What can the military do to put its words into action?

Usually it is the other way around, that is "actions speak louder than words". When the top brass of all the armed forces, includ¬ing the police, turned up in full force on national television and suggested that the prime minister resign, it may have been the moment that many of us were waiting for.

The question that must be asked is: how can they and will they make their words stick?

Seen as not standing on the side of the people when tragedy struck on October 7, this turnaround on the part of the men in uniform was stunning indeed. Scepticism abounds if they are really sincere in their words.

But what if the prime minister refuses to listen?

Would this not make them a laughing stock, this time more so than any other time? Would it not be just another case of one too many footinmouth incidents?

The top brass must be able to back up their words with action if they want to con¬vince the people. But that would mean going back on their earlier stance of staying above politics.

It is indeed a dilemma from which they will not be able to escape easily.

Whichever way Thai politics goes, let us hope that it does not become a case of "only talk and no action". And let us hope also that there is light at the end of the tunnel and not a train.

Prachyadavi Tavedikul

Bangkok

Forgive the PAD for its carryingson

The antics of the PAD are quite under¬standable. After the disaster of the Surayud Chulanont government, the PAD were con¬fronted by Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, both promoting their own inter¬ests and guided by the big boss in the United Kingdom. Killing and wounding the people instead of continuing with the promised negotiations would spoil the mood of the most patient person. The PAD is fighting for all of us and thus should be forgiven for any of its antics.

Egon Wout

Bangkok

The 'American Dream' and the 'Thai Nightmare'

I watched the presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain with great interest and could not help becoming excited for the American people.

One is a hottempered war hero with vast experience in politics and the other a mixedrace junior senator with great potential. Despite their contrasts, they are both repre¬sentative of the "American Dream", both con¬testing in a democratic system which, though far from perfect, works.

Back on our home front, we have two dif¬ferent versions of the "Thai Nightmare" to choose from. One is the tyranny of the minority, backed by bureaucrats and the middle class, which can seemingly break the law at will, and the other a dysfunctional majority, isolated from the people who really run the country and powerless to govern. One exploits the democratic process for its own gain, the other threatens to take away, or substantially reduce, our right to choose, calling the majority of the people "ignorant, uneducated and uninformed". Looming over both sides are the armed forces, claiming that there will be no coup but having their tanks idling and their machine guns locked and loaded.

It seems that the only way to get past this stalemate is for the PAD to have its way and the country's elite to declare victory. The courts will expedite the political execution of the PPP. I am sure that there is a case against every politician in that party if you look hard enough. The conditions will be made so that the "Other Party" can contest and hopefully, win. Only then will a semblance of normalcy return after years of chaos. So I really hope the "Good Politicians" win the upcoming doubly, triply rigged election and get us out of this mess. Let us also hope that in all their goodness they have the cojones to fight for the oneman, onevote system.

Salin Pinkayan

Bangkok