Apirak sets an example the current crop can't follow

In direct contrast, Khun Apirak is a shining example of a fine leader, citizen, and politician. There are no questions, no hidden agenda. I admire and highly respect him even more after his decision to resign. It shows us the right medicine we so desperately need in Thailand: transparency, good governance, and ethics, which is so terribly lacking in Thaksin's current proxy government.

CAROLYN

BANGKOK

PM scared to do anything without approval from boss

I smile every time I see comments suggesting that Thaksin's passports should be revoked. Why do I smile? It will not happen while Somchai is prime minister. He would not dare to revoke a passport belonging to his boss, both on a family level and a political level.

I can imagine the scene" "Boss, sir? Do you mind if we revoke your passport?"

Later at the dinner table with his wife: "Darling, I have decided to revoke you brother's passport. What do you think?"

I think we would be looking for a new prime minister. Again!

BERNARD

CHONBURI

A passport will only get you so far

I wonder how many other people don't realise that a passport is simply a legally valid form of identification, the possession of which forms a part of the process of entering a foreign country, but the essential part of entry is to possess a current visa or to satisfy a country's visa requirements. In Thaksin's case, he has no visa, and possession of 50 passports will not gain him entry to the UK.

Additionally of course, he would have to travel there, and all airlines have been warned not to bring him to the UK. Incidentally, I previously overlooked the possibility of a private jet, which is still well within his pocket, especially now that there is a glut of them and their prices have come down. He has not needed his own jet before - I assume because he has enjoyed free travel on Thai, whether formally or informally.

MICHAEL PUGH

BANGKOK

More things to worry about than why they split

Re: "What prompted the Shinawatras to split", Opinion, November 17.

There are so many riddles in the world, like the mysteries of Angkor Wat, Bermuda Triangle or who killed the late President Kennedy, that excite my taste buds. Of all the riddles, I find the search for motives for Thaksin's divorce as the most unproductive and useless brain-teaser. In knowing the right answer, which will never be revealed, would stability return to Thai politics?

Of all Thanong Khanthong's eleven speculative reasons supporting a tactical divorce, his last point, that they were quarrelling but their relationship is still too tight to anticipate a real divorce, made his other ten reasons irrelevant. How do we know that the relationship is still tight? His eleventh reason gives rise to the possibility that it may be a real divorce. But that still does not affect my well-being.

SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT

BANGKOK