PPP airport protest was a futile waste

I think the PAD leaders must be feeling quite silly. If they had stayed at home for the last week instead of camping out at the airport, the outcome would have been exactly the same. It is like the guy who commands the sun to rise from the east and then claims victory when it actually does.

The PAD's action in occupying the airport has achieved absolutely nothing. What the PAD has achieved is to destroy the reputation of Thailand internationally and caused her to be the laughing stock of the world. They have managed to squander the goodwill of so many visitors that no amount of effort can repair the damage done.

I really felt embarrassed trying to explain to foreign business associates that there is still business to be done in Thailand. The financial loss suffered in this debacle is nonsensical, especially in these days of economic hardship. I wonder if anybody will still want to do business with Thailand after this disaster. It will be months, even years, before we can fully comprehend the damage we have inflicted upon ourselves.

One thing for sure is that corrupt politicians will go through a revolving door and come back in another package. Then we start the whole charade again. This is really, truly is Amazing Thailand!

JOAQUIM SIU

BANGKOK

Overseas observers not getting the full picture

I'm writing in reply to Ivan Ong from Singapore who writes that a rich elite, including Chamlong and Sonthi, is bullying an elected government. He clearly does not understand the Thai situation at all. Setting aside the fact that Chamlong is an ascetic who owns no wealth at all, the PAD is totally funded by donations from the protesters themselves, rich and poor, who have been protesting day and night for six months. I can think of no other protest in recent world history that has lasted for so long and remained so peaceful.

Yes, Mr Ong, the government was elected, but now the world knows how this was achieved. Our present democracy allows the extremely rich to buy votes among the rural poor (who are now in far greater debt than before Thaksin came to power). They can then abuse their position to rob the electorate and amass even greater wealth, which they then use to win the following election.

The PAD want only to end this cycle and have spent the last six months educating people about the extent of this corruption. Mr Ong may think he knows what is best for Thailand. Personally I shall continue to grieve for my country until we gain the new politics we deserve.

THANIDA DUGDALE

BANGKOK

Coverage of the crisis sinks into hyperbole

It would seem obvious to the casual observer of the current political crisis that there are some conflicting sentiments coming from within the journalism community covering the situation. Having led the charges against Thai Rak Thai from the early days, it is a bit of an irony to read in The Nation, (among others) the level of shock at the upheaval expressed in recent pieces. It's no wonder the whole world is puzzled. The foreign press has done a negligent job of informing their audiences of the PAD's grievances.

 With most of the local media we're only told of what a disruption the mob has caused and not the issues that brought it on. "This is bad for our country's image." The reaction seems to be akin to the surprise we experience when our phone is cut off after not paying the bill for three months. Gee, now I'll be unable to make telephone calls.

As if these thousands of protesters who've taken leave of their jobs and left their homes to sleep in tents over the past few months at considerable personal cost have done so just because they haven't anything better to do than to disrupt the flow of commerce for the sake of inconveniencing everyone.

Their main grievance is that the remnants of the Thaksin administration are still creeping around like cockroaches, and the public's demand for justice has been met with stonewalling and inertia by political fixers. The past two PMs have gone to great lengths to doctor the constitution to exonerate their boss, only pretending to take action in mending the damage he has wrought.

As far as the country being "in ruins" is concerned, Thailand has seen far worse. The assertion of the country "losing its competitive edge" is hyperbolic panic. I've just returned from the beach, and restaurants are full of so-called "frightened" tourists.

I applaud the PAD. If ordinary folk in the US had the wherewithal to get organised like the PAD, we probably would never have endured eight years of Bush and Cheney.

RAMPART WHITE

PHUKET

Thaksin, Samak, Somchai. Now Chalerm? Please, no.

 I have learned that Chalerm Yoobamrung is seriously being considered as a credible candidate for the vacant prime minister's post. Amazing indeed. So who is next in line? Mickey Mouse?

JOMTIEN BEACH RESIDENT

CHON BURI