Somchai puts the wrong foot forward on day one

Coming so soon after his appointment, what action could better demonstrate the new prime minister's weakness in decision-making than soliciting the help of his brother-in-law, a man facing several arrest warrants and someone who does not have the courage to return to face his accusers. Surely the prime minister has his brother-in-law's phone number, which would at least have shielded his pathetic plea for help from being so public.

This latest development is sure to inflame the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) just as much, if not more, than the inappropriate comments and actions of Samak. In these circumstances it is difficult not to have a degree of sympathy with the motives of the PAD, if not with their methods.

Chris Kaye

Bangkok

Details needed on Anand's heroic past as PM

Re: "No current politician is fit to lead the country", Letters, September 17.

Spiputtana wrote, "The new leader of our country should be a person like Anand Panyarachun. He led the country with clean hands and pulled us out of trouble in the past".

Clean hands? I can let that pass. But I wish Spiputtana would be specific about how Anand "pulled us out of trouble in the past". Please give details. When and how did Anand pull us from trouble?

Vagueness is not a virtue. One needs to be concrete to convince people.

Meechai Burapa

Chiang Mai

International headlines on Thailand embarrassing

I just returned from an overseas trip. Headlines about Thailand last week included: "PM dismissed for participating in cooking show", "Brother-in-law of Thaksin selected as PM", and "Newin holds balance with "his' MPs".

We are the "political cartoon" of this century.

I felt very ashamed.

I was asked many times while overseas if we had no one capable of taking the helm with the interest of the nation and the Thai people at heart?

We are seen as a disorganised/totally corrupt national entity.

Many asked whether it is true that it is difficult to get assistance from police and that the police are always asking for money.

I felt very ashamed.

Where and when will this circus end?

New arrest warrants have been issued for Thaksin and his wife but it all seems like a joke as we all realise they will not return of their own free will.

Shame on our totally selfish political entities, shame on our law-enforcement agencies and many others in society.

Noppadon

Bangkok

Cambodian side unfairly portrayed in border dispute

Re: "No need to inflame border dispute", Editorial, September 18.

I would like to bring attention to some of the points raised in your article:

1) Every country in the world needs to have borders clearly demarcated and they don't need to have good relation to do this. The case of the temple of Preah Vihear was decided by the International Court in the Hague, and Thailand must respect the ruling.

2) Thailand is the one that has tried and continues to try to encroach on Cambodian territory, not the other way around. You must use the agreements between the two countries in 1904, 1907 and 1908, which are internationally accepted, as basis for the current borders, not the map unilaterally designed by Thailand.

3) Cambodia has always preferred a diplomatic resolution, while Thailand has taken a military-based approach. If Cambodia had acted in kind, a war would have erupted on July 15 of this year.

4) I don't think Thailand cares about its Asean friendships, as it uses its strong military to encroach on Cambodian and Burmese territory.

5) If Thailand is in the right, then why is it so afraid to let international mediators like the United Nations Security Council or the International Court of Justice judge the situation fairly? Each country will support its own cause, so it takes a third party to provide a fair judgement. Cambodia has tried hard to solve the problems bilaterally. Some agreements have been struck to solve problems peacefully, but Thailand never keeps its word and ends up sending more and more troops to Cambodian soil.

Last, I just inform you that as you are the media, you should use your good institution to wake up the Thai people to reality and their history. Don't confuse your citizens!

Chanvannak Nop

Phnom Penh