quarters as "getting back to normal". If it were up to me, I'd forget the niceties and sling the lot of them out now.

Arun Singh

Bangkok