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Whatever the real motive behind the British government's revocation of Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife's visas is the former leader's eccentric politicking has played a key role in causing his own muddle.

Thaksin's phone-in speech to a gathering of his supporters last Saturday was an unusual move to create disunity and, possibly, conflagration in this country. Thaksin's latest move, if allowed to go unchecked, will set a precedent for him to use this tactic again and again to further divide the nation beyond salvation. This sinister trend must somehow be stopped. Thaksin's eccentric moves have led him to a difficult situation. Alternatively, if he had chosen to stay; faced the Ratchadaphisek landdeal verdict; and accepted the consequences, he would have made himself a martyr.

Now he has only himself to blame for his awkward predicament.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

Thanks to Britain, it was an uplifting day

Re: UK cancels visas of Thaksin, wife

The cancellation of Thaksin and Pojaman Shinawatra's entry visas, decided while the couple were outside England and notified to airlines yesterday, is the best news I've read all year. It took them some time to come to this conclusion but I would guess staging the phone-in from Hong Kong to provoke unrest in a foreign country would have been the last straw.

Thank goodness they are no longer welcome in my country. I really did wonder whether the government would act at all. Historical, legendary gesture. Almost as uplifting as an Obama victory. Well done Britain.

James Groveway

Bangkok

Does Obama's 'change' callhide a dangerous agenda?

Regarding the article "First black president still beyond belief" by Evelyn Myrie, November 6, 2008:

While many seem enamoured at the groundbreaking election of the first, black U.S. president, few seem cognisant of the inherent danger in Barack Obama's opposition to the fundamental "right to life" of every human being.

Unknown to many, Sen. Barack Obama's core beliefs and record fundamentally disagrees with his nation's founding principles that are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and which states that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Obama is governed by the Marxist belief that "the end justifies the means." As a result he vigorously supports the systematic murdering of innocent children through abortion and embryonic stem cell research. In 2002, as an Illinois legislator, he vetoed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Without the right to life no other human right makes sense.

Obama is a false prophet who preaches "change" and "hope" while pursuing a culture of death.

Though the slogan "change" is usually invoked to signify something positive, in this case it hides a different agenda one which is very dangerous for America and the world.

Paul Kokoski

Ontario. Canada

Inciting the military can

be a dangerous game

Khun Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a PAD leader, says, "When the government commits treason, it's the duty of the First Army Area, which has jurisdiction over the capital, to enforce martial law. They have the personnel and equipment to solve the problem completely."

What he is doing is inciting violence, for he is encouraging the military, which has rightfully remained above the fray as the PAD and the government confront each other, to overthrow our elected government by force. He should be arrested and tried.

The PAD would be more appropriately named People Against (sic) Democracy, for it would decide unilaterally whether the government has committed treason or not. And, if it thought that the government was guilty, the PAD has lawful means open to it to change the regime that it hasn't even tried, that is, seeking impeachment. The PAD probably knows that its case is so weak that it hasn't even been able to convince the Opposition to take such steps.

Not only that, Khun Chaiwat is wrong in his reasoning. The last coup set Thai democracy back by over a decade, and who knows how far back the next one will kick us back by? Martial law can keep the peace, but that peace cannot be lasting.

he Thai elite should recognise that, as Woodrow Wilson informed the League of Nations, "…The select classes of mankind are no longer the governors of mankind. The fortunes of mankind are now in the hands of the plain people of the whole world. Satisfy them, and you have not only justified their confidence, but established peace. Fail to satisfy them, and no arrangement that you can make will either set up or steady the peace of the world." Some of Thaksin's populist ideas were right in concept, but flawed in his favour during implementation. Examine what concepts should be kept and improved upon, for example, low-cost housing or universal healthcare. Listen to we the people, learn from us, and educate us - not shout for coups d'etat.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

Former PM's funds are

the people's money

Thanong Khanthong's "Returning Thaksin's money to end stalemate worth considering" is based on the premise that the Bt76 billion is "his money" in the first place, and also would never work for the reasons Thanong himself cites.

These concessions involved a diversion of state assets from day one, then policy corruption, and what the court has already established was tax evasion. It is state money and has already been "returned" to its correct owner: the Thai people.

This man bears a grudge forever and is hell-bent on destroying his enemies. He is self-centred and never praises anyone else other than himself. Since his overthrow there has been the Erawan shrine destruction, 50 upcountry schools burned down in places like Nakhon Sawan (not the South), threats against the Auditor General, the gift of Preah Vihear to Cambodia and the conveniently timed war threats, the October 7 police tear gas attack on the public, the bombs at the PAD rally site and at a judge's house, and recently the bombs at Government House. Editorials saying the last item is a spread of southern violence to Bangkok are a joke.

So-called leaders are now begging Thaksin "please don't do another phone-in". Why not? This rent-a-mob costs a fortune, did not hurt anyone and only succeeded in making him look ridiculous. His UK visa was revoked days later. More great advice from the "red army"!

Also, in a place where colours are considered important and where there are former communists, is the red in honour of Mao Tse Tung, or the Roman Catholic symbol for wrath, one of the seven deadly sins?

Irving London

Bangkok